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Submitted by
Steve Pavent
a Cross Country Rider
from Ellijay, GA USA
Date Reviewed: July 18, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Any | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | actionwheelsport, st. pete FL | | 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. | | Similar Products Used: | Schwinn Homegrown, Specialized S-Work M-4 2002 and 2001. | | Bike Setup: | Stock, but added Cane Creek suspention seatpost. It adds a little weight but helps a lot on the fast bumpy sections. | | 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. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Frank
a Racer
from San Diego
Date Reviewed: June 8, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$3200.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | It's an S-works, light, and it's hella fast. | | Weaknesses: | price, it's too stiff. | | Similar Products Used: | Vertex team SC | | Bike Setup: | Full XTR, Crossmax | | 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 | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
King Weel
a Racer
from Leiden, The Netherlands
Date Reviewed: April 29, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | 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. | | Similar Products Used: | Similar to this M5??!! | | Bike Setup: | M5, XTR '03, Xmax SL, SID Race Carbon, Thomson stem, seatpost, XC 90 bar. | | 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! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steven Place
a Cross Country Rider
from THE DUTCH DER NERTH
Date Reviewed: March 17, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Anywhere but in front of the computer | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | Long Distance Friend | | 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. | | 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. | | 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. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lane
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego, CA USA
Date Reviewed: December 18, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | San Juan | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | used | | 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. | | Similar Products Used: | Lightspeed, Univega Boralyn, KHS 4000. | | Bike Setup: | All XTR, crossmax/michelin wildgripper USTs, SID Race. | | 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. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dominic Willsher
a Weekend Warrior
from Ottawa
Date Reviewed: October 22, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Got nothing | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Frontenac Cycle | | 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. | | Similar Products Used: | S-works M4 | | Bike Setup: | XT v's, XTR drivetrain. Original post, Ti seat, stock stem and bars. Shimano 575 16 spoke wheels. S-works crankset. | | Bottom Line: | So happy the ol' banger's mine... Especially for $0. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Erik
a Weekend Warrior
from Cottage Grove, MN USA
Date Reviewed: October 17, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Murphy Hanrehan | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2300.00 | | Purchased At: | Erik's Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Unbelievably stiff frame with out sacrificing ride quality. Very light. Climbs like a maniac. | | Weaknesses: | Stock Crank Ugh!!! | | Similar Products Used: | Stumpjumper Pro, Big Sur, ProFlex Animal | | Bike Setup: | Stock with XTR Crank, Profile Carbon bar ends, Time Carbon pedals. | | 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. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jim Vreeland
a Racer
from Penfield NY USA
Date Reviewed: August 8, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$3000.00 | | Purchased At: | Sugar's BIke Shop | | Strengths: | Wieght, speed, SID Race Ti, shifting...weight... | | Weaknesses: | Chain suck | | 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. | | Bottom Line: | Excellent racing and climbing bike. Excellent tracking in fast descents and on singletrack. Beautiful rig all-around.
5 steaming puppies to it!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Glenn
a Cross Country Rider
from Venice, Ca
Date Reviewed: August 6, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | anything with epic climbs | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Super Go | | Strengths: | Frame, wheels and general spec. Looks great too. | | Weaknesses: | spec cranks | | Similar Products Used: | '98 Klein Attitude comp, Gary Fisher joshua full suspension & Diamond Back hard tail | | Bike Setup: | M5 S-Works spec & XTR crankset | | 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. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ricardo Tavares
a Cross Country Rider
from Setúbal, Portugal
Date Reviewed: July 28, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Moinhos (Palmela) | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | Biciplus | | Strengths: | beutifull design, very light, climbs very well,very fast on accelaration, "a dream bike"! | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | Giant Team World Cup | | Bike Setup: | Xtr,Marzocchi Bomber Marathon, FSA ProCarbon cranckset, Mavic crossmax... | | 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!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Erik
a Weekend Warrior
from Cottage Grove, MN, USA
Date Reviewed: July 23, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Battle Creek | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2400.00 | | Purchased At: | Erik's Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Very light and fast. Super frame weight distribution for stability. | | Weaknesses: | Crankset. | | Bike Setup: | Stock with Profile Carbon bar ends and Time Attack Carbon pedals | | 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! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ed pc
a Racer
from MX
Date Reviewed: May 16, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | All | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Purchased At: | Casa diaz Felix | | Strengths: | I just buyed the frame, but is has no weaknesses at all. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | F3000 sl by cannondale.
Trek 8500 and 9.8. | | Bike Setup: | a short stem | | 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. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ian
a Cross Country Rider
from Shell Beach, CA
Date Reviewed: May 6, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Specialized direct | | 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. | | Similar Products Used: | Litespeed pisgah, Sugar 1, Trek STP 300, Cannondale | | Bike Setup: | Stock, except upgraded rings, tires, saddle and Easton Monkey lite SL bar. | | 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? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
JON LOCKE
a Racer
from PLYMOUTH, DEVON, ENGLAND
Date Reviewed: February 5, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | NEWNHAM PARK(world cup xc venue) | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Purchased At: | EVANS CYCLES | | 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? | | Similar Products Used: | KONA KULA, SPECIALIZED STUMPJUMPER PRO | | Bike Setup: | M5, SID RACE, FULL XTR, RACEFACE HEADSET/STEM/BAR, MAVIC CROSSROC UST, FORMULA B4 DISCS, PANARACER TRAILBLASTER PRO TYRES. | | 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!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sean
a Cross Country Rider
from Lenexa, KS USA
Date Reviewed: January 25, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Mountain Goat - Winter Park, CO | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2800.00 | | Purchased At: | BikeSource - Overland Park | | Strengths: | Corners and climbs very well without being nearly as stiff as my previous bike (thankfully).
