Is the Rail strong enough to ride without the battery?

[Bike Gorilla]

I know no one on here will have a definitive answer to this, but I'm wondering because I would happily use this bike for uplift days, but some places won't carry an ebike.
I'm holding on to my enduro bike for these days when they start up again, so wondered how much the battery addds to the structural integrity of the frame!?

I'm talking about an aluminium frame in my case.

 

[Voluptua]

The battery won't add anything to the structure. But you might want to rig up something to fill the hole, and stop crud getting in. Perhaps a dead battery with the guts removed? Or cling film!

 

[Bike Gorilla]

It’s a nice big swat box! I could pack a lot of food in there!

 

[Bike Gorilla]

The battery won't add anything to the structure. But you might want to rig up something to fill the hole, and stop crud getting in. Perhaps a dead battery with the guts removed? Or cling film!

You can buy the covers for about £50 and then figure a way to attach it without a battery.

 

[GrandesRoues]

Battery is not a structural part of the frame. No problem.

 

[Karve]

Yep no probs - Saw this on one of the facebook pages... Trek Rail Battery Blanking Plate with Storage Fits 2020-2021 | Etsy - chap on one of the facebook groups selling them

 

[Gary]

What places won't carry an Ebike?

 

[Bike Gorilla]

What places won't carry an Ebike?

Apparently Bipe Park Wales won’t. And I’ve heard that in some of the Alps resorts the lifties won’t load them up!

 

[Bike Gorilla]

Yep no probs - Saw this on one of the facebook pages... Trek Rail Battery Blanking Plate with Storage Fits 2020-2021 | Etsy - chap on one of the facebook groups selling them

Cheers for this ??

 

[Mteam]

Apparently Bipe Park Wales won’t. And I’ve heard that in some of the Alps resorts the lifties won’t load them up!

Pretty sure ive seen ebikes on the bpw uplift trailer

 

[Bike Gorilla]

I know they didn't initially, but sounds like it's changed then.

 

[Kernow]

Apparently Bipe Park Wales won’t. And I’ve heard that in some of the Alps resorts the lifties won’t load them up!

No problem in the alps or bike park wales with mine . I used so many ski lifts travelling from morzine into the Swiss alps and never had one issue there was about a dozen ebikes in out group
Bike park wales no problem iether , but it’s nicer to ride to the top on an ebike , cheaper and takes about the same time as the uplift depending on que times .
To be fair at both destinations an ebike was a bit pointless , if I had a decent enduro I would take that. There’s much better free places to ride in wales with an ebike , try cwm carn , brechfa etc in that area .

 

[bluewater87]

Yep no probs - Saw this on one of the facebook pages... Trek Rail Battery Blanking Plate with Storage Fits 2020-2021 | Etsy - chap on one of the facebook groups selling them

Ordered the last one.
Will use for when I have my bike on my car bike rack on the freezing cold days so my battery doesn’t freeze.
May also give it a go in the bike park when I don’t need any juice. Wonder if it’ll be faster than my commencal furious.

 

[Bike Gorilla]

No problem in the alps or bike park wales with mine . I used so many ski lifts travelling from morzine into the Swiss alps and never had one issue there was about a dozen ebikes in out group
Bike park wales no problem iether , but it’s nicer to ride to the top on an ebike , cheaper and takes about the same time as the uplift depending on que times .
To be fair at both destinations an ebike was a bit pointless , if I had a decent enduro I would take that. There’s much better free places to ride in wales with an ebike , try cwm carn , brechfa etc in that area .

Thanks for the info. That’s good news about the Alps. I’ve been both places a fair bit and I was more thinking about justifying keeping the enduro bike. I’m still paying off my Rail and trying to figure out what I need.
Thanks for the info everyone

 

[Gyre]

Another possible option if Etsy doesn't work out - Bosch sells "dummy" Powertube battery shells, presumably for display purposes. The issue will be whether the shell is tapped with the right threads and so forth.