Other Where are the 2025 Trek Rail+ Gen 5 reviews?

Sooooooooooo, the basic £5k aluminium Rail+ or the far better spec'd Cube One77 Stereo Hybrid One77 HPC SLX 800 with carbon mainframe and superior components at £4.5k.

Both could be sourced fairly locally and I don't think the geometry is wildly different either. Couple of kg's less would be nice via the Cube.

Shock horror; I actually prefer the utilitarian looks of the Rail+!
 
⚡ EMTB Pro Go Pro — exclusive discounts & ad-free Peaty's 25% off & more · Ad-free browsing · Pro badge See the deals →
Jamescoughlan said:
Sooooooooooo, the basic £5k aluminium Rail+ or the far better spec'd Cube One77 Stereo Hybrid One77 HPC SLX 800 with carbon mainframe and superior components at £4.5k.

Both could be sourced fairly locally and I don't think the geometry is wildly different either. Couple of kg's less would be nice via the Cube.

Shock horror; I actually prefer the utilitarian looks of the Rail+!
Click to expand...
More than happy to be proven wrong by someone who knows better than me, but I suspect more R&D went into the Rail+ and that it's a low risk option. I ride a Session and while it's not fancy, it gets all the basics absolutely spot on plus it hasn't skipped a beat for 3 seasons of bike park thrashing.
 
That said, the Mondraker is also worthy of consideration. Ridden one in Finale and it does indeed have incredible balance:
 
Rob Rides EMTB said:
The bike is proper. Rides very well. People hate the looks mainly.

In the high position travel is 163mm - with a 170mm fork and some better brakes it’s brilliant. (Have tried in this setup with full Ohlins )
Click to expand...

I don't think the looks are this bad, however I'm not sure sending all these reviewers matt black bikes was the greatest idea from Trek when they offer some pretty nice color options that would for sure help it look much better.

I prefer having a fat down tube than being forced to use a range extender & backpack to carry water.
 
I did see that video, but the Mondraker is not a mullet and you can’t remove the battery, which are my two must haves.
I actually have the previous gen Crafty and I think it’s brilliant!
 
Jamescoughlan said:
I did see that video, but the Mondraker is not a mullet and you can’t remove the battery, which are my two must haves.
I actually have the previous gen Crafty and I think it’s brilliant!
Click to expand...
Didn't realise you can't remove battery. Doh!
 
Gutted , back wheel seemed to have eaten my mech and rotated . Was pedalling on level ground and literally have no idea how it happened. I thought a stick or something when into the wheel. Now the udh hanger is stuck in the chain stay and the udh since it rotated has damaged the seat stay. Feels like a mental design and why the udh would not snapped . Never had this happen before . Going to contact the shop and trek to see. Bikes not even a month old.

View attachment IMG_9011.jpeg
 
Really, April 10th and still no Trek Rail+ (Gen 5) Reviews 🤯 New Levo 4 out and tons of long form reviews from all of the usual places. Is Trek ashamed of this bike or did they just run out of marketing $$$???

I'm on my third rail, and have been eagerly waiting for a proper rail+ review to drop to justify the upgrade.... now with the new Levo I am tempted to jump ship!
 
mightyflav said:
Really, April 10th and still no Trek Rail+ (Gen 5) Reviews 🤯 New Levo 4 out and tons of long form reviews from all of the usual places. Is Trek ashamed of this bike or did they just run out of marketing $$$???

I'm on my third rail, and have been eagerly waiting for a proper rail+ review to drop to justify the upgrade.... now with the new Levo I am tempted to jump ship!
Click to expand...
Tried google?

flowmountainbike.com

2025 Trek Rail+ Review | Quieter, smoother & more adjustable, the new Rail Gen 5 is a better e-MTB in every way

Equipped with a brand new frame, a mullet setup and an easily removable 800Wh battery, the 2025 Trek Rail+ gets all the updates we hoped for.
flowmountainbike.com flowmountainbike.com

mbaction.com

First Ride Review: Trek's All-New Gen 5 Rail+ eMTB Gets More of Everything - Mountain Bike Action Magazine

Trek’s new Gen 5 Rail+’s carbon frame now adopts a mixed-wheel (MX) setup except for the size small which sees 27.5-inch wheels front and rear.
mbaction.com mbaction.com


Considering its very much like the Gen4 Rail with a new motor I can understand why it gets glossed over.
 
mightyflav said:
Really, April 10th and still no Trek Rail+ (Gen 5) Reviews 🤯 New Levo 4 out and tons of long form reviews from all of the usual places. Is Trek ashamed of this bike or did they just run out of marketing $$$???

