Rail (625Wh) Trek Rail 7 (22) "Budget Brawler" bike build?

[gauteplass]

Hey guys!

So I have started my bike build, Trek Rail 7 2022 (LARGE) -with the intentions of making it a
"budget brawler".

I like my bikes easly maintaind, long lasting, "set to forget" and "Hard hitting". Normaly I ride enduro/downhill oriented tracks - and want to upgrade it for that intent.

Im not a huge fan of fine tuning and overly complicated set up parts, so for me the easier the better - and to get the best "bang for buck".

So after a few rides I have found out what parts work, and dont work for me. I have upgraded the cocpit and tyres, and now there is the two most expensive parts left -The suspension (suprise) and the brakes.

The bike comes stock with the Domian 160 fork- wich I actually liked. So Im not going to switch this out, but thinking of mabye increasing the travel to 170 (airshaft) and playing around the the tokens a bit.
The rear Deluxe Select+ on the other hand needs some upgrading. To my suprise that may be harder than I had thought, with the fittment issues on the downtube for the piggybacks.

My initial thoughts was to upgrade it to a Marzocchi Bomber Air or coil shock. I have poked around the internet, my local dealer and bikeshop...but neighter of them could give me an straight answar....does it fit?? Been looking at both 57,5 and 60mm stroke.

Now the standard brakes (M6100/6120) works ok, but I have always been a Sram guy and just cant get the feel of modulation on these brakes. Wich has led to some sketchy rides (especially in the wet). So I was looking at the Codes R, wich I have on my other enduro bike, The Code RSC, and the new DB8.
I cant really figure out what would be the best fit, both in performance and price.

Any input .. suggestion or advise for making the most out of this bike? cheers'

(sorry for my bad English)

 

[Orangie]

Try a meg neg on that shock

 

[Dave_B]

Meg Meg is not a great idea for someone who doesn’t like to tinker and tune.

fit a coil shock, Fox or Ohlins fit the frame.
Get a coil fork.
Set and forget.

 

[Dave_B]

Trek Rail with Fox DHX2 coil

Got finally the mounting hw for my coil shock. Two alternatives to install DHX2, either use 10 x 40 and 10 x 54 Fox mounting kits or press 12,7mm du bushings and use the stock shocks mounting hw. Both will work.

www.emtbforums.com

 

[irie]

Meg Meg is not a great idea for someone who doesn’t like to tinker and tune.

fit a coil shock, Fox or Ohlins fit the frame.
Get a coil fork.
Set and forget.

Megneg is about £65 and easy to do following Internet video.

I (80kg) had never dismantled a shock before, but removed the token and put in 2 negative rings in less than an hour.

220psi to get 30% sag, job done.

Set and forget.

You can pay 10+ times that for a pretty coil shock.

 

[gauteplass]

I just ordered a Marzocchi CR (60mm stroke) (on sale) to see if it will fit, might have to switch the minolink,...but hoping it will fit. If not I think i would try the Megneg.
Anyone tried out the new DB8 brakes from sram? Any suggestion on brakes with good modulation and power? (And not break the bank)

 

[irie]

I just ordered a Marzocchi CR (60mm stroke) (on sale) to see if it will fit, might have to switch the minolink,...but hoping it will fit. If not I think i would try the Megneg.
Anyone tried out the new DB8 brakes from sram? Any suggestion on brakes with good modulation and power? (And not break the bank)

I have 2022 Trek Rail 5 Large. Try the Shimano brakes before you replace them, 6100 levers are pretty nice (I have them) and the 6120 calipers are very nice indeed. (I have lowly MT420 calipers which work nicely with the 6100 levers).

 

[Doomanic]

I just ordered a Marzocchi CR (60mm stroke) (on sale) to see if it will fit, might have to switch the minolink

You need to make sure the reservoir doesn't hit the downtime on full compression.

 

[gauteplass]

You need to make sure the reservoir doesn't hit the downtime on full compression.

Yes that is what im worried about. I was looking in another theard and i think one guy made it work' though he was on an XL 21 frame i think., so i hope it will work on an Large.

 

[Dave_B]

Megneg is about £65 and easy to do following Internet video.

I (80kg) had never dismantled a shock before, but removed the token and put in 2 negative rings in less than an hour.

220psi to get 30% sag, job done.

Set and forget.

You can pay 10+ times that for a pretty coil shock.

but a coil shock is very pretty

it’s the tuning aspect of the Megneg that I was referring to. Yes, fitment is easy, but landing on the best tune can be alot of trial and error.

 

[Juise]

Öhlins.

