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05/16/2008
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Specialized bikes for 2006
The SX
Trail and the P.Series
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Words and photos by Stuart Kernaghan
And on to the smaller-travel bikes in the '06 Specialized line...
SX TRAIL
The SX Trail made a big splash last year,
and this year it's back for more. That year has led to a few refinements -
including a little more travel in the rear. Another new feature on these frames
is the cold forged aluminum at key stress points, to increase strenght and
stiffness.
The Trail frame has a low center of
gravity, and is part of the Enduro series of bikes. According to Brandon Sloan
of Specialized, it's a different frame from the other Enduros, though, with
its own unique geometry and more rear travel.
It gets a forged headtube,
pierced seattube, sealed cartridge bearings, ISCG
mount,
two forward
shock mounts for geometry adjustment, a replaceable derailleur hanger, a derailleur
guard, and 6.6" (167mm) of rear travel. That's mated with a 160mm front
fork, which means a slightly higher BB than last year.
Head angle changes from 68.5° to 69.5° by changing the front mounting
shuttles. The bike can also be set up for serious Shore or park riding, with
enough room for a 2.4" Specialized rear tire (which is wider than many 2.5s).
Both of the bikes in this series get full SRAM drivetrains.
The '06 SX Trail II, with Fox suspension on the front and rear. And yes, it
does only have one front ring
| SX Trail II |
Frame: A1 Premium Aluminum, ORE TT/DT, forged HT, 6.6" travel
Shock: Fox DHX 5.0 Coil, ProPedal damping, rebound adjust
Fork: Fox 36 Van R, reb adjust, 20mm thru axle, 160mm travel
Stem: Truvativ Holzfeller, 31.8 clamp, 40mm
Brakes: Avid Juicy 7, 8" polygon rotor
Rear derailleur: SRAM X.0, micro cage
Shifters: SRAM X-9 Trigger
Cranks / guide: Truvativ Holzfeller with Blackspire NS-1 Lexan Guide
BB: Truvativ Howitzer, outboard bearing
Pedals: Specialized Lo-Pro Mag, screw in pins, sealed bearing
Rims: Mavic EX721, 26", 36 hole, welded
Hubs: Specialized disc, 36h, high/low flange, 20mm thru axle / 10mm bolt-on,
36h
Tires: Specialized Chunder 26x2.3"
Seatpost: Syncros Derived, 30.9mm |
The Trail has been quite popular with people who are looking
for that characteristic four-bar ride without a ton of weight or travel.
nsmb team rider Ryan Newman rode his to a first-place victory at the
Crankworx 4X event, and Darren Berrecloth won two Slopestyle events on
his custom
baby blue Trail. |
Close-up of the Trail rear linkage |
| SX Trail I |
| US Specs / Canadian Specs |
Frame: A1 Premium Aluminum, ORE TT/DT, forged HT, 6.6" travel
Shock: Fox DHX 4.0 Coil, ProPedal damping, reb. adjust
Fork: Marzocchi 66F, reb. adjust, alloy steerer, 170mm travel
Stem: Truvativ Hussefelt, 31.8 clamp, 40mm
Brakes: Avid Juicy 5, hydraulic disc, 8" polygon rotor
Rear derailleur: SRAM X-9, micro cage
Shifters: SRAM X-7 Trigger
Cranks / guide: Truvativ Holzfeller with Blackspire NS-1 Lexan Guide
/ DS-1 Lexan Guide
BB: Truvativ Howitzer, outboard bearing
Pedals: Alloy platform with 9/16" Cr-Mo spindle
Rims: Mavic EX325 disc, 26", 32 hole
Hubs: Specialized disc, 36h, high/low flange, 20mm thru axle / 10mm bolt-on,
36h
Tires: Specialized Chunder 26x2.3"
Seatpost: Syncros Derived, 30.9mm |
Bearclaw all dressed up in his official Specialized outfit, telling the media
how much he likes the Trail
| SX Trail Frame |
Frame: A1 Premium Aluminum, ORE TT/DT, forged HT, 6.6" travel
Shock: Fox DHX 5.0 Coil, ProPedal damping, reb adjust
Seatpost: Syncros Derived, 30.9mm
Seatpost clamp: 7050 hard annodized alloy collar w/ QR, 34.9mm clamp
ID |
The Trail rear end, complete with derailleur protector |
One of the things that gives me a big, warm fuzzy feeling
about the bike industry is when manufacturers make refinements to their
products that will improve performance and benefit the user.
