Why the hate for Specialized?

[Topperharley]

Are there just little cells of haters out there that enjoy posting their hate, or is there wide spread distaste at the big s? If so, why all the hate?

 

[static_X3]

I'm pretty sure there was a thread asking the same question about Giant. You'll get the same answers there.

 

[SummitFever]

Speci make some great stuff but they also do some things that to a cynic like me screams of gouging the client. For example, in recent times Speci FS bikes have had some funny non-standard shock eye-to-eye and travel lengths that make it very difficult to find a replacement. There's very little technical reason, its just the sort of thing that a big manufacturer can do to make sure you can only get replacement parts from them.

 

[pharmaboy]

Speci make some great stuff but they also do some things that to a cynic like me screams of gouging the client. For example, in recent times Speci FS bikes have had some funny non-standard shock eye-to-eye and travel lengths that make it very difficult to find a replacement. There's very little technical reason, its just the sort of thing that a big manufacturer can do to make sure you can only get replacement parts from them.

Hah, just test rode an epic recently - having just bought a spare rear shock for my giant for $200 (to use whilst servicing), this is the thing that worries me most about the brain etc concept - how much is a replacement/ servicing going to set me back to keep the thing on the trail. There is a lot of marketing cost there as well .

Although this last year or 2, at least the premium pricing here has been replicated in the US as well.

 

[driftking]

There is hate for every bike you see it more pronounced with giant and specialized because they are so popular, more discussion means more chances for hate. Been common it also leaves room for more riders to have tried the bikes and hated them or the customer service etc.

Everyone hates or likes aspects of a bike there is plenty of personal preference so you see that on the forums. The important part is too weed out the legit reviewed hate to the "oh i just hate them they have short cs" or "I hate how they look"

 

[outtacontrol]

For me first impressions are very important. When I started looking for my first bike, I was horrified at much less bike the Big S could give me for the same amount of money.

Haven't considered them since for any purchases....

 

[pistonbroke]

I rode spec for 3 years and just sold it. It was a great bike.
But I hated going to a big Melbourne spec dealer and being made to feel I wasn't worthy of a good bike.
I bought it from another shop who were great.
Now on Giants, who are probably more hated.

 

[bikesarefun]

I love specialized bikes. And my local specialized dealer employs some of the best people I know. Win and win.

 

[Big JD]

I rode spec for 3 years and just sold it. It was a great bike.
But I hated going to a big Melbourne spec dealer and being made to feel I wasn't worthy of a good bike.
I bought it from another shop who were great.
Now on Giants, who are probably more hated.

total agree with your experience - the CS of a train crash - you would buy elsewhere and avoid the wank.

I personal think they do some great bikes but could be more price effective considering how big they are and specific parts is a pain in the arse. Specialised look better than Giants in my opinion although Giant has improved in the ugly stakes.
they are great bikes just disliked due to their commonness - which shouldnt really count and is rather elitist. the enduro has been one of the best trail bikes for years.

dont worry about the hate - jealousy mainly.

 

[Jaredp]

I must admit to being a Spec disliker... however the reasons for my hate were completely founded and have been addressed nin recent years.

ie Price Vs Group set. They were shocking a few years back, however some restructuring of the importation chain and a few overseas influences and they are starting to really come good. I have officially jumped of the S hater wagon.

 

[floody]

They knifed the distributor and shop network that built their brand in Australia, forced brand-loyal customers to jump shop or change brand, didn't deliver the promised range, price or customer service improvements... I don't hate them and they build great bikes, but as a company they've pulled some sleazy stuff of late.

 

[flamshmizer]

I hate them because I can't justify the price of them.

But really they make pretty, very well functioning bikes, but in Australia you pay a hefty premium for the brand compared to North America. It makes them a mass produced bike at near boutique price, and for some reason their resale value in Australia is pretty high aswell. I think people don't like the idea of paying relatively large dollars for an off the shelf bike.

But, apparently their price has come down with the distribution shift, so everything I have said could be wrong or irrelevant or both.

