Trek Rail upgrades, what have you done?

[Tony.OK]

Hey Tony how do you find the lever? Looking at one of these as they seem quite good. The FAQs are quite funny. It looks like I may be able to reverse it & perhaps use it with a finger pull rather than a thumb push. Otherwise I might try the giant switch

I really like it, really smooth with the large bearing and a nice tactile grip on the lever. I still have to de weight to drop post but am used to that now.

 

[Doomanic]

I would not do that. Dont trim down or cut anything on shock mount. Keep away from using the used eyelet bushings.
I bought new eyelet teflon bushings and RockShox 1/2x1/2-Inch Rear Shock Bushing Tool for pressing them to eyelet. You should be careful because in shock mount there are strong forces and frame can be damaged by grind.

Utter rubbish.

The spacers are just that, spacers. They are not stressed frame parts so altering the length of a thin aluminium sleeve will have no detrimental effect on the strength of the frame.

 

[PetrD]

...not worth responding to that. Everyone has to make their own decisions with their bikes.

 

[Doomanic]

Not worth responding? Then why post anything?

I don’t know which bit you think I’ve modified, but you could happily use nylon in it’s place. It’s only there to hold the shock in position, all the stressed parts are unmodified.

You need to fix your links too...

 

[BigMark]

I had a spare 500 watt battery from my old Powerfly 5 and wondered if this adaptor that was not advertised for the Rail 7 would work.

Adaptor

Along with the extra Plate from my warranty claim, I now have an extra battery for $26.

 

[Doomanic]

Have you fitted that adaptor the right way up?

 

[BigMark]

The bike shop did it and it works.

 

[Doomanic]

Fair enough, the ones I've seen are the other way up but it probably doesn't matter.

 

[jeroen]

Anybody got an idea/hint of what to get as a rear fender for a 2021 Rail 9?

Front fender is an easy-ish one as due to the Zeb fork one simply get a ZEB Fender | AC-FEN-ZEB-A1 | RockShox
but... what fits (maybe with a bit of dremel) in the rear and saves your ass (from mud ) ?

 

[Doomanic]

Ugly as sin but effective...

Mudhugger Large Rear Mudguard - Out of Stock | Tredz Bikes

Mudhugger Large Rear Mudguard. Out of Stock. All Rear mudguards are delivered free to the UK mainland*, 365 day returns & Price Match.

www.tredz.co.uk

 

[jeroen]

Ugly as sin but effective...

Mudhugger Large Rear Mudguard - Out of Stock | Tredz Bikes

Mudhugger Large Rear Mudguard. Out of Stock. All Rear mudguards are delivered free to the UK mainland*, 365 day returns & Price Match.

www.tredz.co.uk

Doing some more searching it indeed seems to come down to the 760 mudhugger, or a front RRP; either way, I guess I can always dremel it to make it a bit shorter and less ugly, next to of course unmounting it when the weather allows, tie wraps are cheap and plenty

Thanks!


And ordered...:

https://www.galaxus.ch/en/s3/product/mudhugger-schutzblech-hinten-large-760mm-mudguards-13179228?supplier=2463707

We'll see how ugly she becomes with both a Zeb front and a huge mudhugger on the back.... and then to find some mud

 

[smuts]

Garmin mount by Project 76, one-up edc in the stem and spare tube attached to the frame with a one-up strap. Slapper tape hack to prevent dirt and gravel to go where not intended

 

[Jamescoughlan]

That’s genius at the bottom pivot!

 

[neiloxford]

I have nearly finished my upgrades.

I have included the £ to get a feel for what I spent.

I managed to get the bike when there was a shortage at the end of the summer whilst saving some money ( Vs the rail 7 and 9 ) and picking the components I wanted.

I would like to switch to XT 12 speed at some stage, but the SRAM SX is doing the job for now.

Trek Rail 5 - 500Wh Version	3,800
Mavic E-XA Elite 30 Wheelset	295
625 Battery	600
M8120 XT Brakes	140
XT Rotors	60
Eddy Current Tyres	70
Rockshox Lyrik Select 160mm	425
Spank Spike 800 31.8 handlebar	60
SOLD
Original Wheelset	(95)
500 Battery	(450)
Original Brakes	(60)
Original Tyres	(48)
Original Forks	(250)
TOTAL	4,547

 

[Doug Stampfer]

Finally installed my cushcores. Watched a couple of installation vids & TBH took maybe ten minutes more than a tyre change. Took the bike for a ride & I def love them. I like running my tyres quite low & like the spongy feeling of low pressures. They sucked up all the small square edge bumps & rocks which over a long term will hopefully mean less-sore wrists & a more comfortable ride. That was my reason for installing them.
An added bonus was the handling of the bike around berms was greatly improved. I was actually quite surprised how different the bike felt at speed. Best of both worlds. I would recommend them

 

[Philly G]

@Doug Stampfer Good result on the Cushcores! Did the OneUp bars do much to dampen vibration?

