Titus Racer X, Santa Cruz Blur, Specialized Stumpy HT,
Bike Setup:
stock, with Race Face cranks
Bottom Line:
A dream bike. Amazingly responsive; almost intuitive. Super light, strong, nimble... a pure joy to ride. Great climber (front end almost too light when shocks locked), jumps and rolls over technical stuff with ease. Easily handles technical switchbacks to small drops. Shocks are fantastic - have bailed me out many times in rocky/rooty sections. The bike truly seems as if it was made just for me.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mhoopes
a Cross Country Rider
from Novato, CA Date Reviewed: August 11, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Big Trees
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$2500.00
Purchased At:
eBay
Strengths:
Light for a 5" bike. Great climbing traction, ride and handling.
Weaknesses:
Low bottom bracket height, flex in rear end. Expensive.
This bike just feels fast, especially when climbing and weaving tight singletrack. Traction is excellent, seated and standing, braking or accelerating. The 120 mm of travel makes for a really smooth ride, except on that first bump before the Brain damper opens.
The rear end is a little more flexy than I like - it never ghost shifts under power, but sure sounds like it wants to when the pedal torque is high. The bottom bracket could stand to be a little higher, but fits with its race-bike demeanor.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Edward Chan
a Cross Country Rider
from Toronto/North York/Canada Date Reviewed: March 16, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Durham
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$2500.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Excellent suspension, minimal bob at 7 setting on the Septune, Fox Talas Fork, endurance trail riding, hard finish doesn't chip or scratch easily, excellent workmanship
The low standover is contributes to a lower center of gravity but leads to the low bottom bracket and pedal smacking if you're not careful. The 7 positions of the Septune can really helps but I don't know if it's so necessary. I run most of the times on 3-4 position or Dead Zone. SAG should be tuned to take 20% of the course suspension and then adjust with the sensitivity and rebound. It can be a little bit tricky to find the best adjustements but time takes that!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave
a Weekend Warrior
from San Clemente, CA, USA Date Reviewed: October 15, 2007
Favorite Trail:
San Juan
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
eBay (frame)
Strengths:
Very versatile. Relatively light frame for almost 5" of travel.
Weaknesses:
Front end is too high unless you get the travel down to 4".
Similar Products Used:
Rocky Mtn. Element, GT iDrive 5
Bike Setup:
Fox Talas 100-140 fork, Juicy 7's, Crossmax SL's, Thomson setback post, Fizik Gobi saddle, Truvativ Team stem + carbon bar, XT everything else.
Bottom Line:
It has taken me a while to get this bike set up properly to where it really shines. I bought the frame new on eBay. At the time I had a GT iDrive with XT/XTR components, a Fox Float 130 fork and DT Swiss Wheels. I just transferred all of the components from that bike onto this one. There were a couple of issues doing this. The handlebars I put on had too high of a rise (1.5 inch) and were too wide (27 inches). So I switched them out for a 26" wide carbon bar with a 1" rise. Much better. My biggest issue was that the front end felt too light going up really steep hills. I would lose control and the front end would pop up. So I put on a Talas fork with adjustable travel. Now when I get to the steep stuff I set the fork at 100mm travel and that seems to help somewhat. The bike really feels balanced in the 120mm setting. I leave it in that one most of the time.
One of the great things about this bike is it's versatility. I put on a set of Crossmax Sl's with 2.1 inch tubeless tires and it feels like a race bike. I got the weight down to a tad over 27 lbs. It rides really sweet. I have saved the DT Swiss wheelset from my GT and use them for more aggressive trails. I have a 2.3 inch front tire on those wheels paired to a 2.1 in the rear and that makes for a very stable ride. IT really changes the attitude of the bike. You feel much more stable at high speed and you can start bombing over obstacles.
All in all this is a pretty cool setup. It seems to have the perfect balance between aggressive XC and all mountain riding. Set it up the right way and it will overdeliver!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Greg Richardson
a Cross Country Rider
from Enumclaw, Wa Date Reviewed: July 3, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Crystal Mountain Northway
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
Ebay Frame only
Strengths:
TRACTION!!!!
Weaknesses:
Low bottom bracket.
Similar Products Used:
Just moved from my Trek Liquid55 to this.
