Submitted by
J. Livingston
a Weekend Warrior
from Midland, Texas, USA
Date Reviewed: October 30, 2010
Strengths: I've owned my M2 S-Works Team Edition since it came out, I bought it new. It is light, easy to handle and has taken everything presented to it without a breakdown. This is a great bike for the weekend warrior to the hardcore off-roader. This is the bike Net Overend rode to a number of World Championships. Enough said!
Submitted by
Hexen
a Cross Country Rider
from Alexandria, VA USA
Date Reviewed: December 12, 2008
Strengths: This bike hands down is awesome. Its light, fast, and good looking. Its perfect for single track ,fire roads and the daily commute. The way I have it setup currently it weighs in at 20lbs. Best of all the bike is autographed by Ned Overend and its Neon GREEN!
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
The way this bike is set up it weighs about 20lbs. Mavic crosstrail wheels for off road and a Crossride for commuting. I am running 26x1.0 tires for commuting and 26x1.3 cyclcross tires for off road. I really enjoy the rigid set up it works very well on this bike. I would recommend this frame to anyone looking for a great hardtail. It took years of nagging my coworker to sell it to me and he still regrets selling it.
Similar Products Used: Bontrager Hardtail
Seven Sola Steel
Bike Setup: XT 9 front and rear, SLX crankset, Sram Rocket 9 grip shift, XTR brakelevers, 09 XT v brakes, 3t Mutant Stem, Icon graphite bars, Titanium bar ends, ,Crank Bros headset, ,Mavic Crosstrail Wheelset, Windwood Rigid carbon fork, Specialized Indie saddle, and the only original part the Ritchey Seatpost.
Similar Products Used: not much compares to this ride
Bike Setup: full xtr, 2001 80mm bomber marathon air fork, 22.7 pounds.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Brian McMillan
a Cross Country Rider
from Oakland, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: January 24, 2006
Strengths: Arguably the greatest off the rack race frame ever built. Smooth ride, light, fast climber and stable down hills. Unreal on singletrack.
Weaknesses: Haven't found any yet.
Bottom Line:
Found this bike on craigslist in '03. It had sat in this guys garage for six years only ridden on the road and on fire trails for a grand total of about 200 miles. He even threw in a pair of Specialized Fatboys (really skinny slicks) with tubes for free. My all time dream bike purchased at essentially 75% off. I was laughing as I rode the bike to my car after the purchase until I flipped over the handlebars from hitting the XT v-brakes, good times.
Similar Products Used: '97 Kona Hot, Reynolds 853 (stolen out of car)
Bike Setup: Stock, all XT except for XTR rear derailleur, Ritchey everything else (love the steel seatpost, absorbs bumps), Manitou SX Ti forks (kept lubed and filled with oil), Salsa seat (comfy)
Strengths: Climbs like a dream, really responsive,great handling.
Weaknesses: Really Stiff...pretty unforgiving.
Bottom Line:
Brilliant frame, has showed me the light of hardtails, if you have the chance to get one take it. M2 material is great, so stiff it's not funny. Buy it if you want to go very fast... but not if you have back problems.
Bike Setup: Specialized S-Works M2 '98 Frame, A-Class 24-spoke wheels, Full XTR except shifters (LX is lighter). Raceface Ride XC Cranks, Easton EA50 handlebars, Thomson Elite stem, RockShox SID Team '04 80mm forks. Avid Ball Bearing Disc front, Avid Arch Rival V on rear. Sram hollowpin chain and PG-990 cassete, Selle Italia Octavia Saddle, Wellgo Mg pedals etc (i could go on forever)
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Ben
a Cross Country Rider
from rio rancho, nm, usa
Date Reviewed: August 8, 2004
Strengths: This bike is light, it handles well, great frame, great components, rapid fire shifters
Weaknesses: NONE
Bottom Line:
I have had this bike for 8 years now and I could honestly say that I love it. I ride 4 or 5 days a week every week and have done that for years and this bike still rocks! Yes, I could buy a new bike but why? This bike still rocks and I keep up with everyone I ride with on this one. Wouldn't even think of getting rid of it.
Submitted by
dave
a Cross Country Rider
from santa barbara
Date Reviewed: September 25, 2003
Strengths: Stiff, has handled everything with a Firm, yet eager attitude (yeah hills)- has handled wheelie drops, ramps, and 100 mile races, dessert sands, rocky and rooty and -lumbery?- new england-- all in stride.
Weaknesses: Ritchey components- based on my experience with them on this bike- I'll never purchase. (Pedals very poor, the 31.5 post is not designed by anyone who knows what 'human factors engineering' is- get a shim-).
Oh- I almost forgot!!- I now have a nice smooth XTR bottom bracket(have had it 4 years- flawless)- I swear, though, when I pulled the original out after it developed 2 mm of play (!)- I thought I was looking at a k-mart bike (plastic sleeve, free bearings and all-). The worst spec. ever! (Other than Giant putting 7speed kmart chains on 9 speed mid/high end bikes). I can hear the marketing guys now: "no one ever looks at the bottom bracket, just the rear derailleur". Though in fairness, and in contrast, the rest of the specs were great (other than those pedals).
Bottom Line:
I'd love to hate this bike- I've moved to wanting a full squish and this thing won't die. Every inch of mountain biking I've done (Moab, Colorado, New hamshire, Virginia, California, Upstate NY) has been on this frame (all components replaced at leat once except the cranks, which are still original. (If you're curious- the rear xt hub and xtr v-brakes were the only things to last- I swapped out the flat bar and chopper-long stem early on- so no fair to say they lasted). My next frame will probably be a truth- I'll probably sell this- my baby- since it's been a bit small (I've actually grown since I got it when i was freshman in college!). This is such a stiff frame I'd always thought I'd break it-it's held up to very tough riding--I'm really impressed.