 

[Topperharley]

I ride and have almost always ridden Specialized. They make bikes the way I like bikes to feel. The question was regarding posts in this forum and others (pinkbike/mtbr etc) which seem to ethically bash the brand. I've heard of their ethos when it comes to floor space in independant retailers, but other than that, surely they are doing a host of amazing things for the sport globally, and unquestionably their bikes work, looks are a matter of opinion and we all have different requirments, but you dont get this big by making faulty or poor equipment.

Haters gotta hate?

 

[skwiz05]

God bless a company who can mass produce a good bike and still gouge money from your wallet. Hats off to them.

Now, considering most frames for various manufacturers come out of a smaller number of factories.......Im calling wank to the lesser brands whom charge twice that of the big S......

They are just as guilty. 5k for ANY frame is BS. Yes, Id love to own a Yeti..or a few others.....

Ill stick to my 5 Specialized, 1 Giant, 1 Banshee I have left........

 

[The Duckmeister]

I think it's just 'cos some people have a thing against the big players. They got big for a reason, and that's 'cos they do what they do well.

Funnily, Spesh are one of those frame brands who do not manufacture all of their own frames..... Most of the alloy stuff is done in-house, but the carbon work is done by Merida (who own a sizeable chunk of Specialized). The real "wank factor" is in those boutique brands who won't tell the consumer market that their frames are built by the likes of Giant & Merida.

Specialized was somewhat jacked up & marketed as a "premium brand" when Avanti was the distributor, largely because they didn't want it competing too directly with their own "mainstream" range. In theory, that should have changed when they ditched Avanti & took up their own distribution, but it seems that what was promised & what was delivered are two different things. But they wouldn't be the only ones to be guilty of that (and not just limited to bike stuff).

Interestingly, one of my colleagues spent 18 months working in a bike shop London a few years ago... Over there Specialized was seen as a mainstream brand, while Giant was more of a premium player. Just shows that regional markets are not the same around the world.

 

[wombat]

Most of the alloy stuff is done in-house, but the carbon work is done by Merida (who own a sizeable chunk of Specialized).

Close, but wrong way around: Merida do Spec's alloy frames (all of them), but Spec's carbon stuff is done by another factory not tied to Merida. AFAIK Specialized don't do any production of frames 'in-house', ie. they don't own the factories they use.

Not like they're the only company like this though, and manufacture is only one part of the brand. I'd be lying though if I said I hadn't faced a least a handful of Spec fan boy wankers who looked down their nose at meridas which were apparently "cheap crap", and wouldn't hear it when they were told that their frames came out of the same factory.

 

[Moodge]

There is that Doco on the origin of Mountainbiking... cant remember it's name sorry... was it Clunkers??

I remember watching it and seeing that Specialized has become very successful but that was at the expense of others in the industry at the time... needless to say, if they didn't step in and start mass producing early mountainbikes (regardless of who claimed to be the original designers) someone else would've. Its been ages since i watched that program but that's the vibe i got from it..

I genuinely believe that if they let the FSR design be used by more companies outside of europe, (is it true they dont hold the patient there?) suspension development would've advanced alot quicker than it has and fewer of the current complex designs would need to exist as essentially a 4 bar has to be single pivot due to the FSR patient not allowing anyone else to put a rear pivot on the chainstay..

Please correct me if i am wrong and rip thru me as per forum procedures.

 

[cooki_monsta]

I love specialized. Have since I was a kid and will always buy specialized bikes! They just make well built well performing bikes

 

[bj4x4]

I'm not real fond on specialized or giant due to the fact that they dont import the XL enduro or reign. Pretty frustrating when you pretty much make your mind up on a bike only to find out they dont come in your size.

 

[moorey]

Spesh seem more determined than most to kill off the option of a 26" bike in oz. That's my only beef with them. Price wise, my mate just got one of the few Available 2013 enduro comps, at retail price, and I have to say its a lot of bike, and an awesome ride for the dollars.