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Trek FX 2 Review: Ultimate Guide To The Fitness Hybrid Gravel Grinder

• by Riding With Ryan (Official)

My first bike from a legitimate bike shop was a Trek FX 2 Disc. There have been several changes over the years, almost all making this bike even better. If you are just getting into cycling and are interested in this Trek FX 2 review, be very careful. This bike will draw you into cycling, and soon you will start obsessing about saving grams, LYCRA, and Strava KOMs. Also, be sure to check out this 2022 Trek FX 3 review .

No need to worry about high prices with this bike. In other words, the Trek FX 2 is an awesome bike with a low price point, below $1,000. So what kind of bike is it, and who is it good for? These are both questions we will answer, and more, in this Trek FX 2 review. After that, you will want to call your bike shop to setup a test ride.

What Kind Of Bike Is The Trek FX 2?

The Trek FX 2 is a fitness hybrid bike. A hybrid bike is simply any bike that doesn’t fall into a specific category like road bike, mountain bike or cruiser. Fitness hybrids are bikes with similar geometry to an endurance road bike, but it will have flat handlebars instead of traditional road bike drop bars.

Fitness hybrid bikes can be ridden in the road, on light gravel, or a combination of the two. They make great bikes for commuting, as well as making an awesome gravel bike with flat bars. It really is a do-it all bike that’s good at everything, great at nothing.

For a long time I ran two different sets of wheels on my Trek FX 2. I had a set of wheels with 40mm gravel tires, and I replaced the stock 35mm tires for some slightly more aggressive 32mm road tires for the factory wheelset. Eventually tire upgrades were not enough and I started buying upgraded bikes. However, I love my Trek FX 2 so much I still own it today.

Who Is The Trek FX 2 Good For?

The Trek FX 2 is made for anyone looking for a high quality ride without sacrificing comfort. This bike is incredibly fast to anyone not already riding a road bike. With beefier tires its a capable endurance bike.

The Trek FX 2 has multiple rack and fender mounts for commuters, and plenty of storage add-ons available for tourers.

It’s not often a single bike fills the holes of so many different riding disciplines. This Trek FX 2 review may be the first bike review I’ve done that covers road biking, fitness, gravel, and recreational riding. All of which are extremely fun and comfortable on the FX 2. The only riding discipline the FX 2 isn’t good for is mountain biking.

Trek FX 2 Gravel Upgrades

One of the most popular questions in the bike shop these days is about gravel bikes. Its an awesome riding discipline that has exploded in popularity for good reason. An easy and affordable way to ride gravel is with the Trek FX 2.

The maximum tire size recommended by Trek for the FX 2 Disc model is a 38mm tire. I have first hand experience fitting 40mm tires on my Trek FX 2 without a single issue. Above all, you don’t want to risk your warranty. It’s best to stay within the specifications Trek recommends. Adding fenders restricts that maximum tire size to 35mm.

After the new tires the FX 2 is ready to shred your next gravel trail. Modifying grips and saddles, as well as adding clipless pedals are all recommendations I would make. Getting those accessories specifically for gravel riding will only enhance your riding experience.

Gravel Purists, or Gravel Snobs, will not appreciate your flat bar gravel bike. Gravel bikes have drop handlebars. Some forged bar ends hanging down should be the final touch to keep everyone happy. They will also give you some additional hand positions on longer rides.

Is the Trek FX 2 Worth It?

Yes, the 2022 Trek FX 2 Disc is certainly worth it’s $779.99 price tag. Save the extra $150 to afford the Trek FX 3 Disc. It comes with an upgraded group set and a carbon fork to eat up additional vibrations from the road. In other words, you can’t go wrong with any Trek FX model.

The 2022 Trek FX 2 Disc bikes come in two color options. Firstly, is Trek’s traditional Satin Lithium Gray that has been a color option every year on the FX model. The second color option is absolute fire. It is Satin Viper Red and it looks amazing.

I love the Viper Red for two reasons. Firstly, it makes the bike look great and look fast. Secondly, is the way the color stands out. Someone driving by is going to see this Viper Red bike. If they see you they are less likely to run you over. Which is, you know, a great thing!

If you are looking for a great way to transport your bikes read: Kuat NV 2.0 Review .

Trek FX 2 Disc vs Rim Brakes

Trek offers the FX 1 and 2 models in rim brake and disc brake versions. The FX 3 is disc brakes only. What exactly is the difference, and are disc brakes worth the upgrade? Lets dive into those details.

First, the difference between disc and rim brakes can be dramatic. Disc brakes provide better stopping power in all conditions. The Tour De France was won on rim brakes for over 100 years, but you can’t argue against disc brake stopping ability.

The only reason someone should consider rim brakes over disc brakes is if their budget requires it. Riding a rim brake bike is better than riding no bike at all. Also, many dry climates won’t notice much difference between disc and rim brakes. The differences are more noticeable in wet riding conditions.

In conclusion, if you aren’t sure which model of FX is best for you I’d recommend browsing through the details on Trek’s website. Also, you can read this 2022 Trek FX 3 review .

1 thought on “Trek FX 2 Review: Ultimate Guide To The Fitness Hybrid Gravel Grinder”

I just bought a Trek FX 2 Disc at Scheels Grand Forks, North Dakota on July 22nd, 2023. They installed cheap brake: RUSH bake system and Cheap tire 700x32c with no name on it into my bike. These components were not as specifications on sale list at Scheels Grand Forks, North Dakota. The bake system should be Tektro HD-R280 and the tires should be Bontrager H2 Comp, 700x35c. First, they said that they will replace the brake and the tire as the specifications on the sale list. Then they call me to come back to the store and told me they only change the tires to the Bontrager H2 Comp, and if I want to change the brake I have to pay for the labor. I really disappointed about this. To my experience, you should check out the component of the Trek bike before you buy it. If you don’t, maybe your Trek bike get a cheap component installed on it.

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Trek FX 2 Disc Review

Are you in the market for a new bike? With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to find the perfect one.

If you’re looking for a reliable and versatile bike, then the Trek FX 2 Disc might just be what you’re looking for.

When it comes to biking, Trek is a name that is synonymous with quality and durability.

The Trek FX series has long been known for its exceptional performance and comfort.

The FX 2 Disc is the latest addition to this renowned line of bikes, offering even more features and improvements to enhance your riding experience.

In this review, we will take an in-depth look at the Trek FX 2 Disc and explore its key features, performance, and overall value for money.

Whether you’re a casual rider or a seasoned cyclist, this bike has something to offer for everyone.

So, let’s dive in and see if the Trek FX 2 Disc is the right bike for you.

– Lightweight and durable frame made from Trek’s Alpha Gold Aluminum.

– Tektro hydraulic disc brakes provide reliable stopping power in all weather conditions.

– Wide range of gears from the Shimano 2×9 drivetrain to tackle various terrains and inclines.

– Versatile Bontrager H2 Comp 700x35mm tires with puncture-resistant technology for added durability.

– Rack and fender mounts for easy customization and added utility.

– Internal cable routing for a clean and sleek look.

– Comes with a lifetime warranty, ensuring long-lasting performance and peace of mind.

– Suitable for riders of all skill levels, from beginners to experienced cyclists.

