[Kona0197]

Got this from a friend today, he was downsizing his collection of bicycles. I just have no idea what year the bike is. I can tell the bike was a bit abused, it's super dirty and missing paint, Fork is stiff and has trouble cycling through it's stroke, gears don't shift at all and the rear brake needs fluid added and/or bled. But the Fox shock still holds air and I've always wanted one of these FSRs ever since I saw one at the LBS.

Just curious what year it was made...

 

[Ogre]

Got this from a friend today, he was downsizing his collection of bicycles. I just have no idea what year the bike is. I can tell the bike was a bit abused, it's super dirty and missing paint, Fork is stiff and has trouble cycling through it's stroke, gears don't shift at all and the rear brake needs fluid added and/or bled. But the Fox shock still holds air and I've always wanted one of these FSRs ever since I saw one at the LBS. View attachment 1962675

Just curious what year it was made...

I'm pretty sure it's a 2002. I had one just like it. I kept that rear fender for years after I parted ways with the bike because it was a fantastic mud fender.

One of my all time favorite bikes, wish I'd kept mine. I still have the disk braked I pulled off of it. Deore hydraulic.

 

[Kona0197]

Thanks for the heads up. Now I can't seem to find a bleed port on the lever. Would it be OK for now to just fill of the reservoir with oil and call it good? The brake still works but only grabs the rotor when the lever is almost touching the grip.

 

[wolfmw]

early 2000's for sure. What kind of brakes? may not have a bleed port at the lever - pretty sure most early shimano brakes just had a reservoir, and you push fluid up from the caliper to bleed? Be sure to check what kind of fluid they take, but adding to the reservoir may solve your problem. If not, probably well overdue for fresh fluid/bleed.

Cool bike, actually looks pretty good for being 20 yrs old!

 

[Kona0197]

I believe they are Shimano Deore brakes. Model M525. If I had to guess I would say they use mineral oil. I'm tempted to break down my old hardtail that I hardly ever ride and do a parts swap. The hardtail has a SRAM X9 1X9 drivetrain and Avid BB7 disc brakes.

 

[BansheeRune]

I believe they are Shimano Deore brakes. Model M525. If I had to guess I would say they use mineral oil. I'm tempted to break down my old hardtail that I hardly ever ride and do a parts swap. The hardtail has a SRAM X9 1X9 drivetrain and Avid BB7 disc brakes.

All Shimano hyro will be mineral oil.

 

[Sparticus]

Still has wheel reflectors. Whole thing looks hardly used.
=sParty

 

[Ogre]

They are M525s.

I think bleeding was straight forward, but don't recall exactly how. I do remember I would do it with the brake reservoir open and level. Then just top off the fluid, then open up the bleed valve on the bottom and squeeze the lever. Close the bleed valve, release the lever, top off the fluid, then repeat until there were no bubbles left in the system. Probably not the best way but worked for me.

 

[BansheeRune]

Bleed procedure can be done two ways.

Pump lever a couple times to get fluid flowing, hold lever and crack the bleed screw, close just before the lever bottoms.

Push fluid into open bleed screw with syringe until fluid rising in reservoir no longer bubbles. May have to remove some fluid in the reservoir to prevent a mess. Close bleed screw before removing syringe.

Either way, top off the reservoir before capping it!

Clean up your mess, ride your bike

 

[Hdeguzman215]

Cool bike. It might be a 2004-2005. Keep your eye on the shock link(gold part) since that is the weak point on the bike. Happy trails!

 

[OldMike]

It's a 2002, and be sure to frequently inspect the seatstay as there was an issue and subsequent recall due to breakage.
See Here!

 

[Kona0197]

I have reached out to Specialized. Waiting for a reply. Since I am the 2nd owner I doubt the frame qualifies for warranty repair. However, we shall see.

 

[slapheadmofo]

I have reached out to Specialized. Waiting for a reply. Since I am the 2nd owner I doubt the frame qualifies for warranty repair.

Second owner and 20 years old?
Yeah, no.

I had an `03 FSR and like it.
Seat and chainstays on all the old FSRs tended to crack if you rode them hard, but that generation was a lot better then the previous one.
Looks pretty good from the pic, not sure what makes you think it was abused. ??

 

[Kona0197]

Maybe the word "abused" was the wrong choice. It just wasn't really taken care of correctly. From what I know the previous owner let it sit in a garage for years. Maybe it just needs a bath and a few drops of lube here or there.

 

[Monty219]

I was going to guess 2001 so the folks saying 2002 should be spot on. Thats when they used to say: FSR, walk to the car. But if you take it easy and don’t slam it through the rock gardens you should get plenty of life out of it.

 

[slapheadmofo]

From what I know the previous owner let it sit in a garage for years.

Bikes are perfectly fine sitting in garages.
Maybe bored, but fine.

 

[Kona0197]

But if you take it easy and don’t slam it through the rock gardens you should get plenty of life out of it.

My usually bike paths are about 80 percent paved. The rest is tightly packed gravel or well groomed trails. About once a year I do a long downhill on a fire road on a trail system the next town over.

Bikes are perfectly fine sitting in garages.

Unless they were stored with a lot of mud everywhere with rust sitting in on all the bolts. :/

 

[slapheadmofo]

Unless they were stored with a lot of mud everywhere with rust sitting in on all the bolts. :/

They're still fine.
Mud doesn't hurt anything, nor does a little surface rust on a few bolt heads.
That bike looks newer after 20 years than any bike I've ever owned does after a few months of riding.

 

[Sparticus]

Rubber & plastic parts oxidize & harden, so tires, housing, grips, etc. will likely need replacement.
Grease dries up over time; the bike really should have a full tear down & rebuild after 20ish years on the shelf.
=sParty

 

[DIRTJUNKIE]

Bikes are perfectly fine sitting in garages.
Maybe bored, but fine.

I know I get that way sitting in garages.