Big Ride Ready

[Jpzeroday]

Trek Rail recommended?

Ride profiles: 30-40 mile tech single track up and down. Big feature capable needed (steeps, tech ups, gnar)...but also plush enough to not be beat up on all the other stuff over long miles.

60-80 mile weeks...

Is the Rail the bike I should slot into my quiver??

Have a Bullit now. It is awesome in the gnar, but is so harsh that I am beat to crap on 30 milers. Not a fitness issue. Harshness.

 

[Philly G]

Trek Rail recommended?

Ride profiles: 30-40 mile tech single track up and down. Big feature capable needed (steeps, tech ups, gnar)...but also plush enough to not be beat up on all the other stuff over long miles.

60-80 mile weeks...

Is the Rail the bike I should slot into my quiver??

Have a Bullit now. It is awesome in the gnar, but is so harsh that I am beat to crap on 30 milers. Not a fitness issue. Harshness.

What fork/shock does your Bullit have? Have you tried different pressures/ settings to get more plushness out of your suspension? Have you considered upgrading your fork/shock? It would be a lot cheaper than changing bikes if you're otherwise happy with your Bullit. The Rail will do everything you want it to, but if you get the 7, the suspension is adequate rather than amazing, so you might end up in the same position you're in now

 

[Jpzeroday]

I have had the following:

Scott 700 Tuned 17, Merida e160, Decoy, Levo SWorks 20, Kenevo 20, Merida 10k, Bullit...and a Levo SL setup for down country.

Love my Levo SL. 35lbs AMD with fast rolling tires. I’m less beat up on this after 35 miles than my Bullit after 15.

Loved my Kenevo. Stolen.

After riding a Brose, the EP8 is under powered for technical long rides.

The Bullit is too harsh for long rides, the motor is underpowered and very in efficient. 21 miles max on boost. I would get 30+ on my Levo SWorks and Kenevo 50/50 Boost/Trail.

Reading lots of good stuff about Bosch power and Trek kinematics (also considering a Ransom).

Would get a 9.9 or 9.8...or possibly build up an alloy Rail like Rob did. Seems like he was logging lots of miles on his? Assuming he dug
It.

Rob, recommendations?

 

[Gnarlyrider]

I don't know the Shimano motor well, only rode the Decoy a few times, but it seemed powerful enough to me (E8000, imagine the EP8 is as good or better). The big problem for me is, that the original Shimano batteries just aren't that great. If I'm not mistaken, the Bullit runs on a Shimano battery. That would explain why you don't get that far.

Bosch batteries (and others too) are better (no wonder YR uses a third party battery for the Decoy). For instance, on my Rail I can do around 1'800 meters of climbing (about 5900 feet) in Tour mode (and the occasional use of the EMTB mode on very steep parts). And that's with a ready to ride weight of over 100 kg plus the bike! I've used the bike for some long days of riding.
I'm very comfortable on the bike on the uphills, and on the downhills that thing just flies! I have the alloy Rail 7, but changed the forks damper from Motion Control to Charger 2.1. Also, I'm still not satisfied with the rear shock (RS Deluxe), so I just ordered a DVO Jade X coil shock. Even with the upgrades, it's still less costly than a 9.8 or so...