Submitted by
Mountainbiker09
a Racer
from Cheshire, CT Date Reviewed: October 31, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Brooksvale park, Hamden, CT
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
L.L. Bean bike shop
Strengths:
tires gripe really good. Rear suspension is amazing the 2007 version. I love it so much more than my old hard tail. So much easier to do downhills.
Weaknesses:
The front suspension bothers me sometimes. Going throw the gnarly sections I don't get the suspension I need. They need to put a Rock Shox Rebe or SID. Tires heavy.
Bike Setup:
All factory but I have Spinergy rims and Mountain king tires.
Bottom Line:
I would recommend this bike to any body who wants to get a light, cheap, full suspension bike. Just put some lighter tires and you can climb almost anything. I race at Mt. Snow and the bike works incredibly there!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
scout_about
a Cross Country Rider
from Louisville, KY, USA Date Reviewed: October 9, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Breckenridge
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1100.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Good traction on tires. Hayes hydros are good.
Weaknesses:
The Tora 302 is garbage for the price. Dreailers are poor quality.
Similar Products Used:
GT XCR 5000, KHS HT, Gary Fisher Roscoe 1
Bottom Line:
I just think since Specialized has become so popular the product quality has gone down. It happens to most companies that become this large, but it still sucks. I think in those reviewings their are hard riders and soft riders. I think many of the hard riders push the bike to it's limits and notice any shortcomings very quickly. If you ride it easy it does great. When you push this bike is when you notice it's faults. The Tora 302 is a crappy fork. My girlfriend's Dart 1 performs just as well. Except for the lock out, the 302 is no better than a Dart 1. I feel the dereailer, front and rear has more issues than the NY Times. It is solid on climbs and handles well, as a couple of pluses. I do feel that it is not a terrible bike but you can get a much better product for less from another company.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
hmorsi
a Cross Country Rider
from Cairo, Egypt Date Reviewed: October 1, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Wadi Degla
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Purchased At:
Bicycle Renaissance,
Strengths:
- Excellent frame (performance AND looks)
- Decent component spec
- Handles like a more expensive bike
Weaknesses:
- Faulty Rock Shox Tora 302 fork (search the mtbr forums for threads about this issue). This is specific to the 2008 model only.
- Interrupted seat tube (not a major issue and fixed in 2009 model)
Similar Products Used:
Various other Specialized mountain bikes.
Bike Setup:
Medium 2008 FSR XC comp stock except for saddle (Selle San Marco Ponza), oversize handlebars, 90mm stem and Shimano M324 pedals.
Bottom Line:
Great full-suspension XC/trail bike for the price. Light enough for serious climbing yet solid enough for some hard descending and some aggro riding. The bike took 18+ months of hard riding and general trail abuse (including plenty of crashes) with no complaints.
The frame is the main strength of this bike. A component upgrade can really take the riding quality to a new level.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Richard Scott
a Cross Country Rider
from Rutland, Vermont Date Reviewed: July 30, 2009
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Purchased At:
Bikers Edge, Bristol
Strengths:
frame, front and rear shocks, fairly light
Weaknesses:
PRICE
80% of the stock components particularly the Front and Rear De-railers - my goodness they are terrible. Brakes are substandard. Nice handle grips, thanks for nothing. The 2-Way Shifter is the pits. Shimano hasn't improved in 20 years.
Bottom Line:
I received this bike as a generous gift and while I may not have paid for it it still pains me that this bike costs $1500. Specialized should be ashamed of themselves as well as bike shops who charge and/or carry such an absurdly priced item. The stock components are almost worthless. The Rear De-railer takes the cake, the Shimano SLX joke. It shifts on its own accord, no matter what the operator wants to do. The best part is going uphill and it'll violently shift up or down by itself sometimes killing momentum so I have to walk the rest of the steep. At these moments I feel like removing the de-railer and burning it, I will replace it next season. The front de-railer isn't much better, if I'm going uphill and shift to the lowest gear sometimes nothing happens - until I'm on level surface! Thanks Specialized and especially Shimano - what garbage.
Your best bet is to buy the frame and outfit it yourself, for 1500 you will a far superior bike than what comes stock, or sub-stock I should say. This is a $900 bike tops so why the 33% premium? Because it says Specialized? Or is it those awesome handle grips that come with it? Or maybe the 2-Way shifter? I had better stock components on a $300 GT back in the day.
On the upside it rides well when it decides to behave itself. It is quite stable downhill.
All in all I think $1500 for this bike is ridiculous, offensive and absurd. As I said Specialized should be ashamed of themselves.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
gabi
a Downhiller
from greece athens Date Reviewed: July 25, 2009
Favorite Trail:
specialized
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
tricks
Strengths:
the bike is fantastic(i have change the disc brakes and the wheels(mavic deemax)
Weaknesses:
hn
Similar Products Used:
bh
Bike Setup:
bh
Bottom Line:
bh
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bgfthntr
a Cross Country Rider
from Queensbury, NY, USA Date Reviewed: June 12, 2009
Favorite Trail:
spier falls
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1550.00
Purchased At:
Blue Sky Bicycles
Strengths:
Well thought out package for and entry level / budget FS Bike. Handles well, geometry is perfect
Weaknesses:
rear shock echos in frames but works well
Similar Products Used:
none.... was on a hardtail for MANY years
Bottom Line:
I was a former Norba racer and roadie but wanted to get back in the woods. With a family and such this was a good start at a good price. This bike has fit the bill!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Agustin Ladia
a Cross Country Rider
from romeoville ill USA Date Reviewed: April 8, 2009
Favorite Trail:
gimaras island 8km.dh philippines
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1156.00
Purchased At:
kozzy cyclery
Strengths:
very good bike 08 XC comp. stock component but working will. i dont have any problem about the bike good price.
Weaknesses:
no weaknesses about this bike
Similar Products Used:
none im specialized only
Bike Setup:
stock only
Bottom Line:
I have another bike in my country philippines. spicialized hardrock green with xtr component and im ride 3x a week 80km. average of riding
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
husam186
a Cross Country Rider
from Nazareth (Holyland), Israel Date Reviewed: April 8, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Armagedon
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1700.00
Purchased At:
Matzman Merotz
Strengths:
i didn't have any problems with the bike.
the shase is good, the shifters are good, the brake system is good.
