Is Trek Procaliber 9.8 SL A Good Bike? [Trek Procaliber 9.8 SL Review]

We use affiliate links and may receive a small commission on purchases.

2019 Trek Procaliber 9.8 SL

• Frame: OCLV mountain carbon
• Suspension: 100mm (front)
• Tires: 29×2.20”
• Drivetrain: 1×12

What we love about it: Built for fast, efficient, and responsive riding, it’s perfect for more efficient sprinting on a variety of trails.

What we don’t like about it: Very long enduro races can leave you a little tired.

Rating: (4.8/5)

If you want to ride a lighter and more efficient off-road bike to win professional events, then you must not ignore the Trek Procaliber 9.8 SL. It’s a hardtail, meaning it naturally sheds weight without a rear shock. The Trek Procaliber 9.8 will be lighter than the average full suspension bike.

But that doesn’t mean it’s going to affect its pedaling dynamics. Quite the contrary, the Trek Procaliber 9.8 SL is very efficient on climbs and sprints! If you’re struggling with an all-around hardtail mountain bike, the Trek Procaliber 9.8 won’t let you down.

In most cases, if you want to be more efficient, it means that you have to make some compromises in some areas. For example, for a typical hardtail bike, forgoing the rear shock to deal with rough mountain roads, the rider will feel some physical fatigue after a long ride.

Not so with Trek Procaliber 9.8. It uses iso speed technology, with a lighter carbon fiber fork, and a variety of high-end components, allowing you to enjoy acceleration without giving up more efficient pedaling.

Related reading: Trek Procaliber 9.7 Review: How Does It Perform On The Field?

Climbing

The Trek Procaliber 9.8 SL is a hardtail mountain bike built for fast, efficient, and responsive riding. It’s great for riding as fast as possible on a wide variety of trails, but that doesn’t mean the Trek Procaliber 9.8 is born to be.

Excellent results mean that to achieve high speed and stable climbing needs to start from the basics. The oclv mountain carbon fiber frame is paired with Bontrager XR2 Team Issue tubeless tires, which means that compared to other alloy frames, the lighter weight can achieve efficient acceleration and maneuverability.

I believe that if you have a good understanding of the current bicycle development trend, you should know that in the research and development of materials, lighter and stronger are the big trends. The Trek Procaliber 9.8’s oclv mountain carbon fiber material truly balances these two points. Although it is more expensive to maintain.

At the same time, the tall 29×2.20″ tires will save you more effort, allowing you to concentrate more on unknown turns and obstacles. Although it is undeniable that the woodland track has become very smooth due to the long-term riding, there are still some sudden conditions, such as some bumps with small stones rolling down from the mountains.

I really appreciate the Bontrager Kovee Elite 23 carbon fiber rims, which are very strong and absorb shocks from the bumps on the ground.

The SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain helps you accelerate agile on the way up, and the 1×12 drivetrain makes it easier to stay up, greatly improving pedaling efficiency. No rider will deny the good power that a good drivetrain can give you during a strenuous climb.

Descending

On the downhill terrain where we ditched quickly, the unpredictable takeoffs and the rough and steep hills would make every pro rider tremble.

You have to do your best to control the bike. In the process, having a high-efficiency suspension front fork can help you face rough impacts, thereby greatly reducing the crushing force of the body. This is an excellent attribute that any professional racer would be hard to deny.

I’m a cyclist looking for extreme adventures. Seeing the unpredictably steep downhill from the highest point makes my blood boil. I would quickly take control of the body’s performance under extreme reaction pressure.

At this time, the classic and efficient head tube angle of the Trek Procaliber 9.8 can be used to achieve strong and responsive handling without adding weight.

The Trek Procaliber 9.8’s 100mm of high-efficiency shock absorber travel is enough to keep your body manageable and reduce fatigue, but it doesn’t mean you’re relaxed about precision.

Trek Procaliber 9.8 is also equipped with Solo air spring components, which not only does not increase the weight of the body, but also exert a higher effect on absorbing the force of bumps. I have to say that Trek Procaliber 9.8 has achieved the ultimate in reducing vibration.

If you are familiar with riding on the forest road, you will know that on the track we ride all year round, due to the extensive use of polishing, some of the relatively flat surfaces are very smooth. In this case, the Trek Procaliber 9.8 can lock up the shock on smooth surfaces for greater efficiency, a behavior that is essential for professional racers.

Main Feature

Frame

When you touch the texture of Trek Procaliber 9.8 SL, you will marvel at its sophistication. A slack geometry frame, paired with the updated race geometry of oclv mountain carbon fiber material, this aerodynamic tube reduces wind resistance and helps increase speed.

