Quantcast
Channel: Bike Tests - Mountain Bike Action Magazine
Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 539

Bike Test: Specialized S-Works Camber 650B

$
0
0

Screen Shot 2015-10-19 at 11.14.44 AMThe Specialized Camber has been a go-to whip for those desiring the full trailbike experience, along with the performance and efficiency a cross-country bike delivers. It’s been a solid choice for riders who aren’t interested in the Lycra getup that goes with an Epic, but also don’t find themselves tackling the terrain suited for a Stumpjumper FSR. What has the Camber been lacking? Versatility. The new Camber addresses this issue by offering models in two wheel sizes—27.5 and 29 inches—while also meeting the storage needs of trail riders in a way that allows them to leave their hydration packs at home.


Camber-1

WHO IS IT MADE FOR?

The new Camber is for riders who desire the efficiency to hang with their cross-country buddies on the climbs but don’t want to be left hung out to dry on the descents. They may not need an all-mountain machine that keeps them charging away in front of the pack, but confidence on the descents is something they’re not willing to give up for a little extra pedaling efficiency. Also, there is a movement to get gear off our backs and instead onto our bikes, and the Camber offers a simplified method of carrying everything needed for an epic day out on the trail.

WHAT IS IT MADE FROM?

Carbon all around. Specialized’s FACT carbon keeps the frame light and stiff from front to back. Integrated cable routing runs in channels through the length of the downtube to make installation a breeze and prevent rattling in the frame. Standard 142-millimeter spacing in the rear is accompanied by frame clearance for use of 142+ hubs, where the cassette is spaced an additional 2-millimeters out from the hub to increase stiffness. While previous generations of the Camber were offered in baseline and EVO geometries, the new Camber is offered in a single geometry that most closely reflects the relaxed geometries of previous EVO models. The downtube of the frame provides an access hatch for storage of crucial gear on the trail, but we’ll get into that later.

Camber-4Now that’s a smart bike: Spec’d on both the S-Works and Expert models, the new Position Sensitive Mini Brain isn’t constantly active on the full range of travel as the race-focused versions found on the Epic are. Instead, it only activates once 25 percent of the travel has been compressed, which is essentially the sag portion of the travel.

WHAT CAUGHT OUR EYE?

They brought back the Brain! Clearly the most head-turning aspect of the Camber, it left us wondering whether Specialized had developed another game-changing suspension system with the new Brain design. Additionally, the low-slung design and long reach make the Camber stand out among other bikes in the category (a category between cross-country and trailbikes).

Camber-2For the big hits: Already the most advanced fork on the market, Specialized has upped the game by customizing this version with their proprietary Spike valve. Breaking it down simply, it’s essentially a valve that allows oil to dump during a high-speed, heavy hit and therefore avoids hydraulic lockout.

HOW DOES IT PERFORM?

SWAT door:

As devoted members of the forget-the-hydration-pack clan, our testers saw the SWAT system as a game-changer. The addition of a SWAT door on the downtube removes even more items from a rider’s back and places one’s weight as low in the frame as possible. Wrapped in pouches to prevent noise and damage to the frame, there’s room for a tube, pump and even a PB&J sandwich for the most efficient packers. Furthermore, there’s no reason to remove the gear after each ride, which simplified the pre-ride routine—as long as you don’t mind week-old sandwiches.

Camber-5Keep it stashed: The SWAT door allows riders to store their essential trail gear in the downtube of the bike. At maximum capacity, we managed to store a tube, pump, small sandwich and energy gel packet all within the singular storage area.

Camber-8Prefers to climb: If there was one aspect in which we’d provide the Position-Sensitive Mini Brain with a gold stamp of approval, it would be in its climbing platform. Without flicking a switch, we were able to stand up and hammer on the pedals without any bob in the suspension.

Pedaling:

While it’s designed to provide optimal performance on both climbs and descents, the Brain technology certainly caters more to efficiency on the climbs. It provided a stable platform that was firm under effort, regardless of whether we were seated or out of the saddle on a punchy climb. The new Specialized Command Post IRcc dropper seatpost, now with 10 easy-to-find height adjustments, was put to use on rolling traverses where lowering the seatpost only a couple inches delivered a height suitable  for efficient pedaling while also keeping the post out of the way through technical sections of trail.

