Quantcast

Specialized Pitch experience?

Pegboy

Turbo Monkey
Jan 20, 2003
1,139
27
New Hamp-sha
I am looking at picking up a new allmountain/trail bike to replace the clapped out rig I have from 10+ years ago. I primarily ride DH (2008 Sunday) but am looking for a bike that has more of a DH feel for (East Coast) trail riding and some modest drops etc. The Specialized Pitch Pro has a 67* HA, 13 3/4 BB and 16 3/4 CS. It is spec'ed relatively well with a Fox RP2, Pike U-turn motion control (351 Specialized only model), and a mix of Specilized propriety and Descent grade shimano stuff for $2200 complete.

I don't want to hear "for $1000 more you should get...." because I don't want to spend more and I don't really need the Ultimate bike out there. i am looking for a solid bike that will be fun to ride in most situations at a descent price. The Pitch seems to fit the bill.

Does anybody have any personal experience with this bike and is there anything about it that should make me steer clear? I am surprised that I haven't heard more about it (especially at this price) which makes me a bit leary. Thanks in advance.

http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?sid=10Pitch
 

drkenan

anti-dentite
Oct 1, 2006
3,441
1
west asheville
Three of my riding buddies have Pitchs and all of them absolutely kill it on them. In fact, one of my friends followed me down Schleyer at Whistler on his Pitch. Yeah...I'd say it's a VERY worthy bike.

*Paging JeffKill to the white courtesy phone for a real review.
 

JeffKill

Monkey
Jun 21, 2006
688
0
Charlotte, NC
I've been riding a Pitch for AM/XC since last year and love the bike. The bike pedals good enough that it convinced me to sell the HT I had been using for XC riding. I was basically in the same situation you were when I bought the bike. Didn't have alot of cash, but wanted something I could take on longer mtn rides, without sacrificing too much on the downhills. Definitely a fun bike IMO.

It's a solid bike out of the box, but some upgrades over time wouldn't hurt. I put a Lyrik U-turn coil on it, new brakes, 70mm Thomson stem, and just ordered a new wheelset as well.

Edit: Also just ordered a 2010 RP23 with boost valve too! Have to send the RP2 in to fox for some warranty work, and not having a trail bike is just not an option for me now.

Kenan, you posted that while I was typing... :rofl:
 
Last edited:

Pegboy

Turbo Monkey
Jan 20, 2003
1,139
27
New Hamp-sha
Well considering that my current ride uses V-brakes and a 2000 Marzocchi Z1...I think the brakes and fork will be a dream! The thing is downright scary after coming off my DH bike, which is dialed and consequently where all the $ goes!
 

JeffKill

Monkey
Jun 21, 2006
688
0
Charlotte, NC
Well considering that my current ride uses V-brakes and a 2000 Marzocchi Z1...I think the brakes and fork will be a dream! The thing is downright scary after coming off my DH bike, which is dialed and consequently where all the $ goes!
Yeah, Im the same way. Put way more money into the DH bike. Recently I just haven't had to put anything new on it, so I moved onto upgrading the trail bike.

Nothing wrong with the stock for and brakes though, they'll definitely get the job done.
 

$BMFB$

Chimp
Oct 28, 2008
74
0
This is great, i actually have the exact same question. its between a stumpy comp fsr and a pitch pro for me (i think they are the same price). I think im leaning more and more towards the pitch though because of the geo and the components, and i ride mostly dh so i definitely have more of an 'aggro xc' style...Has anyone ridden both and could compare the two?
 

jnooth

Monkey
Sep 19, 2008
384
1
Vermont Country
i am ANOTHER person in the same boat. i love to ride xc but i rede xc like i ride DH and most bikes dont like that. the pitch looks like a good choice to me.

also what do you think of this bike for 4x? i know its not going to be ideal but with little cash i am looking for a bike that can xc and 4x. is this it?
 

FlipFantasia

Turbo Monkey
Oct 4, 2001
1,659
492
Sea to Sky BC
my buddy raced his pitch with a lyrik on the front to a 5th place in the red bull exodus downhill here in whistler in the fall, that's from the peak of whistler....here's a few pics of him riding some local xc on it....









