trek 6000 upgrade

Cycling made Simple.

Made By Cyclists

Trek 6000 Review

March 28, 2023

‍ Key Takeaways

• The Trek 6000 is a great budget mountain bike that offers features that punch above it’s price.
• It is built on a sturdy aluminum frame with forged dropouts w/ rack/fender mounts.
• The Trek 6000 went out of production after 2012, but you can still find a good used one.
• For a modern alternative to the Trek 6000, check out the Trek Marlin 4 .

‍ If you’re looking for an affordable mountain bike, there are dozens of options to choose from. This review will help you decide if the Trek 6000 is for you.

Overall, the Trek 6000 mountain bike is a solid, affordable choice if you need a general-use bike for casual riding or commuting. It has a lot of features you’ll find in higher-end mountain bikes like disc brakes and a suspension fork. It definitely isn’t designed for hardcore riding though.

I’ve ridden hardtail mountain bikes my entire life, and my first bike was a budget model from Trek. For this review I’ve dug into all the specs, components, and details on this bike to give you the information you need.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

‍ Trek 6000 Performance

If you’re looking for a capable all-around bike that’s equally happy on your commute, neighborhood bike paths, and flowy singletrack trails, the Trek 6000 is a great choice.

This isn’t an all-out trail shredding machine by any means, but it is plenty capable for most recreational riders wanting to get out on some singletrack and have fun. And it still maintains plenty of practicality for everyday use.

If you are planning to tackle highly technical, rocky descents, you’ll probably be better served by a more aggressive bike. With it’s fairly traditional geometry, 26 inch wheels, and limited suspension travel, the Trek 6000 just isn’t cut out for hardcore riding.

On steep, rough trails, you’ll pretty quickly find yourself out of your element and clinging on for dear life.

Where this bike shines, though, is on gentler, flowy singletrack. The cross-country-oriented geometry, small wheels, and hardtail handling make this bike feel very playful and responsive on smoother trails.

The Shimano 3x10 drivetrain gets you plenty of low gear range, especially when you take the 26” wheels into consideration. The lowest gear gives you a 24-tooth chainring in the front to a 36-tooth cog in the back, which is great for winching your way up steep hills.

This bike is also fairly lightweight for an entry-level bike, and it’s cross-country geometry puts you in a very efficient climbing position.

The smaller 26-inch wheels on the Trek 6000 may not roll over obstacles as well as bigger 29-inch wheels, but they do make this bike feel very maneuverable when climbing.

If you’re looking for an older entry-level mountain bike like this, you probably are wanting something versatile that can be your only bike for everything. I commute to work every day on my hardtail mountain bike, so I’ll be the first to tell you that you can definitely use a mountain bike for more than trails.

The Trek 6000 is a perfectly capable bike for commuting or just cruising around town. It has built-in fender mounts and mounting points for a rack to carry your gear.

Trek 6000 Frame and Geometry

The Trek 6000 mountain bike is built around a fairly basic, but well-made alluminum frame.

This frame has plenty of modern features built-in like a formed top tube, monostay seatstay, forged dropouts w/ rack mounts, a threaded bottom bracket shell, and disc brake post mounts.

Specs and Components

The Trek 6000 comes equipped with a Shimano Deore drivetrain with a triple chainring up front and a 10-speed cassette in the back. This drivetrain has plenty of range for everything from cruising on the road to winching your way up technical climbs.

The Shimano Deore XT m780 Shadow rear derailleur offers very smooth and crisp shifting performance. This is a reliable drivetrain that you can rely on to get your power to the ground no matter the conditions.

As a hardtail, the Trek 6000 has no rear suspension. This makes it much more efficient for pedaling uphill or on flat sections, but also means you’ll feel more trail chatter than a full suspension bike.

In the front you get a Suntour XCR-RL coil spring suspension fork with a remote lockout. The 100mm of travel isn’t a ton, but for the type of riding you’ll do with this bike, it’s more than enough.

This fork isn’t the lightest weight on the market, but it offers surprisingly good performance for a budget fork. It is smooth throughout it’s travel and does a good job at smoothing out rocks and roots in the trail.

The remote lockout is an awesome feature that lets you quickly switch between modes for variable riding.

