My old Specialized hardtail RockHopper has a Grivin (sp?) articulated stem with elastomer 'shocks' that work like the one on Tracy's bike. My Specialized M2 hardtail Alloy Stumpjumper (From TiDAWG in this forum - thanks Ron!) has the traditionl shock type fork. The Alloy M2 with the sloped top tube rides faster and more like a road bike on streets, and the shock forks are more forgiving to the entire body on rough trails. Still, the Grivin assembly is pretty good on easing shocks to the arms and upper body, and weighs a bunch less. I enjoy the alloy more than the steel (But I preferred my steel roadbike over the alloy!) I have been thinking about swapping to a hard alloy fork and Grivin on the M2 as it would shave a couple pounds of the bike. But first I have to build back up to where I can ride again!
BENZ-LGB: We live pretty close to each other - if you want to borrow the M2 and see how the alloy rides for a while, it is at your disposal. Otherwise it will just sit there until the docs think I can do that level of workout again.
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John
2003 Firemist Red/grey leather SL 500
2015 Palladium Silver/black mbtex GLK 350
1987 Smoke Silver/burgundy mbtex 300E Sportline (SOLD)
Click to see 87 300E