2021 Trek E-Caliber balances lightweight with Fazua power on the climbs

Trek launches a new eMTB that attempts to bridge the gap between a lightweight XC experience and a powered eMTB. Meet the Fazua powered Trek E-Caliber.

Trek is claiming the new E-Caliber, electric cross-country bike, is that middle ground between pedal power and full-blown eMTB. A lightweight XC eeb that can bring all riders together thanks to its ease of handling and ability to keep up with standard ebikes. Trek say that they looked and the pros and cons of standard mountain bikes and current generation ebikes to build something that any rider can jump on and enjoy regardless of fitness or ability meaning casual riders can rider further, but experienced riders can enhance their ride without a weight penalty.

As you would expect from a bike with the Caliber named attached to it. the E-Caliber is lightweight, well lightweight for an eMTB. The E-Caliber hits the scales at between 34 – 40lbs meaning the lightest is about as heavy as a current-generation alloy enduro bike. To achieve this lower weight, Trek hasn’t used a Bosch or Shimano power unit but rather a lightweight Fazua system. The Fazua motor and battery system is unique in that both are removable from a bike giving riders the option to run the E-Caliber as a powered ebike or non-powered muscular mountain bike. Trek supplies a hollow battery cover to use when the motor and battery is removed, which saves 6lbs off the complete bike weight and converts it to a storage space for kit, food or spares.

The entire unit, motor and 250wh battery are housed in a sleeve that disconnects from the downtube for maintenance and cleaning. Being a much smaller motor than most Fazua offers just 55nm of torque, but because it doesn’t have as much weight to carry around, most riders can live with the lower power and even extend their rides with lower assistance modes for more milage.

We’ve tried the Fazua motor in a few lightweight gravel ebikes and on the Kinesis Rise eMTB and everyone who has tested it agreed that it offers plenty of assistance on the trail while feeling much more natural than a more powerful system. The system in the Trek E-Caliber runs the latest Black Chilli software update for more performance and efficiency while a new bar-mounted remote gives the system Bluetooth LE phone connection.

As for the rest of the bike, well the E-Caliber shares a lot of the same features as the non-powered version of the bike but with a change in geometry that makes the E-Caliber longer in reach.

Trek is going to offer the E-Caliber in 5 models all featuring carbon frames, the same motor and battery and all but the entry-level version comes fitted with carbon wheels too.

E-Caliber 9.6

• Full carbon frame
• Shimano 12 speed drivetrain
• Rockshox 25 Gold 120mm travel fork
• Kovee Comp Rapid Drive Wheels
• Dropper post
• Shimano 4 piston brakes
• £6300

E-Caliber 9.8 XT

• Full Carbon Frame
• Shimano XT 12-speed
• Rockshox SID 120 fork
• Kovee Pro Carbon Wheels
• Dropper post
• Shimano XT 4-piston brakes
• £7750

E-Caliber 9.8 GX

• Full carbon frame
• SRAM GX Eagle 12-speed
• RockShox SID 120mm fork
• Kovee Pro Carbon Wheels
• Dropper post
• SRAM G2 RSC 4-piston brakes
• £7750

E-Caliber 9.9 XTR

• Full carbon frame
• Shimano XTR 12 speed
• Fox SC34 Factory 120mm fork
• Kovee XXX carbon wheels
• XXX Rigid seat post
• Shimano XTR 4-piston brakes
• £9700

E- Caliber 9.9 XX1 AXS

• Full Carbon Frame
• Sram XX1 AXS 12-speed
• RockShox SID Ultimate 120mm for
• Kovee XX Carbon wheels
• XXX Rigid seat post
• SRAM G2 Ultimate 4 piston brakes
• £11750

For more info head over to the Trek website.