 

[Doug Stampfer]

Yes every upgrade from grips to bars & finally cushcores have helped. I think the cushcores & low tyre pressures have been the best however after the first ride I tend to forget how it was before installing them.
I tried my mates accoustic SC with Lyrics the other day & was very impressed with how plush they felt compared to my Yaris so I'm researching now how to get the plushest ride out of the Yari without spending much money

 

[Philly G]

Yes every upgrade from grips to bars & finally cushcores have helped. I think the cushcores & low tyre pressures have been the best however after the first ride I tend to forget how it was before installing them.
I tried my mates accoustic SC with Lyrics the other day & was very impressed with how plush they felt compared to my Yaris so I'm researching now how to get the plushest ride out of the Yari without spending much money

Great! I got those bars in the recent sale ? just waiting for the stem to arrive.Yes I agree the Yari needs improvement, cheapest option seems to be upgrading it to Lyric spec. Eventually the only original part will be the frame itself! But tinkering and upgrading is part of the fun ?

 

[neiloxford]

Yes every upgrade from grips to bars & finally cushcores have helped. I think the cushcores & low tyre pressures have been the best however after the first ride I tend to forget how it was before installing them.
I tried my mates accoustic SC with Lyrics the other day & was very impressed with how plush they felt compared to my Yaris so I'm researching now how to get the plushest ride out of the Yari without spending much money

This would get you the Charger 2 damper. Not the very newest 2.1 damper, but still a very good upgrade. Its the damper with the remote.

SRAM Part number: 00.4018.783.020

www.amazon.co.uk/Rockshox-Unisexs-Charger2-Completeright-Internals/dp/B0727S96GT

Fits the Lyrik as per the SRAM manual:

https://www.servicearchive.sram.com/sites/default/files/techdocs/gen000000005353_rev_c_charger_2_damper_upgrade_kit.pdf

 

[Doug Stampfer]

This would get you the Charger 2 damper. Not the very newest 2.1 damper, but still a very good upgrade. Its the damper with the remote.

SRAM Part number: 00.4018.783.020

www.amazon.co.uk/Rockshox-Unisexs-Charger2-Completeright-Internals/dp/B0727S96GT

Fits the Lyrik as per the SRAM manual:

https://www.servicearchive.sram.com/sites/default/files/techdocs/gen000000005353_rev_c_charger_2_damper_upgrade_kit.pdf

Thanks for that link. Have you done this upgrade & if so was it noticable? I was wondering if it would be worth replacing the seals with skf too.

 

[Doomanic]

I've upgraded my Yari with a Charger 2.1 RC2 damper, 2021 airshaft and SKF seals. Massive improvement. So good that I'm not convinced I'll see any benefit going to a coil conversion on the forks.

 

[Dano78]

I wonder if the bosh rattling noise is worse after reducing the degrees of engagment of the hub ?

@Dano78 is that an L or XL ?

It's a large mate and not sure about the noise reduction it's not to bad

 

[neiloxford]

Thanks for that link. Have you done this upgrade & if so was it noticable? I was wondering if it would be worth replacing the seals with skf too.

Not done the upgrade myself so can't comment on the benefits. I had a rockshox 35 that I sold and purchased a lyrik select which was a significant upgrade. The Lyrik Select has the same damper is my understanding.

 

[Stray cat]

Has someone changed the fork? I think Trek Rail is running a specific one with a bigger crown, don’t know if an aftermarket one would work. Thanks

 

[neiloxford]

Has someone changed the fork? I think Trek Rail is running a specific one with a bigger crown, don’t know if an aftermarket one would work. Thanks

Aftermarket works fine. The bigger crown is not a requirement. If rockshox thought the forks should have a bigger crown they would make it that way for everyone.

 

[Jamescoughlan]

I've upgraded my Yari with a Charger 2.1 RC2 damper, 2021 airshaft and SKF seals. Massive improvement. So good that I'm not convinced I'll see any benefit going to a coil conversion on the forks.

I did the same. Then I fitted a coil Smashpot. It made a massive positive difference! Do it.

 

[Doomanic]

I rode my mate's Levo with a Smashpot in Revs with the RevUp damper and it didn't feel much different to mine, certainly not enough to justify the cost.

 

[John B]

I bough a 2021 9.8. I have upgraded

Bontrager line pro 40 carbon wheels
Michelin enduro tyres running tubeless.
Magura MT7 pro brakes with 220mm floating router on the front with 200mm on the rear.
SRAM XO1 groupset (without cranks)
Magura brake/shifter single clamps
DMR death grip grips with red anodised clamps
DMR V12 Pedals

Out of all of these upgrades, the brakes have made the biggest difference .

 

[Link]

2021 9.9 x0

Eagle AXS upgrade
Easton Monkeylite bars
XTR SPD pedals
Rocket Ron Tires
Stans latex (going to remove the bontrager juice in it now)
side bottle mount
FrameShield (on certain areas)
SRAM lock-on foam grips
Selle IT saddle (which one tbd)
more to follow no doubt...

 

[Doomanic]

Rocket Ron Tires

You not planning on riding it before the summer?