[-dustin]

2 SWORKS Tarmac SLs, 2 bikes that shift like crap. Jacked around with them way too long. Called Specialized, and am told the only difference is that the rings are stiffer. I asked why the change, because I swear up and down that the 2007 rings are the best shifting rings ever produced. Was told they flexed too much, and that's probably why the felt so good. Under heavier loads, though, that flex wasn't good.

So now, these new '08 rings...I swear, they're like bad FSA rings. real choppy when they do work, which isn't very often.

Speccy did send me 2 sets of rings/ spiders, so we'll see what happens.

The real ****ter is that the tool needed to swap spiders is over $100 for shops to purchase.

 

[James]

2 SWORKS Tarmac SLs, 2 bikes that shift like crap. Jacked around with them way too long. Called Specialized, and am told the only difference is that the rings are stiffer. I asked why the change, because I swear up and down that the 2007 rings are the best shifting rings ever produced. Was told they flexed too much, and that's probably why the felt so good. Under heavier loads, though, that flex wasn't good.

So now, these new '08 rings...I swear, they're like bad FSA rings. real choppy when they do work, which isn't very often.

Speccy did send me 2 sets of rings/ spiders, so we'll see what happens.

The real ****ter is that the tool needed to swap spiders is over $100 for shops to purchase.

I would have told them to send you the tool. A company like Spesh should take care of their customers, especially their S-Works shops...
But I don't work there, so they're free to do what they like...

 

[-dustin]

well, I tried, but was told that warranty (Utah) and sales were separate (Cali), and that it just wouldn't work... Ok. Warranty offered to send us one, but we'd have to send it right back. That wasn't the answer I really wanted. But at least we got the rings without hassel.

 

[-dustin]

got the tool today. damn! fancy housing, not-so-fancy tools. though, included is a tool to remove BB30 bearings, which is nicer than the punch/ hammer we use currently.

 

[-dustin]

There is definitely something up with the either the spider or the chainrings. I put a Cannondale SI 3-piece crankset on the bike (after the new SWORKS rings were shifting no better than the old ones) and it shifted like I would expect a $5k bike to shift. put the SWORKS cranks back on and it shifted like ****. had some highly trained eyes look at it and he thinks the spacing between the rings is off - too wide.

 

[arboc!]

they have always had flexy rings. get some new ones and don't worry about it any more... also make sure your seat post isn't playing the vanishing game.

 

[Wumpus]

they have always had flexy rings. get some new ones and don't worry about it any more... also make sure your seat post isn't playing the vanishing game.

He's a mech. I'm sure the shop he works for doesn't want to replace all the rings on every bike they sell, and if I bought an sworks, I would expect for it to work flawlessly.

 

[arboc!]

He's a mech. I'm sure the shop he works for doesn't want to replace all the rings on every bike they sell, and if I bought an sworks, I would expect for it to work flawlessly.

thats what you would expect, but specialized isn't perfect... just really expensive.

 

[-dustin]

The 2007 rings were flexy. According to everyone.
The 2008 rings are supposed to be substantially more stiff. According to everyone.

2007 rings/ cranks shifting beautifully. Best setup I ever messed with.
2008 rings/ cranks are shifting more inconsistantly than even the bad FSA rings. 4 sets of rings/ spiders are shifting badly. As of now, the only thing I haven't done is tried different rings on an SWORKS spider. I'll do that tomorrow. That'll tell me if it's the spider or the rings. I'm thinking it's the spider.

 

[-dustin]

Seems Specialized is now replacing poorly shifting SL rings with D/A on standard cranksets, and Ultegra SL on compact cranksets.

 

[-dustin]

To add to this, there are supposed to be upgraded rings coming from Specialized with, what I'm told, will be properly set pins.