Specialized Pitch Pro

[Moose.]

http://www.specialized.com/ca/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp...

Now, I'm not really a Specialized fan but have been offered a brand new 2008 model VERY cheap which I'm finding hard to turn down seeing as I've always planned on getting a full susser at some point. I've been riding a hardtail for nearly 3 years now, so I think the time is right

They seem to get good reviews but I'd be interested to hear what other's think of them?

[longblackcoat]

They're heavy and slow when climbing, great on the downhill.

Probably a bit much bike for average riding, but if you're of at Afan every weekend, might well be just the ticket.

[chrisga]

Pitch or pitch pro? What sort of riding do you do? Its probably a bit overkill if all you ride is towpaths etc, but if you do trail centres then its a good choice. I test rode a pitch before settling on an enduro though. The frame seemed ok, as it should as i think its essentially the same geometry as the enduro, but the one i tried didnt have lockout facility and the front felt vague in comparison to the enduro. As others have said will be a bit of a dog uphill but will fly down. They have had very good reviews and are rated highly in value for money terms so if you can get a bargain then it should be a god bike.

[Wildfire]

I was looking at the 2009 Comp as I couldn't get the Enduro in a small. When I rode it, I found it quite heavy. Would be very good in the decents, but possibly quite hard on the climbs, especially out of the saddle.

I opted for a Felt Compulsion, which I found bobbed less. Even then I sometimes wish I had gone for the Virtue.

Possibly a bit much for a trail/XC bike.

[Moose.]

Cheers for the comments chaps

I do ride trail centres a lot and have been rather bitten by the downhill bug, having had a few runs down the Cwmcarn course on a mate's G-Spot. At the moment I have a GT Avalanche which I've built up over the years into something to suit my riding but it does restrict me on the downs, as you get bounced around a fair bit on a hard tail.

The model I've be offered is a 2008 Pitch Pro for just under £600 which to me seems a bargain. The other bike on offer is a 2008 Enduro SL Comp (in white with funky rainbow colours):

http://www.specialized.com/ca/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp...

for about £800 but I'm not so keen (perhaps wrongly) on the Specialized own brand forks and shock on that one.

[chrisga]

Any chance you can ride them both before buying? AFAIK, the pitch doesnt have lockout on the rear shock. The enduro doesnt technically have a lockout but does have 4 settings which mean that on the hardest it is bloomin hard to move the shock, effectively a lockout. The forks on the enduro are pretty good. Ive got the e150 on mine and they work really well. You can adjust the travel on them to aid climbing which i find works well. They dont lockout as such but i havent had any bob problems.
Dont worry about them being own brand, they are pretty good quality items. I may be wrong but the rear shock and the forks are identical i think to those specced on the carbon s-works enduro of the same year. The 25mm axle on the enduro seems to stiffen the front end up a lot compared to the pitch. Im not saying the pitch wouldnt be a good bike for what you want, just if the difference in price is that small I know where my money would be going (i had the choice of a new pitch pro or an ex-demo enduro for another £100 when i bought earlier this year and i went for the enduro.)

[Wooderson]

If you into downhill, but might occasionally do a black loop at a trailcentre, you'd be very happy with one - a great all rounder. I spent an awesome week last summer with my Pitch Pro, roadtrippin' around the seven staines. The black loop at Kirroughtree was without doubt my favourite trail and the Pitch lapped up everything thrown at it.

I think it climbs pretty well for a 32lb bike if you pick your lines and stay seated. The pro-pedal shock does a pretty good job reducing bob when climbing in the saddle.

It's very stable descender and it ispires confidence to take the rock gardens a little faster. I love action of the steel-sprung Pikes and the Maxle 360 system gifts it a very secure front end IMO.

For £600, I'd bite their hand off!

[mk1fan]

Atom has a Pitch and loves it - although he has a new Chumba now - rides XC in Scotland without issue. Shock was, er..., shocking but he swapped that for an RP23 and all was well.

[P-Jay]

It's a great bike. My riding buddie has one. We live slap bang in the middle of the all the South Wales trail centres so suits him/us. No rear lock out, but the Pro has Propedal I thik with knocks out the low speed bob which is what kills your climbing power.

I'm got an '06 Enduro which has the same geo and isn't massivily lighter. I think Spesh brough out the Pitch to keep us old school Endruo riders happy after the Endruo went all 'SL'. His doesn't have some of the tricker bits mine has but they ride very alike.

Only thing I can add is that the fork is an OEM only coil Pike (all other are air) so if you're significantly lighter/heavier than 12.5 stone you'll need to budget for a replacement.

[Moose.]

chrisga said:

Any chance you can ride them both before buying?

I'd love to but can't try from the shop in question as it's rather a long way away.

Does anyone hire out these for a day at any of the trail centres?

[chrisga]

My friend hired this years enduro at Coed-Y-Brenin over the weekend but they dont have any pitches I'm afraid.