My experience with Specialized Rider Care - Nordic

[Maastricht]

Hi Karsten
I also have the 2018 Comp Carb and live i Aalborg som 50 miles from You.
I still ride on the 27.5's - but I would be pleased to help You with a test of Your 29' on my bike
Are You around Aalborg sometime this week ?

Wow, premier global emtbforums.com service on demand!

Maybe you have a better LBS for Karsten too? ?

 

[Frank_Denmark]

At Your service
I think it must be the same LBS in the town of Skørping...But they are all into the analog bikes

 

[khorn]

I’ve got a 2018 s-works, do you want the same measurements from that too?

Thanks for the kind offer but the only reason why I did not order a S-WORKS was due to the fact that I'm too fat for the load limit Your rear triangle is for sure different but out of curiosity have you tried 29" wheels on yours?

Karsten

 

[khorn]

Hi Karsten,

I found a 2nd link too with lots of German rider posts:
Test: 29" am Specialized Turbo Levo – Hillbilly und Butcher, was bringt der Umbau?

Sorry, I didn't read them all, but I really hope it will help you together with the links I posted in my previous post:
Test: 29" am Specialized Turbo Levo – Hillbilly und Butcher, was bringt der Umbau? – eMTB-News.de
Not sure how your German is but otherwise maybe Google translater is able to help you:
https://translate.google.com/?hl=nl#view=home&op=translate&sl=auto&tl=en&text=https://www.emtb-news.de/news/test-29zoll-levo/

Thanks for the links and btw that test just highlight why I also want to run 29ers. Based on the knowledge/experience and what I have found on the Internet, it seems like especially the Minion DHF WT has a little less side wall so I have ordered one of those tires in order to have a very direct comparison with the pictures already posted in this thread. I should have the tire tomorrow aftern0on and will post my findings.

Karsten

 

[khorn]

Hi Karsten
I also have the 2018 Comp Carb and live i Aalborg som 50 miles from You.
I still ride on the 27.5's - but I would be pleased to help You with a test of Your 29' on my bike
Are You around Aalborg sometime this week ?

Thanks Frank or.... "Tusind tak for tilbuddet!!"

As you can see above I have just ordered a Maxxis DHF 2.5 WT and will first try and see how it goes on my bike so I can have some direct comparison. If It turns out that it does not work it could be interesting to try the wheel/tire combo out on your bike and see if that will be different. I will PM you.

Karsten

 

[Stumpy]

Thanks for the kind offer but the only reason why I did not order a S-WORKS was due to the fact that I'm too fat for the load limit Your rear triangle is for sure different but out of curiosity have you tried 29" wheels on yours?

Karsten

In a word, no - but I'd like to. I'm going on a group ride on 3rd March, maybe I will get the opportunity to try a 29er from someone else's bike..?

 

[khorn]

In a word, no - but I'd like to. I'm going on a group ride on 3rd March, maybe I will get the opportunity to try a 29er from someone else's bike..?

I would suggest that you maybe try to borrow a set of wheels if possible, I can only say that it is a completely different bike performance vice, in a positive way. I now only use my plus tire setup when I intend to ride very sandy/loose trails as I don't like the feel of a plus tire combined with wet muddy trails. Furthermore it will raise the BB about 15 mm and that helps me preventing pedal strikes as I'm a bit clumsy sometimes

Karsten

 

[Frank_Denmark]

Thanks Frank or.... "Tusind tak for tilbuddet!!"

As you can see above I have just ordered a Maxxis DHF 2.5 WT and will first try and see how it goes on my bike so I can have some direct comparison. If It turns out that it does not work it could be interesting to try the wheel/tire combo out on your bike and see if that will be different. I will PM you.

Karsten

Du er velkommen
You are welcome
Viking language is the mother of the english ditto

 

[MattyB]

Du er velkommen
You are welcome
Viking language is the mother of the english ditto

I thought vikings spoke in Norse code?!!

Sincere apologies. I’ll get my coat... ?

