Submitted by
jpine93
a Weekend Warrior
from Bay Area, CA, USA Date Reviewed: November 10, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Livewire
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Strengths:
Suspension Design. Very little bob, pedals super well for a 40 pound bike. The parts you just cant go wrong with. Everything about this bike just flat out is excellent. I love it. By far the best bike I have ever ridden.
Weaknesses:
The only thing I can think of is that it doesn't climb like an XC bike, but its not supposed to so thats OK. It does climb exceptionally well for its weight though.
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
Stock 2009 SX Trail 2
Bottom Line:
This is the only bike that I have ever ridden that can climb up pretty damn well and then descend like a DH bike. This bike allowed me to pick lines that I never thought were possible before, and ride those lines easily and fast. Although it is around 40 pounds, maybe a few pounds less, it pedals like its 32 or 33 pounds. Excellent bike, would recommend to freeriders and downhillers that dont always have a shuttle.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
ezmo
a Weekend Warrior
from Espoo Date Reviewed: September 30, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$700.00
Strengths:
Long time proven FSR rear that all others are copying. Great design with low fuse
Weaknesses:
Paintjob. I have 2008 baby blue. Why the h.... was it decided to look used as new?? those scratches on paint I first thought that I bought a rip off little used SX trail, but no. It turned out that it is factory made "cool looking" like stonewashed jeans..... Well luckily I put mostly used parts over the frame, so everything looks quite used now.
Similar Products Used:
Orange Patriot. Giant AC Team, SantaCruz Heckler
Bike Setup:
Manitou Sherman Flick 150mm, SUN Singletrack homemade wheelset, SRAM 7, Saint cranks 36 sprocket with Blackspire DS1 chainguide, I beam post and saddle.....Good old 4 piston XT disk brakes (from last century, believe or not). Nokian NBX2.3 tyres
Bottom Line:
The bike I should have bought long time ago, even its bit heavier than its predecessor Orange Patriot. Rear is so plush and sensitive and active under braking too, I just cannot believe it. No return back to single pivots any more.
I would give 5 stars for both, if the paint job would not contain those factory made scratches...... WHAT WERE YOU THINKING OF???
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
simonmtb
a Downhiller
from Odense Denmark Date Reviewed: July 2, 2008
Favorite Trail:
El Prieto
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$3000.00
Purchased At:
Mammoth
Strengths:
A great allround frame. As close to a do it all bike as I have ridden
Weaknesses:
Wheelset
Similar Products Used:
Santa Cruz Heckler, Ellsworth Id
Bike Setup:
Rock shox Lyric fork, Diablous Headset, Saint dual ring Crankset, Mavic EX729 wheelset. Otherwise as it came.
Bottom Line:
A really great bike. After I destroyed the wheelset and fitted a hand built set, it transformed the bike into a do-it-all, kick arse trail bike.
It´s all I ride now. When it dies, I will absolutly with- out doubt buy another.
If you see yourself as a technical trail rider or light freerider, this should be on your list of bikes to try next time you are looking for THE bike
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mathew
a Weekend Warrior
from London Date Reviewed: March 3, 2008
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$4000.00
Purchased At:
evans
Strengths:
Solid monster of a bike, dialed in geometry makes for a responsive rig. Very stable on corners and on jumps. Looks to die for
Weaknesses:
My 07 had to be re sprayed because the stock colors let the bike down. Also stock parts are a bit weak but its a great bike to use as a project.
Bike Setup:
XO, E13, Chris King Headset, Thomson X4 Stem, EX721s on Pro2. Diablous crank set.
