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Anybody not like their SXTs?

Monkeybidnezz

Turbo Monkey
Dec 16, 2003
1,212
0
Pac NW
I had a 66RC2X out front - the crack started down at the weld and went nuts on from there. I'm taking the bike to the shop today, I'm trying to choose between a new SX or asking spec to send me a Demo. I love the SX but that cracks got me a bit shaken up.
Let us know how it works out. I'm curious how they will handle it since you had a 66 on there which is outside of the maximum travel allowed for a SX.
 

PepperJester

Monkey
Jul 9, 2004
798
19
Wolfville NS
That is a SX Trail not a SX. Seeing as the bike was sold with a 66VF running a 66RC2X would not be a problem.


There were no boulders or rocks or ruts or anything in the field. The guys at the shop think they found a 2nd crack on the shock mount this afternoon. Looks like it was just it's time to die.
 

bikenweed

Turbo Monkey
Oct 21, 2004
2,432
0
Los Osos
I don't like the SXT all that much. I've only ridden one, but I've ridden it many times, in many different places. It feels tall, steep, and heavy.

However, I LOVE my long SX. The geometry feels spot on. The wheelbase is just long enough to be stable, but short enough to be whipped through tight corners. I only need 4" for the riding I do (which you'd probably call "light DH", but is really just cross country). The 12" high BB is fine in the rocks. The bike only weighs 34lbs. With the Talas 32, I can keep up with my pals on their Nomads and SXT's pretty easily.

So yeah, I don't like the SXT, but do like the SX. Take that! ;)
 

BikeMike

Monkey
Feb 24, 2006
784
0
Summary of the three types of responses to the question:
1) "I sat on/rode/accidentally looked at one. It is teh suck. "
2) "I own one, it is teh rox0r."
3) "Can't we all, just get along?"
 

MDJ

Monkey
Dec 15, 2005
669
0
San Jose, CA
Summary of the three types of responses to the question:
1) "I sat on/rode/accidentally looked at one. It is teh suck. "
2) "I own one, it is teh rox0r."
3) "Can't we all, just get along?"
That's basically the reponse to all of the bike specific threads. The reasons for the responses:
1) I bought the wrong bike so I'm going to talk shiat about yours.
2) I spent a lot of money on this bike so no matter what I'm going to convince myself that it's the best.
3) Smoked too much weed
 

gmac

Monkey
Apr 6, 2002
471
0
Agreed these threads can get crazy and the author's original question gets lost quickly.
Besides which design is "better" consider the other factors: Will it basically work (matches my intended use) ? Will it be a solid value (last couple seasons +) ? Will I get support (if needed)? Is the company really involved in cycling (beyond the $ aspect) ?
 

quickneonrt

Turbo Monkey
Apr 8, 2003
1,611
0
Staten Island NY
Just out of curiousity, how was it built up? Was it run with the low BB shuttle? 66.5 or so HA ain't so steep, in my book.
actually with a 66 on it and low bb shuttle the ht is 66 at least that what mine sits at and that is far from steep.

Heavy? most dh/fr setups come in around 38 same as the bottlerocket but with more travel and better suspension design

oh and yeah I hate mine because now my Demo9 just sits collecting dust
 

MrPlow

Monkey
Sep 9, 2004
628
0
Toowoomba Queensland
Well I love mine, except the chainstays are crappo.
Warranty should sort it out I hope.
Took mine up to fort william and rode it the monday after the worlds. The track was chopped out, but mostly dry thanks to gale force winds and sun on the only day but race day!

I have come from a Yeti DH9 to this, and I gotta say I was impressed with the little bikes ability on the rough stuff.
 

Udi

RM Chief Ornithologist
Mar 14, 2005
4,915
1,200
Try and get the new updated one, think it came with the baby blue 07 one onwards. They beefed it up, coz a heap of the pre 07 ones snapped.
 

PepperJester

Monkey
Jul 9, 2004
798
19
Wolfville NS
I never did send an update on my SXT...

Specialized sent me a new main frame free of charge. Good on them. Two other cracks were found in the frame before it was sent out - they were very dusty and looked old. One on the seat mast and one on the shock mount. I'm thinking poor heat treating?

Anyway they got me back on the trail with no questions asked. My new SXT is working great and took got me gold in our Super-D yesterday.

