*Looked at a lot of options for getting my **Latest.Bike** . Great find in SAVA. Super light, nice components, really good value as it comes with many options only found in much higher priced bikes.*
Pinkbike has their XC shoot off going on this week, the SuperCaliber review is out already, the Epic and Epic Evo will be out soon followed up, I assume, with a discussion of all the bikes.
I've been riding for a long time and I have the Epic Comp and the Supercaliber 9.9 and the Supercaliber is far more superior than the Specialized in my opinion.
RE: Sponges, if basic shock maintenance is not a self-service item, that's a deal breaker for a lot of people, especially racers who are traveling/racing every weekend in summer and don't have time to drop their bike off for an extended time.
There's assuredly a trick to getting those sponges back in place which once you get it becomes a quick job. The guts of the air chamber on the shock use the same o-rings and such as a normal Fox shock so they can be easily replaced and I believe, though I can't confirm, that the seals over the stancion which are in the carbon sleeve are the same as a Fox 36 fork.
Kind of wonder why the bolt that runs up through the tube, into the shock eye, isnt bolted side to side instead for more security, like a normal frame pivot. It seems this design is threaded into thin air at the top edge.
There's a replaceable aluminum oval shaped nut on top of the carriage, this nut also carries a o-ring for sealing. The damper body bolt threads into this nut, the nut is easy to remove and replace if it is damaged.
I have a question on the isostrut: i have the manual versino (9.7) one and i would like to transform it in the one with the push lock at the handle bar. Can i only change the head of isostrut or i have to change the whole isostrut? Thanks
All i know is that the riders in my area crush the courses with this bike. Im looking at the Top Fuel that seems to be more fun but then Specialized goes and releases the new EVO! WTF and what to do???? lol
Hi TTB, i did take of that oil plug and inject 15 mm bath oil, then on the dust busher side slided it open and put some sram butter slick oil AND YET There still small but rather disturbing annoying creaking, specially when you pedal while lockouts open (you don't hear anything while descend thx to loud hub sound) What if that noise coming from those 2* sponges inside iso strut ? What happen if i remove those sponges ? Do you have smiler problem like me ? Because i have read some forums that this iso strut creaking is very common ! Thank you
@@uuryzc8872 Thank for the Info! The IsoStrout does have a noise , I would not describe it as creaking it's more like a gentle squished. That's nornal and all of them do that. I don't know if the sponges are responsible or not.
@@tomerttb ua-cam.com/video/HiARJ2OzLhQ/v-deo.html it was like this before, after that 15 mm bath oil injection much better and yes there is still a bit squish/creaking sound, i will not complain if it was ''Realy gentle'' sound
@@tomerttb Yamalube 10w fork oil, cannot find fox oil anywhere in my country, so it's either overpriced rockshox one or same thickness Yamalube one, so i pick Yamalube also my local Trek dealer bike service said it's fine. Oh also problem is common, copy&paste this soultion here; When your rear shock is hiding in a [ it’s actually a 36 stanchion, not a 40, FYI ] you get a shock overhaul, custom tune, and mini fork overhaul all in one. As you can tell from the video, the bushings inside the frame of this Trek SuperCaliber [we found the same issue on another frame as well] are super-uber-dooper tight. In this case it’s more likely a manufacturing issue in the carbon fiber chassis of the iso strut because the bushings don’t sit perfectly round inside the frame. In any case, we had to go way outside our normal bushing fitment routine to re-super this super caliber. In the end, this customer had a far more supple ride not only from the bushing adjustments but also from the custom tuned baby shock. Which, believe it or not, make a massive difference when you only have 60mm of rear wheel travel. DSD, making red, racing again...
Thanks for the great video, the question is can I buy this bike and am not a xc racer, would be still an enjoyable bike like the trail bike but very lighter and faster, I mean is it still comfortable for some rough trails ? Thanks
I think it is probably good for most trails, but if you want a good combo of trail and speed, buy a down county bike. Trek makes the top fuel which sounds like what you’re looking for.
No, no, no. This bike is basically a race only bike, buy the Top Fuel 9.9 if you have that money to spend, it's Trek's highest-end down country bike and it's very powerful in uphill and downhill.
I have the 17.5inches frame, I have the 9.7, the small frame has a dip in the top tube, the medium, mine, has a straight top tube, and m, large and above has a curve on the top tube, I thought the frames were all the same shape but their not, depends on the size of the frame that determines the shape!
