Trek Rail upgrades, what have you done?

[irie]

Here is a Zeb 170 from a Slash when I installed it on my Rail 5 - yes it works, but I hate the look
View attachment 134433

Pike Ultimate on my wife's Rail 5 and Zeb Ultimate on my Rail 5 look exactly the same.

There's a really cheap fix for that: Don't look at it.

 

[arTNC]

LOL!..."Don't look at it". I guess I'm in that camp and never really notice it as an issue. I can appreciate that it bothers some, but I look at my MTB's/EMTB's like I look at my dirt motors. They get good service, and they get cleaned when off road conditions like mud and such are encountered, but I don't stress over their appearance as much as I do my street motorcycle. But, people are different, and I get that.

 

[fasterjason]

I can appreciate that it bothers some....

I don't stress over their appearance as much as I do my street motorcycle.

I put 38s on my rails. I briefly thought about asthetics, but function over form.

Friend speaks my mind. My KTM is usually pretty dirty, but I try to keep my H2 clean despite it wanting to spew oil everywhere.

 

[arTNC]

I put 38s on my rails. I briefly thought about asthetics, but function over form.

Friend speaks my mind. My KTM is usually pretty dirty, but I try to keep my H2 clean despite it wanting to spew oil everywhere.

Wait a minute...expand on your mention of an H2...which one?

 

[fasterjason]

Wait a minute...expand on your mention of an H2...which one?

1975 two-stroke triple 750, the widow maker......

 

[arTNC]

1975 two-stroke triple 750, the widow maker......

LOL!...that's what I was wondering. I had the sky blue '72 model as my second motorcycle and later the brown/gold '74 model. I worked part time at a motorcycle shop...spent all my extra money there.

Edit to add: come to think of it I still do...except now it's on MTB's/EMTB's and still motorcycles...and the part time is at a bike shop. It's a disease.

 

[obiwun]

Hello, nice upgrades, and the NLS speedi definitely works on a gen 4?

Yes Speedi definitely works on the Gen 4. It's great with the new Bosch interface which doesn't have any speed display. (speed reading would be out).

 

[joshtammi]

Do

Yes Speedi definitely works on the Gen 4. It's great with the new Bosch interface which doesn't have any speed display. (speed reading would be out).

Would this make the odo read incorrectly?

 

[obiwun]

Do

Would this make the odo read incorrectly?

yes

 

[Gianni]

Good morning, which wheelset do you use on your TREK?
I'm looking for a sturdy, not too expensive set; the original wheels are too delicate for my weight and driving style

 

[arTNC]

Good morning, which wheelset do you use on your TREK?
I'm looking for a sturdy, not too expensive set; the original wheels are too delicate for my weight and driving style

Are you asking someone specifically or is this general to all here?

 

[Gianni]

Are you asking someone specifically or is this general to all here?

It's a request I make to anyone with experience

 

[Yoak]

I use the Bontrager Carbon rims, the "cheap" version. I thrashed one after 5 weeks, got a replacement under warranty and those rims are now on the 3rd Rail. Very happy. The spokes are not the best though. I have broken quite a few on the rear wheel. I used to dent alu rims all the time, as its quite a few rock gardens in my area

 

[Paulquattro]

I use hope fortus 30s the reinforced ones not the sl version
Be aware thou that 30s are the only ones with extra internal webbing

 

[arTNC]

It's a request I make to anyone with experience

Gotcha. Over many years of MTB'ing, I've always found the rear wheel to be the weak link. That's logical since by the nature of use and design, the rear wheel almost always takes the hits the most aggressively. Not that you can't taco a front wheel by any means.

On my Trek Rail 7 the front wheel seems very capable and has held up quite well in rocky, harsh terrain. However, eventually I end up breaking spokes and such on every MTB I've ever had. With this Rail I know it will happen as I can ride this bike even more aggressively.

That said, I picked up a Bontrager Line Pro 30 TLR rear wheel...just the rear. It's a carbon rim with straight pull spokes and a good, high engagement hub. This wheelset is on sale from Trek as a pair or just a single. I've never wanted to spend the money on a carbon wheel, but this one appears to be a good value. I've not had issues with good quality, beefy, aluminum rims, but at this price point I went for carbon this time.

I'm a big proponent of straight pull spokes. At least when done properly, they are almost always superior to J-bends. This was one of the biggest leaps forward for dirt motorcycle wheels, and it carries over to MTB wheels. There are some really good wheels out there, but a good carbon rimmed wheel is usually very expensive. This Bontrager rear wheel is a good balance of value and robust design IMO.

I'd also add that it's got a 2-year guarantee against damage with free replacement.

 

[Gianni]

Thank you all. I'm taking inspiration from your experiences and looking around. I'm evaluating the DT SWISS HX 1700 or some assembled set. After updating the suspension of my TREK (ZEB Charger 3 170mm and Fox X2 Factory) and the brakes (Shimano Saint), now an update to the wheels is what we need to have a "perfect" bike

 

[obiwun]

E Thirteen Carbon Cranks
Line Pro Carbon Wheels
Rockshox Superdeluxe Ultimate Rear Shock 230 x 60
Charger 3 Damper Upgrade
170mm Air Debonair +Spring
Ultimate Black brake pads
View attachment 121652

Hey bike looks awesome. Do you like this shock on this bike? I’m thinking about doing the same. Did you consider 62.5mm stroke and did you consider the Vivid air?

