Specialized 29er: Confirmed
June 14th, 2006 by Tim GrahlI have a source confirming that Specialized will have a 29er coming out for the 2008 season. Their original goal was to have it in the ‘07 line but they’re running behind, hopefully taking the extra time to do it right. The bike should be available about a year from now.
I can’t get anymore details as of now but I’ll post them as I do.
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Can anyone say S-Works 29er? That would be very cool…
Too funny, really. The company that had as it’s slogan, “Innovate or Die!” is the last one to the party.
None the less, it should be an interesting entry for a company that officially poo-poo’ed the idea for years, only to offer a tire, and then three years later, actually have a bike to mount it on. At least, it better be a good entry, anything less than an S-Works will be laughable in the eyes of the marketplace.
Maybe they’ll make an obscenely expensive carbon version that no one could afford. At least it’ll look good on the cover of Bicycling Magazine!
Don’t get me wrong. I loved the old Specialized. S-Works steel hardtail. That would be really a smart bike! Today’s Specialized is all about the carbon bandwagon. It’s not very innovative, as far as I’m concerned, but neither is a steel S-Works hardtail!
Okay, shutting up now!
Yeah I’m kind of disappointed with how this has been rolling with them and now they’re in a tough spot. That bike better killer or they are gonna catch a lot of flack.
Haha I can see it now… “Look at our new Specialized 29er! It’s steel. It’s hardtail. and it’s singlespeed!!!!”
Oh yeah, and I heard somewhere that they are gonna try to call it something other then a 29er since that’s what Fisher dubbed it.
When you’re years behind the competition… you don’t get to make the rules.
Perhaps they’ll call it Bigfoot.
It would have to be a S-works with Carbon bits, if not the whole thing. Specialized is doing some very cool design stuff. I had one of their E5 race bikes (I had delusions of road racing) and was very impressed with the carbon parts.
But yeah Ted & Tim, the bike had better be wicked-cool or else it’s going to flop. I think an S-works gearie would find a nice niche in the racer/high-end market. Especially if cross-bred with the Epic platform…
maybe they will call it stump-humper and sue themselves for using the word stump in the name of one of their own bikes.
I’d buy one. It’s the only mass produced frame company I’ve liked. I’ll second that the S-Works steel was one of the best frames they ever made. I had mine for 3 year which is a record since I typically swap up ever year…didn’t feel the need to do so with my S-works steel. Poor Man’s ti. Beautiful.
I’ll agree, they better offer an S-works model of some sort. I’ll take a carbon because they are doing some cool things now a days. But anything would be cool and I’d definetly try one out.
If I were them, I’d go all the way.
1- S-Works hardtail, the way Specialized does hardtail, and the way 29″ riders like their bikes.
2- Idem, Epic.
3- Totally retro. Eye catcher. Late-80’s style steel hardtail, in 29″. Made such that even the retro freaks will have to look twice of trice to be sure it’s not an original or proto from back in the days. A tribute to how MTB’ing went mainstream for all of the world, and where the market has gone recently. A new 6-spd setup would be appropriate. Side flange spacing, the works. But built and painted like 20 years ago.
Oh yeah, and I heard somewhere that they are gonna try to call it something other then a 29er since that’s what Fisher dubbed it.
They could call it 29″er.
I was told this at the LBS, Stumpjumper M4 geared hardtail. Three levels. Mid level at $1500.00. Availible August 2007. More info mid July. Had a M2 Stumpy hardtail, maybe the best 26″ I’ve owned. I’ll get on the list for one as soon as sizing is up.
I was wondering if Mountain Cycle would make a 29″ Zen, but I guess that will never happen now.
Now if anyone makes a 29er from this point on, they will get a call from the lawyers at Special-ed.
Hmm weird. i have a Specialized crosstrail xpert thats a 29er. From what i understand its been out for a while now. sports borough x-c tires and mostly shimano components, and disc brakes. light as a feather too and im riding a 19.5 in frame.
I dunno about Bigfoot, Zen, etc… I think it should go:
Rock - Hopper
Stump - Jumper
Mesa - Leaper
Or maybe Sequoia Leaper.