Calibre Line T3-27 review | Budget Mountain Bike of the Year contender

The Calibre Line T3-27 stands proudly as the flagship hardtail in the brand's line-up.

The 27.5in-wheel bike's standout feature is the 125mm KS Rage-i dropper post. It's paired with a well-appointed components line-up, including SRAM Level T brakes and a Calibre cockpit and saddle.

While this 14.6kg powerhouse numbs climbing performance, the extra weight helps on the descents, marred only by a high bottom bracket and a fork that could do with more adjustments.

However, novice riders will find the Line great fun to ride across a whole range of terrain types, as long as they’re not too gnarly.

Calibre Line T3-27 frame

The Calibre Line T3-27 frame is formed from 6061 aluminium with a 12x148mm Boost rear axle. A tapered head tube is equipped with a semi-integrated headset.

The frame design doesn't compromise on functionality, providing ample mounting options.

Two sets of bottle bosses grace the top of the down tube, while an additional pair are strategically placed underneath the top tube, catering for accessory attachments.

The external cable routing is streamlined, secured by three bolt-on cable guides for the rear brake, gears and dropper post cable.

The latter runs beneath the bottom bracket, through a discrete gap in front of the swingarm cross brace, seamlessly entering the port located low on the back of the 30.9mm seat tube.

Calibre Line T3-27 geometry

My test bike boasts well-proportioned geometry for a size small, featuring 430mm chainstays, a 588mm effective top tube length and a 425mm reach, promising seated and standing pedalling comfort and space.

Its trail-ready 65-degree head angle should help boost confidence, but at 315mm, its bottom bracket is tall, potentially creating a perched feeling on the descents.

Calibre Line T3-27 specifications

The most notable feature here is the KS Rage-i dropper post, offering 125mm of travel across all sizes. In my size-small frame, the amount of travel felt spot-on, but taller riders on the larger frames may want more dropper travel to take full advantage of having a non-fixed post.

The wheelset combines 35mm-wide rims on Formula hubs, enveloped by Maxxis Rekon plus-size tyres at 27.5x2.6in. Calibre 170mm cranks and a 32t chainring are matched with SRAM’s 11-speed NX derailleur and an 11-42T SunRace cassette.

SRAM’s Level T brakes take care of stopping duties. The Calibre-branded cockpit includes a 780mm-wide, 20-degree riser bar, 31.8mm clamp and a 45mm stem.

The 140mm RockShox Recon fork, featuring 32mm steel uppers and providing 140mm travel with a 46mm offset, is equipped with user-friendly features.

The right fork leg hosts a turnkey adjuster for rebound speed, while a low-speed compression adjuster on the same side enables locking out the fork.

On the left leg, an air spring facilitates customisation of spring rates, so riders can tune it for their preferences.

The external threaded 73mm bottom bracket is easily replaceable and serviceable. This all results in a weight of 14.6kg on my scales (excluding pedals).

Calibre Line T3-27 ride impressions

The Calibre Line T3-27 faced rigorous competition in our Bike of the Year awards, with testing taking place on challenging natural and manmade trails at Glentress Forest. This included the new bike park, with graded trails and jumps.

Thanks to the fork’s adjustable air spring, I set sag to roughly 25 per cent. This balanced not blowing through the travel too quickly with providing plenty of small-bump traction.

Calibre Line T3-27 climbing performance

Effortlessly navigating the flat and gently sloping gradients on the plus-sized 27.5x2.6in Maxxis Rekon tyres provided a sense of efficiency and a brisk pace.

As we moved beyond the flats at Glentress, that efficiency was replaced by a slower, more sluggish feeling as the climbing gradient increased on fire roads and trail-centre ascents. This prompted the need to click up the cassette to maintain a good cadence.

Despite the quality of the SunRace 11-42t cassette and 32T chainring combination, the chainline meant the easiest gear produced noticeable noise, with chain rumble resonating through the pedals.

To accommodate the additional leg power required on steeper ascending sections, I alternated between standing and seated pedalling to alleviate strain on my knees and quads; a lower gear ratio would be a welcome addition.