Bottom Line:
Excellent bike, buy it and youll never regret it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Downhiller
from Munich Date Reviewed: February 1, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Geisskopf
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$4000.00
Strengths:
Perfect Geometry, I love it with my 180mm Rc2x with loads of sag. Slack... Soaks up everything, this is the perfect bike for the park Can handle 10+ foots with ease
Weaknesses:
stock saddle
Similar Products Used:
Scott Ransom, Kona Stinky, Kona Stab
Bike Setup:
2007 SX Trail, Avid Codes, Marzocchi 66 RC2X, Fox DHX, Mavic Deemax front, Hope Pro 2 EX823 in yellow back, Lo-Pro Mag II pedals..., Maxxis Minion 2,5
Bottom Line:
Great bike, its sick. That and Specialized's lifetime warranty backing you up: a must buy. definitely recommend it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
matt
a Weekend Warrior
from new zealand Date Reviewed: December 5, 2007
Favorite Trail:
big muma
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$2600.00
Purchased At:
avanti
Strengths:
Does everything including trails and riding uphills
Weaknesses:
Seat is rock hard and i changed the steel beaded tyres which makes it much easier to pedal.
Similar Products Used:
stumpy, enduro,
Bike Setup:
Standard with monkey lite dh bars, Crank brothers 5050xx pedals, and odi extreme grips.
Bottom Line:
Seems to be one of the best bikes around to go uphill and still do jumps and drops. The bike is not phased by anything most people can do.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
waldo bimbalimba
a Weekend Warrior
from england Date Reviewed: August 17, 2007
Favorite Trail:
newlands corner
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
bike shop
Strengths:
great looks. quite expensive
Weaknesses:
shock and wheelset are terrible. heavy. fork leaked and frame buckled
Similar Products Used:
big hit and orange patiot
Bike Setup:
stock apart from brakes.
Bottom Line:
it looks good but performs terribly. get a big hit instead. buy it if you hardly ever do serious freeride and would mostly ride it on xc trails.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Henry hairy
a Downhiller
from socal Date Reviewed: August 13, 2007
Favorite Trail:
trees
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1900.00
Purchased At:
internet
Strengths:
suspension, frame, geometry
Weaknesses:
tires
Similar Products Used:
kona stinky, giant faith, giant ac, scott high octane
Bike Setup:
stock
Bottom Line:
awesome bike, get it, you'll love it
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andrew
a Downhiller
from Coupeville, WA Date Reviewed: August 5, 2007
Favorite Trail:
A-line
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1700.00
Purchased At:
e-bay
Strengths:
Good amount of travel for the weight. Excellent components
Weaknesses:
Stock springs for both the fork and the rear shock are way too weak. Had to upgrade to the XL spring (Yellow) in the VAN R and to a 450 lbs rear shock spring.
Similar Products Used:
Cannondale Gemini, Cannondale Prophet MX,
Bike Setup:
2006 SX Trail II - Stock except for carbon rizer bar and 60mm holzfellar stem.
Bottom Line:
This review is for a 2006 SX Trail II. Great bike if you can get a good deal on one. As stated above, the springs are way too soft. The bike looks sweet and the frame is very strong. Best braking system I've ever used (Avid Juicy 7). I might switch out the 170mm single chainring crankset to a 175mm double chainring w/bashguard to make it easier to get to the top of the mountains.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Cake
a
from Rivercity Date Reviewed: July 19, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$3000.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Stiff. Plush. Fun.
Weaknesses:
Uhh... the seat creaks a bit. I would like to have a few more adjustments on the fork.
I have the 2007 sx trail 2 for starters. The bike feels great. The geometry and the given travel are ideal. Handles 8 foot drops with ease. Took it up to Mammoth and it thrived there. Its a shuttling bike that you can ride up hill if you need to. It'll hook up in climbs if you have the power to back it up but not in the range of XC riding. Very fun bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt
a Weekend Warrior
from NZ Date Reviewed: July 11, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Fox
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Avanti
Strengths:
It has a great riding position, feels bullet proof for jumps, drops and down hill. Can pedal up hill.
Weaknesses:
I might make it a bit lighter but then it may take from its strengths. Seat is rock hard. Quite pricey
Similar Products Used:
nomad, stumpy, enduro sl
Bike Setup:
Stock apart from seat.
Bottom Line:
This bike has increased my limited ability straight away in all areas and i can still pedal it. If your focused on jumps and downhill but want to pedal uphill again this bike is the answer and it is so much fun.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
blaize huntley
a Downhiller
from missoula Date Reviewed: July 9, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2300.00
Strengths:
the slacker head angle makes it great for freeride. it makes your friends look bad and out of shape ha ha. you dont need to shuttle trails.
