When Trek proposed to us to test the Supercaliber SL 9.7 we accepted immediatelyfinally a company offered us a MTB that tries to combine performance and price, without being either at one extreme (super expensive top of the range) or the other (entry level, economical, but poorly performing).
There Trek Supercaliber SL 9.7, with a price of 5,638 eurosin our opinion it is the bicycle that would be perfect for 80% of Italian weekend warriors, a Volkswagen T-Roc suitable for everything and everyone, not a Panda, but not even a Ferrari 488.
If you want to hear some reasons why bicycles cost so much CLICK HERE!
We tried it to look for the differences with the top of the range…and aside from the weight and price, we really had a hard time finding them.
DISCOVER THE SUPERCALIBER GEN.2
If you want to meet everyone details of the second generation Trek Supercaliberread our presentation article:
NEW TREK SUPERCALIBER: NOTHING CHANGES SO THAT EVERYTHING CAN CHANGE
SUPERCALIBER SL 9.7 WHAT CHANGES FROM THE TOP OF THE RANGE?
The Trek Supercaliber SL 9.7 in its structure, geometry and suspension system IsoStrut is identical to the top of the range 9.9what mainly changes are the components with which it is assembled and the type of carbon used for the frame, in fact the Supercaliber 9.9 has an OCLV SLR frame, while the Supercaliber 9.7 has a frame with OCLV SL carbon.
The two frames appear identical, however the SLR frame has a lighter carbon main triangle structure and does not have internal guides for the passage of cables, but simply uses sheaths with sponge covers, to remove between 200 and 250 grams of weight and stop the scale at 1.95 kg for a size M (declared from Trek), weight including shock absorber.
The SL frame has a frame weight comparable to that of the first generation Supercaliber, changes in the carbon layup and in the presence of in-mold guides for the internal passage of cables. The rear stay is identical between the two frames.
Read also – TEST TREK SUPERCALIBER SLR 9.9 XX
TREK SL 9.7 ASSEMBLY
Chassis: OCLV Mountain Carbon, IsoStrut, UDH, 80mm of travel
Fork: RockShox Reba RL, 110 mm travel
Shock absorber: Trek IsoStrut, RockShox SIDLuxe, 2-position
Wheels: Bontrager Kovee Comp 25
Tyres: Bontrager Sainte-Anne RSL XR, dual compound, 220 tpi, 29×2.40″
Shift commands: SRAM AXS POD
Exchange: SRAM GX Eagle AXS, T-Type
Crankset: SRAM GX Eagle AXS, T-Type, DUB, 34t
Cassette: SRAM Eagle XS-1275, T-Type,10-52t
Brakes: SRAM Level Bronze 2-piston
Saddle: Bontrager Verse Elite
Seatpost: Bontrager Line Dropper, MaxFlow, 31.6mm
Handlebar: Bontrager Line Pro, OCLV Carbon, 35mm, 15mm rise
Handlebar stem: Bontrager Elite, 35mm, 13°
Weight: 11.80 kg
Price: 5,639.00 euros
We rode the Trek Supercaliber SL 9.7 with SRM X-Power powermeter pedals
If you want to know all the mountings, prices and weights of the Trek Supercaliber 2024 click here.
HOW MUCH DOES THE 2024 TREK SUPERCALIBER SL 9.7 WEIGH?
The Trek Supercaliber SL 9.7 tipped the scales at 12.10 kg in size M/LTrek’s intermediate size that solves the problem of many who are between the two sizes.
A weight of approx 2.5 kg more than the Trek Supercaliber SLR 9.9.
WHAT WOULD WE CHANGE?
If we were to choose the Trek Supercaliber SL 9.7 as a MTB for mainly recreational use and without absolute performance objectives, for long rides in the mountains or for long weekend rides, with a few trips into the Marathon and Granfondo races, we honestly wouldn’t change practically anything, the assembly is already very good for this type of use.
If, however, we had in mind to exploit the Supercaliber SL 9.7 with an eye more towards performance, then compete quite often and try to reach the maximum of our potential, what we would change are the wheels, perhaps with a pair of carbon rims with an internal channel between 27 and 30 mm. This would lower the weight, with the Fulcrum Red Zone Carbon Plus the SL 9.7 dropped to 11.5 kg, but above all to have a slightly more precise driving feeling, especially at high speeds, and improve smoothness.
Another thing we would change is thefork, replacing it with a slightly more performing XC specification, this is because the RockShox Reba works well, but is a little insensitive to small roughness and above all has few adjustments which can be useful when looking for maximum performance. Furthermore, the weight would naturally also decrease.
Read also – TREK SUPERCALIBER GEN2 CHALLENGES THE “OLD ONE” IN LABORATORY TESTS
WHO DO WE RECOMMEND IT TO?
In these 2 months of use we asked ourselves several times if the difference between the 9.9 and the 9.7 was really so large as to make us lean towards the top of the range. Honestly, for the use that 80% of bikers make of their MTB, the difference between the two is not really that marked, the Supercaliber SL 9.7 manages to satisfy practically all the requirements you look for in a MTB to have fun and race at an amateur level.
The Trek Supercaliber SL 9.7 is a MTB that over time sYou can upgrade to further raise its level and lower its weightto bring it to better competitive performance, because in any case the Supercaliber is a bicycle that has racing in its DNA and whoever buys it must keep this soul in mind.
Certain if you are looking for maximum performance, maximum performance, the SLR 9.9 is there waiting only to be pushed towards the first step of the podium, practically identical to the one used by the World Cup team, a bit like if you went into a dealership and could buy one of the bikes that competes in the Superbike World Championship.
If you want to know in detail all the prices and all the fittings of the Trek Supercaliber 2024 line click here:
NEW TREK SUPERCALIBER 2024: ALL VERSIONS WITH WEIGHTS, PRICES AND FITTINGS
FOR INFORMATION
Official site www.trekbikes.comto find the Trek shop closest to our home just click on Stores.
