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Trek Procaliber aluminum gets faster with IsoSpeed decoupler upgrade

Written by Zach Overholt
13 Comments
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Trek Procaliber 8

Two years ago, Trek took the edge of their XC hardtail by introducing an IsoSpeed decoupler equipped Procaliber SL. Using similar technology to their road and cross bikes, the Procaliber benefited from increased compliance due to the separation of the top tube and seat tube. Combined with a specially shaped seat tube and the IsoSpeed Decoupler at the seat tube/top tube junction, input to the rider is decreased while maintaining the XC-efficient ride a race bike is known for.

That was limited to the carbon SL version of the Procaliber – until now. With the release of the Procaliber 8 and Procaliber 6 and 6 Women’s, Trek is bringing top level XC performance down to a more attainable price point…

Trek Procaliber 6 women's Trek Procaliber 6 men's

Procaliber 6

Both the Procaliber 8 and 6 (above, pink and orange) benefit from the new IsoSpeed equipped frame – just in Alpha Platinum Aluminum instead of OCLV carbon fiber. Utilizing Trek’s ‘Smart Wheel Size,’ the 13.5″ and 15.5″ frames roll on 27.5″ wheels while the remaining larger sizes all see 29″ hoops. Built with Boost 148 spacing in the rear and Boost 110 in the front, the frames all see a 100mm travel suspension fork with G2 geometry with the exception of the 13.5″ frame which runs an 80mm fork.

Given that they’re XC race builds with a more affordable build, each bike includes a 2×11 drivetrain, RockShox suspension fork, tubeless ready rims and tires, and rigid seat posts. Pricing is listed as $2,199.99 for the Procaliber 8, and $1,889.99 for the Procaliber 6 or Procaliber 6 women’s which appear to be the same geometry with the exception of the women’s being available in a 13.5″-18.5″ size range rather than the 15.5″- 23″ size range of the men’s. Claimed weights are 26.60 lb/12.07kg (women’s 15.5″ Procaliber 6), 28 lbs/12.70kg (17.5″ men’s Procaliber 6), and 26.20 lb/11.88kg (17.5″ Procaliber 8). It should be noted that all aluminum Procaliber frames have a 300lb weight limit.

Trek Procaliber aluminum frame

Procaliber frameset

The aluminum Procaliber will also be available as a frame only for $1,099.99, and it has a claimed weight of 4.4 lbs/2kg for a 17.5″ frame.

trekbikes.com
Zach Overholt
5,726 articles

Zach Overholt is the Editor in Chief of Bikerumor. He has been writing about what’s new in the bicycle world for 12+ years. Prior to that, Zach spent many years in the back of a bicycle shop building and repairing nearly every type of bike, while figuring out how to (occasionally) ride them.

Based in Ohio, Zach is now slowly introducing a new generation to cycling and still trying to figure out how to fit the most rides into a busy schedule as a new dad.

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Chader
Chader
7 years ago

“That [IsoSpeed] was limited to the carbon SL version of the Procaliber – until now.”

Correction: The IsoSpeed Decoupler was present on the “regular” carbon frame as well, not just the “SL” version. Those were the 9.6 & 9.7 model levels on the 2017 models.

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DesertMonkeyCat
DesertMonkeyCat
7 years ago

This is my first time working at a Trek dealer in 20 years of being a shop wrench. Holy crap is this stuff a pain to work with. ISOSpeed just sucks and is flimsy. Lots of their high end bikes (Fuels, other MTBS, ETC) are just junky compared to other brands comparatively priced bikes. As a mechanic who has worked in Cannondale, Specialized, Santa Cruz etc. shops Trek has the highest junk to price ratio.

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Yetiman
Yetiman
7 years ago
Reply to  DesertMonkeyCat

Been riding Procaliber for a year now, superb machine (zero problemo) I think you are an under achiever mechanic IMHO

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Spiffy
Spiffy
7 years ago
Reply to  DesertMonkeyCat

Apparently you should revisit your standards, friend. 20 years have gone by….

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boom
boom
7 years ago
Reply to  DesertMonkeyCat

Sounds like someone needs to head to Trek’s in-house tech classes to learn how to work on that stuff. We sent a few of our guys and they’ve come back miles ahead of their old selves.

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Tyler
Tyler
7 years ago
Reply to  DesertMonkeyCat

I disagree — I’ve owned a few Yetis, a Giant, and a Lynskey, and I’m riding a ProCaliber right now. The geometry is great, the IsoSpeed decoupler does what it advertises, and it’s a good all-around parts spec for the price. Looks like lots of praise in this thread for the ProCal…

Maybe you’re not as informed as you think?

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Don
Don
7 years ago
Reply to  DesertMonkeyCat

We are Canada’s top trek dealer, and as such we see Treks EVERY day. There are specific procedures that Trek provides techs to follow. You need to get up on the latest training modules and demand greater learning and skill from yourself, so that you get optimal results. If you are, you will be happy with their products. We have never had an isospeed decoupler fail while being ridden. You must learn how to treat new pieces according to their engineers’ specs. Adapt, overcome, and marvel at the Trek quality.

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Experiencedshoprat
Experiencedshoprat
7 years ago

@desertmonkeycat, it’s funny you say that. I’ve worked shops for 20 plus years. I find it to be just the opposite. I haven’t worked with Santa Cruz so I can’t speak about them. But the others I have. I can honestly say in the past 5-6 years Trek has made some of the best product out there. Before that it was good just nothing special. Now they are on leading edge and setting a lot of trends in the mountain bike world.

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mtb4me
mtb4me
7 years ago

Procaliber…best name ever! Thanks Gary….!

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Beat_the_trail
Beat_the_trail
7 years ago

My Boone is stiff as a board. I had a Domane too, I had to use a 5mm offset seat cap too keep the Isospeed flex reasonable. I prefer the Boone, but the Domane was way more comfortable. Both I used for commuting, roughly 150mi a week without a flaw.

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ChrisC
ChrisC
7 years ago

So… Aluminum has no fatigue limit, which means it *will* fail after a certain amount of flex.

Why is building in MORE flex on an aluminum frame member a good idea?

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Chader
Chader
7 years ago
Reply to  ChrisC

It’s entirely possible that this design increases frame life. It could relieve stress on some member or joints instead of transferring all the forces to them.

The truth is that we don’t know, one way or the other. Anything we can say is pure speculation based on generalities and may not apply in this instance. So, admit that we have no real idea.

Knowing Trek, the did significant FEA studies (including fatigue) and functional testing (likely to millions of cycles to replicate many lifetimes of use). If they are willing to sell the bike with their standard lifetime warranty, they must be confident that it will be fine.

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Reformed Roadie
Reformed Roadie
7 years ago
Reply to  ChrisC

Ever sit at a window seat on a plane near the wing?

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