Submitted by
Gordon
a Weekend Warrior
from Chicago/Houston
Date Reviewed: August 28, 2004
Strengths: I have been riding this bike for 9 years. (with a 2 year hiatus in the middle, work just took all my time)Really responsive and STRONG!!!!
Weaknesses: Its really a stiff ride. Punishing even on longer harder rides.
Bottom Line:
Its a awsome frame to build on hell of a bike from. But this time around i need someting a litte more forgiving since my riding style has change from evil kenivel to long flat texas single trac.
Bike Setup: It came with a Judy FSX carbon fiber fork. Ringle hubs, sun rims, ritchey clipless pedals, paul brakes, paul rear d. XTR front D., real brake levers ect...
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Submitted by
Kevin Timmons
a Cross Country Rider
from Spokane WA USA
Date Reviewed: August 23, 2004
Strengths: Stiff and light. Pretty (when new!) Very tough.
Weaknesses: does not pedal itself up hills.
Bottom Line:
Great bike for XC riding. Would not use for hucking! Has been very tough frame. Wore out the fork and rims! Punctured the frame 1st season, on the down tube at the bottom bracket. Could actually fit my little finger in it. Rode it that way for 3 more years. never failed. Upgraded to the M5 only because i got a great deal on the replacement and most components were wore out. If you find one build it a ride the *&%$ out of it.
Similar Products Used: M5, trek, gary fisher, schwinn, paramount
Bike Setup: Bought as a TEAM Copy. Mostly XTR, some XT. Mavic X517 on s-works hubs. Pretty nice setup.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Mike Luczkow
a Weekend Warrior
from Okinawa Japan
Date Reviewed: June 29, 2004
Strengths: This is the best bike ever made. I am on my 5th S-Works and I have only changed them over the years because of cosmetics and frame sizes (I've Grown).
Weaknesses: they are not "250lb fat ass off a dropoff"-proof.
Bottom Line:
I love this bike, I'd recommend it to anyone. What else can I say? It's the perfect platform to build a great bike on. And I certainly have the experience with them to say that with confidence.
Strengths: well where do I start? i have been riden this bike for a little over 5 years. Its the fastest MTB I have riden bar none. I have riden the M4 but not long enough to really determine the difference in ride. I have been many place on this bike. I assume it has more than 10k miles on it. its my do everything bike for the most part. I have riden it off things into things crashed it etc. My S-Works is still going strong I guess. The life of Al frames is limited so I am worried that we will be parting our ways soon. I would most definatly get another one of these bikes when my current S passes. This bike is fast, if you have the legs you cant be beat.
Weaknesses: None, however given the nature of an Al. frame I worry that it will break one day.
Bottom Line:
Its a nice XC ride. light stiff and fast. Its just a sexy bike now as it was when I rolled it out the door of the bike shop. I wish I could find another one brand new I wouldnt think twice about buyin it.
Similar Products Used: just got a Klein attitude race, the verdict is still out
Bike Setup: XTR s/b levers cables/housing cassette dreailers brakes. King headset Factory cranks seatpost bars. SPinergy SPOX manitou MARS elite. The last time this bike was on the scale I think it was around 21-22 pounds. I am certain I could loose some wieght with new cranks BB pedals seat post and bars. I am guessing around if not under 20, but I think that would jeprodize strength.
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Submitted by
Chad
a Weekend Warrior
from Newberry, SC
Date Reviewed: June 9, 2003
Strengths: Strong, Stiff Frame Good Components
Weaknesses: Stiff Frame!
Bottom Line:
I love my bike!! I decided to trade up from an old Trek (NO SUSPENSION AT ALL) I rode through school. Found this deal on an older but new (I think it's a 2001)Stumpy. The components were pretty good. I've ridden on the local singletrack with roots, rocks and creek crossings and up in the mountains with lots of rocks and drop offs. Although I've landed (and crashed) hard enough to tear up a seatpost, the frame hasn't budged. It climbs great and descends just fine for a sadist such as myself. Sure, the downhill part is a little rough on the hardtail, but I don't mind. If you want a reliable bike which climbs well with good components, get one of these. The cost is not as prohibitive as the new F/S bikes and the ride is great.
Bike Setup: Stock except seatpost, Egg Beaters and Answer Carbonlite Riser Bars
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Raph
a Weekend Warrior
from the etherlands
Date Reviewed: May 28, 2003
Strengths: Light Stiff Very responsive
Weaknesses: Unforgiving when you don't pay attention for a moment...
Bottom Line:
I bought the frame new in 1995 for only 450 US dollars, including the seat post and the (titanium) stem. Unfortunately, I don't use this bike often enough. But it's a lot better bike than my previous ones and all my riding buddies agree that it's by far the best bike in our group (Marin, Trek, Koga Miyata, Cannondale, Giant, Pro-Flex). At the moment, I can only wish that I am able to live up to it's reputation. I regret that I didn't yet own this bike in my 'good old days'; see http://www.raph.nl/usa-1993 and http://www.raph.nl/usa-1995. The handling of the S-Works M2 is great; it surely is a thoroughbred racer. The bike is not as forgiving as my old Koga Miyata: if you're not alert at all times and you make one little mistake, it'll show no mercy and throw you off. But that's what you can expect from a racing bike...