– Provides a smooth and stable ride, thanks to its balanced geometry design.

– Offers excellent value for the features and performance it delivers.

One of the standout features of the Trek FX 2 Disc is its lightweight Alpha Gold Aluminum frame.

This frame not only provides a sturdy and durable foundation but also ensures a comfortable and smooth ride.

The bike’s geometry is designed to offer a relaxed and upright riding position, perfect for long rides or daily commutes.

Wheels and Tires

The Trek FX 2 Disc is equipped with Bontrager Connection 700c wheels, which are significantly lighter than many others on the market.

The wheels also provide excellent control and stability in all kinds of terrain.

The bike also comes with wide Bontrager H2 Comp 700x35mm tires that offer superior traction and grip for added confidence when riding.

These tires are puncture-resistant, making them highly durable and long-lasting.

The bike features a Shimano 2×9 drivetrain, with a wide range of gears to tackle any terrain.

Whether you’re climbing hills or cruising on flat roads, you’ll always find the right gear to maintain your desired speed.

The Shimano components ensure smooth and precise shifting, allowing for seamless gear transitions.

The FX 2 Disc comes equipped with Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, which provide excellent stopping power in all weather conditions.

Whether you’re riding in the rain or on a steep descent, these brakes will give you the confidence to ride with ease.

Comfort is a key factor when it comes to long rides, and the Trek FX 2 Disc doesn’t disappoint.

The Bontrager Sport saddle provides ample cushioning and support, while the ergonomic grips offer a comfortable and secure grip.

Additionally, the bike’s ally handlebar and grips help absorb road vibrations, reducing fatigue and discomfort during long rides.

Versatility

The FX 2 Disc also offers versatility in terms of accessories.

It comes with rack and fender mounts, allowing you to easily add racks and fenders for commuting or touring purposes.

Trek FX 3 Disc Review

Trek FX 1 Disc Review

2023 Trek FX Sport 6 Review

Overall, the Trek FX 2 Disc is a reliable and versatile bike that offers a comfortable and enjoyable riding experience.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced cyclist, this bike is a great choice for daily commutes, fitness rides, or weekend adventures.

With its durable frame, reliable components, and comfortable features, the Trek FX 2 Disc is a bike that you can rely on for years to come.

Order yours online today and pick it up at your local Trek store, or have it shipped to your home!

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Trek FX 2 Disc

• AUS $ NZD $ USD $ CAD $ GBP £ EUR €

Size / XS, SM, MD, LG, XL, XXL

At a glance

Where to buy.

Specifications

• Frame Alpha Gold Aluminum, DuoTrap S compatible, internal cable routing, flat mount disc, rack & fender mounts, 135x5mm QR
• Fork FX Alloy, flat mount disc, rack mounts, 405mm axle-to-crown, ThruSkew 5mm QR
• Hubs Formula DC-22, alloy, 6-bolt, Shimano 8/9/10 freehub, 135x5mm QR
• Wheels Bontrager Connection, alloy, double-wall, 32-hole, schrader valve
• Tires Bontrager H2 Comp, wire bead, 30tpi, 700x35c
• Chain KMC X9
• Crank Forged alloy, 46/30, chainguard, 170mm length
• Bottom Bracket Sealed cartridge, 68mm
• Front Derailleur Shimano Acera T3000, 34.9mm clamp, top swing, dual pull
• Rear Derailleur Shimano Altus M2000, long cage
• Shifters Size: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL, Shimano Altus M2010, 9 speed; Size: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL, Shimano Altus M2010, 2 speed
• Brakeset Tektro HD-R280 hydraulic disc, flat mount, 160mm rotor
• Handlebar Size: XS, S, M, Bontrager alloy, 31.8mm, 15mm rise, 600mm width; Size: L, XL, XXL, Bontrager alloy, 31.8mm, 15mm rise, 660mm width
• Saddle Bontrager Sport
• Seatpost Bontrager alloy, 27.2mm, 12mm offset, 330mm length
• Stem Size: XS, S, M, Bontrager alloy, 31.8mm, Blendr compatible, 7 degree, 90mm length; Size: L, XL, XXL, Bontrager alloy, 31.8mm, Blendr compatible, 7 degree, 100mm length
• Grips Bontrager Satellite
• Headset 1-1/8'' threadless, sealed cartridge bearings

Q: How much is a 2022 Trek FX 2 Disc?

A 2022 Trek FX 2 Disc is typically priced around $779 USD when new. Be sure to shop around for the best price, and also look to the used market for a great deal.

Q: Where to buy a 2022 Trek FX 2 Disc?

The 2022 Trek FX 2 Disc may be purchased directly from Trek .

Q: What size 2022 Trek FX 2 Disc should I get?

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• Rider Notes

2022 Trek FX 2 Disc

A 700c aluminum frame fitness bike with modest components and hydraulic disc brakes.

Manufacturer Price

For This Bike

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Based on frame geometry and build specs.

A bike with lower gearing will be easier to ride up steep hills, while a higher top end means it will pedal faster down hills.

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Based on build material and quality level of the frame, fork, wheelset, groupset, suspension system, and more.

158cm – 167cm

154cm – 166cm

164cm – 176cm

174cm – 187cm

185cm – 198cm

186cm – 194cm

🐐 Estimated

Do you have this bike? Help other riders make a decision about which size will work for them by sharing your own size and fit notes. Report your fit

Sept 2022 · Benjamin Page

The Trek FX 2 Disc is a versatile all-rounder with surprising levels of comfort and stability

The frame has a great balance between responsiveness and comfort

Equipped for night riding, bikepacking or commuting

Can carry a decent amount of weight

Stable ride for long distances

Would need a drivetrain upgrade to become a serious fitness bike

On the heavy side for a rigid frame

Read Review

Last updated 28 June Not listed for 661 days

Trek FX 2 Disc Equipped review: Unspectacular but effective

The trek fx 2 disc is a versatile all-rounder with surprising levels of comfort and stability.

Cyclingnews Verdict

Built around a frame with a superb balance between responsiveness and comfort, the Trek FX 2 Disc Equipped will tackle any task required of a hybrid bike in an effective, if unspectacular, manner

The frame has a great balance between responsiveness and comfort

Equipped for night riding, bikepacking or commuting

Can carry a decent amount of weight

Stable ride for long distances

Would need a drivetrain upgrade to become a serious fitness bike

On the heavy side for a rigid frame

You can trust Cyclingnews Our experts spend countless hours testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

A hybrid bike can and will mean different things to different people. But sometimes it is simply the bike that fills the gaps, that doesn't do any one thing but in fact does it all. Purists may scoff and say to compromise is to ruin the essence of life: if you are not something, you are nothing. But Trek has offered a repost: if you can't be something, be everything.

That certainly appears to be the aim of the Trek FX 2 Disc Equipped. It's the jack-of-all-trades, odd-jobber of a bike. It comes, as the name suggests, fully loaded with a pannier rack, lights, mudguards and even a kickstand but what elevates it to a place among the best budget hybrid bikes available today is that, as part of Trek's fitness range, all that versatility does not come at the cost of all rideability. 