This bike comes equipped with Shimano m446 hydraulic disc brakes that provide ample stopping power and decent modulation. It’s really awesome to see Trek packing in performance-oriented components like this at an entry-level price.

Brakes are definitely an undervalued component of any bicycle, but they are massively important for riding, especially on trails. Having powerful brakes will give you more confidence and control to ride faster on the descents.

If you are coming from mechanical disc brakes or rim brakes, you’ll be blown away by how much better these hydraulic brakes are.

The Trek 6000 rides on a pair of Bontrager hubs laced to Shimano M435 alloy hubs. Overall this wheelset is about what you’d expect in an older budget bike. These wheels are plenty sturdy, but a bit on the heavy side.

The biggest thing to note here is that you’re stuck with old-school 26-inch wheels. The mountain bike industry as a whole has shifted to 29-inch or 27.5-inch wheels, so this bicycle is definitely showing it’s age here.

For casual riding, the smaller wheels won’t be a problem, but 29-inch wheels definitely are smoother and faster on the trail.

Those 26-inch wheels are wrapped with some pretty basic Bontrager XR1 wire bead tires in a 2.2-inch width. These should be adequate for most casual trail riding, but you may find yourself short on grip through loose sections of trail.

Other Components

Other component highlights include the Bontrager race lite step and grips, the surprisingly comfortable saddle, and the low rise handlebar that puts you in a great balanced position.

Overall, this is a quite comfortable bike for all sorts of riding.

Competition for the Trek 6000

The Trek 6000 is no longer in production, so you may be interested in looking at some more modern alternatives that are still available on the market. Here are a few bikes that are pretty comparable to the Trek 6000.

Trek 6000 vs Trek Marlin 4

The Trek Marlin 4 is probably the most similar ride you’ll be able to find to the Trek 6000. It has a Shimano 3x drivetrain, a Suntour suspension fork, and a basic but fairly lightweight aluminum frame

The Trek 6000 actually has some advantages over the Marlin 4, which only has a 7-speed cassette and mechanical disc brakes.

Where the Marlin 4 shows it’s advantage is in the more modern wheel size choices. You can get either 27.5 or 29-inch wheels, which makes for a much smoother more capable ride overall.

With the Marlin 4, Trek has started following the trend of matching wheel size to frame size. On the smaller sizes you get 27.5-inch wheels, while larger sizes are equipped with 29ers.

Trek 6000 vs Canyon Grand Canyon

Canyon is a modern direct-to-consumer manufacturer that uses their business model to offer capable bikes at impressively low prices. The Grand Canyon is their entry-level mountain bike model that packs in an impressive range of performance and features at a low price.

If you’re looking for a capable modern mountain bike on a budget, the Canyon Grand Canyon may offer the best price-to-performance ratio on the market. Seriously, it’s incredible that they were able to deliver so much at this price.

The Grand Canyon has fairly aggressive modern geometry with a slack head tube angle and steep seat tube angle. It will definitely feel much more confident on trails than the Trek 6000.

You also get a very well-spec’d component selection. You get Shimano MT200 hydraulic disc brakes for fantastic stopping power, a smooth-shifting Shimano 12-speed drivetrain, a Suntour XCR coil suspension fork, and larger wheel sizes for smooth-rolling performance.

Trek 6000 vs Specialized Rockhopper Sport 29

The Rockhopper is Specialized’s entry-level hardtail mountain bike, and it’s one of the most popular mountain bikes out there.

The Specialized Rockhopper Sport 29 is the second lowest bike in the Rockhopper range. It has a Microshift 2 by 9 speed drivetrain, a Suntour XCM coil suspension fork, Shimano MT200 hydraulic disc brakes, and an aluminum frame with cross-country-inspired geometry.

Overall, you can expect fairly similar performance from the Specialized Rockhopper Sport 29 and the Trek 6000. The big difference again is going to be in wheel size. There is a reason you don’t see modern mountain bikes with 26-inch wheels.

Just having the larger wheels makes the Specialized Rockhopper feel more fun and capable on most trail riding. It rolls faster and smoother and is easier to keep in control.

Where to Buy the Trek 6000

Unfortunately, the Trek 6000 went out of production in 2012, so it is no longer available from Trek. You can still find a good used one near you or online. BikeExchange is a great online marketplace where you can shop for used bikes.

