Trek Rail Review | A Plush, Powerful & Frustratingly Near-Perfect Electric Mountain Bike

[@bwdown]

I own this exact model 9.8XT. Had it for 5 months and just passed 1,000km on it. One of the best handling, most capable EMTB there is. Brilliant bike

[@EatDrinkBeMerry]

Rode a ‘21 9.7 for a month and absolutely loved it. Returned it because I wanted the 750w battery in the newer ones. Awaiting the Gen4 9.8 XT and am giddy. Indeed the price is insane. But what’s the point of saving/having money if you never spend it. Im a cheap bastard in general but this bike cracked my frugal tendency.

[@mtbed3653]

@@EatDrinkBeMerrycan you please share what’s the range of 625w battery

[@curtrichardson8002]

I have over 10,000 miles on my 9.7 I've had a few connectivity problems but trek and my LBS have sorted everything.

[@deanmcphee6663]

Great review. I bought the Gen 3 Rail 5 and so far have been very impressed with almost every aspect of the bike. It's surprisingly agile for a heavy bike in tighter twisty sections and it eats up rough trails effortlessly.The Rail loves to jump landing so composed and smoothly even with my average riding skills. the Bosch motor is so torquey and is often adequate in eco mode, the biggest issue by far is my Trek Fuel ex8 has been permanently parked gathering dust since owning the Rail

[@vjyazis-ym4uh]

One of the most clear and well-spoken presentations I have ever had the pleasure of listening to. 🎉

[@6686able]

I have a rail 5 bought new 2 years ago I love it , zero issues

[@andrew777au]

I have returned the 23 9.8 because of gear slipping issues transitioning from downhill to uphill. Ended up having to get off the bike to try and engage the gear and my last track ride, the chain broke on a 4 month old bike and had to walk it back to the car. I expected so much more with the price point. Trek dealer has been good and offered to fix it for the second time, but considering my options and I don't want to be in and out of the shop all of the time. This is a great review. So down to earth and no BS. Thanks Flow!

[@bend1499]

I'm having chain ring issues with my 9.7 gen 2 also. On my 3rd ride the chain just fell off the front chainring, Trek replaced the chainring with the updated one, and it happened again 200 miles later but the chain ring was completely loose. Kind of over it. I'm with you don't want to be in and out of the shop all the time. Did Trek take it back after 4 mos or did you have to sell it?

[@TravisSmith1]

Awesome video guys! I just purchased a 2022 rail 9.7 Carbon and couldn't be more happy with it. It takes every trail in Whistler with ease, from 'Top of the World' in the bike park, to just about anything else I throw at it in the valley. For BC riding the stock tyres are garbage - chuck on a pair of sticky 2.5 Assegai DH tubless tyres front and back and run 18-20 psi and watch this thing come alive! From big rock rolls to loamer forest mossy knar - new rubber changes this bike. Other than tyres im not wanting for any upgrades yet. The bike truly gets you amped to ride! The battery (625W) lasts FOREVER, I just lapped the flank 3 times over and still had 20% left (3500 feet of STEEP elevation). It charges super quick too. I feel its pushing me to ride faster and more confidently with each ride. You can Monster Truck this thing down just about anything, and then point it uphill on Turbo - and it likes to lift the front wheel (which i LOVE). The bosch motor is amazing , MTB being simply brilliant for climbs and TOUR for techy UP/DOWN sections. It blows away the hippies on the mid-power ebikes that cost WAY more (I honestly don't get THAT fad, but each to their own) and even the Shimano engine lads shoot you envious glances when they think you aren't looking 😂. I must be lucky too as I have zero battery clunk, in fact the bike is very, very quiet. I 100% recommend this bike. Its a blast.

[@vaughanboyce3702]

Ive got a 22 rail 9 Large and it has been sublime best balanced ebike I've ever ridden , no issues and the geometry fits me way better, I like a reach of 460-470mm and find the new carbon models to long or too short and tbo i think the 625w battery is the goldilocks size and not carrying unnecessary extra weight.

