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Trek X-Caliber 8 hardtail review

• February 14, 2023

There are plenty of plus-points to the Trek X-Caliber 8 hardtail mountain bike, like reliable components and a sure-footed feel

Product Overview

Overall rating:, trek x-caliber 8 2022.

• Tubeless-ready wheels and tyres
• Heaviest bike on test

Manufacturer:

Price as reviewed:.

The Trek X-Caliber 8 is a sure-footed 29er hardtail mountain bike, with plenty of reliable elements that boost its score to impressive levels, but a few missteps that hold it back from quite making it as one of the best hardtail mountain bikes we’ve tested. There’s a whole lot to like though.

Twenty nine inch wheels have long been an integral part of Trek’s mountain bikes, especially the hardtails. And where initially there was uncertainty and hesitation in the industry, Trek pushed on with this larger wheel size and the persistence paid off: with 29in wheels now accepted globally and across all mountain bike categories, not just for the cross country crowd.

Trek’s early 29in wheel bikes were XC hardtails and since then, the X-Caliber has shifted upmarket and now sit between the entry-level Marlin and the carbon Pro-Caliber. All three platforms run 100mm travel forks.

We’ve pulled in the X-Caliber 8 for this review, which is just shy of the Scott Scale 965 in price and shares many of the same components. With all four bikes on test running Shimano brakes and 1×12 transmissions, we were keen to take this consistency a step further and chose models with regular seatposts, rather than droppers. Primarily for comparing the weight of the bikes, but riding dynamics and overall value played a part too as we felt it really levelled the playing field, and maintained the XC hardtail design ethos.

With a steeply sloping top tube and a super-low standover height the X-Caliber is a very striking bike. It’s a silhouette that’s mirrored through all the brand’s hardtails – with the notable exception of the carbon Pro-Caliber – as is the wide size range that Trek is well known for offering. Seven frame sizes are available (with the XS and S rolling on 27.5in wheels to keep proportions in check) with a useful M/L option that’s a great problem solver for riders stuck between the popular M and L options. So hats off to Trek for this level of commitment to getting a good fitting bike.

When it comes to new frame standards, Trek has always been an early adopter, so it’s no surprise to see a tapered head tube and Boost hub spacing on the X-Caliber frame. But it’s Boost with a twist… here, Trek using 141mm rear dropout spacing with a traditional Q/R hub, rather than a 148mm bolt-thru design.

It’s not a deal breaker though, as the fixed rear triangle of a hardtail doesn’t need stiffening up like a full suspension design, and a quick online search reveals plenty of wheel upgrade options from the likes of Hunt, Hope and Bontrager for the 141 standard.

A modern touch that hasn’t been executed as well as on other bikes in test, is the internal frame routing for the cable and rear brake hose – they’re not clamped where they enter the down tube and rattle noisily on rough terrain, just like on the Trek Roscoe in our Hardtail of the Year test.

Trek has equipped the X-Caliber 8 with a RockShox fork and it’s listed as a Judy SL, so we expected to see an upgrade or two. However, all the tech is identical to the regular Judy forks seen on the Cube and Scott – a tapered aluminium steerer, steel upper legs, a Solo Air spring and the brand’s basic TurnKey damper.

The Trek is the only bike in test that doesn’t have a remote lockout lever though, just a simple dial on the top of the fork leg, with an on/off function and no graded adjustment between those points. At least it’s one less cable to maintain and gives more handlebar space for a dropper post remote lever.

And while the X-Caliber frame does not use a bolt-thru rear axle, the 100mm travel Judy fork does have the 15x110mm Boost hub standard – although the website lists the lighter tooled axle as standard, our test bike had the same QR lever operated version as the Scott Scale.

Shimano was slow to filter its 1×12 transmissions down to the lower price points, but it’s there now and proving to be a very popular choice, all four bikes in this test using Shimano drivetrains. The X-Caliber’s specification lists a Shimano chainset, but our bike shipped with a model from FSA, and it’s the only deviation from a complete Shimano drivetrain.

