Well, I wasn’t expecting this… (New bike content)

Well, let’s wait and see PP’s follow up report in a year or so, then.

Meanwhile, why not try and give him a bit of respect, for going to the time and trouble to write the initial one? I don’t think he intended it as any sort of long-term conclusive report, just his initial thoughts and feelings.

I seem to remember reading something very similar about your Yeti when you 1st got it

I remember very well saying said Yeti was very difficult to set up correctly and was very finnicky with component chioce, especially tyres, when I first got it.
Like I said above, it was wondeful on the Trans Wales (And other all day rides) but that carbon swing arm was just too flexy for me, which I reckon was the root of it all. On long enduros you just plod on steadily, it was only when I gave it some stick that it came, errr, unstuck.
Different bike though. ‘Horses for courses’ and all that…

I don’t think people reviewing there own bikes after 1 ride are really worth the paper they are written on personally.

Good job it’s not actually on paper, then, eh?
😉

The point of the thread title was that
a) I just wasn’t expecting the Pitch to give me the confidence to ride like I did, especially on the first outing and
b) Just how well designed it is, handling and suspension wise.

That’s what I wasn’t expecting.

And FFS don’t buy one if you want to do long enduro rides. Wrong bike for that!

Wish I’d not mentioned the Yeti now….
😉

Tags: an honest yeti 575 review rose tinted glasses
😀

Pls. can you review the Yeti in more detail?

Is Swinley the place to review a bike like the Specialized Pitch? There aren’t any hills there. And nothing really knarly to speak of.

Is Swinley the place to review a bike like the Specialized Pitch? There aren’t any hills there. And nothing really knarly to speak of.

It’s not a review, well it wasn’t meant to be….. 🙂
Swinley was only a tiny part of the ride, I just nipped in to the Surrey Hill end to do the Deerstalker trail because it’s steepish, swoopy, jumpy and bermy. The closest I have to a trail centre ride without getting in the car….
Most of my ride was round Tunnel Hill and Frith Hill nearer my home. We have better trails than Swinley as we don’t have to answer to the Health and Safety man, as any of the locals will tell you. Put it this way, there’s stuff that could make you scratch your head a bit…..

WCA in action –

Can I jump in with the "I’ve had my Pitch since they were launched post"

They’re bloody ace he hee

Thank you for your thoughts PP. Appreciated.

Guys, lets not forget that peoples views are subjective huh? Someone may utterly love one bike and another may not have the same setup/feel etc.

What I do love is the reviews all love the Pitch’s chassis etc but because it isnt a boutique-bike none of the gear queers will go near it.

Hora, nail hit squarely on head there, mate!
🙂

Yeah methinks some people are upset that their expensive trendy bikes are not as good as a ‘common’ spesh that cost half as much 😉

Good stuff. Very interesting – as for don’t think people reviewing there own bikes after 1 ride are really worth the paper they are written on personally – what a pointless thing to say.
Whats wrong with someone posting their first impressions of the bike they’ve just bought??
Actually describes the 06 Enduro I demoed quite well too…

But there ain’t no way I’m selling my Yeti! Never ever.

Yeah methinks some people are upset that their expensive trendy bikes are not as good as a ‘common’ spesh that cost half as much

Yeah. Me for one! 😉

To be fair though, it’s a different beast to the Yeti, and the reason I bought the Yeti was because I wnted a bike light enought to ride all day (Or all week…) and with enough in reserve for some sillyness. Last year was a pretty serious year of riding for me, mainly due to the Trans Wales.
This year it’s time for some fun. I’m off to the Lakes soon and then the Alps in June.

TBH, the main reason I sold the Yeti was because I coudn’t justify having it sat there doing nowt but loose money (Used twice since August) when I’ve had to take a pay cut. (I work in the building industry. ‘Nuff said) Hence pocketing nearly £400 on the deal.
It was a lovely bike, no doubt. Just a bit wallowy on the rear end for one reason or another. (I should have had the alloy rear end)
🙂

It was a lovely bike, no doubt.
Not as good as mine though 😛

tag: "WCA has a really fat arse"

LOL!

But he can probably out-ride most people on here, down stuff.

Notice he’s on a short-travel XC bike, too. I’ve seen him do stuff on a fully rigid bike, that some of the ‘All-Mountain’ bike owning types on here would baulk at, on 6" front and rear…

Ah, see they’ve tooken the rude tags off now. Good. they were a bit childish.