 

[Gianni]

Update!
I ordered a set of MAVIC E-Deemax 29 from my trusted bike store, it seems like a good compromise between price and quality.
In the past I had a good experience with Mavic, I hope it happens again. Thanks again

 

[BuckSaw]

This is my Gen 2 Rail 7. Ive made a few changes since I picked up last winter. I've swapped out the SRAM DB8 brakes for Shimano SLX 4 piston brakes. The dropper post is a 170mm PNW Loam with a PNW Loam lever. Diety Black Cat pedals, Diety seatpost clamp, PNW Range handlebar, Ergon GE1 grips, Zeb Ultimate 160mm fork, Sicomtb rear fender, and my trusty Chromag Trailmaster LTD saddle. Ive got a Dyedbro protection kit on the frame, as well as 3M film on the downtube and headtube. My current wheels are WTB i29s laced to Tairin Shogun hubs. Tires are Schwalbe Magic Mary front and Hans Dampf rear. I'll be putting my Nobl TR wheels on later this summer. I'm going to rebuild the rear TR37 with a Hope Pro 5 emtb hub first though. I plan on switching the drivetrain to Shimano 8130 linkglide eventually, as well as upgrading the rear shock.

 

[bfletch2006]

Here is a Zeb 170 from a Slash when I installed it on my Rail 5 - yes it works, but I hate the look
View attachment 134433

Hi, Does the Zeb from your Slash have a 1.5 inch steerer tube?

 

[bfletch2006]

View attachment 140798

This is my Gen 2 Rail 7. Ive made a few changes since I picked up last winter. I've swapped out the SRAM DB8 brakes for Shimano SLX 4 piston brakes. The dropper post is a 170mm PNW Loam with a PNW Loam lever. Diety Black Cat pedals, Diety seatpost clamp, PNW Range handlebar, Ergon GE1 grips, Zeb Ultimate 160mm fork, Sicomtb rear fender, and my trusty Chromag Trailmaster LTD saddle. Ive got a Dyedbro protection kit on the frame, as well as 3M film on the downtube and headtube. My current wheels are WTB i29s laced to Tairin Shogun hubs. Tires are Schwalbe Magic Mary front and Hans Dampf rear. I'll be putting my Nobl TR wheels on later this summer. I'm going to rebuild the rear TR37 with a Hope Pro 5 emtb hub first though. I plan on switching the drivetrain to Shimano 8130 linkglide eventually, as well as upgrading the rear shock.

Hi, does your Zeb have a 1.5 inch steerer tube? How do you like the PNW bars?

 

[BuckSaw]

Hi, does your Zeb have a 1.5 inch steerer tube? How do you like the PNW bars?

Tapered steerer 1.5" - 1 1/8". I really like the PNW bars. I've been using them for a few years and I've got them on multiple bikes. They have just the right amount of rise and sweep IMO and they are in the sweet spot for compliance.

 

[bfletch2006]

Tapered steerer 1.5" - 1 1/8". I really like the PNW bars. I've been using them for a few years and I've got them on multiple bikes. They have just the right amount of rise and sweep IMO and they are in the sweet spot for compliance.

Thanks! I found a good deal on a zeb ultimate with a 1.5 inch steerer. Did you notice any difference going from the OEM 1.8 inch steerer the bike came with?

 

[arTNC]

Thanks! I found a good deal on a zeb ultimate with a 1.5 inch steerer. Did you notice any difference going from the OEM 1.8 inch steerer the bike came with?

Don't most all the modern, longer travel forks have the 1/8"/1/2" standard?

 

[BuckSaw]

Thanks! I found a good deal on a zeb ultimate with a 1.5 inch steerer. Did you notice any difference going from the OEM 1.8 inch steerer the bike came with?

The stock fork also had a tapered steerer. My Domain was damaged during assembly so I upgraded to the Zeb Ultimate before I picked the bike up.

 

[bfletch2006]

Don't most all the modern, longer travel forks have the 1/8"/1/2" standard?

My Rail 9.8 has a 1.8 inch steerer. I have to get a reducer to make the headset work if get a fork with the standard 1.5 inch steerer

 

[BuckSaw]

My Rail 9.8 has a 1.8 inch steerer. I have to get a reducer to make the headset work if get a fork with the standard 1.5 inch steerer

That doesn't seem right. Are uou the original owner, is it the OEM fork?

 

[bfletch2006]

It’s has a 1 1/8-1.8 in headset. I checked the Rockshox specs on the fork and it has a 1.8 in steerer.

That doesn't seem right. Are uou the original owner, is it the OEM fork?

 

[arTNC]

That doesn't seem right. Are uou the original owner, is it the OEM fork?

I agree that it doesn't sound right unless that's an aftermarket fork of some sort and then with some kind of an adapter headset for the bottom. All Rails have the 1.5 bottom and 1&1/8 top head tubes which is pretty much the industry standard for bikes at this level and category.

 

[hongeorge]

I'm going to rebuild the rear TR37 with a Hope Pro 5 emtb hub first though.

The EMTB hubs aren't that much different, I think swapping the freehub is probably all you need to do - only difference is the EMTB hub engages all 6 pawls at once (54 points), whereas the regular bub has them offset, so it's 3 engaged at a time (104pts). Easier/cheaper than a whole new hub and build