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2018 Men's Chisel Expert – 1x

3.8

4 Reviews

Often times, carbon gets all of the attention, but as our Senior Advanced R&D Engineer,…

Colour:

Satin Gloss Black/Black

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Product Details

Often times, carbon gets all of the attention, but as our Senior Advanced R&D Engineer, Chuck Teixeira, says, "If you haven't ridden an aluminium bike lately, you haven't ridden an aluminium bike." And with its D'Aluisio Smartweld frame, the Chisel Expert with one-by gearing is no exception.

Traditional welding methods create frame joints by connecting tubes to cylinders, leaving the performance and security of the connection up to the skill of the welder. D'Aluisio (DSW), however, allows us to move the joint away from the area of the highest stress, making for a lighter frameset that's stiff, compliant, and incredibly strong—the optimal characteristics of a hardtail XC rig. So what does this mean for you? You'll be powering up climbs, shredding singletrack, and everything in between on a bike that has you questioning why alloy as gotten such a bad rap.

And to further improve this feel, the Chisel also features our XC 29 geometry which took our previous XC race geo and added some trail DNA to the mix. This equates to a longer top tube, a shortened head tube, and a slacked out front end, the result of which is a tremendous increase in downhill stability, plus a wider range of fit. And just as importantly, this doesn't require any sacrifice of climbing proficiency.

The build on this Chisel features a mix of SRAM GX and NX one-by components for efficient shifts and added protection against dropping the chain. You'll also find powerful SRAM Level TL hydraulic disc brakes, a dependable RockShox Reba RL fork with up to 100mm of travel (size-specific), and 25-millimeter-wide alloy wheels that are optimized for weight and traction.

Given its lightweight and ultra-stiff characteristics, M5 aluminium was the natural choice for the frame's construction. And when complemented with our speed-focused XC 29 Geometry, D'Aluisio Smartweld technology, and internal cable routing, you get a bike that compromises nothing in delivering explosive speed, confident handling, and hassle-free maintenance.
A custom RockShox Reba RL 29 fork offers up 90/100mm of smooth travel (size-specific), while an easily accessible compression and rebound adjusts permit you to customize the feel according to the terrain at hand.
SRAM GX handles one-by shifting duties, practically eliminating dropped chains and reducing overall bike weight.

Technical Specifications

FRAMESET

FRAME

Specialized D'Aluisio Smartweld M5 Alloy, XC Geometry, internal cable routing, BSA BB, 12x148mm rear end, triangulated post-mount 160mm brake

SEAT BINDER

Alloy, 30.8mm

WHEELS

RIMS

Stout XC 29, 25mm internal width, disc-specific

FRONT HUB

Specialized disc, 15x110mm spacing, torque caps, 32h

REAR HUB

Specialized, sealed cartridge bearings, 12x148mm thru-axle, 32h

SPOKES

Stainless, 14g

FRONT TIRE

Fast Trak, 60 TPI, GRIPTON® compound, 2Bliss Ready, 29x2.3"

REAR TIRE

Fast Trak, 60 TPI, GRIPTON® compound, 2Bliss Ready, 29x2.1"

INNER TUBES

Standard, Presta valve

SUSPENSION

FORK

RockShox Reba RL 29, Solo Air, 51mm offset, 15x110mm thru-axle (S: 90mm, M-XL: 100mm of travel)

DRIVETRAIN

REAR DERAILLEUR

SRAM GX, long cage, 11-speed

SHIFT LEVERS

SRAM GX, trigger, 11-speed

CASSETTE

SRAM NX, 11-speed, 11-42t

CHAIN

KMC X11, 11-speed w/ Missing Link™

CRANKSET

Race Face Aeffect

CHAINRINGS

Steel, 30T

BOTTOM BRACKET

Race Face Threaded BSA

COCKPIT

STEM

Specialized XC, 3D-forged alloy, 4-bolt, 6-degree rise

HANDLEBARS

Specialized Mini-rise, 6000 alloy, 8-degree backsweep, 6-degree upsweep, 10mm rise, 720mm width, 31.8mm clamp

GRIPS

Specialized Sip Grip, half-waffle, S/M: regular thickness, L/XL: XL thickness

SADDLE

Body Geometry Phenom Comp, Adaptive Edge design, hollow Cr-Mo rails, 143mm

SEATPOST

Specialized, alloy, single-bolt, 27.2mm

BRAKES

REAR BRAKE

SRAM Level TL, hydraulic disc, organic pads, 160

FRONT BRAKE

SRAM Level TL, Hydraulic Disc

ACCESSORIES

PEDALS

Specialized Platform, 9/16" spindle

* Weights based on production painted frames as pictured. Actual weights will vary based on colourway, frame size, and component variation. Specifications are subject to change without notice.

