Submitted by
ThrottleJock
a Racer
from Southeastern US Date Reviewed: August 27, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Old Cactus Cup XC course in Gunnison, CO
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1650.00
Purchased At:
ebay!
Strengths:
Light, stiff, light, stiff.
Weaknesses:
Very race-oriented, no compromise made for comfort, maybe too light.
Similar Products Used:
Kestrel CSX, Trek OCLV's, various Cannondales, Yeti ARC.
Bike Setup:
SID Team fork, Dolomite (crap) UST wheels, XO grip shifters, X9 front and rear gorillas, SWORKS carbon post, Noir Carbon 2x9 crank, SRAM RED ceramic b/b, 11-26 SRAM cassette, eggbeaters, XTR V-brakes, Ritchey WCS carbon stem & bars, Sette race seat, SWORKS swausenheimerschmidt/fast-track tire combo, singletrack specialties stubby bar ends.
Bottom Line:
20.8lbs angry XC race machine. Could be in the 19lbs range pretty easy with Crossmax SLR's or Cobalt wheels, but for cripes sakes this thing's light enough. There's no need for low gearing or a granny ring because this bike is all about going fast. It sucks as a trail bike but absolutely rips in race mode. Rough, technical trails are no fun as the ridiculously stiff frame beats you into pulp and the sharp scary rocks always seem like they're reaching out to threaten punching a hole in your frame. Get this thing on a nice, groomed, flowy race course though and it absolutely RIPS. Downhills and airtime are a little sketch due to the stupid light weight, and it's necessary to load the front end through turns due again to the light weight, and sit somewhat back over the rear to keep traction on climbs because power transfer is so direct and immediate that it's easy to light up the tire under power. I'm a point & shoot force/power rider and this is really a finesse bike, so I'm learning to adjust my riding style a bit... but man is it fun.
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Submitted by
Rick Dawson
a Cross Country Rider
from Waterlooville UK Date Reviewed: August 1, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Southdowns - around QEII park
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
super light and stiff frame. Great to have a frame that makes you fit the best you can.
Weaknesses:
Need to look after it like a new born baby....
Bike Setup:
as much carbon specced as possible - SRAM XO Shifters and rear Mech - XT chain set with SRAM chain, XTR front mech and SPD's. Hpoe Mono mini front rear disc's, Reba Shocks, Xmax fitted with panaracer firexcpro. Carbon Monkey bars with specialized carbon bar-ends. Hope stem
Bottom Line:
Have done a few short rides mixed road and off road and a long 100 mile ride - trail from Ilfracombe to Plymouth. Really loving the ride, have discovered the pleasures for climb hills and sprinting. Still getting use to the light tail on single track down hills - feels skitty at times which is unnerving, maybe i could use the words lively and exciting....
Have a Kona Full Suspension which now feels like riding a sofa compared to the specialized but thats not say the specialized is not comfortable just a completely different ride.
FAB....may look at the S-Work FRS next....
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Submitted by
LukaS-Works
a Racer
from Wetzikon Date Reviewed: February 20, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Swiss Alps
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Swiss Dealer
Strengths:
light weight, handling in extreme situation, geometry, stiffness of carbon frame. Use it as a race bike for mtb marathons.
Weaknesses:
not a bike for sissies! It is a REAL hard tail and if you are the enduro/freeride freak, this will hurt after 2 hours! It is realy stifffff.
Stumpjumper S-Works Carbon frame 18', Manitou MRD Fork, XTR, X-0 SRAM, Roval wheels, Racing Ralph, Magura Martha, Thomson parts
Bottom Line:
I was shocked when I did my first ride with this bike: it is heaven on earth! The "good old stumpjumper geometry" is exactly what you need. Fast, direct access to the ground in any situation. A very agile bike though. With the carbon frame, all your power is directly turned into speeeeed... I am wondering why I moved to fullies years ago. You don't need them for races, they're good for training purposes. I am lovin' it!
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Submitted by
william
a
from nashville Date Reviewed: October 15, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
weight, looks, geometry
Weaknesses:
strength?, price
Similar Products Used:
M5 S works
Bike Setup:
07 XTR, Thomson, DT swiss, Fox F100
Bottom Line:
Heartbreaker story!!! Shortest honeymoon ever, I took it for just 3 rides and on the third one took a low speed fall that rendered the frame unrideable. Seatstay cracked on a rock. This won't happen to everyone, I know, but I want to caution you before you buy. Carbon is more temprimental than al, ti, or steel. Be Careful! Unless you are sponsored or have lots of money to burn, you might want to stear clear. HOWEVER, for the short time I did get the pleasure of riding this bike it was a dream! Fast as hell, lighter than a feather, and forgiving for a hardtail. I love Specialized stuff, so I'm not going to hate, just want to caution you so maybe you won't lose a bunch of time and money like me. I give 4 chili's cuz it was the best 4 hours of riding i've ever spent. Happy ridin'!