Weaknesses:
all the systems are working well, but its not perfect, the bike is heavy, the bike is not proffessional, its price shuoldn't be that high, eventhough its s pecilized brand.
it shuold cost us abuot 1000$ maximum
Bottom Line:
its a good beginners bike, or for a limmited budget, its price is high, more than what it should worth.
its good to have as a new biker, a year and a half.
as for a proffesional xc-biker, i will never go for it...in such a price you can have giant or track or scott with better components
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
CycloPilot
a Weekend Warrior
from Sedalia, MO USA Date Reviewed: February 13, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Warsaw, MO
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
Pro-Velo Cyclosport
Strengths:
This is my first foray into the mountain bike scene (I am seasoned on the Road however), in this case, the X-C part. Before this bike, I used my Giant Cypress hybrid for a couple rides and found out the hard way that if I want to really enjoy it, I gotta get something better.
The time came for that bike, and instead of going for a hardtail, I decided to go for the added comfort and security of my Specialized FSRxc. Since I have owned the bike, I have taken it out twice (about one week of ownership so far), and each time, I am very pleased with this bike. The suspension up front does a great job of soaking up the bumps, rocks, stumps and roots. The Hayes hydraulic brakes do a great job of scrubbing off speed, and are not the least bit grabby. That doesn't mean they can't stop fast though. The stopping power (for my skills) is more than adequate. The rear shock is something new to me. I'm still trying to find that happy medium for the riding I do, or at least when to firm up the ride, and then to soften it.
The tires the bike came with, along with the wheels are definitely not top of the line, but at this moment, that isn't an issue. No flats and wheel are still true, so I'm quite content with those. The saddle is just fine, and it definitely helps that the bike was in my size.
The drive train, Shimano Deore LX, functions quite well. The cranks seem plenty stiff and shifting isn't to bad. See below for why it isn't the best. Overall, I am very please with this bike. I am definitely sure that this bike will last me a very long while before I think I could even consider replacing it.
Weaknesses:
My only gripe with the whole package was related to the shifting. I went over the bars on one particular dip on the trail, and along that route, I bent the rear derailleur hanger. This incident really screwed up the shifting for the rest of that ride. Plus, the pulley cage was hitting the rear wheel spokes, so that could have been nasty. I couldn't drop into any of the higher gears for climbing, so I was having to mash it to get going. I'm dolling this up to a lack of skill on my part, but the hanger, I feel, is pretty weak if some shmuck like me is capable of doing that. Also, I'm not sure if this is common on Shimano parts or not, but there was atleast 1/2 to 1 cm of cable slack for my front derailleur after that day of riding. This, coupled with the rear derailleur issue made climbing one heck of a really hard workout. I was getting chain rub in almost every gear except for those higher up in the big chain ring and between the 4 and 7 cog. This issue has since been resolved, and I'll be able to test it out soon enough.
Similar Products Used:
2007 Cannondale (model unknown) w/Left front fork, 29" wheels, rear suspension and hydraulic brakes.
Bike Setup:
Other than what came stock, I have a trail side tool kit: tire levers, a spare tube, a multi-tool, and a Lezyne hand pump (<--- FANTASTIC pump by the way!)
Bottom Line:
I would highly recommend that this bike be something to seriously consider if you are looking into a first full suspension mountain bike. It isn't to expensive, and the frame looks ripe for component improvement. Overall, a strong, comfortable, stable, and well equipped bike for a respectable price.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
gatordog
a Weekend Warrior
from chicken fried nation, texas, USA Date Reviewed: December 30, 2008
Favorite Trail:
All I have been on so far?
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Purchased At:
Plano Cycling and Fi
Strengths:
Shimano Drivetrain is nice, I personally don't like the feel of SRAM. Juicy Brakes are really really NICE. Responsive as all get out!
My first FS so I am already biased but I knew it was Stumpy's brother and this is an 2009 model with greater travel so it really imitates the 07 geometry and setup of the more expensive Stumpy.
Weaknesses:
Coming off a HT you have to play with setup to climb well.
NOT a falt of Spec. but all FS so take it for what it is worth. The downhill speed and control makes up for it IMO
Similar Products Used:
No FS only a Specialized Hardtail
Bike Setup:
Stock for 2009 with New rear Shock Placement and greater travel
Bottom Line:
It you don't consider yourself a "model snob" on the trail (Stumpjumper) then this is the bike for you if you desire FS and don't want the extra expense. I can't convey how much better my 30 something back feels after riding this bike/ getting off my Hardtail. I have ridden 30 plus miles this week ;all Single Track that normally would have killed my back. Climbing just like all FS bikes takes a little getting used to. This bike is FAST downhill and remains in control. I am disappointed there is no 09 documents/manuals on Spec. Website and the local BS didn't have any either but whatever. GREAT BIKE for the $
Love it and bringing to MOAB in June to give that a go....
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
woopya
a Weekend Warrior
from Pinckney,MI.USA Date Reviewed: December 21, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Potawatomi
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$600.00
Purchased At:
craigslist
Strengths:
Full Suspension. I'm not experienced enough to notice the lack of rear shock like others. I only notice the fact that I do have rear suspension unlike some of my buddies.
I think it is a perfect 1st suspension Bike.
Weaknesses:
None so far. Maybe a little heavier than my Hardtail, but I dont notice it on the trail.
Bike Setup:
All stock except Zoom handlebar stem and Michelin Mountain(dry2) tires.
Bottom Line:
I live in Michigan and the bike sits inside with me until spring, So I cant wait to get out on the trail again. I wish there was room in bed for this bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
robtre
a Weekend Warrior
from Milwaukee Date Reviewed: June 4, 2008
Favorite Trail:
John Muir
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Purchased At:
Crank Daddy's
Strengths:
For the weekend warrior its a great value it can take anything you throw at it. Sturdy shocks both front and rear, Brakes are great, great climber.
Weaknesses:
Compared to other bikes at this level its heavy. I am not impressed by the shifters I will be upgrading to SRAM.
Similar Products Used:
Epic Comp 2006, Rockhopper 2007
Bike Setup:
All stock parts for now, end bars for climbing.
Bottom Line:
For my level of riding I love this bike. I am going to ride hard and hopefully get a lot better.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rob
a
from NY Date Reviewed: May 18, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Anywhere!