I'm on my third rail, and have been eagerly waiting for a proper rail+ review to drop to justify the upgrade.... now with the new Levo I am tempted to jump ship!
Click to expand...
I love my rail+. Its Sadly off road with a freak failure with the UDH , But Trek have been great in sorting it out.
Ive been doing lots of endurance riding on my topfuel the past few years and my trail skills and confidence had become quite poor.
3 weeks with the rail+ and feels like im right back where i was. Feels really composed downhill, climbs great, super quiet. Really brought my confidence back.
It is my first ebike so my review doesnt count for much.
I bought it because trek have always looked after me with any issues and i really like there bikes. Ive got 4 treks now.
Ive just upgraded the fork internals on the zeb to make it an ultimate 3.0 dampner, buttercups etc and put it up to 170mm, going to also fit the new sram 90 groupset as im not a fan of UDH anymore. Think some bigger brakes and it will be an absolute weapon.
 
JP-NZ said:
Tried google?

flowmountainbike.com

2025 Trek Rail+ Review | Quieter, smoother & more adjustable, the new Rail Gen 5 is a better e-MTB in every way

Equipped with a brand new frame, a mullet setup and an easily removable 800Wh battery, the 2025 Trek Rail+ gets all the updates we hoped for.
flowmountainbike.com flowmountainbike.com

mbaction.com

First Ride Review: Trek's All-New Gen 5 Rail+ eMTB Gets More of Everything - Mountain Bike Action Magazine

Trek’s new Gen 5 Rail+’s carbon frame now adopts a mixed-wheel (MX) setup except for the size small which sees 27.5-inch wheels front and rear.
mbaction.com mbaction.com


Considering its very much like the Gen4 Rail with a new motor I can understand why it gets glossed over.
Click to expand...
I did, got the same results. But if you look into it they are all first looks. There are no in depth reviews.....
 
I’ve been riding my demo bike a lot. I’ve tried stock 160 fork (not bad), 170 fork (very good) 180 fork with -1 angleset and in high position (not the best unless full send DH).

I really really like the bike and think it’s the most underrated ebike released recently.

In 170 format it’s a brilliant enduro bike, big battery, removable, Powermore compatible. Not too heavy (23.5KG ish in XT build).

Stock chain noise was really annoying but the VHS slapped tape seems to help.

240mm dropper can be completely slammed on XL model.

In fact I might buy one of my own if I can find a deal on it.
 
Rob Rides EMTB said:
For some reason Trek have not sent many bikes out at all. No press camp, so barely any coverage.
Click to expand...
Cost cutting while they sort out their financial situation? My LBS said they're not having any demo bikes this year either.
 
nickf said:
Cost cutting while they sort out their financial situation? My LBS said they're not having any demo bikes this year either.
Click to expand...
Very likely. Press events are expensive. But obviously generate a ton of coverage.

If I recall they didn’t do much with the OG Trek Rail when it launched either, but people quickly picked up on how good it was not long after the release.
 
Rob Rides EMTB said:
I’ve been riding my demo bike a lot. I’ve tried stock 160 fork (not bad), 170 fork (very good) 180 fork with -1 angleset and in high position (not the best unless full send DH).

I really really like the bike and think it’s the most underrated ebike released recently.

In 170 format it’s a brilliant enduro bike, big battery, removable, Powermore compatible. Not too heavy (23.5KG ish in XT build).

Stock chain noise was really annoying but the VHS slapped tape seems to help.

240mm dropper can be completely slammed on XL model.

In fact I might buy one of my own if I can find a deal on it.
Click to expand...
Can I ask for a comparison to the strive:on? I had the strive for some months, and thought it was a really good bike, but somewhat sluggish/dh-oriented for my needs. The suspension was a little too "deep", I would have prefered more mid-stroke support, but again... it wasn't bad, but left me wanting more, or maybe another rear shock than the stock dpx
 
I have had the TREK RAIL+ 9.8 GX AXS for a month or so. Despite the lack of any flashy features or new innovations it is a very solid bike and a great alternative for example for Gen4 Levo. So I am also a bit puzzled by the lack of press. Anyway, here are my two cents:

-It is a very well balanced and versatile package with no real flaws, but maybe they should have specced it with a 170 fork instead of 160 (it is approved for 180) and Maven brakes instead of Codes.
-With angle cups and other adjustments it offers a lot of flexibility to set it up for your own use. I am still experimenting, but my current setup is 180 stock Fox 38 fork, mino link high position, stock shock in progressive setting and no angle set. With the 180/160 setup, it is well balanced with a 64 degree head angle (stock 64.5, 160--> 180= 63 deg, Mino high = 64deg). With the mino (bottom bracket) low setting, head angle would be 63.5 for more stability.
-The battery is very easy to remove and no rattling or other problems so far. Also battery can be "locked" with a lock screw for extra security. I am currently running it with 600Wh optional battery, this brings real weight around 23kg (24kg with stock 800Wh) for my trail-enduro setup with heavy stock tires
-Still running stock tires, they are ok but not great especially in wet conditions - stock tires weigh around 1400g - will soon be replaced by Schwalbe MMs.
-Compared to earlier RAIL versions, everything is now standard for easy upgrades and maintenance, fortunately TREK has dropped all their proprietary designs (oversized head tube, knock block, etc.). Also no headset cable routing, it is just a very solid design overall.
-GX AXS rear derailleur is powered by the main battery - nice detail!
-New Bosch Gen 5 motor is really good, and controllable and will only get better with future updates.
-Yes, it has a big down tube due to the removable Bosch 800Wh battery, but I think it looks ok overall.
-Price is pretty competitive in Europe, selling at ~10% discount in most markets.