And that's a crucial element. Just because a bike has more practical functions – going to the shops, commuting, family bike rides etc – doesn't mean it can't be fun, have its own personality and leave us looking forward to running that next errand.

Trek's FX range of bikes is quite extensive, starting at the £500.00/$599.99 FX 1 and going all the way to the full-carbon £3,050.00/$2,799.99 FX Sport 6. The FX 2 is available with a step-through frame – in both the Equipped and standard versions – and has been updated for 2023, with the main difference from the 2021 model being a move from a 3x8 to a 2x9 gearing system.

The FX 2 Disc Equipped is priced at £740.00 - it's not currently available in the USA - which is £90 more than the FX 2 Disc standard (£650.00/$799.99) which foregoes the rack, lights, mudguards and kickstand. Although it does come in a couple of extra colour options.

Design and specification

Recognising alloy frames' bad reputation for comfort compared to steel and carbon, Trek set itself a goal to "build more compliant frames that retain the acceleration and affordability that have always made aluminium popular" – and it is the fruit of that labour that the FX 2 Disc Equipped is designed around. 

The Alpha Gold Aluminium frame, while not the lightest, does offer a great balance between responsiveness and comfort. It is also strong: according to Trek, the FX 2 Disc can take weights of up to 136kg (for bike, rider, and cargo combined), which fares well compared to other hybrid bikes in the same class such as the Merida Speeder 200 (120kg) and Scott Sub Cross 50 (128kg). The pannier rack that comes with it is also very solid and suitable for carrying loads up to 25kg despite weighing less than 600g itself.

My size large test bike as a whole weighed in at 13.4kg with pedals. The rack, lights, mudguards, and kickstand account for just over a kilogram of that weight but it's still a touch on the heavy side for a fixed-frame hybrid in this price range. 

While the focus is on the practicality of the frame, it is by no means ugly – especially when stripped of all the accessories – with internal cable routing, a gentle curve to the top tube that is reminiscent of the Specialized Sirrus (one of the classic beauties of the hybrid world) and the choice of a striking Viper Red or classy Lithium grey colourway. The geometry is pretty much what you would expect from a hybrid, with perhaps a slightly longer chainstay length adding to its stability. It is not as upright as, say, the Sirrus but similar to the Cannondale Quick 3 – which is a good bike to use as a comparison in general.

Like the Quick 3, the Trek FX 2 comes with a Shimano Acera/Altus 2x9 drivetrain and has an integrated mounting system in the stem, as well as the ability to track cadence and other metrics using an integrated wireless sensor. 

Trek's Blendr stem system is designed for easy installation of computers, lights and other accessories to your cockpit. It does, rather annoyingly, require an additional base to be purchased (which plugs into the stem) and then a further mount for the specific accessory (which attaches to the base) but that does allow for a wide range of options to suit all needs.  

The DuoTrap S is a Bluetooth/ANT+ sensor that integrates into the chainstay and wirelessly transmits to a smartphone or computer to track cadence and other metrics. Again, it requires a separate purchase, but the frame is set up for it to be attached without the need for zip wires or other ungainly fasteners.   

Trek has made an effort to include ergonomic grips on the FX 2 Disc Equipped, although they are a little on the basic side, especially compared to those on the more expensive models in the FX range. 

The lights, however, are far more impressive, particularly the AXA Greenline 35 headlight. USB-charging, it has a wide beam, is also designed to be visible from the side and is discreetly mounted on the top of the fork, which avoids cluttering the cockpit.

The Tektro HD-R280 hydraulic disc brakes are pretty standard now for mid-range hybrids. My test bike came with Bontrager H2 Comp 700x32c tyres but with the mudguards fitted there is room for up to 35mm and Bontrager H2 Hard-Case Light 700x35c tyres are listed as an option on the spec sheet. Without the mudguards, Trek says the frame can accommodate tyres up to 38mm in width.

Performance

Trek deserves credit here for really delivering on its aim of a responsive-yet-compliant frame. It's one thing coming up with the jargon, but another bringing it to fruition at a genuinely affordable price. While the FX 2 Disc Equipped might come across as a bit of a plodder on paper, in reality, it has a surprising amount of responsiveness. Loaded up with a carry pack on top of the pannier rack, I was happy overtaking other cyclists on reasonably fast country roads, knowing I had the acceleration to get past and back across to the side of the road in ample time.

Yes, it's no speed demon – it doesn't have the playfulness of the Boardman URB 8.9 or the lightweight climbing ability of the Merida Speeder 200, two bikes at a similar price point – but where it completely outscores both is in comfort and stability, even with a rack, mudguards, light, kickstand all bolted on. 

Interestingly enough, I took it for a ride with all those added extras stripped off and, while significantly lighter – making an obvious difference on climbs – there was not a huge noticeable change in its performance on the flat. 

My test bike came with a slightly-different-to-advertised Microshift Marvo front derailleur instead of Acera T3000, which is roughly equivalent, and I had no issues with it. However, as a whole, I did find the drivetrain to be under-par for a fitness bike. It's perfectly functional and will get you pretty much wherever you need to go, but it is a little clunky and I noted that the next bike up in the FX range, the FX 3 Disc Equipped , comes with a 10-speed Shimano Deore groupset which, in my experience, is a huge step up in performance. 

In particular, I could not get to grips with the drastic change when switching chainrings on the 46/30 chainset. If I didn't downshift on the 4th sprocket or earlier I found myself spinning out – and this is perhaps a rare example of the FX 2 Disc Equipped coming a little unstuck wanting to satisfy in all areas. That 16-tooth difference in the chainrings (the same difference as a 50/34 compact road chainset, for example) means the bike has the range to get up steep hills while also having enough gas on the flats, but the user experience is compromised a little in doing so. 

Where it doesn't compromise, however, is in its comfort and handling, whether I took it on potholed roads, bike paths, or light gravel it felt so balanced and stable. I was even happy taking it on the grassy, rutted track of a nearby nature reserve – and this was all with the standard 32 mm tyres it came with. Even when there was a little rattling, you could tell it was coming from the rack, fenders, and lights rather than the frame. 

Taking it out at night in light rain did little to change my faith in its dependability and the lights were superb, particularly the wide-beam fork-mounted headlamp – a marked improvement from the usual glorified-torch-on-the-handlebars setup I usually use. Neither front nor rear light offered an intermittent option but, having been driven to distraction on long night rides behind blinking bulbs in the past, that was no great loss to me.

I took the Trek FX 2 Disc Equipped on rides around the countryside, trips to the shops, rides with the kids, rides at night, in the rain, for exercise, for errands and more, and on every occasion, it delivered. It is solid and dependable without feeling clunky or cumbersome. It's not sexy but it's not ugly. It's not overly fun but it's no chore to ride.

It will do what it needs to do in almost every situation you will need a hybrid bike for. Not necessarily to the highest level, but to a high enough level that you won't feel like you are missing out. 

Yes, I did find the Altus/Acera groupset to be restrictive in terms of performance but drivetrains can be upgraded, along with wheels and grips and seatposts etc. Having a top frame is such a great building block. I would stress, however, this frame still has a ceiling to what it can do as a fitness bike, even if it were upgraded in all those areas. It is built for sturdiness as much as anything else and the fact that its performance was similar with and without the rack, fenders, kickstand et al is quite telling. I'm not going to use it to take on the Brecon Beacons in the Dragon Ride but I might choose it over a more expensive performance-oriented bike for a long-distance overnight ride such as the Dunwich Dynamo , where comfort, stability and safety are the overriding priorities.