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Purchased At:
Joe Fix Its
Strengths:
The feel, smoothness
Weaknesses:
Not a US product, Rear Shock
Similar Products Used:
N/A
Bottom Line:
This is a follow on review for the FSRxc Comp I got my hands on.
I still find it an EXCELLENT bike and I am happy I bought it.
I replaced the pedals with SPDs and will upgrade to XTR once I get out of Iraq. I added bar ends for climbs (I just like the feel of them better). I also changed out the stock tires, which I found lacking in traction for Panaracer Fire XC Pros. I also threw a water bottle cage on there for racing.
The biggest upgrade is that I special ordered a Fox/Specialized Triad RS to replace the X Fusion one, which I found to be unresponsive. The Triad only cost me a little over $200 through my LBS, a great deal (close to $400 MSRP). It is VERY hard to find a 1.6 x 7.0 RS for that bike. However, putting a non-Specialized RS on there voids the warranty. Also, they recommend against putting anything but a 1.6 x 7.0 on the bike. I also wanted Pro-Pedal
I am also looking at throwing a Fox F RLC (100mm) fork on there, to make it a more competitive racer, but I am very, very happy with it up right now.
It has taken quite a beating in crashes and being lugged from one point to another, but it has held up amazingly well (even the paint!)
A great bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rob
a Cross Country Rider
from Charlotte, NC, USA Date Reviewed: May 7, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Renaissance park
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$850.00
Purchased At:
private seller
Strengths:
Good components, especially for the price I paid; great climber for a FS, the brakes are excellent, the tires are very good, and I don't really notice the weight on the trail. Looks fantastic
Weaknesses:
Weight; grips suck; stock pedals not my preference
I got lucky and got this bike virtually brand new for the above price. At that price point, it is a fantastic bike, and my first FS. Once I got the shock dialed it, I rarely touch it. I can still climb very well, and bombing downhill is a blast. The bike handles very well, and I find myself taking turns at scary speeds (for me anyway). The drivetrain works flawlessly, and I am constantly amazed at the performance of modern, quality hydraulic discs. The stock tires seem to be a good compromise of grip and rolling resistance. I'll be changing the grips soon. I'm very happy I got a 2007 instead of the 08, as I like the component specs much more, and saved a bundle. Eventually I'll drop some weight with a quality wheelset and lighter bar, stem, and seatpost, but honestly, it doesnt feel that heavy on the dirt. I notice the weight on climbs of course, especially compared to my 24lb SS hardtail, but its not nearly as heavy as the Kona Dawg, and handles single track much better. Overall, its a great XC bike for less than $1500.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Michael
a Weekend Warrior
from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania Date Reviewed: January 3, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Michaux
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1400.00
Purchased At:
Mountainside Ski and Sports
Strengths:
The juicy threes and the rear shock.Im 6'1" 180lbs the bike just fits very well.And climbs great.
Weaknesses:
The paint!!!
Similar Products Used:
cannondale rush and haro sonix. The FSRxc just fit me better.
Bike Setup:
Stock except for egg beaters and a race xxx lite bar and truvativ team carbon seat post. FOR NOW!!!
Bottom Line:
If your looking for a great full suspension bike for not an arm and a leg this is it. Its handles fast it climbs its got good components and it looks great.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Russell Avendano
a Weekend Warrior
from anaheim Date Reviewed: January 1, 2008
Favorite Trail:
fullerton loop
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Purchased At:
ONE WHEEL ONE PLANET
Strengths:
the bike is an awesome down hill bike, it handles very well. ive never had problems with stability control coming down hill. its very fast thats for sure.
Weaknesses:
i did have some problems riding up hill. the bike chain did skip frequently, but have made the adjustments. mechanic adjusted rear deariler and adjusted the chain.
Similar Products Used:
ive used a giant hard tail before, worked very well, its a different ride when you have full suspension you will have a drag and will have to put more effort on the ride up hill. adjustment to have a better ride up hill if heaver than 200 pnds will be a lock out on rear gear.
Bike Setup:
bike set up is stock
Bottom Line:
Bottom line the bike is an excellent down hill bike, it is very fast and handles very well. the brakes are awesome as long as you keep maintence on them, the stop very well. suspension is cool i would change the front fork based on my weight but if you weigh under 190 you should be cool. the bike did have some chain skiping but it can be fixed with rear deariler adjustments. i do recomend changing gear wire, i just changed to spring it is awesome quick gear change.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Alberto Ignacio Mannil
a Downhiller
from Caracas, Venezuela. Date Reviewed: December 5, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Heredia Dh, Costa Rica
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1300.00
Purchased At:
Mibici
Strengths:
can't go wrong with specialized, the frame is very high quality. Components, though not the best, they aren't bad. The X Fusion rear shock? amazing! i've used the bike on Downhill and Freeride trails weekly for around 3 months. the rear shock, has bottomed out almost every day on the usual 4 feet drops and the casual 6 feet drop. the front shock, a rockshox Tora. i blew the lockout. but i guess thats not the frame's fault. rims are not the best quality. i bent the front one, but the rear one has held up a lot of abuse! great geometry! the paint is awesome. i've chipped some of it when it scratches against metal, usually in the bed of my pick up truck. during falls and crashes on the trail the paint has withstand a hell lot of abuse! overall great xc bike!
Weaknesses:
brakes are definitely a weakness. i'd be happy to see at least mechanical disc brakes... V-brakes arent that good compared to the actual disc brakes.
Similar Products Used:
No double suspension XC bikes, only hardtails and All Mountains.
Bike Setup:
stock, excepto for stem (changed it to a 60mm), front rims, crankbrothers 5050 platform pedals
Bottom Line:
if you're looking for a weekend bike that wont be using more than 3 days a week and want the comodity of a double suspension rig. Go for it..! Its directed toward the XC crowd. if you change the brakes for some disc brakes you can definitely use it as an all mountain bike... ive done drops and jumps, weekly on this bike and it can take all of the abuse!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Toronto Ontario Date Reviewed: November 28, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Many
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1800.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Great value for the price. High-end parts but not over the top.
Weaknesses:
I was worried about the rear shock, but its a solid performer. just keep a pump around... The only upgrade I would suggest is a better set of tiers - I put on Panaracer fire XC pros with light tubes and got a much better response in both grip and handling .
Similar Products Used:
I tested out the stumpy and the higher end FSRs as well as a few Konas and other comparable bikes, also some hard tales.