Trek RAIL+ 9.8 GX AXS.jpg
 
Last edited:
Bike Bot said:
I have had the TREK RAIL+ 9.8 GX AXS for a month or so. Despite the lack of any flashy features or new innovations it is a very solid bike and a great alternative for example for Gen4 Levo. So I am also a bit puzzled by the lack of press. Anyway, here are my two cents:

-It is a very well balanced and versatile package with no real flaws, but maybe they should have specced it with a 170 fork instead of 160 (it is approved for 180) and Maven brakes instead of Codes.
-With angle cups and other adjustments it offers a lot of flexibility to set it up for your own use. I am still experimenting, but my current setup is 180 stock Fox 38 fork, mino link high position, stock shock in progressive setting and no angle set. With the 180/160 setup, it is well balanced with a 64 degree head angle (stock 64.5, 160--> 180= 63 deg, Mino high = 64deg). With the mino (bottom bracket) low setting, head angle would be 63.5 for more stability.
-The battery is very easy to remove and no rattling or other problems so far. Also battery can be "locked" with a lock screw for extra security. I am currently running it with 600Wh optional battery, this brings real weight around 23kg (24kg with stock 800Wh) for my trail-enduro setup with heavy stock tires
-Still running stock tires, they are ok but not great especially in wet conditions - stock tires weigh around 1400g - will soon be replaced by Schwalbe MMs.
-Compared to earlier RAIL versions, everything is now standard for easy upgrades and maintenance, fortunately TREK has dropped all their proprietary designs (oversized head tube, knock block, etc.). Also no headset cable routing, it is just a very solid design overall.
-GX AXS rear derailleur is powered by the main battery - nice detail!
-New Bosch Gen 5 motor is really good, and controllable and will only get better with future updates.
-Yes, it has a big down tube due to the removable Bosch 800Wh battery, but I think it looks ok overall.
-Price is pretty competitive in Europe, selling at ~10% discount in most markets.
Click to expand...
just curious about the 600 watt battery. Did you have to get an extra outer panel for it from Trek or is the one that came with the bike able to swap over between the batteries?
 
TheBob said:
just curious about the 600 watt battery. Did you have to get an extra outer panel for it from Trek or is the one that came with the bike able to swap over between the batteries?
Click to expand...
Since the 800Wh and 600Wh batteries are the same length, the adapter parts are interchangeable. You can get the outer plate and extra end cap from Trek, but it is possible to swap them from the stock 800Wh battery. See the attached RIB 2.0 service manual for part numbers.

You can probably get a 600Wh battery from TREK with the outer plate and end cap installed, but I ordered a standard 600Wh battery from a generic Bosch dealer without the TREK-specific parts. So, I originally swapped parts from the 800Wh battery without spacers to fill the "empty space", but I have now ordered the parts from TREK to be able to easily switch between and carry a second battery for epics.
 

Attachments

Last edited:
Can I ask if you felt a big difference swapping the for the 600wh instead of the 800wh? I'm planning to do the same with my Mondraker Crafty and wondering if it's worth the investment as for most of my rides, 600wh are more than enough
 
Bogdan_CH said:
Can I ask if you felt a big difference swapping the for the 600wh instead of the 800wh? I'm planning to do the same with my Mondraker Crafty and wondering if it's worth the investment as for most of my rides, 600wh are more than enough
Click to expand...
You can feel a bit of a difference when lifting the front wheel, but honestly, a 1 kg (2 lbs) difference is hardly noticeable in most riding situations.

My main reason for getting the 600Wh battery was to run a dual-battery setup for long epic rides, and for that, it’s perfect — a combined 1400Wh gives me more than enough range for all situations.
 
Rob Rides EMTB said:
This bike is very very good. Only one ride so far, but I’m very impressed so far.

160 Fork, 160 rear, can run up to 180mm fork, head angle adjust, BB height adjust and a progression adjust flip chip to run coil shocks.

View attachment 153697
Click to expand...
Just sold my Exe and looking for something to compliment my Moterra SL with a bike with an all day and easy access battery, look forward to your full ride review.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Keep reading
    Browse all

    Similar Threads

    Community Stats

    Since 2018
    668K
    Messages
    40,728
    Members
    Join 30,000+ Riders, it's free!
    Back
    Top