TTX1 has more progression, marginally cheaper.
TTX2 bit less progression, more airchamber (double can) middleground on air / coil
TTX22 m.2 top of the line coil

Pricing goes from 850 - 1000€

 

[Seraye]

Megneg is about £65 and easy to do following Internet video.

I (80kg) had never dismantled a shock before, but removed the token and put in 2 negative rings in less than an hour.

220psi to get 30% sag, job done.

Set and forget.

You can pay 10+ times that for a pretty coil shock.

I second the megneg choice if you want to keep price down. It does take some experimentation to set it up right, (for me - three rides) but once done - it’s done and it works well.

 

[irie]

I second the megneg choice if you want to keep price down. It does take some experimentation to set it up right, (for me - three rides) but once done - it’s done and it works well.

I'm 80kg, 2022 Trek Rail 5, have no tokens and two negative rings.

What bike is the Megneg on, how much do you weigh, how many (if any) tokens and negative rings are in the shock?

 

[Seraye]

I ride a Trek Rail 9.7 - I weigh 58 kg and settled on 3 negative rings and no positive tokens. I also have the Rockshox deluxe select + shock.

 

[Seraye]

Before the megneg - I felt like I was sinking too much into the travel when I was climbing or out on xc type trail days - but at the same time I wasn’t able to use all my travel. The megneg makes it so I have a nice pedaling platform - without the wallow - but I also get full travel on my gravity oriented days. Much better than before.

 

[irie]

@Seraye

Thank-you.

I also couldn't use all the travel. Now use 220psi which gives 32% sag which works fine for me.

Also had fun and games with my 2021 Pike Ultimate forks after installing the 2021 160mm C1 Debonair air spring upgrade. IIRC the recommended air pressure was so high (80psi?) that it made the forks almost rigid! So I settled on 60psi for about 30% sag and they're now very nice.

Edit: if recommendations don't work always go back to basic principles.

 

[Seraye]

Nice! I also upgraded the stock Yari to a charger 2.1 damper and a debonair c1 - makes a world of difference!

 

[Doomanic]

Nice! I also upgraded the stock Yari to a charger 2.1 damper and a debonair c1 - makes a world of difference!

I went one step further and fitted a Vorsprung Smashpot coil conversion as well. Buttery smooth!

 

[gauteplass]

So I got my Bomber CR today, and it is a really close fit. It does touch The downtube on full compression, but I thinking we Are takling mm here… I have heard That some people use «nylon washer» to travel down, what Are those? Are they Easy to fit?

 

[Juise]

So I got my Bomber CR today, and it is a really close fit. It does touch The downtube on full compression, but I thinking we Are takling mm here… I have heard That some people use «nylon washer» to travel down, what Are those? Are they Easy to fit?

View attachment 97844

View attachment 97845

If that bumpstop is rubber, on full compression something is going to give if the can is touching already.

 

[gauteplass]

If that bumpstop is rubber, on full compression something is going to give if the can is touching already.

Yeah its rubber …

 

[gauteplass]

Any tips on how I could make this work? ...before i try to return the shock'

 

[Juise]

Any tips on how I could make this work? ...before i try to return the shock'

What is the shock travel now?

You can put shims under the bump stop to make it bottom out before the can hits the frame, but its less than optimal if you need to go under 57,5mm as it will reduce suspension travel under the stock 150mm

 

[Seraye]

Just curious - what size frame is that?

 

[gauteplass]

What is the shock travel now?

You can put shims under the bump stop to make it bottom out before the can hits the frame, but its less than optimal if you need to go under 57,5mm as it will reduce suspension travel under the stock 150mm

Yeah, i was wondering about that, but do it need to be special "shims" Or is it like normal washers? easy to install/buy?
The stoke is now 60mm on the cr- so I can lower it to "stock"

 

[gauteplass]

Just curious - what size frame is that?

Size Large

 

[gauteplass]

So I installed nylon shims to reduce the travel to around 57mm, think this will work’ piggyback did not hit The downtube on full compression (bouncing)

 

[gauteplass]

So got it fully installed today, feels great and no problems thus far. But i might need a stiffer spring -
Does this sping look a bit small? I thought i did The math right for 60mm stroke…

 

[Paulquattro]

The maths is correct
But you could have gone 65mm / 2.55" spring that would have been my preference .

 

[jcarlson9]

Meg Meg is not a great idea for someone who doesn’t like to tinker and tune.

fit a coil shock, Fox or Ohlins fit the frame.
Get a coil fork.
Set and forget.

Which coil fork is a good one?