Bike Setup:
Fox Float Fork, all XT running gear, Mavic 717 wheels, Easton carbon bars, Avid juicy brakes and Truvativ Stylo cranks.
Bottom Line:
First ride out on it today and I wanted to post while the differences between my old Liquid and this bike are fresh. The brain shock really works. I thought I would miss the plushness of my old bike but there wasn't much of a difference. The rear end really hooks up though. Made some climbs today that I don't normally make it up. You can get out of the saddle and still maintain traction. Never slipped the rear end at all. Bottom bracket clearance wasn't as good as my old bike and I noticed banging into things that I don't normally hit. Great bike overall. Wouldn't make a great all mountain bike but is smoking at cross country.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John Thompson
a Cross Country Rider
from Plymouth, Devon, UK Date Reviewed: April 30, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Cann woods, nr Plymouth
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$3000.00
Purchased At:
Secondhand from Certini
Strengths:
This is a review of a large framesize 2005 (septune) model. I am 6 feet tall and weigh 192 pounds. Following lengthy experimentation, I have settled on a thomson layback seatpost and a 90mm 6 degree rise stem with a low rise bar. Racers will want a longer stem, but I find the 90mm is more comfortable for all day riding.
The bike is light, robust, rigid and very versatile. Good for those who don't do a lot of flying through the air and hence dont need a longer travel or beefier trail bike. Eats up the miles but willing to take on the rough stuff too. Ideal if you like to ride to your trails rather than drive.
Shortish wheelbase and short chainstays make the bike manoverable but the overall package is still stable at speed.
Weaknesses:
Requires careful setup - hard to get dialled just right (this is, of course, ideal for fettlers like me who enjoy fretting about the odd 5mm or 5 psi). You can pop the front on climbs if the fork is set too long - use lockout and get out of the saddle for tricky bits, or try an inline seatpost (works but the cockpit gets just a little too short). I reckon the fork works best at about 115 mm for all around use - the longer travel is good for descending though. BB can be a bit low sometimes, but this is not always a disadvantage, as it helps stability. Looks like there are a lot of frame pivots to wear, but so far no problems for me.
Similar Products Used:
Marin Mount Vision & wolf ridge, Specialized fsr XC pro. Kona coiler dee-lux. 1995 Diamondback apex HT (my baby). I would like to try a SC Blur LT too....
Bike Setup:
Push tuned Fox septune. Fox TALAS RL 90-130mm. DT hugi 240 hubs on mavic xc717 rims. Shimano XTR mechs with SRAM rocket shifters. Hope M4 180/160 disks. RaceFace evolve cranks (will upgrade when the isis BB goes) Thomson / raceface / easton finishing kit. Shimano SPD's. Various tyres depending on conditions.
Bottom Line:
In these days of constantly increasing travel, I reckon that the 120mm rear / 90-130 front is just about the right compromise between proper trail bike and all day riding cross country steed. This bike is an excellent example of the lighter end of the trail spectrum. Highly recommended.
Sizing note - if you find yourself between frame sizes, go for the larger one and that will give you more room to fiddle with seatpost layback and stem length.
Value rating is based on the price I paid secondhand (about £1700 uk in total).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matthew Brunson
a Racer
from Flagstaff, AZ Date Reviewed: November 3, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Sunset
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$850.00
Purchased At:
LBS Ann Arbor, MI
Strengths:
Specialized engineering says it all. This bike has failed to dissapoint and I have been looking hard. After racing a Fuel 100 for 2 years I wasn't sure what to expect with double the travel front and rear. But I am amazed to say the least. I bought my frame (only) from a shop in MI thanks to my buddy Jake (see 2 reviews earlier) and built it up as a trailbike for long rides in AZ. I didn't go for the lightest parts but still ended up with a 26 lb ride. This with a coil sprung fork (vanilla) and 2.35 rubber (Nevegals).
Weaknesses:
Some issues with the rear shock linkage loosening and rattling but a very easy fix...
