Trek rail rear shock upgrade ideas please

Stihldog said:
I got the bad habit of packing a water bottle, mounted on the down tube. Side mount cage on a medium size Railing.

I did really care for a water bladder. Never have. But I’ve only drank from a stream or creek a few times …which is why I think I have beaver-fever.
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Small bottle = short ride.
 
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BuckSaw said:
Small bottle = short ride.
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Usually not a problem for regular rides. Even during a hot and extremely dry day/week/month…but there was that one time I didn’t top-up the water bottle. Told my friend part way through the ride and he generously offered to share. I took a small sip.

Well! I couldn’t spit that fluid out fast enough. WTF was that? Tasted like a blend of seawater and used dish soap. I know hydration is important but there is no way I could choke that down.
I switched to survival mode. 😰
Weeksy said:
stop at pub, long ride.
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yeah, seen that once. I think it’s called a mirage? Very disappointing. 😉
 
Hallo ans Forum aus Deutschland.
Ich bin Barney _1 und ich beobachte diesen Thread schon länger.
Ich fahre ein Trek Rail 7 der 1. Gen. Aus dem Jahr 2020 in Größe XL.
Ichwsr mit den originalen Stoßdämpfern nicht sehr zufrieden und suchte nach einer Alternative.
Nun habe ich heute einen RockShox Vivid Air Ultimate eingebaut und ohne Luft getestet, ob er passt.
Was soll ich sagen? Passt perfekt.
Der Piggy Pac hat noch ca. 10 mm Luft zum Unterrohr, wenn komplett komprimiert.
Eich einen Dämpfer in 230 x 57,5.
Allerdings musste der Zug Stufenversteller nach hinten zum Rahmen drehen, da er nach vorne nicht passte.
1000095207.jpg
 
Barney _1 said:
Hallo ans Forum aus Deutschland.
Ich bin Barney _1 und ich beobachte diesen Thread schon länger.
Ich fahre ein Trek Rail 7 der 1. Gen. Aus dem Jahr 2020 in Größe XL.
Ichwsr mit den originalen Stoßdämpfern nicht sehr zufrieden und suchte nach einer Alternative.
Nun habe ich heute einen RockShox Vivid Air Ultimate eingebaut und ohne Luft getestet, ob er passt.
Was soll ich sagen? Passt perfekt.
Der Piggy Pac hat noch ca. 10 mm Luft zum Unterrohr, wenn komplett komprimiert.
Eich einen Dämpfer in 230 x 57,5.
Allerdings musste der Zug Stufenversteller nach hinten zum Rahmen drehen, da er nach vorne nicht passte.
View attachment 174286
Click to expand...
Translated to English:
Hello to the forum from Germany.

I'm Barney_1 and I've been following this thread for a while.

I ride a 2020 Trek Rail 7 (1st generation) in size XL.

I wasn't very happy with the original shocks and was looking for an alternative.

Today I installed a RockShox Vivid Air Ultimate and tested it without air to see if it fit.

What can I say? It fits perfectly.

The Piggy Pac has about 10 mm of clearance to the downtube when fully compressed.

I have a shock in 230 x 57.5 mm.

However, I had to rotate the cable adjuster backward toward the frame, as it didn't fit forward.
 
Hallo,

Hier ist ein weiteres Foto, das den Stoßdämpfer im vollständig zusammengedrückten Zustand ohne Luft zeigt.

Man kann deutlich sehen, wie viel Platz noch zwischen dem Dämpfer und dem Unterrohr des Rahmens besteht.

Leider passt meine gewohnte Fidlock-Trinkflasche nicht mehr, da der Wasserbehälter beim Einfedern der Federung dagegen stößt.

Ich habe dieses Problem mit der auf dem Bild gezeigten Wasserflasche gelöst.

Durch die abgewinkelte Form passt es perfekt.

Bitte entschuldigen Sie etwaige Unvollkommenheiten in meinem Englisch.

Ich habe dies mit Google Translate geschrieben.