Bike Setup:
Upgraded: Rims - Mavic 717/ tires - Panaracer fire XC pro /spokes - DT swiss /front hub - Hope Pro II and a few other minor upgrades like the chain and of-course some in the works..
Bottom Line:
What I think overall:
No bells and whistles or gimmicks. Just a good solid dual suspension bike. Great for an avid biker or a weekend warrior but not for a pro, super hardcore, highly experienced biker. Great first or long overdue second upgrade to dual suspension.
What I think about the stock parts:
I had concerns about the rear shock, but for me it has been a solid performer... there isn't as much response as I would like. It is a cheap shock, yet still surprisingly good. The Avid Juicy 3's and the huge discs on the bike provide ample stopping power and inspire confidence in your stopping ability with out going overboard. The crankset seems very solid as do the gears, and shifters, all of the drive-train components really are fine. However there is at times some chain slippage. I put bit of chain-oil on before every second or third ride (I should probably be doing this anyway). I also upgraded my chain when I had the bike in for a late season tune-up and have had no real problems since. The front fork is a really solid fork, great response and no problems with bottoming out on hard landings (I may upgrade to a lighter Fox fork if I decide to start racing, but I think its unnecessary if I'm not racing). The wheelset seems is fine to start out with, but I do feel that they are a weak point on the bike, it guess hard to get a good wheelset without spending a lot of money. I would highly recommend changing out the stock tires, it really makes a big difference.
What I think about the Frame, Build and Value:
As usual Specialized puts forth a high quality, well thought-out, appropriately priced product. The geometry just feels right, and sitting on the bike makes me want to go fast through some rugged terrain. Although a lot of bikes do elicit those type of feelings, not many do it for this price, and fewer do it with a list like the FSR xc's, of quality parts. You can look at the stumpy and of course a few other models and brands, as well, there's plenty to choose from. But if you have a budget and you need to stick to it, this bike should defiantly be on you list to test ride.
What I think about the ride:
This bike really does ride like a much more expensive bike, its very responsive and handles very well. It really does climb like a mountain goat, and it can handle steep downhill sections with out making you feel that you're about to go over the handlebars. It a real joy to ride, and if you have some good single track, or even some light stunts this bike can handle them. If you're a north shore, big hits, and stunts rider this isn't your bike. But if you're thinking you might want to do a bit of fun XC racing (its not a highly competitive bike), some light to difficult single track trails and have a bit of fun on some stunts and drops this bike might be for you.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Glen
a Weekend Warrior
from Lakewood CO Date Reviewed: August 21, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Green Mountain, Deer Creek Canyon, Keystone
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1400.00
Strengths:
Large brakes, bang for the buck, the brakes, strong frame, xt dérailleur, and did I mention the brakes?
Weaknesses:
Stock tires
Similar Products Used:
Trek hardtail
Bike Setup:
Stock except for new Salsa S.U.L. stem and Continental Explorer tires
Bottom Line:
I couldn't find a better deal for the money. I wanted a lock out rear shock for climbing since I rode a hardtail before and things like the Juicy 3 hydro discs but for the price no other brand could match it. The components are what drew me to the bike. After my first ride going down a steep hill I understood why hydro discs are praised all the time. With 8" rotors (203mm) upfront they are simply amazing. It took me a while to get accustomed to a full suspension while climbing and the rear lock shock helps. The stock tires left a lot of traction to be desired out here in the dry hard pack, so I put on a set of Continental Explorer Protection's and they have been a lot better. Also I felt a bit stretched out so I changed the stem for a Salsa S.U.L. with 25 degree rise and I am more comfortable now.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gianni
a Cross Country Rider
from Switzerland Date Reviewed: August 4, 2007
Favorite Trail:
all
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Strengths:
good specs/bang for the buck, reasonable weight, nice ride, both up and down the trail
Weaknesses:
not shure about the rear shock (I'm 6.1', 240 lbs)
Similar Products Used:
Coming from a Kona HT. I'm looking for a full susser and tested the following bikes to date: Specialized FSR XC Comp, Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Comp, Cannondale Rush 4, Kona Kikapu Deluxe (2k5)
Bike Setup:
stock
Bottom Line:
For comparison/information, the weights (digital bike scale at LBS) of the tested (stock) bikes were:
The Specialized FSR XC and the Stumpjumper FSR share +/- the same geometry, thus the ride/feel on both bikes was pretty much the same. I didn't care too much for the ergonomics of the SRAM shift levers on the Stumpy, especially for shifting the gears up and down, and liked the Shimano shift levers of the FRS XC better. The same for the F/D and R/D. But that's a personal preference and I'm just used to the Shimano stuff. If you don't care for the 1 lbs weight difference and the Fox fork on the Stumpy, the FSR XC is pretty similar and offers a lot of bang for the buck.
Cannondale:
The Rush was a very nice bike. Single pivot = less maintenance. Didn't find much of a disadvantage/difference compared to the 4-bar linkage design of Specialized. I liked the Rush better than the Specialized Stumpjumper since the shift levers, F/D, R/D etc. are Shimano, but the price difference compared to both the Stumpy and especially the FSR XC is very steep, with no particular advantages both in terms of weight/specs compared to the FSR XC except for the lefty fork. The FRS XC had even the better brakes (bigger rotors).
Kona:
Similar spec'd as the FSR XC, LBS would make a good price. Although the heaviest bike of the bunch, there was no big difference in terms of pedal efficency. Maybe it took a bit more effort on climbs. Otherwise nice bike, but somewhat average/unspectacular looking compered to both Cannondale/Specialized.
Bottom line: I'm not decided yet as I want to test some Santa Cruz models before I decide, but as for now, I think that for a new, 2007 model full suspension bike, the FSR XC Comp offers the best in terms of value and ride quality for somebody who's using the bike for CC, trails etc.. The Stumpy is OK, but honestly I was a bit surprised that the weight difference was only 1 lbs. With Cannondale's Rush model, I think it's better go for the frame and build up a bike to your specs since the stock bikes come with components that are a bit sup-par for the price of the bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Robert Calhelha
a Weekend Warrior
from Germany Date Reviewed: July 1, 2007
Favorite Trail:
"The Holy Land" Newburgh, NY
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1400.00
Purchased At:
Joe Fix Its, Goshen NY
Strengths:
Lightweight, stable, responsive.