Trek has also gone with a smaller 30t chainring and combined with the Deore 10-51t cassette you get a super-low gear, which is useful on the climbs because at 13.53kg (29.82lb) the Trek is the heaviest bike in test.

Another wise move is the genuine Shimano chain which performs faultlessly in wet filthy conditions and plays well with the steel FSA chainring. The benchmark XT rear mech is good to see, as is the rubber chainstay protector, which is a detail the other three brands seemed to have overlooked.

Performance

The dropped top tube, wider 750mm bar, long wheelbase and slackish 68º head angle (the slackest of the four bikes) give the X-Caliber the look and feel of a trail bike. However, the Trek’s geometry and attitude is not in the same league as the most progressive 100mm trail hardtails such as Kona’s test-winning Mahuna .

Even on this size XL, the frame’s front triangle is very compact, especially when compared to the Giant XTC, but it still sports two sets of bottle cage mounts – essential on an XC bike. In fact, Trek has added plenty of mounts to the X-Caliber, with fittings for a rack and kickstand making it a very capable all-terrain bike.

With one of the lightest wheelsets on test, we expected some zip and liveliness from the X-Caliber but it lacked the immediate urgency of the Scott and Giant and on longer non-stop cross country blasts, its weight was noticeable, certainly towards the end of the ride.

You can’t knock the Trek’s sure-footed nature though – the lengthy wheelbase (for an XC hardtail) and wide bar aid stability, and it was only the Judy fork’s lack of refinement that held us back from diving into more challenging terrain. A slightly shorter stem would no doubt help here too.

Although the compact front end still has a tall 525mm seat tube, the seat stays are dropped, giving a tighter rear triangle. This certainly gives the X-Caliber a chuckable hardtail vibe, but the ride quality was a touch less compliant than the other bikes here.

With that in mind, there’s plenty of frame and fork clearance for higher volume tyres to help smooth the ride further, and Trek helpfully supplies the X-Caliber 8 with rim strips, valves and sealant so you can go tubeless straight from the box and reap the benefits immediately.

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With a sure-footed ride, reliable Shimano components and a sorted tubeless wheelset, it feels like there’s a trail bike hiding under the X-Caliber’s glossy frame finish just waiting to get out, but being held back by the fork and lack of a dropper post. Stepping up a model to the X-Caliber 9 would be our recommendation then, as it gets a dropper post and a more capable and refined fork. Ultimately, the Trek X-Caliber 8’s weight is noticeable and even with the same control tyres fitted to all of the test bikes, the Trek lacks the race-bike urgency of the Scott and Giant.

2023 Trek X-Caliber 9 Review

Are you in the market for a new mountain bike? There are many different models and features to choose from, but if you’re looking for an affordable and high-performing hardtail on a budget, then the 2023 Trek X-Caliber 9 is the perfect choice.

Trek’s X-Caliber series has long been known as one of the most reliable mountain bikes on the market. 

With its lightweight frame, innovative components, and trail-ready geometry, it’s no wonder that this model has quickly become a customer favorite.

In this review, we take an in-depth look at the 2023 Trek X-Caliber 9 and provide our honest opinion on its performance and design. 

The Trek X-Caliber 9 has been taking the mountain biking world by storm since its release. 

It’s a lightweight, fast and responsive bike that’s perfect for riding trails or cross-country.

Packed with features like an ultra-light aluminum frame, Shimano components and dropper post, this mountain bike provides the ultimate off-road experience. 

Here is a review of everything that makes the Trek X-Caliber 9 one of the best mountain bikes on the market.

The 2023 Trek X-Caliber 9, a mountain bike perfect for bikepacking and gravel grinding that offers an amazing riding experience. 

It features a lightweight Alpha Gold Aluminum frame and Boost141 hub spacing, Shimano 1×12 drivetrain with a wide range of gears with the 10-51t cassette, hydraulic disc brakes offering plenty of stopping power, and Maxxis Ardent Race 2.35″ tires for ultimate traction wherever you go.

