Just from a glance, you’d likely tell that Specialized bikes are quality machines, and the brand offers some of the market’s most expensive bicycles. However, when you look closer, are Specialized mountain bikes good?
Specialized offers excellent mountain bikes in different price ranges and categories. The brand manufacture mountain bikes loaded with exciting features you’d hardly find in other bikes, designed to last long with minimal upgrades, and invests in development and research.
To fully understand the quality of Specialized mountain bikes, you have to look deeper, and I will get into the specifics in this article.
Why Are Specialized Mountain Bikes Good? (5 Reasons)
Specialized is one of the leading manufacturers of mountain bikes, with their popularity among mountain bikers leading to an exponential increase in sales in 2020 due to the brand’s e-bike. There’s a reason why these bikes are so popular.
1. Durable
You shouldn’t be surprised that Specialized mountain bikes last longer, considering the attention that goes into their construction and the materials used. Many Specialized mountain bike owners have been using their bikes for a long time.
2. Special Features
Specialized offers mountain bikes with fundamental features for mountain biking, such as unique manufacturing technologies and designs, riding comfort, many wheel sizes, resistance to riding in rough terrains.
The Brain Technology reduces losing power when pedalling and controls suspension adjustment based on various terrains. It also maintains momentum, reduces fatigue, assists you to get to the checkered flag quicker, and increases control.
3. Better Design Geometry
When thinking about the design geometry, the frame comes to mind because it contributes to your posture when riding and determines your reach and durability.
The body geometry is tailored to deliver reliable performance and an overall desirable riding experience. Most of its seat models use ergonomics that have been proven to facilitate blood flow in areas other bikes would cut it off.
The footbeds and grips are crafted to offer maximum comfort.
4. Superior Build Quality And Materials
Specialized has an Innovation Lab used to come up with prototypes of new components and manufacturing technology. The brand became the early adopters of the cycling industry’s forging and 3D printing technologies.
Specialized manufactures its bikes and has mastered components and frame construction using aluminum, carbon fiber, steel alloys, and titanium. They offer CNC-machined masterpieces that have attractive welds and also durable paints.
Specialized mountain bikes’ frames are typically made of carbon and aluminum, with aluminum used in mid-level and entry-level bikes while carbon is used for high-end builds, such as pro bikes.
While you get a quality frame, you can protect it further using All Mountain Style AMS High Impact Frame Guard Extra (View on Amazon). It offers robust, durable protection and lets you customize your bike with different patterns and colors.
You can rely on rims, handlebars, training wheels, gel-filled saddles, and other parts because precision goes into their construction.
5. Fantastic Warranty And Customer Support
Specialized stands by its products and customers by offering rider-friendly, generous warranty policies. For instance, the original owner gets a lifetime warranty for the frame against artistry and structural defects on all models, including full-suspension and seatstays bikes.
Other branded products, graphics, and frame paint have a two-year warranty. The turbo batteries have 300 charge cycles or a two-year warranty, depending on which one comes first.
Second and subsequent owners get a two-year warranty starting from the date of the original retail purchase. You can also easily reach the company’s customer service through various ways, including mail and an online submission letter.
Which Specialized Mountain Bike Should I Buy?
When thinking about the Specialized mountain bike to get, there’s plenty to consider to ensure you have the right mountain bike. These are the categories, models, the intended use, and budget.
1. Suspension Hardtail
The Specialized hardtail range has Chisel, Pitch, Epic Hardtail, and Rockhopper. All these bikes are aluminum-made aside from the carbon-fiber-made cross-country epic hardtail race bike.
These bikes are mainly designed for beginners, but pros can also ride them. Therefore, you can find high-end Suspension hardtails.
2. Specialized Full-Suspension
This category comprises Stumpjumper, Rhyme, Demo, Enduro, and Epic. Aside from Epic, the rest use four-bar suspension, isolating the braking forces and drivetrain to prevent them from interfering with the suspension.
Specialized Epic carbon-framed cross-country racer with 100m suspension travel, while the Specialized Demo is the brand’s downhill bike that can tackle any track you throw at it.
Specialized full-suspension mountain bikes are different and unique than those offered by other brands like Trek. The brand uses Fox suspension components and Specialized FSR for rear-shock aside from particular models.