Weaknesses:
Not made in the US.
Similar Products Used:
N/A
Bike Setup:
All stock, but I will put my SPD pedals on it.
Bottom Line:
This is by far, the best bike I have ever ridden. Where my old bike used to toss me off like riding a bull, this bike seems to be loath to even stop. It drives itself.
The tires have great grip. I have had no problems with roots, rocks, gravel or leaves. It corners fantastically. I don’t like the stock pedals to much, my feet keep bumping off, but I will upgrade to my SPD pedals as soon as I get this thing home. I do not plan on any other upgrades, as the stock components are pretty good.
I rode with a friend who had a Cannondale Prophet, and the FSR outperformed it on everything, especially climbing.
Would recommend this bike to anyone looking for a MTB to take them places.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
omer ahmed
a Weekend Warrior
from bristol Date Reviewed: June 13, 2007
Favorite Trail:
afan forest
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Light and agile, with low cenre of gravity for rapid direction changes. The suspention both front and rear is a peach. It works so well. The small- medium hit performance is excellant. The accleration is top notch as well. My avid juicey 3 are magnificant. let me tell you guys some thing if you like your brakes to come on with little lever travel. what you do is squeeze the breakes as hard as you can. the caliper flexes and more fluid flows to the compansation reserviour and lever bite point changes. clever hay
Weaknesses:
rock shox recon are good, but i wish o could afford some coil forks.
Similar Products Used:
santa cruz nomad, marin mount vision
Bike Setup:
mavic crossrrides 2007 disc's and shimano 647's
Bottom Line:
Top kit, you can bomb down trails and single track like a demon. it is an absolute hoot. with this bike you can bee a speed demon and also improve your ride as it tests you, and encourage you not to be slack. whata bike for 1500 dollars. the best think i ride under 2000.
the avid 3 are so good i decided not to get hope moto V2.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
colin
a Weekend Warrior
from uk Date Reviewed: June 11, 2007
Favorite Trail:
llandegla
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Purchased At:
wheelies
Strengths:
lightweight ,good climber
Weaknesses:
rear wheel
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
all stock except respoked wheels
Bottom Line:
this was an insurnce replacement from wheelies direct in swansea.it is my first full sus so am no xpert ,so far its peformed well uphill and downhill although the bmx pedals i fitted wewe catching alot on the trails,ive upgraded to spds and the prob has now all but disappeared ,the big problem ive had is with the wheels .ive had numerous broken spokes on back wheel and have now had them all changed to steel under warranty so hope fully this will resolve situation.wheelies in swansea were very good on customer care with no problems with warranty issues and would reccomend them.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nick
a Cross Country Rider
from North Yorkshire Date Reviewed: June 10, 2007
Favorite Trail:
singletrack (Glentress red and black routes)
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2170.00
Purchased At:
Wheelies
Strengths:
All day comfort, great brakes, best saddle yet, quick and easy to set up suspension with v little fuss. Feels 'just right' as soon as you sling a leg over it.
Weaknesses:
May experiment with a slightly shorter stem as I would prefer it to be just slightly quicker steering.
Similar Products Used:
GT LTS 1000 XC
Bike Setup:
'07 stock
Bottom Line:
What a fantastic bike. Had first proper ride on it yesterday (at Ae in the Scottish borders - which I can highly recommend). Was out with my (much fitter) mate who was riding his Ti hardtail. I started the day exhausted (long week at work + bit of a sore throat, etc.) but was able to keep up with him all the way round - which is very much due to how good the bike is!
The trails there are pretty much all singletrack (and bone dry for a change) with a predominantly rough and rocky surface (my mate picked up 3 pinch punctures!) making for fairly brutal going a lot of the time and yet I feel up for another ride today!
I've just come from an 11 year relationship with my old GT and I can tell you that full suspension has really moved on in that time!
Enough rambling on and down to specifics:
Brakes - the Avid Three brakes are absolutely fantastic (much better than the various Hope brakes I've used). They offer a rediculous amount of stopping power whilst also offering good modulation. Can't emphasise just how good they are!
Saddle - an unexpected gem! I have been trying to find a comfy saddle all my riding life (30 years +) and, quite by chance, this is it. Finished the ride and although my legs had had enough my bum & 'undercarriage' felt as fresh as when I'd started out! Brilliant!
Gears - what can I say, they work perfectly and reliably 99% of the time. The other 1% of the time was when I had chainsuck changing from middle to small up front. Happened twice in the whole ride but I hope this doesn't become any more frequent. This may jsut be a 9-speed thing? Will keep an eye on this.
Wheels - a nicely built pair of wheels with light yet large tyres that soak up the trail and grip it in equal amounts. Nothing flashy about these wheels but they inspire confidence and I fully expect they'll ride straight and true, coping with lots of abuse, for a very long time. Tyres great in the dry but may need a swap for wetter, muddier UK riding.
Forks - Rock Shox Recon - what can I say, minimal setup required, add a bit of preload (which I ended up backing off again later), dial in a bit of rebound damping, compression damping didn't require adjusting and that was it. They performed flawlessly. So much better than my Marzocchi MX Comps. Very stiff, no fore/aft flutter at all, very supple, even on the first ride, and capable of soaking up big hits.
Rear shock - super easy to setup (although a good shock pump helps). Just use the sag measuring tool and adjust air pressure to get the sag right. Then set rebound and compression damping. Having initially set this up I only tweaked the damping adjustment once (I'm very happy to have active suspension and not the kind of rider to be forever locking out suspension on the fly - although this can be done very easily). The rear shock, like the front, just performs super competantly; it soaks up everything but in a very understated way. It soaks up both smaller chatter and huge hits.
Frame (+ overall performance) - what a bike! Straight out of the box and ready to ride. As soon as you sling a leg over it everything about it just feels right. They front and rear suspension is extremely well matched and both carry out their duties, on the harshest of trails, extremely competently and despite XC length travel (100mm at both ends) you never seem to truly run out of travel - must be down to very cunningly progressive shock setup.
The front end of this bike inspires confidence, oversize bars linking through to super stiff forks to give a super solid front end. Combined with such awesome braking power this is a confidence inspiring combo.