But I still might sell it and get something a bit stronger this spring, just to ease my mind. OR keep the SXT, put it on a a weight loss program use it for lite FR/XC racing. and get a different ride for DH and big jumps.
 

CKxx

Monkey
Apr 10, 2006
669
0
Summary of the three types of responses to the question:
1) "I sat on/rode/accidentally looked at one. It is teh suck. "
2) "I own one, it is teh rox0r."
3) "Can't we all, just get along?"
Count me in for number two.

That's basically the reponse to all of the bike specific threads. The reasons for the responses:
1) I bought the wrong bike so I'm going to talk shiat about yours.
2) I spent a lot of money on this bike so no matter what I'm going to convince myself that it's the best.
3) Smoked too much weed
I EP'd it, so, nope.
 

DirtEveryDay

Turbo Monkey
Nov 24, 2003
2,692
4
Pacific North Wet
Haha, as an asshole myself, even I find it surprising how bad you all jumped on Dropmachine! Geez. Count me in as number 3 who doesn't think the SXT is "totally groovy." And here's the best part: I have one! Sorta. I have an 06 Enduro SX that's been burled to 6pointsomeoddinches of travel via an Avalanche Chubie. Yet I think the SXT sucks. I sat in the Spec shop with a tape measure for hours comparing the SXT to my SX and not only do I not believe that the SXT is getting 7+ inches of travel, I have WAY better geo on mine. Atleast for a true trail bike. The ONLY physical difference that I could find and was able to note was the shock mount/shuttle on the frame. It was further away from the seattube, allowing a DHX to fit, whereas, it was too tight to fit on mine.
One thing I've noticed since going to Specialized(and not JUST the SX, I had a Demo 8 before this) is that I jump/land nose-heavy now. I used to loop out pretty harshly on everything, which, to me, was much better. But at the same time I switched to Spec I started riding medium bikes instead of smalls, so I'm pretty sure that's the problem. But I haven't stopped blaming my Spec for me sucking!
 

CKxx

Monkey
Apr 10, 2006
669
0
In numerous other threads we have established that a bikes geometry can make or break it quite easily. By your own admission, the SX you built does not have SXT geometry, and your only experience with the bike in question, as you stated, involved a bike shop showroom and a tape measure. How can you bash it?

Also, for reference, they have 170mm of travel, or 6.69"

Anyway, yes, the shock shuttles, as well as the mounts, are different. The tabs on the SXT at also slightly further up towards the headtube.(see below).



EDIT: That pic of the SXT shuttle is in the "not slack" mode. The other shuttle would have it recessed even further between the two shuttle mounting bolts.
 

DirtEveryDay

Turbo Monkey
Nov 24, 2003
2,692
4
Pacific North Wet
Hey.... that^^^ sounds pretty much JUST LIKE WHAT I JUST SAID!:bonk:

The ONLY physical difference that I could find and was able to note was the shock mount/shuttle on the frame. It was further away from the seattube, allowing a DHX to fit, whereas, it was too tight to fit on mine.
And, uh, NO, I didn't just sit on one, I rode a store demo for a full day in the mtns while the shop owner rode mine. He LOVED mine. The SXT stayed in the window and he ordered himself an SX and is currently working off my numbers to find an air shock that will be close. I've considered the same as Avys just hate to leave the ground!
 

CKxx

Monkey
Apr 10, 2006
669
0
And, uh, NO, I didn't just sit on one, I rode a store demo for a full day in the mtns while the shop owner rode mine.
Thats not what the original post said. I don't read minds.

My post could have been worded better, but I turned it back a few notches from "11" and in the process may have lost a point or two.
 

punkassean

Turbo Monkey
Feb 3, 2002
4,561
0
SC, CA
I dunno about you, but if I sit on something and it doesn't feel right, that says much to me right there. Some bikes just don't suit some people. I was on a medium. Yes I should have been on a Large, but the medium reign I tried didn't have the same feel to it.

