[Closed] Spesh Pitch Comp - Help me settle a debate with a mate

Wheels.

For XC riding my first upgrade would be a Stumpy FSR, not a Pitch. Wrong bike to start with, IMO.

Wheels, the forks are very good (don't let the Fox marketing dept tell you otherwise). Replace the rear shock when it dies (but not with a DHX air, they are shite), but it sounds like his is faultly so get on the phone to Spesh and they will do everything they can do fix it.

As for wheels, do a search for the deals on Pro2's with Stans Flows and that will make a huge difference to the ride

I would do that as well but he wants to do the suspension first to improve the ride for the type of riding he is doing.

I;ve got a XC comp and find the wheels crap as well. Mavic Rims and Hope Pro II's for me.

PP. I agree with you. For 1k XC comp would have (was) my choice but all about personal taste I suppose!!

Leave it alone and ride it... if you have to upgrade anything just pop some lock on grips on it.

Bang loads of lube in the air can on the x fusion and it should hold air better, if not, try the warranty, I had a Fox once that lost air from new, no bother as long as you top it up, loads of lube in that and it wasnt a problem. Also from experience its worth checking if its lost pressure by checking sag not the pump.

Ride it enough and there is plenty of time to spend lots of cash on it.

If you buy a bike and want to upgrade forks/shock straight away would have been better off buying the next bike up the range.

as we all know scottish xc is a different thing entirely to the more common uk xc.

lockout/lockdown is massively overrated - tell him to learn to move his weight about better on the bike - if that is proving difficult for long climbs then a more climbing orientated bike/frame is more likely required.

if the rear shock is faulty, get it fixed. if when it is fixed it doesnt work/blows up then replace it

Wheels - If they are anything like my Pitch Pro ones, then they are too light if anything. The ones mine came with are the same width as a Mavic 717 (I measured them against my Mavics) which is not man enough for a 6in travel bike of the Pitch's calibre. I went wider and tougher (SUN SOS rims) which suits the bike more.

If you made me choose between the forks and shock, I'd say the shock because Pikes are excellent forks and you won't miss the lockout as much as you'd miss the brilliantly performing RP2 I have on mine. Just make sure you get the right compression and propedal tune to suit the bike......
🙂

sorry to disagree Xan i'd upgrade the rear shock, the pikes aren't a bad unit and would cost a lot to upgrade to something significantly better

Definitely not the fork, no place for a lockout on a bike like that, no place for a lockout anywhere really, pointless IMO.

**** me, njee20 I thought you would love lockout being fully XC racer... 🙂

But if you have to have that kind of feature a lockdown is of more use for climbing.

I got a SH Motion Control cartridge for £20 and now have lockout and compression adjust. I think a new one is about £40 so and its a 5 min job to literally drop it in. Other than that my shock is now an RP3 from the bay and I've got much better brakes couple of other things to make it fit me better and because of crashes but I would do the same again.

I would like some 36 Talas tho. 😀

[img] [/img]

The MoCo cartridge isnt in the pic.

I'd always rated the brain shock on my 04 Sworks Enduro, but the RP23 on the Ventana I've just built is better from a "locking it out for climbing" aspect. I'd go for the rear shock first, the forks are fine, I have 454 Coil Pikes & hardly ever lock them out.

I got a SH Motion Control cartridge for £20 and now have lockout and compression adjust. I think a new one is about £40 so and its a 5 min job to literally drop it in

You know, that is a superb idea. Really.
😀

On a spesh?

The bars! Unless Spesh have started fitting proper ones they'r hideously narrow.

Ditto the lockout comment, I run my forks fully open unless its on the road. Climbings much easier if you can just concnetate on the ballance point between rear wheel grip and wheelie without having to wory about the front wheel.

My bars were 660 I think and not too narrow they were the wrong shape for me tho hence the Truvativs. Something else I would recommend is one of [url= http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=17670 ]these[/url] as it gives a larger area to push against making it easier to wind the forks up or down meaning he will be more willing to do it.

I 2nd PP, if he wants to improve the bike for the riding he does he really needs to just buy a Stumpy. The Pitch is an awesome bike but from what I've seen on the trails, a lot were bought off the hype of the review with very little attention paid to intended use.

motion control upgrade kits with bar remote are £99 new,

Get the rear shock sorted first.

