Trek’s Throttle-Equipped Borrego+, Specialized’s Ultralight Turbo Levo R, USDOT Drops Bike Safety Language │ TWR Ep 93

Trek’s new Borrego+ follows the same playbook as last year’s throttle-equipped FX+1 and Electra Townie Go! models, and it brings that formula to a fat tire platform. There are Class 1 and 2 versions with a 20 mph top speed, plus Class 2 and 3 S models that offer throttle up to 20 mph and pedal assist up to 28 mph.

Every version comes with a 750W Hyena rear-hub motor putting out 90 Nm of torque, paired with a fully integrated 720 Wh battery good for up to 70 miles of range. Trek rounds it out with an 80mm coil suspension fork, a suspension seatpost, an 8-speed Shimano Acera drivetrain, Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, and chunky 26×4″ Bontrager tires. Integrated lights and turn signals come standard, along with an SP Connect stem mount and a 60-lb-rated MIK cargo rack that’s also compatible with a front rack and other accessories. The bike pairs with the Trek Central app for motor tuning, range estimates, ride tracking, and bike lock functions, and it’s priced at $2,499.

Our Take:

This one looks great and comes well equipped for the price, but we’re a little bummed not to see the MagSafe charger show up here. We really liked the quick attachment and visible charge ring on Trek’s other throttle bikes, and its absence is a noticeable step back. We’re hopeful that the battery management features that came along with it are still on board in some form, even without the physical connector.

Specialized’s newest release is another entry in its rally-inspired lineup, and this time the focus is lightness, agility, and precision. The bike pairs a 140mm-travel Fox 36 SL Factory fork with the Grip X damper up front and a 130mm-travel Fox Float Factory Genie shock with bottom-out protection out back, wrapped around cross-country-style geometry.

Power comes from Specialized’s S-Works 3.1 motor, putting out 850W of peak power and 111 Nm of torque, fed by a 600 Wh integrated battery with extra downtube storage. It rolls on a SRAM XX SL Eagle drivetrain, and the build costs $13,000. The big story here is weight: Specialized says this is its lightest full-power eMTB yet, coming in about 5 lbs lighter than the standard Levo R.

Our Take:

Put simply, it looks awesome. We tested the standard Levo R and would love to get some time on this version to see what the weight savings actually feel like on the trail. On a mountain bike, 5 lbs is a real difference, and we’re curious to ride the two back to back to find out just how much it matters.

The USDOT’s Federal Highway Administration maintains a webpage called Proven Safety Countermeasures, which lists recommended design features and infrastructure elements meant to prevent fatalities and injuries on roads, things like bike lanes, lighted crossing signs, and rumble strips. Earlier this month, the agency removed all mention of bike lanes, speed management, and lane reduction from that list.

According to the League of American Bicyclists, the removed page had stated that bike lanes could reduce all crashes by 30 to 49 percent depending on where they were implemented. The organization pushed back on the change, and Rick Larsen, a Democratic representative on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, has requested an explanation for why the countermeasures were removed. The League of American Bicyclists is urging both industry members and individuals to contact their representatives in Congress in support of that request. You can find a link to take action in the video description.

Our Take:

Removing proven safety guidance doesn’t change the physics of how speed and infrastructure affect crash outcomes, it just leaves communities with less information to work with. We’d like to see the USDOT explain this decision, and we think it’s worth adding your voice to the request if bike safety matters to you.

We first covered this bill, HB2021, back in May as it moved through Hawaii’s legislature. It formally defines e-motos as high-speed electric devices separate from e-bikes, which are now defined using the 3-class system developed by People for Bikes. According to the Hawaii Bicycling League, the law was needed because high-speed electric devices have been masquerading as e-bikes and contributing to serious traffic injuries and fatalities. Under the new law, these devices are specifically prohibited from operating on shared public roadways, bike lanes, streets, and sidewalks.

The law also makes stunts like wheelies illegal, requires riders under 18 to wear helmets, and keeps the existing $30 registration fee for bikes in place. It was developed by the Hawaii Bicycling League working alongside People for Bikes and the League of American Bicyclists, and Governor Josh Green signed it into law on July 15th.

Our Take:

Clearer definitions between e-bikes and e-motos are overdue, and Hawaii’s approach gives other states a workable template. Drawing a hard line on devices that ride like motorcycles but get sold as e-bikes protects both riders and the reputation of legitimate e-bikes.

• Is there a practical way to prove to a park ranger that a multi-class e-bike, like the Velotric Discover M, is actually set to Class 1?
• How concerned should we be about the long-term reliability and service support of Velotric’s new VeloCore mid-drive motor?
• How are manufacturers like Wired and Magician getting away with the speeds they allow on their moto-style e-bikes?
• Which offers better long-term value for heavy daily commuting, the Monarc Tracer or the Lectric XPress2?
• What’s the difference between maximum total weight capacity and payload capacity, and which method do most e-bikes use?
• A correction from last episode: was our top folding e-bike pick for hunting actually the Heybike Mars 3.0, not the 2.0?