Ohlins on the bike so.......
Prototype Specialized DH Bike
- Thread starter peecee
- Start date
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...
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...
I thought it was up in April.
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.
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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.
A forged upper link tells me, that this isn't a simple prototype...
And concentric pivot point,
And concentric pivot point,
Looks interesting......
I am pretty sure that this is the mule for the new demo - the current one goes in its fourth year, so it's time for a new demo for 2015.
Smells like a new patent:
The Vollhorst®
The Vollhorst®
Brake mount looks very weird.
Ok, we first had 11, now it's to 15. Do we have a 19 out there?
42! 42 chainstays!
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.
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.
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?
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
Very well could be. If any bike company has a history of having more than enough models and variants, it's the big S.
this may have all been smoke and mirrors, and they were off testing a 29'er demo on another part of the mountain
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.
Good points.
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.
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.
It worked for Evil...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.
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.
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. 
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.
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.
as much as they wish they did, specialized doesn't own the internet.
Speaking of which... I wonder when/if their smaller bikes are coming out.
Like others have said, Could chose a million other places to "test it"...
2 weeks tops.
they should've tested it on the internet, that's one of the toughest places to ride
And compensate the lack of actual compression adjustment range with tons of progressiveness in the linkage...
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I'm still stunned that groms do not have DH bikes. Could you imagine motocross if the KX50 and CR80 were never made. 
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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.
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"
It's like putting on a Santa suit in front of your kids, pulling out the presents and being pissed that they figured it out.
Brad B. is testing a new bike in Whistler - not a big deal
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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.I'm still stunned that groms do not have DH bikes. Could you imagine motocross if the KX50 and CR80 were never made.