Case in point - Specialized's rear derailleur protector.
It's not the
first one out there, but it's a good idea for so many reasons, not the
least of which are added stiffness and keeping your derailleur from getting
knocked off. |
P.SERIES
The venerable P.Series DJ / park / urban bikes still kicking it in '06, but
they get a new frame design, most noticeably a different seattube / toptube
junction that now has a large gusset for added support and strength.
Other features of the frame include double butted downtube and headtube, the
forged/releived "Cobra" headtube, an ISCG BB, 6mm offset rear triangle,
and forged horizontal drop-outs with integrated
chain
tensioner and replaceable derailleur hanger.
There's also a Cr-Mo steel frame available, with double butted toptube / downtube,
a machined headtube, ISCG BB, 6mm offset rear traingle with forged horizontal
drop-outs, and
a CNC'd replacable alloy derailleur hanger.
The P.3, looking a little out of place on the grass at Wilder
| P.3 |
Frame: 6061-T6 alloy, double-butted downtube / toptube, forged/releived
headtube
Fork: Marzocchi DJ Urban, 110mm, SSV dampening, 20mm axle
Stem: Truvativ Holtzfeller
Brakes: Avid Juicy 5, hydraulic disc, 6" rotor
Rear derailleur: SRAM X-9, micro cage
Shifters:SRAM X-9 Trigger
Cranks / guide: Truvativ Holtzfeller, forged 7050
BB: Truvativ Howitzer Team, 57mm chainline, sealed bearing
Pedals: Specialized Lo-Pro Mag II, sealed cartridge bearing
Rims: Sun MTX S-Type, 26", 36 hole with eyelets
Hubs: Specialized 20mm Thru-axle, axle peg compatible kit
Tires: Specialized Rhythm Pro, 26x2.3" |
| P.2 |
Frame: 6061-T6 alloy, double-butted downtube / toptube, forged/releived
headtube
Fork: Marzocchi Dirt Jam Pro SL, SSV dampening, Cr-Mo steerer
Stem: Truvativ Hussefelt, forged stem, 7˚ x 40mm
Brakes: Hayes Sole, hydraulic disc, 160mm V-cut rotor
Rear derailleur: SRAM SX-5, short cage
Shifters: SRAM SX-4 Triggers, 8-speed
Cranks / guide: Truvativ Hussefelt, 6066 alloy Truvativ XR box guide
BB: Truvativ Howitzer Team, 57mm chainline, sealed bearing
Pedals: Specialized alloy platform, molded pins, 9/16" Cr-Mo axle
Rims: Sun MTX S-Type, 26", 36 hole with eyelets
Hubs: Joy Tech disc, 36 hole, nutted axle
Tires: Specialized Rhythm Pro, 26x2.3", 60TPI, dual compound |
I love the thoughtful touches from manufacturers, but I also
dig the proverbial tips of the hat to coolness.
Take, for example, the skulls on the downtube of the new P.3. Everybody
knows that bikes go faster when they have skulls on them. Right?