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

Good to hear you're enjoying the Rail 9 mate! We thoroughly enjoyed riding one of those back in 2021; flowmountainbike.com/tests/trek-rail-9-2021-review/ Agreed about the 625Wh battery - unless you're racking up a load of riding/elevation, it's nice to have a little less weight. [Wil]

[@andypaul999]

Bikes costing that much money should be perfect out the box. No excuses.

[@Lee-ic2yn]

At the very top end of agree I got the rail 7 which isn't quite as ridiculous

[@tomclean8010]

Plus the chain is jumping all over, I don't see if rear derailleur have clutch, but it should have. For me big -

[@LivingLife-Fast]

Brokie

[@galgtr]

I have the same bike as in this review. its just killer. No problem at all, everything work super.

[@thepriusgod]

I have the 9.7GX. It is my first mountain bike. I love it. It is truly a beast that can roll over anything. Turbo mode is insane. With that being said, it is a little unweildy for a novice mountain biker like myself. The 29 inch wheels and burly frame are hard to control in tight spaces at times, especially given how quicly it can pick up speed. But I'm sure a more experienced rider would have no problem. Overall, I love my bike, and it inspires confidence on a lot of terrain.😃👍🏼

[@ab_mtb]

What a fantastic video, so well put together & presented. Was all set to buy a turbo levo alloy comp in the sales but found a few gen 2 rails for even less. Which has restarted the internal debate again 😂

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

Right on mate, thanks for watching and for the feedback! [WIl]

[@joeblackp687]

Got the exact same bike about a month ago, absolutly great bike.

[@simoramy3172]

Got the same love it no more uphills struggle 😅

[@jailbreakoverlander]

Ive been running a 21 trek rail 9.9 xtr for about 5500 miles and just traded it in for 23 rail 9.9 t type so that video will be coming soon. My build is up on my channel

[@Extremegaz25]

Great informative video guys, I've had my rail since 2021 and had no problems except to replace rear wheel bearings and a chain and tyres, the bike and motor are excellent.

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

Thanks mate, glad you enjoyed the video and good to hear your Rail is going strong! [Wil]

[@EatDrinkBeMerry]

Did you install a rear fender? My ‘21 9.7 got beat up by rock chips after a month. I’d recommend anyone to ridewrap it and consider a fender as well.

[@IT-fr4wb]

Just got my hands on a 22 Rail7… scary quick/ totally sold+convinced I’ve got a huge improvement on my 2017 Focus Jam2

[@darksidedsoonnelson2522]

I always change the tires when purchasing any bike to what I like. I like the burly tire in the back 29 and 27.5 in the front when the bike can accommodate it if not 29er.

[@tomcollins6989]

Thanks Will, a great review of the bike with all there important details covered. I love coming here for reviews, especially as I am a NSW rider and you're reviewing the bikes we can get our hands on in our landscape. Makes a big difference. I am really keen to know what you would suggest IU get as a bike given my small stature. I am only 165cm tall, but fit a medium in some bikes. The rail has really caught my eye and from your review it appears it has a fairly short chain stay. I think this is a good thing for me given I am short and want a bike that is still playful and manoeuvrable. The sight was on my list but has such a long chain stay I have scrubbed it from that last as it looks too long. The other bike you reviewed recently was the Cube Stereo Hybrid 160 HPC SL 750 27.5 which has the smaller 27.5 wheels. It didn't get the best review from you guys though and whilst available for a really good price I feel if I am going to drop a hefty amount of cash on a ebike I may as well commit and get the best bike as its a bike purchase for me. Love to know your thoughts, keep up the good work.

[@HighsideASB]

I still love my rail 9, 2 years on. Wheels and tyres were my first upgrades. Also managed to lose a rear axle that rattled loose on the drive back to Melbourne from Thredbo.

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

Glad you're digging it mate, it's a brilliant riding e-MTB for sure! [Wil]

[@mattcardarelli]

If I can ask. What wheels did you upgrade to?

[@HighsideASB]

@@mattcardarelli hunt enduro wide. UK based company and I'm in Australia.

[@duffymoon3716]

Awesome review. I have one and I love it. Thanks.

