2022 TREK X-CALIBER 9 FIRST LOOK + RIDE!!

[@MemoChunky]

I'll be receiving my x-caliber 9 tomorrow, and your videos were more than usefull. I had a recreational bike for some time now and I love it, but I decided to make a little upgrade. I was over the roscoe since I want to have more mountain bike experience, but then I discovered with you videos that the xcaliber was the ideal for a hybrid mid level experience between commuting and some mountain biking. So I just wanna say thank you! Your videos are really good for People like me that have little idea on components but is trying to make a big step from cheap recreational bikes to something more specialized...

[@TalalipopMTB]

I really appreciate your comment! So glad I could help out, and congrats on the new bike!!

[@dalec2407]

How's the bike , I have one also ,

[@MemoChunky]

@@dalec2407 I have with my xcaliber 9 now for around a month, and around 200 km and I can say the experience between my cheap recreational bike and the xcaliber, is really big. I can feel it at the mountain making easier the climb in disfficult areas since the frame is very light, when I'm climbing in hills the light feeling when pedaling, the smooth changes between velocities... I only can say I'm very very happy with it. I cant imagine what is to go for even a more premium family like the roscoe or the Slash or even the crazy procaliber, honestly that's when the price makes sense and you can see is not just the "trek" logo what your paying

[@LenaCourtney]

i've been wanting to get a second MTB. currently have the marlin 6 2022. looking into the xcaliber, roscoe, and fuel ex 7 or 8. been watching videos like these like crazy. i'm new to mountain biking, not sure what trails i like yet. rode one xc trail, enjoyed it. but i also wanted a bike that could go over obstacles smoothly should i choose to ride that way. only thing that steers me away from xcaliber is i believe small is the smallest size. i need an xs bike

[@MemoChunky]

​@@LenaCourtney Hey Lena, let me give you my very personal and honest opinion of what I've been feeling and what I feel right now. I have with my x-cal9 around 2-3 months now and I can tell you I'm very happy but a little confused now. I started with a recreational and cheap MTB I used it basically for commuting and very basic MTB trails I decided to move into a new bike because the cheap one started having issues with the shifter and some other stuff, nothing very bad but basically something weird to happen with one year of use. Now, I use my xcal9 basically for road rides, commuting and same basic trails I used to do in the cheap one. That's exactly where now I feel confused. The xcal9 is more than great for commuting I feel like I'm in a Ferrari basically because nothing is a hard ride for commute in the city. The other main use I'm giving it is fitness training, so basically I ride my bike for more than 2hrs some days of the week, and don't get me wrong the xcal9 do it great, but then I feel that a road bike like the Emonda on an entry level or mid level, could make something even better for that fitness purpose or something serious for cycling as a complete sport to make rides for hours and more then 100Km. Then, the last use I'm giving to my xcal9 right now is MTB, light trails I used to ride now feel more than easy and funny, but when I try more difficult trails with the xcal9 I feel limited, being very honest I'm sure this is a combination between personal experience and lack of MTB abilities like drops, jumps, etc. and maybe the physical limitations of the xcal9. So, basically what I'm trying to say is, xcal9 is a great bike and you can really feel the difference when making the upgrade, even for a hybrid use I think is great but it doesn't make it perfect for a specific one. If I were you, and if you want something that can go thru a hybrid use, I would go first for the Roscoe, since this have a dropper and more travel than the Xcal two specs that I'm sure make a difference in the mountain, buuuut if you will use it in the mountain and trails only or mainly, I would definitely go to the big upgrade into a double suspension like the Fuel Ex. Even with the Roscoe I think you can make very awesome things, you can see the Trek video of two professional riders promoting the model, but exactly, I said Professional I'm sure they can do awesome stuff even in a tricycle. So, after all this massive letter, I can tell you that I think is kind of the natural life cycle of the MTB rider to make all this upgrades gradually, I recommend you to see a video that is here in YT about it, you can find it as "How to buy a mountain bike" from IFHT Films and I think basically is something that happen to every rider once we are getting into this world of bikes. Sorry for the massive spam but I really hope it helps.

[@welcometothefreeworld]

I purchased and picked up this bike on July 8th, 2021 in size large. It has been perfect. Zero complaints.

[@TalalipopMTB]

Awesome!!

[@jeffghant4760]

How tall are you? I'm 5'9" and thinking about a medium size.

[@therealgriffthemyth]

I have a little over 400 miles on my Xcal 9 and love it highly recommended 👌

[@TalalipopMTB]

Sick!