Tech specs: Trek FX 2 Disc Equipped

• Price Trek FX2 Disc Equipped : £740.00 / $N/A
• Price Trek FX2 Disc : £650.00 / $799.99 
• Sizes : S, M, L, XL
• Weight : 13.4kg (actual, size L, with pedals)
• Frame : Alpha Gold Aluminium
• Fork : FX Alloy
• Shifters : Shimano Altus M2010, 9-speed
• Front derailleur : Microshift Marvo
• Rear derailleur : Shimano Altus M2000
• Crankset : 46/30
• Cassette : Shimano HG200, 11-36, 9-speed
• Brakes : Tektro HD-R280 hydraulic disc
• Wheels : Bontrager Connection
• Tyres : Bontrager H2 Comp, 700x32c
• Saddle : Bontrager Sport
• Seatpost : Bontrager Alloy, 12mm offset
• Stem : Bontrager Comp, Blendr Compatible, 7-degree, 90mm length
• Handlebars : Bontrager alloy, 31.8mm, 15mm rise
• Extras : Rack, Eurofender Snello mudguards, Spanninga SOLO rear light and AXA Greenline 35 headlight, Bontrager Satellite grips, kickstand

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Ben has been a sports journalist for 16 years, covering everything from park football to the Olympic Games. As well as cycling, his passions include podcasts, tennis and speaking enough Italian to get by on his snowboarding trips to the Dolomites. A DIY rider who is almost as happy in the toolbox as he is in the saddle, he is still trying to emulate the feelings he experienced as a nine-year-old on his first Peugeot racer – he couldn’t fathom the down-tube friction shifters then and he’s still wrestling with groupsets now. When he isn’t making a beeline for the nearest Chiltern hill, he is probably tinkering or teaching his kids how to clean a bike properly. He rides a heavily modified 1980 Peugeot PVN10 Super Competition (steel is real) when the road is smooth and dry, and a BMC Alpenchallenge when it’s not.

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The trek fx+ 2 e-bike is a jack-of-all-trades, review: trek's hybrid fx+ 2 e-bike puts cycling front and center..

Eric Bangeman - Nov 16, 2023 12:30 pm UTC

When it came time to buy our son his "adult" bike, the Trek FX 2 was an easy choice. Not only is the candy-red color eyepopping, but the hybrid offers hydraulic disc brakes and an aggressive riding position for $749. So when Trek offered us the chance to review the FX+ 2, we jumped at the chance to take it for a ride or three.

It's not often that we get to review an electrified version of a bike we are familiar with, so we'll start with the differences between the FX+ 2 and the FX 2. Let's get the biggest one out of the way: the price. The Trek FX+ 2 retails for $2,499, over three times the price of its unelectrified sibling (also significantly higher than some hybrid e-bikes, many of which are made by new companies most of us have never heard of). Some of the price difference comes from the motor and battery— the motor itself sells for $450 —but you're also getting an integrated bike computer with cadence and speed sensors along with a power meter. All you need to access the integrated gear is the Trek Connect app.

Component-wise, the FX+ 2 is very similar to the FX 2. They use the same Shimano shifter and cassette, the same aluminum wheels, and the same Alpha Gold aluminum frame. The differences between the two mostly come down to modifications needed for the electric bits and the tires. The FX+ 2 comes with 700x40 mm tires instead of 35s and has a max tire size of 50 mm, whereas the FX 2 is capped at 38 mm. Lastly, the FX+ 2 has a rear rack, fenders, and integrated headlight and taillight.

Available with a step-over and step-through frame, the FX+ 2 has a Hyena Gen 2 250 W motor located in the rear hub powered by a 250 Wh battery that is integrated into the downtube. Trek also sells a range extender that attaches to the downtube and doubles the bike's range to 70 miles. It's a Class 1 e-bike, offering pedal assist up to 20 mph without a throttle.

It doesn’t look like an e-bike

In a world of heavy e-bikes with clunky frames, the streamlined FX+ 2 with its internal cable routing looks much like its exclusively human-powered sibling. If you know where to look, you can spot the differences. Trek has also skipped over the big displays common to e-bikes, instead choosing a minimalist control system consisting of three buttons and eight colored lights. Five green lights show the remaining charge, and the three red lights show the boost level. Holding down the plus button for two seconds will also turn the headlight (120 lumens) and taillight on.

My first ride on the FX+ 2 was 19 miles of bike trail and road from a suburban Chicago Trek store back home. I didn't bother launching the Trek app and configuring the bike; I just hopped on and started riding. At 40.13 lbs (18.2 kg), the FX+ 2 is about 15 lbs (7 kg) heavier than the FX 2, but I never got the sense that I was working harder than normal. I experimented with the three assist modes and ended up using High for most of the ride, mostly because I needed to get back to my desk—and going fast is fun.

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Review: Trek FX+ 2

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If you come to me and say, “I’ve never ridden an electric bike before,” I am probably going to take a few factors into consideration. The first is safety. If you’ve never built a bike, I’m probably not going to recommend a mail-order one you have to assemble yourself. You don’t want to discover that you've failed to tighten a screw when you’re going 20 miles per hour down a hill.

You also probably want a bike that’s reasonably priced, comfortable, and convenient to ride. In fact, you might want one that’s as close to your first human-powered bike as possible. Trek’s FX+ 2 hits all the sweet spots. It’s made by a reputable manufacturer with a wide retailer network. The reasonable base price includes all the commuter components, like integrated lights and fenders. Most importantly, it’s light and maneuverable.

It’s not a 65-pound “starter” ebike that will crush you if you stop on a hill or forget to charge the battery. Nor is it a smart bike that makes you spend 20 minutes walking through an app before you can ride it. I've been testing ebikes at home for years, and this is the first one my 60-year-old dad has felt comfortable grabbing and using to chase after my kids. “Sometimes I don’t even turn it on,” he remarked the other day. That’s the whole point.

The FX+ 2 comes in two configurations and three different sizes. The default model has a regular step-over top tube, and the FX+ 2 Stagger has a step-through top tube. Both come in a variety of colors and have small, medium, and large sizes. I’m 5'2" and the small-size Stagger fits me well. However, if you’re smaller than 5 feet, you might want to look at a different bike.

The cables, battery, and motor are inside the frame. The only clue the FX+ 2 Stagger is an ebike at all is a small unit with only three buttons on it: a power button, and plus and minus symbols. When you turn on the bike, its lights turn on, and two light meters show how much battery you have left and what level of pedal assistance you have toggled on.

That’s it. There’s no bright LCD display and no throttle. This might seem like a downside, but I use my electric bike for commuting and running errands. When I lock it up on a rack, it gives me peace of mind to know that no one’s going to spot a lone ebike in the wild and immediately try to steal it (or the battery).

I also appreciate the clarity in the controls. I’ve tried other electric bikes with a one-button toggle, but I could never remember how many times to press the button to toggle the level of assist, or what light indicated how much battery I had left.