Favorite Trail: Flag Creek/Bear Creek loop, Crested Butte, CO
Duration Product Used: More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$450.00
Purchased At: a shop in Great Bend, CO
Similar Products Used: Koga Miyata Terra Runner (exact same frame as Greg Herbold's 1990 downhill world championship Miyata that is on display at the 'Mountain Bike Specialist' bicycle shop in Durango, CO.); 1988 Univega (with 6-speed Deore XT!).
Bike Setup: Paul's FHub front hub, rear hub Shimano XT, Mavix Rims, Shimano XT front and rear derailleur, GripShift, Cook Bros. cranks, 747 SPD pedals, Bontrager Ti Handlebar, Manitou IV fork, Rolls seat.
Kick ass ride, but yes they can and do break. I've always seen this frame break "Driveside chainstay cracked behind BB bridge (at weld)" there, and it's usualy from a 250lb guy going off a huge drop off and landing realy hard. So take it back and get a new one, this is why you should be friends with your mechanic/shop owner. When your not a large dude going off way too big drop offs, this bike kicks ass. It's a damn wheelie machine. I did a 7 mile wheelie on this bike and i had someone with me the whole way to back that up. (Dario)
Similar Products Used: Stumphumpers cockhoppers and hardcocks.
Bike Setup: 17", platforms, King, XTR, Risers= Urban Assault
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Submitted by
Paul
a Cross Country Rider
from London, UK
Date Reviewed: April 30, 2002
Strengths: Light stiff and bullet proof
Weaknesses: I can't break it (and claim on my insurance!)
Bottom Line:
This thing just keeps going. I weigh 220lbs and have done 1000's of miles on this bike everywhere in the UK and in Spain. I have broken huge amounts of components in accidents including: 6 separate wheelsets, 1 set of bars, 1 seat post, 3 XTR rear and 2 front mechs, 2 large front rings 1 crank arm and 1 set of forks. The frame has never moved! I'm thinking of setting up a shrine to the unbreakable frame!
It is still very light - even in comparison with the latest M4 frames - I just hope that these newer ones are as robust.
I love this frame and if I could give it more than 5 chillies I would!
Similar Products Used: Trek OCLV, even older Marins
Bike Setup: Full XTR. Hope Ti hubs with DT rev spokes and Mavic 517 CD rims. Easton Monkeylite. Thompson post. Kore Stem.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Jerami
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Angeles
Date Reviewed: April 14, 2002
Strengths: Stright up old sckool/OG machine!
Weaknesses: none, this is my favorite ride
Bottom Line:
Man..everytime I roll this thing people just trip cause I built it up so much..but man, this thing is it..it is my one bike I can always depend on..stairs...riverbed trails..single track...it don't matter..Sure the rest of you have some bad ass bikes..There is no way I can test a moots..but what can I say I shinned a turd! Come up to echo park fool..The day I get jacked on the corner for my bike..it will hurt alot less then it would if I was ridin' some $5k bike...By the way it took me years to dial in this thing..so for all you people out there buying your first $100 seat post..you will get there..just keep looking out for sales and buy what you like no matter what dumb ass 80's guy is tellin you is "cool"..go ahead buy that down Hill seat and put it on your cruiser..maybe your on to something..
Moutian Bike magazine (1/02) rated Speacilized M4 the best hardtail race bike. Before there was M4 there was M2. This have been one of the best Bikes & Framesets on the market for the past 6 years. It climbs like fat guys blood pressure, descends with point & shoot accuracy like it has radar, and carves the most challenging single track like a hot knife thru butter and can sprint like Carl Lewis. If you can't ride well on this bike,... then you can't ride. Over the 6 years I have ridden with guys who have had everything from Canondale Super V's to trek Y bikes,where are there bikes now, they are in some nursing home for Freak Show Design Moutain Bikes. With the exception of Easton Monkey Lites I am riding the same bike from 6 years ago and it can still drop other riders like a hot pot handle.Hard tails just require more skill. Now that I can build a S-Works FSR(dual Suspension) bike close to 24lbs when I can afford it I probably will change. This bike has given me about 6 years of faithful riding I could not ask for more, kinda like your first real girlfriend how can you forget! I think this is an even better deal now because you can find them on closeout deals sometimes. Yes this frame is so stiff that it can cause back pain. It will help if you add rizer bars. The botom line is this bike was made to be first on race day and it can do just that.
Despite the nice ride, I can't endorse a product which develops a failure like mine did. If the crack had been on one of the headtube or BB welds, I'd figure it was the result of hard riding. The only nice thing I can say is that I'm still within the 5 year warrany period, and should have a new frame soon. Can't give a good value rating on a bad product.
Steel is real, which is why my road and track bikes are steel!!!!!
Similar Products Used: Schwinn Paramount Series 50,Giant ATX 780,Merlin,Stumpjumper steel
Bike Setup: Full XTR,TI spokes w/517 rims, Mars C fork, Easton Carbon Bar, Thompson post, Raceface HS and Stem
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Keith Louie
a Weekend Warrior
from Los Angeles, California, USA
Date Reviewed: May 11, 2001
Strengths: Excellent frame geometry, great welding work, light weight, super stiff, grey anodized finish looks cool!
