Preview: Specialized's 2010 Bike Lineup

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By Ryan LaBar and Chris Lesser

The biggest news from Specialized is the groundbreaking, ground-up redesign of the Enduro. Getting back to its more aggressive roots, the all-mountain bike sees slacker geometry, a full 160 millimeters of travel fore and aft, the re-introduction of ISCG tabs and a significantly stiffer chassis. Oh, and it sheds about a pound over the previous generation Enduro, too, coming in at 26 pounds and change. That’s light enough to climb without complaint—thanks also to the bikes Roval Traverse wheels, about the only thing to not change on the Enduro—but with a 66.5 headtube angle, it’s no secret this bike wants to be abused.

Tellingly, when Specialized engineers started mocking up the linkage layout of the new bike, they started not with the current (2007-2009) Enduro, but with a 2009 SX Trail. Like the SX, the new Enduro uses a wishbone rear shock extension that splays around the seat tube to allow for greater post-dropping ability, as well as better small bump compliance, as the rear shock mount’s DU bushing has been replaced by a pair of cartridge bearings.

Specialized is now using Fox-made rear shocks again, but it hasn’t given up on making its own front suspension—not by a long shot. Gone is the 150-millimeter triple-clamp design of Specialized’s previous design. Instead, 2010 Enduros will come stock with the new E160 fork, which takes the lion’s share of credit for dropping nearly a pound off the complete bike. The 4.1-pound fork (about a pound lighter than a comparable RockShox Lyric or Fox TALAS 36) uses a Maxle-Lite axle, Specialized’s own next-generation Spike Valve damper and a 25-millimeter drop-down mode for climbing. Most impressive—and heretofore unprecedented on such an aggressive-use bike—is the single-piece carbon crown/steerer combination. It’s a 1.125-to-1.5-inch tapered steerer, with a twist. Namely, the lower bearing race is positioned 8 millimeters higher than conventional tapered steerer tube forks, so that forces from the fork are better directed into the downtube.

In addition to the tapered headtube, the Enduro’s X-truss frame delivers the dual benefit of 1.) fixing the shock where it needs to be—a position that still, remarkably, allows storage of a full-size water bottle within the main triangle—and 2.) the extra frame member also helps substantially shore up front-end stiffness on the order of 30 percent.

To match the bike’s newfound hard-charging performance throughout the frame, Specialized engineers spent a great deal of time looking at ways to stiffen up the Enduro’s rear end. After looking at different through-axle and dropout options, engineers realized they could keep using a standard 135-millimeter-spacing quick-release rear hub and still substantially boost rear-end stiffness by inverting the Horst Link clevis, beefing up the stays and going with a forged brake arch instead of last year’s hollow macaroni tube.

The Enduro may have been the most eyebrow raising bike Specialized is launching, but it’s just the beginning of the company’s new chorus line, a few of which sport 29-inch wheels.

The 29er S-Works Carbon is a racer through and through. The insanely light (just over 2.5 pounds) carbon frame uses a bent seat tube to get the chainstays down to 17.2 inches, with room still to spare for mud clearance. The carbon wagon-wheeler's geometry also screams "racer," with a steep 71.5-degree headtube angle and low bottom bracket. It's light and racy, yes, but it's designed to be stiff as possible too. The most notable areas of beefed-up stiffness are the 84.5-millimeter-wide bottom bracket shell with drop-in bearings and the tapered 1.125-to-1.5-inch headtube. Another notable new feature on the bike is its 90-millimeter travel Reba S 29 fork, which uses as superlight carbon crown/steerer mated to RockShox Reba lowers. All those exacting details add up to, well, not much—bone stock, the bike comes in at a claimed 20.7 pounds. That’s impressive for a 26-inch-wheel bike, and unbelievably impressive for a big-wheeler.

The other 29er Specialized debuted was the new Epic 29er, which was designed to be a fun ride both on and off the racecourse, and follows the company's classic long toptube/short chainstay/low bottom bracket fomula. Like all of Specialized's rear shocks now, the new Mini Brain shock on the Epic is designed by Specialized, but manufactured by Fox Racing Shox—a departure for Specialized which for a spell oversaw all its own rear shock production, with mixed success. The Epic 29er sees the same S29 fork that the S-Works Carbon 29er, but gets 100 millimeters of travel. The SRAM XX equipped cross-country whip is quite lean too, weighing in at just 25 pounds.