For a first ride I am VERY impressed. Everything works perfectly (the occasional chainsuck being the only fly in the ointment). It inspires and enables fast riding over harsh, rocky singletrack whist keeping you isolated from all the brutality the unsuspended parts of the bike are putting up with.
I can't wait to go ride it again!!! :-)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
J Bizzo
a Weekend Warrior
from Lehi, UT, USA Date Reviewed: June 5, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Moab
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1400.00
Purchased At:
Canyon Bicycles Draper ,UT
Strengths:
Full suspension. Complete Shimano drivetrain. Styling and Comfort.
Weaknesses:
Non yet.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Rockhopper '06.
Bike Setup:
Stock
Bottom Line:
Just like anything else in life you get what you pay for. After shopping around for different brands I felt that you got the most bang for your buck with the FSR XC Comp. After coming off of a hard tail (Specialized Rockhopper) I felt all the differences of full suspension. The disc brakes also have mad stopping power. If you are in or around the $1500 price range check out the FSR XC Comp. Although you do not get the Fox triad shock, you do have the option of tuning the Specialized shock to minimize bobing when climbing. I love it so far!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Scott Martin
a Weekend Warrior
from Atlanta, GA USA Date Reviewed: May 13, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Tsali, NC
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1300.00
Purchased At:
Outback Bikes
Strengths:
This is my first bike with a suspension and overall I like the bike
Weaknesses:
Front derailleur/chain. I wish all the reviews about this problem were up when I bought this bike. My chain broke in half riding on street last weekend, and I've had to take it to the shop several times for shifting problems and derailleur adjustments on the front. The hesitation on changing gear on the front derailleur has caused the chain to come of several time making me bang my knees on the handlebars.
Similar Products Used:
none.
Bike Setup:
2006 Stock.
Bottom Line:
All in all I like the bike. I've had the bike for about a year and ride it mostly on the streets and intermediate trails. I've only been on the trails about five time in the year I've owned it. I'm frustrated by constantly having to take it to the shop for the shifting issue. I suppose I'll upgrade the derailleur, and I'm already getting an upgraded chain since mine broke.
I'm now maybe wishing I'd bought the Stumpjumper with the higher end components, but I assumed a 1,300 dollar bike would have some nice components on it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
X3D Media
a Cross Country Rider
from San Francisco CA 94112 Date Reviewed: April 27, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Mt Tam
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1300.00
Purchased At:
Mikes Bikes
Strengths:
Great Bike for the price. Can upgrade
Weaknesses:
Cheap parts especially shocks. 31 lbs
Bike Setup:
Added DT swiss 240 wheels, Easton carbon Bars/seatpost. Shock next once I kill these.
Bottom Line:
Great bike overall for the price. Climb great and is fast downhill.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
StudioDino
a Weekend Warrior
from Gilbert, Arizona, USA Date Reviewed: April 15, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Hawes trail, South Mountain (telegraph pass, desert classic, etc).
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
Global Bikes
Strengths:
Great value for a full suspension bike. Solid frame and good specialized 'resolution' tires.
Weaknesses:
Low BB and wear on body due to cable rub. Some components, like the chain, etc are low quality, best to upgrade.
Stumpjumper’s little brother. For the money, this is a great bike. I have rode the bike across jagged rock gardens, twisted switch backs and rocky single tracks and through it all, it has been a work horse. Perhaps I’m pushing the bike more then it was designed for, but so far, it has proven itself over and over again. Yes, the bike has a low bottom and my pedals are hitting rocks, this is where the rider has to work it by using body English. For the money, if you want a full suspension bike that performs then I would start with the XC FSR.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nathan
a Cross Country Rider
from Moab Date Reviewed: April 13, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Sovereign Trail
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
$800
Strengths:
Fast, smooth ride. Handles well through the rough stuff. Takes smaller hits well.
Weaknesses:
Low BB. Major frame wear problems from brake lines (I think Specialized has addressed it since)
Similar Products Used:
Demo'd Cannondale Prophet, Haro Shift; Previous bike was a Haro ICS 4.0 Hardtail
Bike Setup:
Factory except Avid bb7s, Armadillo tires, wtb Speed V saddle
Bottom Line:
This is my first full suspension and I love it! I bought it used from a lbs, so it had some wear on it, but it's performed well on all the Moab classics (Sovereign, Slickrock, Gemini Bridges, etc.). It's a great intermediate bike, but if your looking to take drops over 3 feet, the suspension won't like you. Overall, great ride!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Joey JAMIESON
a Racer
from Brisbane, Qld, Australia. Date Reviewed: February 25, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Karingal scout trail
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
NRG Cycles, Jindalee
Strengths:
Quick and very capable on all terrain.
Weaknesses:
Frame a little heavy.
Similar Products Used:
Avanti Aggressor, Schwinn Mesa.
Bike Setup:
LX drivetrain & disc brakes, Thomson stem & seat post, Flite saddle, Fox vanilla RL 100mm Forks, A Class D5 rims, Ritchey WCS carban bars, variety of tyres.
Bottom Line:
My bike originally was a standard FSR XC, however my review as the bike is now, is more comparable to the FSR XC comp. I up graded to a suspension bike to due back pain and haven't looked back. The only original items on the bike are the frame and a X-fusion rear shock. Due to the weight of the frame which is not that heavy. I have tried to reduce the weight for competitive racing. I race marathons, enduros and short course races.
This bike is fast and smooth. It climbs extremely well, on bar with a hardtail. One race I climbed for 4km on a 20 degree angle and it performed great. The only faults I can give is that you need a shorter then supplied seat post as it can strike the rear shock and make certain you have the X-fusion rear shock set to the correct PSI and rebound as it will soak up your energy otherwise.
This bike is suitable for weekend riders and mid level racers. If you want a competitive priced capable suspension bike this is a winner.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
dirtbagdave bloodworth
a Weekend Warrior
from herrin,il,usa Date Reviewed: February 1, 2007
Favorite Trail:
anydirt offroad
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Purchased At:
carbondale cycles
Strengths:
FSR SUSPENSION, DISC, AND LOOKS FOR NOW!
Weaknesses:
HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED ANY YET, JUST BOUGHT IT, SET UP THE SUSPENSION AND TOOK IT AROUND THE BLOCK.
