All Arround MTB

Specialized’sWU post has a unique saddletipping action that some riders might like but it has a lot of downsides, including cost,weight, height, rattle and only a single fit option. The big “wooo!” with theWU is that, while the main shaft only drops 115mm, a secondary shaft inside drops another centimetre, tipping the back of the saddle down by another 35mm.This is designed to give support under braking and extra thigh control on steep/fast descents, and some of our testers liked it. Because the nose doesn’t lower, Spesh’s “effective 150mm drop” claim is stretching it, though, and theWU mechanism adds extra height under the saddle. The head soon starts to wobble and rattle on the shaft too, which isn’t helped by the savage return speed and slamming top-out even on its slowest setting. It’s also heavy, expensive and only comes in a 34.9mm diameter, making the simple but effective $375 Command Post IRcc our recommended Spesh dropper. Weight 767g Stroke 115mm Diameters 34.9mm ...

Specialized’s Dissident is one of the comfiest full-face lids on the market. The well-shaped, soft padding hugs your head nicely and does a decent job of soaking up sweat. Carbon fibre construction means the helmet weighs just 1,036g (medium), which is a big plus when wearing it for long periods of time. Like any full-face, the Dissident heats up when you’re working hard, though well-located vents under the peak and internal channelling improve airflow over the top of your head. It’ll accept the ‘EJECT’ safety system as well as work with neck braces, and there’s even space inside to fit speakers. The S-Works edition features a matt carbon finish, which marks easily, and a magnetic buckle, which takes a bit of practice to use with gloves on. Our last Dissident held up for a few years, despite a few knocks, so, while it’s not cheap, this lid should last well. HIGHS -Comfortable, highly tactile and weatherproof clipless gravity shoes LOWS -Soft feel when pedalling -Sizing ...

The Specialized Stumpjumper has taken many forms since it claimed the title of ‘first production mountain bike’ back in 1981, from XC hardtail to mid-travel full-sus. It’s now evolved once more, into what Specialized are touting as “the ultimate trail bike”. Potential buyers are presented with a lot of different options – you can go for 29in wheels or 650b, a carbon fibre frame or aluminium, short or long travel, a unisex build or women’s-specific finishing kit. There’s even an Evo version for riders wanting something longer, slacker and overall more aggressive. All share one important trait – enhanced stiffness to improve handling in rough terrain. This was Specialized’s primary goal when redesigning the Stumpy. Hence the asymmetrical reinforcing strut that connects the top tube and seat tube (a design first used on their Demo downhill bike). The carbon frames also have a new lay-up, resulting in a claimed eight per cent higher stiffness and 100g weight saving. Every frame i...

Specialized’s Power saddles are polarising in both looks and fit, but those who like them like them a lot. The short nose and large central cutout are designed to keep pressure off your sensitive tissues when in a forward seated position. While these seats are designed primarily for road use, we’ve found them to be remarkably comfortable off-road, especially when hunched forwards on steep climbs or during long days in the saddle, when we’ve had no problems with pain or numbness. This new ARC version has a smoother transition from rear to nose, which makes it better for mountain biking, because it allows you to adopt a wider range of positions. The Expert model is the cheapest, and weighs 340g. While the shape won’t suit everyone, if it works for you, you’re in for a treat. Price $150

While the new Enduro’s ‘X-Wing’ frame layout and Boost-width back end look almost identical to that of its 2017 counterpart, Specialized have made some significant changes. These include stretching the reach out further (it’s jumped from 430mm to 440mm on the medium) and adding a geometry chip at the base of the shock, which lets you drop the BB by 8mm and slacken the head angle by 0.5 degrees. In the lowest setting, this sat our test bike 344mm off the floor and gave a 65.1-degree head angle. On the trail, speed comes easily to the Enduro. Its shape and balance make it easy to acclimatise to, while its forgiving ride means you can speed head-on into boulder fields without wincing. It helps that set-up is a rapid, faff-free affair. You can tackle steep, roughed-up sections of trail with relative precision and when the hits do start to come thick and fast, the supple rear suspension doesn’t get overwhelmed easily, with enough progression and support to handle big impacts in a comp...