Bike Setup: XT/XTR; raceface cranks, Zochhi Marathon up front (that manituou sx-ti was crappy; Manituou sx-r- was awesome). Time atac, rock shox susp seatpost, hayes/king/517/317 rims- Magura disc brake up front (not recommended- have an air leak in the master cylynder).
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Tony
a Cross Country Rider
from Toronto, Canada
Date Reviewed: November 18, 2002
Strengths: It's stiffer than me in the morning lying next to Anna Kournikova, hence its climbing ability is phenonmenal(combo of its lightweight and stiffnes). Extremely responsive and controllable at high speed and tight corners without having any troubles. In essence, this bike is almost telepathic when it comes to performce. The components are as good as it gets without breaking the bank.
Weaknesses: It's NOT a cushy/forgiving ride (go get yourself a cruiser with a suspension seat if that's what you want). You can basically buy a used car for the price of a brand new one, but I still prefer to ride.
Bottom Line:
This is a "dream bike" for any average Joe, The sheer speed I get from this bike is almost too much at times(topped it out at 60km/h or 38mp/h). I feel like I could lay down a rubber patch if I had slicks, thankfully I have those trusty XTR brakes, yeah!. I like to ride to work & back (44km round trip or 28 miles), and the stiffness is not an issue in city riding in terms of comfort. Plus the fact that I can brag about getting to work 20 min quicker than public transportation is always something to glow about.
Favorite Trail: valley trails, long city rides with light urban action!
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Purchased At: private buyer
Similar Products Used: 9700 Trek carbon fibre
Bike Setup: XTR/Deore XT mix, Thomson seat post, Mavic X517 rear wheel with older 217 sunshine front wheel(it's damn light!), Manitou SX Ti shock(I know time to upgrade)
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Dominic Willsher
a Weekend Warrior
from Kingston, ON, Canada
Date Reviewed: October 2, 2001
Strengths: Excellent bike... perfect groupset; Stiff and light, looks sharp!! Have received excellent support from Specialized... couldn't have wished for better service.
Weaknesses: Older style Shimano splined bottom bracket is XTR... difficult to find tools to take it out. Also have had problems with stripping the crank.
Bottom Line:
I LOVE MY BIKE. Wouldn't trade it for the world, I don't even let my girlfriend ride it. Amazing bike, and even when it lets me down, Speciaized comes to the rescue. Quick story; in England last year, riding the cliffs of the south west coast, and my hub body rode itself into the hub and seized. Totally my fault; I hadn't tightened it in properly, and was reaming on the bugger up the cliffs. Anyway, Specialized UK (I bought the bike in Canada) sent me a rear wheelset within 5 days to a campsite that I was stranded at in the middle of nowhere. Thanks to a great company, my holiday suffered no more than a hiccup, in what could have been a catastrophe, seeing that I had no money, and was hundreds of miles from home.
Similar Products Used: Klein Adroit Specialized StumpJumper Comp
Bike Setup: ?? Set up for what? Mainly original parts... new tires... I recommend Panaracer FireXCPro... been using them for 18 months with no complaints. Stock handlebar is very light at 185gr, but is ugly as sin...
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Paul Pratt
a Cross Country Rider
from Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Date Reviewed: July 1, 2001
Strengths: Unbreakable, fast, climbs like a demon and eats up singletrack descents!
Weaknesses: The crappy Suntour Microdrive Groupset it came with.
Bottom Line:
Awesome, I have had this bike for almost 10 years and it just kicks ass....I don't think I will ever need to buy a new bike...well maybe a nice new M4!!
this bike kicks ass... when i began racing two summers ago, i tested over 15 bikes,and this one was and always will be my favorite. to anyone who wants a comfortable, reliable bike, i recommend the s-works (with a bright pink paint job-- trust me, it makes the bike:-)
Submitted by
rob simopoulos
a Weekend Warrior
from waterdown, Ontario
Date Reviewed: January 11, 2000
Strengths: Light as hell Great hill climber
Weaknesses: short travel front fork
Bottom Line:
I love this bike. Bought it two years ago, used, in cherry condition for $900 cdn. Thought it was a steal. This bike climbs like no tomorrow. It is a great X.C. bike. Both the front and rear shock does not have much travel. I'm not that concerned about the rear end ( I like it stiff) but would like to upgrade the front shock to something a little more plush. Sucks on downhills, bounces all over the placeStill I love this bike!!!
Bike Setup: s-works FSR (95,96,97?) - Full XT - specialized carbon/titanium front fork -Fox rear air shock - bontrager riser bar - Lot's of kick ass canadian flag stickers (true patriot)
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Colin
a Cross-Country Rider
from Aurora ONt.Can.
Date Reviewed: December 10, 1999
Strengths: This bike loves to blast over anything you put in front of it. Bring on the tough stuff!!!!!!!!!!!
Weaknesses: None to speak of except my buddy who has a fullsuspesion bike thinks it's not heavy enough(ha ha ha)
Bottom Line:
Awesome thanks honey for a wicked Xmas present last year
I bought the frame and put the bike together over time. I have raced this bike for a long time, and it has lasted through thick and thin. I wouldn't trade it for the world. Well, maybe the world.
Submitted by
andy
a Cross-Country Rider
from saratoga
Date Reviewed: September 13, 1999
Strengths: light, stiff and fast
Weaknesses: creaks sometimes seat stay flex
Bottom Line:
i have been very happy with this frame. it is a '96 that i just bought this summer, it was basically new. it held up well over a hrad summer of riding. the bike is light and fells solid. no probelm so i'll give it 5 flammers
