We test the Trek Procaliber 9.6: a hardtail that does not renounce to anything

XC full suspension mountain bikes have started a direct trip towards the wildest trend of the modality, but for those who are still looking for more reactive sensations, lightness and simplicity today we bring you the test of a hardtail that does not renounce to anything. And all this at a very reasonable price, that's what we've experienced with this Trek Procaliber 9.6.

The Trek Procaliber 9.6 does not renounce to anything

Trek was one of the pioneers in the use of carbon in cycling, and the famous acronym OCLV brings back the memory of emblematic models that marked an era. The frame of the Procaliber 9.6 is made of the so-called OCLV Mountain Carbon, which is prepared to withstand any impact typical of mountain biking. But what is most striking about this frame is its IsoSpeed system.

Main features

The IsoSpeed takes advantage of the intersection of the down tube to join the top tube and seat stays by means of a ball joint that allows the frame to flex. The Isospeed offers great comfort by allowing the seatpost and the seat tube to flex freely along their length.

Another notable feature of the Procaliber frame is the Straight Shot down tube, which is straight through and through, maximizing stiffness without increasing weight. Otherwise, the frame is at the cutting edge of today's standards and performance. It has internal cable routing from start to finish and is very easy to maintain, including the dropper post routing, although it does not come as standard. And it also incorporates the Knock Block steering lock to prevent the handlebars from hitting the top tube.

The rear axle is Boost and the rear derailleur hanger Sram UDH, which ensures compatibility and ease of replacement. Trek continues to rely on the PressFit bottom bracket, even though some brands opt for a threaded system for ease of maintenance. The PressFit allows a greater width to the tubes where they meet the bottom bracket, optimizing stiffness and gaining aesthetically.

To maximize structural stiffness, each tube of the Procaliber is shaped according to its task. As mentioned above, the down tube is completely straight and its quadrangular profile has very smooth edges. Unlike the top tube, which has sharp edges and flattens out more and more towards its meeting with the IsoSpeed ball joint.

The down tube also changes its round shape to flatten and widen as it curves to meet the bottom bracket.

Geometry

In terms of geometry, the Trek Procaliber 9.6 is based on the origins of XC and we do not see angles with exaggerated pitches or very extreme measurements.

Thus, the steering angle is 68.8º, a very balanced measure that will appeal to users who prioritize agility.

The 73.8° down tube places us in a neutral position. It allows for optimal positioning for uphill but without neglecting comfort when riding on the flat.

The reach is, in the size M we tested, 420mm, which makes this a comfortable bike where we will ride rather upright, although its 90mm head tube will allow us, if we remove the spacers under the stem, to place the handlebars quite low.

These measurements result in a fairly short overall length between axles. In size M it is 1103mm, which will make the Procaliber perform well wherever agility is needed.

Careful selection of components for maximum performance

Trek has achieved with this Procaliber 9.6 that a bike at a very competitive price offers the latest in technology. Thus, we can enjoy the benefits of a Shimano 12-speed drivetrain combining a Shimano SLX 10-51 cassette, an SLX shifter and an XT rear derailleur.

The cranks are Shimano MT611 and mount a 30-tooth chainring that will allow us, even if we are not in top shape, to climb any trail or track however steep it may be.

Braking is also entrusted to Shimano with a combination of MT410 calipers with M4100 levers. It mounts 180mm discs at the front and 160mm at the rear wheel.

The fork that goes with the Procaliber frame is a Rock Shox Recon Gold RL with 100mm of travel. It comes with a DebonAir system and Motion Control hydraulics with remote lockout on the handlebar.

The wheels are 100% Bontrager, combining boost hubs with sealed bearings and 6-bolt disc mounts with 23mm internal width Bontrager Kovee Comp rims.

The Bontrager Switch rear thru axle has a removable cam, which allows us to quickly have a 6mm allen to, for example, remove the front wheel if necessary.

The tyres are also Bontrager. Both wheels are fitted with XR2 Team Issue tubeless ready, in 2.20" size.

In the rest of the components we continue to find the signature of the brand that present a design and finishes more than correct.

The Bontrager Rhythm Comp stem in this size is only 60mm, which will make riding in a more than comfortable position. The Bontrager Comp handlebar measures 72cm, although it increases to 75cm from size L onwards.

The Bontrager Comp seatpost is also very well finished and its diameter is 31.6mm, so if we want to change it for a dropper one we will have more options.

The saddle mounted is the Bontrager Arvada, with a width of 138mm.

Riding with the Trek Procaliber 9.6

The fact that it is a hardtail and has a reasonable price is not incompatible with a striking and spectacular aesthetics. The worked shapes of its frame attract attention when you look closely and the decoration of our test bike, with that orange so striking, will not leave indifferent, either you love it or hate it ... Anyway the Trek Procaliber 9.6 comes in two other finishes, one combining the carbon finish with a fluorine color also very spectacular, but if you like bikes a little more discreet the blue finish is yours.

The Bontrager components seemed very well made and the 31.6mm seatpost caught our attention, since in hardtails it is very common to use thinner diameters to promote some flex, but as the Trek Procaliber has the advantage of IsoSpeed, you can mount this diameter and the down tube will still have that slight absorption that will give us comfort and, in addition, if we want to mount a dropper post, we will have more options to choose from.