3. Specialized Electric Mountain Bikes
The brand’s electric mountain bikes have legendary ride qualities, massive range, smooth, powerful motors, intuitive and innovative controls, and seamless integration. They are made to personalize your turbo mountain experience.
Some excellent options you should consider are the planted and powerful Turbo Levo or the capable and untamed Turbo Kenovo, both with a full-power system.
4. The Intended Use
While Specialized mountain bikes are well-engineered, they are not identical, so you must weigh the features you need to have a good riding experience and include the ones you can forgo.
Instead of going for a bike packed with features, pick one with a combination of qualities that suit your intended purpose for your Specialized mountain bike. For instance, you don’t require advanced features if you’ll be riding on regular trails.
Trails can be quite challenging, with the degree of difficulty varying based on their state. It is up to you to pick a bike you’ll be safe and comfortable riding.
Besides going for a high-quality Specialized mountain bike, pair it with OWUOR Mountain Bike MTB Helmet (View on Amazon). It’s lightweight, breathable, and designed with integrated molding technology for better protection.
How Much Is A New Specialized Mountain Bike?
Specialized bikes are pretty expensive, so much that they can cost you up to $12,000, but you can also find other more affordable models like a Specialized Camber for about $2400.
Although these bikes go on sale sometimes, their prices will still be considerably higher than most competing brands.
Some bike lovers may view Specialized mountain bikes as overpriced for a good reason. However, the price tag can be justified considering their quality and impressive life span.
This brand is undoubtedly for everyone, but you should allocate a generous amount towards the purchase if you choose to get one. On the upside, you’ll be spending your money on a machine that will remain in excellent condition for many years.
Which Mountain Bike Is Better Specialized Or Trek?
Specialized and Trek are the pioneers of mountain bikes. Both brands produce high-quality bikes, and to decide which one is better, you must scrutinize them.
1. Brand Focus
While Trek focuses more on the technological aspects, Specialized pays more attention to biking experience and groundbreaking developments. Specialized works towards developing mountain biking as a sport.
2. Bike Range Provision
Trek offers more mountain bikes models than Specialized. They are Aluminum, e-Bikes, entry-level or beginner, carbon, cross-country, hardtail, 29er, trail, and women’s mountain bikes.
You can choose a minimum of two options in every category. On the other hand, Specialized offers Downhill, fat, trail, dirt jump (BMX), cross-country, and Electric Mountain Bikes.
3. Materials And Components
Both brands dedicate time to develop top-notch frames where the entry-level models are made of aluminum while the costlier categories rock lighter, design amalgamable, and durable carbon frames.
Trek has better innovation in aluminum frames compared to Specialized. When it comes to other bike components like cranksets, brakes, brackets, shifters, levers and derailleurs, both brands are pretty much the same.
If you want to enjoy your mountain bike’s initial years free of component replacements, go for a Specialized bike.
These brands have their strengths and shortcomings, so the choice between Trek and Specialized boils down to your preference. If you want more freedom to customize your bike and gravitate more towards tech, a Trek mountain bike is a better choice.
However, for bikers who want to feel every aspect of their biking experience, a Specialized mountain bike is the obvious choice.
FAQs
1. Is The Specialized Stumpjumper A Good Bike?
The Specialized Stumpjumper produces a lot of traction when navigating steep climbs and has a well-balanced riding position. It is also a light, versatile, and efficient bike but not as efficient as this model’s best bike.
2. Is Specialized A Good Mountain Bike Brand?
Specialized has been building gear and bikes tailored to fill a need and solve a specific problem since its inception. It provides updated and new products, such as the budget-friendly Fuse Hardtail mountain bike and race-ready Epic Hardtail.
3. Where Are Specialized Mountain Bike Frames Made?
Nearly all Specialized productions, including mountain bikes and road bikes manufacturing, take place in Taiwan. However, research, design, prototyping, and product development are done at the company’s headquarters in Morgan Hill, California.
4. What Size Specialized Mountain Bike Do I Need?
Check the sizing guide for Specialized mountain bikes to find the bike size that corresponds to your height.
Final Thoughts On Are Specialized Mountain Bikes Good?
It is clear that Specialized mountain bikes are high-quality gear due to the detail, research, and reliance on superior components to manufacture. They are excellent products for bikers looking for the ultimate mountain biking experience.
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