2011 Trek Transport+ Video Review
http://electricbikereview.com/trek/2011-transport-plus/ One of the earliest mass produced electric cargo bikes in the US (available in 2011) offered a purpose built frame with lots of attachment points (front basket, rear rack, running boards and included cargo bag). High-end drive system from BionX, rebranded as “Electric Propulsion Systems” EPS by Trek offering smooth, quiet power with regenerative braking. Rear-heavy design, no throttle mode, frame flexes torsionally when loaded up, frame rattles a lot. EBR was paid to perform this review #Sponsored We try to be honest, thorough, and fun! Comparison tools, shop directory, and forums at: ElectricBikeReview.com
I like the length, not obscenely long like some other cargo bikes I have seen.
225 lbs. .. er, that’s me, naked. Some cargo carrying capacity that…
Is a replacement battery available for this bike ? I read the electric bike review text and it said that a battery isn’t available . I then went to the Bionx site and it said that a battery is available for the particular hub that is on the Trek Transport but Bionx also said that the battery that they have for that particular hub is not compatible with the trek ride plus. Does anyone know?
Also, an FYI aluminium is much stiffer than steel.
I bought this bike, and bought it with both saddle bags back in 2012. The dealer told me that battery replacements would be available, he lied, and he knew he did, as it was the only way he was going to get a sale from me on a 3,000 dollar bike with tax. Fast forward to now, my battery is toast, and neither Trek, nor Bionx, ever supported the bike for a battery replacement. And no, you can’t just install some 3rd party battery using some adapter for it. Bionx designed this electric assist system to use wireless finger printing for the bike computer, and it won’t accept any 3rd party system.
The only way this could be fixed, is to completely gut the entire electric assist system, and re-engineer the bike with a totally new electric assist system. I chose to get an E-scooter instead and I love it! I currently have my cargo bike in the shop though to get new tires and tubes, and a full tuneup done on it, on everything but the electric assist system. I still need the cargo capacity, which is why I kept the bike. But I won’t every buy a Trek bike again, EVER!
I read in your written review that the battery is not available anymore for the Transport . I contacted Trek and found out that the battery is available . Good news !
Out of curiosity, what height person does this 17" frame accommodate? In your review, you mentioned that you were testing a 17" frame but I do not have anything to compare that with. Thanks.
Personally I think a trailer and normal bicycle is preferable to a cargo bike because you only use the trailer for the extra carrying capacity when you need it. When you don’t need that extra capacity then you don’t use the trailer and of course you have a lighter neater bicycle.
I have two trailers, one large one which will carry far more than that cargo bike and a smaller one, it is a Burley Travoy, which is just great for doing shopping.
I would hate the way the front rack on that cargo bike is attached to the forks. Also that bicycle sounded very noisy at the back, but maybe something wasn’t secured.
All in all I just think trailers are a better way to go for me.
Flexy Frame is a tad scary to me, sheese with 225 lbs it must be really bad. I have mountain bikess going back to 1988, and no measurable flex in any of them.
If I was going to get a cargo bike, the frame flex thing, as well as the front rack turning with the wheel,might scare me away from this model.