[@Stockfish1511]

I got gen 4 rail 9.8 gx axs. Its the most incredible bike i have tried. Its so stable and smooth and i have tried quite a few bikes including ebikes. Rail might be the best ebike on the market tbh.

[@allmtbnzscottbrownhill2896]

Trek have also had issues with the bike shutting down during down hill runs because of battery movement. I’m probably going to go with the Whyte 160 E RSX or 180 e RSX MX because of the battery concerns and the Whyte has the battery lower.

[@terrygoodfellow5009]

I have upgraded to the Rail 9.8 this bike being my third, I'm really peeved my bike not only clunks in the battery it also shuts off the computer which turns the bike off in the trail, I believe these ebikes 9.8 should have been recalled Trek are very aware of this but to date my retailer knew nothing about this problem I'm currently awaiting parts to arrive from the Illinois in the states to rectify this fault,should this not work I have informed Trek that this lemon needs to be replaced just not good enough Trek my wife and I have owned 4 trek ebikes and love the brand,we would not consider any other ebike BUT our ongoing support is being tested😢

[@kingerz]

Excellent and balanced review.

[@herse83]

I have the 9.8 Xt only problem I have is when going over anything rough chattery it’s harsh the vibrations and harshness is felt throughout the bike mainly the handlebars and feel it in the seat. Another issues is the annoying motor rattle. When I’m not pedaling and going over bumps all I hear is a piggy bank rattling around. What is everyone’s thoughts

[@steves365]

8:00 drilling in a carbon frame allowed?

[@johnbell1325]

Is the alloy still worth getting or is it showing its age?

[@pauljordan6016]

Hey Will, as always great detailed and balanced review. If you could get a good deal on this bike would you buy one?

[@NerdsonDirtMTB]

Great review, I'm surprised they still have that battery issue, my friend has to run a tube strap on hers to keep it from rattling and its a 2020.

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

Thanks for watching and the feedback mate! I've seen a few Rails out there with a similar setup. We did have an issue with the lower battery mount coming loose on both this Rail 9.8 XT and a 2021 Rail 9, though those were easily sorted by tightening up the hardware. It was the upper mount that caught us out this time, which I understand is specific to the carbon frames. Thankfully it's been solid since we fitted that replacement bracket, but a bummer to have encountered in the first place. [Wil]

[@Lee-ic2yn]

What is this rattle I hearpeople talk about? I don't hear anything other than my mudguard flapping around

[@highwayman1218]

Thoughts from guys with these. I can get a new 9.8 XT gen 3 for 7k off the floor. Also can order a new 9.8 XT for 8k.... Opinions on whether the gen 4 for additional 1k the better option? They look the same other than the integrated head unit.

[@Claudio11000]

HI Is the battery lock modification an original Trek product? Where did you purchase it? I thank you so much

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

It was supplied to us free of charge thanks to a warranty claim via our local Trek dealer. If you've encountered an issue with your Rail, get in touch with dealer to see about how best to resolve it. [Wil]

[@camwells9726]

Looking forward , are we expecting the alloy frames to be on the same page as the carbon ones ?

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

You would think that would be the case Cam, but Trek has just updated the alloy models with the Bosch Smart System and left the frame as it was. So no change in the geo for the alloy Rails for the time being. [Wil]

[@richardbaker7235]

Hi Will . Thanks for the great review. I’m riding a 2020 Merida e 140 8000 and I ready to change up to a longer travel bike. I’m looking at the Merida e 160 700 and the Trek Rail 7. While I love my 140 I’d only really be upgrading to the same frame with a better motor/ battery combo and more travel if I go with the e160. I’ve ridden a Focus with the Domain fork and Bosch motor and loved both. What are your thoughts on the differences between the Merida and Trek?

