Grannygear went all carbon nuts at the Outdoor Demo last week and he had to ride the S-Works Carbon 29″er. So here are his impressions of this racy steed……
Specialized S-Works Stumpjumper HT 29: I have to admit, I was excited to ride this bike. Well, I am always excited when it comes to riding, but this one held high expectations. It did not disappoint. Like the other carbon hardtails I rode, it pedaled almost too good to believe. It was light and stiff and just amazing to stand and pedal hard. Rocketman. (With apologies to Elton and Bernie!)
The surprise was the way it took to the windy, loose and rocky trails of Bootleg, and the surprise was how mellow the bike really was overall. Now I am not going to say this is a trailbike. Duh. But the way that it steered was not at all demanding or nervous or any of the things I expected from a ‘racebike’. Huh. How about that? This bike would still be good to ride even when you are on the 10th hour of a solo 12 hour effort. I really have no great use for a geared hardtail. If I am going to have all the shifty stuff, give me a rear shock. But, if I could afford it and the check was easy to write (OK…even if it was painful to write), I would buy one of these just to hammer every hillclimb and feel that rush. GREAT bike!
You should listen Kate Bush’s version of the Rocket Man song. I am not aware of any other cover by her, but this one was elected best cover made, ever. At least by the Brits.
I am a bit uncomfortable reading such a positive review of the ultimate anti-29″er brand (of 4 years ago). But then, are there any bad 29″ers out there at all? Speci of course made it seem like no-one figured out 29″ers until they did with their years of research prior to launching their first. Ok, I’ll try to eat the sour grapes.
That bike is one of the sexiest I’ve ever seen. Glad to hear it rides just as well.
I’d be interested to hear how people like the aluminum version. Not all of us can afford carbon….lol
It may ride great, but I have to say that the design of the frame and the color schemes just don’t do anything for me. I also thought the concept of a SS mtb(or any SS for that matter) was simple and inexpensive, If I’m gonna drop that kind of coin on a bike with one gear, I’d personally get a custom frame rather than an off the shelf carbon one. FWIW, I’ve only been riding MTB for about 2 – 3 years. No where near long enough to be a retro-grouch
Well, there have been more than a few companies that have been dragged kicking and screaming into the big wheeled arena and I bet more than a few marketing guys would like all those old statements that start with “We will never…” to go away.
SO how long do we hold that against a company? I really don’t care, frankly. I am just glad that there are bikes like this one and the Tall Boy and maybe someday an Ibis 29er so you and I can buy one (if we can forgive and forget).
As far as custom VS. off the shelf carbon? Well custom stands on it’s own two wheels for various reasons, but I would bet that there is no custom frame from the typical small builder that has seen the level of testing and analysis that this frame saw before it hit the dirt. If you have never pedaled something at this level of performance, trust me, it is pretty amazing. Perhaps it lacks that ‘soul’ that is so often attributed to custom stuff. I get that part, but ‘soul’ will only do so much for ya.
This bike was not an SS, but if it was, that would be fine with me. I ride a steel SS that cost less than the wheels on this bike, but I have nothing against $$ bikes if that is what you are up for. It’s your money, after all.
grannygear
Let me preface this with I am a “custom grouch”. I have 4 SyCip MTB’s including a Custom SyCip Super Unleaded Ti 29er.
I work for a shop in SoCal. I recently was assigned to build one of these HT’s for the sales floor. As soon as I built it and test rode it, the bike started invading my dreams. It reacts to terrain unlike any other 29er I have ridden offroad. Quick, agile, stiff, precise…. I bought it. And loving it. It doesn’t hurt that it has my dream components, SRAM XX on it either.
If you get a chance test ride it at your local Specialized retailer.
GT, Granny, Gordon, could you perhaps compare it’s amazing ride to any other carbon 29er hardtails, and anything about it’s origin of manufacture.
I find it interesting in this somewhat bleak economic period the bikes that are getting the most attention, the specy and the tallboy are too expensive for many to even think of buying.
I do agree that the cost of these things is pretty dizzying. Keep your eye out for a report on the Scott 29er hardtail we got some time on. Hydroformed aluminum may be the average Joe’s carbon.
