The "I hate Specialized" Bandwagon...... what's the deal?

[Spez247]

O Man - the price of those Spaz fat bikes - Sus fork free - R25k and with a sus fork - R45k. A lot of money to look like a twerp on a bike with fatter tyres than a moto :-)

 

Seriaasly, Spaz shoes are great - have had 2 pairs - both still going. Saddles not bad too. would love an Enduro but frankly the pricing vs performance compared to other brands is not great. 

 

Spaz concept stores are a scary idea - I like variety. The over complex brain technology and expensive services put me off them. See a Strange Rover at the trail head - 9/10 times it has a Spaz on the back - usually an Epic.

 

To those who say we lack the trails to justify a proper MTB like an Enduro or Stumpy, as opposed to an Epic, Spark or Anthem - try harder - there are plenty of epic trails all of which are more fun on a trail bike. Why would you want to ride Jonkers on an Epic or other XC bike. Cannot understand why Giniel De Villiers rides one there either :-)

Wow! that's just wrong! 2 of my favourite brands being dragged through the mud.... luckily they both love mud!!!

In my defense, I have owned 5 Spez & @ least 5 different Sand Lovers - ALL of which have Never let me down. No broken frames or engines, etc. So if it works, why change?

 

As for Giniel, he shouldn't be on an Epic. He drives a Hilux, so in bike terms, he should be on a Giant (IMO) -  dependable / functional / easy on the eye / good value / etc.

 

On that note, going to get a cold one out the fridge.

[GLuvsMtb]

Nice tandem . But where is the front derailer and how are the front and back cranks connected? I wonder if its real or prototype?

Very real bike. It shows what is possible tech-wise. Here's some more on the tech involved.

[lefthecountry]

The reason why there is so much hate towards Specialized is because they are playing very dirty games in the cycling industry.

 

They say they buy copyrights on very general cycling definitions, like the words 'Enduro', 'Roubaix', etc, etc, and other general words like 'Epic'.

 

After they've done that they search around to find what tiny companies there are that have been using one of those general cycling definitions, and they sue them for if I remember correctly $150.000,- / almost 2 million ZAR! The victims of these lawsuits have been tiny companies, mostly little one-man-shops in the middle of nowhere, who are simply very fanatic cyclists who make very little money running a small shop on a corner in the middle of nowhere. 

These people getting sued for $150.000 means Specialized RUINED their whole lifes! This is a debt they will never be able to come out of, in the United States this means they will lose everything including their house, so they will become homeless.

For what? For seriously nothing. Specialized are simply some ass-hole money-wolves in suits screwing everyone over so they can have even more money.

 

There have been about 5 cases of these, where the victims had the guts to share this information to the public, risking getting another lawsuit (which Specialized threatens them with if they don't keep the lawsuit a secret). Since only a small percentage of these victims have the guts to bring this to public, I'm pretty sure there must have been at least 50 of these cases going on during the last years without us knowing about it.

 

 

 

Yes, Specialized makes some okay bikes (about 2 years late in progress, but the quality is okay), but the reason for the hate is not about their products, but about how these greedy people ruin the industry.

In the end it's the small rider owned companies, who purely run their cycling related company out of passion for the sport, who are actually pushing the progress in the cycling industry. Big corporate companis like Specialized only hop on these improvements if they see it catches up with the public, but would never risk spending any cent on creating progress in the cycling industry. To make things even worse, Specialized even sues companies like these, not only ruining the rest of their lifes, but also keeping the cycling industry back from progress.

 

 

 

This is why I would NEVER even give them 1 cent of my money for any of their products. I wouldn't even ride their stuff second hand, because in the end the logo's on my bike are still a small free advertisement for them.

[Mr X]

The reason why there is so much hate towards Specialized is because they are playing very dirty games in the cycling industry.

 

They say they buy copyrights on very general cycling definitions, like the words 'Enduro', 'Roubaix', etc, etc, and other general words like 'Epic'.

 

After they've done that they search around to find what tiny companies there are that have been using one of those general cycling definitions, and they sue them for if I remember correctly $150.000,- / almost 2 million ZAR! The victims of these lawsuits have been tiny companies, mostly little one-man-shops in the middle of nowhere, who are simply very fanatic cyclists who make very little money running a small shop on a corner in the middle of nowhere. 

These people getting sued for $150.000 means Specialized RUINED their whole lifes! This is a debt they will never be able to come out of, in the United States this means they will lose everything including their house, so they will become homeless.

For what? For seriously nothing. Specialized are simply some ass-hole money-wolves in suits screwing everyone over so they can have even more money.

 

There have been about 5 cases of these, where the victims had the guts to share this information to the public, risking getting another lawsuit (which Specialized threatens them with if they don't keep the lawsuit a secret). Since only a small percentage of these victims have the guts to bring this to public, I'm pretty sure there must have been at least 50 of these cases going on during the last years without us knowing about it.