In terms of weight, I think the Trek Procaliber 9.8 SL is impeccable. I like his red paint color the most. When you move at high speed, it catches the eye like a flame. For every dreamer, they will be willing to take Trek Procaliber 9.8 to the most glorious stage.

For the more common internal routing technology, I think I will still mention a little more about my thoughts on this technology. Although everyone consciously chooses models with internal wiring, the reason is that it is more concise and reduces the risk of some winding and short circuits.

And, there is some special weather for riders who zip through the trails year-round. For example, in rainy days, it will bring muddy mountain roads and increase the cost of body maintenance, and the internal wiring will not have the trouble of some fine lines covered with mud.

The Trek Procaliber 9.8 size chart is detailed, and there is something for everyone. If you check the table carefully before buying, the trouble of buying wrong will be very small, unless you have special riding habits. Whether it’s a local off-road race, or chasing the sun after get off work, I think the Trek Procaliber 9.8 will always give you the speed and efficiency to enjoy the day on the trails.

Geometry

I still remember the very exciting and nerve-wracking, high-angle turns when I was cruising through the trails. Thanks to the Trek Procaliber 9.8’s 68.8-degree head angle, I can still steer with precision and speed.

And for the landing impact from high-speed air, the efficient 100mm front fork can effectively reduce the extrusion of the body. This is very important for the rider or body. I will gain more confidence in the control of the body, and at the same time, my muscles will not be too worn out, after all, riding is meant to be enjoyed.

If an injury is caused by an unreasonable design of the bicycle, the cycling business will also suffer a great blow.

At the same time, I would like to stress again, the smoothness of the 1×12 drivetrain.

It can be said that there is no extra waste in the manufacture of Trek Procaliber 9.8. The simplicity of the SRAM GX Eagle1x12 and the wide range of speed options you’ll get used to with the Trek Procaliber 9.8 when you want high-speed climbs.

And you will be surprised to find that the muscles will respond more quickly than the brain, because it is simple enough and labor-saving enough.

Components and Specifications

IsoSpeed ​​Separator

In the manufacture of Trek Procaliber 9.8, the innovative use of iso speed, a disconnector with unique advantages. Technically, iso speed improves vertical compliance.

This means that when riding hardtails that don’t have this unique technology in general, our bodies absorb a lot of vibration, as well as road bumps and impact forces, leaving us tired on rough mountain roads.

I still remember that when I was evaluating the Trek Procaliber 9.8, I clearly felt that when I was riding a familiar road full of large and small stones, the iso speed weakened the force that hit the body, so as to maintain more physical strength, Drive more time.

In terms of riding emotions, although the short track will be more stimulating to the senses, I feel that the medium and long distances are more tests of riding skills. So I don’t want to feel uncomfortable riding for more time.

With the Trek Procaliber 9.8, I can’t stress enough that you won’t give up more efficient pedaling for your comfort. And, unlike normal rear shocks, isospeed doesn’t add weight to the body. After all, for the excellent Trek designers who racked their brains to reduce weight, isospeed is the best choice for the shock absorber matched with the oclv carbon fiber frame.

If you’re looking to buy a carbon hardtail off-road bike, looking at isospeed technology, you really should check out the Trek Procaliber 9.8.

OCLV Mountain Carbon Frame

I believe that as long as you understand the manufacture of off-road vehicles, you will be obsessed with carbon fiber as a material.

This material has the unparalleled formability of alloys, the superiority of weight, and the performance of shock absorption is also remarkable. And OCLV mountain carbon fiber material is more professional than ordinary carbon fiber. A lightweight, race-grade, hand-crafted body frame that lets you blow your opponents away on fast-moving open tracks.

At the same time, in terms of firm performance, carbon fiber is also excellent, and can effectively resist the friction of ultraviolet rays and splashing stones on the body. In the past, we always thought that the responsiveness of the alloy body would be better.

Although the beginning ride is often cool and fun at the beginning, eventually the rider becomes uncomfortable due to long distances and rough roads, which are also criticisms.

This is what I have always emphasized. In terms of the long-distance riding performance of the Trek Procaliber 9.8, the oclv carbon fiber material plays a more important role, although it will be more expensive in terms of cost. In the later maintenance of riding, I will cherish it more.

SRAM GX Eagle Drivetrain 1 × 12

What we’ve found in driving the Trek Procaliber 9.8 is that the 1x drivetrain provides an easier single drive on terrain that requires more power, such as ascending climbs, or when you want to ride with less effort. The gear lever controls the effect.

If you’ve seen a lot of bikes with 2x powertrains, you’ll know what I’m talking about. When you’re riding, my advice is to focus more on pedaling, rather than switching speeds.

12 wide shifting ranges give you more freedom in controlling your speed. If you switch to a larger value when you are climbing, it will save a lot of effort for your long upward force, allowing you to ride farther. That means it’s one step closer to being precise and perfect.