Bicycle Blue Book lists the fair value of the 2012 model of the Trek 6000 at around $300, so there are definitely good deals to be had. If you can find one used, you’ll be getting a lot of bike for your money.

10 Historical Bike Rides That Changed Lives

10 Ways to Integrate Cycling into School Curriculums

10 Ways to Bike Around the World Without Leaving Home

10 Innovations in Bike Security Technology

This article may contain affiliate links where we earn a commission from qualifying purchases. The images and content on this page may be created by, or with the assistance of, artificial intelligence, and should be used for entertainment and informational purposes only.

About THE AUTHOR

Jakob Thygerson

I love mountain biking and live in Salt Lake City: a central hub for the MTB community. I started biking four years ago when a series of injuries put me out of commission for trail running. While biking started as cross-training, I fell in love with the sport. I mainly enjoy using my bike as a tool for exploration, I've done 50-mile all-day epic rides in the mountains and have been to some amazing places on my bike.

Trending Now

10 Fascinating Facts About Bicycle Evolution

10 Revolutionary Bike Trail Designs That Enhance Urban Spaces

10 Bicycle-Inspired Architectural Wonders Around the World

10 Surprising Uses of Bicycles in Various Industries

About PedalChef

PedalChef is a blog on all things cycling. We are a group of people who love bikes, and we want to share the joy that comes with the experience. You can read more about us here .

©2024 PedalChef. All rights reserved.

We can be reached at [email protected]

PedalChef.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. This site also participates in other affiliate programs, and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies.

Trek 6000 Brake Component Replacement

Introduction.

Before beginning, be sure to wear clothes that you won't mind possibly getting grease on. This guide may be helpful if you are having issues with your brakes and need to replace them. This guide may also be uesful if you would like to upgrade the components on your bike.

What you need

Step 1 trek 6000 brake component replacement.

Carefully flip bike over, balancing it on the handle bars and seat.

Use a level floor free of clutter.

Add Comment

Release the clamping mechanism that holds the front forks to the wheel bearing by twisting it 180 degrees.

Remove the plastic nut that is located on the opposite side.

Remove the axle bolt and pay attention to the order and orientation of the springs.

Remove the front wheel from the forks by lifting it straight up.

Remove the 6 screws holding the brake rotor to the front wheel using the T25 Torx driver.

When installing the new brake rotor, be sure to orient the arrow shown in the wheel's direction of travel.

Loosen the brake cable clamp using the 5mm allen wrench until the cable can be pulled free.

Remove the two screws holding the caliper to the front fork using the 5mm allen wrench. Be sure to pay attention to the order and orientation of the washers.

Remove the cable by twisting the black plastic cable guide out of the hole.

Align the channels on the guide and the nut to free the cable.

To reassemble your bike, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Cancel: I did not complete this guide.

with 1 other contributor

Mario Maraccini

Member since: 09/24/17

101 Reputation

1 Guide authored

Michigan Tech, Team S5-G8, Galliah Fall 2017 Member of Michigan Tech, Team S5-G8, Galliah Fall 2017

MTU-GALLIAH-F17S5G8

Embed this guide

Choose a size and copy the code below to embed this guide as a small widget on your site / forum.

Past 24 Hours: 0

Past 7 Days: 1

Past 30 Days: 11

All Time: 723

• Forum Listing
• Marketplace
• Advanced Search
• MTBR Discussion Forums
• Beginner's Corner

Trek 6000...upgrade?

• Add to quote

I wanted a very inexpensive entry into mountain biking. I bought a Walmart bike (Mongoose XR-75) and immediately destroyed the front wheel rim and tire on a 6 inch rock. I realized that Walmart was not an option at that time. I bought a used Trek 6000 mid-90s model for $100 and had it rebuilt almost completely for $70. It seems to be solid and reliable, but I have one reservation. It is a 97 (?) model with no suspension similar to this one: http://cgi.ebay.com/Mid-90s-Trek-6000-Mountain-Bike-Great-Condition_W0QQitemZ180405012346QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMountain_Bikes?hash=item2a00fa077a&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14 I see that most modern hardtails have front shocks. is it a good idea to install a suspension fork with shocks on this model bike? Or am I better off leaving it as is?  

