Ladies and gentlemen, I have a weakness for a mountain bike with a rigid rear end. However, I don’t have the budget to splurge on an expensive one, and even if I did, I wouldn’t be able to fully utilize its capabilities since I’m not a professional rider. But I’ve been riding bikes since I was six years old and I’ve had my fair share of injuries to prove my love for them!
But let me tell you, when I laid my eyes on Trek’s latest addition to their lineup, the Procaliber 8, I couldn’t help but fall in love all over again. And the best part is, you can get your hands on one for around $1,800, depending on where you buy it from.
Now, let’s address the fact that according to Trek’s US website, the Procaliber 8 is already sold out. So if you want one, you’ll have to search for it at various dealerships in your area, and you might even have to travel out of state. But trust me, they’re out there, so let’s dive into what this bike has to offer.
Moving on to my experience covering all things related to two-wheeled vehicles, I’ve come to realize that most people don’t have a hefty budget to spend on a bike that they’ll mainly use for everyday rides. And it seems like Trek understands this too. However, even with its affordable price tag, the Procaliber 8 doesn’t compromise on quality.
To give you an idea of what you can expect, Trek describes this bike as one that strikes the perfect balance between being race-ready and budget-friendly. And it all starts with its aluminum frame. Although there are carbon fiber versions available, those are more suited for professional racing.
Now, let’s take a closer look at the aluminum version we have in front of us. The frame is worth admiring, especially with its tapered head tube that is supported by the top and down tubes. The seat stays seamlessly blend into the frame, and do I detect a subtle curve in them? The seat tube is definitely curved, and I appreciate that Trek has designed the bike to accommodate an internal dropper post, allowing riders to have more flexibility during intense rides.
Speaking of the ride, the Procaliber 8 is equipped with 29-inch tires, which provide a smoother and slightly faster experience compared to 27.5-inch tires. But here’s the exciting part, you can use forks with up to 130 mm of travel on this bike. And as a standard feature, Trek has included a RockShox Recon Gold RL fork with a motion control damper, lockout, and 120 mm of plush suspension travel.
Photo: Trek Bicycle Corporation
Moving to the next stage in our exploration of the Procaliber 8, we come to the crucial drivetrain. Once again, I appreciate that Trek has provided us with a fairly decent setup, considering the price of this bike. Typically, we find a Shimano SLX shifter, cassette, and chain being controlled by an XT M8100 derailleur. All of this is fine-tuned to offer 1×12 speeds, ensuring that there is no confusion with your trigger fingers.
While some may consider it sacrilege to have both Shimano and SRAM components on the same machine, I am relieved to see that the new Cues components are nowhere to be found. As for the brakes, Shimano takes care of that as well, with rotors of up to 180 mm (7.1 in), providing more than enough stopping power for a hardtail. All of this, along with a size M frame, weighs only 27.12 lbs (12.3 kg).
“But wait, there’s more!” And indeed there is. Last but certainly not least, this timeless manufacturer has also taken the time to include numerous mounts all over the frame of the Procaliber. Not only do the seat and down tube have mounts for items such as water bottle cages, but when we consider that the seat stay can accommodate a cargo rack, the 8 becomes more than just a hardtail MTB; it becomes a cross-country and cargo-carrying machine.
In fact, you can ditch the water bottles, equip frame bags and suspension fork mounts, and embark on long rides to the outskirts of town and back. This versatility is also valuable in an urban environment, allowing us to leave the gas-guzzler in the garage and enjoy a refreshing ride when we need to pick up some light groceries. On the way home, mix some off-road adventure with a ride through a local park.
I understand that it may be challenging to grasp the true feel of this bike from where you are, so to truly experience what awaits us, locate a dealership in your area and go from there. Most dealerships have a test bike that you can take for a spin around the lot or on some singletrack.