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

Thanks for the feedback and question Richard! The Merida eOne-Sixty is a ripping bike, for sure one of the best all-round e-MTBs out there. I'm 175cm tall and ride a Medium frame size, and I really get along with the mullet setup on the eOne-Sixty. Since the geometry isn't crazy aggressive, it ends up being a really fun and poppy bike to ride. The Trek Rail offers a bit more stability with its dual 29in wheel setup and slightly slacker geometry. You also get the Mino Link flip chip, and it's possible to extend the fork to 170mm, so there are options for tweaking the setup if you wanted a more aggressive ride quality. The Bosch system is also fantastic - I prefer it over the Shimano EP8 motor. I find it provides more power and an intuitive response at the pedals, and in our range testing it seems to be more efficient too. That said, I don't think you can go too far wrong with either option. Both Trek and Merida offer good warranty support, and so too does Bosch and Shimano. Hopefully that helps Richard, but give me a yell if you've got any more specific questions, and I'll do my best to answer them for you! [Wil]

[@richardbaker7235]

@@FlowMountainBikeKZbin Thanks Wil, I appreciate you taking the time to respond. Like you I feel the Bosch motor might be the deciding factor.

[@sandycarmichael31]

Been hanging out for this review and great stuff as always Wil! I was hoping that '23 Alloy models would feature the Bosch smart system and upgrade to 750wh battery. I don't mind the geometry of the previous generation alloy frames but for the price Trek charges definitely want smart system and a bigger battery/more range. How do you think this bike would stack up against the cheaper, alloy Mondraker Crafty R that is similarly intentioned and likewise featuring 38mm stanchion fork, piggy back shock, complete with the Smart system and a bigger battery? Anecdotally, I've heard that the non removable battery (on the Crafty)alleviates much of the Bosch clacking noise on descents, if this is also true for the new Orbea Wild then it would suggest that its a removable battery fitting issue in the frame, which as you pointed out was very disappointing on such an expensive bike with a known design flaw

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

Thanks Sandy! I think you're right about the Bosch motor noise being different depending on what bike it's fitted to. We've also noticed that the noise from newer generation bikes/motors is not nearly as harsh as when the Gen 4 motor launched back in 2019, so there's every chance that Bosch has made running changes/improvements in the motor to decrease the noise. The Trek Rail was pretty good in this regard - the clacking noise was significantly lower than earlier Bosch e-MTBs we'd tested, but it's still there which is why we mentioned it in the review. Regarding the Mondraker Crafty, it's a great-looking bike for sure! The latest version looks very tidy with the System Controller and Mini Remote, and the spec looks pretty good too. I've not had a chance to ride one yet, but hopefully we'll be seeing more Mondraker test bikes in the near future now that they're coming into Oz via Advance Traders. [Wil]

[@powertothepeople6049]

So what is the best for money and most reliable

[@Tony_P]

Don't update to the current firmware unless you want to rack up a lot of Ks ! 😅

[@Lee-ic2yn]

What does that mean? What's the difference?

[@Tony_P]

@@Lee-ic2yn Trek owners that have updated the firmware are now logging double the mileage than actual mileage. It's a specific problem to Trek , both them and Bosch are working on a fix but nothing yet.

[@Lee-ic2yn]

@Tony P oh I see what you mean Hmm I wonder when this started, I think mines been updated a couple months back

[@Tony_P]

@@Lee-ic2yn There was an update released at the start of Feb. That's the culprit!

[@Lee-ic2yn]

@Tony P ahh so I've missed it them thankfully I use a speedi so my km clock is off anyway but thats just weird, making your bike look like it's older/more used than it is

[@ajeetkanda8410]

Love the bike design kzbin.infoUgkxHL1v1R3NE5x4KiYfyt8dnQmyNYz7qi5L and functionality. It is hard to align the front tired to center the disk brakes. The brake wheel touches the stationery side of the brake caliper and pad. I aired the tire up to 40 psi as the markings say 40-60psi. Left the house for a few hours and came back to an exploded innertube.All in all it seems to be a good bike. Have not ridden it yet though so that's the max of my knowledge. Update, put a new innertube made sure the tire was set properly and it did the same thing in under 20 minutes as second pic shows.

[@saeedghaderi1709]

hi wich is bether ? Cannondale neu or trek rial

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

We've not tested the Cannondale as of yet, hopefully we'll get to ride and review one of those soon! [Wil]

[@TechTusiast]

It is interesting how all bicycle reviewers assume viewers have any idea what certain angle of some part of bicycle means in practice.

