Hey, i'm a financially irresponsible Trek rail 7 owner from Wollongong, Australia (and loving it haha)

[Battman85]

Hey All

Wayne from wollongong. Just recently got back into biking after a 11yr hiatus (did a season in whislter while living in canada back in 2010 and loved every second of it). Ive become completely obsessed with MTB again and absolutely spewing that i didnt stick to biking after coming home from canada. So ive got some catching up to do.

Recently bought myself a 2021 Trek Rail 7 in Teal colour. Love it!

When i bought it i told myself (and my wife) i was going to keep it stock, well.... it was a nice thought lol. Luckily my wife knows me too well and had assumed i wouldnt be able to help myself from upgrading things without any regard for financial responsibilities hahaha

So far ive added;

- One up carbon bars with higher 35mm rise
- ODI grips
- raceface stem with shorter32mm reach
- Upgraded fork to 170mm air shaft
- Upgraded fork to charger 2.1 damper (so now basically a lyrik ultimate)
- Just bought a fox DHX2 rear coil shock which i will fit up once it arrives and ive got the spring
- Had a friend custom make me some new rim stickers in cammo pattern using the bikes colours (since added more to the rims after this pic which looks alot better)
- Went tubeless, and got some Maxxis tires sitting on the shelf ready to fit once i get some more use out of the stock ones

Thats about it for now. Well it'll have to be, as im out of money

surely im not the only one right?.... right?


cheers guys. Happy riding!

 

[Rukahs]

Awesome colour happy shredding!

 

[Mike Malanowicz]

Thats about it for now. Well it'll have to be, as im out of money
surely im not the only one right?.... right?

Having 3 bikes and living in Poland, when salaries are even lower than in Aussie..... do I have to add something more?
But yeah, its worth it!

 

[Stihldog]

surely im not the only one right?.... right?

There’s a support group in here that I visit occasionally, but it’s caused me to upgrade even more. Check it out . $$$$$

 

[Planemo]

- Upgraded fork to charger 2.1 damper (so now basically a lyrik ultimate)

Nice bike
Can you give any feedback on what the 2.1 upgrade did for you? Any stand-out differences?
I would also suggest going for SKF wiper seals if you want the Lyrik Ultimate feel. I fitted them to my Yaris and they made a really big difference to SBC.

 

[Mike Malanowicz]

- Just bought a fox DHX2 rear coil shock which i will fit up once it arrives and ive got the spring

And please do a quick review on this upgrade. I'd like to put a coil shock to the rear and I'm curious how it will influence the bike. Generally I like a progressive way of air shocks which allow to do some big jumps and drops, but I'd like to have even more sensitivity as well.

 

[Stihldog]

Nice bike
Can you give any feedback on what the 2.1 upgrade did for you? Any stand-out differences?
I would also suggest going for SKF wiper seals if you want the Lyrik Ultimate feel. I fitted them to my Yaris and they made a really big difference to SBC.

I did this upgrade too with the SKF wipers.
Initially it was horrible (first ride) until I reduced the air by 5-10%. Set up the rebound and then it was great. The feel/response is so much better. Didn’t apply any Lyric stickers because they were $$ rediculous.

 

[Planemo]

I did this upgrade too with the SKF wipers.
Initially it was horrible (first ride) until I reduced the air by 5-10%. Set up the rebound and then it was great. The feel/response is so much better. Didn’t apply any Lyric stickers because they were $$ rediculous.

You can get all manner of reproduced OE stickers off the bay I think Lyriks were about £8 when I looked.

 

[Stihldog]

You can get all manner of reproduced OE stickers off the bay I think Lyriks were about £8 when I looked.

Wait …what! The LBS asked if I wanted the Lyric stickers also…for $60 CDN. ***k that. $15 CDN seems more reasonable. For now I’ll stay in sleeper-mode with the Yari stickers. E-bay eh?

 

[Battman85]

Nice bike
Can you give any feedback on what the 2.1 upgrade did for you? Any stand-out differences?
I would also suggest going for SKF wiper seals if you want the Lyrik Ultimate feel. I fitted them to my Yaris and they made a really big difference to SBC.