Weaknesses:
to get it to climb you need to put the seat way up there.
Similar Products Used:
nothing could compare
Bike Setup:
fox 36 tallas, progressive 5th ele.., more...
Bottom Line:
this bike is sick. really easy to ride and get used to.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Phil
a Weekend Warrior
from Boston, ma, usa Date Reviewed: July 2, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2200.00
Strengths:
bullet proof frame!
Weaknesses:
Split rear hub after only 10 rides VF 66 Fork leaking air and oil immediately after first ride For trail riding would like to have a granny ring
Similar Products Used:
Cannondale Gemini
Bike Setup:
2006 SX Trail 1
Bottom Line:
Extremely fun bike to ride. Nice and plush. Aside from being stranded yesterday because of the rear hub this bike has been a pleasure.
The 2007 bike is probably perfect; its specd with a different hub and two rings up front. If you have the choice opt for the 07 over the 06.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Geoff Cole
a Weekend Warrior
from Norwich Date Reviewed: June 18, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
evans cycles
Strengths:
nice looking, rides well till it breaks!!!!!!!!
Weaknesses:
headtube is s**t. rode it for less than 24 hours and the head tube has already ovalized. had a little crash and now its unrideable. done the same thing on many other bikes and never had a problem. sent it back to specialized and apparentaly it is not covered, what bollocks. would not recommend getting 1 if you want a bike that lasts. makes me wonder how many a pro rider gets through in a year.
Similar Products Used:
karpiel armageddon, azonic eliminator 2
Bike Setup:
custom
Bottom Line:
good frame well it lasts but very disapointed in specialized's customer services. def will not be getting another one. get one though if you are into xc its about all its good for!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Geoff Cole
a Weekend Warrior
from Norwich Date Reviewed: June 18, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
evans cycles
Strengths:
nice looking, rides well till it breaks!!!!!!!!
Weaknesses:
headtube is s**t. rode it for less than 24 hours and the head tube has already ovalized. had a little crash and now its unrideable. done the same thing on many other bikes and never had a problem. sent it back to specialized and apparentaly it is not covered, what bollocks. would not recommend getting 1 if you want a bike that lasts. makes me wonder how many a pro rider gets through in a year.
Similar Products Used:
karpiel armageddon, azonic eliminator 2
Bike Setup:
custom
Bottom Line:
good frame well it lasts but very disapointed in specialized's customer services. def will not be getting another one. get one though if you are into xc its about all its good for!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt Earnshaw
a Weekend Warrior
from Barnsley Yorkshire UK Date Reviewed: May 30, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Dalby Forest North Yorkshire UK
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$4000.00
Purchased At:
Bob Trotters York
Strengths:
Everything you can throw at it it takes. It feels so well balanced front and back both wheels work together so well as stock just set shock and forks to middle settings and leave it and go play!! The best thing is that out of the shop its a perfect blast!!
Weaknesses:
The awful tyres no grip in most conditions!! Binned them for some Continental Gravity
Similar Products Used:
Kona Stinky, Demo 8
Bike Setup:
As factory but following changes: tyres to Continental Gravity, pedals to DX SPD's, Easton Bars, Marzocchi 66 Front fender and enduro rear are needed for British Winters especially oop north!!
