The changes to Specialized’s 2014 trail and all-mountain lines are evolutionary, rather than revolutionary – subtle design refinements to the Camber trail bike, an expanded women’s Rumor line and the development of a new gravity shock highlight next year’s range.
While the redesigned Epic is the biggest story, the biggest addition – at least in terms of mass – to the company’s 2014 mountain bike line is the Fatboy, Specialized’s first fat bike.
For a rundown of the the full Specialized 2014 mountain bike range, see our photo gallery on the right.
Specialized 2014 coverage on BikeRadar
- Specialized 2014 road and triathlon bikes – full details
- Specialized 2014 Epic, Stumpjumper HT and Crave – first look
- Specialized 2014 trail and long travel bikes – first look
- Specialized 2014 wheels, tires, shoes and helmets
- Specialized CruX cyclocross bikes 2014 – first look
- Specialized S-Works Epic World Cup 2014 - first ride review
- Specialized Allez Race 2014 - first ride review
Camber and Rumor lines expand
First introduced in 2010, the Camber fills the gap between the race-bred Epic and the longer travel Stumpjumper FSR. This Jack-of-all-trades 29er trail bike has 110mm of front and rear travel, and is the model Specialized feels meets the needs of the vast majority of mountain bikers.
For 2014, the Camber gets the S-Works treatment. The new model has a full carbon frame and uses Specialized’s premium FACT M11 carbon construction. The bike has a premium parts package, including a SRAM XX1 drivetrain with S-Works cranks, a Kashima-coated Fox Float 29 fork, custom Float CTD shock with Auto Sag, Formula T1 brakes and Roval Control Trail SL carbon wheels. As one might expect, the build comes with a high price tag of US$9,250 (table { }td { padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; vertical-align: bottom; border: medium none; white-space: nowrap; }.xl63 { color: windowtext; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: 700; font-family: Arial,sans-ser£7,000).
A large S-Works Camber tips the scales at 11kg (24.25lb)
The S-Works Camber will be offered as a frame with a Fox CTD shock and the new, internally routed Command Post IR for US$4,250 (UK pricing TBA).
There are now two versions of the burlier Camber EVO. The Camber Expert EVO has a carbon front triangle mated to an aluminum rear end, while the more affordable Camber EVO sports a full aluminum chassis. Both EVO models have slacker geometry and 120mm of front and rear travel. The Camber Expert EVO will retail for US$6,000 (£4,500). The Camber EVO will retail for a much more approachable US$3,000 (£2,200).
Other changes to the 2014 Camber include a revised rear suspension linkage that uses a shorter upper link with a clevis link driving the shock – an arrangement similar to the suspension layout of the Stumpjumper FSR and Enduro.
The 2014 Camber’s rear linkage gets a few small tweaks
The Rumor, a 110mm travel 29er trail bike that can be thought of as the women’s version of the Camber, was introduced earlier this year at the Expert and Comp level. Specialized is adding a third, entry-level Rumor to the line for 2014, specced with a Suntour fork, X-Fusion RL shock, Tektro hydraulic disc brakes and a 9-speed Shimano drivetrain. The new entry level Rumor will retail for US$1,950. (UK pricing TBA.)
Specialized Fatboy fat bike
The Fatboy moniker has been in the Specialized line for more than two decades, gracing BMX race bikes and tires. It’s back for 2014, and is an apt title for the company’s first fat bike.
A size small Fatboy weighs 14kg (30.8lb) with pedals
It appears that the California-based company has done its homework in creating this beast. The Fatboy has an aluminum frame with clearance for 5in tires and a 100mm-wide PF30 bottom bracket. Front dropout spacing is 135mm, while the rear dropouts are set at 190mm.
The tapered carbon fork is loosely based on the Chisel fork found on several of Specialized’s ridged 29ers, including the Crave 29 SL singlespeed and Stumpjumper Expert Carbon WC.
The Fatboy's rims feature a trusswork design that keeps them stiff and quite light by fat bike standards. They are 90mm wide, have a claimed weight of 795g each, and feature a hookless bead first used on the company’s carbon Roval wheelsets.
While the Fatboy shown here is shod in Surly tires, Specialized plans to produce its own 26x4.8in tires with a tread pattern based on the popular Ground Control tire
The Fatboy will be offered in two build kits (pricing TBA). Both will come with SRAM Grip Shift shifters (which are easier to operate when you’re wearing thick gloves or mittens) and hydraulic disc brakes.
Stumpjumper and Enduro stay the course
These trail and all-mountain stalwarts see minor cosmetic and component changes for 2014. The S-Works versions of both models use SRAM XX1, while the Expert-level bikes get the new SRAM X01 drivetrains.
A large Stumpjumper FSR Expert EVO weighs 12.5kg (27.6lb)
The extremely capable RockShox Pike fork graces many of the new models, including the Stumpjumper Expert EVO Carbon, available with 26in or 29in wheels. What about the 27.5in (650b) wheels that are all the rage this year? They’re not in the 2014 line, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be at some point in the future.
“We’ve been prototyping 650b bikes. Is the industry completely ready for it? We don’t think so. We’ll let you know if and when we bring out a 650b,” said Specialized’s mountain bike product marketing manager Sam Benedict.
New shock technology for gravity fiends
Specialized has partnered with Swedish suspension company Öhlins to develop a shock for the Demo 8 downhill bike and 180mm travel S-Works Enduro Expert EVO. The idea was to create a highly capable shock with a narrower range of adjustment. Check back for more information on this new shock.
The new Öhlins rear shocks were built specifically for the Enduro EVO and Demo 8.
SWAT for trail bikes
Specialized has developed a version of its SWAT (Storage, Water, Air, Tools) system for its trail and all-mountain bikes, with the chain tool hidden in the headset’s top cap and a multi-tool stowed in a container integrated into the water bottle cage. The system will come as standard on S-Works and Expert level Cambers and Stumpjumper FSR bikes.
As well as coming standard on some bikes, SWAT cages will be available aftermarket