Funny thing is i havent had a chance to ride the bike yet (properly) with the fork upgrade and handlebars/stem.... As the bike was in the LBS getting the work done, i ended up with some leg issues from my morning runs which put me out of action. Then a week later i got the old wuhan flu and am currently at home isolating hahaha. I have however been riding up and down my street popping gutters and chattering across other peoples uneven driveways at speed and i can say for sure i can already feel the difference. Feels so much more plush and smooth across the small bumps. so im super keen to hit the trails next week and work on dialling it in.

will report back then.

 

[Battman85]

And please do a quick review on this upgrade. I'd like to put a coil shock to the rear and I'm curious how it will influence the bike. Generally I like a progressive way of air shocks which allow to do some big jumps and drops, but I'd like to have even more sensitivity as well.

no worries. I will report back for sure.

im getting a progressive spring. So should hopefully be best of both worlds

 

[Battman85]

Wait …what! The LBS asked if I wanted the Lyric stickers also…for $60 CDN. ***k that. $15 CDN seems more reasonable. For now I’ll stay in sleeper-mode with the Yari stickers. E-bay eh?

I have ordered my lyrik stickers off of Shop and customise mountain bike decals // Slik Graphics where you can custom choose colours or patterns to make the perfect sticker (they can even colour match bikes). They were $30/set for the custom colour ones i chose. reasonable if you ask me.

i will post with photos once i get them. i ordered 2 sets of stickers as i could decide what i wanted, so got 2 different ones haha

 

[Battman85]

Wait …what! The LBS asked if I wanted the Lyric stickers also…for $60 CDN. ***k that. $15 CDN seems more reasonable. For now I’ll stay in sleeper-mode with the Yari stickers. E-bay eh?

well.... Just had a knock at my door and guess what just arrived. All the way from SWEDEN!

Ordered 8 days ago, printed custom colours, delivered to my door just now.

Website was super easy to use, stickers are super high quality, VERY impressed!

Cost $30 Australian each plus $15 shipping.

Now.... to decide which one to go with

 

[Battman85]

Went with the Cammo. looks a bit more custom i think.... May go to the plain teal at some point in the future for a bit more of an OEM look. But otherwise stoked with the stickers. Definitely recommend Slik Graphics for custom stickers.

 

[Planemo]

Wait …what! The LBS asked if I wanted the Lyric stickers also…for $60 CDN. ***k that. $15 CDN seems more reasonable. For now I’ll stay in sleeper-mode with the Yari stickers. E-bay eh?

Just checked - they were £6.50 but start at £7 now

RockShox LYRIK 2017 2018 Style Stickers Decals - 2 Colour Designer Solid Pack | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for RockShox LYRIK 2017 2018 Style Stickers Decals - 2 Colour Designer Solid Pack at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Planemo]

Feels so much more plush and smooth across the small bumps.

Interesting, cheers.

I am only sceptical because I had the lowers off my Yari's recently and was able to carry out the highly technical process of grabbing the damper rod and moving it by hand in/out at varying damping clicks. I found it was incredibly smooth, zero cavitation and very little stiction. I am unsure how it could be much smoother (at least on low speed/small bump stuff) tbh but many who try the 2.1 says it feels smoother so...

 

[Mike Malanowicz]

I'd go with the other sticker, it should match the bike more. But this one looks legit for me as well . Nice work!

 

[Stihldog]

Since my bike colours are boring, I’d probably go with a dark-grey Lyric sticker and keep that stealthy look.

 

[Doug Stampfer]

I have however been riding up and down my street popping gutters and chattering across other peoples uneven driveways at speed and i can say for sure i can already feel the difference. Feels so much more plush and smooth across the small bumps.

Thats the immediate impression I got with my upgrade riding along my gravel driveway. Out on the trails the difference was huge. Heaps of plushness & great to have the ability to open up the LSC for the easy-on- the-wrists cruising & then dial up the HSC for the trails that need it.
I'm a stealth kinda guy so just took the yari stickers off and left the legs naked.
over here in NZ the upgrade was quite expensive. I did mine before the zebs & 38s were released & consequently there were a lot more new lyrics & 36ers on the 2nd hand market as people upgraded. In hindsight if I was doing it now I'd probably buy a new 2nd hand fork & sell the yari on. Mind you It's not often you see a yari on a bike now- they seem to have been replaced with the domains

 

[Doug Stampfer]

Interesting, cheers.

I am only sceptical because I had the lowers off my Yari's recently and was able to carry out the highly technical process of grabbing the damper rod and moving it by hand in/out at varying damping clicks. I found it was incredibly smooth, zero cavitation and very little stiction. I am unsure how it could be much smoother (at least on low speed/small bump stuff) tbh but many who try the 2.1 says it feels smoother so...

