It’s taken a while, but true road bikes are starting to get the e-bike treatment. And why wouldn’t they? Just because this style of bike is already designed to be as light and efficient as possible doesn’t mean that some riders wouldn’t benefit from a little boost every now and again. As a result, new bikes like the Trek Domane+ are popping up with blend lightweight performance and electronic assistance to help flatten those climbs and make your rides a little longer.
In order to give their Domane road bike a boost, Trek started with a 500 Series OCLV carbon frame to which they added a Bosch Performance Line 350w motor with 63Nm of torque. That gives the Domane+ assistance up to 28mph here in the U.S., while the IsoSpeed decoupler in the seat tube helps smooth out the ride. If the IsoSpeed isn’t enough, the frame has clearance for 700 x 35mm Schwalbe G-One Allround tubeless tires which come as standard equipment. The bike is also equipped with a SRAM Force 1×11 drivetrain and hydraulic flat mount disc brakes.
To provide the juice, Trek uses what they’re calling the RIB system or Removable Integrated Battery. The battery can be removed without tools, and can also be charged on or off the bike. The 500wh Bosch Powertube battery is said to provide up to 70 miles of range.
Operated through the Bosch Purion controller, the display has been arranged so it is out in front of the stem with what appears to be a thumb button behind the bar.
In our opinion, one of the best features of e-bikes is the ability to add front and rear lights that you don’t have to charge separately. You should really be riding with lights at any time of day, and the integrated Bontrager Lync front and rear lights will help keep you visible.
Available in five sizes from 52cm to 60cm, claimed weight is 37.89lbs/17.19kg (size 56cm) which is heavy for a normal bike, but fairly light for an e-bike. Note that the bike has a combined maximum weight limit of 275lbs (125kg) which is the weight of the bicycle, rider, and cargo. The Domane+ is available in one build which is priced at $6,999.99.
