Trek Rail 7 vs Rail 9...and Rail 5

[Hamina]

Hi,

I'm planning to buy Trek Rail 7 or 9. Any ideas and thoughts if it's worth paying approx 700 euros more for the Rail 9 compared to Rail 7?

Option 1: Buy the 7, drive one year and then use the 700 euros for parts that seems to need upgrading.
Option 2: Buy the 9 and get a good deal for 700 euros in better parts.
(Option 3: Wildcard: Buy Levo Comp instead of Rail 9 and pray that the motor will see more trails than warranty process)

Rail 9 <---> Rail 7

BATTERY / MOTOR
Same: Bosch PowerTube 625 + Bosch Performance Line CX, 250W, 75Nm

FORK
Lyrik Select Plus <---> Yari RC
Charger 2 RC <---> Motion Control RC

REARSHOCK
Deluxe RT3 RE:aktiv Thru Shaft <---> Deluxe RL

TIRES
Bontrager SE5 <---> Bontrager XR5

SEATPOST
170 mm <---> 130 mm (could make sense for 190cm person?)

BRAKES
Shimano SLX M7120 <---> Shimano MT520

SHIFTER
SRAM GX Eagle <---> Shimano SLX M7100

 

[pgtips]

I got the 7. I had plan to change suspension and brakes to my preferred gear, but honestly, for my type of riding I actually find the Yari pretty amazing fork. The Deluxe RL is getting treated to a meg neg soon and that should get it to where I like the mid support to be.

Great bike.

 

[Doomanic]

Option 1: Buy the 7, drive one year and then use the 700 euros for parts that seems to need upgrading.

Do this.

Option 3: Wildcard: Buy Levo Comp instead

Don't do this.

I prefer Shimano over Sram, so I'd buy a 7 over a 9. Maybe do a deal with your dealer to upgrade the forks right away.

 

[Orangie]

Yari is pretty damn good. I upgraded with charger 2.1. Because I can’t leave well enough alone I’ve had Peopl tell me they didn’t like the reactiv shock. Meg neg is probably best money spent on suspension. Is color a consideration? I love the Shimano 12 speed. Wish I had adjusters on brake levers , but brakes work awesome. Put 223 mm rotor on front but totally not needed

 

[WilkyWay]

Do this.

Don't do this.

I prefer Shimano over Sram, so I'd buy a 7 over a 9. Maybe do a deal with your dealer to upgrade the forks right away.

Exactly this. I’d go for the 7, you can spend the money saved making it exactly how you want. You’d probably end up spending extra on the 9 as well if you got it, the same as we all do...

 

[Hamina]

Good points! I think I'm ending up to Rail 7 but actually...

Now when it seems that all aluminium Rails have same motor/battery/frame and the biggest (that I think) differences between the cheapest Rail 5 625Wh and Rail 7 is:

- Fork (rearshock is same)
- Wheels: Bontrager Line comp vs Alex MD35
- Groupset: Shimano SLX vs SRAM SX
- Brakes: Shimano MT520 vs Tektro HD-745
- Cranks: E*thirteen E*spec Plus, 15T vs. SRAM X1 1000, 36T vs

I'm starting to like the idea that I'll buy the cheapest, save yet another 1000 EUR and after first 1000km upgrade the parts to whatever I think I need to. The SRAM SX is clearly a bit plastic budget setup, but I think I'll manage with it the first kilometers. Rearhub seems to need changing if upgrading to GX later on.

This is just my thoughts around the subject and based on my "real" need. I thinks there's not free lunch available between the models.

Prices (mainly in Germany)
Rail 5 - 3660 EUR
+ 1020 EUR
Rail 7 - 4680 EUR
+850 EUR
Rail 9 - 5530 eur

 

[Hornet]

I went for a Rail 5 625W mainly because I liked the colour, I got 15% off at the bike shop,I’ve got some secondhand line 30 wheels and swapped the groupset out for gx that included the gx cassette, renthal bars and stem, I even got an RCT 3 shock for £100 that came off a brand new bike, I managed to do this for around £500. If you scour eBay and pinkbike there’s lots of bargains out there. Brakes next.

 

[Rail5]

I have seen a lot of press in regards to rail 5 having the 625w but sure mine is just a 500.. i was luckily enough to upgrade from a hard tail to the rail 5 an love it, few upgrades along the way and love the colour... ?

 

[Hornet]

When the rails first came out the 5 was the only one that came with a 500W battery, but now they do two models of the 5, one with a 500W and one with a 625W the price difference is only £200.

 

[Doomanic]

I've never seen the 5 advertised with a 625, but I suppose it's not outside the realms of possibility.

 

[Doomanic]

I stand corrected...

 

[Hornet]

I never really understood why they did a 500W model!

 

[Doomanic]

Entry level bike, entry level battery.

 

[Hornet]

I thought that when I first wanted one, I asked in the lbs if they could get 625W and change it over and they didn’t know if it was possible so I didn’t buy one for that reason, then 6 months later they bring one out.

 

[themonkster]

I noticed the other day they had launched this model. A bit disappointed. Would have liked the bigger battery. I've done 40 mile rides on the 500kwh and not killed it so it's not all bad. Shame they didn't think of this before launch.

 

[Shane(NZ)]

If it was me I would get the Rail 7, I prefer the SLX drive train, would replace the shock with coil once it stuffed out.Could update the yari if it even needs it with a upgrade kit.
I had the MT520 brakes on a previous bike they worked half decent.

Best of luck

 

[Rail5]

Me neither I was never given the option at the time but the bike was relatively new. I upgraded from the powerfly 4 hard tail. Unfortunately fir me I had nothing but issues with the powerfly and they gave me my full money back 6 months later for the bike hence the reason why upgrading the the Rail5 overall I’m pleased with the bike the only real thing I could complain about is the motor is quite noisy compared to others. I tend to always ride with my cousin who has a Levo which is near on silent to be fair.

