Are Specialized having a laugh or are we really this gullible?

[SkipdiverJohn]

Call me suspicious, but are these bikes in flat barred form nothing more than sleek looking hybrids? It's a Raleigh Pioneer for a new decade.

I wouldn't swap my Raleigh Pioneers for ten of those things!

 

[matticus]

That’s exactly it, not that long ago it was a hybrid , now it’s a new gravel bike.....er sorry Specialized it’s a flat bar new, old style hybrid/MTB or should that be a Hybmtb.

... with most of the chain-rings removed.

 

[MrGrumpy]

Rigid MTB is what that is ! However quite like the drop bar versions myself. As for the head tube shock gubbins that looks like something else to cost you $$$$ to fix when it goes wrong !

 

[BalkanExpress]

Cheapest one is £1600, will keep using my rigid 90s Cannondale ta very much

That’s not a lot more than a M800 cost in the early 90s

....And if you convert that into current prices

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

That’s not a lot more than a M800 cost in the early 90s

....And if you convert that into current prices

It's true that some machines still cost a good chunk of cash back in the day when they were new, but those of us who have subsequently picked them up secondhand in more recent times have often only paid a few pennies in the pound of their original new cost, and a lot of the older stuff costs bugger all to actually keep on the road.
I would keep well clear of anything with unconventional engineering like the headshock though, as it's a future maintenance headache once the manufacturer loses interest and stops supporting it.

 

[Grant Fondo]

That’s not a lot more than a M800 cost in the early 90s

....And if you convert that into current prices

Good point, bet it weighs more than M800 though

 

[Blue Hills]

Except it's not steel, so might just last a decade rather than rust to bits like my Pioneer did.

Amongst newer bikes, i've got several steel frames from the 90s. Not rusted away yet. Have outlived an expensive ally dale which i took apart because of maintenance issues with some of its clever clever bits.

 

[screenman]

I think it looks nice and is worth the few quid they want for them.

 

[Mo1959]

Not sure about the longevity of the headshock, but I love it on my road bike. Certainly takes the buzz out of the broken surfaces that abound.

 

[winjim]

I think it looks nice and is worth the few quid they want for them.

All joking aside, I really like it. I ride a CdF which was marketed as an adventure/gravel bike but is absolutely useless off road, especially with the ridiculously overgeared version I have. I consider it more of a light tourer.

This Specialised looks just the job for people who want to be able to ride on different surfaces, road, bit of bridleway, dirt track. MTBs have mutated over the years into weird beasts but this looks nice and simple. Probably suitable for family rides for people who maybe wouldn't consider themselves 'cyclists'. Stick a rack on it, a trailer, a child seat. It's even got a 1x drivetrain to keep things uncomplicated. I like it.

 

[Gunk]

It’s a bit like a Centerparcs bike

 

[screenman]

All joking aside, I really like it. I ride a CdF which was marketed as an adventure/gravel bike but is absolutely useless off road, especially with the ridiculously overgeared version I have. I consider it more of a light tourer.

This Specialised looks just the job for people who want to be able to ride on different surfaces, road, bit of bridleway, dirt track. MTBs have mutated over the years into weird beasts but this looks nice and simple. Probably suitable for family rides for people who maybe wouldn't consider themselves 'cyclists'. Stick a rack on it, a trailer, a child seat. It's even got a 1x drivetrain to keep things uncomplicated. I like it.

I was not joking.

 

[winjim]

I was not joking.

No sorry, I meant that other people in the thread were.

 

[BigMeatball]

Super smart move by Specialized.

Not much R&D needed, no innovation required, virtually no cost. All that was required was a small marketing effort, minimal actually given that Specialized is such a well recognised brand and they don't really need to push the bikes.

Minimal risk too, in my opinion: if sales are low, Specialized will just get the bikes back, strip them, put a 2x chainset and drop bars and there they go back to the shops for a second spin

 

[Mr Celine]

Amongst newer bikes, i've got several steel frames from the 90s. Not rusted away yet. Have outlived an expensive ally dale which i took apart because of maintenance issues with some of its clever clever bits.

But you're in Londonshire where the streets are paved with gold, whereas up here they are more commonly paved with salt. A fresh white coating of which was applied last night.