For newcomers to mountain biking, still in the process of developing leg strength and stamina, this gear ratio might prove less forgiving, prompting an early cassette upgrade.

The bike's overall feel on rugged fire roads and stone-strewn trails was smooth and damped, likely helped by the high-volume tyres. It positions the Calibre between the comfort of the forgiving Rockrider and the harshness of the Merida in this Bike of the Year category.

Navigating strategically over roots and steps, lifting weight off the saddle and selecting less worn lines to minimise jarring are integral aspects of riding a hardtail mountain bike.

The ease with which I could lift the front wheel to navigate technical rock steps on the climbs, thanks in part to the bike's short 430mm chainstays, went some way to redeeming it – despite the lack of easy gears.

Calibre Line T3-27 descending performance

The Calibre's descending prowess, much like its impressive ascents, showcased a well-balanced fore-aft distribution. Again, the ease of popping the front wheel elevated its playful nature.

The high bottom bracket (measured at 315mm), and relatively short reach (425mm) and wheelbase (1,197mm), provided a distinct sensation of being perched high atop the bike rather than feeling engulfed within it.

Despite this, the slack 65-degree head angle struck a perfect balance that was easy to control, being neither ‘twitchy’, as can be felt with a steep head angle, nor floppy.

This played a pivotal role in executing clean, smooth turns on bike-park trails, boosting control and helping the Line ride confidently.

The RockShox Recon fork, while generally commendable, could benefit from increased mid-travel support with improved damping or the option to add air spring volume-reducer spacers. Unfortunately, the fork has neither, given its entry-level credentials.

Nevertheless, the ability to adjust air pressure according to your weight is a noteworthy advantage. The fork performed adequately, tackling the technical challenges presented by the trails I explored.

The Maxxis Rekon tyres maintained impressive traction even in the slickest, muddiest conditions.

On a more critical note, the Rekon's less aggressive side knobs, when compared directly to the Hutchinson Toro on the Rockrider, slightly diminished confidence in unsupported slippery turns.

However, for a budget mountain bike, they prove to be versatile all-rounders suitable for various terrain and conditions.

The substantial volume of the tyres cushioned the impact of hard hits encountered during rapid descents over root-covered expanses and rock gardens.

Remarkably, I experienced no punctures even at low pressures of just 20psi, adding to the overall positive and fun riding experience with this bike.

The KS Rage-i 125mm dropper post performed seamlessly and maintained its smooth action throughout testing, in spite of the wet, muddy conditions.

The 125mm drop was adequate for my size-small bike, although it's possible that taller riders would prefer a longer drop on the L/XL frames. Still, at this price point a high-quality dropper is a real bonus.

How does the Calibre Line T2 27 compare to the Rockrider AM 100?

As the two 27.5in-wheeled hardtails in this Bike of the Year category, the Calibre and Rockrider defy expectations, matching the speed and smoothness of their 29er counterparts with finesse, thanks to their fast-rolling cross-country tyres.

The Calibre boasts a longer 140mm-travel RockShox Recon fork than the Rockrider's 130mm Judy Silver, but both forks needed a firmer setup to optimise performance and avoid blowing through the travel on small drops.

However, it's worth noting that more travel doesn't always equate to better ride quality, especially for trail-centre riding and occasional natural trails, where a shorter 120-130mm-travel hardtail shines.

Both bikes offer comfortable pedalling positions, with the Calibre featuring a slightly steeper 75-degree seat tube angle compared to the Rockrider's effective 74 degrees.

However, the standout feature lies in the super-low bottom bracket height of the AM 100, measuring 295mm compared to the Calibre's 315mm.

While the Calibre doesn't match the Rockrider's prowess in railing turns, its versatility with the option for 29in wheels makes it a solid choice for riders seeking adaptability and performance.

Calibre Line T3-27 bottom line

The Calibre Line T3 impresses with a fun ride on ascents and descents alike, and the 125mm-travel KS dropper is a very welcome inclusion at this price point.

It's a great entry-level mountain bike that's poised through turns and berms, while the Maxxis tyres impressed in varied conditions.

The RockShox Recon fork could benefit from mid-travel support, however, and the high bottom bracket is an issue.