I'm a sceptical kinda guy myself when it comes to the latest & greatest sometimes & in fact years ago got myself out of favour with my motocycle forum after doing some very basic experiments & calling BS on a new fangled suspension gizmo which I'd spent good money on. Anyway I'd recommend you have a ride on a 2.1 damped lyrik first before putting down the money just so you can get a feel. I definitely felt the difference from the initial installation & in my mind I think probably the wipers have much to do with the inital plushness. I used to think the Moco was a good damper - now I consider them adequate - not bad but they just get the job done

 

[EMTB Dude]

Looks really great, its good to personalise your bike, Nice Job!

 

[DeRailled7]

Back to … financially irresponsible…
Remember the following truth from a wise old man:
You won’t get a medal for dying with a lot of money in your bank account.

Great looking bike. With the upgrades you did on your fork, in addition to improved plushness you might find it rides higher. Meaning it won’t ‘collapse’ or ride lower and lower in your travel when riding long gnarly downhills, keeping full travel available.

Cheers

 

[Battman85]

DHX2 Coil now on. Haven't had a chance to go for ride yet, so will see how that goes tomorrow

Posted about the upgrade properly here:

Trek Rail with Fox DHX2 coil

Which Zeb is it you have? Zeb select plus that came stock on the 2021 9.8XT. BTW, it came on the bike bone dry. Issues from day 1. Now it's clunking like crazy.

www.emtbforums.com

 

[Stihldog]

I definitely felt the difference from the initial installation & in my mind I think probably the wipers have much to do with the inital plushness.

@DeRailled7 might have an idea also.
I added the SPK wipers with the Lyric upgrade. When I reinstalled the fork I returned the psi, compression and rebound to the previous settings (as a benchmark start). The initial ride was terrible. I dropped the psi by 10-15% and fine tuned the rebound and compression slightly.
That made a significant difference. It was definitely better. The feel was much better than the Yari. But I wonder why a drop in psi helped? The sag was better/correct too after a drop in psi. New seals? Didn’t add any spacers either.

 

[DeRailled7]

@DeRailled7 might have an idea also.
I added the SPK wipers with the Lyric upgrade. When I reinstalled the fork I returned the psi, compression and rebound to the previous settings (as a benchmark start). The initial ride was terrible. I dropped the psi by 10-15% and fine tuned the rebound and compression slightly.
That made a significant difference. It was definitely better. The feel was much better than the Yari. But I wonder why a drop in psi helped? The sag was better/correct too after a drop in psi. New seals? Didn’t add any spacers either.

Hi, the reason you had to reduce the air pressure to achieve the same sag after your upgrade, is because the positive air chamber (the one above the piston seal) is now smaller. The change in air volume will also affect the compression curve (progressiveness) of the fork. After the upgrade the fork might feel ‘stiffer’ and you might not use as much travel as before. Removing one token, like you did i think, will increase the air volume, add more plushness and allow you to access more travel. The following article explains it much better than i can.

RockShox DebonAir upgrade: an affordable performance boost for your fork

Do you want to improve the performance of your RockShox Lyrik, PIKE, Yari or Revelation fork? Then check out this new € 29 upgrade! With the new DebonAir upgrade, RockShox claim that your fork will remain higher in its travel, making it more capable and giving you more control.

enduro-mtb.com

 

[Battman85]

@DeRailled7 might have an idea also.
I added the SPK wipers with the Lyric upgrade. When I reinstalled the fork I returned the psi, compression and rebound to the previous settings (as a benchmark start). The initial ride was terrible. I dropped the psi by 10-15% and fine tuned the rebound and compression slightly.
That made a significant difference. It was definitely better. The feel was much better than the Yari. But I wonder why a drop in psi helped? The sag was better/correct too after a drop in psi. New seals? Didn’t add any spacers either.

ive noticed similar with mine. setting the sag has required a lower pressure then before, significantly lower. To the point where ive left the pressure too high to get the sag i was after because it just doesnt seem right that the pressure would be that low. Going to ride it with the sag firmer than usual then dial it down once i know its not going to just slam into bottom out haha.

