Specialized SX BIKE CHECK

Whenever someone asks me what I think of my new Specialized SX I’ll usually answer with something relative to “It’s my favorite bike” I’ve always been a fan of 4 inch bikes.. they can jump, trail ride, climb, pump, but are light, nimble, and FAST! Team mate Dylan Dunkerton and I teamed up at Crankworx this year to get some class A shots so you can get up and personal with my little precious! THANKS DYL!

When I picked this bike up for the first time I was baffled by how light it was. Sitting at a comfortable 31 lbs for a complete rig with freeride parts, 2 brakes, gears is exciting to say the least. Now combine that 31lbs with an aggressive, low geometry you will create recipe for pinning and having some of the most fun you could possibly have on a bike.

Mods
I haven’t had to get to crazy with modifying this bike as a lot of stuff came pre set up just the way I liked it. There’s always room for getting that bar angle perfect, seat height right, and the proper tire pressure, but there is always little things you can do to make your bike feel just like home.

1: I’ve become a huge fan of my Maxxis Crossmark tires, I traded them out from my Larsens to get a little bit of a taller knob. I find it helps with traction and predicting drifts.

2: Shrink Wrap, something I learned from one of the mechanics that taught me most of the things I know today. This clenches the brake and shifter housing together and helps protect it but also keep it clean. I put the codes on the sideline for when I get my Demo going and set up some Avid Elixirs that are brand new from Avid this year.. LOVING them!

3: Lowering travel, I figured setting up the SX at 4 and 4 would be a perfect travel setting for everything I want to use the bike for. This is my first time being on board a Fox fork. The 36 Float was easy to change the travel, and simple to set up for my weight. the 36 mm stanctions keep the fork stiff and keep me focused on the trail rather then my fork flopping back and forth through the rock sections.

 Shrink wrap keeps things together.

After a solid 2 months on this bike I’m really happy. So far it’s seen the likes of Interior B.C. bike parks, Khyber Pass at the peak of Whistler B.C, and numerous locations on my favorite place, Vancouver Island. I can’t wait to explore new places and terrain on this amazing bike.

Special thanks to Specialized for supplying an awesome frame, Avid for slowing it down, Sram for making sure I get there, Raceface for keeping those wheels spinning, Maxxis for controlling those wheels around corners, over rocks and roots, Syncros for giving me something to hold onto, sit on, stand on, and spin on, and Fox for keeping everything together smooth on me and my bike.

 nsmb.com’s AIRprentice winner for 2009 – Andrew ‘Shrew’ Sherry.

Other thanks go out to Dakine for keeping me outfitted, Dennys for filling my tummy, Lavan for outfitting me off the bike, Marty’s Mountain Cycle for keeping my bike tuned up, and Adidas for making sure I see clear.

Thanks!

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Do you like Shrew’s set up?  Any questions for him about how he dialled it in?  Props, heckling, hugs and bro envy this way…