Experience incredible adventure with this versatile bike that will make all your cycling dreams come true.

– Lightweight Alpha Gold Aluminum frame provides easy handling and a comfortable ride

– Shimano 1×12 drivetrain includes a 10-51t cassette paired to a 30t Shimano crank

– Shimano hydraulic disc brakes deliver powerful braking performance

– Maxxis Ardent Race 2.35” tires provide great traction for bikepacking and trail ripping rides

– Rack mounts let you add panniers for long bikepacking trips

The Alpha Gold Aluminum frame of the Trek X-Caliber 9 is exceptionally light and the total weight of the bike is 28lbs, ensuring nimble handling and added agility on the trails. 

The frame is designed to be extremely strong and durable to handle any terrain you might ride over.

The double wall Bontrager Kovee wheels have a 23mm internal width to allow for tires of up to 2.40″ wide to provide extra grip and stability when cornering or descending from obstacles. 

They also use an extra-strong alloy rim to ensure reliable performance during extended rides on rugged terrains.

This mountain bike comes with Shimano components that make up its 1×12 drivetrain system, made of a 10-51t cassette and 30t chainring – providing smooth gear changes so you can pick appropriate gears for different terrain types quickly and easily.

Handlebars & Fork

The 750mm wide Bontrager handlebars allow riders to take control navigate their way around tricky sections of track, while also maintain good posture while covering longer distances on more level ground. 

Additionally, they are fitted with additional features such as an integrated grip sleeve which helps improve comfort during long days out. 

A RockShox Recon Gold RL suspension fork takes care of difficult terrain with 100mm of travel front travel which gives the rider improved comfort and control over rough sections of trail.

Stopping power is provided by Shimano hydraulic disc brakes which offer better modulation than mechanical systems so you can end quickly safely no matter what situation you find yourself in out on the trails or at speed down a hillside descent.

Dropper Post

A TranzX dropper post goes one step further when it comes to maneuverability by allowing riders to switch between heights via a quick button press or lever pull so that you can always be in control no matter what type of obstacle is ahead. 

This feature also reduces fatigue levels by allowing riders to lower their body closer towards the ground when navigating steep drops or technical sections where having maximum power transfer through your legs is essential!

Bottom Line

Overall, there’s plenty of features packed into the 2023 Trek X-Caliber 9 that make it one of the most desirable mountain bikes available right now – lightweight nature coupled with tremendous handling gives riders exceptional responsiveness when navigating tough tracks along with added durability from its frame and wheel construction means it should last many years before needing any significant service work done on it.

Order online and have it shipped to your local dealer for final assembly!!

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Trek X-Caliber 29er review

Lively big-wheeler

For 2011 the Gary Fisher brand has been subsumed into the Trek line-up as the Gary Fisher Collection. So the X-Caliber is now a Trek, but under the very Trek-esque graphics and paint all the Fisher tricks and tweaks are still there. Trek has imbued the X-Caliber with an undeniably racy feel, and it works. Snappy handling, reasonable weight and an impressive turn of speed make it a great bike for covering the ground, whether competing or not. Only the most hardened 29er sceptics would fail to be converted by this one.

Ride & handling: Light and fast, with unique front-end geometry making for rider-friendly handling

On paper the X-Caliber looks pretty laid back for a 29er. But the secret sauce is the bigger fork offset, delivering lively steering without resorting to an ultra-steep head angle and forcing the rider’s weight over the front. A lot of contemporary 29ers have a fairly attacking ride position, but the X-Caliber puts you rather more centred in the bike. While the top tube measures up long, there’s also a fairly relaxed seat angle.

We shifted the saddle well forward, which still left plenty of cockpit room. It’s quite a long bike, but manages not to feel particularly unwieldy. Indeed, the Trek really shone in tight, wooded singletrack, with low-speed sharp turns despatched with aplomb. The narrow 620mm bars helped too, although we suspect that many riders would swap to something a little wider.