Made from Gore Windstopper Active Shell, the Deflect doesn’t claim to be fully waterproof – even though it has taped seams – but it is highly water resistant. The benefit of this material is improved breathability, so this jacket will suit fast-paced riders who know they’re never going to stay out all day if the heavens open but want some degree of weatherproofing. It follows that the Deflect is comfortable to wear in milder temperatures, and despite subjecting it to some sustained Highland rain, we didn’t get wet. It’s well featured, with some nice details, including a slightly offset front zip and three internal rear pockets that are reached via a single side-access opening. We were dubious, but they’re just like jersey pockets to use. Other features include handwarmer pockets and an under-helmet hood. Weight 393g Price $240

Specialized haven’t changed the Stumpjumper frame this year, but a new fork and tyres radically reinvent this userfriendly all-rounder.

The Stix Elite uses its own USB key to dock into the flexible rubber seatpost mount, where a rubberised cover snaps into place to keep it secure. Water can still get in though, and the key can get pretty wet during downpours, so it’s important to make sure to let the light dry before recharging it. There are two constant modes, but we elected to use one of the four flashing settings to string out battery life. Specialized claim the light will last a whopping 77 hours on ‘Eco Flash’ mode, with charging taking just 2.5 hours. A red/green battery life indicator makes it easy to see when it needs topping up. The Stix Elite’s compact size and standout visibility (Spesh claim it puts out 68 lumens in its brightest mode) mean it’s a great little rear light to carry in your pack in case the light starts to fade when you’re on your way home from the trails. Price $45

Drawing inspiration from the highlyacclaimed Specialized Enduro, the Turbo Kenevo is the US brand’s new heavyhitting e-MTB, with a whopping 180mm of travel and geometry to match. The ‘X-Wing’ frame design is the first obvious similarity, although here the front triangle neatly houses Spesh’s latest M1-504 battery and Brosebuilt Turbo 1.3 Rx Trail Tuned motor. Power has been boosted by 15 per cent compared to older Turbo Levos (Specialized’s original e-MTB) and heat build-up is managed better. Alongside other hardware and software updates, the new ‘Trail’ remote lets you toggle easily between the three power modes (eco, trail and turbo). While we’re used to seeing some serious compromises on e-bikes, Specialized look to have done a great job of delivering a bike that should feel familiar on the trail. In fact, the geometry isn’t a million miles off the Enduro’s. The medium Kenevo offers 431mm of reach and short (for an e-bike) 443mm chainstays. A relatively steep 74.8-degree sea...

With the help of the Coastal Crew and some rather fancy live data-logging equipment, Specialized set about rectifying the problems many of us had with their original 2FO flat pedal shoes. These new 2.0 versions are the result. Changes to the upper are subtle. The toe box is more or less unaltered, save for the removal of venting perforations above the toes, which makes the shoes better at fending off splashes. While the inside ankle is still raised for protection against crank knocks, it’s not as heavily padded. The tongue is thicker, and there’s a rear loop to help you get the shoes on. It’s the sole where there are big differences. Flexibility, comfort and traction on the pedal have all been dramatically improved, and the arch doesn’t feel as prominent. The new sole is made from a revised ‘SlipNot 2.0’ rubber compound that’s far tackier than the original. As before, some of the tread on the toe and heel is more pronounced, to help when off the bike. But the tread blocks on th...

While we like Specialized’s 2FO clipless shoes, the original flat-pedal version definitely wasn’t perfect. It looks like this new model has solved a lot of those problems. There’s a mix of protective sections and breathable mesh panels on the upper, and inside is a Body Geometry insole to hold your foot in the optimum position. The dual-density midsole should give good pedal feel, while Spesh say the ‘SlipNot 2.0’ rubber compound is the stickiest they’ve made. Price $195

