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On long distance trains (IC and ICE) you can buy a ticket from the conductor (the fare being 10% higher), which can make blackriding difficult. If you cannot pay on the spot (or at least say so), the conductor will print a fine if you present ID. Many conductors will issue a fine that serves as a valid ticket to your declared destination, and provided you're not a German citizen or resident, you can disregard this penalty. This is not a foolproof method, however, as certain conductors will only issue a fine valid as a ticket to the next station, and force you to get off the train there.
For example, I myself went on an ICE from Siegburg/Bonn to Basel ticket-less, getting caught before Frankfurt airport. Showed the conductor my ID , provided a fake German address (I live in Switzerland) and was given a fine valid as a ticket all the way to Basel.
Another time I boarded a Hamburg-bound ICE in Freiburg wanting to go to Hamburg. Made the mistake of sitting in a compartment, where I was successfully identified as a new passenger. Despite insisting I could pay a fine all the way to Hamburg, the conductor only gave me a fine to the next stop, Baden-Baden, where I was then kicked off.
