Mountain Biking - anybody ever broke a 2002 or 2003 Enduro frame?

I thought I had my mind made up on a new bike, but on mtbreview.com, I've read that there has been lots of people who broke their frame on the 2002 model, and that Specialized had a recall. The 2003 version looks nearly identical. I'm just wondering if this was a really big problem to begin with, and if so did they fix it in the recall, and if not is the 2003 version any better.

I did hear something about this years frame being built up a bit to fix that issue. I just can't remember where. Try emailing their tech support and see what they say. Thats usually what I do before I buy a product.

Hey actually specialized did have an issue with their frames.... the rear link....actually the link that was the seat stays was breaking for some reason, they have sent out replacement parts for the bikes with that issue( 2002 models) and as far as we've seen here the 2003 models don't have that issue. Oh I'm from a shop that deals specialized...that's how I know about that in case you guys were wondering.:crash:

I actually just bought a 2002 enduro. Heres the deal with the recall. On the early models bought through october 2001 and march 2002 there was a problem with the seat stay on the rear disc brake side. Obviously the frames were cracking and had to be replaced. So instead of specializecd fixing the bikes on an individual basis, they just sent out new ones to the dealers. Your lbs should have already taken the bad ones off the shelf a long time ago. The way you can tell though is a P or an S stamped on the back side of the seatstay. This stamp is on all the fixed bikes.

Given the problem has been fixed theres no reason not to get it in fear of it breaking. The bike isnt meant to handle the stuff you see in the mags, so it does have its limits. But if your an all around type rider then definetly consider it.

Oh yeah, check out this link from MBA which is directly from specialized.

http://www.mbaction.com/archives.asp?var=read&id=464

Cool. That's really the bike I want. I might end up getting a Haro Extreme X3 just because it's so much cheaper, but it's heavier. Looking for a freeride bike that's fairly light. I will never go off a dropoff higher than like 12-15 inches, so the magazine reviews about only bottoming out on a 6' dropoff doesn't really apply to me. But, that's what the Haro is built for, so it makes me think twice. I mostly ride on fast singletrack that has some patches of golf-ball size rocks, but lots of series of rough tree roots. I might like to race 2 or 3 times a year, but otherwise I'm just cruising by myself on a semi-fast level and want to be comfy.

Hey don't knock the Haro. It's a great bike for what you pay. Some of the drawbacks are negligible for a rider such as you or I. The Extreme is definately a good choice for what I called "agressive XC".

L8R

Both bikes are good for the money, the specialized is going to pedal better than the haro though because of the linkage system. The specialized bike is really sweet I took one from the shop to demo for a few weeks, I was really impressed with it's all around capabillities! The only thing I noticed was that the top tube was really long, for me that was fine cause I'm tall. They also spec a long stem on there that can be swapped easily enough. I haven't riden the haro so I can't actually give you any help on that one, but I know with single pivots they tend to suck alot of energy from you. I've had a few of those and it's true they do. Well good luck with the new purchase, what ever you get will be a sweet ride!:roflmao:

Nah, wasn't meaning to put down the Haro or anything, I personally like it alot. I only disliked a few things. I picked it up, and it seemed pretty heavy. I rode it and it seemed very tall, but that's probably because of the suspension. I was also stretched out way further than I expected to be, so between that and being tall, I felt very unstable, and the bike felt huge. I'd probably get used to it. The 2.5" tires seemed to be overkill. The looks are awesome and the price is right and the amount of travel and it's adjustability is exactly what I want. Really the biggest thing that I'm concerned about is that it seems to be built for you crazy people who fly off steep ledges and don't want the suspension to bottom out and the frame not to break. Seems like I wouldn't get full use out of that 750 pound rear spring that never bottoms out, and would be getting cheaper components yet a very beefy frame that can withstand the abuse of jumping when I'll never do that. It seems better than the entry level Enduro, but if I get the Enduro I want, there's a $1,000 price difference.

Also, why would a single pivot wear you out?

Hey a single pivot wears ya out cause...simplest way to say it is everytime you pedal the the pull on the chain then pulls on the swingarm and compresses the shock. There for instead of that force being used to propel you forward it is being used to compress the rear spring. There are many more techinical reasons why too, but it would take all night to describe...also a single pivot swing arm has tendencies to lock up more so than a 4 link rear end. Of course depending on where you put the pivot point of the frame these affects are exadurated or made less noticable. I hope that all makes sense and helps you out :thumbup:

Cool. That's really the bike I want. I might end up getting a Haro Extreme X3 just because it's so much cheaper, but it's heavier. Looking for a freeride bike that's fairly light. I will never go off a dropoff higher than like 12-15 inches, so the magazine reviews about only bottoming out on a 6' dropoff doesn't really apply to me.