The FX+ 2 has a 250-watt Hydrive rear hub motor, which is the European standard. That might seem slightly underpowered to Americans looking to power up huge hills, but the bike is so light and maneuverable that having a smaller motor doesn’t matter much at all. The medium frame size weighs 40 pounds—almost 30 pounds lighter than my own Tern GSD S00.

Not only is it easy to scootch up hills, it’s also easy to maneuver onto crowded bike racks when I’m out, or to lift onto our hanging bike rack in my garage. Also, for the past two weeks, it’s the first bike both my dad and I have grabbed to run errands around the neighborhood. The stated range is 35 miles, but we’ve put at least 10 miles on it by now, and the battery seems largely untouched. The fast 45c road tires didn’t hurt, either.

It does lack a few features we're used to seeing on higher-end ebikes by now, like a low-maintenance carbon belt drive or a continuously variable shifter. Instead, it has a regular bike chain on a nine-speed Shimano shifting system, with a derailleur that, yes, you may have to adjust occasionally.

But honestly, this was more than fine by me. I didn’t have to learn a new shifting system or figure out how to calibrate the gearing with the assist levels. I wasn’t riding a bike that was trying to predict how much assist I’d need and when—I could simply toggle on more or less as I rode. In that way, it felt much easier and more natural. 

It also has a lot of accessories that may be equally important, especially as the weather here in Oregon has grown cold, gray, and wet in the past few weeks. The 120-lumen headlamp is incredibly bright. The bell is incredibly loud. The fenders have kept my jeans relatively dry, and I’ve been able to bungee items onto the rear rack. A kickstand keeps it up in the garage for quick access, and hydraulic disc brakes work even when the rain is pouring down.

The price point may seem high compared to direct-to-consumer bikes from Aventon, Lectric, or Rad Power. But once you start adding up the cost of quality components, labor, and accessories, their prices start inching up. Mail-order companies are able to offer much lower prices on base models because their motors are cheaper. With a nicer motor, a mail-order bike like the Ride1Up Prodigy is priced comparably to the FX+ 2, and you have to assemble and safety-check it yourself.

Over the years, I’ve seen bicycle manufacturers debate and then struggle to add or subtract features that will make electric bikes more attractive to people who haven’t biked before. Extremely low step-throughs! Weird shifting systems! Apps! Huge tires! Maybe the best way to get people on an electric bike is the same way you get people on a regular bike—by making it fun, light, and easy to ride.

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It's so perfect

You can go biking with this bike in bad weather, in all weather, and in rainy weather, as it is a professional hybrid bike with a lightweight frame, high-quality parts and components, and disc brakes that give you high stopping power.

The technology you get

The Trek FX 2 Disc has a lightweight aluminium frame, hydraulic disc brakes for high stopping power all-weather, a Shimano 18-speed drivetrain with a range of gears for a flexible and stable ride, and finally, durable mounts that help you get to your destination.

You can take this hybrid bike anywhere, as it includes parts that help you use the bike for training, morning commutes, or going to the market. This bike has many options and features. Most notably are the disc brakes, which provide high stopping power in various weather conditions.

Why you would prefer it

The FX 2 Disc and its more confident braking help you enjoy the bike despite bad weather conditions. It is a versatile bike that you can utilize for fitness, commuting, or going to the markets and grocery shopping. You can add more accessories to this bike using the kickstands, rackets, fenders, lights, and more. These bikes' cables are routed internally to protect the bicycle from the weather elements and add a stylish look.

The Walkthrough

Create it however you want

Make your bike unique by adding fenders, racks, bottle cages, and other accessories.

Fenders and Rackets

For other purposes and usages, you can add some fenders, rackets, and accessories to the frame of this bike.

Hydraulic disc brake

The brakes on this bike are disc hydraulic and give you high stopping power in all weather conditions, including mud and paved conditions.

Stem Blender

This technology gives the bike a stylish and clean look and helps it be more versatile and fun.

Duo Trap S. Technology

You can get this technology separately from the bike. And you can take advantage of it by installing a Bluetooth sensor on the bike frame to calculate the distance travelled by the cyclist while riding the bike. This technology works with the following wireless players: ANT Power Tap Bontrager Garmin SRM.

Internal cable routing

This bike's brake and shift cables are routed to the frame to keep the bicycle looking its best.

We reserve the right to make changes to the product information contained on this site at any time without notice, including with respect to equipment, specifications, models, colors, materials, and pricing. Due to supply chain issues, compatible parts may be substituted at any time without notice. Prices shown are manufacturer's suggested retail prices.

Weights are based off pre-production products at time of publication. Weights may vary in final production.

Rider Height

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165 - 175 cm

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175 - 186 cm

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186 - 197 cm

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Trek FX 2 Disc - 2023

FX 2 Disc is a stylish and versatile hybrid bike with disc brakes that let you stop on a dime and ask for change, even when the weather isn't cooperating. Train, commute, or ride for fun with the lightweight Alpha Gold Aluminum frame, 18 speeds, and semi-skinny tires that are fast on the road and stable on loose terrain. It's right for you if... Raining cats and dogs? That doesn't keep you from riding. You want a high-value hybrid bike with the superior all-weather stopping power of disc brakes, plus a lightweight frame and quality parts that will hold up over time. The tech you get A lightweight aluminum frame with hydraulic disc brakes for all-weather stopping power, a Shimano drivetrain with 18 speeds and a wide range of gearing so you're never pedaling too hard or too soft, and mounts that make it easy to accessorize your ride! The final word FX 2 Disc is a go-anywhere hybrid bike with parts that perform on training rides, trips to the market, or your morning commute. It has endless options for accessories, but what really sets this model apart is the disc brakes, which provide great stopping power in all weather conditions. Why you'll love it - More confident braking means bad weather doesn't have to keep you from enjoying your ride - It's versatile and does whatever you want it to do, whether that's riding for fitness, commuting, or cruising to the farmer's market to pick up groceries - It's easy to accessorize with racks, a kickstand, fenders, lights, and more! - Like every Trek hybrid, it's backed by a lifetime warranty and supported by a wide network of retail partners - The cables are routed internally, which protects them from the elements and adds to the bike's sleek look

Due to supply-chain issues, Specs are subject to change without notice.

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Trek FX+ 2 review

The trex fx+ 2 is a great, simple electric bike but needs a bit more to live up to its high price tag.

Tom's Guide Verdict

The Trek FX+ 2 is an eBike that is easy to ride and feels like a bike, but the lack of certain features makes it tough to justify its $2,399 price.

Clean design

Responsive pedal assist

Comes with fenders and rack included

No removable battery

Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.

The Trek FX+ 2 feels like a bike. Trek has definitely made an effort for this city-focused eBike to look and feel like a bike as much as possible and in that effort, it succeeded. The FX+ 2 felt like riding a traditional bicycle until you really turn on the pedal assist, and even then it still largely kept that feel. At around 40 pounds, it also is closer in weight to a traditional bicycle, at least compared to the competition. I was able to get it up and down stairs without breaking a sweat, which was convenient. 

