Are Specialized bikes boring?

Unknown · June 2007

Spesh bikes have always had the reputation of being the Mondeo of mountain bikes. They do everything really well, but sort of lack flair

With the new Enduro and Spesh's own forks and shocks, it seems even these can't be changed/swapped/tweaked... is there anything to keep the hobbyist going with these bikes?

So, what are Specialized like to live with? Any input welcome as I'm thinking of trying one from the LBS... [;)]

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Unknown · June 2007

you what???? [:)]

The old enduro was a cracking bike. looked good and handled well.
There has been a lot of feedback in USA due to Shock issues.

plus there is nothing wrong with mondeo's... the new one is great and 1 in 5 cars are a mondeo..

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Unknown · June 2007

Take each model on its own merit, rather than the brand as a whole. The Rockhopper sets a good pace in the middle market, and the base level FSRs are great value. I'm not sure about all the inhouse spesh stuff, but it works for Cannondale!

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Unknown · June 2007

not to sure about the fraze like a modao, i found a lovely looking specialised frame, clicky clicky[;)]

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Unknown · June 2007

yeah i do think the lower end spesh hardtails are boring, everyone has them and they are sort of the half way horse for everything...

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Seagull · June 2007

I think that spesh have a very firm view of mountain biking. Their design mean that you either hate them or love them.

I believe that they gimickise their products to increase the marketing potential. Doesn't mean that spesh stuff doesn't work, it normally does what it says on the tin, its just that it sometimes seems overcomplicated.

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Unknown · June 2007

You mean Specizzzzzz zzzzzzzz zzzzzzzz zzzzzz zzzzzz
snore zzzzzzz zzzzz zzzzzz!

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futon river crossing · June 2007

WMB magazine recently described the Stumpy FSR Expert as sooo good, it was boring.

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monkeyfcuker · June 2007

its hard for a big manufacturer to have alot of flair like the smaller companies, IMO all the bigger brands like specialized, giant, trek etc are all a bit boring but they do make very good bikes for not alot of money and for the most part this is what there main aim is where as the smaller guys can go to work on weird and wonderful stuff

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Unknown · June 2007

Yes, when reviewers say stuff like that it kinda confuses me... a bad bike can ride better because its more exciting?! A bike that rides great is boring... or it can be vice versa. Often when testing ultra high end stuff they manage to justify every little thing.

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ashleymp777wmb · June 2007

Personally my Spesh is the best bike I've owned, and I have owned a few - Pace, Klien, Orange, Roberts........

Does everything very well all the time! But I do appreciate that not everyone feels the same way! Each man (or women) to themselves I guess!

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Unknown · June 2007

So, opinion is ambivalent...

Looks like all decide they are good bikes though, it's just whether you like them or not (Ash - your carbon hardtail is a stunning looking bike for sure)

Going to test the Enduro hopefully (only to try as I'm sure Specialized can't be better than my Giant !!! [;)] )

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Unknown · June 2007

I dont mind Speshs, my first proper MTb was one (unsurprisingly the Hardrock), but I really like the SX Trail/Enduros, Demos 8/9 etc. (not the ones with the freaky paintjobs...)

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Fozzybear

you what???? [:)]

plus there is nothing wrong with mondeo's... the new one is great and 1 in 5 cars are a mondeo..
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Really?! You sure on that? I live in a fairly 'normal' neighbourhood, and maybe 1 in 50 cars I see is a Mondeo...

Duane [:)]

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Unknown · June 2007

it's my job to know random things like that relating to cars..

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guilliano · June 2007

Boring? No. Common? Yes. So I suppose in that way they are like Mondeos. Having said that there aren't many Mindeos round my way, or Heidi's. There are a lot of Focus' though, and Renault Lagunas.

I don't like Spesh low end bikes, but their mid-high end bikes do look very good, if a little pricey to service

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Unknown · June 2007

I had a Mondeo for a couple of years and have to say it was a cheap, reliable, get-the-job-done kind of car

But it was a plodder, and unexciting. In fact, the Mondeo was the workhorse, and I had a Subaru weekend car!

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by guilliano

...but their mid-high end bikes do look very good, if a little pricey to service

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

What do you mean about the serviceing guilliano?

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guilliano · June 2007

Brain shocks are hugely expensive to get serviced, and the only spesh dealer I know charges œ130 to service a Shesh own brand fork

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scott mcavennie · June 2007

I like spesh's. My girlfriend has a rockhopper pro and I think its alovely piece of kit. I think sometimes they can up some of the components on their builds, but the bikes as a whole are great performers.

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Wolf · June 2007

I only like the Stumpy TBH... Nice looking allrounder...
I guess that when they say "It's so good that it's boring" they mean it is so efficient it looses some of the excitement... Guess like a Mitsubishi Evo, if we stay with the car metaphors... some people like efficiency, some don't...

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geeteewmb · June 2007

As the owner of both a Stumpy FS and a Mondeo ST, I can tell you that neither are boring. As a chassis, the M5 Stumpy is superb and my Mondeo is a hoot to drive, as anyone who has ridden in it will attest.

"Hopefully everyone will be waiting for me at the top of the climb/descent/flat bit"

ddraver · June 2007

But GT everyone has them, thats the problem....not that they bad bikes...they re just not special

I don't look at them and go...wow thats cool...Like a mondeo vs a ("tries to think of fashionable car") Masserati or the like. The difference is theres less of a price gap between the bikes than the cars...

Try to resist, but i know i ll be driving the mondeo with the spesh on the back of my thule rack, wearing my altura and shifting with Shimano XT

Insert random comment here.....
(cindercone, 02)

guilliano · June 2007

Don't start with Shimano XT..... I've just upgraded to full XT gearing!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/guilliano/

Unknown · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by ddraver

But GT everyone has them, thats the problem....not that they bad bikes...they re just not special

I don't look at them and go...wow thats cool...Like a mondeo vs a ("tries to think of fashionable car") Masserati or the like. The difference is theres less of a price gap between the bikes than the cars...

Insert random comment here.....
(cindercone, 02)
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Excellent comment - I think that's what I was thinking of when I started the thread (and was looking at trying one)

BUT, don't you think the new Enduro SL has some wow factor? Personally I like it and would like to try it - no other Spesh attracts any interest

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Unknown · June 2007

To a certain extent, it depends on the proximity of dealers to your own trails.

Around here, there are at least three Spesh dealers, one of which is a Santa Cruz dealer too, so there are always loads of Spesh and SC bikes around Peaslake. Giant (biggest cycle manufacturer?), are so few and far between, that when I had my XTC for 9 months or so, I only saw 2 on the trails in that entire time.

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Unknown · June 2007

if i see you on a spesh with fingless gloves, when you stop to let me catch you up i will push you off after catching my breath..

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mudface · June 2007

spesh are ok. they have a great warantee department, which is fortunate, as i know enough people whose spesh frames have broken, including my own.

Unknown · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Fozzybear

if i see you on a spesh with fingless gloves, when you stop to let me catch you up i will push you off after catching my breath..

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

LOL! [:D]

PLEASE push me off, and over the edge, if that happens!

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Unknown · June 2007

hehe.. 3 days left....

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Unknown · June 2007

It's cabin fever

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ddraver · June 2007

true about what the shop sells - and we ve now got a SPECIALIZED CONCEPT STORE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! open in our small little town, so its only gonna get worse

what wouldn't i give for a santa cruz LT

Insert random comment here.....
(cindercone, 02)

Unknown · June 2007

Yup i sas phech's are great bikes. They do have flare its the way you ride it that does that [:D]

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Are Specialized bikes boring?

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