Grüße,
Barney_1
1000095244.jpg
1000095272.jpg
 
Looks good - I'm doing the same upgrade to my Rail in a few months too : RockShox Vivid Ultimate Air. Will likely go for a 230x60 size
 
irie said:
I had to rotate the cable adjuster backward toward the frame, as it didn't fit forward.
Click to expand...
As someone said earlier in this thread on our Ohlins coil shocks we also turned the Rebound Damping Adjuster at the bottom of the shock to face the back of our 2022 Rail 5's (Medium and Large)
 
Last edited:
To follow up on my post above.
I went with the Vivid Ultimate coil shock : 230x60 on a large frame (2024 Rail 9.7 Carbon frame)

This is it fitted.

55084776530_c9d5be87a8_b.jpg


55084652373_dc2a7c3c3a_b.jpg
 
Last edited:
The Jade X is one of the few shocks that will fit a size S Rail. I have one on my M size and love it. Good choice!
 
nickf said:
The Jade X is one of the few shocks that will fit a size S Rail. I have one on my M size and love it. Good choice!
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Just out of curiosity What other shocks (Air or Coil) will fit a size small rail?? I know the ohlins coil fits.
 
Trek-Rail-eBike said:
To follow up on my post above.
I went with the Vivid Ultimate coil shock : 230x60 on a large frame (2024 Rail 9.7 Carbon frame)

This is it fitted.

55084776530_c9d5be87a8_b.jpg


55084652373_dc2a7c3c3a_b.jpg
Click to expand...
Hi, I’m riding a 2021 9.7 size XL - I’ve just upgraded my fork and now looking to replace the standard shock - I’m considering whether to go air or coil, but like the idea of coil tbh.
How you finding the Vivid? Any issue with the fit and selecting the right weight coil?
 
Marsdenetc said:
Hi, I’m riding a 2021 9.7 size XL - I’ve just upgraded my fork and now looking to replace the standard shock - I’m considering whether to go air or coil, but like the idea of coil tbh.
How you finding the Vivid? Any issue with the fit and selecting the right weight coil?
Click to expand...
Hi - no issues yet after a couple visits to Bike Park Wales and Cannock Chase DH area.

Coil spring weight : I looked at various calculators but in the end went with this one : Spring Calculator
..and used some comparison to other rider weights who have posted on here

I'm 82kg and went with a 500lbs spring for 30% sag.
 
I'm looking to install a 2026 Rock Shox RC2 Ultimate Coil on a GEN2 L (2021) Rail XT 9.8. The Coil Shock is a 230 x 57.5 like the stock shock. Why is everyone using a different length shock length and not by a 230x57.5? What am I missing? Thanks
 
GIORIDER said:
I'm looking to install a 2026 Rock Shox RC2 Ultimate Coil on a GEN2 L (2021) Rail XT 9.8. The Coil Shock is a 230 x 57.5 like the stock shock. Why is everyone using a different length shock length and not by a 230x57.5? What am I missing? Thanks
Click to expand...
If you have no clearance issues a 60 or 62.5mm stroke will give you more rear wheel travel. 150>157>165 +/-
 
Here is my 2021 Gen2 Trek Rail L 9.8 XT with A 2026 Rock Shox Vivid Coil Ultimate RC2T 230x57.5 using the WPS Trek Trunion Adapter (by Dirt Labs) 54mm on top and 40mm on bottom with the reuse of the Stock M10 Bolts.

A couple of questions.
1) Do I torque the bolts to the factory spec of 17nm? I heard to do them at 10nm??
2) What's the best way to determine SAG I dont have a sag ring on the shock?

PXL_20260407_040951012.webp


1dab7501-356b-46b8-95f3-fc95794f2fb4.webp
 
hi
anny tips for buying in EU all the hardware to instal a normal eyelet dhx230x57 to replace the original RS reactiv
 
Maxukeiro said:
hi
anny tips for buying in EU all the hardware to instal a normal eyelet dhx230x57 to replace the original RS reactiv
Click to expand...
I buy most of my components from Bike24.com or Bike-discount.com. Between them they generally have a good range of shock-related hardware. Worth a try.
 
I tried to fit a 2025 Fox Float X Factory 230x60 on my Trek Rail 7 Large gen 1, and it did not fit. The piggyback will hit the frame..
1000009930.webp
 
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