Specialized Releases New P.Series Bikes
No longer an only child, Specialized's P3 now has three new siblings to keep it company in the lineup. The range now includes a wide spectrum of alloy-framed hardtail bikes, meant to cater to new riders and crusty dirt jumpers alike.
There are some global changes that have been made to the series that are worth noting. Specialized designed Boost-spaced sliding rear dropouts that allow for 15mm of horizontal adjustment and can be set up with a geared or singlespeed configuration. Tire spec on all P.Series bikes will be the Specialized Kicker, which is meant to span the needs of street, dirt, and skatepark riding. All of the new bikes use a 30.9 seatpost, and are routed for an internal dropper, should you want to make your jump bike a little more pedal-friendly. Every frame in the lineup has two color options, and the P3 and P4 can be purchased frame-only.
P1
$650 USD / €800
The P1 is a 20" kids bike focused on progression and durability. The touchpoints have been modified to fit the littler ones, with 19mm OD handlebars, skinny grips, and low standover height. The geometry is corrected for an 80mm fork, should the young shredder require more damping.
P2
$1250 USD / €1250
With 24" wheels and a pretty open-ended geometry, the P2 could be either the next size up for a growing kid, or the ideal smaller-wheeled park and DJ bike for a full-grown adult. The bike comes with a 100mm Manitou J-Unit fork, which should take the edge off any harsh landings.
P3
$2000 USD / €1700
$700 USD / €900 frame only
The original member of the lineup keeps on trucking, with the P3 remaining relatively unchanged. The reach and stack have gotten a bit smaller, to better accommodate the sizing sweep of the new series, and the head angle has gotten a degree slacker, landing at 68.5°. Complete builds come with a Marzocchi Bomber DJ, which I've been impressed by in my experience with it. The P3 frame can also fit a 27.5" wheel, making the platform even more adaptable for those looking to experiment with their dirt jump setup.
P4
$2100 USD / €1700
$700 USD / €900 frame only
Speaking of 27.5" dirt jump bikes, the P4 comes with larger wheels front and back. The frame geometry isn't that far off from hardtails from about 10 years ago, but the bike is still very much focused on jumping and pumping, not necessarily getting out and going for a long pedal. The logic behind the larger frame is simple; most people will be hopping on their dirt jumper as an accessory to their main trail bike, so the geometry should be larger to better bridge the gap between the two. The Bomber fork should help that feel remain consistent, as long as the fast rolling tires and little brakes don't throw you off.
For more info on the P.Series bikes, head over to Specialized's website to learn more.
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Can anyone explain to me why all dirt jumpers aren’t $1200?
Wages stats here if you need some help on what has actually happened:
fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CES0500000003
Jan 2008 avg hourly earnings = 21.30
Jan 2023 avg hourly earnings = 33.02
% difference = 55% increase in wages in the period
www.motogb.co.uk/model/2023-mgb-r8-125cc-899
www.speedwaymotorcycles.co.uk/scooters/scooter/mgb-r8-125cc-white
www.whateverwheels.co.uk/m3b0s353p13236/LEXMOTO-ZSB-125-E5-2023
Like I said not exactly top of the branded but it more than proves my point.
bikebiz.com/canadian-mtb-manufacturer-rocky-mountain-appoints-katy-bond-as-ceo
For record growth see profiteering.
Scooters are all exactly what I thought, mediocre catalog bikes from Asia with no engineering or marketing required.
Over the past 2 years containers from SE Asia cost $10,000 or more, a whopping 300% or greater increase compared to the normal $2500. Aluminum also increased and peaked about 92% higher than historical average. Container prices have more or less returned to normal as of today. However, Aluminum and all other raw materials continue to be higher than historical averages from the past 10 years. And, as I've stated multiple times now labor costs are also higher.
Sources below, if you would be interested in some facts while you shit:
www.statista.com/statistics/1250636/global-container-freight-index
tradingeconomics.com/commodity/aluminum
Again I'll ask, what sort of margin makes you feel warm and fuzzy? Let's take that number and see if a successful business could actually be run off it.
Or do you just want to run an ESG/DEI focused company that is happy to take losses while pretending you're making the world a better place all while selling a product that no one actual needs?