If I were changing the forks I'd be looking at a Fox 36 or the new Rev Team 150mm.

Agree with lockout comments. Never ever use it myself.

I used to have one of these, rather nice it was too but it was too much bike for what I rode 90% of the time. Ended up with Hope Hoops, DHX 5.0, Van 36R's, Double n' bash, joplin blah de blah.

Get the shock sorted by Spesh'

Change the wheels for something like Hope Hoops and while your at it sling a XT or SLX cassette on there and that'll save you a bunch of weight.

The bike isn't a brilliant climber, but it's ace at going back down

Pitch is pretty capable as a DH bike, I'd get rid of it completely if all you plan on doing is XC and trail centres.

The Pitch is supposed to be a great all rounder, 32ish lbs on the Comp model and Enduro-esque geometry make for a compelling all day bike.

If the Comp were mine, I'd opt for the lockout cartridge as suggested elsewhere. I'd also ditch the X-Fusion shock for either a Fox unit or a Rockshox Monarch, the latter can be had for a bargain on Merlin lately. Just make sure you get the eye to eye length right.

You could transform the bike for less than £300, but then that does beg the question as to why not go for a Pitch Pro in the first place.

Definitely not the fork, no place for a lockout on a bike like that, no place for a lockout anywhere really, pointless IMO.

Totally agree. I used to ride Pace RC40's and the lockdown was great as it helped me keep the front end of the cotic down, however the lockout on the pikes doesnt, although the Pikes are far better than the paces ever were.

Forks don't bob that much if you climb steadily, and on a bike like the Pitch I'd have thought thats what you'd be doing.

Sort the shock on warranty, people automatically assume a Fox will be massively better.

Lighter wheels will make the biggest difference, something like Stans Flow rims? Or even just lighter/less draggy tyres? Depends what tyres are on it now?

Fox 36 Vans were the best upgrade for my Pro - but I will be using them for DH/Alps duties. My bike is rather over-the-top for XC duties now but I can only afford one bike.

Personally I would probably not upgrade anything until it breaks, apart from minor personal things like grips, saddle etc. The stock saddle is awful imo.

**** me, njee20 I thought you would love lockout being fully XC racer.

Nah, never been one for lockouts, even on the 140mm TALASs I had on my Fuel Ex I think I dropped them once to check it worked, and never ever used the lockout!

Certainly wouldn't bother spending money on that fork though, do the shock if you really want to, fair bit of money though. I'd do the wheels or just keep the money until I had a better idea!

khani - Member
motion control upgrade kits with bar remote are £99 new,

Bar remote's are much overrated taking your hand off the bar for a couple of seconds to twist a dial 90 deg really isnt that difficult. To be honest I don't use the lockout unless its a really big hill and pretty smooth I have the cartridge for the extra compression control it offers me. Means I can run a softer spring than I could otherwise.

The Pitch is supposed to be a great all rounder

Well, I think you've been misled there. They are a bike to plod steadily up to the top of a mahoosive great big hill, then unleash back down the other side, preferably over rocky, jumpy, technical terrain. An XC bike IT IS NOT. Too heavy. Too slack. Too much bike.

Lighter wheels will make the biggest difference

Yes, but in the wrong way. As above, a Pitch is not an XC bike. Light wheels are a silly addition. If you're trying to lighten it, you've bought the WRONG BIKE. It needs heavier, tougher wheels, big tyres, wide bars, a bash ring and possibly a chain guide.
How many 'XC' bikes come with ISCG mounts?

An XC bike IT IS NOT. Too heavy. Too slack. Too much bike.

I dunno, you can use it for XC, it's just not the ideal tool for the job. The bike is all about riding like a loon downhill certainly, but I have taken it up Helvellyn, High Street etc in the Lakes, and I am not mega-fit.

I was a bit shocked to meet someone in Kentmere who had been sold a Pitch Comp by Evans, and she was walking down a very easy, short, smooth-ish, downhill section because it was too steep/scary. You have to think she got sold the wrong bike really.

