derangedhermit

Thanks for the info! The tubes arrived today and the 50-622 Marathon Mondial went on the rear with no problem. Seems to be ample room all around. Now I need to get a matching front tire on.

I'll ride it this summer and also see what my LBS thinks before changing the fork. I will see if I can find a stiffer spring for the stock fork in the meantime. Has anyone changed springs? I have to use what seems like a lot of preload to get the sag reasonable (<25% of travel). I weigh around 230 lbs.

ColdCase

I know some of you put 1000 miles a month on a bike, but I just turned over 1000 miles in the year I've owned my Crosstrail Comp Disc. I ride mostly rail trails in my spare time for pleasure, maybe half asphalt, half crushed stone and the odds and ends of more challenging trails. What a great bike, always a pleasure to ride, just seems eager to go, seems just right for me. The light weight, decent driveline components, and decent shimano hydraulic brakes makes a big difference and a good starting base. Replace the tires/tubes with lighter weight low rolling resistance tires, and install a set of race effects pedals and its just right. I never road my older steel base model this much as it was more of a chore to ride and maintain. But that just may be me.

I've not had to replace anything for wear reasons and it has not needed adjustments beyond a minor one during the initial break in period. I think the rear pads will be needing replaced sooner than later, otherwise things are looking good.

Just wanted to check in and say hi.

Upgrayedd

Definitely an amazing bike for the price, I must be around 1500km in a year on mine and I didn't have to replace anything.

My break pads still seem to have some life left in them allthough I did have to wash them recently. Breaking was starting to be noisy and I thought the pads were worn out but after getting a new pair I realised my old ones still had at least 30% left.
After doing a little bit of research I realised I probably got some oil on the disk/pads which was casuing all the squeaking.

Other than that and removing the chain/casette for a good clean, the bike still rides like new with the original parts.

Even though the original tires are great for long distance on pavement, city commuting, dirt and gravel roads, I'm glad I got some 29ers tires. With the 60mm coil suspension and mechanical disks breaks I can manage to follow friends with their MTB on some trails.

To help with numbness and have a different hand position on long rides I got a pair of Specialized P2 Overendz Bar Ends. They roughly have the same texture and color as the original grip and they're alot of fun while climbing steep hills.

By Far my favorite upgrade on my crosstrail was those Shimano PD-T420 Click'R clipless Pedals. I was allways hesitant with clips, afraid I would make a fool out of myself, falling at a red light.
Those are really easy to unclip (basicly shaking your foot hard will undo your clip if you lose your momentum and need to do a quick stop). The flat side is also nice on warm summer or rainy days when I decide to wear sandals.

Mattyb13

Anyone have any experience with the Specialized Infinity or Hemisphere tires? I like the look and style of both. My OE Triggers are about shot and I am ready to upgrade. I am def. leaning towards a tire with less rolling resistance and more pavement performance that can still hang if I get on some loose crap on a bike path but in all reality 99% of my riding is paved or on the bike paths in the Greater Denver area. The Crosstrail continues to be the best bike I have ever owned! Looking forward to a new pair of skins! Thanks for any feedback.

badger1

If you really are 99% on paved surfaces/non-technical bike paths, I'd splash out on a set of these, in either 35 or 38 width. The width will float you over occasional loose/gravel stuff; the weight and low (really low) rolling resistance you will really notice.

https://www.compasscycle.com/product...ts/tires/700c/

ColdCase

If you are looking at alternatives, I've been running Schwalbe Marathon Almotion OneStar 28" 40-622 Reflex with their AV 17 tube for about 900 miles now. They were less than $100 from a German outfit. They handle asphalt, especially higher speed turns, much better than the OEM triggers, and are much quieter. They are great on crushed stone. On soft sand or loose gravel, neither one seems to have an advantage to me. I don't ride in mud.

They hardly look worn and have handled quite a few bumps. I think the triggers may ride softer but riding on loose surfaces is always a challenge My spouse still has triggers on her Ariel, which she likes. But she it pedaling on slight downgrades where I am just coasting along.

travbikeman

Check the Hemishere out at the LBS before you get your heart set on it. I don't know why, but it was alot different than what the pictures look like on Specialized site. They seem a lot smaller. But was told they were good on the road, not so much on gravel. I was thinking of replacing my Triggers with these also.

I ended up getting another Trigger. Not so sure I'll do that again next year. I'm kind of wishing I went towards the Schwalbe's. I'm always hearing good things about their tires. I got a pair of Nimbus as well and they do well on the road. One of them died an early death though. Not sure if it was bad manufacturing or if I hit too many large stones with it.

alexd51

Hello all. First post here in this forum and just got my 2016 Specialized Crosstrail Disc at the local bike shop here in Orlando,FL.
Pic was still at the bike shop as i wanted to have a pic when it was mine , will share some on the trail later.

derangedhermit

Could someone please say what kind of bottom bracket is on Crosstrails? There are many different specifications used in the industry, and I can't distinguish one from another. The 2016 Elite Disc specs at specialized.com say:

BOTTOM BRACKET: Square taper, cartridge bearings
CRANKSET: Specialized Stout SL, 44/32T

I'm asking since I want to change the chainrings to something like 24/36. My LBS says Specialized doesn't sell replacement chainrings, at least on lower-end bikes like mine or a similarly priced Rockhopper MTB. It seems I can buy a Shimano BB & crankset about as cheaply as I can buy two aftermarket 104 BCD chainrings (~$120). Would a Shimano Deore FC-M615 be a direct replacement for the stock BB and crankset? Is there a cheaper way to get new chainrings (I don't mind steel).

travbikeman

I don't get it, Specialized has updated all of the Crosstrails now. None of them, including the Expert Carbon has lockout suspension.

But it does look like they are all using through axles rather than quick release.

travbikeman

The BB in the Crosstrail Sport and am betting the other Crosstrails with the same A1 frame uses a VP component brand 68x118.

I had to change mine late last year.

travbikeman

OK, so all the new Crosstrails have the new suspension without lockout. Specialized describes the new suspension as below: I'm very curious to hear from someone whom buys one and how they like it.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

The Brain technology is based around an inertia valve design. A weighted mass sits on a light spring, limiting the flow of oil. On smooth terrain, this means oil is not flowing, so the suspension stays firm for efficient pedaling. When the wheel strikes a bump, the weighted mass overcomes the spring, immediately allowing oil to flow and the shock to become active. Once the compression of the bump is complete, the rebound action combined with the spring push the mass back in place, limiting the oil flow again, and instantly putting the shock back to firm. The Brain reservoir is remotely attached to the main air spring because the closer the inertia valve is to the wheel (or impact) the more sensitive the activation of the valve becomes. The same principle applies to Brain forks, and so in all fork designs, the inertia valve must be located in the lower portion of the fork also known as the un-sprung mass of the assembly.

Also, the orientation (or angle) of the inertia valve is critical to the performance. When the wheel strikes a bump, there is an impact load trajectory. The inertia valve is most sensitive when aligned with this trajectory path.

derangedhermit

Thanks! It seems I am balking at changing what seems to be a perfectly serviceable BB and crankset until there is absolutely no other choice. It seems Shimano does sell 104 BCD replacement chainrings at a more reasonable price in the sizes I want - of course for use on their own cranksets. But I might just try it, or ask on the mechanic forum here if it will work.

In my grand plan, I would swap from using the 32t almost all the time to using the 36t, and having the 24t as a granny gear for long hills and for "off road". I don't think I will miss the 44t since I could go 25 mph with the 36t, and I have no interest in pedalling when going over 25 mph.

ColonelSanders

Wow, what a shake up of the Crosstrail range.


Whilst I appreciate Specialized being the first of the big manufacturers to offer a carbon frame on a mountain bike inspired hybrid, I just don't imagine these are going to sell well.


I lusted after the Crosstrail models with the E5 aluminium frame, but they are not being offered any longer.


Specialized imho would have been better off adding a Giant Toughroad copycat of sorts model, to their existing range.


But hey, who knows, maybe I will be wrong on this and these carbon Crosstrails will do well.

travbikeman

Yea, I'm not so certain about this either. I liked the idea of upgrading my Crosstrail eventually, but am not so certain how these newer Crosstrails are going to sell.

travbikeman

Yea, I can get that, it really all depends on your riding. My Sport has 48/36/28, the vast majority of my riding is using the 36, only downhills would I use the 48, which I do use in my hilly neighborhood. Surprisingly I have hit 31mph on this bike. I've only used the 28 twice to test and really haven't needed it....yet.

ColdCase

I dunno, kind of like the idea of automated fork lock out, suits 95% my riding style, maybe all of it.

Any reviews out there on how the fork actually works on the street?

FLJeepGuy

Just ran across this thread and figured I'd add my name to the list of satisfied Crosstrail owners. I've got a '14 Crosstrail Disc model that I absolutely love riding. It's versatile enough for everything but technical off-road stuff and with the rear rack and bag I've added, it makes a great commuter. So far it's been bulletproof other than wear items so I have no complaints.

travbikeman

Think I'm just unfamiliar with this style of suspension fork. Alot of personal opinions on these on Specialized Mountain bikes, but so far I'm not finding any reviews on the ones with the hybrids. The personal opinions have been with both directions, some really liking it and others hating it. Doesn't really give me a good idea on this suspension.

I'm just going to have to visit the LBS when they have one of these to test myself to form my own opinion.

ColonelSanders

In addition to how well it works, I'd be very interested to know what is involved with servicing such a fork.

DorkDisk

You take it apart and replace the oil, seals, and any parts that need replacing. Generally, damping is handled by cartridges that can be further torn down and/or replaced completely. Suspension forks sound complex but the internals are actually very simple yet highly evolved mechanisms.

Inertial valving tries to distinguish between forces applied from the rider and forces applied from the terrain. One complaint about them is that you cannot compress the suspension before a jump.

ColonelSanders

Fair enough, but I was wondering if this "new" type of fork that Specialized has on this year's Crosstrails, require any more or more costly servicing than previous forks on their Crosstrails.


I'm glad I have a heavy duty rigid carbon fork.

ColdCase

With enough weigh bearing down on it, just about anything can compress

Lighter riders may have a slightly different opinion, where they can adjust the preload to suit their weight and style, instead of a one size fits all approach, and the adjustment range available is in the useful range for their weight.

DorkDisk

They're still coil forks? You keep the stanchions clean and the seal lubed. I'm going to guess that the damping is probably a non serviceable cartridge at this price point. To be sure service gets more intensive when complexity increases. My Sid XX requires a complete oil change every 50 hours of riding, and Fox forks have notoriously short service intervals. If grab and go is your thing, stay far, far away from complex suspension that actually works. It's nice to see more attempts at adding valving to limit the pogoing of these forks. For me: Rigid > non compression and rebound damped suspension with adjustable spring rates and some sort of anti-bob valving

Inertial valving has been around for a long time now, it just seems like the patent issues have been cleared up

Better questions IMO are: Are spares available? Will they be available down the road? Can I get a spring for my weight, or am I stuck with a spring for a 190 lb person?

Vitowoj

Right I'm about to pull the trigger and get a Specialized Crosstrail as my first bike in years. Can get 2016 Comp or 2017 Elite for the same price with discounts from my lbs. Which one is better value for the money?