The super-light steering takes a little bit of getting used to as speeds build, but the stability and easy rolling of the big wheels come into play here. We would still be tempted to pop a slightly wider bar on for general trail use though. The X-Caliber goes a long way to disproving most of the ideas that people have about big-wheeled bikes. It’s a long way from being heavy or ponderous.

Indeed, it’s got sharper handling than most 26in wheeled bikes, while the ability of the big hoops to roll smoothly over bigger bumps and holes makes it possible to just charge through sections that you might expect to either unweight over or go around. Mix in plenty of comfort and you’ve got a bike that’s a great choice for long days in the saddle.

Frame & equipment: Well-equipped, fine-looking bike

Trek has really been on top of aesthetics for a while now, and the X-Caliber is a particularly fine-looking bike. We are getting used to looking at 29ers, of course, but even so there’s something about the proportions of the Trek that just look right. The classically straight lines help, too. It’s not totally bereft of contemporary features, though, with a forged head tube that uses a semi-integrated headset to get the front end as low as possible.

The top tube also has an interesting cruciform cross-section, with all the cables and hoses running underneath. The X-Caliber is a little more expensive than a couple of its peers, but it’s got the spec to back it up, with SRAM-based transmission and RockShox Reba SL fork. There’s a subtle but important difference to the fork, though, in the shape of a custom crown that gives 51mm of offset rather than the usual 44mm (which is already bigger than the 38mm of the 26in versions). The effect is to give a similar amount of trail to a typical 26in XC bike without increasing the head angle, which is the usual 29er approach.

The finishing kit is, unsurprisingly, from the Bontrager stable. We’re quite taken by the hefty 15-degree sweep on the flat bars, giving a comfy wrist angle. A 27.2mm diameter seat post is unusually skinny for a contemporary aluminium frame, and delivers a handy bit of twang to the back end.

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Trek X-Caliber 8: Everything You Need To Know

At a Glance: Features of the Trek X-Caliber 8

• Aluminum frame
• RockShox 30 Silver 100mm suspension fork and hardtail suspension system
• Shimano MT200 hydraulic disc brakes
• Shimano Deore front derailleur, Shimano Deore XT rear derailleur, and Shimano Deore 10-Speed shifters

Introduction

Are you going off-roading on rough trails or participating in cross country (XC) mountain biking?

There are many things you need to take care of when doing any of these activities. Before you get anything else done, however, you’ll have to start by choosing a reliable, high-quality bike.

Today, we’re going to check out what kind of companion the X-Caliber 8 from Trek Bikes is for your mountain biking trips.

Let’s get right into it and start with the complete guide on X-Caliber 8.

Our Guide to Trek X Caliber 8

Trek Biking Company has been making bikes since 1976. Across four decades, the company has built a reputation for crafting excellent, durable bikes that offer serious performance, regardless of your experience level.

The X-Caliber series from Trek Bikes takes this legacy forward with their XC mountain bikes. For the purposes of this review, we’ll be focusing on the X-Caliber 8 model only.

So, let’s get started with the features of Trek X-Caliber 8.

The X-Caliber series is a range of XC bikes all made of aluminum frames. These are lightweight bikes with a tapered head tube, and a rack and kickstand mount.

The internal cable routing helps to add to the neat appearance of these X-Caliber bikes.

X-Caliber 8 also features Boost 141 hub spacing that makes your frames stiffer and wheels stronger. It also gives you shorter chainstays, and more tire and chainring clearance. This allows you to ride on low-difficulty terrains with ease but isn’t suitable for particularly rough trails.

Like all XC mountain bikes, the X-Caliber also employs a lightweight geometry that gives you better pedaling efficiency.

The X-Caliber 8 is a hardtail bike, meaning that it does not have suspension in the back and the front suspension locks out. This makes biking on climbs and sprints easier.

The 1x SRAM drivetrain on this X-Caliber requires fewer gear adjustments which means a better biking experience for you with fewer chain drops. However, this configuration also offers fewer gear options.

