Trek’s Hub Motor Electric Bike with a Torque Sensor
The Trek Dual Sport+ 2 Stagger is Trek’s first electric bike with a hub drive motor and torque sensor. This is a lightweight electric bike looking towards the entry level rider. The Dual Sport+ 2 is built out with a nice component spec and ready to ride home, right out of a Trek store.
The Lab
The Trek Dual Sport+ 2 Stagger is a class 1 electric bike with pedal assist up to 20mph. It has a 250 watt hour battery internally mounted in the frame. This powers the 250 watt hour rear hub motor that has 40nm of torque. There is a torque sensor to activate the motor. A torque sensor measures how hard the rider is pedaling to determine how much electric power to push to the bike. The harder you pedal, the more power it gives to the motor.
It has a Shimano 9 speed drive train and uses Hydraulic disc brakes with 160mm rotors for strong and effective stopping power. The controller is a simple three button layout with LED indicators to tell you what mode you are in. There are three pedal assist modes you can choose from which can be custom tuned by a Trek Dealer. There is an integrated headlight and tail light that turn on with the bike. The wheels are 27.5” wheels with 2” tires mounted on them and there are mounting points for a rear rack as well.
The size medium weighs 38.1 pounds and has up to 35 miles of range. You also have the option to use an 250Wh range extender you can purchase separately. This step through model of the Dual Sport plus 2 costs $2,399.
Quick Specs
250w Motor
250Wh Battery
Class 1
9 Speed Shimano
27.5″ Wheels
$2399
Advantages
There are a lot of things we liked about the Trek Dual Sport+ 2 Stagger. When we first picked it up and loaded it into the car we noticed that it was light in weight. Coming in under 40lbs it made loading it into the car nice and easy.
The Dual Sport+ 1 also has a sleek look with the battery integrated seamlessly into the frame. It looks like an analog bike at first glance, you don’t see any of the rear hub motor since it is hidden behind the large rear cassette. The motor is also nearly silent, when pedaling in the lowest settings you hear no motor noise, and barely any in the highest setting. The 9 speed Shimano drive train pairs well for this bike, giving you a good range of gears throughout the 9 speeds.
The torque sensor which activates the motor assist on this bike is very smooth and gives a very natural bike ride feel to it. Having the torque sensor, that measures the pressure you are applying to each pedal stroke, versus a cadence sensor, which just senses pedal movement, makes this feel a lot more like an analog bike would feel just with some extra boost. The harder you pedal, the more assist you get, so you get a nice workout as well.
The wheel and tire spec make this comfortable on rough roads and can handle a gravel road or trail with ease. The Stagger edition is also very convenient when having to get on or off the bike as well as at stops, There is still a cross bar which helps with the stiffness of the bike, but it does not get in the way when stepping forward.
Having a support system from a brand like Trek that has many physical shops is also very beneficial. We had an issue with the lights when we first got it so we called a Trek shop in the area and they told us to bring the bike in and they were able to troubleshoot the problem and get it taken care of right away. Having in person help with from a shop makes a big difference in the overall experience of owning a bike. The shop can also custom tune your pedal assist levels to your liking, they mentioned many people turn down their first pedal assist for maximum range, 2 for normal cruising and then turn up pedal assist 3 for maximum hill climbing power.
Disadvantages
There are just a few things on the Dual Spot + 2 stagger plus that we would have liked to see on it. . One of the things is that it does not have a display screen to show you speed/battery percentage/range. There is a thumb controller with LED lights to indicate battery levels and pedal assist mode, but it is nice to be able to see your speed/range on an actual screen.
It’s nice that there is an option for a range extender to double the battery capacity, but this will take up the water bottle cage mount and then you will not have a place to mount a water bottle. It would be nice to have a place for a bottle if you are doubling the distance you can pedal. It does not come with fenders so you will have to get some aftermarket ones if you live in a wetter climate.
Final Thoughts
The Trek dual sport + 2 is great for someone who is looking to get a nicely priced electric bike for their commute to work,or just leisurely rides around town. Add a rear rack to it and it would be a great grocery getter. Adding the torque sensor to this rear hub motor bike keeps the price point down compared to a mid drive electric bike and gives it a really nice natural pedal assist feel and you’ll get a bit of a work out doing so.
