Ok, so of you're on the fence on this bike I can tell you it is superb.
I took my first ride on it after spending a while wrapping it and a couple of tweaks for fit.
Climbing.
The best way to describe it is feeling supremely strong and fit. In low / eco mode it is supportive and subtle.
In mid it's great and more then sufficient for most climbs.
In high, it's just super strong yet not overpowering or overwhelming. Enough for very steep pinches.
I generally moved between the modes depending on how steep the climb was.
It felt like I was pedalling, but at ~65% effort but feeling well within comfort levels and travelling at over 3* the pace.
Climbing had become a real chore for me but now feels great fun.
On one climb I switched the power completely off and it was no more effort than my preferred trail bike, a Deviate Highlander 150.
Descending.
Very surprising actually. It feels planted, plush, responsive and not at all weighty or tank like. It feels like a really well sorted trail bike.
Speeding up the rebound at the rear makes it track the ground beautifully, and the support on climbing means one can get away with it.
Handling is precise and it hops and moved about on request easily.
When I get back to riding a non powered bike I'm sure it'll feel super light, but its weight is not the overriding feeling / memory I have riding the Fuel Ex-e.
Overall.
Very happy is an understatement. Great support on the climbs, gentle / subtle power delivery and no knocking / clanking or standard E-bike sounds.
Battery life was pretty impressive too. I didn't track the ride but was out for 3+hour with plenty of steep & long climbing. I'm 107kgs and it had over 60% battery left.
My only gripe, which is highly personal, is the integrated bar and stem. This is too low and I didn't like the roll position which is fixed. Trek will fix that though at no charge so I can get a different set up.
View attachment 95285