Weaknesses: None found yet
Bottom Line:
This is one sweet frame. I've been riding this one for almost four years, and it still brings a smile to my face whenever I ride. Light, stiff, and responsive, it climbs like a billy goat on steroids, turns-in quick, and tracks perfectly.
If you want to build a light, fast hardtail for racing or cross country, you should get an S-Works frame/frameset. You won't be disappointed.
The rear-end may ride a little harshly for some on rough decents or over stutter jumps at odd spacings, but this IS a racing frame. Don't buy it if you are looking for a more compliant ride which won't bounce or beat you a little - as this frame is not for you.
I bought this frameset from Supergo in 97' for $800.00. It came with a Judy FSX fork and 1 1/8" Threadless AheadSet, a polished titanium stem, seatpost, and QR seatpost binder. I give it five chilies for value and another five for it's overall rating.
Bike Setup: 96' S-Works M2 Frameset w/Judy FSX Fork, 98' XTR V-Brakes, STI Brakes/Levers, & Rear Derailleur, 95' XTR Front Derailleur, Race Face LPs & Rings, Specialized Ti Stem, Easton CT2 Carbon Handlebars, LP Composites Carbon Seatpost, World Class Ti BB, Hugi Sport Hubs w/Mavic 217 SS DT 15/14/15 SS spokes, Ritchie Ti pedals, SRP Ti Bolts all over. Bike weight: 21.75 lbs.
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Submitted by
matt
a Cross Country Rider
from San Francisco
Date Reviewed: November 2, 2000
Strengths: very, very good climber, fast on those downhills, and really easy on turns. Really light, even with a psylo
Weaknesses: a bit too flexy
Bottom Line:
This bike kicks a** it is the best climber I have ever ridden and is GREAT at landing jumps. Very good for agressive xc riders. If you're a serious mountain biker and you aren't affraid to dish out a couple of bucks, this is the best!!!
Similar Products Used: specialized rock hopper schwinn homegown
Bike Setup: rock shox psylo, hellbent riser, syncros stem, xtr front and rear der., mavic 517, white hubs, ritchey clipless(very nice),xtr bb, xtr brakes, sram 9.0 shifters and brake levers.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Steve
a Cross Country Rider
from Davis, CA. USA
Date Reviewed: August 19, 2000
Strengths: rides like steal but is lighter then aluminum
Weaknesses: none yet..
Bottom Line:
This frame is amazingly light(3 pounds) has a sweet paint job and flies! I bought this frame used from mtbr's used products and I had no problems. I couldn't of asked for a better frame for $300 and now my bike is easily 23 pounds even with my hefty Marzocchi Atom bomb. Get this frame if your looking to build a light bike and if you want one of the sweetest frames on the market! No joke... hands down has to be the best frame I have ridin.
Similar Products Used: Diamond Back Apex (89") Specialized Stumpjumper (96") was stolen
Bike Setup: Specialized (Bart Brentjens edit.) xt shifters xtr drive train.. white industries cranks.. xt/bontrager rims.. atom bomb (98") magura HS-22
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Andy Jutson
a Racer
from North Wales, UK
Date Reviewed: February 10, 2000
Strengths: The overall frame geometry is superb, the ride, the handling Just brilliant!!
Weaknesses: Not uncovered any yet!
Bottom Line:
I you want a do anything frame/bike this is it!! I currently ride the 98 version, and i am completly impressed by the quality of the ride. I have ridden many different bikes, and raced a few of them, but this wins hands down! If you've go the money to fork out £600 for a frame don't hesitate. the ride gives a mixture of feels, it climbs like an aluminium frame, jumps like a jump specific bike, and downhill when fitted with a long travel fork is excelent. I personally am specific to x-country racing, it gives a very good riding position for tall people, i'm 6ft 1" and ride an 18", i've been tring to get the right position on my Orange E4 for a while but always felt too stretched out over the bike, but the Specialized makes you feel very comftable over long periods of time! To keep this bike sweet you should try to kepp the weight down to a minimum mine weighs about 23-24Lbs fully built, and find that the overall ride benifits for it.
I have a 1997 s-works m2 team frame that I absolutely love. I used to race this bike, and got out of the sport for about 10 years. Recently I replaced a bunch of parts and got th Read More »
Hi folks,
I am wondering about the differences between 1990s Specialized M2 Comp frames vs. the S-Works M2 frames. Both are made in the US, both are "metal matrix" - so what ma Read More »
Here's my latest rider. '94 S-works. This was a sentimental purchase as I've had many M2's during the 90's when I was racing. The 1st generation of M2's were great handlers but ab Read More »
Hi there, I enjoy your lively discussions on this forum (though never participated).
My new-to-me 1992 s-works purple haze frame has translucent decals (downtube "SPECIALIZED" Read More »
I am workinjg on revitalizing my 1997 s-works stumpjumper singlespeed for the singletrack I ride in the louisville ky area. It is currently set up with a marzocchi atom fork I bel Read More »