If you’re looking for better flat-out speed, then a 2x or 3x drivetrain might be better for you.

The company has equipped the X-Caliber 8 with Shimano Deore front derailleur, Shimano Deore XT rear derailleur, and Shimano Deore 10-Speed shifters.

These speed shifters allow you to shift easily between riding positions with their 2-way release triggers.

The tire size will differ depending on the bike size you choose. Trek offers the following size options for its X-Caliber series:

• 29×2.4 inches for medium and large X-Caliber bikes
• 27.5×2.8 for small and extra small X-Caliber bikes

Versatility

Is the Trek X-Caliber 8 a versatile mountain bike?

The X-Caliber 8 is one of the most versatile bikes you’ll find on Trek’s list. The X-Caliber 8 allows you the freedom to go off-road or ride single-track marathons and races.

Can you take the X-Caliber 8 on long rides or touring? Absolutely!

The X-Caliber 8 is durable and will sustain you on long rides and touring as well. It is best suited for long trails with uphill and downhill riding.

Weight and Load Capacity

The medium-sized X-Caliber 8 weighs 28.77 pounds and its total load capacity is 300 pounds.

Braking System

Don’t forget about the braking systems!

This X-Caliber 8 mountain bike comes with the Shimano MT200 hydraulic disk brakes.

Hydraulic brakes are excellent for beginners because they do away with cables and also require less pressure. They are also lightweight so the bike’s overall weight is well adjusted.

But the Shimano MT200 brakes are the best for those looking to try MTB for the first time. These are quiet breaks that utilize one-way bleeding technology to prevent air from entering the hydraulic system.

What this means is your breaks and the hydraulic fluid in them will remain in optimum condition for years, without any need for regular bleeding and maintenance.

Want to add more flexibility to your seat’s height on those rocky terrains?

X-Caliber 8 is internal dropper compatible which allows you to upgrade your seat height limit whenever you want to.

At a rough price of $1,400, the X-Caliber is a cost-effective option among hardtail bikes which typically go up to $1,500.

Accessories

The bike features rack mounts that allow you to carry some accessories on those long trips you’ve been wanting to take.

Want to install accessories such as lights and computers on your bike?

Trek allows you to do that with its Blendr-compatible stem system.

Colors and Sizes Available

Trek makes its X-Caliber 8 in two different color options. One is a combination of lithium gray and trek black. While the other combines a radioactive red with trek black.

The X-Caliber 8 is available in a variety of size options from small and medium to large and double XL.

X-Caliber 8: Pros and Cons

• Great for beginners
• Lightweight
• Easy to maintain
• Easy to make high-end upgrades
• Cost-efficient
• Quality materials used
• Great bike for moderate to smooth trails
• Available in a variety of size options
• Not for technical trails
• Fewer gear options
• Not ideal for very rough trails
• Not the fastest MTB out there

In Conclusion: Is Trek X-Caliber 8 Worth It?

Trek makes quality products and the X-Caliber 8 is one of them. The bike is made of quality parts, has a good design, and has a good frame.

The X-Caliber 8 is a good bike for the new and experienced biker. There’s little to worry about and more to explore with the bike’s great features.

Its front suspension fork is good enough to take a few moderate bumps so you can take it for beginner to mid-level trails.

Overall, the Trek X-Caliber is a great choice among MTB products for beginners.

We hope our guide helped you understand the X-Caliber 8 better and made the purchasing choice a tad bit easier.

What features of MTB bicycles do you think your MTB must-have?

Think it over and write to us with your answers.

Happy off-roading!

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Moskva-Class Cruisers

Separate design teams often attempt to meet a set of ship specifications with completely different, although equally valid, strategies. To fulfill the requirements issued in April 2169 for the successor (NX-223) to the Daedalus class, which was introduced at the end of the Romulan War, Prosser & Ankopitch proposed a ship with an extremely large, spherical command hull attached to a nearly vestigial engineering hull. The proposal from the Mikoyan-Tupolev-Dassault Bureau used a long narrow command hull with a minimal frontal silhouette counterbalanced by an equally long engineering hull.

