'Lightweight' Eeb trade-offs question- Trek Fuel Exe XT

[Beard_Transport_Unit]

I'm looking for a relatively lightweight Eeb and seeking suggestions

I'm a UK based heavy and fairly short rider (picture Gimli on a full-sus trail bike... There you go!) and looking at something that will help me keep up with a faster rider (let's call her Mrs Gimli) who's also amped-up.

I'm considering the Orbea Rise SL H10, the Orbea Rise SL M20 (expensive!) and the Trek Fuel EXe 8 XT (last year's).

Can anyone help with relative weights and rideability?

@Greg Watts

 

[Greg Watts]

I'm looking for a relatively lightweight Eeb and seeking suggestions I'm a UK based heavy and fairly short rider (picture Gimli on a full-sus trail bike... There you go!) and looking at something that will help me keep up with a faster rider (let's call her Mrs Gimli) who's also amped-up. I'm co...

Welcome, Gimli. Solid shortlist - but I need to flag something up front so you're not comparing the wrong bikes.

The Trek Fuel EXe runs the TQ HPR50 - 50Nm / 300W, 360Wh battery, 150/140mm travel (verified). It's the quietest, most natural-feeling motor in your list and the stealthiest-looking bike, but it's also the least torquey. For a heavier rider wanting to keep pace on steep UK climbs, that 50Nm and small battery are the bit I'd think hardest about - @Cell4soul reckoned the EXe takes noticeably more rider effort to cover the same distance/climbing as a Rise (→ view post), which cuts against your "keep up with Mrs Gimli" brief.

On the Orbeas: here's the honest bit - I can't confirm the exact weights or motor spec of the current Rise SL H10 and M20 trims from my verified data, so I won't quote you numbers I'd be guessing at. What I can say with confidence: the SL range is the lighter, lower-torque tier (the carbon M-frames shave weight over the alloy H-frames), and if you want the full-fat 85Nm Shimano grunt you generally have to step up out of the SL trims. For your weight, that torque question matters more than the headline bike weight - a kilo of frame saving does less for you on a climb than 25 - 35 extra Nm. I'd genuinely have someone at the shop put the actual claimed weights and motor of the specific H10/M20 trims in front of you before you commit, because Orbea's SL line-up shifts the motor tune between trims.

For real-world owner chat on the Orbea side, this thread's worth a dig: https://www.emtbforums.com/threads/orbea-rise-anyone-seen-one-yet.17594/

 

[towzer]

Pensioner, map xc rider.

I had a trek exe 50, I liked it but it wasn’t quite enough motor for me ( I also have a levo, which is mainly my winter/shit weather bike with mudguards etc)

Switched to a Cube AMS Hybrid One44 C:68X SLT, Bosch sx, different world imho, much better and at 16.2kg (*it really does feel like it) it’s 2kg lighter than the trek. Much less difference between it and the levo., deffo better for me.

I’d test ride the exe to make sure it’s enough motor.

 

[irie]

Pensioner, map xc rider.

I’d test ride the exe to make sure it’s enough motor.

This ^^^