[@erikroberts3545]

I'm thinking long and hard on upgrading from my Roscoe 9 to the Rail 9.7. 🤔

[@topheavy7616]

Get a Rail 7. Cheaper and bloody awesome.

[@kodithebear]

12K and all of those issues. Ridiculous

[@porkyparry1]

Makes me wonder why youd want to strap a piss weak heavy battery to a perfectly nice bike

[@onceuponareset-ho7fg]

The battery rattling issue is a major, major deal-breaker. An absolute joke, really. That the "fix" was to drill an ugly bracket on to your frame, is really hard to believe. Trek should be ashamed of themselves.

[@basedmushroom]

Why does Trek make perfect bikes that come with crappy tires? lol

[@JohnMartin22222]

You didn’t explain anything about the motor

[@krismenon8071]

At this price point and given the level of technology today, the motor should not make any type of rattling sound. This alone steered me away from bosh powered bikes.

[@Lee-ic2yn]

It's really not that bad/ a massive exaggeration Bosch has the most reliable motor

[@krismenon8071]

@@Lee-ic2yn Yamaha seems to be reliable as well. My friend has 5k miles on his and hasn’t had to do any maintenance to the motor.

[@megane230f1]

rather have a bosch than a shitmano and beleive me i have had more than experiences with e010 error coded low mileage shitmano motors 😒

[@kennycunn1]

Agree the amount of issues people post and the fixes for them and you are thinking, they have just spent a fortune on an e-bike it should be perfect at that price. Just shows the makers are taking the p and they are not worth the money they are asking for them.

[@Lee-ic2yn]

@@kennycunn1 coming up to 1000 miles no problems yet!

[@roddas26]

Rattly p.o.s in my experience. But I'm a SL fan and the Fuel exe is brilliant.

[@Lee-ic2yn]

I don't get any of this rattle tbh

[@stianjarnass]

It's a bit disappointing that You always test the most expensive models. This has the Zeb which is way stiffer than the 35 Gold on the cheaper versions. I wil never buy a bike over 100,000 NOK

[@wvjeepguy8178]

Naa...for this price I would buy a YT or Canyon.

[@asifitmatters1]

Trek gives a whole new meaning to over charging. The prices are quite simply ridiculous. It’s pure greed nothing more. Boycott Trek!

[@Lee-ic2yn]

You know, even since last year they've added a couple thousand to the top models It's RIDICULOUS

[@Rexy888]

Dearer than a motorcycle twice the price of a surron light bee crazy

[@Lee-ic2yn]

@Rexy you can get one of these for half this price too It's just the snobs that want the beat of the best, they get overcharged

[@asifitmatters1]

@@Lee-ic2yn no you can’t get one for half the price. What you can get is a bike that has a Gold 35 fork, which is completely unusable for anyone actually going to ride this thing properly. The wheels are soft as cheese, the cassette comes from Sunrace (whoever the fuck that is…). You basically get a bike that is unrideable for anything beyond xc and preferably for a rider not exceeding 55 kilos! It’s not snobbery. And you must be a moron to think that 7k is a fair price for a fork that normally comes on bikes that cost 1k to 1.5k.

[@X_Marks-u7r]

Sorry that you are poor. 😢

[@johnambers]

Love these bikes but how does anyone pay $13,000 for a bike? You could never take it anywhere and just chain it up, they would just cut through the frame for a bike like that. Should be half that price at most. These brands are way overpriced.

[@bwdown]

$12k is a good price for the spec, If you want to see silly hows $23k for an Specialized S works Levo or kenevo

[@EatDrinkBeMerry]

In the US, it doesn’t take an ultra expensive bike like this to be stolen. Got two bikes stolen recently and they were $4k range. Good news is the police actually recovered them last week! They were gone for 7 months and were in great shape.

[@EatDrinkBeMerry]

@@bwdown ouch! This makes the $9,600USD post-tax price tag on the Gen4 Rail 9.8XT a little more palatable. Only reason I was able to buy it is from an inheritance. Otherwise forget it.

[@jacobdalton6611]

I got a rail 9 for 8k brand new in new zealand