If you install a suspension fork, the bike may start to have "truckish" handling and you may have trouble climbing hills. Also, the fork acts as a lever, so using a longer fork means there's more stress on the head tube and the joints between the head tube, top tube and down tube. A friend of mine tore his head tube off using too long a fork. Depending on the size of your head tube, you may not be able to find a suspension fork from the last ten years or so.  

you can get a new pretty decent hardtail frame designed for a suspension fork for 75-100 bucks these days. if your frame has a 1.0 inch head tube, you're probably best off just leaving it alone. if you've got the new standardized 1 1/8th, you shouldnt have any problems tossing on a 60-80mm xc fork.  

I am a newb to this. The specs are a 1 1/8 headset. Is this the measurement you are referring to?  

Yes. Most cross-country and road forks use a 1 1/8" headset. The headset, steer tube and head tube all have to be the same size, so people refer to those interchangably.  

So they have been using the 1 1/8th for a while. I just dated my bike to 1991 based on the color scheme...must have been solid made. With the 1 1/8th would there be a disadvantage to installing a suspension fork? I realize that for now learning to ride the rigid suspension would be to my advantage, but I am looking to get maybe a year of use from my investment until I can get a top of the line bike.  

My first bike was a fully rigid Cannondale. Rode it for two years before upgrading to a Trek 8000. The only difference I noticed was a little more comfort with front suspension. I won the first xc race I ever entered on the Cannondale. Everyone else was riding full or front suspension, so if there is a performance advantage to front suspension, it is minimal. If you are planning on doing xc type riding, I would leave the bike as is, and ride the hell out of it.  

Thanks for that advice. I checked a book from about 1998 on MB riding technique out of the library, and it discusses suspensions on bikes but all of the instruction technique is using no suspension. The book said the same thing that you just said about front suspension....that the difference is minimal. I have already been hopping up and down curbs, and rolling over large rocks with it on a regular basis and so far is it very easy to ride. I think that I will keep it as is an do as you suggested...ride the hell out of it.  

I raced a rigid bike once near the beginning of the season this year. When I pre-rode, I thought it wasn't making a difference, but when I was actually racing and trying to go fast, it gave me quite a beating. I haven't spent much time on full-suspension bikes, and haven't been too impressed when I have. However, having a suspension fork is definitely an improvement for me. Bear in mind that 100mm of travel is only 4" so it's going to take pretty much the same techniques to clear a larger obstacle as on a rigid bike. The suspension forks at the beginning of the switch were even shorter. An XC fork isn't really there to soak up hits, it's really there to keep the front tire on the ground on an uneven surface. It should allow the rider to maintain control at higher speeds, but short-travel forks really won't substitute for good technique when something trickier is called for.  

• ?            
• 15.5M posts
• 518.7K members

Top Contributors this Month

• MBA PREDICTS WHO WILL BE ON THE U.S. OLYMPIC MOUNTAIN BIKE TEAM
• FLASHBACK FRIDAY: RACING AT MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN, MORE THAN 30 YEARS AGO
• OPINION: N+1 IS DEAD
• 7IDP RELEASES PROJECT.21 HELMET

VIDEO: KRISS KYLE FINDS HIS FLOW IN THE SWISS VINEYARDS

• VIDEO: FEELING THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST’S MID-SEASON STOKE IN ‘SUMMER FLING’
• HOW A BRAND EVOLVED FROM MAKING PIANOS TO EBIKES – THE YAMAHA STORY
• HOW BENTONVILLE TURNED INTO “BENT TENT VILLE”
• SRAM LAUNCHES EAGLE POWERTRAIN RANGE EXTENDER
• MOOTS RELEASES THE ALL NEW MXC CROSS COUNTRY HARDTAIL

The $1150 Trek 6 Series 6700 Hardtail

Test quote: “The 6700 feels light on its feet when carving singletrack, and then it remains confident on the fast, fire road sweepers. It is no downhill bike, but it isn’t a nervous, wandering handful either. A quick-release seatpost clamp allows you to lower the saddle for extended descents.”

