Calibre has announced the release of its updated Line hardtail, now featuring a 140mm fork, boost thru-axles and a choice of 27.5in or 29in wheels.
This is the second bike release from Calibre since the brand emerged from pandemic hibernation and sits above the Rake 29 in its line-up.
The bike is available in two spec tiers, with the entry-level Line T2 27.5 priced at £800 (with a GO Outdoors membership card), featuring a 10-speed Shimano Deore drivetrain.
The higher-level Line T3 27.5 uses an 11-speed SRAM NX drivetrain and is priced at £999 (again with a GO Outdoors membership card).
A 29er version of the Line T3 is also available, priced at £1,100, and features SRAM’s NX groupset and Guide T brakes.
Both higher-end Line T3 models also feature a KS Rage-i dropper post.
Upgradeable frame
The new Calibre Line models are built around a 6061 aluminium frame with full-length external cable routing for the brakes and gears.
Calibre says it decided on full-length cables to reduce maintenance time and to keep the gears shifting well in wet, gritty conditions.
The fame also features internal cable routing in the seat tube for the KS Rage-i dropper post on the Line T3, which will allow Line T2 owners to upgrade in the future.
The Line features two cage mounts, with one on the down tube and the other on the underside of the crossbar towards the rear of the bike.
Unlike some other bikes in its price range, such as the Trek Marlin 8, the Calibre Line features thru-axles.
Calibre says it decided to design the Line around boost thru-axles to the front and rear of the bike to add rigidity and allow for future upgrades with the vast majority of the best mountain bike wheels on the market using thru-axles.
Both models are specced with RockShox’s FS-Recon Silver RL fork, with the Line T3 models featuring 140mm of suspension travel and the Line T2 using a 120mm variant.
All models also run on tubeless-ready wheels. These are fitted with 2.6in (2.4in on the Line T2) wide Maxxis Rekon tyres. That's notably wide for an entry-level hardtail mountain bike and should make for a comfortable ride if you set them up tubeless.
All-round geometry
Calibre says it has designed the frame around modern mountain bike trends, and has aimed to make the bike suitable for 99 per cent of UK trails.
The geometry for the Line is different depending on the spec level and wheel size. The slackest is the Line T3 27.5 with a head angle of 65 degrees, then the Line T3 29 at 65.5 degrees and the base Line T2 27.5 at 66 degrees due to its shorter travel.
Effective seat tube angles remain the same through all the models at 75 degrees, which Calibre says gives the bike comfortable and composed climbing.
The Line is more aggressive than the Rake 29, which features a head angle of 66 degrees and a seat tube angle of 74.5 degrees.
Calibre Line spec and price
Calibre Line T2 27
- Fork: RockShox FS-Recon Silver RL, 120mm
- Drivetrain: Shimano Deore 10-speed
- Brakes: Shimano MT201
- Wheels: Shimano HB-MT400 hub, 27.5in tubeless-ready rim
- Tyres: Maxxis Rekon 27.5x2.4in
- Price: £800
Calibre Line T3 27
- Fork: RockShox FS-Recon Silver RL, 140mm
- Drivetrain: SRAM NX
- Brakes: SRAM Level T
- Wheels: Formula hub, 27.5in tubeless-ready rim
- Tyres: Maxxis Rekon 27.5x2.6in
- Price: £999
Calibre Line T3 29
- Fork: RockShox FS-Recon Silver RL, 140mm
- Drivetrain: SRAM NX
- Brakes: SRAM Guide T
- Wheels: Formula hub, 29in tubeless-ready rim
- Tyres: Maxxis Rekon 29x2.6in
- Price: £1,100
