Components Calibre has got its priorities right on the Line T3-27 by fitting an excellent KS Rage-i dropper post. We went up to 115psi for our 78kg bodyweight, which helped keep the geometry stable but didn’t seem to sacrifice much in the way of small bump sensitivity. The Recon also needs to be overinflated to stop it falling through its full 140mm of travel. But there are only a couple of settings where you can actually feel a difference, so it’s more of an on-off switch than a variable adjuster. Turn it clockwise and each click makes the fork firmer, until it completely locks out. Calibre launches all-new, UK designed Line hardtail range Suspension The RockShox Recon Silver RL fork has a dial atop the right leg that gives you some control over the compression damping. There are four frame sizes available and, given that our medium test bike compares favourably with the large frames of its rivals, it has the most progressive sizing. This keeps them rattle-free and easily accessible for maintenance. Best hardtail mountain bikes: reviewed and rated by experts Mounts for both a water bottle cage and a tool strap adorn the frame, while the cables are all routed cleanly along the underside of the down tube. There’s a tapered head tube, slender top tube, square section down tube and forged dropouts clamping a bolt-through rear axle. Calibre’s 6061 alloy frame looks sharp and contemporary from its collar to its cuffs. Which is no bad thing, given that Whyte has been at the forefront of trail hardtail design for over a decade now. With its sloping top tube, progressive trail geometry and large volume 27.5in tyres, there’s been clear inspiration from the Whyte 909 trail bike. While Calibre has done a truly outstanding job with the design and equipping of the Bossnut Evo, it unsurprisingly hits its limits slightly earlier than the 40 to 50 percent more expensive bikes it is often compared to.The Line T3-27 marks a welcome return for the Calibre brand to one of its most successful old stomping grounds. The Recon fork retains control a long way down rocky descents before your forearms start to blow up, and is easy to adjust for rider weight, too. The simple Monarch R shock has better peak oil flow than more complex compression-adjustable dampers, so the 130mm of rear travel will swallow surprisingly large blocks and drops before things get sketchy.Īlthough there’s no lockout lever for climbs and road sections, the Evo pedals well enough that this isn’t an issue. The Calibre’s back end isn’t as rock-meltingly smooth as some of its competitors, but it does a good job of minimising impact force while keeping the bike level and the rear wheel connected. In short, the geometry works just fine for what most people spending £1,000 are going to think of as mountain biking. The 67-degree head angle means the fork doesn’t flop around like a sulky teenager on steep climbs. It’s quicker and easier to change direction in tighter situations, though, encouraging you to play with trail features rather than plough through them. There’s routing for an internal or external dropper seatpost cable/hose, but you’ll have to add the actual post yourself Andy Lloyd / Immediate Media With a relatively short 445mm reach and 1,145mm wheelbase (large), it doesn’t feel as unshakably stable through rocks and roots or scythe through high-load turns like longer bikes. The 45mm stem ties everything together nicely, so the steering is light and obedient but the bike doesn’t need to be pointed downhill and moving fast for it to make sense. Your initial contact with a bike is always important, and the Evo’s 780mm bar and 67-degree head angle give a reassuringly safe feel, without being super-wide or slack. The Kore bar and own-brand stem match the handling well. Shimano’s Deore brakes offer better modulation and power than their M300-series anchors, and SRAM’s clunky NX 11-speed shifter and rear mech are relentlessly reliable. The WTB rims are wide for extra tyre support and easy to turn tubeless, and the tyres are acceptable for the price. While the Recon fork isn’t the latest Boost-width (110mm) version, its 15mm thru-axle adds welcome steering accuracy and security compared to a QR. The 67-degree head angle, 780mm bar and 45mm stem increase control and confidence without being a handful on flatter/climbing trails Andy Lloyd / Immediate MediaĬalibre has put together an outstanding package for £999 (with discount card).
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |