Submitted by
PapiOCho
a Weekend Warrior
from Tampa, Fl. USA
Date Reviewed: November 23, 2008
Strengths: Great Travel, very decent front shock, VERY strong frame I'm 235+ and no problems
Weaknesses: Stiff frame, but at times a good thing
Bottom Line:
Still hitting trails from 1999, used it for racing for the first 4 yeasrs after buying it. Replaced my Stumpjumper with it. Took LOTS of abuse, no frame issues at all.
Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Winchester, VA
Date Reviewed: July 31, 2004
Strengths: It's a 1999 Specialized FSR XC. Upgraded rear linkage to BETD. Gave better performance on the downhill with 4-6 inch settings. Just freakin' awesome.
Weaknesses: Have to special order a SPV rear shock. Stroke is too short.
Bottom Line:
With the extra travel, I can rip through rock gardens and drop offs like never before. still climbs like a goat but more noticable bob. I suggest anyone with a 1999-2001 FSR XC should get the BETD linkage. Its from Britain so it'll cost you some lbs.
Similar Products Used: 1996 Proflex 856 1998 GT rebound
Bike Setup: Marzocchi Drop Off II fork, Avid Mech discs, Race Face Turbine crankset, XT drivetrain, Sun Juju hubs laced to 517 rims
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Kevin
a Weekend Warrior
from N.S. Canada
Date Reviewed: July 17, 2004
Strengths: It never gives up, you might but it won't!!!!!!
Weaknesses: I don't have two of them.
Bottom Line:
I love this design it does away with having to have a SPV shock to attain the same performance. It is always active and that is a good thing, no brake jacking here. Climbs like you would not believe, if it looses traction it is usually rider error not the bike. If you are looking for a GREAT frame design do yourself a favour and try this design, Horst Link, no matter who makes the bike. I think you will be happy, I am. It will keep anyone from the weekend warrior to the XC racer happy, freeriders and downhillers they have you covered too.
Bike Setup: Z1 Freeride, New link to make 5" in the rear,avid mechs
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
scott maclean
a Cross Country Rider
from boundbrook nj
Date Reviewed: April 28, 2004
Strengths: full suspension design 4 bar linkage
Weaknesses: tad heavy, not sure about durability of pivots but som far so good
Bottom Line:
Rode bike to day for first time...awesome handels great climbs like a sick mountain goat. The weight is nothing you feel short wheel base but handles OK....need to adjust bars and stem but otherwise really great fun bike....I think anyone who enjoys riding needs to get a FS bike the benefits of suspension far out weight the increase poundage..it is sooo worth it..Once I get it all tuned to my liking look out baby....Goat Boy Lives!!!!
Bike Setup: XT front and rear and shifter pods, avid V breaks, Strong arm cranks, wheels are mavic on specialized generic hubs. SID rear shock and Judy Long travel fork
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Thom
a Cross Country Rider
from Kirkland, WA USA
Date Reviewed: March 18, 2004
Strengths: nimble, maneuverable, good balance, lightweight
Weaknesses: Oragami construction. Self destructs with normal XC use. Its a knuckle dragger. pedals bottom out too easily. Pivots are "toy quality" construction.
Bottom Line:
Nice idea, but POOR execution. My "spare" hardtail Klein gets a lot of miles while owning this self-destructing FSR. Construction is GARBAGE. After 2 years of wimpy XC riding by a an old Geezer. (50years old), and NO air by me. The frame is TOAST. Broken a few times, bearings constantly breaking with their wimpy tiny bolts and now stripping out the threads in the frame with a defective bolt that just now showed up with a break INSIDE the frame. Just plain POOR weld design. "Lets overheat the heck out of the tubes, and put a big stress raiser lump of weld on this tiny stressed tube". A friend of mine has one of the original Stumpjumpers hanging around in his garage. It is STILL a rideable bike. What happened to this company? I will NEVER buy a Specialized again, no matter how sweet they ride before they prematurely break. The shop where I bought it does the best he can, but I notice he stopped carrying specialized bikes too, and cringes when I come in through the door with bike over shoulder...again.
Similar Products Used: Klein hardtail and other mtn bikes back to 1985
Bike Setup: Avid mech discs. XT derilleurs, twist grips. Rock ring. ATAC pedals, stock flexy cranks. Smoke-dart tires.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Rich B.
a Weekend Warrior
from Albany, OR
Date Reviewed: March 7, 2004
Strengths: Handles sharp turns excellent, very comfortable bike.
Weaknesses: Manitou shocks are weak, I replaced them with real shocks.
Bottom Line:
Light bike that climbs easy and descends quickly and is easy to control. I have friends that have paid more for their full suspensions and I think they got hosed. I have read complaints about bushings and linkage breaking I have not had any problems with mine. I don't take huge drops nor am I a fat ass (anymore!) maybe that is why it have not expierenced that problem.
Strengths: Horst four bar linkage design, powder blue and orange paint job
Weaknesses: The nylon bushings at the pivots give sideways flex in the rear triangle
Bottom Line:
I have ridden this bike four days a week on a 18 km local loop with rock gardens and great singletrack. It really benefited from alonger travel fork than the Manitou SX-R that it came with which always packed down. The Zochi forks are amazing and the hopes have really given the bike a new level of ability. I thought long and hard about fitting an aftermarket linkage to increase rear travel and replace the bushings with bearings (BETD do a great package for £130 in the UK), but was scared that the frame would not handle my 200lbs bulk and riding style...so in the end I have hung up my beloved FSR XC and bought a Heckler! I love the FSR - it is a great bike, but the flexy frame really got me down.