[@Coffeedrinkerer]

Went with the X-cal 7 over the 9 which was half the price and gave me plenty of budget to upgrade. I’ve upgraded the fork, wheels and other bits like adding dropper post etc for £300 and gives me personally a better spec’d bike for less than x-cal 9. Used some of the standard parts on a spare frame I had which gives me a more run around bike. I also prefer 5mm Qr at the back which I know is a dealbreaker for some

[@michaelrowe5896]

Which fork did you end up going with out of curiosity? I have the 9 from this video and want to upgrade it

[@aldrinclementina4297]

Maybe a set off Carbon wheels will do it's job for me. As someone that's more a roadie that does mountain biking on Saturdays or when the road season is over...

[@ptb1968uk]

Now on sale in the UK for as little as £950 so a good time to buy!

[@fortgreeneprojects1]

Real nice bike and I really enjoyed the video. Im still I love with y 2019 x caliber 9.

[@TalalipopMTB]

Thank you!

[@dalec2407]

I've had mine for a few months now and it's great. Mine is a large , it rolls super fast and is so twitchy, very light feeing. I'm just to bent over , gunna have to get a stem and bars. Mostly just commuting 70/30 road and lighter trails..

[@greekveteran2715]

The clutch isn't there to keep the chain noise down but rather to release the chain, when you change it (Probably helps when removing the back wheel too?)

[@michaelrowe5896]

I just bought mine. Should have it in a few days. ACF has to put it together. As far as the QR, I am kind of bummed about that especially for the price tag! But it should suit my needs just fine. I don't do any crazy technical trails. Just some pump tracks and like you mentioned the lighter tracks, but it kind of sucks that you can't upgrade to a through axle. That would have been nice but oh well. I really dig the dropper included. I upgraded from 2019 Marlin 7 to this. Never had a problem with trek quick releases and I put my Marlin thru hell. My first air fork tho I'm excited!! Anything I need to know or have to adjust the fork? Thanks for the nice video!! Def should have more subs

[@getstrongby4038]

Whats the deal with the thru axle? How does it affect the ride? I have a marlin 8 which has qr Whats the problems with that?

[@michaelrowe5896]

@@getstrongby4038 I personally don't have a problem with the QR. I don't do crazy gnarly trails and super rough stuff. Thru axle pretty much makes the bike more durable from what my trek store told me. It's just getting kind of dated imo the QR. But it's not a big deal. If I was building one of them "hardcore hardtails" then definitely want a thru axle. QR is just fine. it rides great.

[@getstrongby4038]

@@michaelrowe5896 ahh I hear you, I see a lot of people complaining about it, makes it seem like there's some kind of noticeable difference on the ride haha Thanks appreciate the response, I haven't owned a bike in 20 years so I'm taking it slow,,, real slow 😆

[@michaelrowe5896]

@@getstrongby4038 I mean I just got back from some pretty gnarly stuff for this bike and it worked just fine. I think if I did that everyday tho on this bike the QR could have issues but I'm really aggressive rider everywhere. Even commuting so no carbon bikes for me

[@nithinkp2231]

Make another video on x caliber 9 ,ride test

[@dr34ms]

YES YES FINALLLYYYY

[@TalalipopMTB]

HAHAHA

[@joeblackp687]

Great video i have a Marlin 8 and looking to upgrade would the X Caliber 9 be a good upgrade or should i wait and save a bit mor money before upgrading to something better.

[@eminia-j1t]

eine sehr gute Frage!

[@davidcrowson4745]

I was in Sacramento last week and ate at in and out burger. Went to Yosemite national park too👍😀 oh yeah nice bike.

[@TalalipopMTB]

Nice!!

[@miroslavhavlasek119]

Nice video! Is the rear quick release really that bad? Should I expect issues? I can get this bike with 15% discount brand new (which makes it competitive price) and I am surprised this hub does break soon. Is it then possible to upgrade the rear hub? Thank in advance for your reply.

[@anthonygordon241]

Nice review man... I'm getting one soon, just wanted to ask is the size medium good for a 5'7" person?

[@TalalipopMTB]

Yeah that’s great! I’m the same height and ride a medium most of the time. You can go M/L as well if you prefer a bigger bike that is more stable at high speeds, but the smaller frame should be more easily maneuverable

[@thatsalie]

I am between 5-6 and 5-7. I bought the small with 27.5 wheels and I am definitely "touching" the top tube if you get my drift. The next size up comes with 29" wheels and would make the top tube even higher which affects a safe standover.

