Specialized’s New 2016 Cambers – now with 27.5in wheels!

California-based Specialized have announced a new Camber range for 2016 featuring the all new Brain technology for the carbon models – and critically, they’ve introduced a 27.5in model.

The Camber also gets a boost in travel. The 2015 model ran with 110mm but now the new 29er has 120mm. The 27.5in version gets 130mm front and rear to maximise boing for the more diminutive wheelsize.

For this years range, Specialized have given the 29 Camber a slacker head tube at 67.5 and shorter chainstays at 435mm. Bottom bracket height will stay the same at 329mm. The 27.5in models will have a 68degree headtube, 420mm chainstays and a 335mm bottom bracket height.

To simplify the Camber range, Specialized have scrapped EVO models for 2016.. and then made it more complicated with the new wheel sizes. Essentially, they’re *all* EVO models. Which makes sense – they were pretty popular. But now the big S has quite a few bikes in the trail/ longer travel sector in a variety of wheelsizes.

You want more changes? The Brain! The one the Camber comes with is different to the ‘Epic’ one (both in name and in nature). They’re tweaked to provide better ‘trail feel’ apparently, they’ve tweaked the seatstays – the ‘Concentric Link FSR’ will, apparently, make them stiffer and lighter.

And yep, they’ve got Specialized’s new SWAT Door frame storage so you can hide your sarnies in your frame, The SWAT stuff does add some weight (around 200g), but Specialized’s new carbon models will apparently remain as torsionally stiff as the 2015 version.

Specialized are introducing four price points here in the UK- which will range from £2000 for the alloy Camber all the way up to £4500 for the carbon blingy awesomemess.

• Camber Expert Carbon – £4500 29er
• Camber Elite Carbon – £4000 29er
• Camber Comp Carbon – £3000 29in + 27.5in
• Camber Comp Alloy – £2000 29in + 27.5in

Specialized really have been busy with developing new bikes ready for 2016, which could give you a real headache if you’ve decided on a new pair of wheels for next year…