2022 Trek Marlin 8 Vs 2022 Trek X-Caliber 9: Which is the better bike for you?
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- čas přidán 1. 09. 2022
- In this week’s segment, we put the 2022 Trek Marlin 8 up against the 2022 Trek x_Caliber 9 to determine which of these race-ready XC MTBs is the right choice for you.
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Im planning on upgrading form my Marlin 8 to xcaliber 9 next year do you recommend a better bike for the same price range?
Great question, outlander, and thank you for asking as well as watching.
I would take a serious look at the Salsa Timberjack 29'er with the XT group. $2099 is the current price tag. I bought one 1.5 years ago and use it for bikepacking. It is tough as a coffin nail and has never let me down.
The Roscoe 8 is a worthy choice as well, but now we are creeping close to $2400.
I hope this was helpful for you in making a decision. Thank you again for taking the time to watch as well as interact. Bike safe.
X cal 9 , has already tubeless set up from factory , tapered head tube , much better components , dropper post , better chain , better crank set , better cassette , etc. Definitely a better choice for the price difference
Pablo, thank you for taking the time to watch as well as leaving your input. It is appreciated.
The rack mounts are a deal maker if you bike pack. The X is perfect for that, rather than racing. Nice comparison.
Allan, thank you for your feedback and for taking the time to watch our video. The support and willingness to interact are greatly appreciated.
Thank for the comparison, Very Informative and Honest! You earned my Sub. By the way Marlin 8 Gen3 came out last month can you please feature that in your channel before I decide to buy between x-caliber or Marlin 8 gen3, Marlin Gen3 has a nice Matt black color which I like.
As soon as we receive one from Trek, we certainly will. Thank you for watching Siads, it’s appreciated as well as you subscribing.
@Get Out Arizona, that was such an informative video and I love the effort of helping people in the comment section. That interaction is just sooo good that I read all the comments lol.
So, I came across Marlin 8 Gen 3 and X-Caliber 9 when I was researching which bike to buy. I have never bought a bike before, and I am sooo nervous about making the wrong decision. Basically, I am looking for a fast bike that can help me commute to work at least twice a week (my work is around 8 km away), but I also want to have that confidence in my bike to throw it on a wide range of tracks during the weekend.
Currently, I am definitely falling towards X-Caliber 9, but do you think there could be a better option than caliber for me, which could be in Marlin's range? Also, It seems like (from the comments) the Marlin 8 in the video is not Gen 3, so I was wondering how much of a difference that make cuz the price difference is still around 600. Mainly I was looking at Evo cycles NZ or Cycle Science NZ to buy from, but I still seriously don't know what bike to go with cuz there are just sooooo many!!!!!
Also, someone suggested to me Marin 2022 Rift Zone 1 29 which is double suspension and less expensive than Caliber 9. But again I am just so lost what to do.
Thank you sooo much for the video and all the help in the comments section :)
Good morning Shekhar. First, thank you for taking the time to what our video, and second for your feedback. Both are appreciated.
For a commuting bike, I would stay with a hardtail as they are more efficient than a full suspension. In this regard, you could say faster.
As far as good options for a commuting bike that is a hardtail, here is a short list.
Salsa Timberjack XT
Trek Roscoe 8 or 9
Trek Marlin 6, 7, or 8
Trek Xcaliber 8 or 9
Specialized Rockhopper Elite 29
REI has a house brand, "Co-op." The city series is reliable and affordable.
Trek FX Sport 5 or 6
I hope this list is helpful to you in determining a quality commuting bike. Other things to look for are a tapered headtube and a non-pressed bottom bracket. This will be important down the road with replacement and upgrades.
I do not know enough about the other companies you mentioned to comment on their bikes. However, the above suggestions I have made are from companies that have been doing this for decades and have a proven record for quality and customer service.
Let us know which bike you go with my friend. Again, thank you for your support, and have a great day.
Got my 2023 xcaliber 9 this year and man. MAN. that bike is awesome. Also great to know it has a lot of potential to upgrades without too much trouble. Gonna give it more years of life.
Absolutely, I am looking forward to getting mine after I get. my Slash. 😉
@@GetOutArizona well thats for a totally another price range there hahaha i could barely afford the x9 here. Like Brandon mentionned in the video, i really had to push the extra 600$ to get it over another model.
i would have to sell a kidney or 2 to get a slash. And being in my 40s, the slash is overkill for how i ride nowadays. Still...that slash is sexy.
