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The Trek Marlin+ 8 takes the opposite approach to full-power e-MTBs: a 50 Nm Bosch Active Line Plus motor, a 400 Wh CompactTube battery and an Alpha Gold aluminium frame, for 21.89 kg in size M according to Trek. It keeps a 120 mm RockShox Recon Silver RL fork, a 12-speed Shimano Deore drivetrain and a dropper post. Purple Flip/Black Fade shifts from a colour-changing mauve to a fade into black.
| Frame | Alpha Gold aluminium, internal routing, rack, mudguard and kickstand mounts, UDH hanger, Boost148 12 mm axle |
| Motor | Bosch Active Line Plus, 50 Nm; assist cuts out at 25 km/h in Europe |
| Battery | Bosch CompactTube 400 Wh |
| Controls / display | Bosch Purion 200 on the bar |
| Fork | RockShox Recon Silver RL, Solo Air spring, Motion Control damper with lockout, Boost110 Maxle Stealth, 120 mm on all sizes |
| Drivetrain | Shimano Deore 1x12: M6100 long-cage derailleur, FSA CK-220 165 mm chainset, 10-51 cassette |
| Brakes | Shimano 4-piston hydraulic, MT4100 levers, MT420 calipers, RT64 203 mm rotors |
| Wheels / tyres | Bontrager Line TLR 30 rims / Bontrager Gunnison Pro XR 2.60 in Tubeless Ready (27.5 in S, 29 above) |
| Cockpit | Bontrager alloy 720 mm (S) or Comp 780 mm handlebar, 35 to 60 mm stem depending on size |
| Saddle / seatpost | Bontrager Verse P3 / TranzX JD-YSP18 dropper post, 100 mm in S, 150 mm above |
| Weight | 21.89 kg in size M (Trek figure, with tubeless sealant, no inner tubes) |
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At a glance
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For the rider coming from non-assisted mountain biking who wants to keep a natural pedalling feel, with a helping hand on the climbs. It suits anyone who mainly rides tracks and flowing trails, and prefers a bike that is lighter to handle and transport.
Alpha Gold aluminium, lightness first. The Marlin+ 8 doesn't use the Powerfly+ frame: Trek built it in Alpha Gold aluminium around a more compact motor and a 400 Wh battery. The result is slimmer tubes, mounts for a rack, mudguards and a kickstand, and a UDH universal derailleur hanger.
| Alpha Platinum (Powerfly+) | Alpha Gold (Marlin+) | OCLV Mountain carbon (Rail+ 9.7 / 9.8) | |
| Level | Powerfly+ alloy | Marlin+ 8 alloy | Trek mountain bike carbon |
| Construction | Wide down tube for PowerTube | Slimmer tubes, CompactTube 400 Wh | OCLV compaction, impact-resistant lay-up |
| Reference bike | Powerfly+ 4, 23.10 kg (M) | Marlin+ 8, 21.89 kg (M) | Rail+ 9.7 / 9.8 |
| What it means | More battery, more weight | Lighter, more natural bike | A different category of bike |
Put simply: at 21.89 kg in M, the Marlin+ 8 is the lightest electric mountain bike in this comparison. Its 50 Nm motor supports your pedalling rather than replacing it: ideal on tracks, less at ease on very steep slopes.
The Active Line Plus supports your effort smoothly and quietly, with little resistance when you pedal above 25 km/h, the speed at which the assist cuts out in Europe, for 250 W rated. On the tracks in the hills around Béziers, you get handling close to a conventional mountain bike, with help when the gradient steepens.
At 21.89 kg in M, it is easier to lift onto a bike rack or carry over a rocky section than a full-power e-MTB. Its 50 Nm make it best suited to tracks and sporty rides: on the very steep slopes of the Montagne Noire, a Powerfly+ with its CX motor will be more at ease.
| Model | Motor / battery | Suspension (M) | Drivetrain | Weight (M) |
| Marlin+ 8 | Bosch Active Line Plus / 400 Wh | 120 mm fork | Shimano Deore 12-speed | 21.89 kg |
| Powerfly+ 4 | Bosch CX / 600 Wh | 120 mm fork (100 in S) | Shimano CUES 10-speed | 23.10 kg |
| Powerfly+ 6 (TranzX post, Kovee rims) | Bosch CX / 800 Wh | 120 mm fork (100 in S) | Shimano 12-speed | 24.10 kg |
| Powerfly+ 8 (SRAM Eagle 70) | Bosch CX / PowerTube | Fox 120 mm (100 in S) | SRAM Eagle 70 12-speed | 23.08 kg |
Our take: the Marlin+ 8 is 1.21 kg lighter than the Powerfly+ 4 (23.10 kg in M) but has a less powerful motor and a 400 Wh battery. On the other hand, it adds a dropper post and 12 speeds.
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LVR sizing advice The Marlin+ 8 adapts its cockpit to the size: in S, a 720 mm bar, 35 mm stem, 27.5 inch wheels and a 100 mm dropper; above that, a 780 mm bar and 29 inch wheels. If you are between sizes, the smaller one will reassure beginners.
Source: Trek size guide. Bike fitting available in our Béziers shop. |
| Active Line Plus or CX? | The Plus is smooth and natural; the more powerful CX suits steep slopes. |
| What rides is 400 Wh suited to? | Rides of a few hours on tracks; range depends on the terrain and the mode. |
| Can it be ridden without assist? | Yes, the motor offers little resistance and the bike remains pleasant to pedal. |
| Does the mauve change colour? | Yes, it shifts with the light before fading into black. |
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The LVR Cycles verdict The most natural and lightest electric mountain bike in our comparison, to keep the pleasure of pedalling with discreet support. Its colour-shifting mauve fading to black gives it real personality.
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Why buy from LVR Cycles? In Béziers, we set up the fork and dropper post, update your Bosch system and advise you on battery use for your routes.
Please note that the specifications may be changed without prior notice by the manufacturer, based on the availability of components and other factors.
Data sheet
Specific References