Similar Products Used:
HARO EXTREME, GT I-DRIVE, MANY OTHER HARD TAILS, I COLLECT, TREK, SCHWIN, GARY FISHER, UNIVEGA, BRIDGESTONE, BARACUDA,
Bike Setup:
STOCK 2007 FOR NOW
Bottom Line:
THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF THE ABUSE, THANKS TO THE SUB FREEZING TEMP. I WILL UPDATE MORE LATER. THIS IS THE FIRST BRAND NEW BIKE I'VE BOUGHT IN SEVENTEEN YEARS OF MTBING AND PAYING THIS MUCH. I USUALLY BUY USED OR CLOSEOUT MODELS. SO FAR I'M PRETTY IMPRESSED. THE BIKE SHOP THREW IN A BOTTLE CAGE AND FSR HAT, BEST BIKE SHOP IN TOWN
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
XC_Rider
a Cross Country Rider
from East Coast Canada Date Reviewed: November 9, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Purchased At:
Darlings Island Bike Shop
Strengths:
Climbs like a hardtail, rides smooth as a couch
Weaknesses:
Manitou fork is cheap, Specialized tires don't have much grip on gravel, BB is low and you will grind the chainring so be careful
Horst Link - Everything you have heard is true. There is a reason other bike companies have licensed this design...it just works. No flipping levers or turning knobs...climb hills just like you would on a hardtail. This bike is plush and fast. Perfect for a guy who is past 40 and can't take the back pounding of a hardtail anymore. I am thrilled when I ride this bike. It works as good as it looks.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jeff
a Weekend Warrior
from St. George, Utah Date Reviewed: September 28, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Gooseberry Mesa
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Purchased At:
Specialized
Strengths:
I have the 2007 FSRxc Pedal and I have found that the FSR technology is superior to other rear suspension designs. The bike handles well downhill and is built to climb.
Weaknesses:
The seat post bottoms out.
Similar Products Used:
2005 StumpJumper, Gary Fisher WAHOO, Trek
Bike Setup:
Full Suspension
Bottom Line:
GREAT BIKE, in fact it is my dream bike. There will come a time when I want to upgrade the front and rear suspension systems, however the frame is superior to any other frame I have used.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
daniel hoefer
a Cross Country Rider
from kassel, Hessen, Germany Date Reviewed: August 28, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Habichtwald Herkules
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Purchased At:
custom made
Strengths:
perfect rear suspension, love the Fox Pro Pedal. Great handling.
Weaknesses:
Frame a little bit heavy, Rear Shock position not well proteczed from dirt while riding
Similar Products Used:
Begwerk Faunus, Cube AMS
Bike Setup:
FSR XC 2005; Manitou R7; Fox Float R ProPedal; Front-Rear Deraileur, Shifters. Shimano XTR; Crankset Shimano XT; Wheels: Mavic X317/Shimano XT Hubs; Tires: Michelin XCR Mud Total Weight: 12,00Kg
Bottom Line:
Great Allround Bike fast on uphill and on singletrails, gonna try it for Marathon-Racing next season (have used my GT Zaskar Team this season). I use the bike as a more comfortable ride on long training terms, for races i will still use my GT Zaskar Hardtail.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ben Dillard
a Cross Country Rider
from Reston, VA Date Reviewed: August 17, 2006
Good all around bike. Could be a semi-tough trail bike, could be a racer. Very little pedal bob but still a plush ride. Low BB is a pain, I'm always worried about hitting the pedals.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
David Castaneda
a Cross Country Rider
from Sunny Isles Beach, Fl Date Reviewed: July 21, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Oleta
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1400.00
Strengths:
Great handling bike, great looks, excelent attention to detail.
Weaknesses:
major issued with chain skipping while pedaling hard.
Bike Setup:
stock rode it for only a month
Bottom Line:
This is my first FS and loved the improved handling it offered as compared with my HT. I only ride single track trails 3 times a week. From day one I had an issue when pedaling hard the chain will jump and most times it felt off the crankset. at the beginning I thought it was just part of the initial tune up while everything gets stretch and settled. took it to the store 7 times and we were not able to find what was causing this to happen. The 1st response from specialized was to suggest that we changed the bottom braket and new chain (there was an know issue with the stock bracket being to large and the gap b/ the crankset and frame to large) this stopped the chain from falling off as often but the chain kept skipping. The guys at my bike shop were helpful thru the painful process (it's not fun when your chain skips while you are pedaling as hard as possible and end up slamming your knee into the handlebar and falling off while going up hill) at the end of this nightmare we ended up returning the bike to specialized. In other words my bike was a lemon. I am sure this is not the norm for this bike since my buddy bought the same bike at the same time and works great. must be a frame issue. I just ordered an epic disc and can't wait to try it out. I never had any issues with any products bought from specialized so I am sure my epic will run great and this was just an isolated incident.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
rodolfo
a Cross Country Rider
from Portugal Date Reviewed: July 10, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1400.00
Strengths:
Good quality material in general
Weaknesses:
Weak brakes - Hayes Sole
Bottom Line:
Good purchase for a first bike. Quite nice but needs better brakes. Lock-out suspension work nice. Quite smooth going downhill.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike Warner
a Weekend Warrior
from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Date Reviewed: June 24, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Bruce Trail - Hamilton Mountain
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1400.00
Purchased At:
Piereks - Hamilton ON
Strengths:
Great value - Good pedal performance uphill - pretty pluch downhill. I've raced it in a point-to-point cross country race(with different tires) and it performed great. Overall, you'd be hard pressed to find a better value in a full suspension bike.
Weaknesses:
Bottom bracket is a little low resulting in hitting your pedals on rocks and logs. Fox Float R pro pedal doesn't work that great if you are grinding up a hill with a slow pedal cadence.
Similar Products Used:
Own a Rocky Mountain Hammer. Ridden a Cannondale Prophet 2000 (a buddy's bike).
Bike Setup:
Stock (Manitou Splice Elite Fork, Rox Float R, Avid BB5 Discs, Mavic XM117 Rims) except changed out the LX rear derailleur for an XT - My old RM Hammer was the receipent of the LX derailleur....