Similar Products Used:
Trek Fuel, Kona Kula, Yeti AS-R sl, Yeti FRO
Bike Setup:
'07 Vanilla 140mm, FSA carbon pro crank, XTR derailleurs and shifters (rapidfire rules !), Thomson seatpost stem, Answer carbon pro riser bar, Juicy 7s, Crossmax xl wheelset, Kenda Nevegal 2.35s, WTB saddle
Bottom Line:
This bike rips...I may thin out the tires but right now this is the best all around bike I have ridden in a long time. I will never give up on hardtails and my Fuel is still my baby but if you want a solid, clean looking trail bike that can easily be raced, this is your bike. Pricey but get specialized on closeouts (yearends) and they are a good deal...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
matt b
a Weekend Warrior
from Nor*Cal Date Reviewed: September 2, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Demo
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$2.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
can do it all, climbs like at goat, rides like a caddy on descends
Weaknesses:
none
Bottom Line:
just cant be disappointed if you bring this one anywhere.. i've really enjoyed all that travel on a x-coutry like frame.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jake Lueder
a
from Ann Arbor, MI, USA Date Reviewed: June 20, 2006
Favorite Trail:
High Country Pathway
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$850.00
Purchased At:
Two Wheel Tango
Strengths:
Very plush, low weight, esthetics (no huge arrogant S-WORKS label), minimal bob, geometry
Weaknesses:
Cost, Very minimal difference in Propedal settings, No lock out.
Similar Products Used:
Trek Fuels, Giant NRS, S-Works Epic, other older stumpies
Bike Setup:
Full XTR drive, 06 spinergy cylclone disc wheelset, easton carbon stem/post, Ritchey WCS stem, WTB rocket team saddle, 06 FOX talas RL, Avid BB7 disk brakes, eggbeaters, racing ralph 2.25 tires... Just under 25 lbs.
Bottom Line:
I love the bike. I've had it in Arizona, Utah and almost daily on XC rides in southern Michigan. I like to ride every thing and some times do epic overnight rides. I hand built this bike just for that. I loved my old 02 Stumpjumper pro, but found a too good to be true deal on a new S-Works Epic. I missed the fully active plushness of the stumpy and parted and sold/kept the Epic parts and frame on eBay. I rebuilt the 05 S-Works FSR frame as described above and have NEVER looked back. I LOVE this ride + I MADE $150 on the whole deal via luck sells/buys on eBay! It does every thing everybody says and does it better than any other bike I've been on... I've been on a lot, but not all. The Epic I'm sure has it on flat ground speed, but definetely not on all day riding or more rugged riding out West. This bike is very plush for an XC speedster + does a great job dubbing an all mountain ripper. This sounds like hype, but you truly don't feel that the shock is even there while riding both fast and slow... yet you don't feel any bumps... big or small. Every thing is just smooth and fast... Awesome frame/bike (my dream bike). FYI, I ride really long, fast, and aggresive and very rarely maintain my bikes. This bike has been perfect since I built it. Been riding for 15 yrs with many riding partneres. They all want one and they ride some impressive bikes. Also, if you have the right tools, you can disassemble the whole bike and take it on a plane as carry on! (I had to check the wheels though) Disclaimer: I don't really catch much air.(no more than 3 ft + I'm only 165lbs) Downside: Specialed rules!!! but they know it and are getting out of hand on cost. The cost of this sport and Specialezed's role in it pisses me off.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ramon Periquet
a Cross Country Rider
from Castro Valley, CA, USA Date Reviewed: May 17, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Purisima
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$3500.00
Purchased At:
Livermore Cyclery
Strengths:
Great climber. I rode my GT Zaskar for years and was reluctant to go FS as I am more a climber than a descender. Didn't lose anything going to this bike even though it's heavier by a pound and a half or so.
Weaknesses:
Front wheel keeps going out of true. I don't have disc brakes so it rubs. I'll eventually change it. I also think it can be a bit plusher on downhills...I tried the new one with the different rear suspension (through the frame), I have the Brain shock on one side. The new one was more plush but I am still fiddling with the set up and maybe can fix it.
Similar Products Used:
GT Zaskar, 2005 Specialized Stumpjumper PRO
Bike Setup:
Full XTR, RockShox front fork with carbon crown, bike is stock.
