Specialized has updated frames and features on all of their mountain bikes, from XC racers to downhill bombers and every sort of freeride and all mountain rig in between.
YES, THEY HAVE 29ers
Specialized has fully embraced the 29er with a totally new 29er Epic. We featured those bikes in our Sea Otter coverage in April. Click here for video and info on the 2010 Epic 29er, and here to see Conrad Stoltz’s 2010 Epic 29er Xterra race bike. They also have a new S-Works 29er Carbon Hardtail, which we rode and reviewed here.
2010 SPECIALIZED EPIC MARATHON CARBON
The 2010 Specialized Epic Marathon Carbon (above) gets their FACT IS (Integrated Structure) carbon frame construction.  FACT IS separates the frame into four sections: front triangle, seat post/bottom bracket, chainstays and seatstays, and optimizes each based on the stresses and loads they see.  The end result is a light, stiff frame.  Further weight reduction on the Epic comes from lighter stem, handlebar, brakes, seat post and wheels.  The wheels are their new Roval Control AL, which will come on both the alloy and carbon Epic Marathons.
Hit ‘more’ for additional Epic specs and to see the rest of the 2010 Specialized mountain bike range…
The Epic Marathon gets Specialized’s new Mini-Brain rear shock mated to their FSR suspension design.  The new Flow Control Mini Brain, a collaboration between Fox and Specialized, is a redesigned Brain unit with a lighter, smaller spring to enhance small bump performance while still offering a firm pedaling platform on smooth ground.
The Epic (and Era FSR, below) also gets a totally redesigned fork, the Specialized E100.  It integrates the air spring and damper in the right leg to save weight.  It has adjustable Brain Fade compression damping to let you dial in the desired firmness, while spring load is controlled by the amount of air pressure you want to run.  It all hooks up to the bike via a 1.125″ to 1.5″ tapered steerer tube sitting on integrated lower bearings, which transfers the load directly into the frame rather than passing through a headset cup, etc.  It’s also spec’d with the new S-Works FACT IS cranks, which weigh 97g less than XTR, but claim to be 10% stiffer!
Specialized says a retail-available complete bike can be as light as 21.5 lbs (sans pedals).
2010 SPECIALIZED ERA
The Era is the Specialized’s top women’s full suspension race bike, with the S-Works version raced by the likes of Rebecca Rusch (click here to see her video interview and bike run-down).  For 2010, the Era gets the new Mini Brain rear shock, lighter / wider handlebars and the E100 fork (on the S-Works model).
2010 SPECIALIZED S-WORKS STUMPJUMPER FSR
Weighing as little as 22.4lbs, the S-Works edition of the Stumpjumper FSR gets the new FACT IS cranks, oversized bottom bracket and 140mm travel using Specialized’s Future Shock S140TA (travel adjustable from 115mm to 140mm).  Weighing in at 3.95lbs, it’s one of (if not the) lightest 140mm travel forks on the market, but you’ll only get it on the Stumpjumper and Safire bikes.  It uses a tapered carbon steerer tube and crown and has Brain Fade compression adjustment.
In addition to the FACT IS cranks, it uses their FACT construction for the frame, just like the Epic Marathon.  The rear shock is the Flow Control Brain and AFR rear shock, co-developed with Fox, offering a firm ride on smooth terrain but opening up nearly instantly to soak up the rough stuff.  Additional changes for 2010 include a lower standover height, integrated shock yoke/seatstay bearing mount, stiffer/lighter hollow dropouts and a wider range of seatpost adjustment.
2010 SPECIALIZED S-WORKS ENDURO SL
The 2010 S-Works Enduro SL gets a totally new carbon frame that’s lighter and stiffer with a complete bike weight under 28lbs.  The dropouts and stays have been beefed up, and the headtube is stronger, giving the bike a 20% improvement in strength/weight ratio over 2009 models.  The “X-wing” design gives the bike lower COG and standover, and it comes with the Command Post adjustable height seatpost and handlebar control lever.
