Quantcast

Prototype Specialized DH Bike

Bedlam

Monkey
Feb 13, 2010
240
0
Under ground
The fact that it's marketing is obvious, but is it really a clever thing to be doing? I mean, who in this world of gadget focused sport is going to want to buy a new spec bike if you know/believe something completely new is around the corner? Selling a used bike is difficult enough as it is, but if it is a generation old (even if it's only a season old) it's practically impossible...
On the other hand, it might be to show that "Hey, look! We're trying to innovate and push the envelope, our stuff is awesome and cutting edge!" as a company profile. Damn, marketing seems difficult, I'll just stick with engineering...
 

supercow

Monkey
Feb 18, 2009
969
128
are you guys trying to say that a company that sells products is trying to generate talk about, and interest in their products? wtf?
The point I'm making, is why try to cover up the suspension with your foot and act all secret squirrel , while you already stand out like a sore thumb (Christ, the hair can;t help either can it?). Just find it odd.
 
Last edited:

norbar

KESSLER PROBLEM. Just cause
Jun 7, 2007
11,346
1,587
Warsaw :/
The point I'm making, is why try to cover up the suspension with your foot and act all secret squirrel , while you already stand out like a sore thumb (Christ, the hair can;t help either can it?). Just find it odd.
Because then you have 2 news updates instead of 1. "Wow a new spesh with less chainstayz, but where are teh pivotz?" 2. "Oh fewer chainstays, moar pivotz, FSR 2 with 256 pivotz" Then Gwin wins on the new bike and they are back in the money.
 

4130biker

PM me about Tantrum Cycles!
May 24, 2007
3,884
448
Weren't the Giant NRS xc bikes with that low chain stay pivot designed to provide some anti squat?
 

frango

Turbo Monkey
Jun 13, 2007
1,454
5
There were...
But the BB pivot was just behind the BB, not around it.
I reminds a bit Giant XcX pre-enduro bike.
 

atrokz

Turbo Monkey
Mar 14, 2002
1,552
77
teedotohdot
Special-ed's meeting on the new prototype:

Marketing guy "So I hear we have a new prototype?"

Engineering guy "Yes we do. We made a cross between a Kona Cowan and a Giant NRS, and added some travel"

Marketing "Brilliant!"

Engineering guy "But it's top secret. So we'll have to bring it somewhere secret to test it"

Marketing guy "I know just the place! There's so many bikes there no one will notice"

Engineering guy "Awesome, where is this?"

Marketing guy "Whistler, right before crankworks. We'll get the test rider to ride around the chairlift and talk to people and he can cover up this top secret bike with his legs. No one will even notice!!"

Engineering guy "So should we get Gwin, our fastest and highest paid rider to test it? to see how it works?"

Marketing guy "No, we have this dude with long hair. it'll distract people from the bike"

Engineering guy "Uhhhh.... tha.."

Brad Benedict "Hey dudes, anyone have some Moroccan oil kicking around I can use?"


And that's how prototypes are made.
 

Sandwich

Pig my fish!
Staff member
May 23, 2002
21,031
5,921
borcester rhymes
it's pretty clear to anyone paying attention that this was not a covert affair. They wanted to get noticed. The question is more of...why? Maybe it's to take away from Gwin's current status? Maybe they'll bust this sucker out and he'll start winning again? Maybe the lengthening chainstays will be the new marketing tool?
 

atrokz

Turbo Monkey
Mar 14, 2002
1,552
77
teedotohdot
Yea, they clearly wanted attention. Which raises two questions: 1: why right before the 2014 release, subsequently reducing sales because customers are fickle (myself included) and will wait to get the 2015 model, and 2: why pretend it's a secret and go ride whistler.
 

jonKranked

Detective Dookie
Nov 10, 2005
85,573
24,191
media blackout
Yea, they clearly wanted attention. Which raises two questions: 1: why right before the 2014 release, subsequently reducing sales because customers are fickle (myself included) and will wait to get the 2015 model, and 2: why pretend it's a secret and go ride whistler.
maybe this is their new hucker bike
 

atrokz

Turbo Monkey
Mar 14, 2002
1,552
77
teedotohdot
Very well could be. If any bike company has a history of having more than enough models and variants, it's the big S.
 

Sandwich

Pig my fish!
Staff member
May 23, 2002
21,031
5,921
borcester rhymes
Yea, they clearly wanted attention. Which raises two questions: 1: why right before the 2014 release, subsequently reducing sales because customers are fickle (myself included) and will wait to get the 2015 model, and 2: why pretend it's a secret and go ride whistler.
because people will still buy the 2014 model. Specialized is large enough and has enough of a dealer network that a new paintjob a decaffeinated shock will still make those fly off the floor. I know plenty of people who buy specialized specifically because they can get such good deals via shop sponsorships that the big S will still sell out whatever repainted leftovers they put on the floor.