Bottom Line:
A lot of money but if you want to not have the bobbing like I have experienced with the earlier generation full suspension bikes, this is it! If you are looking for a plush downhiller that can take really big hits, you may not be too satisfied with this. For the cross country racer, this is the best balance of uphill and downhill performance.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eric Coomber
a Weekend Warrior
from Wildomar CA Date Reviewed: May 11, 2006
Favorite Trail:
San Juan
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$4500.00
Purchased At:
Red Hawk Bicycles Temecula
Strengths:
Brain Shock. Only 27 lbs out of the box
Weaknesses:
Only Anno brown color on complete bike. Fox Talas, should have come stock with the Fox Talas XTT with inertia valving.
Similar Products Used:
Ellsworth ID
Bike Setup:
XTR, Sram XO, Crossmax SL, Thompson, Maxxis Cross Mark
Bottom Line:
Easiest way to put it: All other bike companies give up, you all just got smoked by Specialized. This bike is so far advanced over anything else out there it's rediculous. I was stuck on finding the cool frame and building up my own bike. Red Hawk bicycles set me up with a FSR demo bike and I was sold. Nothing compares. The bike climbs outstanding, braking is true, there is no brake jack or semi active suspension. This was actually the thing that sold me the most, when I brake it tracks straight as an arrow and very fast. There always seems to be rubber on the ground and I have to attribute that to FSR suspension. I can brake much later going into corners and absoutely rip downhill. The bike just builds huge confidence. I cannot recommend Red Hawk Bicycles in Temecula enough. Without asking they switched out the stock Talas for the XTT fork. Both front and back suspension now has the Trail Tune and the ride is very balanced. All they kept saying is that they wanted my ride to be great. I have never been to a shop like that. I have shopped at that horrible IE Bikes and the Super Go's of the world so long I forgot what service actually was. I wish I had better writing skills to get across how happy I am with the bike and the shop I got it from. Life is good! Later
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Justin Martincic
a Cross Country Rider
from Beaver, PA Date Reviewed: May 5, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Bradys Run
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$5000.00
Purchased At:
Snigters
Strengths:
The 2006 S-Works Stumpjumper climbs better than most most hardtails with the new brain addition, the bike accelerates super quick, and you can explode with power, the bike has no problem going from a leasurely cadence to a power climb in a matter of seconds. The weight is outstanding for a 5" travel bike.
Weaknesses:
For the price, can't the put the XTR shifter/brake combo on for us? I dont care for the XTR disc brakes, the are super light, but do not stop nearly as well as my Juicy 7's did, but for this type of bike, they built it save weight, the XTR brakes work great and weigh way less than the juicys, just dont stop as well as the Juicys...ok so maybe I am alittle bias.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Epic and Enduro
Bike Setup:
2006 S-Works Stumpjumper, I switched the SRAM stuff to Shimano shifters and derailluers, hutchinson tubless spiders
Bottom Line:
If you have the money for the bike, buy it! You will not be disappointed in any way shape or form. I am not a racer by any means, but i can just feel that this bike is top notch, I can really fly on it, and it just inspires confidence. I have been riding mtb's since october 2005(before mtb's i raced motocross), so i am kind of a novice i guess, but i have been leading group rides on the bike, it just performs flawless, the brain was a great addition to this 5" travel bike. The bike is totally flawless for the type of riding that i do (aggressive trail). Before this bike i had and epic and an enduro, is sold the epic, and do not miss it at all, i kept the enduro, just because its beefy for the all mountian rides, but the stumpy can hang with my enduro on any trail.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Pedro Garcia
a Cross Country Rider
from Lisboa Date Reviewed: April 5, 2006
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Purchased At:
Ciclovias
Strengths:
Comfort;very light 12.6Kg;frame very stiff;rear shock 5 stars;
Weaknesses:
None
Bike Setup:
Mavic Crossland;drivetrain XT complete;Hope Mono Mini;Handelbar Ritchey Wcs + bar grips;Manitou Minute 1;Stem and seatpost Thomson;High roller's 2.1 front and 1.9 ust;Selle Italia SLK gel flow
Bottom Line:
This is my dream bike. It weighs less than my previous hard tail. The S-Works rides climbs better than my hard tail and the traction is amazing. These bikes are hard to find in Portugal and you can only buy the frame.
The bike works very well with Manitou fork and it's very easy to adjust the travel when riding.Spv system it's only a question of time to adjust after that you don't have any more problems.
I fully recommend this bike it's the best money can buy.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mika Schick
a Cross Country Rider
from England Date Reviewed: February 12, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1700.00
Purchased At:
Cycle Surgery
Strengths:
Phenomenal ride. Brain shock.