 

[khorn]

UPDATE

Yesterday I was contacted again by Specialized Rider Care Nordic that they had an update to my challenges and right now off the phone from a fruitful and very supportive conversation. It turns out that all of us were right, there are more than one version of the rear triangle and as a matter of fact 3 different versions to be exact. The version installed on all alu frames are quite different in design and have more clearance for a 29" wheel/tire combo. On the MY2018 one year only Carbon frames(Comp and Expert) there is a different design where Specialized also acknowledge that there is less clearance up against the motor thus not making it as capable as a dual wheel size bike compared to all the alu models.

It turns out that apparently rim design/tire combination is crucial in order to find a setup that will actually work on my exact model. The 29" test that @Maastricht provided as well as the picture @Jeff McD contributed with in another thread, is now being studied by Specialized and they have promised me that we will find a good solution to my Issues.

Thanks guys for the support!!!

Karsten

 

[Maastricht]

UPDATE

Yesterday I was contacted again by Specialized Rider Care Nordic that they had an update to my challenges and right now off the phone from a fruitful and very supportive conversation. It turns out that all of us were right, there are more than one version of the rear triangle and as a matter of fact 3 different versions to be exact. The version installed on all alu frames are quite different in design and have more clearance for a 29" wheel/tire combo. On the MY2018 one year only Carbon frames(Comp and Expert) there is a different design where Specialized also acknowledge that there is less clearance up against the motor thus not making it as capable as a dual wheel size bike compared to all the alu models.

It turns out that apparently rim design/tire combination is crucial in order to find a setup that will actually work on my exact model. The 29" test that @Maastricht provided as well as the picture @Jeff McD contributed with in another thread, is now being studied by Specialized and they have promised me that we will find a good solution to my Issues.

Thanks guys for the support!!!

Karsten

Thanks for the update Karsten! I am really happy that you now have the feeling of being heared and that we understand the 29" miracle head breaker. I am looking forward to Specialized's solution.

Were they also able to help you with the issue with your wife's bike? I believe it was the hardtail?

@MattyB , I think we have just found a new ambassador.

 

[Mcharza]

UPDATE

Yesterday I was contacted again by Specialized Rider Care Nordic that they had an update to my challenges and right now off the phone from a fruitful and very supportive conversation. It turns out that all of us were right, there are more than one version of the rear triangle and as a matter of fact 3 different versions to be exact. The version installed on all alu frames are quite different in design and have more clearance for a 29" wheel/tire combo. On the MY2018 one year only Carbon frames(Comp and Expert) there is a different design where Specialized also acknowledge that there is less clearance up against the motor thus not making it as capable as a dual wheel size bike compared to all the alu models.

It turns out that apparently rim design/tire combination is crucial in order to find a setup that will actually work on my exact model. The 29" test that @Maastricht provided as well as the picture @Jeff McD contributed with in another thread, is now being studied by Specialized and they have promised me that we will find a good solution to my Issues.

Thanks guys for the support!!!

Karsten

It's great to hear that some solution might could be found

 

[highpeakrider]

That’s great news let’s hope you get it sorted, if it takes 29s that’s what they should design for and not a limited fit.

 

[khorn]

That’s great news let’s hope you get it sorted, if it takes 29s that’s what they should design for and not a limited fit.

I agree but one thing is for sure and that’s also been confirmed by Specialized today, MY2018 Comp and Expert Carbon frames have clearance issues with regards to running a 29” rear wheel. There are only a few rim/tire combinations that will work. Interesting enough it is not as simple as choosing a narrower tire, I got a 2.5 Minion DHF WT today and that gave a the same/little bit more clearance compared to a Specialized Ground Control 2.3 tire. We are talking a few mm’s from being usable but that could be achieved with another rim where same tire sits just a tiny bit different. Again calling that particular bike model for a dual wheel size bike is pushing it.

In the end Specialized is helping out so I’m confident.