Fun bike and very competitive pound for pound and smile per smile.
grannygear
Great reviews, and I appreciate them all, truly. Did either of you get to ride the new Hei-Hei or Stumpjumper FSR? Did you hit up Voodoo over what they’re working on?
While I’d love a Tallboy, I’ll get chances to demo kona, spesh and gf, so I’d really like to hear more about them. i’m through with site-unseen after a Moots Smoothie…
thanks
brw
I rode a Hei-Hei and so did GT (I think he did). I imagine that will get posted in time.
grannygear
@prphoto: Carbon hardtail comparison in brief: Superfly: most steel-like ride, then on a continuum- Jamis D-29, Specialized S-Works then keep going……..going stiffer……….okay, Felt carbon hard tail= stiffest ride.
The Felt was the most ridiculously stiff bike I have ridden since my ’92 Klein Attitude. If that gives you any idea.
@xbrian: I did also ride the Hei Hei. The ride report on that is coming soon. I stopped by the vooDoo booth at the Demo, but I didn’t see a Canzo, which I was hoping to ride. Only 29″er at the time I was there that I saw was a titanium Zaka.
Yeah, I’d also be interested to hear if you guys talked to Voodoo.
If you talk to Voodoo, tell them to male a bigger Canzo
What do you make of vertical compliance of this or any carbon HT
Super-stiff, huh? If only felt would add a proper XL to their carbon lineup. Seriously, a 29er available in nothing bigger than a shortish 20.5? Show us tall guys some love.
@Rob from Ottawa @ Toddre: We didn’t find anyone at the BTI booth to chat with, but if wecan get ahold of someone at VooDoo, we’ll pass that Canzo request along.
@BigChris: Vertical compliance is a nefarious term that is akin to trying to find the lost city of Atlantis in terms of hard tail rigs. There are too many factors involved to really say it is the farme, because you have the seat post extension, material for the seat post, wheel compliance, and tire pressure all giving similar sensations.
That said, I feel the entire frame, and in particular the top tube, is actually where a lot of “vertcal compliance” is felt in frames. However that may be, the Fisher felt smoothest to my mind, but the Specialized and Jamis rigs are also no slouches in that area. And then factor in that carbon is a vibration dampener, then things can get really tricky to discern.
But any of this is splitting hairs. They are not suspension rigs, and anything with a rear damper is going to be way more efficient in rough terrain over the long haul.
Well I am not asking to compare them to the tallboy, sulton or that hammocl ellsworth makes ok let me narrow it down. did your ass and back hurt more than other ht’s?
I am trying to understand the need for one. Is the stomp and mash torsional rigidity and weight savings worth ones L1 and L2 and stool push?
I mean all the info I really see is that all these carbon HT’s are the same.
@Big Chris: Judging from your comment on the Tall Boy post, I would guess that the carbon hard tail isn’t your cup of tea. It is a racers type rig- XC that is- and lighter than steel, stiffer than titanium, but smooth enough not to kill you during the time it takes to hammer out a fast lap or two……or three. It is a “go fast” type of bike with not a lot of compromise for comfort in comparison to FS rigs.
If that isn’t your cup o tea, then I’d pass on the carbon hard tails altogether.
Gt, your sliding stiffness scale is most helpfull. Where would you slot in the orbea alma? I found it smoother riding than a superfly but also very stiff for power transfer. Its all a tricky and subjective field isn’t it ?!
@professed: The Alma I have no experience with, (not the least due to the fact that it was never made in a size larger than 18″, which is too small for me), and also I did not see one displayed at Interbike this year.
I agree that it is a tricky, subjective business when speaking of thses things.
I just built up a SS version. It came in at 20 lbs. 13 oz. The bike is ridiculous compared to the Niner One 9 I was riding (which I really liked before I bought the S-Works). The bike feels so much more efficient. The stiffness in the carbon fiber really transfer to pedal power. I can pedal the same gear with less effort. I’m going to have to gear it up a little. I can’t even begin to describe how much more comfortable this bike is than the One 9. The thought of riding a carbon bike on technical trails in the woods always scared me, but once I got on it I haven’t thought twice about it.