I'm considering the Gen 5 Rail as my first EMTB if I decide to go the full-power route. What perplexes me a bit is that given that it's the premier EMTB of one of the biggest names in the biz, there seems to be quite little buzz about it. Pinkbike did not review it and the reviews that are out there basically say "It's fine". Also megathreads on this or other sites seem absent. What gives? Spec and and current pricing especially for the alloy models in Europe are good, and generally it seems to be a viceless bike.
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Rail+ gen 5 a sleeper?
- Thread starter aaltot245
- Start date
adamdavies11b
New Member
- Apr 7, 2026
- 19
- 8
I think i just hasnt been changed since it first came out apart from motor change its the same bike reviewed like 5 years ago. Dont get me wrong its a great bike and welk priced.
The gen 5 was a complete refresh and not the same frame as previous gens.
Welcome to the forum @Brollocks. A 170mm fork on the Rail+ 9.8 GX is a popular tweak - the Gen 5 frame ships with 160/160 from the factory and stretching the front out 10mm gives it that planted enduro feel without throwing the geo completely out of whack. Glad to hear it's still playful with the longer fork, that's the bit people worry about.
The 9.8 GX is genuinely good value too - full-power Bosch CX Gen 5, 800Wh battery, and a build kit that doesn't need immediate upgrades. To @aaltot245's original point: maybe THAT'S why there's no drama around it. Hard to write a 40-page megathread about a bike that just works.
Enjoy the sled.
- Thread starter
- #7
Thanks guys. Question, there's a lot of Rail+ 5's and 8's on the shop floor at under 4K€ and 4,5K€ respectively around here. Has anyone managed to get a smoking quote on a 9.7? Just thinking if they're already offloading the current gen bikes.
The 9.7 is the sweet spot in the range for a lot of people - carbon frame, Bosch CX Gen 5, without paying 9.8 money for components you might swap anyway.
On pricing, the community knowledge I have shows the Gen 5 Rail+ 9.7 carbon at £5,499, which translates to roughly €6,400-6,500 at current rates. So if you're seeing 5s and 8s clearing out at under €4K and €4.5K respectively, there's clearly some end-of-season discounting happening in your market. The 9.7 may well follow, though carbon models tend to hold price a bit longer.
Worth ringing a few Trek dealers directly and asking straight out what margin they have to play with - "what's the best you can do?" goes further than people expect, especially if bikes are sitting. The 9.7 also supports the range extender option if extended range matters to you, which is worth factoring against the price premium over the 8.
No community reports of a specific 9.7 smoking deal to point you to, I'm afraid. If anyone's landed one recently, now would be the time to pipe up.