 

[ilostmypassword]

Hey All

Wayne from wollongong. Just recently got back into biking after a 11yr hiatus (did a season in whislter while living in canada back in 2010 and loved every second of it). Ive become completely obsessed with MTB again and absolutely spewing that i didnt stick to biking after coming home from canada. So ive got some catching up to do.

Recently bought myself a 2021 Trek Rail 7 in Teal colour. Love it!

View attachment 81809


When i bought it i told myself (and my wife) i was going to keep it stock, well.... it was a nice thought lol. Luckily my wife knows me too well and had assumed i wouldnt be able to help myself from upgrading things without any regard for financial responsibilities hahaha

So far ive added;

- One up carbon bars with higher 35mm rise
- ODI grips
- raceface stem with shorter32mm reach
- Upgraded fork to 170mm air shaft
- Upgraded fork to charger 2.1 damper (so now basically a lyrik ultimate)
- Just bought a fox DHX2 rear coil shock which i will fit up once it arrives and ive got the spring
- Had a friend custom make me some new rim stickers in cammo pattern using the bikes colours (since added more to the rims after this pic which looks alot better)
- Went tubeless, and got some Maxxis tires sitting on the shelf ready to fit once i get some more use out of the stock ones

Thats about it for now. Well it'll have to be, as im out of money

surely im not the only one right?.... right?


cheers guys. Happy riding!

That's a great looking bike!

 

[Lusciousleeta]

Hey All

Wayne from wollongong. Just recently got back into biking after a 11yr hiatus (did a season in whislter while living in canada back in 2010 and loved every second of it). Ive become completely obsessed with MTB again and absolutely spewing that i didnt stick to biking after coming home from canada. So ive got some catching up to do.

Recently bought myself a 2021 Trek Rail 7 in Teal colour. Love it!

View attachment 81809


When i bought it i told myself (and my wife) i was going to keep it stock, well.... it was a nice thought lol. Luckily my wife knows me too well and had assumed i wouldnt be able to help myself from upgrading things without any regard for financial responsibilities hahaha

So far ive added;

- One up carbon bars with higher 35mm rise
- ODI grips
- raceface stem with shorter32mm reach
- Upgraded fork to 170mm air shaft
- Upgraded fork to charger 2.1 damper (so now basically a lyrik ultimate)
- Just bought a fox DHX2 rear coil shock which i will fit up once it arrives and ive got the spring
- Had a friend custom make me some new rim stickers in cammo pattern using the bikes colours (since added more to the rims after this pic which looks alot better)
- Went tubeless, and got some Maxxis tires sitting on the shelf ready to fit once i get some more use out of the stock ones

Thats about it for now. Well it'll have to be, as im out of money

surely im not the only one right?.... right?


cheers guys. Happy riding!

Love it. Now come do all that to mine which is still stock after 2 years!

 

[Lee c]

Went with the Cammo. looks a bit more custom i think.... May go to the plain teal at some point in the future for a bit more of an OEM look. But otherwise stoked with the stickers. Definitely recommend Slik Graphics for custom stickers.

View attachment 81876
View attachment 81877

This looks unreal !!

 

[Rubinstein]

Hey All

Wayne from wollongong. Just recently got back into biking after a 11yr hiatus (did a season in whislter while living in canada back in 2010 and loved every second of it). Ive become completely obsessed with MTB again and absolutely spewing that i didnt stick to biking after coming home from canada. So ive got some catching up to do.

Recently bought myself a 2021 Trek Rail 7 in Teal colour. Love it!

View attachment 81809


When i bought it i told myself (and my wife) i was going to keep it stock, well.... it was a nice thought lol. Luckily my wife knows me too well and had assumed i wouldnt be able to help myself from upgrading things without any regard for financial responsibilities hahaha

So far ive added;

- One up carbon bars with higher 35mm rise
- ODI grips
- raceface stem with shorter32mm reach
- Upgraded fork to 170mm air shaft
- Upgraded fork to charger 2.1 damper (so now basically a lyrik ultimate)
- Just bought a fox DHX2 rear coil shock which i will fit up once it arrives and ive got the spring
- Had a friend custom make me some new rim stickers in cammo pattern using the bikes colours (since added more to the rims after this pic which looks alot better)
- Went tubeless, and got some Maxxis tires sitting on the shelf ready to fit once i get some more use out of the stock ones

Thats about it for now. Well it'll have to be, as im out of money

surely im not the only one right?.... right?


cheers guys. Happy riding!

dude I’d love to buy you a beer but I haven’t got any money left