|
Speaking of long post, from mtbaction mag.
As each year goes by, the more specialized and seg-
mented mountain biking becomes. There are several
more genres of riding today, and, fittingly, one com-
pany seems to spearhead each movement-Specialized.
With the growing popularity of bike parks that have sever-
al stunts, jumps and often lift-assisted trails, not everyone
desires to ride a 45-pound downhill bike. In order to achieve a
nimble, but durable, bike that could handle gnarly downhills,
challenging drops, andjumps, riders were often forced to doc-
tor a long-travel cross-country bike with suitable components,
or try to lighten up their downhill rig.
Thanks in large part to riders like Kyle Strait and Darren
Berrecloth, who both have raised the bar for what was once
possible on a mountainbike, Specialized developed a true dou-
ble-black-diamond-oriented Enduro. in addition to the all-
mountain version.
is iT AN ENDURO, OR NOT?
Yes, well-no, kind of. The SX Trail is a member of the
Enduro family, meaning it features the Enduro's all-mountain
design, but it is a tough and purpose-built variation intended
for more abusive gravity runs. It's basically an Enduro that
has been genetically altered to handle more abuse, with forged
Cobra head tubes and a one-piece, forged bottom-bracket,
pivot and seat tube for stiffness and durability. There are two
models of the SX Trail, the I and the II. The SX II costs $3800,
and the SX I sells for $3000. The SX Trail II is also available
as a frame for $1700.
WORTH THE WAIT?
While testing in Whistler last summer, we drooled over the
Evolution bike shop's fleet of SX Trail rental bikes, and we've
been counting the days until we could get our hands on one.
The SX Trail II is a bike that can stop you in your tracks,
because its design screams fun. We gave the SX all it could
handle, from the mountains of Pasadena to the Santa
Monicas, and raced it in the Southridge USA local downhill
series in Fontana, California. Here's the verdict.
Pedaling: Specialized's FSR linkage design is known for its
pedaling performance. And, with the help of the Fox DHX 5.0
shock's ProPedal feature, riders can adjust how efficiently the
SX Trail pedals in the initial part of the shock's stroke. We
found that in order to achieve maximum small-bump absorp-
tion and pedaling performance, we ran the ProPedal knob four
clicks from all the way open. The Fox 36 Vanilla R fork does
not have externally adjustable compression. Being able to
tune the low-speed compression would reduce bobbing when
sprinting on the SX Trail.
Climbing: At first glance, the SX Trail looks like a mini-
downhill bike. With burly wheels, downhill components and a
single-ring up front, obviously climbing wasn't priority one with
the design team. Those looking for a more all-mountain design
need to consider the rest of the Enduro line, which features
lighter components and a triple chainring up front. The SX Trail
is capable of sprinting short climbs and shifts through gears
quickly with the SRAM X.0 carbon short-cage derailleur.
Descending: Practically every component on the SX Trail II
can be found on today's premiere dorvnhill rigs. Combine that
durability with the agility of a six-inch-travel fork and 6.6-inch
travel frame, and what's produced is a bike that's an absolute blast
when it's time to pin it. The S0-millimeter Truvativ stem is an
excellent choice for optimum maneuverability, and the
Specialized Chunder Pro tires clutched the earth in moist and
rocky conditions. Our best results were when the ProPedal was
backed off four clicks from wide open and the bottom-out knob
was cranked nearly fi:11-c1osed. This setting gave the bike the sen-
sation of bottomless travel and supple small-bump sensitivity.
When ridden on technical trails at high speed, the coil-sprung
Fox 36 Van R fork is very supple, active and rigid. Howeveq
that's not the case when pushed to the limits on extremely
gnarly hails with rock drops, gap jumps and runs worthy of the
black-diamond label. The 36 Van R does not have adjustable
high- or low-speed compression, unlike the more expensive 36
Vanilla RC2. We blew throug[r the travel on the 36 Van R off
nearly every drop, jump, and high-speed off-camber corner. We
compensated for this by softening the shock to prevent it from
overdriving the fork through its travel.
The SX has two shock mount positions, one offering a 66.5-
degree head angle and the other 67.5. With a 50-millimeter
stem, we opted for the 66.5-degree angle to help slow down
steering when trails turned choppy.
Jumpin$: In case you missed our Crankworx covera$e from
Whistler (MBA, December 2005) and didn't see Kyle Strait's
tailwhip aboard an SX Trail, let us tell you how thisbike gets up.
The SX Trail isn't a dirt-jump-specific bike, like Specialized's P-
series bikes. It's a bike designed for jumps and obstacles on a
downhill-rype course. Think slopestyle-type riding.
The SX is incredibly nimble when airborne, thanks to a
22.4-inct' top tube. The Specialized Lo-Pro Mag platform ped-
als with replaceable pins are some of the best on the market
and hold up to harsh punishment.
Cornering: The l4-inch bottom-bracket allowed us to push the
limits of our cornering ability by seeing how fast we could take
berms. Again, the fork often splashed through its travel, throwing
us out of an attack riding position. At high speeds, we noticed a bit
of flex in the rear end. This could be caused by a heary downhill
rim and tire pufting a lot of torque on the rather small hnkage plate
of the Enduro design. This sensation was felt at speed on rutted,
off-camber terrain, not on switchbacks or berms.
Braking: Some brakes have good modulation but fade and
pump up when hot. Some have power, but no modulation.
The AvidJuicy 7s have an adjustable lever reach which allows
the lever to be dialed in or away from the handlebar without
affecting when the pads engage with the rotor. The 7's power
is on par with the strongest brakes on the mountain.
SET UP TIPS
The only frustrating aspect of the SX Trail II was how the
Fox 36 Van R with stock springs blew through its travel when
ridden aggressively. We spoke with Fox, and the remedy for
this would be to purchase a different spring package for
$24.95 from your local dealer. Ofcourse, the other alternative
is to upgrade to the Fox 36 Vanilla RC2 for $859.
We also noticed that the Fox DHX 5.0 shock didn't have the
Schrader valve to tune the air pressure. Specialized said each
of their bikes has shocks tuned specifically for its design, so
additional adjustment is not necessary. Also, in the case of the
SX trail. the valve would hit the seat tube area.
LIKE WE BUII.JI IT OURSELVES
The appearance of the SX Trail II made us want to hit the
trails immediately, and its performance lived up to our hopes.
With the right fork springs, you get a super fun, nimble and
durable playbike. We can't think of one component we'd change
if we were to build it up from the frame ourselves.
If you're fortunate enough to live near a mountain resofi with
a bike park, or have fun downhill trails in your neck of the woods,
the SX Trail is the bike for you. Like we said when we tested
Specialized's Demo 8, it's possible to build up a comparable bike
from scratch, but it's not necessary. Save the time you would
waste searching for compatible components and hit the trail.
|
I want something a bit smaller and more “flickable” and more manoeuvrable as I like to ride MY bike rather than have MY bike ride me. I’m 180 lbs. and 5’10” and in most cases a Medium size frame.
.
. Who could ask for a better gift? Not me. 
. 
. ***Note to Juan, we NEED to get a drooling emoticon*** 
.
