Submitted by
Iownthisbike
a Weekend Warrior
from denver, co, 80401
Date Reviewed: July 3, 2010
Strengths: delicious. Still don't think you could find a better hardtail. I have raced, but use it predominantly for free-riding. Performs very well on technical downhill. You don't feel like a fat old man riding this bike (unlike that full suspension bs). It makes trails more fun because it is capable of anything given the rider is capable. Strong frame and great control. I have made upgrades (crank, headset, seatpost, etc.) Surprisingly very good for technical downhill sections (matthew winners, dakota ridge). Also a great lightweight bike that is perfect for getting to the fun stuff with ease (that's half the battle).
Weaknesses: This is not a full suspension bike!!! Don't expect to cruise over every rock or technical spot with ease. I chose a hard tail because I enjoy the control and maneuverability of it. I didn't plan on jumping cliffs or anything like that. It makes hard trails harder (than with a full suspension), which makes it more fun and interesting in my opinion. You cannot ascend or descend technical sections as easily as with a full suspension bike. A friend of mine has a yeti and easily climbs obstacles that take me three or four tries to get up, but when you get it there isn't a better feeling. I had a pair of sid world cups on my sworks and blew them so I went for a heavier duty pair of bombers.... if I have any advice, do not "downgrade" this bike to an expensive pair of 80-100mm shocks, it is a waste of money (stick to 60-80mm shocks, you lose control over the bike with heavier longer travel shocks and control is the only thing that gets you through a tough trail). For the same reason, you will want to keep the bike as light as possible. I'm getting older now, but I will never end up on a full suspension bike, I have too much dignity. Hopefully I can keep this sworks forever.
Bottom Line:
DO NOT BUY THIS BIKE IF YOU DON'T WANT A SERIOUS CHALLENGE (and don't buy this bike if you ride it through the park or on your neighborhood ditch trail, its an insult to the bike and to yourself for being so stupid). A lifetime investment at the price (steep for a hard tail).
Bike Setup: xtr components, wishbone breaks, race face crank, bombers (downgrade from sid world cup), thompson seat post, chris king head set, thompson stem, mavic tubeless, etc.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Steve Pavent
a Cross Country Rider
from Ellijay, GA USA
Date Reviewed: July 18, 2003
Strengths: Stiff, climbs like a mountain goat. Very dependable and fast. Very responsive to rider input and durable, durable durable!!
Weaknesses: On fast bumpy technical downhill it can slow you down a little. But hey that's a hardtail.
Bottom Line:
I'm on a grassroots race team, and this bike is race ready right out of the box. Cranks, stem, bar, Xt front derailer should be replaced with better stuff as it wears. (unless you got $$ to burn) Other than that this bike and it's Specialized predicessors have led me to quite a glorious racing history.
Strengths: It's an S-works, light, and it's hella fast.
Weaknesses: price, it's too stiff.
Bottom Line:
This is my number 2 racing bike. My 2002 Vertex team SC bike is my number 1. I do love my S-works, but it's too stiff and not as smooth as my scandium bike. This is a great bike, don't get me work, but it's also too pricey. My Vertex bike is 20bs and my M5 is 21lbs. Specialized makes great bikes, but the S-works are too pricey. Check out the Rocky Mountain Vertex team SC for a comparison. You will love the the RM Vetex. For the price I give it 3 stars and the overall rating 4
Submitted by
King Weel
a Racer
from Leiden, The Netherlands
Date Reviewed: April 29, 2003
Strengths: Very light, yet stiff and responsive. Agile handling; you only have to turn your eyes from left to right to let this bike corner. Great geometry and low gravity point, makes you accelerate and corner with ease and confidence at high(er) speed!
Weaknesses: None yet.
Bottom Line:
Build this bike properly. I only bought the frame, build it up myself. Many reviews point to weak cranks, '03 XTR is great, shifting from middle to outer cog isn't perfect yet, needs some tuning perhaps. Agile racer, good comfy position, great control. I ride this one with UST tires, but I'm thinking to return to old skool ETRTO system, since this bike deserves lightweight tyres, they will let you ride and accelerate even faster!
Bike Setup: M5, XTR '03, Xmax SL, SID Race Carbon, Thomson stem, seatpost, XC 90 bar.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Steven Place
a Cross Country Rider
from THE DUTCH DER NERTH
Date Reviewed: March 17, 2003
Strengths: Ok. This bike has some serious power, and the accelleration is unbelivable. I would recommend this bike to any racer out there. Its so fast and light, half the time you can't even tell your on it. . .
There are many points that are good. The stock wheelset is a UST Mavic Crossmaxx, which has a powerful and sleek design. The frame, which i have a 21" is seriously good looking and performs even better. Its the best bike i have owned. YES it is a hard tail, but still, its the best hardtail out there. Of course this is an '02, and hopefully things will only get better!
Weaknesses: For a bike of this caliber, i would have prefered an xtr crank, with an xtr front derailer and xt casette. Everything else is top notch.