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Submitted by
Guy
a Cross Country Rider
from New Zealand Date Reviewed: September 5, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Purchased At:
Cyclesurgery Spitafields
Strengths:
Light, Stiff, Clean simple understated looks.
Weaknesses:
The rider
Similar Products Used:
Specilazed Stumpy 07 HT and 07 FSR comp
Bike Setup:
07 XTR Cranks, 07 XT front Derailleur, X0 RD, Sram 991 Chain Set, Mavic crossmax SLR's, Panaracer fire XC pros, Charge spoon titanium saddle, Easton Monkeylites CNT bars X0 shifters Hope Mono Mini Pros, Rock Shox Rebas UT Team with Poploc fitted, Thomson Elite X4 stem and elite seatpost.
Bottom Line:
I havent gone for the lightest kit, just kit I know works and works well and with this frame the ride is superb. I feel like it is a chuckable, confident though a bit twitchy on the rock but that is due to the weight (21.9lbs)you do get used to it pretty quickly. I have never been able to accelerate so quickly as I have on this bike and climbing, as much as it can be, is a breeze. Oh I ride a 17 inch and am 5.8 and the geometry is fantastic. I dont race so in the heat of battle I dont know how this compares to other top of the line rigs but it is a pure grin factor bike for me. I am not soft on my bikes and they do tend to get abused (probably my tendency to stop myself with my head), this Carbon S works has taken a fair few knocks already but is holding up like a trooper.The price was pretty good for me but it is on the high side but I am a firm believer in that you get what you pay for and this has delivered. If you are bike lover who loves the challenge of a hardtail and or race, buy it, I have not looked back.
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Submitted by
Dave Harvey
a Cross Country Rider
from Norfolk, UK Date Reviewed: June 17, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Any
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2500.00
Purchased At:
Evans
Strengths:
Fast, comfortable, excellent geometry, sloping top tube (extra clearence), well built, ultra light!
Weaknesses:
A little expensive, but it is lovely.
Similar Products Used:
Trek 8000, Trek OCLV
Bike Setup:
Full XTR, Hope Mono Mini Pro, Mavic Crossmax SLR wheels
Bottom Line:
Its a fantastic frame, which is well worth every penny. It looks horny..every one looks at!! If you can afford 1200 quid for a top class XC frame get one, you won't be disappointed. I think my complete setup is about 19lbs!
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Submitted by
Patrick Case
a Cross Country Rider
from Devon UK Date Reviewed: December 31, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Dartmoor in the summer
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Braking Wind, Dawlish, Devon
Strengths:
Good finish, no ugly V brake bosses. Geometry spot on for first class handling.Specialized warranty.
Bought frame only and swopped bits from previous bike. Hope hubs, Mavic 717, Hope Minis, Easton carbon bars and post, Sram gripshift and XT.
Bottom Line:
This bike rides like a dream. Far better in terms of comfort and handling than the Giant XTC Composite I just got rid of. Gives me the help I need on the hills in this part of the world. Expensive frame but worth the cash if you can. Don't think you could get a better hardtail. Keep things light and simple. Go and see Bob down at Braking Wind and get fixed up.
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Submitted by
Luis Javier Arce Perez
a Cross Country Rider
from Bayamon Puerto Rico Date Reviewed: November 25, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Albergue OlimpicO, Salinas P.R..
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1800.00
Purchased At:
1800
Strengths:
Liviano, flexible en los single tracks, sientes como si doblara en la parte trasera, lo que hace mantenerte estable. En las bajadas pedregosas absorve los golpes.
Weaknesses:
Muy costosa.
Similar Products Used:
S-works M5
Bike Setup:
Full XTR, Fork Rock Shox sid team, stem and seat post thomson, handle bar titec titanium 118 gramos crank brothers triple titanium pedals, selle italia slr saddle.
Bottom Line:
A monster machine 21.5 lbs.