I've bought a Supercaliber last year and used for 8 months. First, I should say this bike climbs as promissed, but to descend, it is terrible, no control and not safe (due to 69o head tube). Also, I faced lot of issues with Trek components. This is fact my major complaint: rear tire is gone after 1.200 miles. The bike was delivered by a Trek store without proper spoke wheel adjustement, and one got broken when riding. Bontrager hubs are horrible as, in any contact with water, it damages the bearings (replaced them twice in 8 months!!, the two wheels),. The head tube also very susceptible to watter damage and intrusion. Painting is beautiful, but very fragile, don't touch anything that get damaged. The rear chain stain frame cracked after 2 months of use (replaced by Trek under warranty). So, I shold say I am not happy with Trek as a brand neither with Supercaliber.
Enjoyed your review thanks. I’m not an XC racer but I like the sound of the simplicity of this rear shock. I currently ride a very old hard tail with 100mm fork and am looking to upgrade. I want a light bike with some rear suspension for better traction, better handling, better XC geometry and some comfort improvement. I ride mostly XC, some light trails (blue - no black diamonds etc) and I like to explore off road. I want to ride for a few hrs most days, or all weekend with friends. Why wouldn’t the Supercaliber be great for that? Why do you recommend it only for XC racing? I’d appreciate your thoughts please?
@@tomerttb All new epic´s has a rear brain suspension problem.Design problem...Most of the owners need to send to repair each 1000 km!!!!! in case you did not kow....
*Looked at a lot of options for getting my **Latest.Bike** . Great find in SAVA. Super light, nice components, really good value as it comes with many options only found in much higher priced bikes.*
Possibly the coolest XC bike out there. Would love to see a head to head with the new Epic.
Pinkbike has their XC shoot off going on this week, the SuperCaliber review is out already, the Epic and Epic Evo will be out soon followed up, I assume, with a discussion of all the bikes.
I've been riding for a long time and I have the Epic Comp and the Supercaliber 9.9 and the Supercaliber is far more superior than the Specialized in my opinion.
I'd say Cannondale's Lefty is a cooler XC bike, as light as the Supercaliber, more practical and functional.
If your putting it back together I suggest using a bit of slick honey grease to keep those sponges in place
The O-rings never lie! Someone has bottomed out that strut!
1:50 - The rear stays are open without a axle...they just slide the rear arm, dropouts first, around the seat tube and then orient it correctly.
RE: Sponges, if basic shock maintenance is not a self-service item, that's a deal breaker for a lot of people, especially racers who are traveling/racing every weekend in summer and don't have time to drop their bike off for an extended time.
There's assuredly a trick to getting those sponges back in place which once you get it becomes a quick job. The guts of the air chamber on the shock use the same o-rings and such as a normal Fox shock so they can be easily replaced and I believe, though I can't confirm, that the seals over the stancion which are in the carbon sleeve are the same as a Fox 36 fork.
I get the 9.7 on 10th September, really looking forward to it!!!! Got it, epic, so pleased!
Thinking about getting the 9.7 does it have the same feel as a 100+mm full sus?
@@Jimbob-eu4gd no, more like a hardtail. it doesn't feel like a shock and linkage at all.
I love this bike. Just perfect for me.
Hola amigo. Me gustaría q hicieras el video del ensamble final 👌🏾
Gracias ✌🏾😎
Thanks for the help
i order its and waiting to for arrival to my arms .
Kind of wonder why the bolt that runs up through the tube, into the shock eye, isnt bolted side to side instead for more security, like a normal frame pivot. It seems this design is threaded into thin air at the top edge.
There's a replaceable aluminum oval shaped nut on top of the carriage, this nut also carries a o-ring for sealing. The damper body bolt threads into this nut, the nut is easy to remove and replace if it is damaged.
I have a question on the isostrut: i have the manual versino (9.7) one and i would like to transform it in the one with the push lock at the handle bar. Can i only change the head of isostrut or i have to change the whole isostrut? Thanks
All i know is that the riders in my area crush the courses with this bike. Im looking at the Top Fuel that seems to be more fun but then Specialized goes and releases the new EVO! WTF and what to do???? lol
Im hoping to have a bike like that tho
I have to ask, Is this Copperhead trail in GSO, NC?
I have removed those sponges from my bike, they are much lighter now.
Hi TTB, i did take of that oil plug and inject 15 mm bath oil, then on the dust busher side slided it open and put some sram butter slick oil AND YET
There still small but rather disturbing annoying creaking, specially when you pedal while lockouts open (you don't hear anything while descend thx to loud hub sound)
What if that noise coming from those 2* sponges inside iso strut ? What happen if i remove those sponges ?
