2022 Rail 5 or 7?

[Beatjunkie98]

I’m after a fast trail bike, but cannot decide over the Trek Rail 5 or 7. The 7 is basically £900 more and is it really worth it?
The other bike I am looking at is a Focus jam2 spec looks decent but I have a Trek dealer up the road so makes sense to go with Trek.

can anyone shed some light on what they would do? My other option is to go second hand Rail 5 but they seem to hold their prices quite well!

 

[Doomanic]

How much upgrading are you planning?

If you're happy with Lyrics, it's a lot cheaper to stick a damper in a Yari than it is to buy new forks. Conversely, if you absolutely, positively must have 38s of some flavour you might as well replace the cheaper forks on the 5 unless the sale of the old forks is partly funding the new forks where the Yaris will be easier to sell.

 

[RustyMojo]

I just bought a 5 because I didn’t see value in the 7 vs the spec. 35’s seem to sell for around £250 if new. I just fitted a new pair of Zeb Ultimates I got a deal on. So I’m still quids in, I have brakes ready to go on from my old bike and I’m going to upgrade the groupset as it dies. I guess it depends how much messing around you want to do. For me I would’ve been changing parts even if I purchased one of the higher models. So it just made sense. Plus there were/are a few 21 Rail 5’s still in stock at various places

 

[Beatjunkie98]

Yeah that's a good shout, where did you get the Zeb's from? And cost? I was also thinking about getting a new wheelset if I got the 5 but was unsure what would be the best for the money!

 

[Hamina]

Everything is better in Rail 7: Suspension, wheels, transmission, brakes.

I could have avoid lot's of upgrades with Rail 7. On the other hand after several upgrades (forced to buy new parts when original ones broke)I have now kind of Rail 9 spec bike with the price of the Rail 7.

Now I have the Rail 5 with:
- GX/NX transmission
- Cane Creek Helm fork
- DT Swiss FR560 wheels
- Cane Creek Hellbender headset bearings
- Hayes Dominion A4 brakes
- Reverse Components Flip-Guide E-Chain Guide

The rear shock, dropper, frame, saddle, are still the originals.

 

[Doomanic]

Rail 7 wheels are still poor, which is why I now have a set of EX511 rims on Hope Pro 4 hubs.
The rear shock is shite on both, I now have a DVO Jade X coil with Cane Creek Progressive spring.
I've given up on chain guides having broken 3. Never lost a chain.

 

[RustyMojo]

The components on the 7 may be better, but frankly…they are still rubbish and would be low end on a manual bike. Hence I never saw the value in paying more for the same shit I’d remove and sell for peanuts. Wheels are on my shopping list in the future. Im only one ride in! So will be working through the elements I need to change. Same process I have always worked through with new bikes. But like I said, I personally chose to buy the 5 and build it how I want, not how Trek prescribes in order to hit a budget point

 

[Beatjunkie98]

Yeah completely agree where you lot are coming from, my background is more road bikes and specialized standard wheels and other kit is crap! Freehubs die really quickly and it's frustrating as they cost so much to repair.you might aswell buy a new wheelset which isn't the most environmentally friendly thing to do!

Since the wheels on the 5 look crap, what would people go for I usually go to Hunt but they are very heavy and do they need to be ebike specific, I weigh 70kg and understand the freehub needs to be steel to cope with power.

 

[RustyMojo]

Well it’s even less environmentally friendly replacing them straight away!! I would also say riding an eBike is not really ticking the green box!

Like I said I’m one ride in, but I don’t think the 5 wheels look crap. They seem decent enough for OE supplied kit. They set up tubeless easily with tape and are a decent width. Probably heavy as sin but it’s an ebike! I’m running with them until they are demolished. I’m a serial wheel killer, so if they are shit it won’t be long.

As for Hunt wheels, I have run a couple of sets. They have always been light weight. But I found the rims very soft and the freehub seal woeful. It’s been a couple of years since I purchased a pair now. So would be keen if anyone has some more recent experience

 

[Doomanic]

eBike specific is generally nothing more than a marketing term. Good wheels are good wheels; I'd be running the same wheels on an enduro bike. Steel freehub is a good idea, but is AFAIK only available in HG fitment so does limit what 12 speed cassettes you can use.

 

[DubbyMcDubs]

Another thing that is different on the Rail 5, at least here in Aus, is that it comes with the 500Wh battery, not the 625 like the 7.

 

[RustyMojo]

Another thing that is different on the Rail 5, at least here in Aus, is that it comes with the 500Wh battery, not the 625 like the 7.

OP looks to be in the U.K. we get a choose of either 500 or 625