I was a bit shocked to meet someone in Kentmere who had been sold a Pitch Comp by Evans, and she was walking down a very easy, short, smooth-ish, downhill section because it was too steep/scary. You have to think she got sold the wrong bike really.

Not necessarily a bad thing to have a bike more capable than yourself. We grow into things, you know. It can take time to build confidence up, and better to have the tool for the job ready and waiting.

Not necessarily a bad thing to have a bike more capable than yourself. We grow into things, you know. It can take time to build confidence up, and better to have the tool for the job ready and waiting.

Yeah true, I am still growing into my bike certainly 🙂 - but my gf is not a very confident rider, and happily rode the same section on her £200 hardtail.

bars (wider) stem (shorter) if its anything like the 08.

PP, you could get some light, but wide rims (stans flow or similar) which allow you to use lighter, big volume tyres for day rides, or heavier tyres for a more stable feel for messing about / DH. As long as they're wide / strong enough, I can't see light rims being a problem.

thanks all for your input. I'll let him know what the general thoughts are. As said above its a cracking bike and really good for pounding hills but IMO PP is right with what he is saying. Not my choice of bike for XC. For the riding my mates and I do my Spesh XC with Fox Talas and a few more upgrades coming (wanted a Stumpy but was limited to 1k with C2W) is more than enough bike. But I suppose it's all about what you like and what you are looking for in a bike.

Wheels are my next upgrade as the ones I have compared to my mates Hopes mine are s**t. Hubs dont seem to last the pace either IMO.

PP, you could get some light, but wide rims (stans flow or similar) which allow you to use lighter, big volume tyres for day rides, or heavier tyres for a more stable feel for messing about / DH. As long as they're wide / strong enough, I can't see light rims being a problem.

Very true. And the cost of said light/wide rims is how much? On top of a budget bike? Expensive parts on budget bikes? = Still bought the wrong bike.....
🙂

Not my choice of bike for XC. For the riding my mates and I do my Spesh XC with Fox Talas and a few more upgrades coming (wanted a Stumpy but was limited to 1k with C2W)

FSR XC. Brilliant bike. The XC version of a Pitch. Oddly, the clue is in the name....
🙂

i had Noah's Ark take a brand new Pitch and replace more or less every part on it for me before it left the shop.

What I have now is basically a trail bike that is perfect for my needs, specced WAAAAAYYYYYYY higher than a Pitch Pro........and only cost me a little bit more than the pitch pro!

The only difference to the spec list detailed in the link below is that I now run Fox 36's up front instead of the Pikes (which transformed the bike completely). I bought Steve_b77's 36's for the same price that someone bought my pikes, so it was a straight swap really!

[b][url= http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12616979 ]Specialized Pitch Elite[/url][/b]

I reckon the cycle to work scheme'll be scrapped before I can get round to actually convincing my boss to let me get a bike... for cycling to work on. 🙄

Don't understand how you got all that stuff for £450 - an RP23 alone is about £300 innit? Sweet bike though.

every penny is accounted for in the first post grumm, have a read 😉

FSR XC. Brilliant bike.

I'm gonna disagree with you there PP, if you want to ride XC for that sort of money I'd buy a Rockhopper Pro, the XC Pro is still a rather weighty bike, I'd say Rockhopper or Pitch personally.

But a Rockhopper is a hardtail innit? Bit of a different thing.

I'm gonna disagree with you there PP, if you want to ride XC for that sort of money I'd buy a Rockhopper Pro, the XC Pro is still a rather weighty bike, I'd say Rockhopper or Pitch personally.

And now I'm gonna pull that argument apart.... 🙂
FSR will still be lighter than the Pitch. It will be more suited to XC then the Pitch, with more suitable geometry and components, and you're not carrying around suspension and metal that you don't need.

It's the Spesh way. You have a flagship bike (Enduro, Stumpy FSR, Stumpy) and a cheaperr version (Pitch, FSR XC, Rockhopper) in each catagory.

I canse you didn't realise, I have a Pitch Pro. It's a ****ing brilliant bit of kit, but by heck it's a waste of time taking it on an XC ride!!!!
🙂

Yes, but PPs saying the Pitch is too heavy for XC and the FSR XC is a far better bike.