@@papagodzilla5465 it’s complete overkill for me as well but I want one and I have a sickness don’t ya know. 😆
@@GetOutArizona i know that sickness too well haha having the cash, i would have a ridiculous bike collection and a slash would be in for sure hahaha
I just bought a new Marlin 8 after being out of biking for quite a few years. I probably should've done a little more research? I had no idea about tapered frames, boosted frames, drop post ready frames, etc. That said I am 51 years old and have no interest in racing or hardcore off road riding. I really just wanted something that I could ride on pavement, light trails and maybe a little crazier stuff very rarely. My local Trek store didn't carry the X-Cailber line so I didn't know anything about it. They only had Marlins and Riscoe's as far as hardtails go. The Roscoe's weren't a good fit for me due to the big tires, and frankly I thought the Marlin 8 was nicer than the Roscoe 6. I thought about the Roscoe 7 for a minute, but... those big tires wouldn't have been good at all on pavement.
Yeh, 2x2.4 tires are not conducive to efficient hard-surface riding. The Marlin 8 definitely hits a sweet spot for multi-use and mixed surfaces.
You made the right choice and of course your Marlin will fit 2.4 on it if you wanted. With a fatter tire you don't really lose rolling resistance if you add a few more pounds of pressure. This is a misconception. If you didn't want the fat tires you could have bought a Roscoe and swapped out for a thinner tire right at the bike shop because they would have done it gladly
I just ordered an X-caliber 9 today. I’m sure it’s not a big deal but what is the big negative to not having a thru axle on the rear and specifically what is a 141 hub(I forget the term here) quick release? Is it that the solid axle bestows a lot better handling?
These are great questions, and I appreciate you asking them. Through axles are typically stronger than their quick-release counterparts. Furthermore, bikes with through axles have boosted hub sets. The benefits of a boost hub are precision handling, shorter chain stay, and a better selection of chainrings, just to name a few.
Is this a make-it-or-break-it item for your X-Caliber? No, it is most certainly not. I am quite confident you will enjoy your new ride for many, many miles.
Thanks again for asking your questions, my friend, as well as watching our video. Let us know how you are enjoying your new ride and, as always, adventure safely.
Thanks for making the vid!! I’d say I agree with this comparison IIIIF the Marlin was a GX drivetrain. For that price point it comes with the SX drivetrain which is honestly a disservice to the consumer. They should of at least went NX completely or did something comparable to the XCaliber, SX Drivetrain with GX derailleur. Marlin 8s dirty little secret if you will is the SX drivetrain. Thanks again for the video. 😊
No, thank you, Jaoquin, for taking the time to watch and comment. The support and interaction are appreciated.
Hey,
I search a vtt for speed and basic road, not really to ride in mountains, so Is it better for me to buy the X Caliber 8 or the Marlin 8 gen 3 ?
Obviously today i already have buy the marlin but when i ride is little bit to heavy….
Please advise me
Thanks
This is a great question. Thank you for asking. For speed and basic road, I feel the FX 4, 5, or 6 would be better suited for your needs.
However, If I were to choose between these two bikes, the Maarlin or the X-Caliber, I would choose the X-Caliber and use a 2.0 tire size with a less aggressive tread. This will help with rolling resistance and drag.
I hope this answer is helpful to you, my friend. Thank you again for taking the time to watch as well as ask your question. Both are appreciated.
At the moment i have a Marlin 4 but im looking into the Marlin 8 as its dropped in price and i might possibly get it for 750 at a Bike shop that ive already bought from but i want a bike that isnt stupidly expensive over 1k but something that is cheaper and can be used for regular riding that has quality stock parts on it but i dont know what to do
You will definitely be happy with the Marlin 8. A solid bike that you can upgrade the stock components when they wear out. Even better if your local shop will sell you one for $750.
Awesome bike!!! 😎😎😎😎
Thanks, Andrea, for taking the time to watch and comment; it is appreciated.
Yes, they are both very capable in their respective classes.
Which one you will advice to own?
Marlin 8 gen3
Roscoe 9
X-caliber 8
Hey Eric, thanks for taking the time to watch our video and ask your question. I would choose the Roscoe 9. It is well equipt, has great handling geometry, and is just fun to ride. I have a Salsa Timberjack but would happily make room in my garage for this bike.
@@GetOutArizona thanks alot. Cause i eanted a trek mtb ht. I just cant decide which one is better
@@ericpadua8022 You are welcome, Eric. Please let us know which bike you choose. Adventure safely, my friend.
Hi there guys. I know this is a 1 year old video. 😂
But firts my story. I'm more than a roadie than a mountain biker. But I do ride mtb with the team now and then. I don't know if I'm gonna race or not. I have haf tested the Xcaliber 9 on my LBS. It's something that drew my attention. I feel that this bike will be a good one to go for because of the upgrade options.
Buy I just wanted to ask. Can the rear be converted in a thru axle rear end? I've convertion kits out there.
