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If you thought that the Bombtrack Hook ADV we featured recently was overkill with 40mm suspension and 2.0″ tyres you’d better look away now…
A brand new model for 2020 the Bombtrack Cale takes the essence of the existing Beyond+ and Beyond ADV models and then distils it into nitro fuel! Fun is clearly high on the agenda, but not at the expense of practicality. The Cale is an adventure bike to get you up and over anything and then rip down the other side!
All new design
While it’s made from tough 4130 CrMo and runs 27.5+ tyres like the Beyond+, Bombtrack haven’t just plugged a suspension fork and a dropper post and conjured up a new model. The Cale is an all-new design with 73.5°seat tube and a 67.5° headtube angles (Steeper and slacker respectively, compared to the Beyond+) and an extra 10mm reach, depending on frame size. The Cale also a gets a higher spec drivetrain coming with GX Eagle as opposed to the NX variant on its little brother.
Built for Adventure
One look and there’s no mistaking what the Cale is designed for!
While the compact frame design only allows one bottle cage inside the front triangle, the Cale comes equipped for long distance travel. There is an additional cage mount under the down-tube and rack mounts on the rear. While racks are heavier than a seatpack they have the advantage of not interfering with the dropper post operation.
MRP Ribbon SL
The MRP Ribbon SL is not a fork you see often, but in custom matched decals it suits the style and the intent of the Cale perfectly. The reverse cast arch is a great feature for mud-plugging riders!
Magura Trail Sport Brakes
With a four-piston caliper up front and two-piston at the rear, bringing the Cale to a halt is a piece of cake. Even loaded up, stopping will be no issue. Top marks for Magura for their reversible levers. Switching from UK to Euro brake setups was a doddle.
Big wheels keep on rolling
Bombtrack have chosen the wheelset with one thing in mind. Grip! With 27.5 x 2.8″ WTB Vigilantes front and rear, traction isn’t going to be an issue for the majority of riders. The front tyre is the Tough/Hi-Grip version mounted on an WTB ST i45 TCS rim. There is a minor concession to rolling resistance out back where the tyre is a Tough/Fast-rolling version on a slightly narrower ST i40 TCS rim. It’s safe to say smooth tarmac is not their forte!
Quick ride review
I took the Cale on one of the organised cross-country rides at the recent Bombtrack Groundwork event. No surprise, the brief road sections were hard going when the rest of the group were on gravel bikes! Once in the woods however the Cale came alive. The 800mm wide, 35mm diameter bars and stiff forks going wherever they’re pointed. The WTB Vigilante tyres brushed aside roots and sought out grip in the loose loamy soil. Fellow Cale pilots Get Wild Matty and Bombtrack designer Marko and I decided instead to play to the Cale’s strengths. Firing up the Trailforks app, we found a network of black graded singletrack not far from the planned route. I’m no regular trail centre rider but the Cale instils confidence no matter how steep or rough the trail gets.
With the ability to both haul kit and smash trails, the Cale makes for a very interesting proposition. Anyone for a spot of Enduro-packing?
The Cale will be available as both a full-build and frameset only.
Last modified: 21st August 2019
