Just trawling through sites this morning came across the new specilaized 2006 big hit looks pretty good. As do there new helmets nice to know not every company is going for curvy organic looking bikes. Or does everyone here like hydroforming technology?

Where are they?

Can you do a link?

Don't get to excited as SBC UK might not bring in that model. Are others featured.

I've already ordered an specialized 06 cyclecross bike. Due in September. Can't wait to have a crack at CC this winter.
(06 roadbikes have already had a uk launch with dealers)

Seat isn't far enough back on the bighit good luck getting your weight far enough back for tricky stuff.

Guess to make way for stupid amounts of rear travel.

"Seat isn't far enough back on the bighit good luck getting your weight far enough back for tricky stuff."

So hang your arse out over the back then.

even then not going to be far enough back for my likings.

Not without running the bike very cramped in the length anyway.

Sorry nsmb have all the news and whats wrong with the seat angle on the big hit looks ok to me

Oh and any idea on price looks to be about £2500 i think any other ideas?

Got to agree with Dylan - that Big Hit looks more freeride than DH ie a touch on the short side.

Simply sticking your arse out doesn't really help. I was comparing my Scott with Dave's Yeti on the Slack September ride and the most noticable difference was how much more stable the Yeti was at speed. The longer wheelbase means it doesn't turn as tight (but far from an issue in DH racing) but its less twitchy.

This change to the Big Hit is hardly a surprise. Freeride is in, DH is out......

Anyone know when they will be launching in the uk i think it will be around september but im not sure. And where do i found out if they will be bringing it to the uk?

Thanks

The old Bighits got from memory (sunday) a very short rear end it used a 24inch rear wheel to do so, although that'd take big hits I wouldn't want to ride it for long at extreme angles.

i think if they bring the big hit 3 in it will be below the price of the demo range

maybe even a bargain

sworks carbon hardtail and epic, so i here

another fab year for the big red s

"Seat isn't far enough back on the bighit good luck getting your weight far enough back for tricky stuff."

What the bloody hell are you dribbling about now? STAND UP!

Surely it's easier to get your weight behind the centre of gravity if the top tube is shorter and the seat is closer to the handlebar.

It's how far you can get your ass over the back wheel that counts, it's starting Approx 4inches further forward for the same height as my freerider, and pushing the seat and stem 1inch forward made it scarey DHing, so 4 is going to suck.


But buy it and ride it at your own peril.

Well its supposed to be cheaper than the the demo8 but looking at the spec on nsmb from the picture i doubt it. mrzocchi triple 8s sram xo rear mech it seems to good to be true. And what the hell is this about getting your rear behind the bike when was the last time you saw a specialized bike with screwed up geometry. Specilaized would not have brought it out if they thought the bike geometry and lenghths were not correct

jc i agree

bearclaw and all the other world class freeriders on the team would have probably pointed out the problems long before they got in to production

Not screwed up geometry - 'freeride' geometry. As in north shore, hucking off a roof type stuff, which is exactly what those world class freeriders do.
And also something there is very little of in the UK. Here, long travel tough bikes mainly get used for DH, and most 'freeriding' is pretty much downhilling without the marked courses.
The point is that whilst both styles use the same basic parts, bikes designed for one are not so good at the other. North Shore type bikes tend to have higher BBs, shorter wheelbases and steeper head angles. They are made for relatively low speed action, tight turns and big drops. DH bikes have longer wheelbases, lower BBs and slacker angles because they are designed to be stable on steep fast descents.

So where does this all relate to the Big Hit? Well basically it means Specialised have got the geometry spot on for the sort of riding they were aiming the bike at. Sadly however this is a type of riding that is rare here in the UK. It will not make a good DH bike - its not designed for that.
TBH is suspect they won't import it to the UK, there simply isn't the market.