 

[themonkster]

If it was me I would get the Rail 7, I prefer the SLX drive train, would replace the shock with coil once it stuffed out.Could update the yari if it even needs it with a upgrade kit.
I had the MT520 brakes on a previous bike they worked half decent.

Best of luck

I had originally ordered the 7 but they couldn't get it for 4 months. I actually preferred the Matt black / olive of the 5. I've already switched the drivetrain to full GX Eagle and the brakes to the MT520. Amongst other things. I'll swap the front forks at some point.

 

[Rail5]

I had originally ordered the 7 but they couldn't get it for 4 months. I actually preferred the Matt black / olive of the 5. I've already switched the drivetrain to full GX Eagle and the brakes to the MT520. Amongst other things. I'll swap the front forks at some point.

silly question what’s the benefit of the eagle?

 

[p3eps]

silly question what’s the benefit of the eagle?

On a Bosh Gen 4 powered bike it’s pointless.
I had a Rail 9.9 for a few weeks with the Eagle X01 AXS on it. I found myself using gears 5-12... and mainly 9-12. Even really steep technical climbs, I never used 1st, 2nd or 3rd.

I now have a Levo SL, and have the Eagle XX1 AXS on it, and use all the gears. The Levo SL has much less power, and sometimes has the need for 1st and 2nd. I used them both quite a lot this morning!

 

[themonkster]

silly question what’s the benefit of the eagle?

The stock Rail 5 comes with a mixture of SX and NX Eagle. It's pretty plastically compared to what I'm used to. I've swapped to the GX which is all metal and more robust. Along with the GX chain as the SX is shocking.

 

[Hornet]

I did the same!

 

[befoot]

The Rail 9 and the Rail 5 625 W are not offered here in the Stats. I have a Rail 7 on the way.
glad to have found this forum...I'm feeling the buzz

 

[Razz1]

The Rail 9 and the Rail 5 625 W are not offered here in the Stats. I have a Rail 7 on the way.
glad to have found this forum...I'm feeling the buzz

Got myself the rail 7. Not so picky. Think everything works ok. Battery seems to last long enough for my rides.

 

[Hannibal]

I got the 7 thinking I would do some upgrades but after a few rides I think the suspension is perfect for me and the bikes balance is incredible. I broke the dropper lever early on so upgraded to a 150 drop. Also my rear brake faded after a few rides but I’ve just gone with uber pads and it’s great! 1 finger braking.the only thing I’ve found is you will need to check all your bolts and buy some nut lock. Crank arm and chain ring nut come loose and I know a few people have had that issue.

 

[Hamina]

Three tours and first 50km with Rail 5 and first impressions are:

- Engine feels powerful. I somehow even seem to like the sound
- The rear derailleur took a battle with branch and snapped broken. GX will replace.
- Rear wheel is already a bit twisted and one spoke took damage when derailleur snapped.
- Brakes feels ok.
- Bearings seems to have grease it.
- Broke the rear derailleur hanger because I tried to remove it in wrong sequence. LBS will sell new one
- I don't recognize any traction issues with the tires currently.
- If I listen very carefully I can here the "rattle" from the engine on some downhills but based on those magnificent YouTube videos I couldn't count it even as an issue.

Just 20c and my first 50km. I'm a slow rider and the first 500km will tell more.

Also still waiting the bikeshop to replace 500wh battery with 625wh as was deal. Doublecheck what you get.

Any tips for good stand?

 

[themonkster]

I have the Rail 5. Before it left the shop I swapped the derailleur, shifter and chain to GX. The SX / NX looked way too flimsy.

I also swapped the dropper remote to the one up components version. I've also swapped the brakes to the Shimano MT520/501 along with Ice Tech rotors.

Wish they'd give me the option for the 625kwh battery. Hopefully I can pick one up at a fair price down the line. I did a 40 miler the other day with some good climbing and didn't kill it.

Three tours and first 50km with Rail 5 and first impressions are:

- Engine feels powerful. I somehow even seem to like the sound
- The rear derailleur took a battle with branch and snapped broken. GX will replace.
- Rear wheel is already a bit twisted and one spoke took damage when derailleur snapped.
- Brakes feels ok.
- Bearings seems to have grease it.
- Broke the rear derailleur hanger because I tried to remove it in wrong sequence. LBS will sell new one
- I don't recognize any traction issues with the tires currently.
- If I listen very carefully I can here the "rattle" from the engine on some downhills but based on those magnificent YouTube videos I couldn't count it even as an issue.

Just 20c and my first 50km. I'm a slow rider and the first 500km will tell more.

Also still waiting the bikeshop to replace 500wh battery with 625wh as was deal. Doublecheck what you get.

Any tips for good stand?

 

[Hamina]

Btw. I wonder if the rear derailleur hanger is this SRAM universal hanger or is it something Trek specific?

Universal Derailleur Hanger

 

[dochabanero]

Btw. I wonder if the rear derailleur hanger is this SRAM universal hanger or is it something Trek specific?

Universal Derailleur Hanger
View attachment 30851

It’s the UDH

 

[Gustesta]

On a Bosh Gen 4 powered bike it’s pointless.
I had a Rail 9.9 for a few weeks with the Eagle X01 AXS on it. I found myself using gears 5-12... and mainly 9-12. Even really steep technical climbs, I never used 1st, 2nd or 3rd.

I now have a Levo SL, and have the Eagle XX1 AXS on it, and use all the gears. The Levo SL has much less power, and sometimes has the need for 1st and 2nd. I used them both quite a lot this morning!

Please, which bike do you prefer (for trails and going downhill)? Levo SL or the Rail