Stoked: Buy it and ride it Very responsive to your pedaling input Great dealer network

Bummed: Nothing to complain about here

Ibis Bolt-Together Tranny Single-Speed Hardtail

Interesting Facts About Hutchinson

FASTHOUSE SPEED STYLE ROWEN GLOVE REVIEW

SPECIALIZED CAMBER HELMET REVIEW – INCREDIBLE PERFORMANCE FOR ONLY $35!

YETI TURQ WIND VEST REVIEW – THE IDEAL SPRING COMPANION

FASTHOUSE TRACKER PACKABLE WINDBREAKER REVIEW

mountainbikeaction

- Since 1986 - Covering All Aspects of ⛰🚲 #MBAmagazine

• Bike Builds
• Cross Country Bikes
• Downhill Bikes
• Enduro Bikes
• Hardtail Bikes
• Trail Bikes

VIDEO: FEELING THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST’S MID-SEASON STOKE IN ‘SUMMER…

SPENCER RATHKAMP TAKES ON 4 DIFFERENT RACES FROM XC TO DH WITH THE SPECIALIZED EPIC 8…

VIDEO: HANS REY EXPLORES THE NEXT FRONTIER OF RIDING IN NORWAY

ASK MBA: ARE CARBON WHEELS WORTH THE EXTRA MONEY?

ASK MBA: HOW DO I REPLACE A BROKEN SPOKE?

ASK MBA: WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO FLY WITH MY BIKE?

ASK MBA: WHY DO MY BIKE’S DISC BRAKE PADS KEEP RUBBING?

INTERNAL ROUTING THE EASY WAY – CHEAT CODES FOR CABLE AND HOSE ROUTING

THE INS AND OUTS OF FRAME PROTECTION – THE BEST WAYS TO KEEP YOUR FRAME LOOKING…

HOW TO SERVICE A PRESS-FIT BOTTOM BRACKET

ASK MBA: SHOULD YOU REPLACE THE ROTOR ALONG WITH YOUR BRAKE PADS?

BIKE CHECK: MARK WEIR’S VERY CUSTOM CANNONDALE MOTERRA

BIKE CHECK: BRYN ATKINSON’S PIVOT SHUTTLE LT E-BIKE

MATHIEU VAN DER POEL TELLS US ABOUT HIMSELF AND HIS MOUNTAIN BIKE, MBA SEPTEMBER 202O

BIKE CHECK: LARS FORSTER’S THÖMUS LIGHTRIDER WORLDCUP

• Mountain Bike Action
• Digital Mountain Bike Action
• Back Issues
• NICA Team of the Month
• B’s Buzz

DESTINATION: CAPPADOCIA, TURKEY – ICY TRAILS AND FAIRY TALES

LOAM PASS ADDS 12 NEW DESTINATIONS JUST IN TIME FOR SUMMER

DESTINATION: WHISKEY RUN OREGON – A NOT SO SECRET RIDING PARADISE

GIRLZ GONE RIDING CELEBRATE WOMEN’S MOUNTAIN BIKING WITH BIG BEAR EVENT IN JULY

VIDEO: TRANSITION FACTORY RACING EP. 1 – FT. WILLIAM

PHOTO GALLERY: THE BEST OF SEA OTTER CLASSIC 2024

READER SENDS: THIS MONTH’S BEST READER-SUBMITTED PHOTOS

READER SENDS – THIS MONTH’S BEST READER SUBMITTED PHOTOS

READER SENDS – THIS MONTH’S BEST READER SUBMITTED PHOTOS

• Anneke’s Blog
• Down The Trail

• MAGAZINE OFFERS
• BIKE INSURANCE
• Best Products
• Maintenance
• Accessories
• Long-Term Reviews
• BikeRadar Podcast
• First Look Friday
• Bike of the Week
• Tech Features
• Routes and Rides
• Bike Galleries
• BikeRadar Bargains
• Buyer's Guides
• Fitness & Training
• Sizing & Fit
• Mountain Biking UK
• Cycling Plus
• Bike of the Year 2024

Updated: Trek 6700 review

Sorted if not outstanding all-rounder

Guy Kesteven

The top dog in Trek’s 6000 range is a reliable, responsive and obedient ride, and it’ll have a decent go at most things, from racing to trail centre red routes. However, at this price we’d expect a better fork and overall kit level on what is an adequate rather than outstanding frame.