Bottom Line:
Perfect for any trail any condition use! If you only ever buy one bike this is it! I'd wanted a Specialized since I saw Jason McRoy riding one when I was 14! Absolutely Perfect!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Billy
a Downhiller
from UK Date Reviewed: May 8, 2007
Favorite Trail:
rock monster
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1800.00
Strengths:
everything
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
demo, stinky, mono, patriot
Bike Setup:
stock with kenda tires
Bottom Line:
awesome bike, get it you will love it
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jack R
a Downhiller
from Canada Date Reviewed: May 5, 2007
Favorite Trail:
A line
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1675.00
Purchased At:
n/a
Strengths:
everything, awesome geometry, super fun to ride
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
kona stinky, iron horse sgs, haro x3
Bike Setup:
stock with chain guide
Bottom Line:
awesome bike, would buy it again in heart beat, best purchase of my life, no regrets at all.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
David R
a Downhiller
from Utah Date Reviewed: May 4, 2007
Favorite Trail:
any race course
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1950.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
fork, and frame and just about everything else
Weaknesses:
hmmm... none
Similar Products Used:
kona stab, giant ac, foes mono
Bike Setup:
stock with maxxis tires and race face stem
Bottom Line:
awesome rig, decents like a champ, climbs like a goat, amazing all around bike. Super stabel, great geometry, get it its amazing
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
robbie K
a Downhiller
from US Date Reviewed: May 4, 2007
Favorite Trail:
billy goat
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Purchased At:
used
Strengths:
everything
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
kona stinky, giant faith
Bike Setup:
05 stock, awesome setup
Bottom Line:
get it its an amazing bike, im really happy with it
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Greg H
a Weekend Warrior
from Canada Date Reviewed: May 2, 2007
Favorite Trail:
off camber
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1700.00
Purchased At:
used
Strengths:
everything awesome bike
Weaknesses:
a marzocchi roco or manitou revox would be much nicer than the 5th element
Similar Products Used:
kona stinky, specialized big hit, giant faith
Bike Setup:
2005 sx trail stock
Bottom Line:
awesome bike, get it and u wont be dissapointed, will do everyhthing you want it to do and more, jumps really well and will tear up the slopes
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
JJ C
a Downhiller
from poway Date Reviewed: May 2, 2007
Favorite Trail:
insanity/WC course
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Purchased At:
used
Strengths:
Frame, stand over height, forks, ALOMOST EVERYTHING
Weaknesses:
5th element, you cant just throw any 8.75 i2i shock on cuz how the frame is designed, it needs a special 8.75x2.5, luckly fox makes a dhx specificaly for this frame, it just doesnt have air assist.
Similar Products Used:
05 kona stinky, 04 Haro x2, 05 giant ac, 06 redline skookum, 04 specialized big hit spec
Bike Setup:
2005 sx stock except maxxis minions, fox dhx 5.0, e13 drs, azonic big drop saddle, 170mm 66's
Bottom Line:
Awesome bike, best purchase of my life, super happy with it. It has really dialed geometry and is freaky stable in the air, decents like a champ, eats up everything in its path. Very fun bike to ride and awesome frame design. Can easily soak up all the big hits as well as the small bumps. If you have the chance to get one of theses awesome bikes, do it you wont regret it!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
randy smith
a Downhiller
from utah Date Reviewed: April 16, 2007
Favorite Trail:
insanity
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
used
Strengths:
none at all bike sucks sooooooooooooo bad!!! 5th element is the only strength
Weaknesses:
everything! weighs a ton about 45 pounds very little travel on my 6th frame (others broke) terrible bike set up. gay linkage stupid demo bars. i dont have 1 part on the bike that hasnt broken exept the 5th element.
Bike Setup:
stock(gay)
Bottom Line:
dont get it its super gay and for deuches
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Niall Killoh
a Weekend Warrior
from dufftown Date Reviewed: April 15, 2007
Favorite Trail:
dont have one
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
leiure lakes
Strengths:
I bought the frame only.
They frame weight which is light for a freeride bike but not amazingly light.
Fox dhx 5.0 is a really good shock amazing handles everyhting i throw at it
Weaknesses:
I'm not sure if this is my riding or the bike but theres a small part on the non drive side chain stay that seems to be getting scratched really badly
Similar Products Used:
Non in this league
Bike Setup:
I have custom build: Fox 36 van rc2 chris king headset azonic revenge stem easton ea70 bars saint brakes xt drivetrain saint cranks
wheels hope pro 2 with 721 rims
Bottom Line:
This bike is awsome i spent countless hours reviewing every freeride bike there was i needed a bike to bike up the hill and come down it needed to be able to everything. I bought the medium frame and i am 5ft 9 it suits me perfectly. I do xc fr and dh the bike handles all what impressed me was its abilty to jump it had me jumping way better than i had ever jumped before. I have yet to change the geomtry with the other brackets but the setting i have is the low bb. The seat post i got with the frame was a thompson elite someone mentioned you need a teloscopic seat post i dont need one i can put the seat right down and right up.
