Aventon Ramblas vs Trek Marlin+ | Power vs Precision

Range Test Results:

	Aventon Ramblas	Trek Marlin+
Max PAS	47.5 miles	30.7 miles
Min PAS	107.4 miles	71.12 miles

*One quick note: these tests were all done on our local bike paths, not MTB trails. Results will likely be less on MTB trails.

It wasn’t a huge shock to see the bike with the larger battery had better range. But when I put both bikes’ datasets under the microscope, I was happy with what I found.

The Ramblas achieved the 5th longest MIN and MAX tests we’ve ever recorded across 260+ bikes we’ve done this for. With a motor I think of as quick and powerful, I was surprised it didn’t burn through the battery quickly too.

The Marlin+ 8 was impressive in its own right. When looking at which bike is most efficient based on mileage achieved on the battery size it comes with (miles/watt hours), the Marlin had the 8th best MIN result and 14th best MAX result we’ve ever had (15th and 32nd for the Ramblas, respectively).

Why does efficiency matter? Well, the smaller battery gives the Marlin a lower overall weight, which is nice for its handling, but it shows it’s no slouch in range. The Marlin+ is also compatible with the Bosch PowerMore 250, which, based on our results, should add another 19 – 45 miles of riding if you buy that.

So, total range: advantage Ramblas. Better efficiency (and lighter bike as a result): advantage Marlin+ 8.

Hill Test Results:

	Aventon Ramblas	Trek Marlin+
MAX Pedal	1:16, 14.7 mph	1:48, 10 mph

Similar to the range test, this wasn’t necessarily a surprise either. The motor with more ‘stuff’ had the better climb time.

The Ramblas has 100 Nm of torque which doubles the Marlin’s motor. It also has a higher wattage peak up to 750 vs the Marlin’s 600. That’s what helped it achieve the fastest mid-drive eMTB result we’ve ever tested on our hill, period. The Marlin+ 8, on the other hand, had one of the slower times we’ve had up the hill.

The two bikes’ gearing ratios were similar, so most riders won’t tell the difference. Both bikes have a great range of gears for practical use on most types of trails/terrain.

If raw time/power is all that matters to you, then move on to the next section. If performance/feel/engagement matter to you, well, let’s get into a bit of nuance.

The Ramblas made it feel like I could climb almost anything. It has all the juice to climb up the gnarly, rocky, uneven trails I tested it on. It did occasionally over-boost me in a way that wasn’t as dialed in as I’d hoped for.

The Bosch motor on the Marlin was better at responding to how much power I needed in a given situation. I had to work a bit harder, sure, but the smoothness of the climb was noticeably more refined. Also, working hard is somewhat the point. It’s designed to help, not run the show.

Either motor comes with an app where you can tailor the power and engagement settings more to your liking, but in general, I’d say the Bosch motor is maybe a notch above where the A100 motor is for now on engagement, while the Ramblas wins for sheer power.

Aventon Ramblas Check Best Price

Trek Marlin+ Check Best Price

If you’re familiar with our work, you know we have a standardized brake test. We think it’s great for many styles of e-bikes, but the results are hard to contextualize for eMTBs, so we didn’t do that test on either of these bikes. Brake test 2.0 for eMTBs is coming to an Electric Bike Report near you soon!

Instead, we’re sticking to good old-fashioned ‘how does it feel?’ analysis here.

Both bikes have 4-piston hydraulic brakes. The Ramblas has a 200/180mm rotor setup, while the marlin has a pair of 203mm rotors. Both have good responsiveness, modulation and feel.

If you hold my feet to the fire and say to pick which is better, I’d maybe prefer the Ramblas’ DB8, but we’re diving into personal preference territory at that point. The Trek has more heat dissipation too with the larger rear rotor so that might appeal to you.

In either case, if you’re riding on the path, either set is more than equipped for the job. Either one gives great control on mountain trails for handling hardtail-friendly areas. Both feel like good value and come from brand names you can trust when it comes to producing higher-quality products.

Speed Test Results:

	Aventon Ramblas	Trek Marlin+
PAS 0	9.3	11
Eco	13.5	12.8
Tour/Tour+	15.2	15.2
Turbo	20.3	19.3

Both rides are class 1 e-bikes, meaning you can max out at 20 mph. You can see the speeds I got when testing their programming, but again, you can change and tailor any of those outputs in the bike’s app. So, let’s talk a little more about the nature of these two motors.