Ride & handling: Well-balanced overall ride that’s ready for anything

With a long (105mm) stem and a PopLoc remote lockout lever under your thumb, the first impressions of the 6700 are that it's designed for racing rather than more casual use. This also sets up a swift but safe rather than cut-and-thrust handling character that’s carried right thought the bike.

The mid-width 660mm low-riser bar gives enough leverage to coax it into corners without too much effort though, and it’s well balanced enough to surf the slippery-when-wet Bontrager tyres through boggy sections, or otherwise treacherous corners.

The neutral feel was appreciated by less aggressive riders, and the general feedback from all our testers was that it was a “safe and confident ride”. It’s not the lightest bike at this price but still hops and pops around well if you need to lift it over rather than roll through.

It climbs and drives out of corners with encouraging purpose too, and it’s comfortable enough to make day-long rides easy rather than a test of endurance. The reduced control of the TurnKey (rather than Motion Control) damping circuit of the RockShox Recon fork becomes more noticeable the harder you push the bike, though.

While the low (11.75in) bottom bracket aids stability, it sometimes makes itself noticed by pedal-to-ground strikes when you’re riding through bumpy corners. But you soon get used to such limitations. It’s essentially a well designed and reasonably equipped all-rounder that’s sprightly enough to make £1,200 seem well spent.

Frame & equipment: We'd hope for a better chassis and fork at this price

The 6700 is the most expensive model that uses Trek’s mid-range Alpha Black aluminium frameset. It’s a competent chassis with a balanced cross-country-style geometry. Features include a twin taper reinforced down tube, a big hydroformed top tube and a semi-integrated head tube.

There are three sets of bottle cage bosses and eyelets for a rack and mudguards, all of which point to the bike's all-rounder credentials and workhorse rather than thoroughbred breeding.

Going with the relatively cheap frameset doesn’t reap the dividends you might expect when it comes to kit. Specifically, while the TurnKey damper equipped Recon SL fork offers reasonable compression and rebound control, it's definitely lacking in composure compared with the RockShox Motion Control or Fox forks found on some other hardtails at this price.

The Shimano XT chainset and rear mech spec is diluted by SLX front mech and shifters, although these keep shifting just as slick and precise as XT. Avid's Elixir brakes are powerful performers, well suited to the bike's intended use.

The fat-carcass 2.2in XDX tyres on broad Bontrager Ranger rims add a welcome dose of float and comfortable buoyancy to the bike, as long as you’re prepared to ride the slide of the non-directional tread. The wheels aren't especially light but they're tough enough to take a bit of punishment.

The rest of the finishing parts are mid-range Bontrager tagged offerings, including a 660mm low-rise bar, comfy saddle, lightweight single-bolt seatpost and decent stem. The whole thing isn’t as light as we’d hope for a £1,200 racer though, at 11.7kg (25.8lb, without pedals).

Share this article

• Terms & Conditions
• Subscribe to our magazines
• Manage preferences

Polaris launches first-of-its-kind free off-road charging network for adventure EVs

Polaris , which pushed hard into electric vehicles with its Polaris RANGER XP Kinetic electric UTV, has just announced the launch of a “first of its kind” off-road charging network in Michigan’s upper peninsula.

Polaris Inc. and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) together inaugurated the innovative electric off-road vehicle charging network in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, marking a significant milestone in the modernization of the state’s mobility offerings. The announcement comes nearly a year after Polaris was awarded the Mobility Public-Private Partnership & Programming grant through the Michigan Office of Future Mobility & Electrification (OFME) to develop and maintain the off-road charging network.

“It is an honor to mark the opening of this unique off-road electric charging network developed in partnership with the State of Michigan and the local communities along this trail system. Polaris and Michigan are connected in our efforts to bring exciting innovation and the latest technology to outdoor recreation,” explained Andrew Chasse, Vice President of Strategy and Partnerships at Polaris. “I’d like to thank the Michigan Economic Development Corporation in particular for allowing Polaris the opportunity to play a role in such an important initiative for the state and this standout milestone for the powersports industry.”

