Rail (625Wh) Cracked Rail frames

[InRustWeTrust]

Was that not the problem as shown with the Giants ?. More due to flexing than actual damage to the alloy
Which is understandable, Paint hasn't the ability to flex, its brittle and any flex would cause it to crack.

Unless you can actually see inside where those 'cracks' are, you couldnt for 100% say they were alloy damage and not just paint damage.

That said. This is a pic of that area on my Scott genius, which shows that the area has a weld across it. So possibly Scott have foreseen that area flexing and put the weld in to prevent premature damage, or believe that continual flexing could lead to cracks forming.View attachment 99562

I don't know what the problem with giant was as I haven't followed that thread much but I think it was frames that cracked.

no, it's difficult to see if it's the paint that's cracked or if it's a crack in the frame, I think I read about a trick you can do to tap the crack a little gently and listen and you can hear if there's a crack in the frame.

 

[maynard]

This is kinda funny . Sorry not for the owners of these bikes . People always crap on about how to avoid carbon frames . Yet giant and trek aluminium frames are failing . Carbon owners keep winning .

 

[Doomanic]

Carbon can be repaired, it's aluminium that's actually difficult because it needs heat treating after welding.

I'd be more than happy with a carbon frame for $250/£250. In fact, I'm off to do some hucks to flat this afternoon...

 

[Juise]

Well, then again. Alloy frame can take quite a beating and just get scratches and dings but the same hits will destroy a carbon frame, so it's lose lose option in a way

 

[GlassKnee]

Hi Guys,

My frame cracked weeks ago and was able to receive a warranty frame. I got a Large Trek Rail 7 btw. The LBS transferred all my components to the new frame but for some reason my Fox X2 which used to fit with plenty of space from the frame is suddenly hitting the new frame and there is not enough clearance anymore.

I returned it to my LBS (Evocycles NZ) and they tried to find what’s happening with the new frame and they said the issue is with the frame and they will be happy to just attached my stock shock (Not Fox X2) as that fits with no issue and there is a big chance Trek will not send a new frame. Basically just move on and accept it.

That does not make sense to me as the new frame should have the same measurements and should have the same clearance. A few millimetre closer but still with clearance would be fine with me but this thing has no clearance at all and I’m getting the impression that they just want me to accept that. I didn’t agree with it so they will contact Trek again.

Have you seen issues like this before? Right side of the second picture is my old frame with heaps of clearance for my rear shock.

 

[Moderator]

All the responses to @GlassKnee's post have been moved to the parallel thread he created, any further discussion should continue there.

Rail (625Wh) - Trek Rail warranty frame does not fit my Fox X2.

Hi Guys, My frame cracked weeks ago and was able to receive a warranty frame. I got a Large Trek Rail 7 btw. The LBS transferred all my components to the new frame but for some reason my Fox X2 which used to fit with plenty of space from the frame is suddenly hitting the new frame and there is...

www.emtbforums.com

 

[hijodeputa]

Thanks everyone on this thread, made me go and check my Rail, sure enough, hairline crack exactly where others had them.
Not sure I'd have noticed without this thread.

Local dealer has been great though to be fair, took the bike yesterday and rang me today to say Trek will warranty it for me.

 

[Wilbur]

Does the frame failure only occur on aluminium frames? How prevalent is it?

 

[PennywiseTheDancingClown]

Does the frame failure only occur on aluminium frames? How prevalent is it?

its looking pretty prevalent. unless ive read wrong, nearly everyone who has checked due to this thread has found a crack.

 

[JP-NZ]

its looking pretty prevalent. unless ive read wrong, nearly everyone who has checked due to this thread has found a crack.

5 people on this forum so far. Hardly prevalent with the amount of Rail's on this forum.

 

[hijodeputa]

Quick update, got mine back yesterday. Was still red and grey, but I think it's an older Rail 7 frame. New shock included and obviously, all new bearings, headset etc.
Asked my local dealer about future warranty, as I bought the bike second hand from Beics Brenin, he emailed me back a few hours later and said that as far as trek we're concerned it's a brand new bike.

I registered it on the Trek website and have a full warranty on the new frame.

First Trek I've had, certainly won't be the last, very impressed with their customer care. LBS deserves a shout too, Cycles UK couldn't have been more helpful, with a bike they didn't even sell me.

 

[irie]

its looking pretty prevalent. unless ive read wrong, nearly everyone who has checked due to this thread has found a crack.

I suspect that people who have looked but found nothing will not have reported here, why would they bother? Such as me with two Rails.

 

[PennywiseTheDancingClown]

Points taken

 

[Jschlueter]

Trek took care of me. I got the new updated alloy frameset free of charge with the same original color.

 

[Wilbur]

So is it only occurring on aluminum frames?

