Tested: '08 Specialized Pitch Pro

SPECIALIZED PITCH PRO $2,700

In today’s economy, the $2,700 Specialized Pitch Pro is a mere credit-line door-ding compared to the fiscal head-on collision that is Specialized’s flagship $8,000 S-Works Enduro SL. But when $2,700 can also buy a 1.5-ton forklift, a ski boat or a hydroponic grow-room on Craigslist, my expectations are, well, high.

At a shade over 30 pounds, the Pitch Pro’s weight is impressive, even when built with a low-profile, but solid parts spec of Shimano Deore cranks, SRAM X-5/X-9 drivetrain, Avid Juicy 3SL hydraulic discs, and Specialized house-brand components. Plus, with 6 inches of rear suspension, the travel-to-weight ratio highlights the mantra of the Specialized all-mountain philosophy: In order to descend farther you must be able to climb higher.

And the Pitch Pro is a dude that abides. The rug that ties this room together is the Pitch’s FSR four-bar rear suspension. It makes its presence known each time you hit an upslope, turning pedaling force into forward propulsion with minimal momentum-sucking monkey motion. Yet, when the trail points down, its Fox RP2 air shock and 140-millimeter RockShox Pike 351 fork suck up the hits any reasonable trail can throw its way, rarely losing composure.

Yes, it’s a true all-mountain machine that lives up to the “affordable” moniker. In the saddle of the Pitch Pro, you start looking forward to climbs, but it’s still capable of delivering an adrenaline-fueled thrill ride during fast descents. That’s a balance some pricier bikes can’t match.

However, the Pitch Pro lacks the adjustable shock-mount option of its big-brother, the Enduro. You’d need to fork out at least $3,500 for the Enduro SL Comp for that. Only then could you increase the responsiveness by steepening the head and seat tube angles almost a full degree. True, you can tweak the Pitch Pro’s handling with the travel-adjust feature on the Pike, but you must sacrifice fork travel to do so.

With its frame angles permanently in the “slack” setting, and with a slightly longer wheel base, the Pitch Pro needs a heavier, more deliberate hand to coax it in a new direction on the trail. Yes, it still cuts tight switchbacks and carves fast twisty bits. But it does so not with the surgical precision of a scalpel, but with the broad sweeping arcs of a machete. This makes the Pitch Pro a proper bike for the all-mountain neophyte or a rider looking for a lower-cost ticket to long rides on challenging terrain. —RON IGE

HIGHS: Stable at speed; competitive weight; efficient climber

LOWS: Less agile than similar bikes; fixed geometry; makes climbing enjoyable

MORE INFO: 408-779-6229; SPECIALIZED.COM