I think what Specialized is doing is very likely the best decision for the company, their image and their demographic.
Riders currently have a "marmite" relationship with ebikes in general and I think one of the biggest issues with them is that fat, lazy riders can literally zoom up and blast passes even the fittest riders on the steepest climbs.
I think Expert / Comp / Pro and Prosumer riders who love the burn, keeping no fit, working out etc... Serious riders, don't want the bike to take away all the work for them, and as they are Specializeds targeted demographic, that's who Specialized listen to.
Having a 60yo woman be able to climb faster than a 17yo for young hardcore mountain biker up a 10% 400m gradient is not something the serious mountain bike community appreciate, so the bike is evolving to suit the market for which it was intended.
For those like me, I'm older, injured, wanted to recapture my youth this is an unwelcome set of changes. I bought the bike to exactly the things it allows me todo, that they are now removing from it.
The new mission control does indeed emulate the Zeus bug, but if you enjoy the Blevo Zues settings etc the this new 23FW update IS FOR YOU!
The Zeus bug essentially delivers power more efficiently, smoother and more controlled but it's based on X Out = X Out.
The entire point of the Blevo settings (there is a PDF available online) was to remove the feeling of being on an ebike and they categorically state that they themselves despise the instant power that is delivered by the bike as soon as you touch the pedals.
They say that this feeling, when you just touch the pedals get get 540w of power pushing you is unnatural. Therefore they smooth it out and now you get back why you put it.
So if you enjoy the blevo Zeus settings, then you will absolutely love the new FW update. As the Zeus settings are based on the X In = X Out Methodology.
I prefer the currently X In = 540w Out methodology and here is why.
At the end of a climb when you are absolutely dying (if you are 54yo, perhaps a little over weight and had a previous operation on your back like me) and you can see the top, but you have NO MORE ENERGY to give. With the current X In = 540w (Race) Out you can literally just rest your feet on the pedals and bike actually "climbs" entirely by its self as it gives these butts of max power with race mode pushin it up the hill. It's like (sorry for this) fucking magic!
But the Zeus and 23FW REMOVE that capability as the less you put in (near the top) the less it gives. There for acting like a real bike. You wouldn't get up here on a non e bike and without good strong legs, you won't get up here on an ebike.
That puts the bike firmly in the category of acceptance and now, a 60yo woman with a hip replacement won't best a 17yo hardcore rider as she can't put the manual effort in required to get the engine to push her up the hill.
So what Specialized is doing is honerable. It's making the ebike a more bike / trail friendly beast and taming it to reward different fitness levels instead of just giving everyone full power and essentially gifting them a pass to climb whatever they wanted, effortlessly.
So in short here is what the facts tell us:
FW23 is aimed at:
Strong riders who enjoy a workout. Competition Riders, Pro Riders, Prosumer Riders, Expert Riders and those who love the burn and love to work out.
Those who felt ebikes were too easy.
Those who feel reward for climbing is earned.
Those who like X in = X Out
Those who don't want to be gifted a win.
Those who take riding seriously.
FW22 is aimed at:
Those who want the all of the above BUT have the ability to override it all by using 100/100/RACE and be gifted a win, gifted a climb, gifted an easy ride and essentially rescued when you can't make it up a climb.
For me I fall in to the latter. I'm firmly of the style that I need the assistance. Without it the bike isn't as useful to me.
So I think where Specialized is going with this is to make the bike more acceptable to both ebike riders and non ebike riders and garner acceptance in the professional and prosumer market.
Old Holligans like me, who really don't do this for the exercise (I do it for the fun/exploration/rush) and don't really enjoy the "get out what you put in put in" mentality (as it puts me back at a disadvantage) should probably have never bought a Specialized in the first place
I'm not their target demographic but because this bike opened a door that allowed me to get back into doing something I previously slowed down on doing, and allowed me to keep up with the front runners and even beat them! I become a byproduct / side effect sale.
I don't think I was the intended market. But because of this incredible machine i was able to do things my body just wouldn't normally allow.
Now it seems they are rectifying that and making the bike calmer, more focused and refined and targeting the correct demographic.
I think ebikes will be more accepted when you see a rider have to get off an EBIKE and push because he can't put in anything more and the bike doesn't bail him out, where as fit manual or ebike riders will ride right passed him. They will feel vindicated that there additional fitness is now recognised again.
This is exactly what they are doing, trying to achieve and in all fairness to the business model is the right thing to do.
However the folk like me who were a side effect of a software choice, we get culled. Which is a shame as I think that could be a large market.
In my opinion (which could be wrong) I think you will sell more Ebikes to people like me (old riders, injured riders, previous riders, part time riders, occasional riders) than you will to professional riders who want to keep fit? If they want to keep fit they will likely keep riding a manual or "some" will buy a second ebike (but not all) and while they may be more accommodating and accepting of ebikes moving forward, will they actually buy them? I don't see why (as many of them) would?
Having a software "OPTION" is by far the best method! As this allows you to target both demographics and you can allow the user to decide what THEY want to do with their tool. Have 2 configurations in MC that allow the user to choose between "Professional" mode (where the bike is running with the 23FW settings and a "Fun/Solo/Exploration" mode where the rider can run in ASBO mode.
In my opinion FW22.3 will become a saught after firmware!
I think it may become like a collectors item due to what it allows non professional riders to do!
In conclusion I can see, understand and appreciate why Specialized are doing what they are doing, but I don't agree with it.
I say give the user control of the bike and give them ASBO mode if they want it. It opens up new markets and allows riders like me to explore and get to areas that were previously unobtainable.
Yesterday's ride in the trails with The guys from the club was amazing. I was able to climb everything they climbed (on my bike) I felt part of the group, and equal (even though I wasn't) I felt powerful (even though I wasn't) I felt fun, elated and happy.
When I got on Ian's bike I struggled to put enough power in, to get any power out and I couldn't get to the top of the hill I previously just got to? Why?
After that I felt disappointed, sad, and I wound have held the group up etc and been embarrassed etc as everyone would have to wait for me again as I'm too weak to get up the hills. Why do that?
Back on my bike and it threw me up the hill like I was being pushed from behind, just resting my feet on the pedals (as my thighs BURNED in pain) and my bike, my beautiful bike rescued me and said "don't worry you fat, lazy (out of shape) piece of shit, I've got this one"