Having a network of dealers to get this bike from is also very beneficial. The bike will be built by them and you can go to the shop if you have any trouble shooting. This isn’t the fastest class one bike and there is no throttle, so if that is what you are looking for then this bike may not be for you. 
Price: $2399
Sizes: Small, Medium, Large
Weight: 38.1lbs
Website: Trekbikes.com
I agree a small lady screen be nice to tell speed & mileage.
Is there a rider weight limit?
There is a combined weight of bicycle, rider and cargo limit of 300 pounds for this bike.
While I can see this technology as advancing cycling, it’s too damn expensive. But, consumers has been convinced to believe that they need it. Pedal on America, pedal on.
“Analog bike” is a silly term. No bicycle is an analogy of anything. “Manual”, “unassisted”, or “conventional” are all better terms for non-motorized bicycles.
Ha, thanks. I guess we get lost in guitar world a bit too much.
There is a free trek app which shows speed, range, has GPS with bike trail defaults, etc. Works well. The bike also has a walking assist feature so it’ll creep along when you want to walk with it.
I have a Garmin 1030 GPS device that I use on all my bikes, it gives lots of info including speed, distance, grade, etc. It can be mounted on the handle bar or using a stem mount from Amazon for ~ 15 bucks.
Good info! Thanks for sharing, not everyone has a computer like that, but yes, you definitely could get a computer for a bike without one.
Is there a way to increase my speed? A friend of mine has chipped his cube and is much faster now
I agree with Michael A, it is pricey. And, its capabilities are wildly overstated. I just purchased a Dual Sport + 2, have put 300+ miles on it and I’m sorry I bought it. Its Achilles heel is actually its main feature, i.e., the electric motor. Peddle Assist level 1 works, on average, of 20 minutes before the motor shuts down and the handlebar mounted controller (HMI) goes into error mode (3 flashing red lights). In level 2, it shuts down after about 10 minutes and in level, about 3 minutes or less. I live in a hilly area and my rides are punctuated with this motor giving up and leaving me on the side of the road waiting for the motor to reset. I contacted both Trek and Hyena (who makes the motor, controller and battery) and they seemed clueless as to why the motor stopped working (and they’re supposed to be the experts). A rep at Trek actually said, “I’m guessing that you’re peddling too hard.” After numerous back and forth email exchanges, both Trek and Hyena threw in the towel and directed me back to the dealer who sold it to me. After a long discussion with the dealer, they commented that the Trek Dual Sport + 2 with its 250 watt battery and 40nm motor isn’t capable of tackling hills and is only suitable for errands around town on flat or mildly elevated terrain. So, much like EV passenger vehicles whose range is inflated to increase sales, this Trek Dual Sport + 2’s capability is also exaggerated by its manufacturer and also by those being paid to write glowing articles on its performance.
I use your dual sport +2 primarily on the American River Trail (Historic Folsom to Discovery Park, Sacramento). It makes the 26 mile trip with battery power remaining. I installed a dropper seat post so that I could lower the seat as I came to a stop and put my feet on the ground. The control cable fits inside the frame tubes, but is a tight fit and takes time and patience to do. The gearing is too high for me, so I installed a 32 teeth chain ring. The rigid front fork really takes a hit when rolling over the tree roots which make “speed bumps” on the asphalt, so I installed a Rockshox ParagonSL suspension fork (100mm travel). I had to use a steerer tube extender in order to attach the handlebar stem. The suspension fork raised the front end up too high, so I installed a 24 inch front wheel. The bike is finally “perfect” for me. I smile a lot when riding the bike, At age 90 I am greatful for every day I am alive.
Well done Russ, Sounds like you have created the ideal commuter for you. Cycling has been a saviour for my fitness and longevity also – very blessed to have got into cycling when I was young, and now have chalked up 50 years of riding and still love it. All the best of health and happiness to you.
The torque sensor can adapt to your pedaling effort, providing just the right amount of electric assistance, making your ride smoother and more enjoyable. It’s a smart technology that enhances the synergy between the rider and the motor, ensuring a more natural and intuitive feel.