Weight: 40.13 pounds Max rider weight: 300 pounds Gearing: 9-speed Shimano Altus Battery: 250Wh Motor: 250W HyDrive motor Max assisted speed: 20 mph Max estimated range: 35 miles

For all these successes, the $2,399 FX+2 is significantly more expensive than our best budget electric bike , t he Aventon Soltera ($1,399) or our best overall electric bike , t he Rad Power RadCity 5 Plus ($1,999). This despite the FX+ 2 having no throttle, no LCD display and no removable battery. As enjoyable as riding it may be — and it is — it’s tough to recommend it over the competition.  

Trek FX+ 2 eBike review: Price and availability 

The Trek FX+ 2 came out in May 2022 at a starting price of $2,200, but the version we reviewed came with a price tag of $2,399. Unfortunately, it looks like the price has gone up since launch, with the 2023 models of the FX+ 2 coming in at $2,499 on Trek’s website.

The good news is that you are not forced to buy the FX+ 2 from Trek. Trek offers its bikes through local retailers in addition to its website, and those retailers may offer lower (or higher) prices than Trek. So make sure to check with your local bike shop before adding the FX+ 2 to your cart.

Trek FX+ 2 eBike review: Design 

Trek offers the FX+ 2 eBike in four sizes (S, M, L, XL) and three colors: Satin Trek Black, Viper Red and Satin Mulsanne Blue. The model I was provided with was a Satin Mulsanne blue in size L, which worked perfectly with my 6-foot 2-inch height and 32-inch inseam.

At first glance, the FX+ 2 looks like a traditional bicycle. That’s because Trek has intentionally designed it this way, with the cables and battery stored within the tubes of the bike. Unfortunately, that means the battery isn’t removable — at least by you. Trek says that the battery can be removed by a trained technician, so you’ll need to head to a shop if anything goes wrong. 

That said, you can still add an external battery for extra range. There are two water bottle holders, one on the seat tube and one on the down tube, and the one on the downtube allows for a 250Wh plug-and-play Range Extender battery. This allows you to easily double your range if needed. That battery life comes at a price though; the Hyena Range Extender Battery costs $499.

Designed for commuters and city bikers, the FX+ 2 comes already equipped with some much-needed accessories. The eBike comes stock with a front fender, rear fender, headlight, taillight, kickstand, bell and rear bike rack — no need to buy one of the best bike lights separately. There’s also a chain guard to prevent clothes from getting caught in the chain.

Still, there are a couple of things missing in the design that would be nice to have. First, the Hyena pedal assist control system has an LED display for the battery status and pedal assist mode. It is easy to use and read, but many eBikes now have LCD displays, so this feels cheap by comparison. Additionally, the wheels are not quick-release, which means if something goes wrong you’ll need tools on you to get the wheels off.

But the biggest design flaw is the lack of any shock absorption in the bike. The FX+ 2 definitely feels every bump and pothole, especially at top speed. Even merely adding a seat post shock absorber would be a welcome addition.

Trek FX+ 2 eBike review: Performance 

The performance of the Trek FX+ 2 was more than adequate. Between the three power modes (Eco, Normal and Turbo) and the nine-speed rear cassette, I was able to hit the top speed of 20 mph frequently, regularly averaging 13MPH while riding through the streets of Atlanta.

Hills were also not a problem once you get a feel for the bike. I could regularly keep my cadence going up hills by using the full range of the bike’s gears and the Turbo pedal assist mode. The pedal assist modes kicked in very smoothly and with almost no lag.

The only shortcoming the FX+ 2 really has in terms of performance is the lack of a throttle to give riders fully motor-assisted thrust (i.e. no using your pedals), which does come on some of the FX+ 2’s competitors like the Soltera and RadCity 5 Plus. However, I would be lying if I said I missed it. The bike is plenty quick and easy to ride without it. 

Trek FX+ 2 eBike review: Battery life and range 

Trek states that the FX+ 2’s 250Wh battery can provide riders with up to 35 minutes of range. This of course depends on a range of factors, from the pedal assist mode you typically use to how hilly your terrain is.

My commute to work was just over five and a half miles round trip and I would go through about a quarter of the battery. That puts my estimated range at closer to 22 miles. However, I almost always used the Turbo (highest) pedal assist and I do have a large hill each way. So had I been more conservative I could have probably got more range out of the FX+ 2. 

Luckily if you do need to charge the bike, it only takes around two hours for a full charge and the charger can be plugged into any wall outlet.

Trek FX+ 2 eBike review: Competition 

Unfortunately, the Trek FX+ 2 really struggles when compared to the competition, at least on paper. I have yet to ride the Aventon Soltera, but it is currently our best budget eBike and has a very similar feature set and design aesthetic compared to the FX+ 2. While the pedal-assist seems like it is not as smooth and responsive as the FX+ 2 and it lacks a 9-speed option, you can still get a 7-speed for $1,399. That’s $1,000 less than the FX+ 2 I reviewed, but you get more range, a throttle and an LCD display.

If you want something higher-end, the Rad Power RadCity5 Plus is our best budget bike and would still be my pick over the FX+ 2 based on the research I have done on the RadCity 5 Plus. The FX+ 2 is lighter, and significantly so (over 20 pounds!), but the RadCity 5 Plus has a feature set that really sets it apart. Yes, you only get a 7-speed rear cassette, but you also get a throttle, a removable battery and two LCD displays compared to the zero LCD displays on the FX+ 2.

Trek FX+ 2 eBike review: Bottom line 

Ultimately, if the Trek FX+ 2 eBike was cheaper it would be a lot easier to recommend. It was a lot of fun to ride, easy to carry with its 40-pound weight and has a very clean design. If price weren’t a factor, I would say the quick pedal assist make it a great choice, and the fact that it comes with fenders and a rack standard is a nice touch.

But none of that can make me get past the fact that this bike is hundreds — if not a thousand — dollars more than its competition without providing a lot of reasons why. Yes, it's lightweight, and it's a Trek so the build quality is excellent, but it lacks the LCD displays, removable battery or throttle that so many of the best electric bikes have. If the FX+ 2 had even some of those features, I’d rate it significantly higher, even with the price. 

Malcolm McMillan is a senior writer for Tom's Guide, covering all the latest in streaming TV shows and movies. That means news, analysis, recommendations, reviews and more for just about anything you can watch, including sports! If it can be seen on a screen, he can write about it. Previously, Malcolm had been a staff writer for Tom's Guide for over a year, with a focus on artificial intelligence (AI), A/V tech and VR headsets.

Before writing for Tom's Guide, Malcolm worked as a fantasy football analyst writing for several sites and also had a brief stint working for Microsoft selling laptops, Xbox products and even the ill-fated Windows phone. He is passionate about video games and sports, though both cause him to yell at the TV frequently. He proudly sports many tattoos, including an Arsenal tattoo, in honor of the team that causes him to yell at the TV the most.

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Shooter Files by f.d. walker

Street Photography Tips, Interaction, Travel, Guides

Apr 24 2017

City Street Guides by f.d. walker: A Street Photography Guide to Moscow, Russia

*A series of guides on shooting Street Photography in cities around the world. Find the best spots to shoot, things to capture, street walks, street tips, safety concerns, and more for cities around the world. I have personally researched, explored and shot Street Photography in every city that I create a guide for. So you can be ready to capture the streets as soon as you step outside with your camera!

