Since its launch less than a year ago, the Specialized Chisel FS has been ridden and reviewed by every major mountain bike media brand in the world. Praise for the well-specced, low-priced aluminium race bike has been widespread. Here’s what makes the Specialized Chisel FS so highly rated.
Early mountain bikes were made from steel. Then, in the late 1980s and early 1990s brands embraced aluminium, which is lighter, stiffer and more durable than steel. Before aluminium could really be explored fully, carbon fibre entered the market.
Most brands invested heavily in carbon fibre research and development for high-end bikes and continued to deliver low-to-mid-range bikes in aluminium. Recently, Specialized decided to see how it could apply modern technology to aluminium and the result is the Chisel FS.
FS is Full Suspension, to differentiate this bike from the Chisel, Specialized’s aluminium racing hardtail. The Chisel FS frame is made from a high-grade hydroformed aluminium.
Specialized’s engineers developed a new way to weld aluminium bikes that it calls D’Alusio Smartweld. Traditional alloy frame construction joins tubes with welds at the highest stress point. D’Alusio Smartweld delivers the highest strength at the lowest weight by using hydroformed tube junctions that allow us to move the joint away from the area of the highest stress and create a ‘valley’ for the weld bead to lay in.
Another standout feature, which contributes to the lighter weight, is the single piece seattube and bottom bracket, which also integrates the seattube pivot and the main pivot. And finally, each tube has varying wall thickness and shaping to deliver stiffness where needed and compliance where needed.
The result is the lightest full-suspension aluminium frame in the world – 18.4% lighter than its closest competitor. Specialized’s engineers also incorporated the geometry and kinematics from the new Specialized Epic 8 to ensure that even the base level Specialized full-suspension bike benefits from Specialized’s race-winning DNA.
This all makes the Chisel FS a great climber and, with a perfect balanced of stiffness and compliance where needed, a superb handling bike on technical trails. There’s also a flip-chip to adjust the frame geometry for those who like to experiment.
Specialized hasn’t taken the shortcut route of speccing no-name brand or low-profile brand components, which is generally prevalent in this price range.
In terms of suspension, the Chisel FS is specced with RockShox and X-Fusion.
- Chisel Shimano: RockShox SID 120mm fork, featuring the Rush Damper and Ride Dynamics Tuned X-Fusion 110mm rear shock
- Chisel Comp Shimano: RockShox SID 120mm fork, featuring the Rush Damper and Ride Dynamics Tuned RockShox Deluxe Select+ 110mm rear shock
- Chisel: Rockshox Recon Silver RL 120mm fork, featuring Motion Control damper and Ride Dynamics Tuned X-Fusion 110mm rear shock
- Chisel Comp: RockShox SID 120mm fork, featuring the Rush Damper and Ride Dynamics Tuned RockShox Deluxe Select+ 110mm rear shock
In terms of drivetrain, the Chisel FS comes with 1x12 Shimano or SRAM.
- Chisel Shimano: Shimano Deore 1×12
- Chisel Comp Shimano: Shimano SLX/Deore 1×12
- Chisel: SRAM SX Eagle 1x12
- Chisel Comp: SRAM GX Eagle 1x12
Each of the four Chisel FS models comes with a TranzX dropper seatpost, Specialized Body Geometry Power Sport saddle, Specialized Ground Control 29×2.35 (Control Casing) front tyre | Specialized Fast Trak 29×2.35 (Control Casing) rear tyre.
In summary, the Specialized Chisel FS is an exceptionally well-specced full-suspension mountain bike that’s light, durable, reliable, good looking and ready to race! At R49 000 for the Chisel FS Shimano and Chisel FS and R59 000 for the Chisel FS Comp Shimano and Chisel FS Comp, you’ll struggle to find a better value for money full-suspension race bike. (Prices correct as at April 2025).
See the range in store here: https://www.lynnwoodcyclery.co.za/collections/cross-country
Author, Lynnwood Cyclery