[@yengsabio5315]

When compared with the Giant Talon 1, which do you think is a better vslue-for-buck MTB? Thanks in advance!

[@TalalipopMTB]

Hmm depends on your riding style. For me personally I’d do the Talon 1 and then upgrade later on to a full suspension bike to tackle rougher trails, but if you want a faster hardtail bike then the X-Cal 9 would be better. The Talon 1 definitely packs a lot of value for $1,000 less than the X-Caliber

[@yengsabio5315]

@@TalalipopMTB Thank you for replying, eh mate! Lots'a love, cheers, & Mabuhay, from tropical Philippines! #KeepBiking

[@TalalipopMTB]

Of course!! Lots of love from California as well :)

[@shwndh]

QR is not the issue. You still get boost hub spacing and you can use a standard boost rear wheel “if” you can get the caps from the hub manufacturer. This issue is the cheap formula hub on it.

[@Sangram-IND]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥👍 thankyou so much

[@TalalipopMTB]

Of course!

[@jeffghant4760]

I don't need this bike, but I want this bike.

[@TalalipopMTB]

hahahaha

[@fardinhasan8266]

Is there any alternative of x Caliber 9 2022

[@davidgonzales8352]

Marlin 8 plus the cash or X-Caliber 9?

[@55mtb51]

How do you plan to ride it? Racing? Light trail riding? Urban commuting? The geometry is pretty similar. I don't think one is a better "value" than the other, in that both are priced in line with the parts/features they come with. So, it mainly depends on whether you need the upgrades for your type of riding, and what you can afford. If you're going to spend the cash savings upgrading the Marlin to meet your needs, then go for the X-Cal (which is also more upgradeable) to start with. Otherwise, if the money's important to you, the Marlin might be sufficient. There is also the X-Caliber 8 to consider.

[@aus80srockradio94]

I ordered mine a couple of months ago and they are saying Sept '23 delivery : ( However there is a chance it might be a little earlier.. (I'm in Australia so maybe that's why). First plan is upgrade the wheels to XT before I pick it up.

[@gkoogz9877]

You should cancel that order lmao

[@aus80srockradio94]

@@gkoogz9877 Lol! All good. Turned up early, pick it up next week 😃

[@HelloFellowDinosaurs]

Is this bike decent for £1200 ($1381)? It's on sale at the moment and I'm tempted to get it

[@timothy7768]

🚴‍♂️🚴‍♂️🚴‍♂️ nice job as always....i wonder if Trek doesnt upgrade or leave certain componets off on purpose. They have to leave room to improve for the next up and coming model. The price is crazy but the demand for bikes are high and people are still buying at that price. If we want to see prices drop stop buying them lol...

[@TalalipopMTB]

Thank you! That might be the case honestly, but I don't know personally. And agreed that the price is high hahaha

[@getstrongby4038]

Prices go up, its not that big of a deal

[@thatsalie]

I like my new X-Cal 9 but not happy with the rebound / sucking /whooshing noise from the fork. Super annoying. Is this common with the RS Recon RL?

[@wise3p460]

Hello, tks for your video. I have this bike from a few day but i find the cable wich goes in the frame make many many noise. My soon have an other bike Cube stereo pro 2022 with no noise from this part. The price of the cube is less than the price of the trek and the cube is more equipped. Incredible:-(

[@wise3p460]

Hello, nobody seems to complain about the noise of cables in frame. I m alone with this problem and have a bad day buil bike?

[@ragnarwood3504]

Got 1 on order xl frame 6ft2 been riding a giant talon large frame past year seems to small had a cannondale 29r before that large frame was just right sat on a Excalibur 8 in bike shop feet not all way to floor but seat could of gone lower not convinced bike will b at shop next week wat u think go with the xl frame??

[@ragnarwood3504]

Oh yes it's 27.5 as is my talon any input be appreciated

[@TalalipopMTB]

Yeah XL should fit perfectly. You could also go Large if you wanted a smaller more nimble bike but I think you made the right decision. You should be able to stand over the frame of the bike with your feet on the floor, but if you are on the seat your feet shouldn’t really be able to touch the floor.

[@ragnarwood3504]

@@TalalipopMTB Thanks 4 input paying 1500 pounds here in uk 4 thee x caliber 9

[@AquaAguaWaterEau-DML]

A presentation, a test of the Marlin 8 Gen 3 would be appreciable. 🙏🏼 👋

[@TalalipopMTB]

Those bikes haven’t been released in my country yet but I will when they do come out in the US!