Karsten

 

[khorn]

Hello

I owe everyone who contributed to this thread an ending to the issue regarding the 2018 Levo FSR and running a 29" at the rear. The solution was that specialized offered me a free set of Roval Aluminium wheels including tires. After a bit further conversation I paid a little bit more myself and are now the happy owner of a set of Roval Traverse Carbon wheels.

When I finally got in contact with a support minded person within Rider care, the dialogue was outstanding ad I did receive the kind of support you kind of expect when you have just paid a lot for a brand new bike.

Does it work now and the answer is yes but not absolutely perfect. It turns out after testing with many different wheel sets that the way the same tire sit on different rims can make 2-3 mm difference in side wall height. When you have only a couple of mm clearance 3 mm more means a lot and that is where I am right now. At the moment I'm running a Butcher Grid 2.3 at the back and a DHF EXO WT 2.5 up front and must admit that the Butcher is a bit scary at times when it is slippery but the DHF up front is brilliant. Running a 30 mm inner width rim the Butcher is actually only 2.1" wide where as the DHF sits perfectly at 2.5". I also got a 2.6" Purgatory and that is a bit narrower than my 2.4" Maxxis Ardent - Not that it matters that much but I simply don't understand why Specialized is not honest about their tire width.

This is how it sits now, picture shows a 2.3 Ground Control but 2.3 Butcher sits exactly the same:

I'm considering to write a review/comparison between the £1.300 Roval Traverse and my £400 wheel set consisting of Chinese Asymmetric carbon rims paired together with one af the strongest hubs(Novatec 462 with 5 pawl steel free hub/axle) and the strongest Sapim spokes. Some will find my verdict quite surprising.

Karsten

 

[highpeakrider]

Glad you have found a resolution, something to watch for on the next bike...

 

[Maastricht]

Hi Karsten,

Really happy to understand that you have finally came to an acceptable solution! How do you like the bikes handling now with the 29" instead of the 27,5'' wheelset?

I am looking forward to:
I'm considering to write a review/comparison between the £1.300 Roval Traverse and my £400 wheel set consisting of Chinese Asymmetric carbon rims paired together with one af the strongest hubs(Novatec 462 with 5 pawl steel free hub/axle) and the strongest Sapim spokes. Some will find my verdict quite surprising.

Enjoy your rides!

 

[ReneRenato]

Hi Karsten,

did you eventually check clearance in the rear with your new set of rims and the Maxxis DHF WT 2.5? Currently looking into getting a Levo and would strongly consider a 2018 carbon but reading through your issues is currently putting me off a bit.
However, if a 29er DHF WT 2.5 would clear decently 2018 model would definitely be an option.

René

 

[khorn]

Hi Karsten,

did you eventually check clearance in the rear with your new set of rims and the Maxxis DHF WT 2.5? Currently looking into getting a Levo and would strongly consider a 2018 carbon but reading through your issues is currently putting me off a bit.
However, if a 29er DHF WT 2.5 would clear decently 2018 model would definitely be an option.

René

To be honest a 29” DHF 2.5 will not fit on a 2018 Carbon Comp in the rear, my experience is that you can only run a 2.3 rear tire and even that is very close. For example a 2.3 Butcher I have to let all air out before I can get the wheel out of the frame...... That 2018s with alu frames have a bit more space but I don't have any actual experience with them. Don't do the same mistake as me, buy a real 29” bike from the start.

BTW the Roval Carbon wheels are not worth the money, my 1/3 of the prize Chinese wheels are actually better in every aspect.

Karsten

 

[ReneRenato]

To be honest a 29” DHF 2.5 will not fit on a 2018 Carbon Comp in the rear, my experience is that you can only run a 2.3 rear tire and even that is very close. For example a 2.3 Butcher I have to let all air out before I can get the wheel out of the frame...... That 2018s with alu frames have a bit more space but I don't have any actual experience with them. Don't do the same mistake as me, buy a real 29” bike from the start.

BTW the Roval Carbon wheels are not worth the money, my 1/3 of the prize Chinese wheels are actually better in every aspect.

Karsten

Thanks for the feedback Karsten...then I will have to look into 2019 Levo