I’ve seen him do stuff on a fully rigid bike, that some of the ‘All-Mountain’ bike owning types on here would baulk at, on 6" front and rear…

What, like snap his rear dropout clean off?

Dez – At least mine was the right colour!
😛

LOL! Look, he’s got blood pouring out of him, and we’d only been riding gentle trails!

Bless…

Yeah, Dez, with your wrong-coloured Yeti!

Specialized may be giant corporate whores but they don’t have make good handling bikes. I used to have a Stumpy HT and it was a beautifully balanced bike. It got thrashed all over the shop. I rode the V-trail at Glentress on it with 90mm forks and V-brakes. Hands hurt like **** afterwards. These days I’d take a 5" full susser… 😳

Was a brilliant bike and I’d buy one again in an instant.

If I weren’t skint.

Hmm, the dilemma i am faced with is that the pitch appears to be a very good bike, however it is so ugly i can’t quite face having the thing looking at me every time i open the garage door.

Just think how your wife feels

Oh yeah one more thing I upgraded – the stock eskars are terrible in the wet imo. Got some high rollers and they were a massive improvement. If anyone wants the nearly new eskars for cheap after my wonderful advert then let me know!

It’s not written on paper; it’s in electronic form. [:wink:]

Knowing Peter, and his understanding of things mechanical, I’m inclined to trust his judgement. He spent 30 seconds looking at HackneyRider’s fork, to reveal it was borked. Led to HR getting a new fork under warranty, where he may not have known about the fault for some time (and it was only a couple of weeks still inside the warranty period!). And if you’re out on the trail, there is possibly no better fettler. Peter seems to instinctively what is wrong, and how to fix it.

I’d be more inclined to trust his review of a bike, than most bike mags journo’s.

Careful, any further and you’ll hit your nose on his prostate.

Yeah, whatever..

He’s a mate, and I’ll speak up in support of him. What’s yer problem with that? 🙄

The only bike reviews you can trust on here are the one’s written after the owner has sold it.

Not if it’s sold to somebody on the classifieds here.

Damn rude to sell a bike and then post about its shortcomings where the buyer is likely to read it.

I sense this isn’t the right place to give the 575 I’m selling a plug.

I sense this isn’t the right place to give the 575 I’m selling a plug.

Maybe. Does it have carbon chainstays?
Why you are selling it might be more to the point though….
😉

Damn rude to sell a bike and then post about its shortcomings where the buyer is likely to read it.

I met the buyer when he picked the bike up. Nice chap. He must have been 3-4 sone lighter than me, so I’m guessing he’ll never feel the flex like I did, plus I know he’s not on STW. I asked. 😀

LOL @ Kingtut and RB as well!
I’d not read that first bit of yours RB.

But yeah, I’m a s**t-hot mechanic and I know it.
😉

I really really cannot wait for mine to come. If my brother is jumping over stuff on his (he’s a big girls blouse really, ;-)) it’s probably pretty special.

My first full suss as well!!!!

Oh, and I am one of the most anally retentive researchers about stuff before I buy it but when it comes to bike stuff I just ask my brother (peterpoddy) ‘cos I know with one phone call I’ll get an honest answer tailored to myself. He’s never let me down on that front. He really should be writing stuff for mags/websites IMHO.

Rob

Rob, you’ll kill yourself. Cancel the order. Save your skin. 😉

Point it downhill and it all gets a bit silly really…..

🙂

It’ll be pointed over Cut Gate as soon as I can get there with it. I have an appointment with some rocks. 🙂

Hey Rob, whilst you’re there –

(I’m guessing you’re still a bit lighter than me here)
When you get it, stick about 170-175 psi in the shock, back the rebound all the way off then add one or two clicks.
On the forks back the rebound all the way out and add about one full turn and then add a bit of compression on the lock out lever – leave it at around the 2-3 o’clock position rather than all the way open.
That should be ballpark settings for you I reckon
Than go jump off some stuff, you should get full travel on the shock.
I reckon the fork spring will be about right for you as well
🙂

I have to admit unless the Pitch rides like a dog, they are a bargain. As it’s a lot of bike for the money.

My only problem with Spesh bikes (and I admit I have only ridden a couple) was they are OK bikes, OK climbing, OK descending, and overall very OK. Which I found a bit dull to be honest, who wants to ride something thats OK at everything when you can ride something thats excellent at the bits of the ride you enjoy the most.