Do you have smiler problem like me ? Because i have read some forums that this iso strut creaking is very common !
Thank you
@@uuryzc8872 Thank for the Info!
The IsoStrout does have a noise , I would not describe it as creaking it's more like a gentle squished.
That's nornal and all of them do that.
I don't know if the sponges are responsible or not.
@@tomerttb ua-cam.com/video/HiARJ2OzLhQ/v-deo.html it was like this before, after that 15 mm bath oil injection much better and yes there is still a bit squish/creaking sound, i will not complain if it was ''Realy gentle'' sound
@@uuryzc8872 What oil did you used ?
@@tomerttb Yamalube 10w fork oil, cannot find fox oil anywhere in my country, so it's either overpriced rockshox one or same thickness Yamalube one, so i pick Yamalube also my local Trek dealer bike service said it's fine. Oh also problem is common, copy&paste this soultion here;
When your rear shock is hiding in a [ it’s actually a 36 stanchion, not a 40, FYI ] you get a shock overhaul, custom tune, and mini fork overhaul all in one. As you can tell from the video, the bushings inside the frame of this Trek SuperCaliber [we found the same issue on another frame as well] are super-uber-dooper tight. In this case it’s more likely a manufacturing issue in the carbon fiber chassis of the iso strut because the bushings don’t sit perfectly round inside the frame. In any case, we had to go way outside our normal bushing fitment routine to re-super this super caliber. In the end, this customer had a far more supple ride not only from the bushing adjustments but also from the custom tuned baby shock. Which, believe it or not, make a massive difference when you only have 60mm of rear wheel travel. DSD, making red, racing again...
Thanks for the great video, the question is can I buy this bike and am not a xc racer, would be still an enjoyable bike like the trail bike but very lighter and faster, I mean is it still comfortable for some rough trails ? Thanks
I think it is probably good for most trails, but if you want a good combo of trail and speed, buy a down county bike. Trek makes the top fuel which sounds like what you’re looking for.
No, no, no. This bike is basically a race only bike, buy the Top Fuel 9.9 if you have that money to spend, it's Trek's highest-end down country bike and it's very powerful in uphill and downhill.
Everyone seems to agree that this is a quick speed demon, but I've never met anyone calling it "comfortable."
I thought all the frames look the same ~ why does the top tube/ seat post junction look different on this model? I have a 9.8
I have the 17.5inches frame, I have the 9.7, the small frame has a dip in the top tube, the medium, mine, has a straight top tube, and m, large and above has a curve on the top tube, I thought the frames were all the same shape but their not, depends on the size of the frame that determines the shape!
I've bought a Supercaliber last year and used for 8 months. First, I should say this bike climbs as promissed, but to descend, it is terrible, no control and not safe (due to 69o head tube). Also, I faced lot of issues with Trek components. This is fact my major complaint: rear tire is gone after 1.200 miles. The bike was delivered by a Trek store without proper spoke wheel adjustement, and one got broken when riding. Bontrager hubs are horrible as, in any contact with water, it damages the bearings (replaced them twice in 8 months!!, the two wheels),. The head tube also very susceptible to watter damage and intrusion. Painting is beautiful, but very fragile, don't touch anything that get damaged. The rear chain stain frame cracked after 2 months of use (replaced by Trek under warranty). So, I shold say I am not happy with Trek as a brand neither with Supercaliber.
Had one for a year with none of the problems you are talking about. What the heck are you doing to your bikes? lol
Same, I ride mine on some nasty downs. All in the technique.
Enjoyed your review thanks.
I’m not an XC racer but I like the sound of the simplicity of this rear shock. I currently ride a very old hard tail with 100mm fork and am looking to upgrade. I want a light bike with some rear suspension for better traction, better handling, better XC geometry and some comfort improvement. I ride mostly XC, some light trails (blue - no black diamonds etc) and I like to explore off road. I want to ride for a few hrs most days, or all weekend with friends.
Why wouldn’t the Supercaliber be great for that? Why do you recommend it only for XC racing?
I’d appreciate your thoughts please?
Sounds like you are talking about the new Epic
@@tomerttb All new epic´s has a rear brain suspension problem.Design problem...Most of the owners need to send to repair each 1000 km!!!!!
in case you did not kow....
For 10G foam soaked in oil !!!!!!!
And teflon gliding bushes but it works like a charm and its worth every penny, believe me.
Jesus man get rid off the back pack will ya!
Overpriced 😱