Specialized Relaunches Two Key Mountain Models

Specialized Mountain Launch: Snowbird, Utah

Specialized’s motto for its 2013 mountain line is to “climb higher and descend farther.” The company has redesigned two key models for the coming year that aim to do just that – the Enduro and the Camber.

The Enduro

Finding its heritage in enduro racing, the new Enduro is Specialized’s no non-sense all-mountain bike. Available as a 26” model it’s designed for the adventure rider who wants to do it all. The bike features a low bottom bracket and short chain stays that help improve handling and climbing efficiency.

Specialized improved the suspension for 2013 by altering the location of the pivot points in the rear suspension. They come with cartridge-bearing pivots on the shock block in the links that run smoother and are easy to replace and help deliver more efficient pedalling power. The bike features a 165mm rear shock and 160mm front fork making it ideal for attacking aggressive terrain.

The S-Works Enduro Carbon spec is built with a FACT IS-X carbon front triangle and M5 alloy rear triangle. Specialized worked with Cane Creek to create a custom  double barrel air shock for the bike that offers ultimate adjustability.

The bike is also available in Expert Carbon and Comp models that both come complete with a rear shock with Specialized AUTOSAG feature. AUTOSAG is a user-friendly way to tune your shock to the proper sag setting by simply pumping up the shock to the correct pressure and then sitting on it with full weight. By bleeding a valve, air is released and the sag is set.

Specialized designed this technology in-house and it’s manufactured by Rock Shox and Fox exclusively for their bikes. Another great feature is the Command Post.  A remote three-position seat post that allows riders to drop the seat down two lower positions depending on the riding conditions that allows for greater clearance when desired.

I found this bike agile to ride and it handled well on a variety of terrain. It climbed well, but its strength was in its ability to descend quickly through rough terrain with ease and confidence.

The Camber

The Camber is Specialized’s 29er full suspension XC Trail bike. Available with 110mm of front and 142mm of rear travel, this bike is designed to suit all styles of cross-country riding. Specialized altered the geometry on this model by changing the stand-over height to accommodate a larger range of body sizes.

They’ve also introduced a Bump Stop on the underside of the down tube that prevents the crown from crashing into the down tube on the smaller sizes; a nice nod towards durability. They’ve improved the ride quality by reducing the number of rear pivots to two. This saves weight and stiffens up the rear-end, reducing slop.

The bike comes with the AUTOSAG rear shock and will be available is six versions in 2013 with an all-new M5 alloy version. The Camber also comes with the Command Post seat post.

This bike climbed beautifully and rolled over loose rocks with ease. The Command Post  is a great benefit on descents when you want a little more clearance for coasting over rough terrain. I thought this bike handled well and makes a great all-round 29er for those looking for one bike with a great deal of versatility.