Its just a weird random thing really. Again, if you read what i wrote, I never said anything about the ride, just said it felt odd to me as soon as I sat on it.
You can't always just say "I'm a medium" so this medium "should" feel right right to me straight out of the box. The Reign has a slightly longer top tube than the SXT, but only by like one or two tenths of an inch. So providing both bikes had similar length stems and seatpost offset, they should have felt almost exactly the same. They both also have nice slack head tubes (67*) and some other similar geometry numbers. The primary difference is the Reign's half-inch longer chainstays, which you wouldn't have felt just sitting on the bike. In theory a medium SXT and a medium Reign should feel almost identical just sitting one them in a shop. So it had to be an issue of the seat positioning or bar height, or something trivial like that.

You definitely "should" have ridden both bikes and set them both up as far as cockpit/control parts to your liking before making the final judgement IMO. :)
 

DirtEveryDay

Turbo Monkey
Nov 24, 2003
2,692
4
Pacific North Wet
You don't read minds? Hack. J/K, no i didn't mention I rode one as well. I was always bugged by the fact that perhaps my SX just wasn't "working as well as it could" since I was not really using it for it's intended purpose. The owner/manager/pal said he was going to buy one anyway and got sweet deals on bikes if they were demos first. So, he used my persistent curiosity to get a bike ordered and used me as a demo rider. Then didn't buy it anyway. To a point, I don't feel like I'm using the bike right, and it's defintaly more DH than I prefer for 80 percent of the time, but for the 20% that I'm bangin through rocks it's damn nice!
 

dropmachine

Turbo Monkey
Sep 7, 2001
2,922
10
Your face.
You can't always just say "I'm a medium" so this medium "should" feel right right to me straight out of the box. The Reign has a slightly longer top tube than the SXT, but only by like one or two tenths of an inch. So providing both bikes had similar length stems and seatpost offset, they should have felt almost exactly the same. They both also have nice slack head tubes (67*) and some other similar geometry numbers. The primary difference is the Reign's half-inch longer chainstays, which you wouldn't have felt just sitting on the bike. In theory a medium SXT and a medium Reign should feel almost identical just sitting one them in a shop. So it had to be an issue of the seat positioning or bar height, or something trivial like that.

You definitely "should" have ridden both bikes and set them both up as far as cockpit/control parts to your liking before making the final judgement IMO. :)

I did. Gave back the SXT demo about a month ago (so much fun!) and just gave back the reign X1 last week. :)

http://www.dropmachine.com/Reviews/p2_articleid/366
 

DirtEveryDay

Turbo Monkey
Nov 24, 2003
2,692
4
Pacific North Wet
You can't always just say "I'm a medium" so this medium "should" feel right right to me straight out of the box. The Reign has a slightly longer top tube than the SXT, but only by like one or two tenths of an inch. So providing both bikes had similar length stems and seatpost offset, they should have felt almost exactly the same. They both also have nice slack head tubes (67*) and some other similar geometry numbers. The primary difference is the Reign's half-inch longer chainstays, which you wouldn't have felt just sitting on the bike. In theory a medium SXT and a medium Reign should feel almost identical just sitting one them in a shop. So it had to be an issue of the seat positioning or bar height, or something trivial like that.

You definitely "should" have ridden both bikes and set them both up as far as cockpit/control parts to your liking before making the final judgement IMO. :)
A little off-point, but I've ALWAYS felt that Specialized bikes, as well as many other companies that really research rider form and useage(and no one can say that Specialized doesn't over test and analize crap to death, that's for sure!) are the kind of bike that almost ANYONE can just jump right on and feel comfortable within a few minutes. The P-series is almost perfect for that. They're just rideable bikes. Too bad the company itself is getting wackier by the second! Wonder what will happen next year?? Might have to be a member of the Millionaire Boys Club to purchase one.
 

wanabe

Monkey
Mar 16, 2007
177
0
Look, the SXT is bad ass. I own one and love it. The problem I have is with Specialized customer service. I work at a shop and absolutly dread it when I have to call Specialized. I never have problems with other companies. So I am seriously considering a BlidSide w/air shock. But, for the southeast the SXT is probably the closest thing to a perfect allarounder. I know it is a little off subject but I had to put in those 2 cents.
 

punkassean

Turbo Monkey
Feb 3, 2002
4,561
0
SC, CA
Look, the SXT is bad ass. I own one and love it. The problem I have is with Specialized customer service. I work at a shop and absolutly dread it when I have to call Specialized. I never have problems with other companies. So I am seriously considering a BlidSide w/air shock. But, for the southeast the SXT is probably the closest thing to a perfect allarounder. I know it is a little off subject but I had to put in those 2 cents.
I hear ya. I was more than a bit disappointed to learn that my "lifetime warranty" doesn't cover the rear triangle components such as seatstays and chainstays. I recently snapped my chainstays completely through (in the middle of a 40 mile epic but that's another story.) Specialized replaced the broken stay on my Charcoal ano S-Works with a forest green ano stay. Needless to say it looks like ass, kind of a bummer to have that happen with a $2K plus frame. I was hoping they'd offer me an upgrade, I was even willing to pay some additional $ even though I supposedly have a "lifetime warranty".