The engineers at Tezuka-Republic decided that the division of ship's functions between a command/crew hull and an engineering hull was arbitrary and unnecessarily restricted design options. Therefore, rather than gathering all the specified facilities in a single hull, their design TR-223A spread them across two hulls, as in Daedalus , and segregated the SSWR-IV-C warp core to a "bustle" at the extreme aft end of the secondary hull. This bustle could be separated easily and quickly from the rest of the engineering hull in the event of a warp core breach. The now-unpowered warp nacelles would then be shed. In this way, the demands of safety would be met without warp dynamics being degraded either by an excessively large frontal silhouette or by longitudinal warp field imbalance.

Although the Ship Specifications Review Board praised Tezuka-Republic for its creative solution to the problem of admittedly contradictory requirements for extreme safety and improved warp performance, they were forced to disqualify design TR-223A for not precisely meeting contract specifications. Therefore, in October 2171, construction contract NX-223 for Starfleet's new cruiser was awarded to Prosser & Ankopitch for what would become the Wasp class .

However, almost no one was happy with the new Wasp ships. Even before the contract was awarded, voices within Starfleet and within industry had strongly criticized the specifications of April 2169. These critics charged that they would lead to a mediocre, albeit safe, fighting ship. Two separate classes were needed, not a single class that was neither a proper explorer nor a proper warship. When Wasp was finally launched in 2173, her performance during precommisioning trials clearly showed that the critics had been correct. Although the performance problems were related in part to the continuing unavailability of the more powerful Tezuka-Republic Hiryu ("Flying Dragon") mark III warp nacelles, Wasp was obviously not the ship Starfleet had hoped for.

In a second attempt to obtain a reliable and capable warship, new specifications (NX-374) were issued in September 2175, little more than a year after USS  Wasp had entered service. Adding to this sense of urgency were intelligence reports suggesting that the Romulans had either developed or otherwise acquired matter/antimatter (M/AM) reactors. This time the specifications put less emphasis upon safety. The original requirement for completely separate command and engineering hulls was eliminated; instead, any hull configuration was allowed as long as the warp core could be quickly separated from the rest of the ship. Furthermore, requirements for speed, acceleration, and maneuverability both under impulse power and under warp power were increased, as were performance levels for target acquisition, tracking, and servicing.

These new specifications were a clear, albeit belated, admission that the critics had been correct all along: one class could not be expected to serve as both an explorer and a main battleship. In fact, starship technology was not considered sufficiently mature for a single ship to adequately fulfill both mission profiles until 2245, when the Constitution -class heavy cruiser was launched. (The controversy continues even today in the wake of the problems of the Galaxy -class explorer.)

Luckily, the designers and engineers at Tezuka-Republic had not been idle since their disappointing loss of the Wasp contract in 2171. Instead, they had spent their time refining design TR-223A so that their new entry (TR-374A) was markedly superior to what had been submitted 5 years earlier. In particular, the new SSWR-V warp reactor allowed the bustle to be made smaller, lighter, and even more easily separable. Therefore, it was hardly surprising when in November 2176 Tezuka-Republic was awarded the production contract over designs from Shimata-Dominquez, Prosser & Ankopitch, Mikoyan-Tupolev Dassault, Monarch R&U, and Thornycroft/Ebisu for what was to become the Moskva class.

However, engineering prowess may not have been the only factor in Tezuka-Republic's winning of the contract. There were accusations that the delay in delivery of the Hiryu warp engines was an attempt by Tezuka-Republic to prevent Wasp from reaching her designed performance levels. While no conclusive incriminating evidence has come to light, the delivery of the long-awaited engines shortly before the scheduled launch of Moskva in December 2177 is certainly suspicious. Tezuka-Republic maintains that if their submission of 2169 had been selected, its performance would also have not have met design specifications without the Hiryu engines. However, critics charge that TR-223A was not as reliant as Wasp on the type of engine used. Furthermore, once the Wasp contract was awarded, and even after Wasp was launched, Tezuka-Republic certainly made no efforts to accelerate delivery of Hiryu.