Not to be forgotten, the stalwart 140-millimeter full-squish Stumpjumper FSRs gets a full makeover for next year as well. The most notable feature is the ability to run a full seatpost. This is because the shock is extended around the seattube via a custom extension link similar to that used on the new Enduro. Instead of the standard double-ring XX set-up Specialized decided to break the norm and run a triple up front with a Shimano XTR derailleur making it the first 30-speed production mountain bike we’ve seen.

The Stumpjumper 29er has slightly less travel than the 26-inch version, with 130 in the rear and 120 up front is is only available in an aluminum version without the oversized cranks. Instead Specialized uses custom finished (no model label) last year's Shimano XT cranks.

Specialized doesn't mess around when it comes to women's bikes either. The carbon-frame Safire and Era bikes are perfect examples of this—not to mention the 16 other bikes in Specialized's feet specific to women. Plus, Specialized custom valves its suspension to work best with 150-pound and less riders, and the tube-sets are also thinned down because of the generally lighter weight of women. Notably, these special features are found even down in the company's mid-level offerings.

The Era is Specialized's full-suspension women’s cross-country bike. The XX plus triple ring bike comes in at an astonishing claimed 22.1 pounds—hard to beat for an out of the box bike, especially a full-susser. For women looking to ride all day and who aren’t afraid to mix it up in the gnar need look no further than the full-carbon Safire, based off the previous Enduro chassis with 140 millimeters of travel front and rear.

Reader Comments

Posted Fri Jul10, 2009, 9:13 PM — By Grant

I don't agree that the most notable feature of the Stumpjumper is the ability to run a full seatpost. I'd say the fact that the company's trailbike has upped the travel to 140 mm was more notable. The trend for more travel continues.

Posted Sat Jul11, 2009, 11:24 PM — By Vincent

The orientation of the shock on the new enduro is weird. The body is connected to the rear arm. It will induce strange reaction, doesn't it?

Posted Sun Jul12, 2009, 1:57 AM — By Stefan

Maybe, however it will do the same job so it does not mather.

Posted Tue Jul14, 2009, 2:34 PM — By Paul D

Can anyone tell me anything about the 2010 FSR XC Comp and even a pic? Thanks Paul

Posted Fri Jul17, 2009, 2:08 AM — By Ed Core

Liked the clever design of the ISCG mount tabs and the HS top cap. Glad to see they realized the mistake they did dropping Fox and now get them back to do what they do best. Now if they only drop the proprietary fork (it doesn't matter how lighter it is compared to a 36, I still don't trust that fork), the Enduro will worth the money they ask for it. Get Fox to do the fork internals, and I'll buy a Specialized again.

Posted Mon Jul20, 2009, 2:30 PM — By M Irwin

Ed Core's got it. No idea why Specialized are back at the suspension manufacturing game. The Enduro has GREAT features, but I won't buy it because I don't trust it long-term, no matter what their warranty program is. Put a 36 TALAS or a Lyric 2-step on it an I'm in.

Posted Fri Jul24, 2009, 5:39 AM — By NICHOLAS WALYAULA

Let us face it, little generally has changed in the basic design of the bike. But given the option for change I will change the wheel assembly. Not to make it square or oval or triangle but conceptually stronger by far however, am yet to know if "Specialized" has the guts to take the challenge to accept a joint venture agreement with me in the partnership to unveil this novel technology that for now is only a Patent Specification at the Patents Office of ARIPO in Harare. Good ideas are often very easy to go by but the sensitive maveric always stays alert watching out for chances to strike like an eagle and to me this is the moment to do just that. So what does "Specialized" have to offer me in return for this my initiative to introduce this what I call heavy duty wheel assembly for the bicycle of tomorrow today. Until I hear from "Specialized", all my wish is that "Specialized" goes from Success to Success in their endevours to make better and better bicycles for the g

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Posted Sat Jan 9, 2010, 9:40 AM — By Dan

Bought a 2010 Enduro and road it yesterday for the first time on trails... Can you say buttery smooth and great peddler! I tip the scale at 235 lbs and it felt stiff and lively -- we will see long term.

Posted Tue Jan19, 2010, 8:05 PM — By Joel

Skip the s-works. The expert has the lyric 2 step.

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