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Stumpjumper Expert 100
Bike Setup:
Fox 130 XTT. Handbuilt wheels with Stans No-Tubes. Shimano XTR Brakes.
Bottom Line:
This is the best bike I have had so far and I've had a few. I built it with the brain equipped Fox 130 XTT and this fork was made for this bike. They work perfectly in tandem. This bike has addressed the main drawbacks of the early Stumpy: too low bottom bracket and a bit nervous on technical downhils. The S-works rides very well in all conditions. Surefooted on technical downhills and rockets up the hills. Very quick and agile on singletrack. It has found the perfect balance between plush and effective pedalling. The only drawback is that you loose some of the small bump sensitivity you have on bikes without brains but that is an acceptable swap for the phenomenal handling of this bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from abu salem, OR Date Reviewed: December 4, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Bonzai Downhill, Gonzo
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2800.00
Purchased At:
FTF
Strengths:
See prior review
Weaknesses:
See prior
Similar Products Used:
see prior
Bike Setup:
see prior
Bottom Line:
This is a short-term followup to my review a few months back. This is a great bike, even w/ the Septune shock. I took alot of time setting it up & adjusting, changing the PSI in 2 or 3# increments to get the perfect feel. Unfortunately, I am selling the bike already! For its intended purpose, this bike is a 5. But I really was pushing beyond the intended use of the SJ. I have gotten more confident in launching thru the air-but this bike is not for that. The S-works is a liteweight racer IMO. At least for my nearly 200# of mass. I could really feel all parts of this bike flexing on the real fast & technical descents & small jumps. I sold it right away cause i know I would end up breaking something soon.
Anyhow, if you are looking for that super plush 5" trailbike & stay grounded for the most part, or are signifcantly lighter than me, this is a great bike! But if you are pushing 200 or more, maybe a beefier frame & build is more appropriate. Still a 5 Chilea` ride tho!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Salem, OR Date Reviewed: October 12, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Bonzai Downhill
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2800.00
Purchased At:
Fattire farm
Strengths:
Weight, ano finish, adjustibility, spesh warranty & dealer network.
Weaknesses:
None found yet-give me time. Most of the weaknesses thus far are with who's peddaling it.
Similar Products Used:
2004 Spesh SJ 100mm travel for last 1.5 years.
Bike Setup:
Talas RLC, King head, Mavic 717's w/ XT hubs, XT front der, cranks & cassette, Sram X.9 shifters & rear der, Juicy 5's (6"r, 8"f), odi grips, easton carbon bar, thomson post, eggbeaters, WTB seat....
Bottom Line:
I was looking for a 5" bike, and this came up cheap compared to other options I was looking at (5 spot, Id, Moment). For about what the '06 SJ expert version will cost, I built this up decent. I set it up just a bit on the plush side & it is perfect for the technical trails & small drops I like to do. Having that extra bit of travel & slightly slacker head angle feels great on the downhill parts. The juicy's are awesome so far. I took quite a bit of time messing w/ pressure in the Septune shock before ever leaving the pavement. I think it works fine-I was a bit worried w/ all the b*#$%ing I've read on these & other posts. But like I read somewhere, it just needs to be set up correctly & adjusted in small (like 2 #) increments. I used probably 3 or 4 settings in my first ride, and I felt the shock performed at an acceptable level for MY level of riding: no racing for me, just fun & aggressive trails. Maybe if I had the chance to demo a Turner or Ells, I wouldn't be rating this 5 chili's, but everything is relative to what we have experienced or done, so 5 it is. I'll post a followup in about 6 months...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark Speaks
a Weekend Warrior
from Kennesaw, Ga. USA Date Reviewed: October 10, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Blankets Creek
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$5000.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Light weight, good ground clearance, great handling, awesome suspension. Shifters are very precise. The Specialized Adreneline tires really stick.
Weaknesses:
I am not sure that I like the grips as well as the ones that came on my '04 SJ.