I'd like to get the frame painted so all the parts match but I can't get a straight answer on where I can get that done w/o voiding my "lifetime warranty" . Anyway, It's not the worst thing by any stretch but I am disappointed. The bike rocks though and I love the geometry etc.
 

Tootrikky

Monkey
Jul 31, 2003
772
0
Mount Vernon
Look, the SXT is bad ass. I own one and love it. The problem I have is with Specialized customer service. I work at a shop and absolutly dread it when I have to call Specialized. I never have problems with other companies. So I am seriously considering a BlidSide w/air shock. But, for the southeast the SXT is probably the closest thing to a perfect allarounder. I know it is a little off subject but I had to put in those 2 cents.
Tell me about it. I called 4 dealers, Specialized CS twice, had my non- specialized dealer LBS call Fox trying to get the rear proprietary conical washers/spacers to for the rear shock mount. Basically every time Specialized was contacted they said to call Fox who then said to call Specialized. Finally the poor specialized dealer that was suckered in to helping me was able get them in. Too bad I had to buy the $100 bearing kit to get the 2 washers. Turns out they were in the process of making the kits available during the whole fiasco. What friggin joke.
 

CKxx

Monkey
Apr 10, 2006
669
0
I hear ya. I was more than a bit disappointed to learn that my "lifetime warranty" doesn't cover the rear triangle components such as seatstays and chainstays.
Front triangle is lifetime, rear triangle on fully's is 3 year.

EDIT: From manufacturers defects, of course.
 

punkassean

Turbo Monkey
Feb 3, 2002
4,561
0
SC, CA
Front triangle is lifetime, rear triangle on fully's is 3 year.

EDIT: From manufacturers defects, of course.
Even at that, I was still inside the warranty period for the parts that were broken. My bike looks really weird now—and that sucks—but on the bright side it was taken care of fast (3 days) and I'm still riding....
 

wanabe

Monkey
Mar 16, 2007
177
0
Tell me about it. I called 4 dealers, Specialized CS twice, had my non- specialized dealer LBS call Fox trying to get the rear proprietary conical washers/spacers to for the rear shock mount. Basically every time Specialized was contacted they said to call Fox who then said to call Specialized. Finally the poor specialized dealer that was suckered in to helping me was able get them in. Too bad I had to buy the $100 bearing kit to get the 2 washers. Turns out they were in the process of making the kits available during the whole fiasco. What friggin joke.
You have an idea of how hard it is to deal with specialized. I have had to do this more than once. one of those times it took more than 2 months! All the cusromer wanted was a 5mm bolt for the shock eye.

For my bike (SXT), I needed a new set of shock shuttles. My dumb ass dropped the slack set on the trail. So I called specialized over and over again for 6 months, part not available. I finally had a guy tell me that he couldnt get them because 80% of the 07' SXTs didnt have both shock shuttles. I know a few people with SXTs and built a few SXTs and never saw or heard this. When I said that I got them with my bike and he web site states that the frame has an adjusable head angle, he said specialized was false advertising. I know this sound far fetched, but I swear to god that actualy came out of his mouth.:disgust1:
 

Rockland

Turbo Monkey
Apr 24, 2003
1,870
262
Left hand path
Even at that, I was still inside the warranty period for the parts that were broken. My bike looks really weird now—and that sucks—but on the bright side it was taken care of fast (3 days) and I'm still riding....
Maybe Spec is just trying to migrate you to their new found vision of retarded bicycle color schemes ( :twitch: ). Sorry to hear about the breakage, but at least you're rolling already. :D
 

Monkeybidnezz

Turbo Monkey
Dec 16, 2003
1,212
0
Pac NW
Front triangle is lifetime, rear triangle on fully's is 3 year.