The Ramblas’s A100 is powerful and fast. I did a lot of riding in go-go-go fashion. It was exhilarating, and in Turbo mode it was almost effortless. I had a blast zooming down flowy single track, and I felt the bike moved and manuevered pretty well. It definitely put the ‘e’ in e-bike.

The Marlin+ 8 was more subtle while still providing great speed. Eco and Tour+ riding is the type of thing you can almost forget you’re riding an e-bike on. The speeds increased, but there was almost no discernable noise, and power ramped up in lockstep with your pedal cadence, adding sneaky wattage to what you produced yourself. I knew I wasn’t superpowered like I was on the Ramblas, but it gave me terrific self-power.

Aventon Ramblas Check Best Price

Trek Marlin+ Check Best Price

Coke and Pepsi, Apple and Samsung, Xbox and Playstation. To the casual observer, these companies are making basically the same products. To the fans, preference and taste will influence choice.

Many of the components on these two bikes come from different brands, but mostly are from similar rungs on their respective ladders. To me, the tires, brakes and drivetrains are all a push. I think there is one area in particular though that Trek has the upper hand.

The Marlin+8 comes with a RockShox Recon Silver air fork with up to 120mm of travel. Overall, I was impressed with its stiffness and thought it held up nicely, giving me dialed-in control over how I wanted to ride.

The Ramblas’s Rockshox coil fork has 130mm of travel. The Borealis color Ramblas I tested didn’t have compression adjustment of any kind. I weigh 230 lbs, and I have just about the right amount of sag in the fork, but again, no adjustment. Less adaptable = less appealing.

I think the total component package is slightly better on Trek’s side overall, but Aventon isn’t far behind and is the cheaper bike by several hundred dollars. If you’re not a fan of the fork, it’s relatively easy to upgrade.

This is Aventon’s first foray into eMTBs, but you wouldn’t know that from riding the Ramblas. It has a lot going for it. No major mistakes were made: it has modern geo, better features and components than you’d expect at its price, and it’s showing the brand has been dialing in the feel of e-bikes and motors for a while now.

Aventon makes their own frames, and now they’re making motors. I’m generally a fan of vertical integration – the end product often feels better and more put together as a result. The Ramblas is about as good as it gets for anybody on their first attempt.

The Marlin+ 8 on the other hand does display that ‘je ne sais quoi’ that legacy brand’s like Trek have in their favor. Trek’s been at it for decades now, and the bike feels ‘tighter’ overall. The handling component is on display, and the pairing of a motor with near-seamless integration to a rider’s pedal effort works some serious magic.

I know I’ve brought it up already, but the fork on the Marlin was noticeably more comfortable too.

I also like the emphasis they placed on marketing the Marlin+ as being a good e-bike for doing a bit of everything. Hit single track on the weekends, but equip it as a commuter throughout the week. That will encourage more e-bike adoption when you feel you can buy one bike for two types of riding.

I feel like if you asked me “Hey Griffin, the Aventon Ramblas vs Trek Marlin+: which do you think is better?” 100 days in a row I would end up with a number very close to 50/50.

I’ll just break it down to the defining characteristics of the bikes instead, and let you choose which one sounds better to you.

The Ramblas has terrific power, and range for days. The spec sheet goes toe-to-toe with the Marlin+ 8 in nearly every respect save for the fork, but you’re spending $600 less so something had to give (and in all likelihood, you can upgrade to a similar or better fork off that savings). It’s got great value for what you’re buying.

The Marlin+ 8 has the dialed-in feel you’d expect from a brand that’s been in this game as long as Trek has (and Bosch too for that matter). It’s a bit more comfortable and adjustable, it has five frames instead of four to pick from for a better fit. Is it more expensive? Yup. But it also means you have an expansive network of Trek mechanics nearby who can help come service time.

Fortunately, I don’t believe there is such a thing as a wrong choice here. If you’ve whittled it down to these two bikes, one way or another, you’ll be riding off on a good one.

*For more info on the Aventon Ramblas, check out its full review here.

*For more info on the Trek Marlin+ 8, check out its full review here.

Aventon Ramblas Check Best Price

Trek Marlin+ Check Best Price