[jonowee]

I don't own a Specialized but why does Specialized insist on running cables under the downtube and the bottom bracket on almost all their MTBikes.

Is this a trade-off of FSR?, but the FSRxc has a more sensible and less venerable cable routing.

Even newly designed bikes like the Epic has downtube running cables.

 

[crazyal]

i have been riding specialized for 9 years, both of my s works were run that way and so is my newly aquired stumpjumper fsr pro disk, i have never had a problem with it, maybe i am lucky.

 

[- Jeremy -]

I love downtube routing for the rear derailleur cable. I think it's the best design. There's no housing compression under big suspension hits so there's no ghost shifting like on most other suspension designs. I use a mix of housings to keep the cables clean. The red and black liners that come with Avid Flak Jackets along with their extra long ferrules are perfect for this.

I'm not a huge fan of the downtube routing of the front derailleur cable, but you can't run a cable down the back of the seat tube on an Epic. The suspension linkage mounts there. The cable has to go under the BB.

- Jeremy -

 

[mward]

It seems like the rear derailleur cable suffers worse in mud than the front one. I've had bikes with both under the BB for 11 years and it's never been a problem. When it starts shifting bad I just replace them, and after seriously muddy races. It takes 2 minutes and costs what, a buck? I don't know what all the whining is about. The only full suspension bike I've ever had ghost shifting problems on was my 03 sj fsr, and it routed them over the top. Since it was a real problem with those models (ghost shifting) and specialized went back to under the BB routing, I am going to assume they did it to fix that problem.

 

[jonowee]

So Specialized choses to stick with under-BB running cables to eliminate housing compression as the suspension moves through it's travel.

Is this why Specialized adds cable housings for under-BB running cables on the full-sus bikes like the Stumpjumper and Epic? (I don't know because I don't own one)
Do they do it on hardtail bikes too, if not why? (I know this is a non-Specialized-specific and quite general)

Very nice Deus crankset and skinny tyres - Jeremy -. Wow ramps and shift pins never looked so sexy.