This is a fantastic bike -- at least 6 Chilis on a 5 Chili scale. I loved my '04 SJ, but the '06 is even better. Better suspension, better ground clearance, more precise cornering combined with the high quality fit and finish that you expect from Specialized. I love the way the remote Brain works -- I have it set 3 clicks from the firmest setting and there is zero bob. Pedals don't hit the ground, cornering is very neutral, the ride is superb and the bike actually feels a tad lighter than my '04. If you are looking for a high-end cross country/trail bike, you can't beat this Specialized.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Patrick
a Cross Country Rider
from Lake Tahoe Date Reviewed: July 25, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$3500.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Excellent suspension, minimal bob at 7 setting on the Septune, Fox Talas Fork, lightweight(25.7lbs for a lg), endurance trail riding, hard finish doesn't chip or scratch easily, excellent workmanship
Weaknesses:
takes a while to get the suspension figured out and dialed as does the XTR shifting.
Similar Products Used:
Trek Top Fuel, SC Blur
Bike Setup:
Spec (full XTR, Thompson post and stem, CrossmaxSL w/ MutanoRaptor rear and weirwolf front) Eggbeaters, Easton Monkeylight XC bars
Bottom Line:
Excellent bike. The longer I ride it the more I appreciate it. Trails around Tahoe tend to be rocky and technical and the bike is made for it. Climbs as well as the Blur and Top feul but with better response from the suspension. You can feel a tiny little kickback on the petals if your pushing over a large rock or root, but happens rarely. Have used the Septune at 1, 4, 7 and open. I like the adjustibility but havent experimented with any other setting. Rode a very technical decent on Sunday with 4' drops and only bottomed the suspension out once. Very forgiving and will take what you give it. Straigh out Awesome, but I wish I had waited two more months to try one with the Brain (2006)...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Simeon
a Cross Country Rider
from Greece Date Reviewed: April 12, 2005
Favorite Trail:
local
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
(for the frame only): Fast,stiff and handsome.
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Hardrock Pro hardtail.
Bike Setup:
Manitou Minute 2 fork, thomson stem and seatpost, xtr rear/xt front, XTR shifters, Sun/XT wheelset, hayes HXF-Mag disc brakes, raceface crankset and bar, Gobi saddle, Michelin Hot S 2.2, tires, Xpedo pedals.
Bottom Line:
This is for the frame only, dark blue anodized, Large. It's my first FSR and it's a real rocket. It's much lighter than my previous hardtail frame. (11,8 Kgr/2,520 Kgr the "L" frame only). The Fox Neptune is brilliant. I really felt the ProPedal at long uphills (more power to the pedal and more speed like a hardtail-no bobbing at all), used only the 3, the 7 and the Full options. I don't like the lockout of other designs. This machine gave me really strength at every ride I did. Especially at long trails at high speed you feel the effect of the 120 mm. The Septune works fine with the Minute SPV system. I love this bike. Buy it -you'll feel the same.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mike
a Racer
from Aliso Viejo, CA, USA Date Reviewed: April 3, 2005
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$4500.00
Purchased At:
LaHabra Cyclery
Strengths:
travel, weight, climbing ability
Weaknesses:
bobbing
Similar Products Used:
Intense 5.5
Bike Setup:
XTR, Cross Max, the works....ect
Bottom Line:
I own seven bikes and like to race and ride this one the best.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark Baumgartner
a Cross Country Rider
from Palm Desert Date Reviewed: March 10, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Hurkey Creek 24 hour
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$4600.00
Purchased At:
Palm Springs Cyclery
Strengths:
Light-less than 25 lbs with 6" and 5" of travel. Pedals efficiently like a hard tail and tracks beautifully. I am a better rider on it.
Weaknesses:
Septune shock leaked and would not hold air. I am working this out with the dealer who has been great. The problem is temporary.
Similar Products Used:
1997 Specialized Stumpjumper M2 Pro hardtail and 2001 GT I-drive 2.0
Bike Setup:
Full XTR with Fox Talas, Chris King Headset, Crossmax SL wheels, Thomson post and stem, Specialized carbon handlebar, Shimano pedals.
Bottom Line:
This bike will be sweet when I get a Septune shock on it that doesn't leak. The Septune seems to be like a Fox RP3 but an RP7. This is my dream bike. It weighs less than my hard tail that has an XTR drive train. The S-Works rides climbs better than my hard tail. I had a hard time justifying a frame made in Asia on a $5000 bike but the M5 tubing is light and strong and made by Columbus. I am sure that the frame was made by Giant for Specialized. These bikes are hard to get so I am grateful to Palm Springs Cyclery for finding one.