 
Jun 20, 2007
349
9
This is a very interesting bike. I am looking for something a bit lighter and more nimble for my next AM/FR bike (compared to my Yeti ASX), and this bike fits that. I love FSR suspension, used to have a Specialized with it and it climbed like a goat. I am surprised to hear how stout this bike is. Can it handle drops of the 3 to 4 to maybe 5 foot range with ease?
 
Aug 11, 2009
71
0
halifax
Yeah the pitch is at the top of my list for trail bike frame for this year, I'd love the spitfire but gota watch the $$$.

Reason the pitch has won out over other frames is that you can get a complete for the same price as a "good" frame, its pretty stout, has great geo and it takes a 7.875" shock which is pretty much the lower limit for a good piggy back resi shock.

So yeah pretty sweet.
 

116CJ

Chimp
Jul 1, 2008
13
0
SLC
I recently purchased a ptich and after some time on it I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a good all mtn bike.
 

davec113

Monkey
May 24, 2009
419
0
the pitch looks nice...i just wished it came with a better rear shock.
rp2 is ok. I've had a 2 and a 23 and they perform identically. You can tune progression by shimming the can (HV model), which is a huge plus on a lot of trail bikes.
 

I.van

Monkey
Apr 15, 2007
188
0
Australia
I hired a Pitch Comp for a day in Queenstown NZ, and it is a very playful bike. I found that the bike felt pretty sluggish on the climbs though. It also manualed super easy, which nearly got me into trouble a few times.

Maybe the sluggishness was the x-fusion shock? They are awesome value when they are on special.
 

ZoRo

Turbo Monkey
Sep 28, 2004
1,224
11
MTL
FWIW, I ride, the "Spech" Pike fork that's on that bike, the 351, and it's been a stellar fork all around. A bit on the heavy side, but you know it won't let you down!
 

Castle

Turbo Monkey
Jun 10, 2002
1,446
0
VA
I've had mine for a little while now and love the bike. I got nothing but good things to say about it.
 

W4S

Turbo Monkey
Mar 2, 2004
1,282
23
Back in Hell A, b1thces
I've had mine for almost a year now, you'll love yours. Been chairlift riding mine the last couple weekends and I can't believe how capable the bike is.

I upgraded brakes, fork, wheels, seatpost, bars and stem.

 

Npdh

Monkey
Apr 29, 2007
141
0
for what im concern Pitch is a GREAT and do it all bike ! Its just amazing how she can take without complaining itself.
 

no skid marks

Monkey
Jan 15, 2006
2,511
29
ACT Australia


I've had mine for over 2 years now. Great lil bike. Nothing is stock on mine.
DHX Air
Marz 55s
Dirty 30s
PO1NT 50mm
Formula The Ones
Sram XO 8 speed
Hope proII front on Sun single track Minion single 2.35
Hadley 108 on 721 Minion dual ply 2.35, both Ghetto tubeless. Also have a 6speed Profile hub I sometimes use when I'm living somewhere with smaller hills
Mozartt guide
XT cranks
I have a shorter carbon I-beam post but it's now in my Zerode, so running Loaded with Ti rail Bel air now. Would like a dropper seat post.
Kowa are working on some 170mm>80mm forks in triple and single crown, so I'l replace the 55s when they're out. My 55s are thrashed, and need a coil, but I like the adjustability so the bikes geo can be changed in seconds to suit where I'm riding, hence why I want the new Kowas, 170 to 80mm in seconds, or anywhere in between.
I hope Specialized just stick with this frame for a few more years, and leave the carbon, and swank alone. Only things I'd like changed is make the main pivot wider and forget room for front mechs. and a tapered or 1.5 head tube would be cool. If they were going to do any suspension changes, I'd like a lower Horst link for more chainstay growth, and a touch shorter stays to compensate. Maybe a special chain guide with an idler on top to lesten the chain growth, but not wipe it right out. I'd be happy to buy this bike again in 5 years but as is. Sure there's better bikes at certain things, but the Pitch is a damn good balance/compromise as is.
I'd love to try a Double Barrel in it.
Only footage I have sorry.
http://imageshack.us/clip/my-videos/23/rds.mp4/
 
Last edited:

klamsi

Chimp
Oct 21, 2007
69
0
Is anyone able to compare the Pitch against the Stumpjumper Evo?
Geometrie of the evo looks fine. Lower bb plus shorter chainstay then the Pitch...sounds good.