Thanks in advance ✌🏽
My friend this is a great question. After consulting with Brandon this morning, the answer would be no, unfortunately. If you’re whining it through axle you’re gonna have to go the next step and get the super caliber. We do appreciate you watching the video and taking the time to ask your question my friend. Adventure safely.
Nice video guys, had a laugh at the tip-to-tip comment at the start 😎
I'm in Australia and the 2023 Marlin 8 is listed at $1,599 local currency and the 2022 X-Caliber 9 is $2,599. Not sure if they're continuing the X-Caliber 9 in Australia, seems we don't get all the Trek bikes. Struggling to find either to try.
I kinda just want a nice bike to both commute and muck around on weekends with my kids and hopefully some trails (no racing though). I've currently got a 2018 Giant Cross City 0 (think the last with full Shimano), but don't really have room for 2 bikes.
I recently got my son a Marlin 7 which was fun to ride, just probably not fast enough with the 28T chainring.
Have you experienced a mountain bike with maybe a 34T chainring and the 11 at the back? Just wondering if you can get a decent pace with the suspension locked and a bigger chainring. My commute is about 29km (18 miles).
First, thank you for taking the time to watch and leave a comment/question. It is appreciated.
Addressing your question about a good all-around bike. I love my Salsa Timberjack, which is comparable to the Roscoe 8/9. Both are rock solid, upgradeable, and will provide years of enjoyment. Here is the link to the comparison video we did.
czcams.com/video/G8-F-raEvKw/video.html
Now, as far as the gearing goes, the answer is yes; the 34T up front and 11T in the rear is a spectacular choice. I have a 10-52T x 34T on my Fuel 9.9, and I love it.
I hope these answered helped my friend. Thank you again for the support; keep us posted on your journeys and safe riding.
@@GetOutArizona thanks for getting back to me. Couldn't seem to see the Salsa being available in Australia (special order for the frame was as close as I got 😎), but I'll check out the Roscoe.
I was in a Trek store recently and they said they could swap the chainring out and just charge for the part (no labour) if done at time of purchase. Think this opens up my options a lot more as most of the MTBs I looked at could go to a 34T.
The FX sport range seem nice and might be an option, but a lot closer to my current bike. Carbon frame and wider tyres should make for a more comfy ride - my Giant has a carbon seat post and I think carbon forks.
@@iduncanw The FX Sport is a very lite trail bike. So depending on how much, and how rough, a trail you will go on, that could be a good choice. I'm looking at the FX 6 myself for a commuter and multipurpose ride.
@@GetOutArizona thanks, the FX 6 certainly does look nice. Not sure when it will be available in Australia. Can get the 4 and 5 in my size.
Why not compare the Marlin 8 to the X-Calibur 8? The X-Calibur is only $200 more, but you get that Alpha Gold frame, tapered headset, dropper post internal cable routing and best of all, a 12 speed Shimano XT drivetrain instead of the 10 speed SRAM Eagle SX series. Kind of a no-brainer.
BTW, fender and rack braze-ons are welcome for the folks like myself that just want a good quality commuter bike that also does trails well 😁.
You are right, Robert; the fender mounts are an excellent option for a bike doing double duty as a commuter/trail bike. There have been a couple of times where I wish I had a set, lol.
Regarding the comparison, if we had an X-Calibur 8 in stock, we would have gone that route. This is the main difficulty with the comparison videos and why sometimes they are a little lopsided.
Thank you for watching and taking the time to leave your comments and feedback, Robert. Both are sincerely appreciated. Adventure safely my friend.
@@GetOutArizona Thanks for taking the time to do the comparisons, didn't realize the matchups were sometimes based on physical inventory you were able to get your hands on.
I had fenders on my mountain bike for years because I commuted to work and got sick of getting there with a skunk stripe on my back and mud on my face LOL! I'm sure racers would never weigh their bikes down with them (not to mention the rattling when you hit bumps), but it's nice to have the option..
@@RobS123 I agree completey. There has been several times I got hosed riding a day after, or during, a rain storm and wished I had henders. If I were a regular commuter, I would consider them essential to my daily ride for the reasons you stated above.
@@RobS123 And thank you again for watching and taking the time to interact. Not everyone does so it's important to me to respond appropriately. As Trek catches up with inventory, we should have more like for like comparisons and a couple of goofs just for fun.
Excaliber 9 excelente la tengo 11 meses.... solo me gustaría crank de 32 con posibilidades a 34 y36
Yo miraría las bielas SRAM para tu X-Caliber. Tienen un par de opciones diferentes que podrían funcionar. Gracias por tomarte el tiempo de mirar y comentar, amigo mío. Ambos son apreciados.