 

 

 

Yes, Specialized makes some okay bikes (about 2 years late in progress, but the quality is okay), but the reason for the hate is not about their products, but about how these greedy people ruin the industry.

In the end it's the small rider owned companies, who purely run their cycling related company out of passion for the sport, who are actually pushing the progress in the cycling industry. Big corporate companis like Specialized only hop on these improvements if they see it catches up with the public, but would never risk spending any cent on creating progress in the cycling industry. To make things even worse, Specialized even sues companies like these, not only ruining the rest of their lifes, but also keeping the cycling industry back from progress.

 

 

 

This is why I would NEVER even give them 1 cent of my money for any of their products. I wouldn't even ride their stuff second hand, because in the end the logo's on my bike are still a small free advertisement for them.

 

...And those Brain shocks are expensive to maintain and needs more maintenance, and the suspension is not better than Giant, and I already have a proper Brain in my skull, just gimme XX with remote lockout, much better setup than any mechanical suspension brain.

[lefthecountry]

Speaking about Giant, I have heard they are by far the biggest cycling manufacturer in the world.

Apperantly companies like Specialized, most of the Trek frames and many other known companies have their frames produced by Giant, so are basically Giants with a different logo painted on it.

[Guest]

OK, now I have to comment.

 

Where on earth did you hear that garbage ?

 

Gossip is a funny thing .... it spreads like disease.

 

There are folks on the Hub who know and have been to and order from these foreign manufacturers.

 

No need to spread false info.

 

Happy Trails

 

Cycle because you love doing it  

[camelman]

What I dislike about Spez in SA is that there are way too many Epics sold in relation to Cambers, Stumpies and Enduros. We are the only country in the world where this happens. It's become a yuppie brand full of ex golfers.

I agree. If you look at average Joe that gets off when there are 3 pebbles and a switchback, Cambers and Stumpys should be the biggest sellers not Epics. If you want to buy an Epic, get a Camber or Stumpy and learn technical skills before becoming the next Cool Harvey.

 

My other gripe is people with Specialized blinkers on. Spez bikes are the best and they absolutely cannot admit that there are better bikes out there.

And please, Specialized goods are not good quality. Quality is fair not great. Don't mistake something that works or fits well for a quality, long lasting item.

[nonky]

does anyone know where I can get specialized underpants?

[camelman]

_{does anyone know where I can get specialized underpants?}

They are sold out and on back order. All the backorders will arrive in 2 weeks, but be quick, they sell out in minutes. People camp for days in a line outside the concept store to buy those.

['Dale]

Good product :-)

Good corporate bully :-(

[FrankG]

Live and let live, who cares what decisions other people make?

 

To those who judge bike owners based on their personal choices, it says just as much about you as the person on the bike.

 

Like Lance said: It's not about the bike. Are you prepared to call Lance a liar??

[LOOK695]

_{does anyone know where I can get specialized underpants?}

Do they make you special?

[Li Mu Bai]

I have used both Specialized and Cannondale Road bikes.

Both are excellent feats of engineering, are superb to ride, and both also fail catastrophically.

Both are expensive, top line brands, and you pay for the privelage to ride their top end machines.

On the mtb side in SA, Specialized went out of their way in the beginning to provide a product sutable for multi stage/day events with sevice plans to match. They earned a lot of support that way, you only needed to spend a little time with the team of the mechanics in their tent during any stage race to see them working hard into the wee hours of the night. Hence they became VERY popular for stage races. You only need to look in the Sani2c bike park to see the most popular brands (Specialized, Trek, Scott) all clustered together.

Canondale probably has a slightly quicker turn around time for warranty claims, but you cant really go wrong with either.

As for accessories, just look what most people have on their feet. Specialized BG shoes are excellent.

And honestly, if somebody wears a cannondale shirt, or a specialized shirt, or a scott shirt, so what? That isnt going to win them a race.

[Starvin' Marvin]

I hate Specialized simply because the McLaren Venge is not for sale in SA. And even if it was I wouldn't be able to afford it!!! Damn you crusher of dreams

[sakkiebomskok]

As long as the spez boys don't come over to santa cruz I won't complain about them being a bit too paris hilton about their cycle apparel. I'll just say: if you buy it to match your bike, your wife has won!

[Tumbleweed]

I've got two Schwinns, two Giants, a Silverback, a Kona, a Cannondale, a Mongoose and a Sunn...I'm not so much a brand whore as I am brand promiscuous...

 

Oh, ja, and once owned a Spesh...even had a T-shirt. Oh, and a cap signed by Burry, Lene (definite fanboy of hers *swoon*) and a coupla other riders...