M4 Manipulated Alloy frame, fully butted with refined tapers, relieved bb shell and head tube, RockShox Sid SL fork with lockout, Time ATAC Carbon pedals with Ti axles, Mavic UST Tubeless CrossMax wheelset.
Submitted by
Al Thomas
a Weekend Warrior
from Centennial, CO
Date Reviewed: July 4, 2002
Strengths: I received frame as warranty replacement for old S-Works M2 after brake boss rusted off.
Weaknesses: Well, since I picked all the components, I have no one to blame but myself for the weaknesses. I should have put more $s into shocks, but the Judy's do OK for my type of rides.
Bottom Line:
I'm in the Clydesdale class (6'2" and 235#) and this is a bike good match for me. Strong frame, smooth ride and looks great. Very easy ride climbing and very fast downhill. Thanks to Specialized for their great warranty on the old frame!
Similar Products Used: 1993 S-Works M2, 1999 Rockhopper Comp.
Bike Setup: Custom built with XT drivetrain, Mavic wheels and Avid Archrival brakes. 2001 Judy XC forks. Total of $600 into all the components.
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Submitted by
Neil Glover
a Racer
from Morgantown WV
Date Reviewed: May 16, 2002
Strengths: Very light , silky ride, takes downhills unbelievably fast. Clinbs very well.Lockout very helpfull on logging road climbs.The bike corners like a fine italian sports car.
Weaknesses: Awkward stem,seat should have ti rails , cassette should be at least xt, same with crank.
Strengths: I own this bike from the last three years and since upgrdes totally change the performnce of the bike, I'll review it as stock. Great bike, I love HT's and this is the best HT racer out there and I've tried them all. Superlight, my 2000 version is 20.8 lbs and my 2001 is 21.4 lbs (fully upgraded 18"). Super-rigid frame that can climb Everest, sprint like dragster, and decend better than 99% of FS bikes. Awesome components (see below). Looks great without being Gaudi, stock comes with some stuff that's a pain to upgrade (fork especially). Love the frame geometery.
Weaknesses: Despite the XTR RD/Brakes/Levers and XT Cassette/FD/Shifters/BB, the bike doesn't truely shift well untill the cranks are upgraded, would like to see XTR or Race Face here. The headset, stem, and saddle are weak. I would like to see options such as King/DT Rev/Mavic 517 Ceramic's instead of the X-Max's, maybe different pedals. It will elope or die if you don't use it as intended.
Bottom Line:
Sweet bike, great bike if you want a top-line HT racer with great basic components for those who like to customize everything (that's me). I weigh 145 with a 2.7 body-fat at 5'10" and I'm a World Champion athelete in three different sports, moral is: this is a bike for the serious mtber who's in at least in decent shape, it won't perform well for clydes, non-climbers and DH types. Buy it, if you don't have the $$$, sell a kidney, a definate must have nd my personal favorite.
Similar Products Used: 1999, 2000 S-Works HT's, Trek 8000, 8900, 9.8, 9.9, high-end Cannondale's, some others.
Bike Setup: 2001 S-Works M4, full XTR, RaceFace Next LP cranks, Speedplay Ti Frogs (SWEEEET), above wheelset ordered, Specialized Team Master tires, LP Carbon/Kevlar bar, Thomson Stem/Post, King headset, Sid Race 2001, Selle Italia Ti Gel seat, Shimano Carbon booster, Vetta 100 wireless comp. Currently 20.4 lbs.
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Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Ogden, UT
Date Reviewed: February 25, 2002
Strengths: Super light bike-my 17" weighs in at 22.0 pounds with computer and heart rate monitor mounted. Tubeless wheel set, time pedals, lock-out.
Weaknesses: Not fully xtr spec'd, python tires not good in mud or loose rock, seat is not for epic type rides
Bottom Line:
This bike is awesome! Accelerates super fast, agile, seems to build confidence! This bike handles fast descents surprisingly well. A previous bike was a fat chance wicked, this bike smokes that one on finger and joint condition at the bottom of the hill. Tubeless tires are awesome and contribute to the ride quality of this fine steed I am sure. Headset, stem, and seat are both going to be coming off soon-seat way too uncomfortable, headset has given problems since the start, and stem is cheesy. Overall this bike definately rocks!! Don't regret buying it one bit!