Bottom Line:
Pretty hard to beat for the price of admission. You will have a smile on your face the first time you head down a root covered descent and you will be surprised at the climbing ability. You can't beat the value here!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave
a Weekend Warrior
from Sern, CA Date Reviewed: May 30, 2006
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1425.00
Bottom Line:
For the price you pay it's a good deal. Everything you would want in a starter bike. Easy to upgrade and easy to take care of. Only problem is the quality of the tires - are not the best. You'll feel a little slip if your on fast on a downhills. If your doing some rock trails, then this bike pretty good. Not a race bike ... it's a little heavy and the whole bike is an all around bike. If you upgrade parts then i could see it being a race bike, but it's still a little heavy.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andy
a Racer
from Irvine, Califonia Date Reviewed: May 9, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1300.00
Purchased At:
RockNRoad
Strengths:
Solid build, great suspension innovations, good componant setup
Weaknesses:
Tires, front deraileur
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Hardrock, Giant Trance
Bike Setup:
Stock
Bottom Line:
I shopped around for a long time and did my research until I was completely obsessed with this bike. For the money it is a great bike to begin racing on and handles everything I have thrown at it here on the local trails (Alicia, Moro, etc.). For XC racing I am going to replace the tires. Also, if wieght is a big factor for you, this bike is onthe heavy side, but it is not by any means heavy for FS bikes withing this price range. Specialized makes a sure quality product with a racey feel as far as I have expeirenced.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike
a
from Chelsea, AL, USA Date Reviewed: December 7, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1400.00
Purchased At:
Bike Link
Strengths:
This is an outstanding bike, of course I was previously riding a 6 year old GT Aggressor hardtail, so the upgrades to me were plenty. The full suspension rocks. I typically ride both on road and off road and the lockout on the front and rear shocks is great on road. Of course the full suspension off road is a back saver
Weaknesses:
The only complaint I have in the front derailer. It get alot of chain rub when pedaling hard. I have made adjustments, but it still rubs. This may be replaced in short order.
Bike Setup:
Stock
Bottom Line:
I would recommend this bike to any beginner to moderate mountain biker. The specialized quality is supurb and it won't break the bank like some of the higher end full suspension bikes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
matt janz
a Weekend Warrior
from calgary, alberta, canada Date Reviewed: October 23, 2005
Favorite Trail:
prarie link, kananaskis
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$17.00
Purchased At:
the bikes store
Strengths:
awsome suspention, really plush, takes any thing you throw at it (with in reason). The bike shoots up hills super fast. Its well balenced and has great handleing on steep pich's. Has great speed and its super light. Gotta love the breaks.
Weaknesses:
front derailer acts strange under preuser on fast changes. Brakes loosen to easily. Front end jumps up on steep climbs. Handle bars are to wide.
Similar Products Used:
specialized hardrock comp, k2 proflex.
Bike Setup:
stock
Bottom Line:
the bike is perfect for your average weekend ride in fish creek park and is also good enough for big mountain ski hill riding. Its comfortable to ride and is wicked fast on touf trails.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eran Moogi
a Cross Country Rider
from Haifa, Israel Date Reviewed: May 4, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Rough single tracks
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1400.00
Purchased At:
Matzman
Strengths:
Light, Fast, Tough. Great if not the best Full-suspention for hill-climbes and on the Flats! I love the fox float R propedal rear shock! Great Body Geometry saddle, nice mechanical Avid bb-5 disc. I like the Mavic XM117.
Weaknesses:
Front derailer abit annoying, front original adrenalin tire doesn't grip on loose corners! The bottom Bracket is abit too low...
Similar Products Used:
Hard Tail Jamis XC, Giant NRS3, SantaCruze Superlight and Hekler, Specialized Enduro Expert and some other nameless bikes...
Bike Setup:
Stock Larg sized bike plus: Small sized bike's original short stem, "Drive" magnesium flats, rear shock mudflap "Pazzaz" Extra wide rise Bar, and a front WTB MotoRaptor 2.24 instead of the original Specialized adrenalin 2.00 (still have it on the rear).
Bottom Line:
Have used the bike heavily for a month now. Great Value for money and all around great bike! As a Cross country bike it's outstanding, As a trail bike it's great. Can go where other XC can't! If you want a XC bike that can go on rough trails as well, the XC comp is the answer! For extremely rough terrain and drops higher than 3 foot a 80 Kg persone like myself will eventualy need to upgrade the front fork to a longer travel fork, all the other upgrades I wanted have been don.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rob Munro
a Weekend Warrior
from Somerset, NJ USA Date Reviewed: April 26, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Chimney Rock
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1400.00
Purchased At:
Bike 'n Gear
Strengths:
ride, handling, components, style, Specialized support, value for the money...everything...I love this bike.
Weaknesses:
I'm 190lbs. and the front shock is just a touch too soft for me, but not so much that I would swap it out.
Similar Products Used:
Cannondale F500
Bike Setup:
bone stock, exactly as shown on the Specialized website.
Bottom Line:
Handles like it's glued to the ground on rough terrain, but still launches off the jumps. When you land, the suspension is top notch. I've only had it out 4 times so I can't say anything about long term but I ran into a guy who owns the regular XC and he said all he does is maintainence for the past 2 years. I've got many miles to go before my skills outweigh this bike's capabilities. I wanted to spend less than $1500 on a bike that will last me for years, this bike turned out to be a great choice. Obviously, depending on what your budget, there will be better this and that out there, but for <$1,400, you won't find a better set up.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
chris squiz
a Weekend Warrior
from Alice Springs Australia Date Reviewed: February 11, 2005
Favorite Trail:
single track
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Purchased At:
Melbourne
Strengths:
The 2005 medium size frame felt best in a demo ride between various Kona and Specialized models. Triad shock, fit and finish, The ride is its best feature.
Weaknesses:
I ditched the front derailer, could not adjust it to stop it draging on the chain, when chain is on the say 1 or 9 gears at back. I am using a 40 tooth on the front, and have all the range I need. It steers a bit quick. The front end has done nothing unpredictable but going down hill it could be more stable. It can tuck in a bit at times. The Splice elite fork seems to be OK if you are under 160lbs I'm only using 75mm of the 100mm. But for the above reasons I think a 130mm fork would suit me.
Similar Products Used:
Giant Kona and other Specialized models
Bike Setup:
Slim tube liners and thorn resistant tubes. 40 tooth front sprocket.
Bottom Line:
The feel of the bike sold me, and I'm still happy. After 4 , 20K, or 12 miles rides on my rock infested trails, for a XC bike its handled everything fine. There are always compromises, but if this bike had a longer travel fork it would be as good as it gets for me.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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