I recommend buy only frame trek procaliber alum or carbon.
A custom build starting with either frameset would be super cool. Thanks for taking the time to watch and leave your comments, my friend.
What do you recommend , X-caliber 9 or Procaliber 9.5 ?
Thanks
Great question, and thank you for asking, my friend. If I were to purchase one, I would purchase the Pro Caliber, Though the X-Caliber is no slouch. Personal preference and budget will be deciding factors.
Why is a kickstand mount bad?
Hello Jeff, and thank you for taking the time to ask your question as well as watch our video. A kickstand mount isn't bad; that's just Brandon being upset that Trek has one on a bike that really isn't meant for a kickstand. I guess you could call it a pet peeve of his.
In the grand scheme of things, it does not affect the bike in any way. Thanks again for the interaction Jeff and have a great day.
Jeff is a purist in the XC race bike. Perhaps not intended to be commuter or bike packing. I get it.
Disagree 1000% on the mounts. I’m NOT a racer. I’m looking for a general purpose hike that will do many forms of recreational riding; single track, some mild downhill, some gravel biking, some commuting, and some bike packing. Exactly how do the four mounting lugs detract from the bike??? The VERY reason I wanted the X-Caliber is because it’s essentially a much higher spec Marlin 8. The mounts take nothing away, and yet add practicality to those of us that use a bike as something more than a simple single purpose toy. Please, please, PLEASE Trek! Don’t listen to this nonsense. Keep putting the mounting lugs on bikes for us real world users of your bikes!
We appreciate your feedback and taking the time to watch, my friend.
Call me a old fashioned, but I'll stick with tubes in my tires. Just spent five grand on a trek top Fuel that came with a tubeless setup. Three rides in I get a cut on the tire that I can't get to seal. Thankfully I had a tube in my CamelBak, because I'm old fashioned. What a mess!!!! Still running tubeless in the front tire but when that blows out I will be done with it for good. Whatever benefits tubeless has only lasted me three rides. And so you know I am an avid Rider and amateur New York state champion (former)
Don't be fooled and just bring a spare tube a pump and keep your tires at around 40 PSI and you'll be fine most of the time.
And dropper post on a cross country bike are TOTALLY unnecessary. Through axels are also unnecessary. The bike industry is an upsell business. The standards, like the tapered headsets, are not uniform. This means more parts in different sizes. Buy the Marlin. You really won't feel a big difference.
Hoover, thank you for taking the time to watch and leave such great feedback. It is sincerely appreciated.
I carry a tube in my pack for that same reason. Though I have never had a cut or puncture that didn't seal, I consider it prudent to do so. And to think, it used to be a patch kit back in the day, lol.
As fas the dropper and through axles, this is dependent on the rider. I use my XC bike for everything, so I definitely see the benefits of both. Although I do agree, for most, they are a mandatory need.
And I would love it if there were more industry standards surrounding parts and maintenance. It is ridiculous how many variants there are with some items.
@@GetOutArizona
So it'll give you a little bit of background on how this all came about I broke a trek Superfly. Trek gave me 20% off on a new purchase so I grabbed a top Fuel. the 20% amounted to about$1,000. I used $1,000 to purchase a Marlin because it would accept the RockShox fork that I was moving over from the Superfly. I upgraded to a Sram GX 10-speed one by and added an Aaron suspension seatpost.
The last hardtail I had was a 26in oclv 9700 trek, so the Marlin at 29in is actually an upgrade from that old bike which I won a few races 😂. Thank you for your cordial response. I ride over at The Ninham preserve in Putnam county New York. Couple CZcams videos on it if you're interested in seeing some really cool East Coast riding. Happy trails and keep up the good work
@@hoover2501 I am always cordial, lol. It's the only way to be. I'll definitely check out your stuff. I have dozens of friends on the NYPD Cycling team and throughout the East coat. I love seeing their videos. Such a different riding experience there.
Trek guy looks like brad pitt :P
1. Hard to follow due to all the unfunny banter.
2. It's obvious the patchy beard guy thinks the Marlin 8 is a poor people bike after multiple comments.
3. Multiple spec errors that had to be corrected with captions.
4. Rack and kickstand mounts take nothing away from a bike whether you are planning on racing or not.
Can't see myself coming back to your channel for bike content.
Hey, some guy, we appreciate you taking the time to watch and leave feedback. Both are appreciated. It is important to us to embrace everyone's thoughts, as they help us grow as a channel.
Wow two gay jokes within the first 1 minute of the video is telling plenty
Thanks for watching and the feedback.
Kept saying GX......SX is on it and even the 2023 Marlin 8 GEN 3......SX is dirt...