At over 12 million people, Moscow is the largest city in Russia and second largest in Europe by population ( Istanbul is #1). An urban, cosmopolitan metropolis with more than enough glitz and glam to cater to the elite, but without losing its fair share of Soviet era roughness around the edges. It can be fast paced, brash, busy, and trendy like other big cities, but it has its blend of West meets Russia atmosphere and beauty that provides plenty of unique interest. The Red Square is as famous as it gets, but there’s so much more to this city, including the most beautiful subway system you’ve ever seen. It would take years to capture all of Moscow, but that means you have an endless amount of areas to discover.

So here’s a Street Photography guide so you can be ready to capture all that Moscow has to offer before you even arrive!

• Patriarch’s Pond
• Old Arbat Street
• Maroseyka Street
• Tverskoy Boulevard

Top 5 Street Spots:

1. red square.

The Red Square is the most famous square in not just Russia, but all of Eastern Europe. The name actually doesn’t come from the color of the bricks or communism, but from the name in Russian, Krásnaya, once meaning “beautiful” before its meaning changed to “red.” This large plaza is what you see on the cover of guide books and magazines for Moscow, with St. Basil’s Cathedral being the center piece next to Lenin’s Mausoleum surrounded by the Kremlin Wall. Of course, the Red Square attracts hordes of tourist due to the main attractions, but all that activity around an interesting atmosphere does provide street photo opportunities. It’s also the central square connecting to the city’s major streets, providing a good starting point to explore outward.

You’ll also find the popular pedestrian only Nikolskaya Street connecting the Red Square to Lubyanka Square. This line of expensive shops includes plenty of activity, while also leading you to another popular square. Filled with history rivaling any city, the Red Square and surrounding areas are the heart and soul of Russia.

2. Patriarch’s Ponds

Patriarch’s Ponds is one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in Moscow. Despite the name being plural, there’s only one large pond, but it’s worth a visit with your camera. It’s a popular spot for locals and expats to come relax or take a stroll around the pond. You get an interesting mix of young and old too, from young love to “babushkas” feeding pigeons. It’s a very peaceful park atmosphere in one of the nicer areas within the city center, while bringing enough activity for street photography. 

The pond is shallow and in the winter becomes a popular spot for ice-skating too. The area is also well-known for the location in the famous Russian novel, The Master and Margarita. 

3. Old Arbat (Stary Arbat)

Old Arbat is the most famous pedestrian street in Moscow, and dating back to the 15th century, also one of its oldest. Originally, it was an area of trade, but soon became the most prestigious residential area in Moscow. During the 18th century, Arbat started attracting the city’s scholars and artists, including Alexander Pushkin. Cafes lined the streets and impressive homes filled the neighborhood. Since then, New Arbat street was created as a highway in the area, while Old Arbat was paved for a 1km pedestrian only walkway.

Due to the historic buildings, famous artists that lived here, and the bohemian atmosphere, Old Arbat has become a big attraction for tourists today. Now, there’s a mix of cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops, street performers, street merchants and other attractions for visitors, and some locals, to come enjoy. It can get really busy here and there’s usually something interesting going on so it’s a good street to come walk with your camera for guaranteed life.

4. Gorky Park

One of the most famous places in Moscow is Gorky Park. The official name is Maxim Gorky’s Central Park of Culture & Leisure, which gives you an idea of what goes on here. When built, it was the first of its kind in the Soviet Union. Divided into two parts, it stretches along Moscow River. One end contains fair rides, foods stands, tennis courts, a sports club, a lake for boat rides, and more. This end brings more active life due to its number of attractions, while the other end is more relaxed, where you’ll find gardens, trees, older buildings, and an outdoor amphitheater.

Gorky Park attracts mostly locals so it’s a good spot to capture the non-tourist side of Moscow life. Muscovites come here to escape the city and unwind in a picturesque setting. The park remains alive outside of the warmer months too, especially when the lake turns into the city’s largest outdoor skating rink. I’d recommend taking the metro out here to spend at least half a day exploring the massive park’s life with your camera.

5. Maroseyka Street

Maroseyka Street is a popular area not too far from the Red Square. The long, winding street turns into Pokrovka and is lined with restaurants, cafes, bars and places to stay. It’s actually where I like to stay when I’m in Moscow due to its location and solid street photography opportunities itself. You have Kitay-gorod station near and if you keep walking southwest, you’ll get to the Red Square. But if you walk northwest, as it changes to Pokrovka, you can find a long street of activity for photography with its own interesting atmosphere.

6. Tverskoy Boulevard

Tverskoy Boulevard is the oldest and longest boulevard in Moscow, beginning at the end of Nikitsky Boulevard, and finishing at Pushkin Square, a spot to come for activity itself. The boulevard is made up of two avenues, with pedestrian walkways in-between. You’ll find grass, shrubbery, trees, benches and more walking it’s almost kilometer length. Many people come here to enjoy some relaxation, walk their dog, or just to use it to walk wherever they’re going. Its center location also provides a nice place to walk with your camera near plenty of other spots you’ll want to check out anyway.

Sample Street Walk:

For a full day of Street Photography, covering some of the best spots, you can follow this sample street walk for Moscow:

• Start your morning walking around the Red Square (1), while exploring the surrounding area, including Nikolskaya Street
• Then walk northwest to Patriarch’s Ponds (2) and slowly walk the pond and surrounding area with your camera
• Next, walk east to the Pushkin Monument and stroll down Tverskoy Boulevard (6)
• Once Tverskoy Boulevard (6) ends, it will turn into Nikitsky Boulevard. Follow this down until you get to the start of Old Arbat Street (3), across from Arbatskaya station
• After you’re done walking down Old Arbat Street (3) for more street photography, spend some time checking out Moscow’s beautiful metro stations
• To finish off the day with more street photography, get off the metro near Red Square (1) again, Maroseyka Street (5) or wherever you’re staying for the night.

3 Things I’ll Remember about Shooting in Moscow:

1. museum metro.

The Moscow metro system was the first underground railway system in the Soviet Union and today includes 203 stations across 340km of routes. The elaborate system has some of the deepest stations in the world too, with escalators that seem to go on forever. None of this is what makes it so special, though. Many of its stations feel like stepping inside a museum, making it without a doubt the most interesting and beautiful metro system I’ve been in.

When built, Stalin wanted to make the metro stations “palaces for the people” with marble, chandeliers, and grand architecture. The best part is the variety of architecture and styles used, making many of the stations a completely different experience visually. You could easily spend a whole day traveling the stations and there are even tours available for people who wish to do just that. My advice, though, would be just to buy a ticket and hop on and off at different stations, while exploring different lines. The museum-like surrounding mixed with the crowds of characters can make for a great photography experience.

Since there are so many stations, here are some of my favorites to check out:

• Novoslobodskaya
• Mayakovskaya
• Elektrozavodskaya
• Komsomolskaya
• Ploschad Revolyutsii
• Dostoyevskaya
• Prospekt Mira

2. Moscow is Big

It’s no secret that Moscow is a big city, but it can feel even bigger with how spread out much of it is. This is especially true if you compare it to cities outside of Asia. If I compared it to cities in Europe, I’d probably say only Istanbul would warrant more time to really discover the depths of this city. Most only explore around the Red Square and surrounding area, but that is such a small part of the city. Although, that central area does give you plenty to see on its own.

