This past weekend Specialized introduced their 2010 lineup at the striking
Snowbird mountain resort about 45 minutes outside of Salt Lake City, Utah. There’s one thing you can count on when Specialized reveals their latest creations--innovation.
What does Specialized have up their sleeve 2010? A 23-pound, full-suspension Stumpjumper with Fox-built Brain suspension technology, an Enduro SL that will blow your mind, both hardtail and full-suspension 29ers, and a refined line of women’s bikes featuring World Cup race bikes to rides for the recreational rider.
Scroll down to view select highlights from Specialized’s 2010 global mountain bike launch.
Additional coverage of Specialized's 2010 lineup will be featured in
MBA's October 2009 issue (on sale in early September).
2010 Specialized S-Works Stumpjumper. Photo: Ryan Cleek
The 2010 S-Works Stumpy is designed to be the do-it-all, no-compromise trailbike capable of charging climbs and descending technical terrain. The frame gets bumped up to 5.5 inches of travel, while the new Future Shock S140TA fork has adjustable travel between 115-and-140-millimeters (4.5 and 5.5 inches), and Specialized’s Brian Fade compression adjustment. The new Stumpy frame has a lower standover height, and features the OS bottom bracket and Specialized’s S-works carbon crankset. Specialized says the S-Works Stumpy weighs 23.4 pounds without pedals.
Specialized worked with Fox Racing Shox to develop the latest generation inertia-valved Brain shock. Photo: Ryan Cleek
First ride impression: The S-Work Stumpy’s FlowControl Brain shock has the most seamless transition between firm pedaling and fully active suspension we ridden to date.
Compare the 2010 S-Works Stumpy with the
2009 model.
2010 Specialized S-Works Enduro. Photo: Ryan Cleek
At first glance you’ll immediately the Enduro’s new “X-Wing” carbon frame and custom Fox RP23 shock, replacing the Specialized AFR. The six-inch-travel frame is matched with Specialized’s lightweight Future Shock E160TA fork. The S-Works Enduro (shown) is equipped with Specialized’s Command Post
adjustable seatpost. The Enduro line will carry the Command Post down
to the aluminum Expert model.
The E160TA is the lightest 160mm travel fork on the market at 3.9
pounds, has adjustable travel between 135-and-160-millimeter (5.3
inches and 6.3 inches) and utilizes the RockShox Maxle Lite
20-millimeter thru-axle. The flagship Enduro features the
MBA favorite Roval Traverse SL tubeless-ready wheels, and Specialized Eskar 2.3-inch tires. The S-Works' drivetrain features SRAM X.0 shifters and rear derailleur, dual-chainring Shimano XT cranks, and a Gamut chainguide. Specialized says the S-Works Enduro weighs about 27.5 pounds without pedals.
First ride impression: The S-Works Enduro is a remarkable climber for a six-inch-travel machine, and is even more impressive when descending because of dialed geometry. The Enduro appears to have raised the bar in the all-mountain category.
Compare the 2010 S-Works Enduro with the
2009 model.
SPECIALIZED TALKS 29ERS
Specialized has taken the past few years to refine their 29-inch-wheel designs, and the line features both hardtail and full-suspension FSR cross-country race bikes, and an aluminum Stumpjumper FSR.
Specialized S-Works Epic 29. Photo: Ryan Cleek
The S-Works Epic 29 is bike you’ll likely be seeing a lot of on the trail, as it combines race-oriented cross-country performance with the forgiving trail riding nature of a 29-inch-wheeled bike. The Epic 29 will be available with SRAM’s XX group and 2x10 gearing, plus feature a Specialized/RockShox collaboration Reba fork. The fork utilizes Specialized's tapered carbon steerer tube mounted on RockShox Reba lowers. The Epic 29 has 90-milimeters (3.1 inches) of rear wheel travel, and 100-millimeters (3.9 inches) of fork travel.
SRAM's XX 2x10 drivetrain will be available on both the Epic 29 and 26-inch-wheeled Epic. Photo: Ryan Cleek
BUILT FOR HERNo company puts an emphasis on developing their women’s-specific bikes like Specialized. In 2010, there will be 18 women’s bikes in their Designs for Women (D4W) line, including the S-Works Era elite-level cross-country racer.
Specialized S-Works Era. Photo: Ryan Cleek
The Era features the Fox-built FlowControl Mini Brain, and Specialized’s E100 Future Shock fork. The Era has 3.9 inches of front and rear travel, specifically tuned for women. The Era will be available in four models, two with carbon frames and two aluminum frames.
The S-Works Era has a claimed weight of 21.3 pounds.
Compare the 2010 S-Works Era with Specialized's
2009 S-Works Era.
DOWNHILL RACE
If you’ve been following the 2009 World Cup season you’ve seen Sam Hill and Brendan Fairclough race the brightly colored Demo 8 to numerous podium finishes this season.
Specialized Demo 8. Photo: Ryan Cleek
For 2010, the Demo 8 will have a 1.5-inch head tube, and feature the refined “Team” geometry with a lower bottom bracket, slacker seat tube angle and integrated bearing head tube for a lower handlebar height. The Demo 8 is equipped with a Fox Shox DHX RC4 coil shock, an air-sprung RockShox Boxxer World Cup, and powerful Avid Code brakes.
Compare the 2010 Demo 8 with the
2009 model.
Watch Sam and Brendan aboard the Demo.