Bike Setup: FSR XC frame, Marzochi MX Comp ETA (105mm), Hope minis, Mavic 219s, XT
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
roger
a Downhiller
from quebec,canada
Date Reviewed: January 19, 2001
Strengths: strong,verry little flex in the frame and the replaceble derailleur hanger
Weaknesses: custermer service
Bottom Line:
i have changed every thing on my bike,i have converted it to a DH bike and it's awsome.i have put a zzyzx fork with a black spire tensioner,and some magura hs33 braks and DH rims and also i have put the mountain speed rear link for 6.2 inches of travel.all my components are xt and my stem and bar are both DH to.
I had a 1999 FSR and the bolt that connected the RS Deluxe rear shock to the frame snapped (the frame was bent beyond repair). Specialized replaced that frame with a 2000 FSR XC. They called it an "upgrade", but a lightweight XC bike with barely 3 inches of travel is not an upgrade for a 215 lb. freerider who wanted to upgrade the rear suspension through Mountainspeed. The stiff, wimpy travel of a Fox air shock combined with plastic bushings gave me whiplash over the smallest hits (it felt like a hard tail over medium to large hits). The rear linkage on the FSR XC did not allow a substantial aftermarket upgrade. Needless to say, this "upgrade" failed when I discovered the chainstay had cracked in FOUR places. I wonder if the four-bar linkage is the strongest way to set up the rear suspension? It seems to have too many stress points to handle hardcore riding. Specialized replaced the chainstay and willingly agreed to replace the FSR XC with a 2001 Enduro with a Fox Float RC. Specialized was understanding and corrected the mistake they had made when they sent me the FSR XC, but took almost SIX months getting it to me. I would give Specialized a "D+" in customer service, and this is an important factor when deciding who to buy a bike from. I love the performance of the FSR, BUT wonder if the THIRD warranty bike will last. To be continued...
Weaknesses: Company customer service sucks....my frame broke into two pieces and they will not warranty or fix it
Bottom Line:
Bottom line is I fell in love with this bike and 4 people I know bought the exact same bike as mine after riding mine and going on my recommendation. My frame snapped into two pieces, causing me to take a nasty crash at 24 mph during the last race of the season. I had won everyone up until this time, this was the 8th race I had ridden this bike in. The Specialized rep was a jerk and would not get my bike warrantied, would not even offer a crash replacement that I offered to pay for. Bike is great until it breaks, then company abandons you and won't help. My advice is stay away from this company.....buy a bike from a company that will stand behind their products and offer good customer service
Bike Setup: Marzocchi,King headset and hubs,XTR,RaceFace cranks and BB
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Zeus
a Weekend Warrior
from Miami, Florida
Date Reviewed: July 6, 1999
Strengths: Durable, Suspension that doesn't bob
Weaknesses: a little tall
Bottom Line:
I read that people have some problems with the pivots. I have never had a problem, and when I ride I can be rude to my bike, just plowing into things and not picking the best line. This bike works. I ride with a bunch of guys with all kinds of nice bikes(big dollars) and custom. They are always trying to catch me on my FSR. This is my second FSR, my first I still own a cromoly frame with the Alps rear shock. That is still a great bike that I use for street and lighter trails. The new MAX alumunim frame is reserved for the rough stuff, I like the extra travel. My only gripe is I wish the bottom bracket were lower. Out side of that the bike is a winner.
Similar Products Used: GT Full Suspension, Fat City Yo Eddy
Bike Setup: XTR, Z1 Bam, Custom Wheel set with Ti Spokes
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jim
a Weekend Warrior
from Fremont,Ca
Date Reviewed: May 31, 1999
Strengths: strong ,pretty good climber,and very good on downhills.
Weaknesses: Stiction in all pivots.Main bushing is a poorly designed piece of shit!To much labor.
Bottom Line:
Bike rides pretty good and holds up to a lot of abuse but it is just to labor intensive to enjoy anymore.The pivots always make noise on climbs even after complete overhaul and pivot rebuild kit cost 60.00 what a joke.Did I mention the frame weighs a ton .Anyone want to buy an FSR cheap?
Similar Products Used: Cannondale Raven,Ventanna,GT LTS and Klien Mantra.
Bike Setup: White Bros. DC118 fork ,XTR drivetrain,King headset,517rims and all the other goodies.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Sprogg
a downhiller
from Leeds england
Date Reviewed: February 19, 1999
Bottom Line:
For the first 6 months the FSR is a damn fine machine but mine just started to fall apart and bent in wierd placesPS my FSR weighed more than my mates Intense M1
Bought my FSR comp in March. Changed the fork to a Palmer immediately. I have only had 2 problems with the bike. The shock was on backwards. No problem, I had to take it off to put on a heavier spring anyway (I weigh around 250). Also, the cranks (son-of-strong arm) flex a lot. Replace with Race Face. After modifications this bike rides great. I'm hoping to try the new increased travel upgrade with fox shock.
I rode an FSR until recently and its a competent bike sold by a lame company. My frameset arrived poorly assembled, with a missing part, and a bad rear shock. Specialized begrudgingly, and slowly sent the missing part to the dealer. They wouldn’t replace or exchange the shock even though it was new. The dealer had to send the shock out for repair which took awhile. I wrote Specialized a letter and never got a reply. This is the firm that was undercutting its own dealers by selling bikes through COSTCO. One chili is generous.
Am I the only one who finds it odd that there is no 2012 Specialized 29 Stumpjumer FSR Carbon Framesets available. It looks like every other line has S-Works frame only options. Read More »
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Hello all
My first full suspension bike was a 94 FSR. Loved the bike, but when my local shop showed me pics of the upcoming 97 FSR comp my jaw dropped. My dream car at the time wa Read More »
