As I mentioned earlier, I own a Trek Rail+ myself, so when I saw how much had changed with this new version, I expected it to feel like a completely different bike. To my surprise, the Trek DNA still shines through. Yes, it’s evolved, but it remains unmistakably a Rail—built to be as approachable and capable for as many riders and trail types as possible, now with more adjustability and refinement to fine-tune your experience.
Our test bike was the Rail+ 8, built from Trek’s Alpha Platinum Aluminum (ethically sourced and made in part from recycled materials). It feels solid and well-engineered. The geometry isn’t ultra-slack, but it strikes a sweet spot that’s stable and confident without sacrificing responsiveness. Paired with Rockshox 160mm front and rear travel, it’s ready to dive into rougher terrain while maintaining a comfortable, composed demeanor. If downhill is more your flavor, you can even bump the fork travel up to 170mm to make it a more dedicated descender. There’s also space for a coil shock too if you want to go that route.
The new Mino Link adds a welcome layer of versatility. You get about half a degree of adjustability in both the head tube (64.5°–65°) and seat tube, allowing you to tailor the handling for your terrain or style. We rode primarily in the lower setting for a slacker, more stable feel on descents, but flipping it to the high setting sharpens handling for flatter, flowier trails. If you want more adjustment than that, there are optional headset cups you can look into for another degree to play with for even slacker or steeper rides.
There are four frame sizes and two color options available. My one gripe: the jump from medium to large is significant, with a 45mm difference in reach which is a noticeable gap that could make sizing tricky for riders in between. And while there’s room for a bottle cage, it only accommodates a single 500ml bottle, which feels a bit limiting for longer rides. Still, small details aside, Trek nails most of the fit and finish elsewhere.
Our test bike came spec’d with a 780mm handlebar, 170mm dropper post, and 160mm crank arms. The dimensions felt dialed for an all-around trail bike. I especially like seeing shorter crank arms becoming the norm on eMTBs; with the motor’s torque doing the heavy lifting, it makes perfect sense and adds ground clearance.
This new Rail+ moves to a mullet setup (29” front / 27.5” rear), which gives it a snappier, more maneuverable rear end. The short chainstays help it feel impressively agile for a heavier aluminum build, and that benefit will only increase with the lighter carbon models higher up the lineup. As someone used to full 29ers, I didn’t mind the change, but I do wish Trek still offered the option for matching wheel sizes. For now, it’s a members-only club: mullets only.
The component package fits well within the Rail+ 8’s tier. The SRAM DB8 brakes delivered consistent, confident stopping power without the bite of the more aggressive Maven line, and the Shimano Deore 12-speed drivetrain shifted smoothly throughout testing.
In today’s eMTB market, the value feels fair—not a screaming deal, but certainly not overpriced given the performance, construction, and Bosch system you’re getting. And of course, Trek’s lifetime frame warranty and expansive dealer network add a level of long-term security that few brands can match. Wherever your trails take you, support won’t be far away.