The bike seems to be in between the longer travel trail bikes such as a Giant Reign 1 and the shorter travel Trance 1 by Giant. Either Giant is great but I wanted a top spec bike that I can still get the long travel on with a light platform. The shifting on the seemless-especially compared to the GT I-drive.
I fully recommend this bike against any Intense 5.5 product (the closet thing I could find to it) or Santa Cruz both which I seriously considered at this price point.
I should mention that the handle bar by Specialized that included is carbon and beefy. The saddle is so nice I would probably have bought one if I didn't get it with the bike. I have to hand it to Specialized for thier R&D and engineering.
I look forward to getting my Septune Fox shock working and will amend or write another review in a couple of months.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Clint
a Racer
from Gainesville, FL Date Reviewed: February 6, 2005
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Chain Reaction, Gainesville, FL
Strengths:
Very tunable. Can go from a trail bike to a race bike by turning a few knobs. Light and handles very well. Septune shock is NOT a gimmick, it's a very tunable FOX shock. The FOX Talas is simply incredible. Anodized paint job is sweet.
Weaknesses:
On pavement and fire roads climbs, a lockout would be useful. I used to be down on underneath cable routing, but I can see the benefits of it on a frame like this one. Sure, I may have to replace my inner cable once more than if they were up top, but the routing is a bit cleaner.
Similar Products Used:
'04 Stumpjumper FSR Pro, '03 Kona King Kikapu
Bike Setup:
Bought the bike as frame only, then bought the FOX Talas. Chris King headset, full XT w/ an XTR BB and rear derailleur. Mavic 717 rims, Roll-X pro tires (converted to tubeless), carbon EC-70 flat bar, Oury grips.
Bottom Line:
Again, I bought this bike as frame only, and then transferred the components off a 2004 SJ FSR Pro disc.
I've held off on writing a review for a few months in order to give an accurate one. First let me dispell some things that a popular mountain bike magazine said about the bike. The shock, while it could be damped a little firmer, is not a "gimmick". Pro pedal is simply a form of compression damping. With seven positions, you get to fine-tune your compression damping. If this were a gimmick, then call the 12 cicks of rebound damping on a fork a gimmick; or call the 9 clicks of compression damping on a fork a gimmick. Get my point?
I also find it humorous that the magazine stated that there's no such thing as a dual purpose bike anymore (in the recent buyer's guide). I have a very fast and light racing hardtail (with a Fox F80X fork) that is listed in the magazine as a "race bike", and the S-works SJ 120 is listed as a trail bike. The funny thing is that I'm consistently faster on Florida singletrack on the FSR 120! Yesterday I did a 50 mile event and finished in less than 4 hours (the first one to finish :) ).
So, this is a very fast trail bike, and a good race bike, depending on the course. Specialized calls it a trail bike or a technical XC race bike, which I agree with. The bike siply floats over terrain. I usually set the fork at 115mm for general training and riding, and then at 105mm for racing or time trials. At 90mm, the head angle is 71 degrees, which is equivalent to most race bikes. So if you like super-quick handling, you can get it. The bike even handles like an XC maching with the fork at 115mm. I use a flat bar to give better trail feedback, as the trails here in Florida are quite twisty.
The only negative thing about the bike is that you can't stand and climb efficiently on long climbs. It's best to stay seated. This is where a lock-out would be nice. The bike climbs single track very well when seated, very well!
As far as price, the frame is on the expensive side, but compared to other comparable frames (Titus racer-X, Ellsworth Truth, Santa Cruz blur), it's about average.
Overall, I'm very pleased with the bike. If you're looking for a fast trail bike, or a do-it-all bike, the SJ 120 is it. If you live in the mountains and like to be the first to the top of a fire road, still buy the 120 and save your hardtail.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jorge Nunes
a Cross Country Rider
from Belas, Lisbon, Portugal Date Reviewed: January 23, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Everywhere I can ride
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$4500.00
Purchased At:
Ciclovias, Lisbon, Portugal
Strengths:
Very light (mine has 12,8kg). Climbs like hell and when is necessary Manitou RTWD can helps. The Septune and FSR suspension keep the rear train always on the floor. The blue anodized finish seems gris but I like better that way. It's very resistant (not like the M4 frames paints).