I say the FSR XC is still a bit heavy for all day riding, not light enough to be a nice XC bike, not tough enough to be a burly FS bike. I'd be much happier on a Rockhopper Pro. If I wanted a bouncy bike for that money, I'd get the Pitch.

The key phrase is that is what [b]I[/b] would do. I'm well aware plenty of people are happy on their FSR XCs, I've sold a whole load of them in fact.

by heck it's a waste of time taking it on an XC ride!!!!

Do not agree - it's the only mtb I have and I take it on plenty of XC rides and have plenty of fun, I just get knackered a bit quicker than I would on a lighter bike.

Me on my Pitch. Doing what it does best. Going down!
[img] [/img]

My brother on his Pitch. Similar thing.
[img] [/img]

the Pitch is a wonderful thing, but it begrudgingly climbs because it has to, then you point it downwards, (and the rockier, faster and more technical, the better) and all hell breaks loose. They are long, slack and stable. I've never had a bike I find so confidence inspiring on downhills. I'm no great rider, but it just loves to jump, it batters it's way through rough stuff and just seems to egg me on to go faster, but without ever getting scary. 🙂
Do I ride XC on it? Do I nallocks!

by heck it's a waste of time taking it on an XC ride!!!!

Do not agree - it's the only mtb I have and I take it on plenty of XC rides and have plenty of fun, I just get knackered a bit quicker than I would on a lighter bike.

OK, maybe that was a bit strong, but it's like driving a big 4x4 on the road all the time - A bit of a waste.
🙂

I recall you riding it around Tunnel Hill, that technical mountain fest...

I'm well versed on the Specailized range ta, the FSR XC is still >30lbs and has some crap components on it, I agree it's more suitable for XC than the Pitch, I never contested that, just that I don't really think that it 'does it' for me.

I still find it funny that Specialized couldn't give the Pitch away the first year they imported it, you'd think it was the greatest thing ever from looking on here!

..... You should have seen mine when I took it to the Alps in June. In 'Alp Trim' it was 35lbs......

That was fun. 😀

I recall you riding it around Tunnel Hill, that technical mountain fest...

I have done that twice.
First time when it was new, because, well, you have to ride a new bike RIGHT NOW don't you? 😉 And second time becuase It was going to be a slow ride (I think so anyway, might have had a problem with the Inbred. Can't remember). And yeah, it was a waste. 🙂

I think all told I've done 3 local rides on it since early Feb when I bought it, but it's been to The Alps, The Lakes, Wales a few times, Grizedale, Lee Quarry, Gisburn (Pics above) And I should have taken it to the Mendips the other week. That was a bit rocky and (unexpectedly) technical in places.

To be fair, I don't use it a lot. But when I do, I REALLY do! 🙂
(you should see some of the battle scars...)

Do I ride XC on it? Do I nallocks!

So riding around Gisburn isn't XC? 😛

I still find it funny that Specialized couldn't give the Pitch away the first year they imported it, you'd think it was the greatest thing ever from looking on here!

Pretty strange that the first year it got pretty good but not amazing reviews, then basically the exact same bike in 09 got 10/10s etc. 😕

I still find it funny that Specialized couldn't give the Pitch away the first year they imported it

I see your point.
I think the reason for that is that it was launched under the shadow of the all-singing-all-dancing new Enduro which stole the limelight and the press coverage, and it was ignored. Then they had a big backlog of unsold 2008 bikes, so they gave some test bikes to the mags who all raved about them. At the time they were all on sale too (I pad £999 delivered!) and they sold out in about 4 weeks. Hence people can't get one, so they've become a bit legendary in a way.
But if you rode one, and it suited your riding, I'm confident you'd be VERY impressed. And not just 'for the money' either. It's not such an all round bike, but for what I want now, it blows my Yeti 575 into next week, TBH.
I remember them coming out and I'd not long had my 575 (Which was a superb bike for what I was doing at the time - Mainly the Transwales, I wouldn't want to take a Pitch on that!!) but I still did a mental D'OH!!! because I relised that it was THE BIKE I'd been looking for, at half the price I'd just shelled out. When they came on sale, I flogged the Yeti as fast as possible, bought the Pitch, and pocketed £300. I'm very happy with that descision too. 🙂

, you'd think it was the greatest thing ever from looking on here!