Camber-IntroDon’t be deceived: The Camber may deliver cross-country efficiency, but it’s clearly a trail-bike once you start pushing its limits on the trail. Pushing it over steep terrain was met with ease, and the relatively slack geometry allowed us to point and commit.

Cornering:

With its geometry being most similar to the EVO models of previous years, the Camber found its stride in high-speed corners. Its low bottom bracket provided confidence while leaned over in the deepest part of each corner, yet it wasn’t low enough that we worried about being pedal jacked by each passing rock. While the Camber’s wheelbase is longer than previous models’, the short 16.5-inch chainstays preserve its cornering ability in tight switchbacks and allow us to conquer a corner without turning it into a trials event.

Pop rocks: Usually the go-around line isn’t nearly as much fun, which makes it essential for us to rip a trailbike capable enough to hit small drops without pushing the limits of the bike.

Descending:

The geometry of the new Camber made it a much more capable descender than its older siblings. It handled high speeds with ease and remained planted, demonstrating its ability to tackle obstacles that aren’t typical of a 130-millimeter-travel bike. The Camber certainly isn’t going to soak up every hit the same way a long-travel bike would, but it finds a way of gently skipping across obstacles.

Camber-3Downsized efficiency: The 27.5-inch Camber runs a Fox shock with an integrated Autosag feature. Wear all the gear you will be riding with, pump the shock up to 300 psi (350 for heavier riders), balance against a wall in your attack position, then hit the valve and it’ll equalize to the correct amount of pressure for your weight. The shock mount area also provides a clever place to hide the SWAT multi-tool.

Position-sensitive Brain:

Opinions on the Brain system are very subjective, and riders can typically be divided into two categories. There are those who desire to control their shock’s performance with on-the-fly adjustments, and those who prefer to sacrifice a little performance on one side of the spectrum in exchange for the ability to focus their attention on the trail rather than their shock. Our crew prefers a setup that may require a bit more user input but offers plusher and more consistent performance. For those who prefer simplicity, however, this is certainly the best-performing Brain we’ve ever put to the test. This is mostly due to its ability to only activate and provide a firm platform once the travel has reached its point of sag, allowing it to retain supple performance off the top of the travel for low-speed compression. This was most noticeable during climbs, where it provided a firm pedaling platform that contoured the obstacles of the trail.

Rough rider: Some bikes have a personality that defies how much travel they sport, but that’s not the case with the Camber when it comes to rough trails. Yes, it feels like more of a trailbike in many scenarios, but chunky ground will remind you that 130-millimeters will always be 130-millimeters.

TRICKS, UPGRADES OR TIPS?

While the custom RockShox RS-1 fork delivers a much more supple ride than the original one we tested, it’s still only suitable for somebody who’s looking for an extremely stiff fork on race day. We suggest balancing out the Fox suspension with a Fox 34 Float CTD fork up front for more reliable and plusher trail performance.

BUYING ADVICE

We were lucky enough to do back-to-back rides on both the 27.5- and 29-inch models of the Camber. While many of us at MBA are firm believers in the 29-inch wheel across most bike categories, we found the geometry of the 27.5 to be more adaptable to a variety of trail conditions and terrain. The Camber is an efficient trailbike for a rider who wants a bike with cross-country roots that offers slightly more aggressive angles and suspension for tackling weekend trail rides; however, if somebody were looking for an all-around trailbike, we’d still point the rider in the direction of a Stumpjumper FSR. If the efficiency and utility of the Camber appeal to you for trail riding, don’t be intimidated by the hefty sticker price of this S-Works model. What would be our choice pick? The $3800 Camber Comp Carbon 650b with its RockShox Revelation fork, SRAM GX drivetrain, Shimano Deore brakes and wide rims with a 29-millimeter inner diameter.

Screen Shot 2015-10-19 at 11.15.24 AM

 


THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS TO GET MOUNTAIN BIKE ACTION

Mountain Bike Action is a monthly magazine devoted to all things mountain biking (yes, that’s 12 times a year because we never take a month off of mountain biking). It has been around since 1986 and we’re still having fun. Start a subscription by clicking here or calling (800) 767-0345. Available from the Apple Newsstand for reading on your iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch.

Contact us via email at mbaction@hi-torque.com
____________________________________


Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 539

Trending Articles