Advice needed! Torn between Rail+ & Fuel+

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Plummet said:
Noting that with integrated battery bikes your day is done when the battery is flat. So if the run time is too short then yourl be missing out on riding that you could have otherwise enjoyed with a bike with a bigger battery or swappable battery.... or a fast charger.
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Doesn't the Fuel+ have an easily removable battery though?
 
DylanJM said:
Doesn't the Fuel+ have an easily removable battery though?
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Yes. Takes 5 mins.

And there's also a smaller lighter 360Wh battery as well as the 160Wh range extender. So there's quite a few combo options for shorter/lighter or longer/heavier outings :) .
 
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EdP said:
I would love to get an Amflow but out of my price range unfortunately. Especially the pro. The fuel+ has a 580wh battery with 160wh extender and the newer HPR60 motor. I ruled out the older Exe straight away because of the smaller battery etc.

I am going to try and test ride a Rail+ if I can
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The Fuel+ is a great bike. If that is what you go with You’ll be happy 👍
 
Hi all, so….i rode both the rail+ & fuel+ today, admittedly on pathways and really glad I did. I appreciate riding off road for a longer period of time would be ideal but wasn’t possible.

I rode the rail first. The power was very impressive but felt like a tank, completely different to what I’m used to and felt heavy (even though I am)

I jumped on the fuel and instantly preferred it. Didn’t feel quite so cramped, felt more nimble and the power was great.

The best way I can describe it is that the rail was like an electric moped and the fuel felt like I had super legs but much more like a normal bike.

I’m quite happy to get the heart rate up so my mind is made up and I think the fuel works for me.

Massive thanks to all who contributed to this thread and hope it helps other newbies like me 🤞👍
 
EdP said:
Hi all.

Apologies if this subject has been done to death but just after some opinions of folk on here who have, ideally ridden both.

I have just ordered my first emtb which Is a fuel+ but will be about another month before it arrives. I’m a big lad weighing in at 101kg.

I only really ride my local trails, don’t do jumps or anything too gnarly and usually ride solo. I also want to keep fit and I run a couple of times a week. So…….the fuel+ seemed like the obvious choice. I’ve recently started looking at the Rail+ and looks like it could be a lot of fun with many riders who love them. I’ve spoken to the bike shop who advised I could change my mind if I wanted to with the added bonus I would get the Rail a lot sooner.

In a nutshell some different opinions would be great to hear as I’m still undecided.

Cheers
Ed 😉
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If going eeb, it’s all about the range especially if used to pulling bigger rides on regular mtb. I had Fuel EXe and hated it for the poor range, especially in comparison to my Rail. Thought might be able to pedal Fuel EXe when battery dead like analog, but wasnt the case. I stopped riding it after a couple of months and sold it cause of that. Beautiful frame, build good and liked it was full 29 for trail rides.

If planning to ride for at least 2hrs or more, at least 750w battery best. I am 205 lbs geared up, never ride in Turbo and pumping 2120 watts total between two ebikes (Levo4 and Orbea Wild) with range extenders as needed. For me, it’s all about getting as much DH as I can though, especially where I ride with bigger vert gains/DH.
 
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jgusta said:
If going eeb, it’s all about the range especially if used to pulling bigger rides on regular mtb. I had Fuel EXe and hated it for the poor range, especially in comparison to my Rail.
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The original Fuel Exe was indeed flawed by its smaller 360Wh battery. Just like the Specialized Levo SL, another great bike but too range limited. The new Fuel+ with 580Wh battery can now genuinely compete with the full fat bikes like the Rail for autonomy, as long as you're happy with the more effort/less speed compromise.
 
EdP said:
Hi all, so….i rode both the rail+ & fuel+ today, admittedly on pathways and really glad I did. I appreciate riding off road for a longer period of time would be ideal but wasn’t possible.

I rode the rail first. The power was very impressive but felt like a tank, completely different to what I’m used to and felt heavy (even though I am)

I jumped on the fuel and instantly preferred it. Didn’t feel quite so cramped, felt more nimble and the power was great.

The best way I can describe it is that the rail was like an electric moped and the fuel felt like I had super legs but much more like a normal bike.

I’m quite happy to get the heart rate up so my mind is made up and I think the fuel works for me.

Massive thanks to all who contributed to this thread and hope it helps other newbies like me 🤞👍
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Dunno how I didn’t see this sooner, I own both a gen 3 Rail with 750wh battery and an older Exe with HPR50 and also weigh similar to you.

They are completely different bikes, my fuel weighs 20.2kg and the Rail 23.3kg. That 3kg is VERY noticeable as you have found out. The Fuel+ would be even better with more power and bigger battery.

I think you have made the right choice. That new Fuel + looks the business and the new HPR60 is around 20% more efficient. You can go huge distance on the 580wh.
 
My Spectral OnFly with the TQ50 also has the 360WH battery. I weigh just under 200lb and range is the drawback. I want to say maybe 28-30 miles (🤔) is the best I can get? Never really tried because range anxiety sets in and I head back. My neighbor has the Fuel + also with the 350WH battery. He weighs 160lb at best and gets better range. I think the new Fuel + with a 580WH battery is a solid answer to more range. I suspect long rides will not be a problem at all.

I still ride the Spectral as it’s an awesome bike but I now have an Amflow Carbon Pro for long rides.
 
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dotcodotuk said:
No demo bikes for another 30-ish days, right? I’m waiting as well...

I think the Fuel+ fits you better.

Yes, you can turn down the power on the Rail... but you can't remove the extra weight it carries over the Fuel+ and the TQ motor sounds like it would fit your riding better - have you tested a bike with one?

I love the TQ for the ability to have a very natural-feeling ride, just with some extra assistance, plus the option to play around with battery sizes and thus bike weight or even ride without the battery at all. Huge advantage for me over a Bosch.

I have no need for a full-fat EMTB, but I do need some extra help on longer days when I run out of puff on repeated climbs/loops/laps/whatever. And the range on the HPR60 is meant to be immense.

Thus for me, the TQ system works far better than the Bosch does and that's what I'm going for... eventually.
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I'm looking at the specs (and I'm looking at the same two bikes) they are both within 2-3 lbs of each other which seems Negligible. Both around 44-46 lbs depending on the build.
 
lizwardski said:
I'm looking at the specs (and I'm looking at the same two bikes) they are both within 2-3 lbs of each other which seems Negligible. Both around 44-46 lbs depending on the build.
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The Fuel+ is several kg lighter for equivalent build specs, and feels very much lighter to ride.
 
lizwardski said:
I'm looking at the specs (and I'm looking at the same two bikes) they are both within 2-3 lbs of each other which seems Negligible. Both around 44-46 lbs depending on the build.
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Maybe I've missed something - according to Trek's website the weight difference between a Fuel+ and a Rail+ with the similar parts, is around 10lbs.
 
Emailsucks98 said:
Maybe I've missed something - according to Trek's website the weight difference between a Fuel+ and a Rail+ with the similar parts, is around 10lbs.
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I think the battery size can add weight to the Fuel +. (580wh?). The Fuel 50 TQ has a 360wh battery.
 
Emailsucks98 said:
I hate their website! With the 580wh battery in the Fuel+, looks like 7.38lbs weight difference.

Trek Rail+ 9.7: 52.32lbs

Fuel+ 9.7: 44.94lbs
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Yeah, my Rail 9.7 (625wh) is just over 51 lbs.
The Fuel EXE 50TQ with 360wh is around 41lbs.
I have installed a 500wh battery into the Railing before …just to try it out . Never noticed a difference even though it was slightly lighter.
 
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