Despite being the lightest helmet on test, the well-ventilated Ambush offers some of the best coverage, extending over the temples and sitting low behind the ears. The peak can be adjusted to a wide range of positions, with plenty of room to stow goggles underneath. Specialized’s retention system tightens around the whole circumference of the lid, rather than just the rear. The fit was a contentious issue among our test team, depending on head shape. Because the retention system is higher up than on other helmets, it sometimes feels like it pushes the Ambush up off your head as it’s tightened. We feel comfort would be improved with some padding towards the rear. The EPS liner is reassuringly thick around the front, top and sides but substantially thinner behind the ears. Weight 248 g Sizing S, M, L Price $172

The Power Pro isn’t marketed as an MTB saddle, but we spotted some of Specialized’s pro enduro racers using it. Intrigued, we decided to give it a try ourselves. We weren’t disappointed. The radical cutout is designed to take the pressure off the personal plumbing of both men and women, particularly when in an aggressive forward position. On steep climbs, we suffered almost no pain or discomfort in that region. Even on longer rides, we had no issues with numbness or pressure points. For our main tester, it’s simply the comfiest saddle here. With the narrowest version (tested) measuring 143mm, it won’t suit snake hips, but we didn’t find it getting in the way when descending. A carbon hull and Ti rails keep it super-light, but very pricey. Happily, there’s an Expert model for $120 less. Weight 207g Price $262

The Henge is a popular perch among the our team, so it would be remiss of us not to include it here. Specialized claim that the ‘Body Geometry’ shape has been lab tested to ensure that blood flow to your privates is unaffected. When riding, it seems like the large, wide pressure-relief channel takes the load off those sensitive areas more effectively than most, especially in those technical situations where you’re not sitting perfectly straight and central on the saddle. The broad, slightly downturned nose makes it particularly good when sitting forward to winch up steep, technical climbs. Whether used for long days in the saddle in bibs or for casual rides in regular undies and shorts, the Henge is one of the comfiest saddles out there for our main tester. While not all our staff are quite as effusive in their praise, we’ve yet to come across anyone who really doesn’t get on with it. With steel rails, the Sport model is the heaviest saddle on test, but more expensive versions of t...

Despite being the smallest inflator on test, the metal CPRO2 has a reassuringly solid feel. It’s also the simplest design here, with a mechanism that releases gas as the head is compressed against the valve. A short plastic tube allows the canister to be partially screwed into the head without piercing the seal – a simple but effective solution for transporting a cartridge. There’s no insulating sleeve, so wear gloves while using it. It also only accepts Presta valves. Price $32 w/16g cartridge

Thanks to two shallow leg pockets and three deeper rear pockets, Specialized’s SWAT (Storage Water Air Tools) undershorts allow you to ditch your pack on shorter rides. The leg pockets are handy for lighter items like energy gels and bars, while the bigger rear pockets can happily accommodate a spare tube, basic tools, phone or even a water bottle. We’d like to see one zipped pocket for keys or cash, though. Even when fully loaded, the body-hugging fit means the SWAT bibs don’t sag down and kit stays well positioned while riding. To top things off, the Specialized chamois is one of the comfiest out there, which just adds to the overall value. Price $97

The Enduro Comp shorts have become a favourite here. They’re that bit better fitted than much of the competition – not so baggy that they flap around in the breeze, but relaxed enough that they sit happily over pads and offer enough coverage even when you’re really flexing your knees. The stretchy ‘VaporRize’ fabric is comfy and also provides some water repellency, while the twin Velcro waist adjusters ensure the shorts stay seated nicely on your hips and don’t droop down when hunched over the bike. Our only real niggle is the lack of even one zipped pocket. While the two hip pockets are handy, the single zip on the right-hand side is there so you can access your Specialized SWAT bib shorts (which you can stash kit inside), so if you’re not wearing these, it’s redundant. Price 97$

The Slaughter uses a classic small knob centre/big block shoulder semi-slick design in an affordable, gear gifting package but it’s not as tough as its width and weight would suggest.

The Stumpjumper FSR is a long-standing favourite out on the trails. What, if anything, will plus tyres add to its time-tested formula?

Mixing big wheels with big travel is no easy feat, but Spesh have pulled it off