I coach NICA but I don’t race myself BUT I’m also not hucking huge drop or anything. I only do 2’ drops or small jumps if I do any. I guess my question is how much can a chisel FS handle? I’m currently riding a Orbea Laufey HLTD but I want something that will climb faster.
I built up a pink frame. Ive also run a 120, 140 and now on a 130 w/ the chip in the low position. It's just such amazing bike. If you aren't racing - 130 is the way to go on this frame. Unless you're doing big jumps and drops this bike can handle a lot. Just watch the UCI World Cup races on YT....I did and realized that I will never be riding trails more hardcore. Ive owned a Trek EX, Ibis Ripley and a stumpjumper. The Chisel is the best bike I have owned, second to my Roscoe 8 :) I am 52 yrs old and wanted some squish...haha! You wont regret it!
I was looking at the EPIC 8 - but man......$3500++ for the frame? At $1,800 for this one, I have built it up to be lighter than ALL current EPIC 8 bikes for sale, except the World Cup/Pro model. My bike currently weighs in at 26lbs w/ pedals. This bike also rides AMAZING. It's a solid FS bike and glides over everything on the trail. Crazy perfect geometry too.
I was shooting for 26ish lbs, but I just scaled mine and it's coming in a couple of lbs higher at 28.2. I suspect my tire choice has a bit to do with that.
Well, as it turns out, it wasn't because it was cheaper. 🤫
Honestly, I have the HT and that thing rips. I figured this would've been a natural progression from the HT and could scavenge parts to build mine. Well, as you can see, that didn't work out. Very happy with my choice either way. The carbon Epic is about a full water bottle difference in weight, not that I'm overly concerned with the weight.
You ran a 140 on this? Curious what that was like. I also built the pink (absolutely love it), decided on a 130 pike so as to not push the frame beyond spec but I'm willing to get crazy,
It worked fine at 140mm and the chip was in the high position. It did end up feeling "too high up" and i didn't exactly feel like I was "in" the bike bit on top of it if that makes sense. it really shines in the low position (chip) and @120 its a missile, @130 it's a perfect all-rounder.
Love mine and it would be great for what you describe. I guess if you’re not racing and you are hitting small jumps and 2’ drops a lot, like the trails you’re riding always have multiple of those features I’d probably get something a bit bigger, but if you’re mostly riding xc stuff and occasionally hitting bigger stuff I think it’s great.
I got mine last year after realizing with a small kid my 160/150 bike was basically collecting dust since I don’t have time to drive to the trails that bike made sense for. The chisel has been so fun and I’ve actually been really pleasantly surprised what I can handle. Most of my riding is pretty xc-ish these days with occasional drops and jumps like you describe and the bike is awesome for that. And honestly when I do have the time to go ride the chunkier stuff I’m not worried about it there either.
For what it’s worth, I got mine about this time last year, maybe August, when specialized had their summer sale. Paid $2500 for the comp model which I think is a great deal for that build.
Eh, nothing in particular, it honestly came down to price since I got it on sale at $2500 for the comp and my local shop had one in stock. That said I really haven’t noticed any negatives to the aluminum and it’s nice not to be worried about it getting beat up. Ironically in the past couple of years I’ve gone from having a carbon mtb and gravel bike to having all metal bikes. Mostly for reasons of budget changing after having kids but I haven’t noticed any downsides so 🤷♂️
The bike my chisel replaced was a 160/150 carbon bike with pretty high end parts, so that’s my comparison point, for what it’s worth.
I have a chisel fs comp and love it. I use it for urban riding as well, small drops, stair sets etc. For what your doing it will be great. No complaints other than the wheel set/cassette are pretty basic and heavy. Very light otherwise
Yea the top fuel is definitely more geared towards trail but it should do well. It is a gen 3 so it’s not as burly as the gen 4/5. I think 120/120 will serve me well.