Are companies making a few extra points now, yes. Are they gouging people, no. In summation, if you think it's a rip off or can find a better deal do so. You're not going to change the the industry's costing strategy or margin targets on a low volume product they produce to fill out their product catalog.
Remember you are the one that stated "why don't you take in to account mass produced frames and components are cheaper not than they ever were in 2008"
You unsurprisingly are struggling to provide any facts to back that up.
www.pinkbike.com/news/privateer-releases-the-dj101.html
My Chameleon truly does everything I need it to do on trail (including carrying my kid on his shotgun seat), it's been a good bike packing bike, a commuter, and when I sold my Transition PBJ I really didn't notice a huge loss in regards to my occasional DJ/Pumptrack laps. Not to mention...you get all of that for not much more than the cost of the P4. To build your P4 into the same thing as a Chameleon, you're likely coming up on north of $3,000 between dropper, drivetrain, and original purchase price.
If I didn't already have those two, I could definitely see the reason for the P4. Also if you look at the geo, it's still smaller than an XL Transition PBJ and only a little bigger than a size Large. I've ridden the size L PBJ and it felt pretty good.
What is the point of a "casual jumper" when great 27.5 trail hardtail options are everywhere, you can even use a shorter fork for a steeper, more dirt-jumpy feel on the front end.
I have a weird rigid SS bike with a dropper. Geo is a touch longer/lower/slacker than a DJ, but not far off. I ride the shit out of that thing. There's a world of green and blue trails I never rode because my enduro bike makes it feel like riding down a sidewalk. Less bike makes them super fun and a totally different experience.
Target audience dad’s/mom’s who rides dj with kids
People say they want them but in reality nobody actually buys them. Supply and demand - theres no demand, just Pinkbikers with too much to complain about
Sure, makes sense for somebody to sell slope bikes, there's some market for them obviously, but probably nowhere near big enough for one of the biggest bike companies in the world to bother.
If they sold well, they'd still be selling them. They don't discontinue popular bikes.
@notthatfast : I admit I'm not always up to date with what Specialized is making and what bike goes with what name. Stumpjumper used to be a hardtail, then they had both (hardtail and full sus) variations and it is all full sus now. The Epic went in the other direction. The Fuse used to be a BMX, now it is a mountainbike... It isn't always the case that they don't sell a certain bike because no one wants a bike like that. People still ride BMX bikes after all. It is just that others may offer a better (or better value) alternative. As said, that original Specialized Enduro SX looked amazing and great fun, it just was quite expensive. Then with the rise of 4X racing, we've seen a good lot of fun small and short travel bikes built for the job, but also great for just messing around. Specialized just wasn't the best in that market. Just like in the slopestyle competitions, loads of great riders are on those German bikes so there was little reason for whoever wanted a bike like that, to choose for the Specialized offfering instead.
I do have to say though, before we had proper short travel trail bikes, nothing was sicker than using a slopebike as a trail bike. When I was a grom, I REALLY wanted a slope bike so I could have one bike to ride jumps and trails on.
f*ckin whack specialized!
luckily almost every other brand still makes proper dirt jumpers
27.5" isn't real; 650b is barely 27" in diameter, even for large tire widths. Its far closer to 26 than 29, not some mythical halfway point.
With a full suspension bike over 100mm of travel, in a double blind test, nearly all of us wouldn't correctly identify 26 vs 650b. You'd feel the 10cm (or less) bottom bracket drop more than the smaller wheel diameter.
On a DJ you probably have a better chance of feeling the difference, but a light wheel vs heavy wheel still probably would matter more.
same phrase ur mum used the other night
The excess frame wheelbase will be a problem for certain styles of riding.
Also looks like the 26" P3 geo is really close to the last gen P3.
I've always been a fan of the P bikes and will definitely consider one of these for my son's next bike
Or transition.
What I liked was that it was snappy on the pump track and jumps, but having the front brake and a little lighter gearing than most other DJs I've tried, I was able to adapt to riding on some gravel and single track in the same park. A sort of single speed / rigid setup (with the stiff air fork taking the edge off at speed). Relatively low maintenance, simple, light.