Weaknesses:
Hard to find! Pricey! But sure value all the cents that I expended! Specialized sure have to find one way to pass disc brake cable through the frame, near the suspension. The only way I finded is to pass outside the passage, other way the cable bends and interfeers with the suspension. The suspension it´s too near the rear tire. Specialized rear fender does the job very well but the Septune still takes lot of dirt.
Similar Products Used:
It's my first FS. I had a Scott Voltage YZ1 and it's like changing from the night to the day.
Bike Setup:
Mavic 819 Disc, Woodman LTC hubs, Mono Mini 160 brakes, Continental Gravity 2.3 UST front, Vapor 2.1 UST rear, Manitou SPV 1.00 (100-130mm) w/RTWD, Crank Bro. Candy C pedals, XT crankset and drivetrain, Thomson setback post and stem, Ritchey handlebar and grips, Selle Italia Prolink Gelflow saddle, and finnaly, X-lite terminals (cool!)
Bottom Line:
It's a hell of a bike. For almost 20 years I did't ride and it was like yesterday! This bike can take anything: It climbs, descends, turns and givin us confidence. Technical trails with close turns it's not his strong because of his wheel distance but give him fast descends, rocks, 3'jumps, climbs and you 'll see!
A long course fork (130 mm) is recommended but it helps if it has lockout and course regulation! With the Septune tuned on the 4 or 5 position to give us traction on technical climbs, if you keep seated and don´t transfer the weight to the front, you can fall apart to the rear. Nevertheless, I climbed a 34 degrees hill, easily!
The 7 positions of the Septune can really helps but I don't know if it's so necessary. I run most of the times on 3-4 position or Dead Zone. SAG should be tuned to take 20% of the course suspension and then adjust with the sensitivity and rebound. It can be a little bit tricky to find the best adjustements but time takes that!
I love this bike. This review it´s only for the frame but I can be sure that anyone that it tries will love it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
punga!
a Weekend Warrior
from Maryland Date Reviewed: January 16, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Avalon, Gambrills, Schaffer's (only because it's close)
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1700.00
Purchased At:
Citybikes, Chevy Chase
Strengths:
Stiff where it counts. Bottomless travel lets you fly over everything. Climbs better than a recent magazine article suggests, including out of the saddle. Black anodized frame looks mean with the rest of my black components and gets a few looks at the trail. Anodized finish holds up well.
Weaknesses:
Hard time thinking of any. Maybe the suspension is a little active, but set the Pro-Pedal dial to 7, sit back and spin.
Bottom bracket is a little low. Look out for rocks
Similar Products Used:
Jamis XLT 2.0, demo'd a last year's Enduro and Stumpjumper
I got this frame as a replacement after breaking the Jamis XLT 2.0 and moved the components over from the Jamis, so this review is for the frame only. It's a long story.
This frame rocks! Desecends like there's another inch of travel in there and handles great. Really lets you float over the rough stuff and handles 3'+ drops to flat with out blinking. Feels stable on skinnies and logs, but is still lively when the speeds pickup. Make sure you put a 5" fork on it, as Specialized designed the headtube angle to work better that way than with a 4".
I have a Manitou SPV 2:00 fork up front set up plush and it doens't seem to overdrive the Pro-Pedal, but lock out would be nice. The S-Works doesn't come with the Triad shock, only the 100mm travel versions. Just the Septune with 7 settings of Pro-Pedal. I end up using 2 or 3 settings: full open, full Pro-Pedal and sometimes half-way at 4.
The low standover is contributes to a lower center of gravity but leads to the low bottom bracket and pedal smacking if you're not careful.
When the WTB's wear out, I'm going to move up to 2.3"s and see what fat tires can do with this set up. 2.5" TimberWolfs won't fit in the rear and still let you use your granny gear, the derailur won't drop down.
If you can't swing the S-works version, be sure to get one of the other Stumpjumper 120's; these bikes are FUN! If you like to fly downhills, rail around corners and still climb up the otherside of the ridge, then take one of these out for a test ride.
And a big plug for CityBikes in Chevy Chase, MD: Mike, Shawn and the others will take care you.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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