It was the exact same bike, they had so many left over they just included it in the 2009 catalogue as well!

I have to say PP you do make it out as some 9" travel mental DH bike which is totally unrideable unless you've got a cable car to take you up the hills.

I have ridden one, and I totally agree that it's a good bike, which was my point! I wouldn't buy an FSR XC, I personally would buy a Rockhopper, or a Pitch.

I have to agree with PeterPoddy.

Anyone buying a Pitch for it's XC capability will be disappointed.

Anyone buying an FSR XC or Stumpy for it's capability of tearing down technical descents will be disappointed.

The Pitch is a burly, mid-travel, "i don't like pointing upwards", trail beast. It's nimble enough on singletrack to pull in and out of tight situations, it's light enough to climb (although not pleasant to climb) and its burly enough to throw down almost any DH route you dare to try (within reason). It's an AM bike for goodness sake! That's what it's marketed as and that's what it does!

Anyone who considers that "all mountain" means that a bike is equally capable in all aspects of mountain biking has misinterpreted the phrase. an "all mountain" bike means something that will take the rider anywhere within those disciplines, but by no means in equal comfort.

I can't ride my 8" FR bike up a one mile climb without spewing my guts at the top. And I can't ride my hardtail down a proper DH run without taking 3 hours or risking a broken spine.

However, my Pitch will climb without killing me, descent horrific stuff without breaking me or the bike........and for everything in between.....it's just ace! 😛

Don't buy a Pitch unless you intend to abuse the thing. Buy an FSR XC.

If you can bottom out more than 4" on your weekend runs and don't spend all day climbing fire roads, buy a Pitch, otherwise it's a waste.

So riding around Gisburn isn't XC?

Not compared to our local trails, no, not at all. 😀
There's big hills and rocks and stuff.

Love my Pitch Pro but if its simple singletrack Im heading out on it hangs on the wall and the hardtail gets the vote. Its a bit weighty for some stuff.

I have to say PP you do make it out as some 9" travel mental DH bike which is totally unrideable unless you've got a cable car to take you up the hills.

No I don't! I say that it doesn't like to climb, and it's a bit slow and long for 'XC'. It's do it, for sure, but it's a lot happier being given a good seeing to down a big hill over something rough and ragged.
Fnarr-Fnarr 🙂

I have ridden one, and I totally agree that it's a good bike, which was my point! I wouldn't buy an FSR XC, I personally would buy a Rockhopper, or a Pitch.

As a slight sidetrack, have you lot seen the spec on the 2010 Pitch?

Now Specialized have really laid down it's intentions with that, let me tell you -

http://www.specialized.com/gb/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?sid=10Pitch&eid=4344

Double and bash, 26mm rims, chainguard, loose the travel adjust on the forks, flat pedals.....
Now tell me it's meant to be an XC bike...
😉

If I HAD TO have one bike, I'd have a Stumpy FSR.

Agreed.

Except that I do only have one MTB, and it's an Epic... Maybe if I didn't race.

FFS what have I started LOL.

I agree the XC in standard form is pretty crap. Forks were off for Talas RLCs second hand after 3 runs. Headset was upgraded to a Cane reek S8 after 8 months cause the old one filled with S**t all the time. Started putting on XT stuff Cassette and Chain so far with XT crank and BB to follow and maybe XTR mechs. Might add an RP23 and wheels will be changed in the next 3 months to Hope ProII and Mavic Comps. All in with me getting the Bike for under £550 through CTW plus all the new additions costing circa £1000 arguably I have a better Spec'd bike than a Stumpy for about the same price and can spread it over time without taking credit. It suited me as the time as a beginner and as I progress it progresses with me. 😀

I await people telling me I'm stupid doing it this way but I am happy with my purchase and think in the end I could have a reaaly good bike!!

As long as you're happy it doesn't really matter what we all think.

Sure a Pitch is a tad weighty and slack for the climbs but it's not the point... It's the same weight as a five year old Enduro and out-descends it by a large margin. If you want a confidence inspiring ride then it makes sense.

So many of us for reasons of space and/or finance have only enough room for one bike and compromise normally ensues.

Right, I'm going to start saving for a racey XC hardtail as a sable mate for my Marin 140!