[@AquaAguaWaterEau-DML]

@@TalalipopMTB Hello, when did the X-Caliber (8) come out? One year ago ? Do you know when the new models will be released (2023 / 2024)? Thanks ! 👋

[@forrestho9051]

Can someone tell me . How many links are there of the chain in this X-caliber 9 of a M size bike . I have a old but like new shimano XT chain stored for many years . Would like to see if I can use it later if I buy this bike . It was used on a 26' hardtail bike . Thank you in advance .

[@MaQuGo119]

Imma pray to baby jesus for Trek to put a thru axle on the 2023 models of XCaliber

[@TalalipopMTB]

Hahahaha

[@alex-zh5yv]

5'8 / 30" inseam, should I get M or M/L?

[@michaelrowe5896]

Go try one at a store if they got em. I'm 5'6" 28" inseam. It's a lil tall but all my bikes are. Small was too small, M/L was too big. M is perfect but that's just me. Preference I guess

[@enzodnaesposito]

Dropped post cable seems a tad long

[@rudrapratapchand7606]

can this bike support upto 36 tooth chainring

[@TalalipopMTB]

Trek claims the max chainring size for a 1x drivetrain is 32 teeth, which is likely due to the way the frame is designed and it can't fit a larger ring. 32 won't be as much of a difference though from the 30 teeth it comes with.

[@kihealthandwellness]

Nice looking bike... but quick release at that price point... is a deal breaker!

[@jeffghant4760]

Why is quick release not ideal? I always thought it was a desired feature.

[@masterjack8222]

@@jeffghant4760 would like to know that aswell

[@michaelrowe5896]

​@@jeffghant4760not sure tbh. I have this bike and have had 0 problems with the QR

[@lexterslab8]

My height is around 5'3-5'4... should I go for Medium? or stick to Small frame?

[@kp171084]

Same height. I went for small. No regrets

[@BIIIKES]

look at the Trek website, and then go in and sit on the different frame sizes

[@TalalipopMTB]

Yeah small should be the ideal size for sure!

[@dirtyforksmtb]

Wow I’m surprised to see a QR at the rear still in 2022.... trek has to get rid of that QR. all those get parts on that bike and the frame is old. New good/decent parts on an old frame....

[@thunderclap9536]

Its not perfect, but a good bike. I have fun. 👌🏼 Hello from Austria 🤗

[@TalalipopMTB]

Hello from the US!

[@GottaJibbo0]

I highly recommend swapping the saddle (ergon sm gel) and grips unless you like pain, other than that give it about 100 miles to break in and it'll ride like butter. I heart this fcking bike 👍🌮

[@TalalipopMTB]

Hahaha yeah that saddle is definitely not the comfiest

[@Darien135]

Waiting for Roscoe 7 but nobody has it.

[@TalalipopMTB]

I feel that

[@duonglethanh3269]

i do not know Trex Mtp .When i watch your video on KZbin.i like X caliber .in Việt Nam it is so expensive and try to buy it .I bought it 2 week ago .it is good .but some part need upgrade.crankset .it is small .

[@Gdm87]

Trek xcaliber 9 or Mondraker chrono R (same price) many thanks!!!

[@hikers012]

Nice video! Love my xcal 8. Super fast in asphalt and very capable on xc trails. In the Philippines tho 2022 xcal 8 costs 1200 us dollars and the xcal 9 costs 1750 us dollars. Why is it cheaper here?

[@JuanTonyoRides]

malapit lang po kasi tayo sa Taiwan, Vietnam or China Sir, kung saan dun yan gawa ang mga bike na yan

[@JuanTonyoRides]

kami naman dito sa Saudi Sir US price plus 15% tax kaya napakamahal

[@TalalipopMTB]

Thank you! And sometimes prices are different in different counties, I don’t know why for sure but I’m assuming it’s easier to get parts or smthn in different areas.

[@hikers012]

@@JuanTonyoRides tama bro salamat sa reply 👍👍 ride safe

[@hikers012]

@@TalalipopMTB totally agree. Looking forward for more trek videos. Thanks again!

[@joen3992]

In Canada, everyone ignores the x-caliber and spends the extra money and buys the Roscoe instead. One friend took off the wagon wheel tires and setup smaller 27.5 tires. dual tru axle, none of this silly non-standard 141mm rear...