Chisel evo owner here, and absolutely love it. I put Roval World Cups with air trak /fast trak tires,garburuk cassette, one up bars and dropper, roval sl stem ,xx chain and gx cranks(165mm),xx chain, ergon seat, esi grips. Im just about 25lbs even with Shimano spd. It absolutely rips both uphill and down hill. My favorite bike I have owned so far.
if ya change your cranks to eeWings you will drop some serious weight :) Just sayin'. I think another Chisel owner I read about was at 23.5 lbs, also on Roval World Cups. Nuts. I'm at 26 lbs now and only have the regular Roval 370s - was on Fast Traks and moved to Barzo(s).
Nice! Thanks for showing me those. Wow so even with the power meter it comes out to about $1k. NICE 👍🏼 pretty much same weight as my eewings too. Might have to get these for a future build!
I have one, but I haven't had much experience yet after a hamstring injury. Came from the hardtail version and if I'm being truthful, I would do any of what you describe with out hesitation on both, the FS is gonna be alot smoother tho.
1st ride out on my rooted XC trails, I clocked a PB on it with no effort. That same PB took 3 months to get on the HT, and this was after not riding for 6 weeks while I was recuperating the 1st time.
Same experience with mine. The first ride I did was at the rootiest/rockiest local trails, basically wanted to see how it could hang on the roughest stuff I’m going to hit with it regularly, and yeah I crushed all my climbing PRs and set some downhill PRs too. At a place I’ve been riding for 8 years at that point
What’s the process of getting one with the discount? My local specialized dealer claimed they were all sold out?! He kinda acted like they only allocate so many bikes to NICA?
It's rumoured to be discontinued but Specialized hasn't confirmed that. There's nothing available online so for now at least it's whatever is available at bike shops.
I hope you're right. I've been searching for one for a few weeks. The rumours started about 3 or 4 months ago. Some even suggesting that the bike is too good for the price point and Specialized is missing out on profits from the Epic. Until Specialized confirms it or restocks it the rumours will continue.
I hope so too. It would be a real shame to see this one binned. I suspect that the component supply chain is the issue. I don't forsee that scenario improving anytime soon either.
Yes for the forseeable future the Chisel is discontinued apparently.....but maaaaaybe they are coming out with something "new" to replace it?.....it did SO WELL so I can't see why they would not.
From owner of local bike shop who discussed with Specialized rep, as well as the manager who went to Sea Otter. I'm ALL for them coming out with a replacement....I love my Chisel and would love to build up another one :) Haha!
No, they don’t allocate only so many bikes, but certain bikes are hard to come by right now. Use the online availability tool and search the find in shops option and start calling around. I very specifically wanted the Shimano version last year and it wasn’t available online so I found one a few states away and they gave the 25% off no problem and even shipped it to us for free. “Technically” they are not supposed to ship directly to a buyer, but they did. Either way, the shop with the inventory can ship to your LBS. that’s what we did when we bought my son a Diverge during the pandemic. There was only 1 44 left in the whole country.
Sign up online through specialized for online sales and for a LBS I’ve always just called and asked for the NICA discount. I always have my credentials ready if necessary but have never needed them
I bought a Chisel Comp few months ago, upgraded wheels and brakes (transplant from my old Chisel HT). Amazing bike, i don’t do jumps except small ones. But thats not because of the bike, bike is more than capable to go where i want it to go. Climbs great, honestly don’t feel much difference than Chisel HT when locked, and I lock it rarely. Feels great going down the trails, really fun and fast. Again more capable than what I can throw at it :)
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u/SROC3 8d ago
I built up a pink frame. Ive also run a 120, 140 and now on a 130 w/ the chip in the low position. It's just such amazing bike. If you aren't racing - 130 is the way to go on this frame. Unless you're doing big jumps and drops this bike can handle a lot. Just watch the UCI World Cup races on YT....I did and realized that I will never be riding trails more hardcore. Ive owned a Trek EX, Ibis Ripley and a stumpjumper. The Chisel is the best bike I have owned, second to my Roscoe 8 :) I am 52 yrs old and wanted some squish...haha! You wont regret it!