 

[wonkyconk]

Hi fellas, could I ask is this crease normal? It looks to be in the same area as people's frames are cracking, there is not a crack at the moment but it doesn't look good.
Many thanks

 

[illazilla]

Hi fellas, could I ask is this crease normal? It looks to be in the same area as people's frames are cracking, there is not a crack at the moment but it doesn't look good.
Many than

 

[Wilbur]

I had the motor out yesterday and had a thought when looking at the sleeved joint inside the downtube:

Why not put a layer of JB Weld across the joint right around the inside of the downtube?

It wouldn’t get in the way, it’s out of sight and it may help to prevent that joint moving?

The joint isn’t painted and I think a reinforced epoxy would stick very well

 

[Juise]

I had the motor out yesterday and had a thought when looking at the sleeved joint inside the downtube:

Why not put a layer of JB Weld across the joint right around the inside of the downtube?

It wouldn’t get in the way, it’s out of sight and it may help to prevent that joint moving?

The joint isn’t painted and I think a reinforced epoxy would stick very well

You didn't happen to take a pic from the inside?

 

[Wilbur]

You didn't happen to take a pic from the inside?

I thought I had, but looking back I’ve only got a couple of overview pics.
The joint is quite accessible and separated from the lower battery plate.
I’ll do the epoxy reinforcement when I next pop the motor out.

 

[Rostle32]

Just an update on my Rail issue, spotted a potential crack in my frame a while back, had a look at this forum to see if theres a issue with these frames.
Bike is a June 2020 Rail 7, developed a electrical issue with the bike 22/1/23, so i took it into the supplying bike shop (Edge Cycleworks) in Lancaster UK,
I left the bike with them to problem solve the electrical issue, but mentioned that it looked like the frame may be cracked, so they said we,ll take a piccy and send it to Trek and take it from there.
Fast forward 5 days, got a phone call from the shop and they said that Trek would warranty the frame with a couple of different options,
1) They would supply a new frame/shock FOC and build up bike
2) Give a discount on a 2023 Trek Rail 9.8XT for £5000 (less the retail for my bike)
So i chose the frame option as i couldnt warrant blowing another £5k!! But also the shop came up trumps when Bosch said they would warrant a new motor for free!!! 6 months out of warranty... result so nearly (2023 frame) new bike back on the 23/2/23 for the cost of £27.
A massive thanks to the Edge Cycleworks Lancaster for coming up with the goods and turning the whole job round in a month !!!!

 

[RuggsRides]

Found a crack in my alloy Rail 9 GX same as everyone has mentioned. Got a new frame set coming but only available in the Dnister Black/Rage Red colour way (2021 Rail 7 colour). Was hoping for the same colour or even just a black but this is all they have unfortunately.

 

[rupert_photographer]

Sorry to reopen an old thread but was doing some maintenance on my my22 Trek Rail 9 and found a crack, I found this thread that gave me some relief I wasn’t alone. But now I’m worried what if any replacement might be available! Typically found it after Saturday opening hours here in the UK with the bank holiday I have to stew until Tuesday before I can call Trek. Any ideas what might be offered?

 

[Hornet]

If you’re the original owner, trek offer lifetime warranty on the frame

 

[dialing_wand]

Rail 7 G3 purchased spring ‘25. Less than 10 hours and ridden lightly by a newcomer.

Taking it in for replacement.

 

[Stihldog]

View attachment 162673Rail 7 G3 purchased spring ‘25. Less than 10 hours and ridden lightly by a newcomer.

Taking it in for replacement. View attachment 162674

Seems to be a typical location for a crack to develop.

My neighbour and I have Trek Rails 9.7 2020. I’ve had no issues at all. But he has had his lower chain stay and two frames replaced by Trek via their lifetime warranty on frames.

His latest frame failure was a small crack at the motor mount insert. (This may have caused a motor bracket bolt failure. (IMO). Bracket bolts on the drive side were sheared off.

Trek will replace the frame or credit the owner. They will not warranty the motor. (Drive side casing replacement) . A drive side casing is usually about $100 cdn and is fairly easy to replace (for me anyway with the right tools).

Good onTrek for the frame warranty, but they won’t cover the motor after 2 years.

 

[JP-NZ]

^^ Just went and checked the same area (same colour) on my 9.8XT and nothing thankfully. Trek does have lifetime frame warranty though so you should be fine (although prismatic maybe harder to find).

 

[Stihldog]

Update; my neighbour decided to take a credit towards an Alloy Trek Rail Gen5 800wh mullet. This is exactly what he wanted. The local Bike Shop also swapped all the “bling” between the bikes for free. That included the MT7 brakes, grips, carbon bar, stem, saddle, pedals, and Maxxis tires.

Trek credited him $4500 CDN for the cracked frame, which was basically half the price of a new Rail Gen5. A few other perks were slipped in there also.

IMO, a decent deal for a 6+ year old bike.