It has 6″ of travel front and rear using a custom Fox RP23BV rear shock and  an adjustable travel front fork, the E160TA going from 135mm to 160mm as you transition from climbing to bombing.  Head tube is tapered from 1/125″ to 1.5″ and the shock has a carbon crown / steerer tube.  The fork has a Spike Valve to blow off big, nasty hits and drops, and the lowers are magnesium with 20mm Maxle dropouts.
The Fox rear shock has custom tuned compression and rebound damping, stroke and spring volume, and features adjustable rebound and 3-position ProPedal.
Other upgrades include redesigned Eskar 2.3 tires with larger side knobs, lighter/wider handlebar and lighter stems, posts and wheels across the line.  It also gets a custom Shimano 22/36 crank with Gamut shift guides.
2010 SPECIALIZED DEMO 8
The Demo 8 gets new geometry based on feedback from downhill superstars Sam Hill and Brendan Fairclough.  Now you get “team geometry” featuring a lower bottom bracket (13.5″), slacker seat tube and 1.5″ integrated bearing head tube and lower bar height.  The frame is their M5 alloy, which helps keep it a little lighter while maintaining the strength needed to handle its 7″ to 8″ of travel.
Other upgrades include lighter FSA cranks, 750mm width handlebars and more powerful custom Avid brakes.
2010 SPECIALIZED PITCH
The 2010 Pitch is their more budget oriented all mountain bike, and it gets a solid helping of trickle down technology from their 2009 Enduro SL.  The frame is their proprietary M4 alloy suspended on 140mm of Fox and Rockshox travel.  The ORE downtube design is borrowed from the P-series bikes to increase frame strength with larger weld/contact areas and more vertical tube walls.
2010 SPECIALIZED SAFIRE
The Safire is Specialized’s women’s trail bike and sees only minor refinements for 2010.  The frame uses FACT Az1 (read “as one”) carbon construction with the Flow Control Brain Shock on the rear.  The S-Works model gets Specialized’s Future Shock S140TA fork (w/ Brain Fade), which has adjustable travel from 115mm to 140mm, and the Expert model (shown) uses a Fox fork, both using a tapered 1.125″ to 1.5″ headtube.
2010 SPECIALIZED MYKA FSR
The women’s Myka FSR gets a few updates, including redesigned Rockshox Recon and Tora forks, with the Tora-equipped models using custom tuned spring rates.  They use custom-tuned X-Fusion rear shocks, Deore shifters, lighter/wider handlebars and the Expert model uses an Avid mixture of Elixir 5 levers with Juicy 3 calipers.  100mm travel across the line.
2010 SPECIALIZED MYKA HARDTAIL
The Myka Hardtail sees a few frame updates, including the first-ever fully butted A1 frame and all-new fully-butted M4 frames.  Base model gets a 7-speed cassette to replace the free-hub of past, and the line gets more color-matched components.  Smaller frame sizes (13″ to 15″) get an 80mm travel fork, and larger sizes (17″ to 19″) get 100mm forks, which helps with standover height and better ride characteristics for smaller riders.
2010 SPECIALIZED “P”
The “P” is the Dirt Jump / Urban / Park bike offering, and comes in two varieties, the P. All Mountain and the P. Series.  The P.AM series are, obviously, intended for actual mountain bike riding and dirt jumping, with beefier frames than the more street-oriented P.Series bikes.  These are the bikes that Darren Berrecloth likes to abuse.
The P.AM bikes come with Specialized’s The Captain 2.1 tires to keep you in control.  The P.Series bikes get lighter weight Cr-Mo frames and updated, butted A1 aluminum frames on premium models.  These bikes use the ORE (Optimized Radius Engineering) down tubes, which have bigger weld contact areas and more vertical sidewall shapes to handle the loads of hucking, jumping and dropping.
Lastly, all P.Series bikes use their double-walled disc rims designed to take punishment, and several models get eyelets to further strengthen and prevent cracks at the spoke holes.