As we said, we really liked the bike live, but we assumed that it was not going to be very light since its setup is far from those exclusive components that we see in the high ranges, but the truth is that the weight does not explode. On our scales it came in at 11.78kg before we mounted the pedals and went out to ride.

Once the formalities were completed, we placed the saddle at our height and went out to test it.

As we expected, the position we adopted on the Procaliber is really comfortable because, together with its short reach, it has a rather short stem. In addition, our unit had an uncut steerer tube and quite a few spacers under the stem, so we were riding too upright for a Cross Country bike. After the first day of testing, we opted to reverse the spacers and take advantage of that 90mm head tube to get a slightly more efficient position and squeeze the Procaliber a bit to see what it's capable of.

On the first routes, riding mainly on trails, we were able to appreciate the comfort provided by the IsoSpeed, which, despite the differences with a full mountain bike, gives a docility to the rear that allowed us to continue pedaling seated in quite uneven areas. The Rock Shox Recon fork also showed good sensitivity, despite being a mid-range fork. In these circumstances, the Procaliber allows us to ride at fairly high speeds with a good use of our energy.

Also when it's time to stand up we have the Rock Shox OneLock lockout on the handlebar, which completely eliminates fork oscillations.

As for the performance of the components it mounts, special mention must be made of the smoothness and precision of the gears which, although we are not dealing with the highest ranges of Shimano, its performance is impeccable. In quite forced shifting situations, it still works efficiently and, in addition, very quietly.

In our opinion, only the weight of this drivetrain differentiates it, in terms of performance, from the top of the range.

The braking also showed the reliability and power to which Shimano has us accustomed, but here we have to say that we do not like the shape of the M4100 lever. It is too long a lever to use a single finger, which is what we are used to on this type of bike and, in addition, the power of the brakes allows it. After adjusting the reach and position we could get used to it but we definitely prefer the shorter lever of the top groupsets.

The rest of the components more than fulfilled their task, although we would have preferred a couple of centimeters more on the handlebars, as the 72cm already seems a bit short.

The wheelset also performed excellently and we really liked the tread pattern of the Bontrager XR2 tyres, which are very rolling but have good grip. Of course, we're also used to using wider rims, with the benefits this brings in terms of grip and comfort by allowing for lower pressures, especially on a hardtail.

Looking for the Procaliber 9.6 limit

Just because it's a mid-range bike, we weren't going to stop pushing the Procaliber on all terrains, so we took it to the most physically and technically demanding trails to see how it performs.

When it came to steeper climbs and more technical terrain, we had the advantage of the 30-tooth chainring, which means we didn't get stuck no matter how steep the terrain might be. The tyres showed good traction, despite the apparent tread pattern. And, the stiffness of its carbon frame gives us that optimal energy transfer to overcome the difficulties with a pedal stroke. Of course, here we notice that the weight is not that of a World Cup bike and does not have that nerve and agility on climbs of lighter bikes, although its short length between axles means that we can move it with some ease in twisty areas.

When it comes to descents, the comfortable, upright position we adopt on the Procaliber gives us confidence, and the performance of the Rock Shox Recon has little to envy in terms of absorption to higher-end forks. The frame is still a hardtail, but thanks to the IsoSpeed, it doesn't have the dry, bouncy feel of other similar rigids.

On downhill trails, it is a pleasure to move the bike because of its short overall length and great agility.

What we did miss was a dropper post that would make the Trek Procaliber 9.6 a really fun bike.

Conclusions

The truth is that the Trek Procaliber 9.6 has left a good taste in our mouths. We are glad to see that, although the market is with exorbitant prices in many cases, thanks to the continuous evolution and technology that exists today, you can enjoy a very high performance bike for a reasonable money.

The Procaliber is an ideal bike for the amateur biker without great pretensions, but it is also suitable for racing if your budget is limited. With a simple change of stem for one of a couple of centimeters more, we can get a very efficient position on it to put a dorsal and give it all.

We also think it is a great purchase option if your idea is to improve it as you have a category frame to lighten it little by little.

Trek Proclaimer 9.6: specifications, weight and price

• Frame: Carbono OCLV Mountain, IsoSpeed
• Fork: RockShox Recon Gold RL, DebonAir
• Remote control: RockShox OneLock Sprint
• Shifter: Shimano SLX M7100
• Rear derailleur: Shimano XT M8100
• Crankset: Shimano MT611, 30D chainring
• Cassette: Shimano SLX M7100, 10-51, 12speed
• Chain: Shimano Deore M6100
• Brakes: Shimano MT4100 levers, MT410 calipers, 180 /160mm
• Hubs: Bontrager boost, sealed bearings
• Rims: Bontrager Kovee Comp 23, tubeless ready
• Tyres: Bontrager XR2 Team Issue, tubeless ready, 120tpi, 29x2,0”
• Saddle: Bontrager Arvada, anchura 138mm
• Seatpost: Bontrager Comp, 31,6
• Handlebar: Bontrager Comp, 720mm S, M, ML. 750mm L, XL, XXL
• Stem: Bontrager Rhythm Comp
• Weight: 11.78kg
• Price: 2,249.10€