Is the Haro extreme x3 really cheaper? I got my enduro for 1299 plus tax. I thought the haro was going for the same thing. And given your not going to be doing any serioud drops, either bike will suit you fine. Just ride both of them, and compare price and fit. Then make your decision. I just got back from a ride with my new enduro and it was sweet. Ill never go back to the ass beating I took from my hardtail.

The Haro lists for $1,300 and the entry level 2003 Enduro lists for $1,630. The bike shop guy said he'd hook me up with a better price on either. The problem is that you have to bump up to the next model Enduro to get the front travel I wanted, and it's like $1,950. Then, it's like, if I'm going to spend that much, why don't I spend another $300 and get the rear lockout, XTR rear derailleur, Fox Talas front end, and the better Shimano M555 brakes. I may just see what the bottom line is on the entry level Enduro and upgrade to a longer travel front next year or something, or hell, I may love it.

Why not look at a 2002 enduro, which would run you the same price as the haro, maybe less. ANd if you want you can ask your lbs if they could switch forks with the one you like and cut a deal that way.

why do you even need all the travel if you dont plan on taking a drop more than 12 -15inches ( not that theres anything wrong with that). from what you said you want a freeride bike but you dont take drops more that 12 -15inches. you do mostly single track and you plan on doing a couple races? i think you should concider something along the lines of a crosscountry bike and not a freeride bike. a freeride bike is not the ideal bike for what you plan on riding, if you really want the extra travel concider getting a XC bike with more travel like a gary fisher sugar 4+ it has 4inches of rear travel 3 inches of front (which is more than enough for the drops you plan on doing) it will also perform great on the single track and is a reasonable race bike and clinbs like a scalded monkey. it will also fit in you price range.

If your doing such light drops why not build up a Rockhopper like I did? (see it here (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18024) ? It suits me just fine and I'm pretty sure that I won't break it even at my size 6'4" 250# Why not look into it?

Yeah really I just want lots of travel and to be comfy. Disc brakes is a requirement as well. I want to fly on rough downhill sections more than anything. The Specialized seemed to be the best compromise for what I want to do. One of the things I'm concerned about with the breakage on the 2002 model is the shock mount. I know everybody's been talking about the seat stay thing, but from what I've read, everybody has cracking their rear upper shock mount on the front part of the frame, not the rear triangle.

http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/2002_Full_Suspension/product_85541.shtml

Yeah I've test drove the exact same bike. It felt great in the parking lot. You've recommended me your bike before, but I'm thinking, if I swapped out all the stuff that I want, why didn't I just get an Enduro? I'd still be stuck with less rear travel. I've got a hard time believing that the only time you would want 4" or 5" of travel is on massive drops. I'm tired of these roots all but stopping me dead in my tracks.

I bought the 2003 Enduro as a large person's technical XC bike. As far as I can tell, a lot of the frame cracking issues -- other than the 2002 recall -- happened to riders of all sizes who accepted Specialized's original marketing for the bike. Specialized originally positioned it as a freeride, big-drop bike. It ain't. They replaced a bunch of frames. Now they've positioned it as a very tough, mid-market, do-it-all bike. If that's what you need, it's a great bike.

I have seen two bikes that has cracked the frame on the front triangle where the shock mounts. Two things that could have made it do that, one was he put a coil over on there...doubt that was the issue...and he was using it for a big hit bike which it wasn't intended for. Specialized did warranty the frame and all is good now. The other bike was stock and used the stock shock, but this guy rode his bike extrelely hard, but again made the bike do what it wasn't ment for big drops of 6ft and over. Again specialized did warranty the frame and no issues since, and these both were 2002 bikes, they now have the 2003 frames.

Sorry I didn't tell ya about that earlier on, I completely forgot about that problem since I saw very few of them like that and that was some time ago.

Originally posted by corndogggy
I'd still be stuck with less rear travel. I've got a hard time believing that the only time you would want 4" or 5" of travel is on massive drops. I'm tired of these roots all but stopping me dead in my tracks.

Go faster...I live in root country (if you ever want to see tropical riding come to canada West) and ht's are used a lot. In fact some of the burliest hardtails around are made in BC...go faster ride smoother. Roots are easy to ride through.