Bottom Line:
The bottom line is if you can find your size, since these are not made anymore, and have not been for some time now, GET IT. . .or at least get the frame. You can always build a hot component group from the frame, which is a seriously good start. I got mine last august, and its been performing superior to other people who have had lots of problems with their bikes, including myself when i had my c-dale.
Favorite Trail: Anywhere but in front of the computer
Duration Product Used: 6 months
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Purchased At: Long Distance Friend
Similar Products Used: C-dale Scalpel '02 800. Not a good bike. . .
Bike Setup: '02 m5, stock wheels, stock components, new chain though, pc-59. Upgraded stem to a thompson, and handlbar to an Easton CT2, cane creek ergo bar ends, HID light system.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Lane
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego, CA USA
Date Reviewed: December 18, 2002
Strengths: light, very aero, climbs better than any bike I've previously had in the past 10 years.
Weaknesses: None that I have found yet.
Bottom Line:
I was expecting to need several days to get used to the different geometry, new shock, etc. Instead I nipped 2 minutes off a 14 mile (~1:15:00) hilly ride *the first time out*, then another two minutes a couple days later. The stock Crossmax bladed spokes just cut through the air. At 22.25 pounds, this bike is the lighest I've had by 1.5 pounds. Somewhere between weight, the UST tires, aero wheels, all XTR componentry and innovative frame design, this thing climbs like nothing I've experienced before. I got interested in this bike when I saw all 5-chili ratings here on mtbr.com. They weren't exagerating. You should buy this bike if you're into exceptional cross country performance and want superior climbing capability. You wouldn't buy this bike if you're completely into the comfortable ride of a full suspension and/or you're a downhiller.
Strengths: Specialized replaced my busted up M4 S-works with the new M5, and I figured on not much difference between the two... but man was I wrong. At the expense of copying everyone else, I have to say that this bike motors up the hills; little changes in frame specs have made a huge difference to an already fantastic bike. I'm still using parts off my old bike, which is fine by me. Not that I would have minded a complete bike for free, but I wouldn't have wanted the wheels. I wouldn't trust the tubeless wheelset. Instead, I have a relatively cheap set of 16-spokes that I don't have to worry about destroying. Also, the extra weight of my SID xc's doesn't bother me, they're stronger and more adaptable.
Weaknesses: None.
Bottom Line:
So happy the ol' banger's mine... Especially for $0.
Bike Setup: XT v's, XTR drivetrain. Original post, Ti seat, stock stem and bars. Shimano 575 16 spoke wheels. S-works crankset.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Erik
a Weekend Warrior
from Cottage Grove, MN USA
Date Reviewed: October 17, 2002
Strengths: Unbelievably stiff frame with out sacrificing ride quality. Very light. Climbs like a maniac.
Weaknesses: Stock Crank Ugh!!!
Bottom Line:
With the addition of the XTR crankset, this bike is flawless. Sure, the front tire gradually loses air (Stupid Specialized Tubless tires) but I have yet to have a flat or have them let me down. Absolutely the best HT I have ever had the priveledge of owning or riding. 5+ flaming piles.
Similar Products Used: None...had a 98 Stumpjumper prior
Bike Setup: Stock kit but swapped out Cross Max wheelset for Mavic 517/Hugi 240; tubeless is not all there yet.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Glenn
a Cross Country Rider
from Venice, Ca
Date Reviewed: August 6, 2002
Strengths: Frame, wheels and general spec. Looks great too.
Weaknesses: spec cranks
Bottom Line:
The bike was spec’d nicely with the frame and CrossMax wheels being the big draw. XTR brakes, XTR rear and XT front derailleur and shifters were a bonus too. The fork, Rock Shox SID Race Ti. Under 3 lbs. Hmm, have read some sketchy reviews. Way too soon to pass judgment. Probably too light for a 180 lb guy. As for the rest of the components, the cranks (strong-arm II S-Works) super light but not very strong. Too much flex when climbing out of the saddle. Thought it was my brain but then I noticed with all of my weight on the downward pedal I could see it flex as I bounced up and down. Also some chain suck issues. I chose to go with XTR cranks instead of Race Face NEXT LP’s for cost purposes but think I came out ahead in the deal. The XTR’s are amazing, good bye to chain suck forever. Has everything to do with ramps and link bolts on the rings them selves. Never experienced such smooth shifting under load. Even the rear seems to shift better. Hmm, could it be the matched drive train? ? ? Other things to change out (in time), headset, stem and bars. Basically anything that says Specialized except the frame.
Just so you know, the bottom bracket is XT not XTR spline as someone else had posted. They changed the spec mid year. 02
This bike wants to climb! It leaps forward with each stroke when hammering up hills. The bike descends and tracks well in technical stuff. The rear end is stiff, but not too harsh when descending. I thought the wheels would be too light for me, but have not held back on them while riding. If they were prone to truing issues I would have discovered it by now. Also mixed reviews on the wheels but mostly good, seems to be hit and miss with Mavic.