These controversies were soon rendered moot as the new Moskva class was recognized as a significant advance in starship design. The most important new feature was Moskva's discoid primary hull. Earlier designs had chosen a spherical primary hull for reasons of economy. Simple geometric relationships dictate that a spherical hull has the smallest surface area for a given volume. Therefore, construction costs are lower and shields are more efficient. Furthermore, institutional inertia had led nearly all exploratory cruisers originating until that time from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the United States Astronautics Agency, the United Earth Space Probe Agency, and its successor organizations to have spherical hulls.

The designers of USS  Moskva employed a biconvex disc for several reasons. Their initial motive was to increase hull volume while minimizing both frontal and lateral silhouettes. A warship with large frontal and lateral silhouettes would be at a greater disadvantage in most tactical situations than would be a ship with an increased superior silhouette. However, the discoid hull allowed the traditional radial layout of command hulls to be retained.

More important than these tactical advantages were functional advantages. As was shown with the Wasp class, warp field geometry would have been awkward if a spherical hull with its relatively large frontal area had been used. The discoid hull was also found to channel warp field flow across its upper surface towards the bussard ram scoops of the warp nacelles. This channeling effect improved field efficiency at all power levels and speeds. As the understanding of warp field mechanics was refined, the trend towards saucer-shaped primary hulls would be intensified in later Starfleet vessels.

In most respects, the Moskva class continued design and engineering trends established in the Comet and Daedalus classes introduced at the end of the Romulan War. As in these classes, ship functions were clearly divided between a command/crew hull and an engineering/propulsion hull. The bridge was returned to its customary position atop the command hull and the shuttlecraft bay was again placed in the secondary hull. The fusion reactor was centered along the longitudinal axis of the ship, and impulse thrust ports exited immediately in front of the warp bustle detachment seam.

Weaponry was the then-standard mix of fusion-warhead missiles and lasers. New to this class was an early type of ultraphased pulse laser cannon, two of which were mounted in the chin of the primary hull. Although the on-target energy output of this new weapon approached that of early phasers, its power requirement was higher and its range was substantially less. However, subsequent refinements lead to steady improvement and, ultimately, to the development of true phasers in 2202. Although Moskva -class ships were the first to be fitted with phasers in 2204, lasers were still carried by the Moskva class and later classes until the 2220s. Finally, warp capability was supplied by the long-awaited Hiryu mark III drive units.

The first ship of the new class, USS  Moskva (NCC-374), entered service with Starfleet in April 2179. An additional 30 ships (NCC-375 to NCC-404) joined the fleet through 2183. Moskva -class ships gained immediate popularity with officers and crews. First, total laser firepower was increased some 75% over that in the preceding Wasp class. Second, because the ship's mass was more equally distributed along the longitudinal axis than in the Wasp class, Moskva was significantly more maneuverable at both sublight and warp speeds. Finally, the more warp-dynamic design allowed greater cruising and maximum speeds.

The Moskva class had an outstanding safety record. No ships were lost because of mechanical failures. However, an incident occurred aboard USS  Johannesburg in 2186 when a faulty nacelle flow monitor falsely indicated a runaway positive feedback power loop within the plasma flow governor. Believing that a catastrophic warp core explosion was imminent, Chief Engineer Roberta Bocharnikov ordered the warp nacelles and warp bustle to be separated. Although unnecessary, these maneuvers were successful in causing the separated warp core to initiate its automatic shut-down routine. The warp core, nacelles, and the rest of the ship were towed to Starbase 13, where they were successfully re-mated. Despite her supreme embarrassment, Bocharnikov oversaw the reassembly and relaunching of Johannesburg and retained her position as chief engineer.

