I agree with cross country hard tail being a sweet spot However, 23mm rims, rear QR, 20mm less travel and head tube angle made my choice of the Marin Team One a no brainer. It was also a bit cheaper.
I have the 2021 model and it is really fast, I am more of an uphill rider, I mostly do 14km on a daily basis and ever since I got this bike, I felt the difference right away and dropped the time by 7 minutes from my previous bike. As for the weight it feels much lighter than it actually is, really nimble
FYI despite what the marketing people tell you Thru-axels aren't stiffer than QRs because they're NOT axels. They're just draw bolts that pull the frame onto the axel which is part of the hub. They don't take any load of the bike or rider's weight and aren't part of the load path.
I have the trek xcaliber 8 crystal white. I was a bit worried when I found out about the boost 141 because it's hard to get those hubs/parts, but I discovered that you can use boost 148 and just change the end caps to 141 and it'll work. Now I don't worry anymore and I really enjoy the bike.
This is key information. If you upgrade to something like a Hope Pro 4 rear hub, their QR end caps will work. Other major hubs should have caps available as well.
Nice review, but what are the “mostly unchanged” changes for 2023? I don’t see any at all. Also, just a minor correction, the fork stanchion is 30mm, not 32mm (unless that is one of the changes).
Bike not change from 2020. I have 2021 model. Frame is same. Fork is same. Some minor components changes like drivetrain and tires. But price get so high. I would like to see bigger changes.
I'm seriously considering the x-caliber 8 but also looking at a specialized rockhopper expert, which is $350 off right now so is $1,049. Kind of tempting with the Trek being $1,600.
Just got this bike same color last month I’m thinking of upgrading the tires to forekaster front and rear here in NM mainly dry rocky conditions with pavement to the trails
I have the 2015 version of this bike. Its been a good bike except for the quick release/disc combo. Any disc brake bike I get from here on out must have thru axle. Too much wiggle room for brake rub with the quick release.
I personally think Trek missed the boat with this bike as it checks a lot of boxes, but the QR rear is a major dealbreaker. Everyone has an alloy xc racer except trek. This would definitely give the Chisel, and Scale Alloy a run for their money if trek made a few tweaks.
Was deciding between this bike and the Marlin 8 2023 with a 50 dollar price difference. After taking both for a spin I preferred how the x-caliber rode. Good vid. Made the purchase. Could have skipped the grip part. In different regions the grips are different.
Trying to decide if the X-Caliber 9 is worth the extra money. I really like the colour (the 8 is only in grey for Australia), but quite a bit extra. Main differences seem to be slightly better drivetrain, better forks and dropper post.
@@55mtb51 I've ordered the 9 😎, now just waiting for Trek to sort out what's going on with stock. I'm being told my 2022 is caught up with 2023 new stock or something like that. New model is $200AUD more.
@@iduncanw You made the right choice. The 9 has better brakes and fork and comes with a dropper. Wry expensive upgrades you don’t need to make now. It’s a great bike. We have a 2017 and it’s basically the same.
I originally started looking at the Marlin 7 after my wife bought a 2023 Dual Sport 3 to commute on. I wanted something more capable on trails but still good for commuting on the road. We live in hilly San Francisco so climbing capabilities is also imprtant. But looks like the Marlin series has a lesser quality frame than her Dual Sport (Alpha Silver vs Alpha Gold), and is only a 10 speed. Didn't like the SRAM drivetrain on the Marlin 8 or Silver frame, so started looking at the X-Calibur series. I was trying not to break the bank and thought the X-Calibur 7 would have been the sweet spot for me, but it's been discontinued, unfortunately. Other than tires, how good of a commuter bike/Mountain Trial would the X-Calibur 8 be, as far as frame geometry? I do do some mountain bike riding with my son occasionally on my ancient Univega, but not too much hardcore Singletrack.
Seems like many bikes on Trek website are now listed as 2023. But looks like they are the same as 2022 with a price increase. Even more lower quality substituted parts due to supply chain issues for some models.
Im 5ft 10, i would of thought id b a size medium but according to trek website im a ml or even large 🤔 do trek bike come up large coz im a medium in a specialized rockhopper
I'm 5 11 and can run a med, a ML and a large. Frame it also shows me a ML or L. But med feel quick and comfortable. It depends what I'm gonna ride. You can't go wrong with any size as you can get parts to make any size bike fit your style from crank, bars, head or seat adjustment. Ride and pick on your judgment
That's a good looking bike 🚲. But is it good enough to justify double the price of a Marlin 6? Really asking because I don't know. Thanks for sharing this with us.
