In other words, while it’s not perfect, I’ve never tested a more trail-ready bike for under £400 than the Two Cubed.Interested in riding a bicycle? We welcome bicyclists of all skill levels including those who don't yet own a bike. That said, it’s important to remember that most of the Calibre’s price peers still use spongy, adjustment-needy cable disc brakes.ĭespite its chain slap, the mostly Shimano Altus gearset is also a definite win at this price. The Shimano brakes could also do with a bigger rotor for hacking off speed faster. While it manages a veneer of smooth control on lightly-rippled bridleways and flow trails, the XC 30 fork soon gets panicked and jarring on rowdier surfaces too. The almost continual centre-line tread of the rear tyre gives it easy speed on the road but means it spins out on any vaguely damp, loose or lumpy terrain. Given that clattering pedals and twitchy steering can be distracting for newbie riders, I’ll even forgive Calibre the slightly-too-long stem (cheap and easy to swap) and higher-than-needed bottom bracket.Įven the best £400 / $634 / AU$889 bike comes with compromises though. The generous reach/wheelbase and 67.5-degree head angle mean it puts its wheels in the right place and keeps them there far better than any other £400 bike we’ve ridden - and many more expensive models.Įven the plasticky front tyre has a better chance of staying hooked up in such a sorted chassis. The generous reach/wheelbase and 67.5-degree head angle mean it puts its wheels in the right place and keeps them there Mick Kirkman / Immediate Media But its ride quality is surprisingly good, with a smooth rear wheel feel. Yes, it lacks the tapered head tube, wide ‘Boost’ back end and other future-proofing features of pricier bikes.
#Calibre two 3 upgrade#
Not least because that’s the one part of a bike you can’t upgrade or significantly modify. While there are inevitably aspects of the Two Cubed that need to be worked around, its geometry and overall shape really stand out for the money. Although the 60mm stem is longer than I’d choose, the 760mm flat bar gives ample steering leverage.
The rims are drilled for car-type Schrader valves, not the Presta style found on most MTBs. While the Smart Sam rear tyre is tough and fast-rolling, it’s got definite slip issues off-road. The Schwalbe Tough Tom front tyre is a remould of the classic Nobby Nic tread and gives acceptable dry-conditions grip despite its hard-compound rubber. It has a RockShox fork too, even if the 30mm legs and coil spring with fixed rebound make it a skinny and not very adjustable unit. You get a 3×9 Shimano crankset, gears and hydraulic brakes. Its contemporary geometry and impressive kit make it a great buy for the price Mick Kirkman / Immediate Media Calibre Two Cubed kitĬalibre has managed to fit kit that would shame most big-brand bikes costing well over £500. To minimise costs, Calibre doesn’t do XS or XL sizes, but there’s a choice of two colours. If you’re not worried about lifting the bottom bracket even higher, there’s room for bigger tyres too. The lack of bottle bosses on the seat tube means you can slam the fixed post right down though, and it’s a ride-smoothing 27.2mm number.
There are no upper rack mounts to match those on the dropouts and no routing for a stealth dropper.
While the high bottom bracket improves pedal clearance, it can give a slightly precarious feel in corners. The 44mm head tube means you can upgrade to a tapered fork at a later date. The wheelbase is also the long.Īt 67.5 degrees, the head angle is relaxed enough to add stability without being too stubborn at low speeds. That includes a 465mm reach on the large size, which makes it longer than the Voodoo Hoodoo and Vitus Nucleus, and a lot lengthier than most bikes at this price. It runs on 650b (rather than 26in) wheels and gets a new frame with impressively up-to-date trail geometry.
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