The ability to run a dropper and even the 27.5 wheels are intriguing for these reasons. Putting on some riser bars and a bigger rear cog for a little more ease on the hills would be considered. (I don't mind lighter gearing for a DJ because I'm no longer going for high end speed down hills or between jumps... pumping and flow at moderate speed are usually enough for me anymore after too many crashes.)
The 2K+ price tag is disappointing though.
To expensive yes, but hopefully they'll have sales next year.
As a 6ft2 guy a p4 actually makes sense, dj bikes were always too small, easier to find tyres for it as well.
I do love the idea of a bike like this for around town then some DJ's/skatepark and pump track on the way home.
If only I had the money
Now that I have a kid I'm looking for something to replace my beach cruiser that's a bit more fun and that I can jump around on over curbs and driveways.
Looking mostly at one of the big bmx bikes like the Fairdale Taj but I keep being intrigued by dirt jumpers. Small suspension fork sounds nice and I could build the frame up with some spare parts so the cost wouldn't be terrible.
I commute 25km return to the pumptrack with the seat up (still 200mm lower than mtb), no problem, still easier than cruising on mtb with proper tires.
All the comments about annoying to pedal (because of seat height and gearing) are true, you’re not buying it for efficiency. You’re buying it for the good (and shared) times. You’ll be exhausted about the same time as your child (because you’ll have to pedal like a clown to keep up), but it will become something they can grow into, be a rolling platform you can teach them mechanic skills on when they want to mod it with bits from eBay / parts bin, and be a bike you don’t need to worry too much about if their friends come round.
Win win (win).
I have three DJ’s hanging in the garage which were all born this way. All part-bin bikes and each child loves theirs because we built and ride them together (plus I now have a choice of three DJ’s to ride depending on which child I’m cruising with )
have you ever spent more than 5 mins at an asphalt pump track before getting bored? shits a scam, the people need jumps
Dirt jumps are also a fraction of the cost of an asphalt pumptrack. Some company like Velo comes in and sucks MILLIONS out of community fundraised budgets for a product that most kids and adults get bored of after a day.
Dirt jumps can be altered if something isn't flowing right. The Pumptrack is permanent, and most have flaws, that forever stay flawed because it's asphalt. Dirt jumps cost the community thousands, pumptracks cost up to a million.
I don't see how they're "testing the waters". The offer 20", 24", 26" and 27.5". People just get to choose. I honestly don't see the point of getting the biggest wheeled ones as it seems to me those will be hardest to get up to speed on a pumptrack for most of us. So people who are getting bored might be better off with something that allows the saddle to go even lower (to have more room to pump and move around), smaller wheels and no suspension. I can't see myself getting bored if I'm going the speeds these top pumptrack competitors are going. And as long as I'm not going that fast, there is enough work to do.
my beef with pumptracks is how massive the cost is vs what the community actually gets. A S,M,L and XL sets of jumps cost a fraction of a pumptrack and provide way more progression, keeping kids healthy and entertained way longer and off the crack. Throw in a dirt pumptrack beside and a couple trails nearby and you're set, all still less than the cost of a small velo-solutions asphalt track.
(Pump track can be and are made of dirt too)
I've been taking my kids to the local (dirt) pumptrack for years, since they were on balance bikes. If we only had dirt jumps instead of a pumptrack, that wouldn't have been the case. And, as exciting as learning to ride dirt jumps sounds, I'm too old and too uninterested in injuries to take advantage of it. Jumps may be cheaper, but they are also only useful and interesting to a much smaller percent of the population
Our local pumptrack is still a popular place after 5 years or so. Perhaps some people get bored after a day, but plenty seem to keep coming back.
@showmethemountains: Yeah, and dirt pumptracks are cheaper to build than tarmac ones. It also comes with a similar downside: they're only really useful to those on bikes (so this smaller audience) and they require regular maintenance that can only be done by someone who has a feel for it. I'm lucky to have a dirt pumptrack (with a gravel top layer) three minutes from home. It is a bit sketchy though so I eventually put a Schwalbe Smart Sam 20x2.35 front tire on my BMX to keep it from washing out. Just dirt (without gravel) is more reliable but also less durable. Would be amazing to have had one of these tarmac pumptracks but these really are too expensive.
Can you explain how that works please?
TT length, reach and wheelbase are all longer on the new P3 than on the 2020 model.
Generally interested. Am I missing something?