Bottom line… the ride is inspiring. I’ve never ridden harder or faster.
I got a good deal so I have to give it 5 steaming turds for value and 5 steamers for overall rating. Get out and hammer.
Similar Products Used: '98 Klein Attitude comp, Gary Fisher joshua full suspension & Diamond Back hard tail
Bike Setup: M5 S-Works spec & XTR crankset
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Ricardo Tavares
a Cross Country Rider
from Setúbal, Portugal
Date Reviewed: July 28, 2002
Strengths: beutifull design, very light, climbs very well,very fast on accelaration, "a dream bike"!
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
This Bike is fantastic! Climbing it´s one of this bike strengths and sprints like a cheeta!Itá expensive bike but a very nice bike for advanced users, never rode better!!!
Bike Setup: Xtr,Marzocchi Bomber Marathon, FSA ProCarbon cranckset, Mavic crossmax...
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Erik
a Weekend Warrior
from Cottage Grove, MN, USA
Date Reviewed: July 23, 2002
Strengths: Very light and fast. Super frame weight distribution for stability.
Weaknesses: Crankset.
Bottom Line:
This bike is noticeably faster than my 1999 Stumpjumper Pro. It climbs like a mad dog and is very responsive in techincal areas. Roots and trees are no match for this bike. It has decent clearance and the FS (SID Race) is great. Lots of travel and tuneablilty. Overall, with the exception of the crank (which I will be replacing with a Race Face Next LP soon) it is a stellar deal, and it will not dissapoint!
Strengths: I just buyed the frame, but is has no weaknesses at all.
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
This is an awesome race machine, the colors are great and his new geometry it is perfect, buy it if you like to race or just to do a hardtail. Just a few months ago i was asking my self which one of the next bikes would be the best for me: a trek 8000, cannondale F3000 or the new M5 by specialized, so after searching a lot the answer was M5 so dont think to much about it, it´s a super machine.
Similar Products Used: F3000 sl by cannondale. Trek 8500 and 9.8.
Bike Setup: a short stem
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Ian
a Cross Country Rider
from Shell Beach, CA
Date Reviewed: May 6, 2002
Strengths: M5 tubing is the most trick tubes I have ever seen, new geometry is a big upgrade. Bike looks very cool, has VERY high end part spec.
Weaknesses: TruVativ made cranks with XT bottom bracket are great, but cheesy chain rings shift badly, swapped them for nickel plated rings from a Stylo Team crank, big improvment. Rockster UST tires are not good in any conditions I have found. Spec. BG saddle seems to be some sort of mid-evil torture device hiding as a saddle, if I hadn't seen the same saddle in pictures, I would swear they were angry at me and installed it as revenge.
Bottom Line:
If you are a techy racer, that likes manipulated aluminum frames, get this bike... I work with a bunch of 1 speed anti-cyclists or 12" travel armagedon cyclists, yet all were drawn to my simple geared hardtail, and wanted to ride it. It climbs like a bandit, and descents well despite stiff rear end. Very light and SUPER agile. Did I mention it looks really cool too?
Bike Setup: Stock, except upgraded rings, tires, saddle and Easton Monkey lite SL bar.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
JON LOCKE
a Racer
from PLYMOUTH, DEVON, ENGLAND
Date Reviewed: February 5, 2002
Strengths: SUPER COOL LOOKS, LOW WEIGHT, VERY RESPONSIVE-NEW GEOMETRY CLIMBS LIKE A DREAM AND INSPIRES CONFIDENCE ON THE MORE TECHNICAL DESCENTS. THE LONG TOP TUBE ALLOWS FOR A SHORTER STEM WHICH IN MY OPINION IS A MUST FOR TECHNICAL COURSES/TRAILS. THE LOW STANDOVER IS ALSO A MUCH BETTER DESIGN-LIKE KONA'S EXCELLENT KULA FRAME BUT SLIGHTLY LIGHTER ALTHOUGH PROBABLY NOT AS STRONG. ALSO, THE NEW M5 ALLOY IS MORE FORGIVING THAN OTHER SUPERLIGHT ALU FRAMES BUT NO FLEX CAN BE FELT WHEN SPRINTING HARD.
Weaknesses: NONE REALLY BUT TOP ROUTED CABLES WOULD BE NICE FOR EASIER MAINTAINENCE AND WOULD ALLOW FOR A CRUD CATCHER TO BE FITTED WITHOUT MESSING UP THE SHIFTING-does anyone use these anymore?
Bottom Line:
SUPERLIGHT RACE FRAME THAT CAN BE BUILT UP TO UNDER 20lb!(mine is 20.5ib with discs and tubeless wheels) IF YOUR'E AN XC RACER WHO WANTS THE BEST NO COMPROMISE HARDTAIL, THERE REALLY IS NO SUBSTITUTE!!!