I´m currently riding the Pitch the 3rd season and love it but looking for something new. So maybe there is some possible enhancement with the Stumpjumper Evo?
 

nelsonjm

Monkey
Feb 16, 2007
708
1
Columbia, MD
Wow, reading this thread makes me want to get a Pitch. Is there anything else in the same arena at around the same pricepoint that is worthy of mention?
 
Last edited:

clarkenstein

Monkey
Nov 28, 2008
244
0
i've really been considering this bike for a do it all bike. i would actually like a little less travel and go with something like a parker or a double or something and try to frankenstein it to be a trail bike i can jump, but i am too tall do do anything like that with those frames, so i keep coming back to this bike.
 

dwdw

Chimp
Oct 1, 2009
1
0
pitch.jpg

Here's mine. It is a great bike. Mine has had many upgrades, though not all at once.

My wife got one in 2008. After I rode it a couple of times I sold my Heckler and got one too.
 

DhDork

Monkey
Mar 30, 2007
352
0
Hell, AZ
I've had mine for a little over a year now, and couldn't ask for a better Trail/AM bike. Corners really well, really well balance, and takes big hits fairly well. I did put a Sunline 749mm bar on it, a 50mm Thomson stem, and a homemade dual ring guide. Made it ride so much better. I do like to switch back and forth between the 60mm slight rise stem though for the longer rides that would kill my back otherwise. I did also change out the shifters to an X0/X9 combo.

One thing that I could as for though was slightly beefier rims. I have put numerous dents in them, and have had to true them multiple times. I am also going to be putting on a dropper post, maybe a 150mm fork (mine came with the 140mm Pike) and possibly get the shock to be more progressive.

Edit: Oh, and I have taken it jumping MANY times. Swapped the wheels from my DH bike on to it, and was hitting jumps in the 25ft range, and drops up to 13 ft. Handled it fine. Also did the Beacon race last year on this bike with the wheels, cranks, and chainguide swapped from my DH bike.
 
Last edited:

DhDork

Monkey
Mar 30, 2007
352
0
Hell, AZ
What do you guys think of the pitch compared to the enduro? i'm torn right now between the nice pitch and cheap enduro...
I was in the same position you are in now when I bought my Pitch. I know I would have gotten a better frame with the Enduro, but I know that I would have had to upgrade A LOT more parts than with the Pitch. Parts that probably wouldn't have lasted nearly as long, and I would have most definitely spent more money going with the Enduro.
 

bikerpunk98199

Turbo Monkey
Apr 24, 2005
1,313
0
the hood
I was in the same position you are in now when I bought my Pitch. I know I would have gotten a better frame with the Enduro, but I know that I would have had to upgrade A LOT more parts than with the Pitch. Parts that probably wouldn't have lasted nearly as long, and I would have most definitely spent more money going with the Enduro.
Awesome, thanks!
 

JCL

Monkey
Aug 31, 2008
696
0
At least a degree slacker head angle on the Enduro. Flatter rate/more sensitive suspension. Stiffer frame (tapered head tube, X frame). Lighter too.

Not to say the Pitch isn't great, it's killer, but the Enduro frame has some advantages.
 

htrdoug

Chimp
Nov 25, 2001
66
0
So.Indiana
At least a degree slacker head angle on the Enduro. Flatter rate/more sensitive suspension. Stiffer frame (tapered head tube, X frame). Lighter too.

Not to say the Pitch isn't great, it's killer, but the Enduro frame has some advantages.

Everytime I go on specialized website and compare Pitch Pro to Enduro Comp I end up clicking on Enduro Evo and stop right there...can't consider cheaper models...must save up money...(started by selling my KTM 640 LC4e dualsport)