[@amyvedder4776]

Hi Talal! I saw that you are open to doing reviews and to e-mail you, but I don't see an e-mail address? Help pls! Thx!

[@TalalipopMTB]

Hello! So sorry about that, it's [e-mail]

[@amyvedder4776]

@@TalalipopMTB Awesome, thanks!

[@MrNards04]

Thanks for this video, Bro! Bought one as a gift for my birthday. Got a great deal from the LBS, bought it for only 1550 USD in a medium size frame. 😅

[@TalalipopMTB]

No problem! And that’s awesome!

[@MrNards04]

@@TalalipopMTB Bro, do you know what's the maximum rear disc rotor size for upgrade?

[@TalalipopMTB]

I don’t believe there is a maximum size, you just need brake caliper adapters for a larger size rotor.

[@MrNards04]

@@TalalipopMTB Yes, bro. It's just that I'm worried that the caliper will hit the frame once I install the adapter for larger size rotor. There's a limited height clearance for the rear caliper mount of the frame.

[@ivangoldberger289]

keep biking

[@TalalipopMTB]

:D

[@オッスオラ山根明]

素晴らしい車体ですね😁

[@X41N3]

wish you actually went offroad...I'm looking for a bike that can do it all. Intermediate trails/enduro, capable of jumps without breaking apart all while I'm carrying heavy equipment in rain/mud and god knows what I encounter on a ride. 1 finger brakes with modulation for wheelies/slippery trails. I'm not Danny Macaskill but I really don't like cycling normally..I need to have fun and be comfortable

[@55mtb51]

There is probably no bike that can "do it all", or at least, do it all well (i.e., comparable to the best bikes for each specialty purpose). That said, while the X-Cal is a pretty decent all-rounder, I think the top-tier Roscoe (if you're sticking to hardtails) may be better suited to the duties you describe, except it has no rack mounts for your "heavy equipment".

[@bas6628]

what's faster and lighter? marlins or X calibers

[@55mtb51]

The X-Cals offer some better components, more upgradeability, and a bit of weight savings (not much - depending on the models you are comparing). The geometry appears to be very similar. I'd guess which is "faster" will probably depend a lot more on the rider than the bike.

[@dontknowbetternameatm]

overall trek frames are too heavy, and i dont agree with the price tag. Where i live it cost 1800 euro. This spec on a cube bike back in 2017 was 800 euro. I know there is a big inflation but not more than 200% in price increase. This bike is 12,5kg, for 1500 euro i can buy used 3 year old carbon bike under 10kg.. the hubs are bad i heard some reviews and after 400km they had to replace it.. also the rear hub sizing is very fucked up, it's 141mm so it's very hard to find and upgrade in that size and it's not thru axle.. good luck with that..

[@XpeHushka]

i got it for 1399EUR with 20% discount right now they are selling with 25% discount for 1279EUR here.

[@rcruzat89]

Es una marlin 6 2020 con upgrade 😏

[@Jedi_Knight]

Trek ? Dont lie to me, as far as i know Trek business closed shop already as I ordered a Trek hybrid bike about a year ago and they still cant deliver. 👎

[@nawaal4452]

Still no thru axles? Come on, Trek.

[@TalalipopMTB]

I know right

[@fendigucci6307]

OK this is basically a marlin 5 but better spec i can see no nuance in the frame design ngl 1900 seems kinda steep i know deore slx is pricey but i've had loads of bikes in the past from specialized, giant, carrera, GT and all of them share the same downfall and thats the gears give me trouble within about 6 months they dont shift or they skip rear cogs because i hear the cable stretches so they have to be re-indexed and maintained every 6 months so tourney or deore SLX theyll both go poor after half a year because of the gear cable.

[@TalalipopMTB]

Yeah definitely has similar frame geometry numbers to the marlins. “Cable stretching” is normal and unavoidable unless you don’t have cables so it just has to undergo maintenance like any bike

[@fendigucci6307]

@@TalalipopMTB Yh its a shame the gears go poor after around 6 months we wouldnt put up with this from a car or tv but i get the humble bicycle is an archaic product but yh for $1900 i'd upgrade to a SRAM wireless GX eagle AXS it would add another $500 or so but would be worth it for smooth and fast maintenance free shifting. Dope channel btw bro.

[@carlt9265]

Not mad on the colour

[@DarrenPrice333]

That’s one hell of a noisy bike 👎🏻

[@TalalipopMTB]

hahaha