Geometry

	S	M	L	XL
Crank Length	170mm	175mm	175mm	175mm
Handlebar Width	720mm	720mm	720mm	720mm
Stem Length	70mm	90mm	100mm	110mm
Saddle Width	143mm	143mm	143mm	143mm
Seatpost Length	350mm	400mm	400mm	400mm
Stack	595mm	605mm	619mm	633mm
Reach	395mm	418mm	441mm	462mm
Head Tube Length	95mm	95mm	110mm	125mm
Head Tube Angle	69.8°	69.8°	69.8°	69.8°
BB Height	312.5mm	312.5mm	312.5mm	312.5mm
BB Drop	57.5mm	57.5mm	57.5mm	57.5mm
Trail	82mm	82mm	82mm	82mm
Fork Length, Full	496mm	506mm	506mm	506mm
Fork Rake/Offset	51mm	51mm	51mm	51mm
Front Center	650mm	676mm	704mm	730mm
Chainstay Length	430mm	430mm	430mm	430mm
Wheelbase	1073mm	1100mm	1128mm	1154mm
Top Tube Length, Horizontal	567mm	594mm	622mm	648mm
Bike Standover Height	760mm	790mm	814mm	845mm
Seat Tube Length	400mm	430mm	470mm	520mm
Seat Tube Angle	74°	74°	74°	74°

Manual Downloads

Specialized Bicycle Owner's Manual Addendum: Riding With Kids

2018 Rider/Bike Weight Limits and Terrain Conditions

Specialized Bicycle Owner's Manual (All Languages)

Trainer Usage Addendum to the Bicycle Owner's Manual

Specialized Bicycle Owner's Manual (English)

For safety warning please refer to the documentation in the Manual Downloads section of this page.

Rider Reviews

3.8

4 Reviews

05/31/2021

Good but not great

I enjoy riding this bike. I have ridden granite, downhill, x-country, all types of trails. XL size fits me well. Rode it two summers and bottom bracket needs replacement. Also the small chain ring is pretty much worn out (aluminum which is a poor choice of material). To compare, I road a Norco Charger for 3 summers and the both of these components are fine...the chain ring wear is not noticeable. So far all other components are working fine.

Name:: Neil

Helpful?

04/10/2019

First Hardtail

I've been using a Santa Cruz Heckler for the past few months and wanted to own a hardtail. This fit the budget. So far, so good. As of right now I only have 2 days of ownership and about an hour of mostly on road testing with some trails with 1-2ft drops. The day I bought it, I had the tires converted to tubeless. I'm not sure how much this affects the weight or feeling of the bike, but the tires grip well on and off-road. It's incredibly light and nimble. It feels like a road bike, but feels incredibly solid off-road. It's fast, but the top gear is limited for road usage if you find yourself going down hill. That's not where this bike shines though, this thing tears up hills with ease. The only complaint I've had might just be related to the shop that built the bike, but my chain keeps falling off the smallest cog and sliding in between the frame and the last gear. Also, I have already ordered a seat post quick release clamp since it doesn't come with one and plan on scooping up some better pedals ASAP.

Name:: Nick

Helpful?

03/18/2019

Paint and bolts deteriorate fast - 7months

Bought my bike in July 2018. This was assembled by a registered Specialized bike mechanic. 7months later and the stem bolts are already corroded. There is also visible signs the paint work is deteriorating in this area as well. Contacted Specialized regarding the warranty over the bike paint and bolts, this was their response: ""The damage showing on your handlebars would be from the stem clamp not being tight enough and the bars have moved in the stem causing this. That type of damage is not to worry about and would be covered by the stem when in position. Also with your bolts, Specialized doesn't cover rust or corrosion on any of our bike/parts."" So if you find damage (even within the first year) their suggestion is to hide it and pretend it was never there. My advice is to read their warranty beforehand and make sure you know what you're signing up to. As I'm getting very little reassurance for my own purchase.

Name:: Josh

Helpful?

08/05/2018

This bike is faaasssssssssstttt

Super light weight, exceptional handling, and most of all FAST. Once on this bike you'll outpace your riding crew with minimal effort on flats and zoom up those climbs that used to have you cursing under your breath. Only complaint would be the stock pedals b/c the raised numbs come off pretty quickly but past that this bike is legit. Enjoy!