The Specialized SX Trail falls between a burly trail bike and DH rig, which, when dialed, will rail the downhill and will climb when you need it to.
The Santa Cruz Nomad C is a stiff bike with precise handling whose descending capabilities leave little to be desired—once the suspension is dialed.
The 2011 Turner 5.Spot isn’t the lightest 140mm frame out there, but it is among the burliest.
With its light weight, dialed geometry, and stiffness, the 2011 Trek Superfly is a very well-rounded 29er.
The Santa Cruz Nomad has a stiff and sturdy feel and absolutely shreds corners, but the VPP suspension left BLISTER reviewer Rob Dickinson less than thrilled.
Kevin Bazar is persistent, and his Specialized SX is now dialed. (Whew.) Read on to learn how he got it there.
Frame: 2010 Morewood Makulu, size “long” – 24″ top tube
Intended Use: DH Race
Rider: 6’2”, 205 lbs., athletic, technically proficient, modestly fast and relatively fluid.
Geometry Chart: Morewood Makulu frame
Frame: 2011 Specialized SX, with OEM Fox RP23, and Pushed Fox RP23 with special tune. “Short” size of two options.
Intended Use: Four cross, Slalom, Slopestyle, Dirtjumping, General jumpy mayhem
Geometry Chart: Specialized SX Frame
Rider: 5’8”, 160 lbs. of stocky, pissed-off chihuahua, with about a decade of DH, 15 years of XC, 7 years of dirtjumping, way too much digging, and a love for speed over any and all terrain.
Test Location: Woodward West Mega Trails, Northstar dirtjump park
Duration of test: Several months of intermittent riding since Autumn, 2010.
The Specialized SX is the little brother of the very popular Specialized SX Trail, and has been around for years in several different incarnations. It is and always has been a 4 inch(-ish) travel frame that sported a design similar to the corresponding version of the SX trail, but with more of a focus on transitions, jumping and pumping.
Frame: 2011 Commencal Supreme DHv2 – Atherton Edition, with Fox RC4 rear shock, size L/XL.
Intended Use: DH Race
Geometry Chart: Commencal Supreme DHv2
Rider: 6’2”, 205 lbs., athletic, technically proficient, fast and fluid.
My regular DH bike: Morewood Makulu, size Large, with an Avalanche Woodie rear shock.
Test Location: Colorado Front Range. Steep, fast, rough, rocky trails, with plenty of small/mid sized jumps. Generally in dry, dusty, loose over hardpack, pebbly terrain, but 2 days with freshly melting snow and riding in tacky awesomeness mized with muck and puddles.
Duration of test: 4 days, total of about 30 runs.
The Commencal Supreme DHv2 is one of the most decorated downhill bikes on the World Cup, so going in to this review, the question wasn’t whether this thing was any good. Rather, I was looking to identify any specific strengths or perceivable weaknesses, and see whether the bike demanded an expert-level rider, or whether it could accommodate advanced or intermediate riders, too.