For now, 1×12 is a relatively common device, which can exert the greatest effect on the bicycle, and at the same time, it is also very effective in reducing the weight of the body.

In terms of durability, SRAM has tested and found that the 1x power system will be more durable, with an efficiency of up to 500%. It can be said that the SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain 1 × 12 completely rewrites the rules of freedom.

Other Versions of Trek Procaliber

If you’re interested in the Trek Procaliber, and you’ve followed the 2019 Trek Procaliber 9.9 SL, you’ll see a few key numbers. In body weight, for example, the 2019 Trek Procaliber 9.9 SL is 2.2 pounds lighter.

For the oclv carbon fiber material that has already achieved the top in the industry, this progress is still not easy. Of course, the price of the 2019 Trek Procaliber 9.9 SL has also increased accordingly.

Correspondingly, there will be consumers who are not interested in this number. This type of consumer will think that in the context of no significant improvement with other components, such as: the tire size is still 29×2.20″, the powertrain is the same 1×12, including the same hydraulic brakes. It’s just a little bit of differentiation on the brand.

Trek Procaliber 9.6

In this context, just because there are some small improvements in weight, it may not be good news for those who are price-conscious.

On the other, more-friendly, Trek Procaliber 9.6, we noticed that this model had a bigger weight gain. That’s not great news for riders who want to make more progress on the speed boost. The reason is that we found that there is a big difference in the choice of body frame material.

The body of the Trek Procaliber 9.6 is made of ordinary carbon fiber while the Trek Procaliber 9.8 is made of oclv mountain carbon fiber. It is more powerful in terms of sturdy properties or outdoor pressure resistance, and even if you use it for a long time, the UV resistance and the performance of small friction are excellent.

At the same time, the braking system of Trek Procaliber 9.8 adopts Shimano Deore XT M8000 hydraulic disc brake technology, which is a big leap in the agility and speed of braking.

What do we like about it?

• The more professional and efficient oclv mountain carbon fiber frame makes you more efficient when riding.

• SRAM GX Eagle 1 × 12 drivetrain allows you to adapt to a wider range of riding scenarios, while allowing more freedom of speed selection.

• The isospeed anti-fatigue shock absorber makes you more comfortable off-road and brings more travel to your riding.

• The efficient 100mm front fork effectively reduces the extrusion of the body, allowing the rider to better control the riding of the bike.

• Shimano Deore XT M8000 Hydraulic Disc Brake technology brakes your bike more nimbly and handles unexpected situations quickly.

• Solo air spring assembly, has a higher effect on absorbing bumps.

What do we not like about it?

• The color selection did not take into account the needs of the fancy crowd.

• Not exactly friendly in terms of price.

• Maintenance needs to be more careful.

FAQs

• What is the body weight of the Trek Procaliber 9.8?

The M model of the Trek Procaliber 9.8 is 22.2 lbs.

• What is the front suspension travel of the Trek Procaliber 9.8?

Trek Procaliber 9.8 front suspension travel is 100mm.

• What is the Trek Procaliber 9.8 drivetrain?

Trek Procaliber 9.8 drivetrain is SRAM GX Eagle Drivetrain 1 × 12.

2019 Trek Procaliber 9.8 SL Specs

Frameset

Frame	Super Light OCLV Mountain Carbon, IsoSpeed, tapered head tube, MicroTruss, Control Freak internal routing, balanced post mount brake, Boost148 & G2 Geometry on M and larger sizes (Size S: 142x12mm rear hub)
Fork	RockShox SID RL, DebonAir, Motion Control damper, remote lockout, tapered steerer, G2 Geometry w/51mm offset on 29ers, Boost110, 100mm travel

Wheels

Wheels	Bontrager Kovee Elite 30 Carbon, Tubeless Ready, 54T Rapid Drive, Boost110 front, Boost148 rear (15.5: 142×12 rear), tubeless strips included, valves sold separately
Tires	Bontrager XR2 Team Issue, Tubeless Ready, 120 tpi, aramid bead, 29×2.20˝ (13.5 & 15.5: 27.5×2.20˝)

Drivetrain

Shifters	SRAM GX Eagle, 12 speed
Rear derailleur	SRAM GX Eagle, Type 3 Roller Bearing Clutch
Crank	Truvativ Stylo Carbon Eagle Dub, 32T Direct Mount
Bottom bracket	DUB PF92
Cassette	SRAM XG-1275 Eagle, 10-50, 12 speed
Chain	SRAM GX Eagle
Pedals	Not included

Components

Saddle	Bontrager Montrose Elite, titanium rails
Seatpost	Bontrager Pro, OCLV Carbon, 31.6mm, 0mm offset
Handlebar	Bontrager Race X Lite, OCLV Carbon, 31.8mm, 5mm rise, 720mm width
Grips	ESI Chunky
Stem	Bontrager Pro, 31.8mm, 7 degree, Blendr compatible
Headset	FSA IS-2, 1-1/8˝ top, 1.5˝ bottom
Brakeset	Shimano Deore XT M8000 hydraulic disc

Weight

Weight	M – 10.07 kg / 22.19 lbs (with tubes)
Weight limit	This bike has a maximum total weight limit (combined weight of bicycle, rider, and cargo) of 300 pounds (136 kg).

