Trek Valencia+ on ebay

[indalo]

A dealer has a clean-looking, fairly new model up for auction and this is day 2 of a 10 day auction.

There is a Trek specialist not far from me and I've looked over these bikes several times. Although I don't actually want one, I'm bound to say they are well-equipped with a not-too-shabby component list.

Now, I'm told the batteries are hugely expensive to replace but they tend to last a long time. If that's true, it becomes a "swings and roundabouts" situation, I suppose, when considered against other ebike brands. This particular model sports a 40V 6Ah battery so I have no idea how one of those performs as it's not a common size among mainstream bikes.

Trek ebikes are not the cheapest but for anyone who might be slightly interested, (check the size though!) it could be worth keeping an eye on this auction as bidding started very low.

Trek Valencia+ Electric Assist Commuter Bike - 17.5" - 2012 - £1,900.00 (UK SRP) | eBay


Indalo

 

[flecc]

It's not a 40 volt battery, clearly the owner has just measured the fully charged voltage and quoted that to make it seem better. It's a standard 37 volt BionX battery and the smallest capacity they do.

 

[indalo]

That makes sense Flecc. I did wonder!

Indalo

 

[overlander]

If its the same as the rest of the trek range the battery is indeed 40.7V as stated on the case.

 

[flecc]

BionX have always stated that their standard systems and batteries as sold are 26 or 37 volts, plus a 48 volt high performance option and that is confirmed by BionX about their battery range on this link. That's what I was going by, and as I posted above, that 40.7 volts sounds like the fully charged figure, not the true nominal voltage, the higher figure possibly put on for marketing reasons.

 

[overlander]

BionX have always stated that their standard systems and batteries as sold are 26 or 37 volts, plus a 48 volt high performance option and that is confirmed by BionX about their battery range on this link. That's what I was going by, and as I posted above, that 40.7 volts sounds like the fully charged figure, not the true nominal voltage, the higher figure possibly put on for marketing reasons.

That does sound reasonable and to be honest its better for trek owners. I thought they had changed it to stop trek owners buying bionx battery's direct from bionx forcing them to use trek models.

 

[indalo]

I just had a look to see how the bidding was progressing and it's now up to over £900 with 6 days to go.

34 bids suggest there is quite a bit of interest in this particular machine.

Indalo

 

[overlander]

I just had a look to see how the bidding was progressing and it's now up to over £900 with 6 days to go.

34 bids suggest there is quite a bit of interest in this particular machine.

Indalo

I know i'm biased as i own a trek but i do honestly feel that for electric bikes to become mainstream they have to follow treks bikes and the other stealth bikes. 99% of people do not like the look of most electric bikes as they just look like one step up from the battery invalid buggy you see running about. And although not as important but do not underestimate it, NOISE, again for mainstream use it has to be silent like the bionx system.

I know this forum has a lot of older people i reckon about 80% plus the rest made up of younger people mainly with specific needs for an electric bike. So when i say mainstream i mean age < 40 and is a choice rather than necessity. That is why the trek sells well, the only thing keeping it back is price its an expensive machine with limited range but its the bike with the best fighting chance to get younger people into electric bikes.

 

[flecc]

I agree Overlander, I've always had a very high opinion of the BionX system. If only they'd wake up about their insane battery prices and at least make them comparable in price to others. It is only a legacy issue, when all the others had their batteries made in China theirs were made in Germany so were necessarily expensive. When the German factory completely burned down they were forced to switch to China, but like Dyson, greedily kept the high prices.

 

[amigafan2003]

I concur about Trek's being nice bikes

I'm about to transfer all my elctrickery from my Trek FX 7.5 to a nice new shiny Trek Soho Dlx - disc brake and nice belt drive

Soho Deluxe - Trek Bicycle

 

[flecc]

Single geared with that belt drive then Amigafan! Will you be happy about that?

 

[amigafan2003]

Single geared with that belt drive then Amigafan! Will you be happy about that?

It's 8spd internal (Alfine?).

And I really want a belt drive - the sand on my commute is horrendous. I'll be returning the FX back to stock for leisurely unpowered rides - the Soho will be my commuter workhorse - taken to work in all kinds of weather (and grime!).

 

[overlander]

I concur about Trek's being nice bikes

I'm about to transfer all my elctrickery from my Trek FX 7.5 to a nice new shiny Trek Soho Dlx - disc brake and nice belt drive

Soho Deluxe - Trek Bicycle

I use my Trek fx with a normal wheel when i am wanting to get fitter highly recommend this wheel for value and strength Shimano Deore/Mavic A319.

What i like about trek is they have a massive range of frame sizes as i use 23-25" frame and trek or ridgeback make all their bikes in these sizes. Also very important for mainstream use is a large range of frame sizes hence the trek again has 8 frame sizes.

 

[flecc]

It's 8spd internal (Alfine?).

And I really want a belt drive - the sand on my commute is horrendous. I'll be returning the FX back to stock for leisurely unpowered rides - the Soho will be my commuter workhorse - taken to work in all kinds of weather (and grime!).

I knew it was a hub gear, but by "transferring the electrickery" I thought you meant the BionX motor which is a rear wheel system so can't retain the hub gear.
.

 

[amigafan2003]

I knew it was a hub gear, but by "transferring the electrickery" I thought you meant the BionX motor which is a rear wheel system so can't retain the hub gear.
.

No no - my Trek FX is custom built (Tongxin front hub, Lyen controller, thumb throttle etc, etc).

http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/electric-bicycles/9442-new-build.html

 

[overlander]

No no - my Trek FX is custom built (Tongxin front hub, Lyen controller, thumb throttle etc, etc).

http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/electric-bicycles/9442-new-build.html

Ahh so you will have the original wheel but to be honest they are not the sturdiest wheels on the FX range so the mavic would still be a good replacement when the time comes.