Strengths: Super light and responsive. The bike just reads my mind and goes where I want it to. The Sid SL is easy to tune without having to disassemble it and the lockout really does make a difference.
Weaknesses: The headset sucks pretty bad. There's a space between the top headset cup and the adjustable race that lets water and grit in. I only have a few hundred miles on the bike and I already had to rebuild the headset. I'll get a King eventually. The Tubeless Python tires weigh a ton...almost as much as the rims. They're hard to change because you're not supposed to use tire levers, and they lose air fast.
Bottom Line:
The frame and fork rock, I just wish that Specialized spec'd it a little better to begin with so that I won't have to pay for the parts twice. The stem and bars have already been replaced and I plan to do the headset and cranks soon. The tubeless offer a nice ride but they're heavy as F--k, and they're difficult to mount on the rims. Use the tubeless when you want comfort and traction, but run a tube and light weight tire when you race, especially if there's a lot of climbing. Stock bike with 15.5" frame was 22.5 lbs. on the shop scale.
Strengths: Easily the best looking bike on the start line, super stiff means it climbs like a dream and sprints unbelievably. The thing that surprised me the most was how well it descends, I came from a full suspension bike and I really believe that I descend faster on this hardtail than I did on my FS bike. Oh and it's pretty light too. The three things that make this package so great 1)Frame 2)SID SL 3)CrossMax UST. After riding Tubeless I will NEVER buy another tubed tire, or another bike without tubeless wheels.
Weaknesses: only a couple, one the cranks had to go, I think the people that would be interested in this bike would gladly pay 200-300 dollars more for XTR cranks. Two the headset is mediocre at best, haven't had to replace it yet but I have had to rebuild it twice.
Bottom Line:
Let me put it simply, I work in a rather large bike shop on the west coast, some say the largest, so when I say I could have gotten any bike I wanted, I mean it. After shopping around I found this was the bike that had everything I wanted on it right off the floor(except for a couple things whitch were the few parts that weren't XTR). The Bike I got really surprised me especially comeing from full suspension and a light full suspension bike at that. The thing was I really didn't miss the full suspension even on the downhill. Actually I felt faster on the downhill without the suspension. Over all I've been extremely impressed.
Submitted by
aaron choi
a Racer
from blandford, MA, US
Date Reviewed: July 20, 2001
Strengths: it is light, fast, and strong. pedaling is easier and faster than a hooker in new york(mame gannon), fast acceleration, and you can always rely on it at the races. good paint job. time pedals rock, even though it takes time to break them in.
Weaknesses: since this is specialized's best bike, it should have come equiped with full xtr, and no generic products like the crank and the stem. the rear brake cable is exposed to the frame on the top tub. my bie already has tons of scratches from that.
Similar Products Used: full dynamix-mini mig;tomac buckshot; rocky mountain vapor; dekerf team; tumpjumper pro m4; klien pulse race; elfama 950
Bike Setup: changed nothing
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Submitted by
Terry Walls
a Racer
from Baltimore, MD. USA
Date Reviewed: July 12, 2001
Strengths: This bike is an awesome climbing machine. Point and pedal and you can climb anything. I have beat this bike to death after 6 months of racing and it's still running strong. Sid SL fork is very tunable to rider and the lockout is sweet. Crossmax UST rims are very light and very, very strong. Thomson seatpost is the strongest stem I've owned. Time Atac TI's can't be beat.. Very light overall 22 lbs..
Weaknesses: Factory specialized stem is a little weak along with the factory crank set. Crossmax UST is not completely air tight, air leaks out past inner O-ring for presta valve. Applied silicon around rubber o-ring inside of rim and have not lost any air in 4 months....Weak stock headset..Hutchinson pythons not for mud..
Bottom Line:
This bike is an awesome racer. Very responsive to tight single track and awesome on climbing. A few major dents in the down tube from some crazy technical downhills. The frame is very thin and very light but strong. A little hard on the rear after a long race but it's a Hardtail..Best bike I've ever owned...Great for freeriding technical or racing..