Comparison Chart

BIKE	PRICE	GRAE	BRAKE	TIRE	CLICK VIEW
Scott Scale RC Team Issue AXS	$4999	1×12	Shimano XT M8100 Disc	29×2.25″	Click View
Yeti ARC C2	$4400	1×12	SRAM LEVEL TL	29″×2.6″	Click View
Giant XTC Advanced SL 29 1	$5000	1×12	Shimano Deore XT	29″×2.25″	Click View
Santa Cruz NOMAD  R / Carbon C / MX	$5649	1×12	SRAM G2 RE	29″×2.4″	Click View

Scott Scale RC Team Issue AXS vs Trek Procaliber 9.8

In comparison, the OCLV mountain carbon fiber material of Trek Procaliber 9.8 on the frame of the body is more suitable for mountain riding.

Not only is it a structure for mountain terrain, but more importantly, it balances lighter weight and stronger use at the same time. I think that although the Scott Scale RC Team Issue AXS will have a little price advantage, it will be slightly different from the Trek Procaliber 9.8 in terms of details.

This is also reflected in the wider size of the tires. For riders who want to ride fast, narrower tires mean you have less resistance to the air and more power when you want to overtake your opponent. So I personally prefer Trek Procaliber 9.8.

Learn more : Is the Scott Scale 940 A Great Value Hardtail Bike? [Scott Scale 940 Review]

Yeti ARC C2 vs Trek Procaliber 9.8

For quite a few riders who saw the Yeti ARC C2, they were surprised by its generous wheels. I mean, for a hardtail, while it’s going to be beneficial in terms of rolling power and body pounding, and even in steep dives, it has a fatal disadvantage of losing speed. This is not good news for someone like me who likes to drive fast.

Secondly, because no more effective measures are taken, the rider will get tired of riding bumps for a long time, and even lose the ability to control the body.

At this point, Trek Procaliber 9.8 effectively alleviates this contradiction by adopting iso speed. So although the price of Trek Procaliber 9.8 is a bit higher, this is a range that I can accept in a comprehensive comparison.

Giant XTC Advanced SL 29 1 vs Trek Procaliber 9.8

I’ve always admired Trek’s tireless efforts in body materials, so the Giant XTC Advanced SL 29 1 is still a little behind the rankings for the Trek Procaliber 9.8 with its oclv carbon fiber body.

And in some details of the design, for example, for more efficient damping, Trek Procaliber 9.8 take carbon fiber rims. This is something that the Giant XTC Advanced SL 29 1 doesn’t seem to have taken into account either. Of course, it uses the material of Giant XCR-1 29 Composite WheelSystem, which is more economical than carbon fiber in terms of cost control. In terms of price, Giant XCR-1 29 Composite WheelSystem is making a concession.

In terms of fork travel, the Giant XTC Advanced SL 29 1 and Trek Procaliber 9.8 are unified, both with 100mm of travel. This means that they have the same distance of expansion and contraction in terms of cushioning from ground impact forces.

learn more：Giant XTC Advanced 29 3 Review – Is This The XC You Want

Santa Cruz NOMAD R / Carbon C / MX vs Trek Procaliber 9.8

The Santa Cruz NOMAD R / Carbon C / MX is strictly a full-suspension mountain bike, which has a more comprehensive range of applications. But at the same time, it is behind the performance of the Trek Procaliber 9.8 in terms of speed.

Also as I mentioned earlier, the Trek Procaliber 9.8 is superior in weight to the Santa Cruz NOMAD R / Carbon C / MX because it is not equipped with a rear shock, while the frame is made of a lighter and stronger oclv mountain carbon. So this is another significant advantage for speed improvement.

But as a full-suspension bike, it is ahead of the hardtail Trek Procaliber 9.8 in the endurance race competition. Although the Trek Procaliber 9.8 makes a great effort. For example, the iso speed, which I have always admired, is to minimize the drain on the rider’s endurance value over long bumps.

In case, the above comments are helpful to you, please remember to share the subscription. Have a great day!

learn more: Santa Cruz NOMAD X01 Review – The Limits Of Man And Bike