The fox shox is awsome im not highly clued up rear shocks and from what i have been told fox dhx arnt top dog anymore they are equal or below some of the new shocks that are coming out but they are awsome perfect for this bike.
this bike is defintly an awosme slopestyle bike it must be if darren berrecloth uses it.
someone who is looking for a can do all bike this bike can do all
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Quad Dam
a Downhiller
from Summerland Date Reviewed: April 14, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Code4
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$3400.00
Purchased At:
Gericks cycle
Strengths:
simpley the best bike I have even owned, it has moved my level of riding way up, im now droping, do gaps, cornering and working on steps ups that I was way to scareed to do on my previous bike. The bike is just sooo stable in the air, it just flyes straight every time, and I now lean way into the corners without a worry, the 36 van up front is amazing and the fox 5.0 on the back suck up all I can throw at them, I am really impressed with the juicy brakes, that squish when you pull is much more comfortable than my previous saints which were an on off sort of feeling. Sram components shift clean every time, so smooth.
Weaknesses:
pedals have no grip and are not sealed, but im gonna swap em when they blow
Similar Products Used:
nothing compares at all.......
Bike Setup:
stock sx trail II 2007
Bottom Line:
I ride this thing up and down and it has been an amazing ride, I really never want to get off of it. It will increase your riding level conciderably and I can't wait to take it to silverstar and whistler this year. A do it all bike in my opinion that can handle epic xc rides and downhill. Just get one and you'll see.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
ova da barz
a Weekend Warrior
from yorkshire, UK Date Reviewed: April 5, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Purchased At:
evans cycles
Strengths:
This review if the 2007 Sx Trail. As on the spesh website.
The ride.... is ridiclous....! You can ride up any fireroad, most single track ascents no bother at all. it's also very easy to push.
On the downs or on shore it simply is soo the best bike i've ever ridden, i've down sized from a demo 8 to get this bike, and it is a revelation.
The whole ride is based to gravity: drops, shore, jumps... if you are a crabon loving flat bars knd of rider then look elsewhere... having said that you're unlikely to be reading this review anyways.
It's so good eh...Why? cos its light, stable, short, balanced, flickable, agile and uses the Fsr platform perfectly.
The spec is great, and you will need the (supplied) 200mm DH rotors on the avid5s, cos the acceleration is phenomenal - you'll scare yourself a lot when you first get it on your fav jumps and singletrack.
Weaknesses:
Getting one.... in the UK.... spesh have seriously made errors this year, the SL project with in house shocks has left a dearth of enduros in europe... bizzarely this includes the Sx trail, despite the out of house shocks on it. They are near as sold out in the UK, for what it's worth if i couldnt get a small i had already decided to import from the USA. Thankfully I found one.
To get the beast up the hills and yet still being able to drop the post completely you need a telescopic post. The chunder tyres supplied are very grippy, but a little too heavy for the all mountain experience... you also need an engineering degree, steel spoons and the patience of a saint to get them on and off.. not too good on the hill.
Similar Products Used:
stinky 04, demo 8 05. both ridden into the ground then sold on to fund the next must have bike! demoed enduro pro, broke a giant VT (DHing on it)
Bike Setup:
Stock, van 36s with DHX coil rear... 160 at the front, 170 at the back... ODI grips with michelin foldable tyres and a telescopic seat post are the only changes i've made.
Oh yeah, and some better flats ( atomlabs, not that it matters)
Bottom Line:
This is the bike that this frame type of enduro was designed for. I am an FSR convert anyways, with the ride, the lack of braking effect on the suspension and the little bob esp. when using platorm shocks being married into a small frame and great standover height with big travel and light weight being what all this bike is all about.... and it really works.
It is as near a do it all MTB that you can have, DJing, FR, shore++, DH (yes, full on DH....) and all mountain are all fully accounted for on this bike!
I cant believe how someone who can ride, and knows what MTB is all about would be disappointed with this machine
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dylan Decker
a Weekend Warrior
from kelowna,bc,canada Date Reviewed: April 2, 2007
$ 3300.00
Overall Rating:
Overall Rating:
Overall Rating:
