Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Road Cycling
Reload this Page >

Specialized bikes.

Notices
Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

Specialized bikes.

Old 09-30-08 | 10:28 AM
  #1  
MrCrassic's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,644
Likes: 1
From: Brooklyn, NY

Bikes: 2008 Giant OCR1 (with panda bear on the back!)

Specialized bikes.

So I'm revisiting the idea of getting myself a new bike before race season begins in March. However, while I'm still pretty set on the Cervélo, I'm starting to take a look at Specialized again.

What do Specialized bike owners here think about their bikes? Have any of you have problems with warranty or the company itself? What about frame quality?

Thank you!
__________________
Ride more.

Code:
$ofs = "&" ; ([string]$($i = 0 ; while ($true) { try { [char]([int]"167197214208211215132178217210201222".substring($i,3) - 100) ; $i =
 $i+3 > catch { break >>)).replace('&','') ; $ofs=" " # Replace right angles with right curly braces
MrCrassic is offline  
Reply
Old 09-30-08 | 02:03 PM
  #2  
mcgreivey's Avatar
STFD
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 778
Likes: 2
From: North Bergen, NJ

Bikes: '80 Windsor Carrera Sport, '02 Specialized Sirrus A1, '10 Giant Escape 2

I have absolutely no complaints about my Specialized, which is a 2001-ish Sirrus A1 flat-bar road bike. The components aren't top-of-the line, but they haven't given me any problems. Frame is fine--nothing fancy--aluminum w/steel fork. The bike goes as fast as I can pedal it. I like to ride it.

But I bet you want to know about fancier bikes than mine?
mcgreivey is offline  
Reply
Old 09-30-08 | 02:12 PM
  #3  
uke's Avatar
uke
it's easy if you let it.
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 4,124
Likes: 2
From: indoors and out.
Originally Posted by mcgreivey
The bike goes as fast as I can pedal it.
Well, that's a good sign.
uke is offline  
Reply
Old 09-30-08 | 02:14 PM
  #4  
Shipht's Avatar
Freezing Member
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
From: Ottawa, On

Bikes: 08 Specialized Allez Sport

I've been pleased with my Specialized. I've been riding an Allez for the past few months and its been a real eye opener to what a nice bike can do for your performance.
Shipht is offline  
Reply
Old 09-30-08 | 02:18 PM
  #5  
caloso's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 40,863
Likes: 3,115
From: Sacramento, California, USA

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur

I really like this:

caloso is offline  
Reply
Old 09-30-08 | 02:19 PM
  #6  
brian416's Avatar
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,468
Likes: 16
They're great bikes, and they have a good warranty too, but the warranty can depend on how good your dealer is on if they'll push specialized to get parts faster
brian416 is offline  
Reply
Old 09-30-08 | 02:21 PM
  #7  
mustang1's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,719
Likes: 4
From: London, UK

Bikes: 2006 road bike, 2012 cx bike, 2012 carbon rb, 2014 hardtail

2006 allez. I'm a recreational/training rider, 1h/day max, mainly flats, couple of tiny hills, 200lbs, all stock except thomson elite seatpost (standrad one kept losing the saddle angle and screw eventually sheared off). Bike was serviced 1yr after purchase and frame was found to be out of alignment slightly. See if u can find my thread somewhere on bf, others said that was not normal. In my non-expert opinion and non-racer, the bike is fine for me. My intention was to keep it for max 2 yes then get something better but so far I haven't felt the need - I want to but I don't need to.

If I ever get round to buying another bike, it will most probably be another Spesh.

Last edited by mustang1; 09-30-08 at 04:52 PM. Reason: extra info
mustang1 is offline  
Reply
Old 09-30-08 | 02:23 PM
  #8  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 514
Likes: 1
From: Indiana

Bikes: 2015 Scott Solace 30, 2007 CAAD9 Optimo 1

I've heard great things about the Tarmacs, and the Allez appears to be a good entry type frame.
Anti404 is offline  
Reply
Old 09-30-08 | 02:28 PM
  #9  
Cromulent's Avatar
I'm fine.
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,263
Likes: 0
From: Milwaukee

Bikes: Specialized Allez Sport, IRO Rob Roy

I have an '04 or '05 Allez Sport. It's fine.
Cromulent is offline  
Reply
Old 09-30-08 | 02:30 PM
  #10  
garysol1's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 10,244
Likes: 17
From: Traverse City Michigan
Love my Tarmac and I loved my Allez. The one time I did have an issue with a Specialized product (saddle) they came through with more than asked for. The saddle had a blemish that made one of my shorts burr up. Not only did they send me a saddle they also let me keep the old one that I fixed and they sent me a pair of there Pro Bibs. Awesome service. Between my Allez and my Tarmac I did have a Cervelo. It was the R2.5. I never did care for that bike. The guy who bought it from me promptly broke the frame and Cervelo did replace it under there recall program.
__________________
BMC Roadmachine
Kona Jake the Snake
garysol1 is offline  
Reply
Old 09-30-08 | 02:30 PM
  #11  
Pizza Man's Avatar
Racing iS my Training
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,263
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco

Bikes: 07 Bianchi San Jose, 08 Tarmac SL2, 05 Cervelo P3

Originally Posted by caloso
I really like this:

I have a 2008 Tarmac SL2 in the Gerolsteiner colors, and it's the best bike I've ever had, but I'd love to have it in white!
Pizza Man is offline  
Reply
Old 09-30-08 | 02:33 PM
  #12  
mmmm hills
 
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
From: Columbus, Ohio

Bikes: 2008 Giant FCR 3

I'm about to get an 09 Allez. They're better equipped than the 09 Trek 1.2, while being the same price. Hell, the new Allez is almost as well equipped as the Trek 1.5. Can't wait!
EvanWCbus is offline  
Reply
Old 09-30-08 | 02:42 PM
  #13  
?
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,775
Likes: 0
Look for a used Allez E5 SLX pre-05 on eBay (even better if it's S-Works E5 SLX), on par with CAAD9.
mrbubbles is offline  
Reply
Old 09-30-08 | 02:43 PM
  #14  
MONGO!'s Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,279
Likes: 1
From: Portland, OR
Keep your bike and buy wheels and a power meter instead, that actually WILL make you faster (if you use it right, of course)
MONGO! is offline  
Reply
Old 09-30-08 | 02:45 PM
  #15  
caloso's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 40,863
Likes: 3,115
From: Sacramento, California, USA

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur

Originally Posted by Pizza Man
I have a 2008 Tarmac SL2 in the Gerolsteiner colors, and it's the best bike I've ever had, but I'd love to have it in white!
That's the SL. I notice that the SL frameset retails for $1000 less than the SL2. Any thoughts on whether the SL2 is worth the extra grand?
caloso is offline  
Reply
Old 09-30-08 | 02:48 PM
  #16  
Crash716's Avatar
i got nothing.
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,723
Likes: 0
From: Cali Forn NI A (SoCal)

Bikes: 13 BH G6 with SRAM Red

I love them...but it's what i ride sooo i am obviously biased. I have ridden Fuji, Jamis, Trek, and a couple random cervelo's and with the exception of the placebo of being on a cervelo my money will almost always go to Specialized.
__________________
14 days...
Crash716 is offline  
Reply
Old 09-30-08 | 02:50 PM
  #17  
nachomc's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,259
Likes: 1
From: Sacramento, CA

Bikes: Epic and Tarmac

I have an 08 Tarmac and an 07 Epic. I have about 1500 miles on the Tarmac and it's been a fantastic bike. I had an Allez before and never could get comfortable on it, but the Tarmac was a perfect fit from the start. Getting the Tarmac really got me in to road riding.
nachomc is offline  
Reply
Old 09-30-08 | 02:52 PM
  #18  
rokphotography's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area

Bikes: BMC SR02, 07 Cannondale Capo

My 09 Allez Comp is my first serious road bike, coming from a Track Bike and old steel townie. I Have to say that when I pedal the thing shoots from under me. Specialized has great customer service as the Rep from my LBS actually went outside his sales area to buy my bike in my size so I could get it because they were all out for 61cm's until November. That and the lifetime warranty on frames is a great +!
rokphotography is offline  
Reply
Old 09-30-08 | 02:57 PM
  #19  
Pinyon's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,380
Likes: 0
From: Northern Colorado
I got a 2008 Allez Elite with a compact crank last spring, and really like it so far. I'm a clyde and it is holding up fine, and is plenty stiff for me on hills and such. I don't usually put power to the pedals over 38-40 mph down hills, race, or sprint often enough to need bigger gears like some riders.

Specialized is at least on par with Trek, Giant, Jamis, and other major brands that are regularly reviewed in the press. As long as the bike fits, is not too heavy, and feels right, having a LBS that stands behind their equipment, and has really good mechanics for the big repairs is more important to me than brand name.
Pinyon is offline  
Reply
Old 09-30-08 | 03:19 PM
  #20  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 313
Likes: 0
From: Canton, MI

Bikes: Fuji Newest 4.0 (my first road bike)

I have a 2006 E5 Allez Comp and a 2008 Rockhopper Comp 29er. Love both of them. Great frames.
Brian6751 is offline  
Reply
Old 09-30-08 | 03:21 PM
  #21  
SamDaBikinMan's Avatar
Crank Crushing Redneck
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,600
Likes: 0
From: A van down by the river.

Bikes: Bikes are environmentally damaging

Top notch bike and company. Have a Epic MTB and love it.

Can't go wrong with Specialized IMO
SamDaBikinMan is offline  
Reply
Old 09-30-08 | 03:36 PM
  #22  
icyclist's Avatar
Spin Meister
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,658
Likes: 74
From: California, USA

Bikes: Trek Émonda, 1961 Follis (French) road bike (I'm the original owner), a fixie, a mountain bike, etc.

I've had only good experiences with Specialized, both road and mt. bikes. Currently I have one of the Roubaix models - I love the way it rides and the way it looks.
__________________
This post is a natural product. Slight variations in spelling and grammar enhance its individual character and beauty and are in no way to be considered flaws or defects.
icyclist is offline  
Reply
Old 09-30-08 | 03:42 PM
  #23  
Junior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Naperville, IL

Bikes: 2004 Specialized Allez

I have an '04 Allez triple that I'm currently upgrading component by component to Ultegra gear. It has been a great bike for me - perfectly comfortable for centuries, fast enough to be fun when I'm just trying to get in a 1-2 hour workout. I'll buy another Specialized when this one is done.
spenney is offline  
Reply
Old 09-30-08 | 03:47 PM
  #24  
George's Avatar
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 5,720
Likes: 100
From: Katy Texas

Bikes: Specialized Roubaix

I would buy another Roubaix in a heartbeat.
__________________
George
George is offline  
Reply
Old 09-30-08 | 04:05 PM
  #25  
umd's Avatar
umd
Banned
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 28,387
Likes: 3
From: Santa Barbara, CA

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac SL2, Specialized Tarmac SL, Giant TCR Composite, Specialized StumpJumper Expert HT

Originally Posted by caloso
That's the SL. I notice that the SL frameset retails for $1000 less than the SL2. Any thoughts on whether the SL2 is worth the extra grand?
They redid the models for 09. That is essentially an SL2 construction with SL-level 10r carbon instead of their top-of-the-line 11r
umd is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.