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2018 Specialized Chisel SmartWeld alloy hardtail mountain bike is a smooth, affordable racer

2018 Specialized Chisel smartweld alloy hardtail mountain bike
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2018 Specialized Chisel smartweld alloy hardtail mountain bike

The 2018 Specialized Chisel is an all-new alloy hardtail race bike and, along with the new alloy Epic FSR, marks the first time they’ve used the SmartWeld technology on the mountain bike side. It started on the Allez, then found its way to the Diverge. One of the challenges in using this design on a mountain bike frame was that 29er head tubes are usually pretty short, so the heavily formed headtube from the road bikes just wouldn’t work. Here’s how they made it happen…

specialized smartweld mountain bike tubes cutaway details

specialized smartweld mountain bike tubes cutaway details

SmartWeld construction allows for thinner tube walls because they don’t need to expose them to as much heat for as long during welding, which also means less risk of deformation or weakening. There’s more contact area between the tubes since each junction is hydroformed on both sides rather than just mitering a tube and adding a lot of weld material to help hold them together.

specialized smartweld mountain bike tubes cutaway details

The result is a frame that’s 280g lighter than the alloy Stumpjumper or Crave hardtail from 2017. Claimed production frame weight is 1350g.

2018 Specialized Chisel smartweld alloy hardtail mountain bike

2018 Specialized Chisel smartweld alloy hardtail mountain bike

The result is also a very attractive bike. The front end’s welds are all smoothed over, making it hard to tell it’s alloy from a glance. Cable entry ports are angled to keep them running tight against the frame so you don’t rub your knee when standing up to hammer. On the driveside are ports for a dropper seatpost and front derailleur. They’re designed for full length cable housing for easier maintenance.

2018 Specialized Chisel smartweld alloy hardtail mountain bike

An oversized port and cable management clamp makes it easy to find the cables as they drop through the downtube. Everything runs externally from there back.

2018 Specialized Chisel smartweld alloy hardtail mountain bike

Their goal was to make an alloy frame that had the best ride characteristics of a carbon or steel frame, but be more affordable (we’ll update with pricing and options soon). Tire clearance is generous, easily fitting a 2.25 XC tire. Note the cable management for the front derailleur just behind the threaded BB shell.

2018 Specialized Chisel smartweld alloy hardtail mountain bike

A one-piece dropout puts the brake mounts on a single piece for optimized alignment and strength, and it looks darn nice.

Bikes will come with Specialized’s Fast Track tires with Gripton compound.

2018 Specialized Chisel smartweld alloy hardtail mountain bike actual weight

A complete bike with SRAM GX1, Race Face Aeffect alloy cranks and Specialized alloy cockpit came in at 24.40lb (11.07kg) with tubes in the tires (they’re tubeless ready). Check back by Monday for pricing and build options.

Specialized.com

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24 Comments
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James Fryer
7 years ago

Ok fine, I’ll wait until Monday before I order the 1X drivetrain for my old StumpJumper that I was thinking about. But I’ll probably go ahead after seeing the price, Specialized and affordable don’t often inhabit the same plain of reality.

socially conscious and concerned
socially conscious and concerned
7 years ago
Reply to  James Fryer

$1850 as pictured. There’s a $1500 model also.

James Fryer
7 years ago

Wow, that seems surprising reasonable for Specialized, but that front derailleur mount on the $1,500 version does not. How bizarre.

Birdman
Birdman
7 years ago

This gravel bike is missing its drop bar

paquo
paquo
7 years ago
Reply to  Birdman

what’s wrong with any kind of bike

Woody
Woody
7 years ago

Is that a FD cable stop behind the BB shell? Cable housing water ingress much?

Gef
Gef
7 years ago
Reply to  Woody

Also, the brake hose run under the BB, which seems to be a specialized trademark. Am I the only one who’s busted a hose there?

Raymond Epstein
7 years ago

Chiseler would’ve been a better name. Speshy is too serious for that kind of nonsense though.

blah blah blah
blah blah blah
7 years ago

threaded bb for the win

Seraph
Seraph
7 years ago
Reply to  blah blah blah

I would have actually preferred a PF30 shell.

aquilaaudax1
aquilaaudax1
7 years ago

A great looking bike with a proper BB

MGK
MGK
7 years ago

I hate drop bars for gravel bikes. This would do…

PDXFixed
7 years ago

27.2 seatpost makes this a no go for me, sad, I really liked the looks of it

Rob Maybach
Rob Maybach
7 years ago

Singlespeed option in the line up somewhere?

Durianrider
Durianrider
7 years ago

nice color and aesthetic.

badbikemecahicx
badbikemecahicx
7 years ago

The best thing about this bike is threaded bottom brackets…

Ron Shuler
Ron Shuler
7 years ago

WOW I think this is an excellent bike for the money, I’m always asked buy people what to get for a first bike this is what I will be recommending

jacob
jacob
7 years ago

get a giant fathom

jcharles00
7 years ago

This looks really cool. (I’m surprised, specialized hasn’t put out much that seems worthwhile in a few years..) I love my smartweld allez. This bike seems close-ish to the Trek Superfly 7 I bought a couple of years ago for $2100, and it’s already set up for 1x. So I guess the price is in a pretty good place? Threaded BB is awesome. Not sure if I’m happy about lack of external cable routing options, but I guess internal is pretty slick as long as it doesn’t rattle too much.

This would be especially sweet if they sell it as a frameset.. and it would be cool if there’s a SS option.

vz_max (@vz_max)
7 years ago
Reply to  jcharles00

Actually they sell it as a frameset. In the USA.

Tony
Tony
7 years ago

But is there a suspension lockout??

Mike
Mike
7 years ago

I just bought one and I super excited to ride this weekend. Once I add a carbon bar and dropper I think it will be great. Then I will add carbon wheels in the spring to freshen it up!

knarc
knarc
7 years ago
Reply to  Mike

bb is 68, 73 or 92mm?

Gio
Gio
7 years ago

what´s the frame size?

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