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Specialized takes things into its own hands

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By Cycling News published 1 August 2006

Our coverage of Specialized's 2007 product line launch continues with the company's extensive...

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Image 1 of 57

Although the overall performance of the fork

The new Stumpjumper FSR gets the AFR rear shock treatment as well.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)

Top-level Stumpjumpers also receive the new Brain. As with last year, the Brain unit itself is remotely located at the rear axle, connected to the main shock by a short section of hydraulic hose.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)

All Stumpjumper FSR frames now get a cartridge bearing rear shock pivot, eliminating the need to frequently replace the rear shock eyelet bushing and making the rear end even smoother than before.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)

Expect to see a lot of Magura spec from the big “S” next year, including this set of very snazzy-looking Marta SL hydraulic disc brakes.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)

All aluminum versions of the Stumpjumper FSR get a new front end, plus (most of) last year’s S-Works rear end.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)

You don’t see very many welds on that seat tube assembly, now do you? That’s because there aren’t any, at least from the shock bridge down. The entire assembly is forged as one piece for greater strength and more consistent alignment.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)

After forging, the Super Bridge is internally milled to remove excess material and effectively leaving a butted seat tube. After milling, the resultant hole in the bottom of the shell is capped with a welded plug, which also provides a convenient location for an “S” logo.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)

This certainly isn’t your dad’s Enduro! The Enduro gets lighter and pedals better than ever, thanks to new suspension geometry and a FACT carbon front end. Yup, that’s a Specialized-branded dual-crown fork, too.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)

Specialized’s first-ever rocker link rear end dresses up with a forged magnesium rocker. In case you were wondering, magnesium is both stiffer and lighter than aluminum.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)

The new S-Works Enduro shows up to the party with a swoopy FACT carbon front end that is not only strong and light, but the curved down tube also makes room for a conventionally-placed water bottle.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)

Mike McAndrews’ new Spike Valve damper allegedly eliminates compression spiking on big hits by leveling off the damping force curve with increased shaft speeds. (Image courtesy of Specialized)(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)

The new damper not only handles big hits, but is also reported to have a measure of built-in “platform” in the form of increased low-speed damping. (Image courtesy of Specialized)(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)

Air springs are light, but they’re not perfect. Who knows exactly what “conventional” air spring Specialized has used for its comparison here, but the general idea is valid. Its new L-VAS air spring system supposedly offers coil-like small and medium bump performance but with the gently progressive bottom-out resistance and light weight of a good air spring. (Image courtesy of Specialized)(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)

Specialized’s suspension components may be brand-new, but their appearance is pretty well-polished. Neatly machined, anodized, and etched control knobs look and feel good, and everything is clearly marked for ease of use.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)

The carbon frame itself hasn’t really changed, but the S-Works Epic now incorporates ceramic hybrid headset bearings for better durability in adverse conditions.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)

This is the heart (and Brain!) of the new Epic. The shock body is now flipped relative to last year’s Fox unit to provide better oil flow.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)

Mmm…. new XTR.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)

Specialized continues its trend of printing frame features directly on the frame itself, just in case you forgot what your frame was made out of or how. Sorry, folks, but there will be no production version of the integrated S-Works MTB carbon crankset that graces the superlight race bikes of Liam and Christophe. Patience is a virtue…(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)

As with the Epic, the carbon S-Works Stumpjumper FSR frame remains mostly unchanged from last year, although there will now be a Pro-level carbon Stumpy as well.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)

Specialized outfits the new Enduro with its own 150mm travel dual-crown E150 fork which incorporates the L-VAS air spring, Spike Valve damper design, and Attitude Adjustment which decreases fork travel and ride height by 40mm to aid in climbing. Total weight is allegedly just 2kg/4.5lbs, including the lower crown and steerer assembly, thru-axle, and upper crown with integrated stem.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)

The new E150 fork uses a proprietary 25mm diameter thru-axle. Don’t expect the fancy cutout windows in the dropouts for production, though. McAndrews said he was planning on ditching those in favor of maximum clamp surface area.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)

The E150 upper crown incorporates an integrated oversized stem. Four lengths will be available when production ultimately ramps up. Sorry, folks, but if you want one of these forks, you’ll have to buy a whole bike or a frameset as Specialized does not currently plan on offering the fork as a separate item. Specialized did, however, coyly make reference to a single-crown fork in the future, though. We’ll wait and see.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)

Inside the new E150 fork - true cartridge-style air spring and damper units should make for easy serviceability. (Image courtesy of Specialized)(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)

Although the overall performance of the fork was very good during our brief rides on the E150, tire clearance is woefully lacking. Specialized claims that there is clearance for "the largest tire we make", but there certainly isn't much daylight in between this 2.3" tire and the arch.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)

As with previous iterations, geometry on the new Enduro will be adjustable, with 68° and 69° head angle options.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)

The DH/FR Demo frame gets revamped, too, with an all-new front end with curvier styling and better shock accessibility for easer adjustments. New for ’07 will be an optional 1.5” head tube.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)

The Demo rear end is new, too, including a new linkage.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)

The FastTrak SLK (Super Low Knob) wears ultra-short 1.7mm knobs for lighter weight and faster rolling on hardpack courses. This is definitely a race-only tire; don’t expect it to last very long! (Image courtesy of Specialized)(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)

The Arc Terra is similar to last year’s ultralight road-specific Arc model, but now with a MTB-specific tint, stainless steel earpieces, and a browpad. (Image courtesy of Specialized)(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)

The El Toro is a fully featured off-road optics offering, but with decidedly casual styling. NXT Adapalite lenses adjust to varying light conditions, virtually eliminating the need for different lenses.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)

The off-road version of the 2007 Pro shoe gets similar treatment with a FACT carbon sole, new M-Lock ratcheting buckle, and adjustable X-Link strap base for a more customizable fit.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)

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