The 27-speed drivetrain provided plenty range and the mix of Shimano Acera and Altus performed better than expected, although the soft rear derailleur caused excessive chain slap. But the truth is that the Shimano parts are the cheapest to replace and the most likely to get damaged, so instead Trek have invested in longer lasting, more crucial components, such as the brakes and fork. The industry norm is to spec a high quality drivetrain, save money elsewhere and let the customer make their purchase decision based on the level of Shimano equipment. Given the entry-level price of the X-Caliber 7, something had to give – and in this case it was the drivetrain, and what a smart decision that was. The basic shimano cranks feature replaceable chainrings – it’s a heavy crankset but it worked well: David Rome/Future Publishingīasic Shimano gears – the front derailleur didn’t leave much tyre clearance So if you wanted a lower front-end for road riding, you can push down on the fork, lock it, and you’ll achieve a lower position. The fork’s lockout can be activated while on the bike and would hold the position it was locked at. We found the spring on a medium test bike was ideal for a 70 to 85kg rider, offering respectable control over both small and large bumps. A fixed rebound setting offered a balanced feel without harsh spiking or excessive packing down between hits. The SR Suntour XCR fork featured well-sized 32mm stanchions and helped the X-Caliber hold its line though corners and rock gardens. It lacked urgency on steep climbs and stop-and-start riding, but once we got the X-Caliber going, the ride was brilliant, helped by the big wheels’ fast-rolling tyres. The quick, joyful handling and perfectly balanced geometry went a long way to hiding the overall high weight. With our position centrally between the wheels, long climbs were comfortable, and maintaining power felt natural. The combination of a roomy top tube and short 75mm stem made it easy to loft the front wheel and get airborne. We found the X-Caliber nimble and playful on the trail.
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