The picture on the website does not do justice to the flares and butting on the top tube, head tube and down tube.
Beautiful craftsmanship. | | Weaknesses: | I can't keep the rear brake line from slapping the top tube.
For the price I would have expected full XTR. | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for Hayes hydraulic discs. | | Bottom Line: | Overall, I'm very happy with the bike, this is a warranty upgrade from an M4 that busted just above the disk brake mount on the seat stay. The new frame appears to be a little beefier in that area. Any hard core XC rider will appreciate the quality of this bike and it's components. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin Gallagher
a Cross Country Rider
from Winston-Salem, NC, USA
Date Reviewed: December 31, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | uhwarrie | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2800.00 | | Purchased At: | Paul's Schwinn Cycling & Fitness | | Strengths: | Freakishly light, climbs very well and accelerates with ease. Nice handling for a race machine. Crossmax. Sid Race. | | Weaknesses: | house brand stem and handlebar | | Similar Products Used: | m2-comp | | Bike Setup: | stock set-up except for Chris King headset | | Bottom Line: | This bike is an all out racer. It's light weight combined with the tubeless tires allow me to push one or two gears harder than previously. The specialized tires are exceptional and even handle mud without too much slippin' around. Also, they don't leak much air. The race titanium SID is quite plush and I have taken advantage of it's infinite tunability to really dial it in the way I want it. The lock out is also quite nice. The fork is a little flexy and does experience some deflection but the weight savings make up for it in my opinion. The bottom line is that this bike rocks. I absolutely love it. For all you hardtail hold-outs out there this one smokes. It leaves the rider with no excuses not to hammer. Also, the guys and gal(hi Hope) at Paul's are the best. If you find yourself in Winston-Salem stop by and check 'em out. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve Hanlon
a Cross Country Rider
from L.A., CA, U.S.A.
Date Reviewed: December 4, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | The Flume | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Warranty Frame | | Strengths: | Climbs like a bat out of hell.
Tracks better than any bike I have ever ridden.
Stiff in the bottom bracket area but forgiving in the rear.
Very light | | Weaknesses: | None so far | | Similar Products Used: | 1984 Stumpjumper Sport
1988 Stumpjumper Comp
1994 S-Works M2
1998 S-Works M2XX | | Bike Setup: | XT Drivetrain and brakes, Crank Brothers Pedals, King Headset, Mavic Crosslink Wheels, Answer Bar/Ends | | Bottom Line: | This is by far the best racing hardtail Specialized has ever built. It climbs faster than the FSR version but is not as forgiving on technical downhill sections. However, it could be argued that it makes you into a better rider because you're forced to really concentrate on technique and form. I've ridden my friends full-suspension bikes and this is my still my number one choice. I'd rather be the first one to the top than the first one to the bottom anyday. With that said, it's still much better at descending than any of the earlier Specialized hardtails. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dave reskelly
a
from sunny england, uk
Date Reviewed: November 26, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | too many | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$750.00 | | Purchased At: | cyclelogic, cornwall, uk | | Strengths: | light, stiff but not harsh, looks cool | | Weaknesses: | made from aluminium and therefore not repairable. | | Similar Products Used: | been riding steel kona's for the past 10 years | | Bike Setup: | duke sl's, hope discs both ends, hope tit. bottom bracket, race face stem, middleburn dual chainset (44,32), xt 12,34 cassette, xtr shifters and mechs, time atac pedals, chris king headset and raceface flat bars! | | Bottom Line: | it rides like a custom bike. after riding steel for so long i thought it was going to give my back hell, but nothing of the sort. it sprints well, no rubbing of the rear disc at all yet seems to absorb most of the trail 'sting'. handling is superb, easy, especially singletrack where it goes exactly where you point it. thoroughly recommended! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Flabby Boy
a Cross Country Rider
from Edinburgh
Date Reviewed: November 17, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$700.00 | | Strengths: | Light, looks good, stiff but not overly so at the rear. The headtube arrangement looks a little weird but I actually like it. Doesnt feel overly fragile. | | Weaknesses: | Nothin really to note as yet. Bit of chain suck- concerned this is to do with the chainline. The same kit worked faultlessly with my previous Kona frame, but already had two bad ones. The kit is pretty new. Hmm.
| | Similar Products Used: | Dekerf, kona, trek blahh blah.... | | Bike Setup: | xt/xtr hope mini fr, duke race.... | | Bottom Line: | Solid handling frame that looks great. Worth the money, epecially @ staff discount ;-). Some might find the rear a little too stiff, but just use a slightly bigger tyre with less pressure.......enjoy! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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