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Submitted by
MAXIMO GARCIA
a Cross Country Rider
from CARACAS Date Reviewed: November 25, 2006
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
5000
Strengths:
the power thasmission is perfect, the carbon frame absorb a lot the vibration in the road
Weaknesses:
none at the moment
Similar Products Used:
santa cruz blur blur full xtr
Bike Setup:
full xtr 2007, mavic crossmax slr 2007
Bottom Line:
i dont kwon if is because im emoocinated because new bike but i climb better and i felt the bike superior in all condition, im improve my times i just feel this bike as a ferrari, is not chap bike but the setep is total full competition a top of the line, if you want it a bice for serios racer xc this is the bike, and the look ia amazing, you will get wat you pay..
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Submitted by
Jim Turner
a Racer
from Dallas, TX, USA Date Reviewed: November 11, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Mt Snow Vermont, Vail
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$3500.00
Purchased At:
Richardson Bike Mart
Strengths:
Solid carbon construction, extreme racing geometry and very light (1445 gr WITH headset AND seat collar clamp).
Weaknesses:
Paint scheme could be better. Not much else bad to say.
Similar Products Used:
Klein Adroit Pro, Trek 9.9, S-works Epic
Bike Setup:
'07 SID WC (w/out pop lock), '07 XTR, King/Mavic wheelset, XT cassett, XTR cables, rapid fire pods, ritchey stem, specialized carbon seat post, continental race tires: 20.6 lbs!
Bottom Line:
The new geometry has taken some getting used to since the bike I came from was a 10 yr old Klein Adroit. The carbon frame sucks up much of the trail bumps and for those that don't want to give up a stiff light weight climber for a full suspension rig, this is a perfect match. I climb faster than my old bike and descend MUCH faster since I can absorb much of the major shock. I can ride much longer without as much fatigue. Extreme top tube angle make the turn radius faster so cornering and twisting between trees is effortless. If you're in Frisco, TX, stop by Richardson Bike Mart and have Ted and Rodney set you up! GREAT deal.
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Submitted by
berlin-grunewald.com
a Cross Country Rider
from Berlin Date Reviewed: November 9, 2006
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
somehow light, cool look, great riding
Weaknesses:
seat tube totally sucks: in the area of the front derailleur it is not round - this means you can´t really fix the front derailleur or if you tighten the clamp of the front derailleur in order to keep it where it should be - the frame may crack - as mine did
Similar Products Used:
M 4
Bike Setup:
XTR, Fox F 80, Thomson, Tune
Bottom Line:
don´t buy this frame. specialized seems not tknow what they get from taiwan...
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Submitted by
Luis Abrantes
a Cross Country Rider
from Mortágua - Portugal Date Reviewed: November 8, 2006
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$5000.00
Strengths:
Frame quality and performance, very good equipment mostly the Fox F90X and the Crossmax SL Wheels. The bike is also beautiful.
Weaknesses:
I'm not a big fan of dual-control-shifters. If I had bought the frame and chose all the components I would have gone with rapid-fire. The XTR disc brakes aren't very powerful, at least when compared to Avid Juicys.
Similar Products Used:
Never had a bike with this level of equipment or a carbon frame. I had a 2001 TREK 8500 before this one (still have it), wich is also a very good bike and have ridden many bikes in the range of my old TREK, but nothing in the same class of the S-Works Carbon HT
Bike Setup:
Fox F90X, Mavic Crossmax SL Disc, full XTR Groupset including disc brakes, Thomson seatpost and stem, Specialzed carbon handlebar, fast trak tubeless tires and Rival SL saddle.
Bottom Line:
I love this bike. It handles incredibly well, climbs and rolls fast. At first it can feel a little unstable in descents because of its low weight, but you'll get used to it and when you notice you'll be descending faster than you used to. The Fox fork is excelent, very stiff and sensible allowing you keep the desired trajectory. XTR drivetrain (thank god without inverted spring RD) works flawlessly. Brakes as I said before, could have more power, but for XC it's OK. I´m surprised with the level of confort of this bike. I used to hear people say that carbon frames with racing geometry were very unconfortable but I can tell you otherwise. I did a 100km marathon race in it and believe me I wasn't that tired. Of course You can´t compare it with full suspension bikes, but for a hardtail it´s pretty good. Even when it comes to price, I bought mine for €4.500. If you think a TREK 9.9 was almost €1.000 more I think it was a good deal. Bottom line, if you love racing hardtail bikes, love the big climbs and have the budget, go for it. It's worth every penny.
$
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