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Relax, Mom, it's just a picture |
| P.2 Cr-Mo |
Frame: 100% Cr-Mo, double butted TT/DT, machined HT
Fork: Marzocchi Dirt Jam Pro, 100mm, SSV dampening
Stem: Truvativ Hussefelt forged stem, 7˚x40mm, 31.8mm clamp
Brakes: Avid BB5, mechanical disc, 160mm Roundagon rotor
Rear derailleur: SRAM SX-5, short cage
Shifters: SRAM SX-4 Triggers, 8-speed
Cranks / guide: Truvativ Ruktion, 6061, pedal thread inserts
BB: Truvativ Howitzer Team, 57mm chainline, sealed bearing
Pedals: Specialized alloy platform, molded pins, 9/16" Cr-Mo axle
Rims: SUN Ditch Witch 26", 36 hole, with eyelets
Hubs: Joy Tech disc, 36 hole, nutted
Tires: Specialized Rhythm Sport 26x2.3", 60TPI |
| P.1 |
| US Specs / Canadian Specs |
Frame: 100% Cr-Mo, 26" front/24"rear, double
butted DT/TT
Fork: Manitou Stance Static, 100mm, preload adjust / Marzocchi
Dirt Jam Pro, 100mm Disc model, SSV dampening
Stem: Truvativ Hussefelt forged stem, 7˚x 40mm
Brakes: Hayes HMX-2 XC, mechanical disc, 6" wave rotor / Avid
BB5, mechanical disc, 160mm Roundagon rotor
Cranks / guide: Truvativ Hussefelt, ISIS, forged alloy, 175mm, Heat treated
Cr-Mo 32t with Poly bash guard / Truvativ Ruktion, 6061 with
pedal thread inserts, Howitzer interface
BB: Truvativ, Giga Pipe, ISIS, 73x118mm, 3x sealed bearings
Pedals: Alloy platform, molded pins, Cr-Mo axle
Rims: Sun DitchWitch, 26"/24", eyelets, 36h
Hubs: 36h alloy, disc, sealed loose ball bearings, nutted axle / Joy
Tech disc, 36 hole, nutted axle
Tires: Specialized Adrenaline, 26x2.1" / Specialized Rhythm
Sport 26x2.3" |
| P.Series P.Street |
Frame: 100% Cr-Mo, 24" wheel, double butted and
manipulated toptube / downtube, Internally relieved head tube with weld
on rotor plate, 110mm rear spacing and 3D forged horizontal drop outs
for
14mm
axles
Fork: Marzocchi DJ-Street for 24" wheel, 80mm travel, SSV damping,
forged 1 piece alloy lower, alloy steer and 32mm Cr-Mo stanchions, cold
forged alloy crown, coil spring w/ air assist
Stem: Truvativ Hussefelt, forged stem, 7 degreex40mm, 31.8mm bar clamp
Brakes: Avid SD-5R with RW cartridge pad
Cranks / guide: Truvativ Luftalarm Team, ISIS, forged 7050 alloy with
self extracting crank bolts with bashguard
BB: Truvativ , GIGA Pipe BMX, ISIS, 4x sealed cartridge bearings, 68mm
shell, 113mm spindle, alloy cups
Pedals: Specialized Lo-Pro Mag, sealed cartridge
Rims: Sun Ryno Lite XL TCB, 24", welded seam with eyelets
Hubs: Specialized 20mm Thru-axle, sealed cartridge bearing with alloy
hub guard and bolts / Fuse 36 hole sealed 4-bearing compact Flip-Side
hollow 14mm axle
Tires: Specialized Compound Pro, 24x2.0", Cap Ply, dual compound,
wire bead, 60TPI |
I'll finish with this. Three days at Specialized gives you a good idea of
how committed these people are to building a quality product. Everyone believes
in what they are doing, and are serious about offering people the best riding
experience possible. They also cut loose on occasion. We celebrated Ned Overend's
50th birthday while we were down there, and everyone had a great time - journalists
and Specialized people alike. I'll stop there before I get too sentimental.
Specialized founder and president Mike Sinyard shares a laugh
with brand manager Ben Capron (inventor of the Marinovate brake, a precursor
to the V-brake). And
that was
before they'd had beers.
My carbon lust isn't a big secret. I seem to mention it with great frequency,
considering this is a freeride site. But how could I resist when there are
bikes like this S-Works Epic carbon full suspension bike lying around? Definitely
a thing of beauty...
The S-Works Epic carbon - for those with a serious carbon fixation, and really,
really deep pockets
So there you have it - a sampling of the Specialized 2006 bike line. Talk
to your local dealer for prices and availability, and go to the Specialized
site if you want even more details.
Cam and I are getting set to head off to Lost Wages on Sunday for the annual
Interbike show. We'll be posting daily updates (or near-daily updates if there
are too many late nights). So stay tuned for other new bikes and gear.
Until then...
Stuart Kernaghan
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