As for the boutique bikes comment, well my main bike cost me £60 for the frame 2nd hand. So I don’t think its the cost driving my comments.

Cheers Peter.
Or I will ride it down the backstreet in my dressing gown, as soon as I’ve cobbled it together, then fall off turning into the drive, graze my knee and scratch the top tube where I can see it everytime I ride it.

That’s what normally happens. 🙂

But are people finding Spesh, Trek etc dull as they are expecting them to be average and safe, or are they actually just as good as the boutique stuff? Are the cutting edge bikes different on ways they shouldn’t be just so they can be different?

I just want a reliable proven bike with a good guarantee that I can depend on. I’ve had enough of niche brands now and just want something that works. A bike that has been thoroughly researched over years, not dreamt up in someones shed.

I’ve had enough of niche brands now and just want something that works. A bike that has been thoroughly researched over years, not dreamt up in someones shed.

OOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HAAAAAAAARSH!

And I know what brand you mean and why you’ve said it as well.

I’ll say again – OOOOOOHHHH! HAARSH!
😯 😯 😯 😯

I guess the thing is with the large brands is they have to work for the average rider, as that will sell the most bikes/frames. Whereas a small manufacturer can target the smaller markets as they don’t have to sell as many frames to count as a success.

If you are a average size/height, and you ride stuff of average difficulty or less (as I certainly do, as there is no way I would hit a gap jump, or a big drop) then Trek, Specialized etc produce excellent bikes for this market.

Maybe. Does it have carbon chainstays?
Why you are selling it might be more to the point though….

It does have the carbon stays. I’ve never noticed any flex though (I’m about 12.5st). Mine wallows because it’s got a DHX air on it instead!

Selling because I bought the frame blind and it’s a tiny bit long for me (even with 50mm stem). And I couldn’t resist buying a Giant Reign 1 with 40% off.

Funny enough, your description of your first ride on your Pitch was just like the first time I took my 575 out with its Fox 36 forks. Wanted to jump off everything I saw.

Gave myself concussion going off a blind lip and finding a tree had been pulled out to leave a big hole the other side.

Shows one man’s meat is another man’s poison.

If you are a average size/height, and you ride stuff of average difficulty or less

This doesn’t really make sense to me – Specialized produce bikes for a range of difference styles of riding and size/height of people. I am around 16 stone and my Pitch is perfect for me. I also know it could take more abuse than I am currently giving it (and will do at the megavalanche) – if I wanted something more burly I would get an sx trail or whatever.

I also know skinny girls who like riding fairly mild xc who have other Specialized bikes that really suit them.

One of the things that really sold me on Specialized too was their excellent warranty support – especially in the uk, have heard lots of bad tales about lots of other manufacturers being shady about their warranties or taking forever to sort stuff out.

whats the leverage ratio like on the Pitch then? as I always found 4 bars and heavy riders (as with all your kit, you ain’t going to be light) to be a bobby/wallowly nightmare.

Mind like I said I haven’t ridden the Pitch, and my experience of Specializeds is limited to a couple of bikes.

No idea what a leverage ratio is, but it really doesn’t feel bobby/wallowy at all. I had a go on an fsr xc the other day and that felt much more wallowy (though to be fair it wasn’t set up for my weight).

Careful, any further and you’ll hit your nose on his prostate.

well i thought he’d missed that and went for the duodenum 🙂

whats the leverage ratio like on the Pitch then? as I always found 4 bars and heavy riders (as with all your kit, you ain’t going to be light) to be a bobby/wallowly nightmare.

From the maunal (online) the shock stroke is 57.2mm. Travel is 150mm so that’s a leverage ratio of 1:2.62
That’s pretty much identical to my Yeti, but it’s far better controlled. It doesn’t feel like it’s blowing through all the travel all the time. It does bob a bit with the Propedal off, but not as much as the Yeti did. Flick it on and there’s no bob at all, just like the Yeti. TBH there’s not a huge difference with the Propedal on or off, but it’s useful. On the Yeti I was constantly switching between the two positions. That’s not a negative comment – just an observation – as that’s what the lever is for, and they were different shocks (RP2 vs RP23) and the Propedal levels are most likely set differently, and indeed were adjustable on the RP23’d Yeti
🙂