Bike Setup: Full XTR components except shifters. Chris King headset. Selle Italia Ti saddle. Crossmax UST rims with Hutchinson mosquito for muddy conditions. Time atac Ti pedals. Easton CT2 handlebars. Thomson stem and seat post. SRAM rocket shifters..
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Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from San Ramon, CA
Date Reviewed: June 23, 2001
Strengths: CrossMAX UST wheels, Time ATAC Ti pedals. Super light and responsive. Race ready bike that won't totally break the bank.
Weaknesses: Mt Baldy rear tire may be great for smooth World Cup courses, but it's just not workin for me on the technical terrain I ride. And you need a special magnet for your bike computer because of the bladed spokes on the CrossMAX wheels.
Bottom Line:
I'm very happy with this bike. I'm riding a lot of stuff in the middle ring that I was riding in the small ring on my old Stumpjumper. And it accelerates like a rocket thanks to the super light CrossMAX wheels.
All my riding buddies are shocked when they pick it up, it's so light (22.5 lbs in a 19" frame). My second ride on it was a race and it totally rocked on the climbs. The stock tires aren't too good in loose techincal conditions and I'm planning on replacing them soon. Better tires might have made it a 5 flammin' chili ride.
If you race a lot, especially on hardpack, you'll love this bike.
Bike Setup: Stock from the factory. XTR derailuer and brakes, XT shifters, Time ATAC Ti pedals, Mavic CrossMAX UST wheels.
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Submitted by
roy
a Cross Country Rider
from west virginia
Date Reviewed: June 21, 2001
Strengths: Frame, mavic crossmax ust, drive train, rock shox sid sl is unbeliveable need i say more???
Weaknesses: Wish it would have been full XTR. Haven't had any problems with cranks so it must just be the way people ride.
Bottom Line:
This is a great bike. If you enjoy cross country riding this is a must, the light weight design of the is great. Sprints like Micheal Johnson, climbs like a mountain goat. Great bike for price.
Submitted by
peter clark
a Racer
from salt lake city, ut, usa
Date Reviewed: May 27, 2001
Strengths: Super light and stiff. An amazing climbing bike and great on the downhills too. Great components for the price, race ready. Ball saver seat is a must. The sid shock is the best I have ridden. I have had an S-works every year for the past 6 years and this is the best one yet. Except for the tubeless wheel set.
Weaknesses: Mavic tubeless wheel set with Huthinson Python tires. Why the hell would the add a full pound just to have tubless. They don't hold air and the tread wears out way too fast. This is a major design flaw. Tubeless is great in theory but why wouldn't they wait to perfect the design before entering it in the market place. I'm sure there are going to be major changes next year. I do like the fact that you can ride the front with lower pressure with out the worry of getting pinch flats. That brings up another point. If they are designed to run with lower pressure doesn't that increase the rolling resistance? Anyway the rims look way cool and are great for cross country riding but the combination with the tires are tough to swallow on the long climbs. The seat post, head set, and bottom bracket crackle
Bottom Line:
Awesome race ready bike but change the rims and tires for ease of use on the trail.
Bike Setup: Sid Sl, full xtr, mavic crossmax with Hutchinson tires
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Submitted by
Craig Hays
a Racer
from Spring Lake, MI, USA
Date Reviewed: May 22, 2001
Strengths: This bike is light, stiff, and tracks very well. The Time pedals are the best I've used, and the Mavic Crossmax's with Hutchinson Python's are the best combination for the varied conditions here in Michigan. The SID SL shock is a great fork and I do like the lock out when riding pavement or on the long climbs.
Weaknesses: The shifting from chainring to chainring seems slow and sloppy. The bars are a little too wide for me, but that's a cheap fix.
Bottom Line:
If you are looking for a hardtail that will exceed your expectations, this is the one. The bike is at home on the tight twisty stuff, and it climbs even better. It's a great race bike with quality components that you won't have to replace monthly. I would like to see XTR shifters on the bike. The XT's work just as well, but for this price, give me XTR!
Bike Setup: Everything is still original. I run between 40 and 45 pounds in the tires. I am considering switching to a longer stem to get more stretched out.