Fortunately, I had a good friend living in the city to show me around, but it opened up my eyes even more to how much there is to discover in Moscow. It’s a big city with a variety of atmosphere that can take you from “east” to “west” and trendy to rugged depending on where you go. I’d imagine you’d have to live here a while to really know the city.

3. Cosmopolitan Mix of East meets West

Modern skyscrapers mixed with amazing architecture, a world-class metro system with museum-like beauty, trendy fashion and chic clubs, Moscow is a rich mix of Russian culture and history in a more western cosmopolitan package. There is a push to keep the Russian culture, while also pushing forward with a modern metropolis the whole world will envy. This comes with an impressive skyline, that continues to grow, and endless modernities, but with soviet nostalgia and atmosphere mixed in for good measure.

Mixed in with this grand western cosmopolitan atmosphere, is a strong national pride in Russia. This includes their famous leader, Vladimir Putin. Maybe no other place will you see a country’s leader more often. All over, from the pricey tourist shops to the underground walkway stalls, you’ll find goods with Putin’s likeness covering them. From t-shirts to magnets to Matryoshka dolls. There’s a strong national pride that can be seen around the city, which also extends to their leader. Moscow is many things. It’s East meets West, modernizations meets Soviet era, and a whole lot more.

What To Do For a Street Photography Break?:

Eat at a stolovaya.

Stolovayas are Russian cafeterias that became popular in the Soviet days. You grab a tray and walk down the line of freshly prepared local dishes, and select whatever you want from the chefs. They’re usually inexpensive and a much better value than restaurants, while giving you the opportunity to try from a wide selection of everyday Russian food. They’re also very tasty. I always include some borsch on my tray and go from there. The places themselves are all over Moscow and usually come with Soviet-era aesthetics to complete the experience.

Street Safety Score: 7

*As always, no place is completely safe! So when I talk about safety, I’m speaking in general comparison to other places. Always take precaution, be smart, observe your surroundings and trust your instincts anywhere you go!

Being the 2nd largest city in Europe with over 12 million people, you’re going to have your dangerous areas, but for the most part, it feels safe walking around. Russia is statistically higher in crime compared to most of Europe, but this generally doesn’t apply to tourists and visitors. Around the Red Square and surrounding city center, you should feel completely safe walking around. Pick pocketing can happen, but no more than other touristic places. I always explore Moscow freely without coming across too much to worry about. It’s a spread out city, though, so of course it matters where you are. Just use basic street smarts, know where you are and Moscow shouldn’t give you a problem. 

People’s Reaction Score: 7

Moscow is fast paced, big city life, which usually means people aren’t too concerned with you, or your camera. I don’t find people notice or pay much attention to me when I’m out taking photos in Moscow. For the most part, people just go about their day. You shouldn’t get too many looks or concern. But it can depend on the area you are in. The more you stick out, the more you might get noticed with suspicions. I’ve never had any problems in Moscow, or Russia, but just be careful who you’re taking a photo of if you get out of the city center. Other than that, it’s about average for reactions. 

Street Tips:

Learn the alphabet .

Much of Moscow, including the metro system, doesn’t use english. The Russian alphabet uses letters from the Cyrillic script, which if you aren’t familiar with it and don’t know the sounds, can be hard to decipher the words. This is most important for street names and metro stops when trying to get around. It can save confusion and make it easier getting around if you learn the basic alphabet. At the very least then, you can sound out the words to see which are similar in the english conversion, which can help matching them to maps. When out shooting street photography, getting around is as important as anything. So save yourself some time and frustration by learning the Russian Alphabet.

Use the metro

While Saint-Petersburg feels very walkable for a city its size, Moscow can feel very spread out, even for its bigger size. Outside of the Red Square area, you can have plenty of walking before getting anywhere very interesting, so you’ll need to take the metro a lot if you really want to explore the city. Maps are deceiving here too, it will always be further than it looks.

Another reason it’s less walkable than Saint-Petersburg is its completely different set-up. Moscow’s streets are mostly contstructed in rings with narrow, winding streets in-between. This is common with medieval city cities that used to be confined by walls, but you usually don’t have it in a city this massive. Saint-Petersburg has a more grid-like pattern that also uses the canals to help you know your way around. When it comes to navigating on foot in Moscow, it can be more difficult, so bring a map and take the metro when needed. It’s why Moscow’s metro carries more passengers per day than the London and Paris subways combined.

Explore other areas if you have time

Moscow is really big. While most people stay around the Red Square within the Boulevard Ring, there’s so much more to the city. I covered some other spots outside of this circle, but if you really want to see the city, you’ll need time. If you do have time, some other areas I’d check out first are Zamoskvarechye, along some of the south and western Moscow.

Inspiration:

For some more inspiration, you can look through the Street Photography of Moscow photographer Artem Zhitenev  and check out 33 of my photos taken in Moscow .

Conclusion:

Moscow’s name brings a certain mystique, but once you’re there it might bring a different atmosphere than you expect. It’s big and sprawling, but beautiful in many ways. It can feel like a European capital on a grand scale, but you can definitely find its Russian side in there.

The urban sprawl of Moscow can be intimidating, but give it enough time and you’ll be rewarded with plenty to discover. All with the world’s best metro system to take you around.

I hope this guide can help you start to experience some of what Moscow contains. So grab your camera and capture all that Moscow has to offer for Street Photography!

If you still have any questions about shooting in Moscow, feel free to comment below or email me!

(I want to make these guides as valuable as possible for all of you so add any ideas on improvements, including addition requests, in the comment section!)

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Color photos of Soviet people in the 1950s

2 Comments · Posted by Sergei Rzhevsky in History , People , Photos

In the fifties, Semyon Osipovich Friedland, Soviet photographer and journalist, made a lot of high-quality color photographs in all parts of the Soviet Union.

Thanks to his work, we can now see people’s life in the USSR after World War II. Of course these photos are staged but nevertheless quite interesting from a historical perspective.

Admiral Gorshkov. Sevastopol. 1954

In the Moscow Power Engineering Institute

Public garden in Arkhangelsk

Near Kislovodsk

State farm near Moscow

State farm in Ukraine

In the art studio

Valya Borovkova, crane driver. Kazan river port

Navigator of the ship. Kazan

Kazan river port

Young steeplejacks. Construction of the industrial center in Pavlodar

On the riverwalk. Kiev

Kostanay. Kazakhstan

The Baltics

Turkmen State Institute students in the university park. Ashkhabad

Pacific Fleet. At the post

Breakfast. Ukraine

Tags:  Soviet past

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Tatiana · January 20, 2015 at 1:53 pm

What a lovely collection of photos!

Of course, it was staged, of course, it was rehearsed, but how much truth was in it…

Nice memories. Thank you

Vesku · June 18, 2020 at 10:44 am

One must also remember that Early Color films were slow in emulsion speed, so that´s why some elements had to be staged and / or lighted wery near the object matter.

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