This will probably be the last time you see this prototype until early 2014. They start the hype machine now, people are talking, cool. Then they have a formal "teaser". Then in spring they'll have an enduro-style press release, and the hype machine will be in full swing for a late 2014 glossy catalog shoot. God forbid your 2015 bike be released in 2015.
 

bizutch

Delicate CUSTOM flower
Dec 11, 2001
15,928
24
Over your shoulder whispering
You guys are nutty. And yet I'm drawn in too. I'm always interested in the back stories on simple crap though...like the blacked out Fox logo. Tires blacked out is one thing, but a jersey is humorous. Usually those are the questions you ask that make someone more uncomfortable than any about the prototype.

Herndon used to have to test out his Demo 9 with duct tape wrapped around the head tube to keep the weld design concealed, but I think that was a situation where the company covered it up in case it failed, there wouldn't be any fear of the 2nd generation of it failing.

Ideally you'd like to test anything prototype out of the sight of the public in the event it fails. You wouldn't want to push a busted bike through the pits and then try to sell revision #19 to the general public. They should have used moto foam through out. :D
 

Pegboy

Turbo Monkey
Jan 20, 2003
1,139
27
New Hamp-sha
Ideally you'd like to test anything prototype out of the sight of the public in the event it fails. You wouldn't want to push a busted bike through the pits and then try to sell revision #19 to the general public. They should have used moto foam through out. :D
It worked for Evil...

Concept: Bikes failing left and right, very little correspondence and little to no CS, make people wait 2 years, release carbon version, the normal whiny bitchy consumer base forgives and forgets and starts digging the company out of the hole. Brilliant.
 

OGRipper

back alley ripper
Feb 3, 2004
10,647
1,116
NORCAL is the hizzle
Funky. Whoever mentioned gearbox might be on to something. Or, proof of concept for their new ELECTRIC DH bike with gearbox. You heard it here first. :eek:

And it's funny how many of you assume Specialized is happy to see these pictures floating around. I'm not so sure about that.
 

norbar

KESSLER PROBLEM. Just cause
Jun 7, 2007
11,346
1,587
Warsaw :/
A wild guess but I suspect they will suggest they designed a whole new frame to work with their new super duper CCDB for idiots.
 

dump

Turbo Monkey
Oct 12, 2001
8,195
4,419
It worked for Evil...

Concept: Bikes failing left and right, very little correspondence and little to no CS, make people wait 2 years, release carbon version, the normal whiny bitchy consumer base forgives and forgets and starts digging the company out of the hole. Brilliant.
Speaking of which... I wonder when/if their smaller bikes are coming out.
 

Pegboy

Turbo Monkey
Jan 20, 2003
1,139
27
New Hamp-sha
Like others have said, Could chose a million other places to "test it"...
Yep, there a thousand of shuttle locations where you may never see another biker on a week day. Put a guy in a dirt bag T-shirt, not a manufacture's jersey, don't have him standing around the base area and do some testing. What ever is going on, it is no where near, or intended to be, secretive at this point.
 

Sandwich

Pig my fish!
Staff member
May 23, 2002
21,031
5,921
borcester rhymes
And it's funny how many of you assume Specialized is happy to see these pictures floating around. I'm not so sure about that.
I'm sure the guys who allowed a rider out with his name emblazoned across his back on one of the busiest days of the year at the busiest mountain bike park on a weekend with a bike with no sort of camouflage on it are reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally pissed that somebody took a photo of it and now we're talking about it.

"HEY EVERYBODY, PLEASE DON'T TAKE A PICTURE OF THIS THING OVER HERE, OKAY? HEY YOU THERE, NOT PAYING ATTENTION, DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO THIS, IT'S NOT FOR YOU, OKAY? AVERT YOUR EYES, MAGAZINE CONTRIBUTORS, DON'T LOOK AT THIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIS THING HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERE"
 

Santa Maria

Monkey
Aug 29, 2007
653
0
Austria
it's pretty clear to anyone paying attention that this was not a covert affair. They wanted to get noticed. The question is more of...why? Maybe it's to take away from Gwin's current status? Maybe they'll bust this sucker out and he'll start winning again? Maybe the lengthening chainstays will be the new marketing tool?
Brad B. is testing a new bike in Whistler - not a big deal
 
Last edited:

dan-o

Turbo Monkey
Jun 30, 2004
6,499
2,805
I think they wanted viral, photo documentation early in the development stage so that DW couldn't claim he designed it first.
 

Mo(n)arch

Turbo Monkey
Dec 27, 2010
4,441
1,422
Italy/south Tyrol
I'm still stunned that groms do not have DH bikes. Could you imagine motocross if the KX50 and CR80 were never made. :no:
Propain does it. German company, online retailer I think. 24", 160mm travel for kids with a height of at least 135cm. You can get other dropouts to put 26" wheels on it, when the kids get bigger.