Although most ships of the Moskva class had left front-line service by 2215, some continued to serve as auxiliaries and training vessels until the 2240s. After retirement from active duty, Moskva -class ships were used as testbeds for many emerging technologies owing to the similarities of their layouts to those of succeeding classes. USS  Moskva was the site of the first successful ship-to-surface transport of a Human being in 2206, and USS  Gato was the first ship to fire photon torpedoes in 2214. In addition, Taurus -class tugs, which entered service in 2182, and Sanford -class repair tenders, which entered service in 2185, were derived from the Moskva class and used the same primary hull and warp drive assembly.

The Moskva -class cruiser USS  Aurora (NCC-377), a participant of the Battle of Eohippus IV, is on display at the Starfleet Museum.

Standard displacement: 67,750 t

Crew complement: 160 (27 officers + 133 crew) Weapons: 8 Type VI laser turrets (8 × 1 mounts), 2 Type VII laser cannons (fixed mounts), 2 missile launchers with 36 Spartak missiles Embarked craft: 4 medium cargo/personnel shuttlecraft, 2 light personnel shuttlecraft, 5 fighter/scouts Warp drive: SSWR-V-A spherical cavity M/AM reactor with 2 Hiryu III nacelles Velocity: wf 4.0, cruise; wf 5.0, supercruise; wf 5.2, maximum Units commissioned: 31

Harmonix X-DC Studio Master WattGate 350, 2 m

• X-Caliber 8

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Trek X-Caliber 8

• AUS $ NZD $ USD $ CAD $ GBP £ EUR €

Weight / M - 13.80 kg / 30.42 lbs (with tubes)

At a glance

Where to buy.

Specifications

• Frame Alpha Gold Aluminum, tapered head tube, internal derailleur & dropper post routing, rack & kickstand mount, Boost141, 5mm QR
• Fork Size: XS RockShox Judy SL, Solo Air spring, TurnKey lockout, tapered steerer, 42mm offset, Boost110, 15mm Maxle Lite, 80mm travel Size: S, M, M/L, L, XL, XXL RockShox Judy SL, Solo Air spring, TurnKey lockout, tapered steerer, Boost110, 15mm Maxle Stealth, 100mm travel
• Tires Size: XS, S Size: M, M/L, L, XL, XXL
• Chain SRAM SX Eagle, 12 speed
• Crank Size: XS, S SRAM SX Eagle, GXP, 30T steel ring, Boost, 170mm length Size: M, M/L, L, XL, XXL SRAM SX Eagle, GXP, 30T steel ring, Boost, 175mm length
• Shifters SRAM SX Eagle, 12 speed
• Cassette SRAM PG-1210 Eagle, 11-50, 12 speed
• Brakeset Size: XS, S, M, M/L, L, XL, XXL Shimano RT26, 160mm, 6-bolt Size: L, XL, XXL Shimano RT26, 180mm, 6-bolt
• Handlebar Size: XS Bontrager alloy, 31.8mm, 5mm rise, 690mm width Size: S, M, M/L, L, XL, XXL Bontrager alloy, 31.8mm, 5mm rise, 720mm width
• Saddle Bontrager Arvada, steel rails, 138mm width
• Seatpost Size: XS, S Bontrager alloy, 31.6mm, 12mm offset, 330mm length Size: M Bontrager alloy, 31.6mm, 12mm offset, 360mm length
• Stem Size: XS, S Bontrager Elite, 31.8mm, Blendr compatible, 7 degree, 60mm length Size: M
• Grips Bontrager XR Trail Comp, nylon lock-on
• Headset Semi-integrated, loose ball bearing, 1-1/8'' top, 1.5'' bottom

Q: Where to buy a 2021 Trek X-Caliber 8?

The 2021 Trek X-Caliber 8 may be purchased directly from Trek .

Q: How much does a 2021 Trek X-Caliber 8 weigh?

A 2021 Trek X-Caliber 8 weights M - 13.80 kg / 30.42 lbs (with tubes).

Q: What size 2021 Trek X-Caliber 8 should I get?

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