The new network, which is the first of its kind, spans approximately 100 miles (160 km) of scenic off-road trails and features four charging stations located in Ontonagon, White Pine, Bergland, and Greenland.

These stations, developed in partnership with Texas-based Yotta Energy, are equipped with Yotta’s REV charging stations, which include solar production capacity and 120kWh of onboard energy storage. This technology is designed to function both on-grid and off-grid, making it ideal for remote and urban locations.

“Michigan is known as a Make-It State, leveraging our incredible talent pool that brings together innovation, grit, determination, and visionary products of the future,” added Justine Johnson, State of Michigan Chief Mobility Officer. “Working in tandem with Polaris to launch an electric off-road vehicle charging network in the Upper Peninsula exemplifies how working through public-private partnerships brings ideation to fruition in every corner of Michigan. We applaud Polaris’s effort to support the growth of a reliable EV charging infrastructure in one of Michigan’s favorite ORV riding destinations.”

Alongside the charging network, Polaris announced the launch of the nation’s first all-electric off-road vehicle rental fleet. Hamilton’s North Coast Adventures, a Polaris Adventures Outfitter near Ontonagon, is offering rentals of Polaris’ all-electric RANGER XP Kinetic. This initiative allows customers to explore the Pioneer ORV Trail with the latest electric off-road vehicles while utilizing the new charging network.

Gray Rentz, Vice President of Polaris Experience, emphasized the importance of this development: “Polaris Adventures was started with the goal of helping more people experience powersports and discover new ways to enjoy the outdoors, and this launch of our first electric off-road vehicle rental experience in the country will continue to do just that.”

Since launching the all-electric RANGER XP Kinetic utility side-by-side in 2023 , Polaris has been at the forefront of integrating electric drive into off-road powersports. The company aims to enhance the riding experience with electric powertrain technology, which offers benefits like improved acceleration, control, quieter operations, and zero emissions. Polaris is also focused on testing electric prototypes across its product platforms and will commercialize where electrification significantly enhances customer experience.

Electrek’s Take

As someone who enjoys every opportunity to appreciate nature in its most unmolested form, this news couldn’t be better.

Off-road vehicles are a great way to access remote areas and enjoy trails that would be too far to hike, but historically, their loud and polluting combustion engines have been a major downside.

I’ve tested the Polaris RANGER XP Kinetic electric side-by-side, and it’s amazing how it offers the power and comfort of a premium UTV yet is nearly as quiet as huffing it on foot.

Being able to hear the leaves crunch under your tires is something you don’t normally experience on most off-road vehicles, and don’t get me started on the other issues like sound pollution, exhaust smell, and other downsides.

So, encouraging the switch to electric drive in the off-road power sports industry couldn’t come sooner. These types of charging networks are what will make that a reality, offering remote “re-fueling” opportunities that you could never hope to achieve with a gas station network.

I’m also glad to see that these chargers are free to use. Let’s be honest: These aren’t going to be highly trafficked areas. This isn’t a shopping mall parking lot; it’s a secluded rural area. So it’s not like anyone is hoping to make a living off of the few bucks a day worth of charging. Instead, using state money through a grant to offer a charging station like feels like it’s for the public good, similar to installing water fountains in a park or bike repair stands along bike trails. It’s not like the cost to charge is going to make or break the trip for someone, especially when these vehicles cost tens of thousands of dollars. But no one wants to figure out how to subscribe to a new charging network while on the side of a trail.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Micah Toll is a personal electric vehicle enthusiast, battery nerd, and author of the Amazon #1 bestselling books DIY Lithium Batteries , DIY Solar Power,   The Ultimate DIY Ebike Guide  and The Electric Bike Manifesto .

The e-bikes that make up Micah’s current daily drivers are the $999 Lectric XP 2.0 , the $1,095 Ride1Up Roadster V2 , the $1,199 Rad Power Bikes RadMission , and the $3,299 Priority Current . But it’s a pretty evolving list these days.

You can send Micah tips at [email protected], or find him on Twitter , Instagram , or TikTok .

Micah Toll's favorite gear

Lectric XP 3.0 e-bike sale

Best $999 electric bike ever!

Rad Power Bikes sales

Great e-bikes at great prices!

Manage push notifications