EDIT: From manufacturers defects, of course.
Hmm, I'll have to check that out. The rear triangle warranty used to say 1 year when I got my Enduro in 06.

I spoke with the Spesh guy on MTBR that frequents the forums, and he said that while it is stated 1 year that it wouldn't be a problem if it was past the period. I'm keeping that email just in case I have to put it to use!
 

CKxx

Monkey
Apr 10, 2006
669
0
Hmm, I'll have to check that out. The rear triangle warranty used to say 1 year when I got my Enduro in 06.

I spoke with the Spesh guy on MTBR that frequents the forums, and he said that while it is stated 1 year that it wouldn't be a problem if it was past the period. I'm keeping that email just in case I have to put it to use!
Hmm. I was pretty sure the times I said was the case (or I woundn't have said it) but it has been a while since I left the specialized shop I worked in. Maybe you are correct about the 1 year, but that seems kind of short when you are trying to sell a $3500+ toy to someone.
 

Monkeybidnezz

Turbo Monkey
Dec 16, 2003
1,212
0
Pac NW
Hmm. I was pretty sure the times I said was the case (or I woundn't have said it) but it has been a while since I left the specialized shop I worked in. Maybe you are correct about the 1 year, but that seems kind of short when you are trying to sell a $3500+ toy to someone.
Yeah, unfortunately it's true. Well, at least in written form. I reconfirmed on the Specialized site under the user guides and it says that 1 year warranty applies to all attachment points, suspension related equipment, etc and STAYS. Boo!!!

Anyway, hopefully if it ever does become an issue they will honor it past the warranty period like the Spesh techie said since it is a known problem and would be fixed.
 

sittingduck

Turbo Monkey
Jun 22, 2007
1,958
2
Oregon
Fvck Specialized. They raise prices, lower warranties, and have other alleged shady practices.
I rode an SXT at whistler last year, it was a decent bike, but there are lots of decent bikes out there without the bad karma of Specialized built in.
 

gmac

Monkey
Apr 6, 2002
471
0
I do not own one. But, the fact that this thing has gone 5 (excuse me) 6 pages deep speaks volumes. Superior product (maybe) from a full on corporation (absolutely). I wouldn't buy one unless I was trying to go Pro. It appears the average rider would do better w/ a truly rider oriented company.
 

wanabe

Monkey
Mar 16, 2007
177
0
I do not own one. But, the fact that this thing has gone 5 (excuse me) 6 pages deep speaks volumes. Superior product (maybe) from a full on corporation (absolutely). I wouldn't buy one unless I was trying to go Pro. It appears the average rider would do better w/ a truly rider oriented company.
Thank you.

I know they are more of a free ride company but...Transition has great customer service. "Rider owned for life". Just an example, I know there are alot of other geat companies out there. If specialized would have a mentality closer to this they would be hard to keep up with.
 

punkassean

Turbo Monkey
Feb 3, 2002
4,561
0
SC, CA
I do not own one. But, the fact that this thing has gone 5 (excuse me) 6 pages deep speaks volumes. Superior product (maybe) from a full on corporation (absolutely). I wouldn't buy one unless I was trying to go Pro. It appears the average rider would do better w/ a truly rider oriented company.
Specialized is a rider oriented company, that's not the problem. There are plenty of guys there that are top-caliber cyclist from all disciplines. Brandon Sloan slays the trail like few others and the majority of employees there are very fit riders. They make great bikes but the pricing leaves something to be desired as does their customer service; keep in mind many bike ind. companies have as undesirable a level of CS, so take it for what it's worth.

They could choose to not offer a warranty at all and that would be fine. Buyer beware. Instead it seems as though they've chosen to hide behind a relatively misleading warranty policy. To say that the swingarm and suspension components are not part of the frame and therefore not covered under the warranty is a total cop out IMO. Those parts are included when you purchase a frame-only, does that not make them part of the frame?

In practice they have chosen to replace those parts, even though they don't have to, but it still kind of sucks that they will not guarantee you a color matched part for your EXPENSIVE bike. It would be nice if they at least stocked black replacement parts so they would at least sot of match most bikes fairly well. With a green chainstay my bike looks like poop, plus the resale value is shot to hell, so I'm pretty much stuck with it....But I do still love the way it rides. It's been a great bike.