You are looking at a 1998 Specialized Ground Control FSR Elite - with a dodgy homemade shock linkage, and double-crown Girvin fork, this is peak freeride.
The Ground Control FSR debuted in 1997, and the line expanded to three bikes in '98; the Elite, the Pro, and the Extreme. And if you're an eagle-eyed reader, you'll notice that the Extreme is a different frame from the Elite and Pro. That's my Extreme on the right, from 2000 or so.
I hated that bike. I've had great bikes, good bikes, ok bikes, and bikes I didn't really own long enough to form an opinion on - but that Specialized is the only bike I ever straight up hated. It was mostly due to the Rock Shox Judy XL fork, which used friction to damp its coil springs. Friction is not a good way to provide shock damping. It just frustrated my every time I took it out.
But that's a story for another day. What's important now is that this FSR Elite used Specialized's MAX Backbone frame, aka Manipulated Aluminium Extrusion. If you look closely, you can see that from the cranks to the headtube is one piece, presumably extruded through a mold. Or whatever. I have no idea how that works to be honest - I presume it's like those Play-doh things where you'd force Play-doh through a shape to get a long star-shaped tube of Play-doh? If you are young and wondering what the hell I'm talking about, I don't know what to tell you, this is what we had to keep us entertained in the late 70's.
The Extreme on the other hand, is a bit of monocoque at the head tube attached to a tube sub-frame. Cool I suppose, but not as cool as the MAX Backbone frame.
Also, the picture on the left is Shaun Palmer's FSR. Palmer was one of the best snowboarders to ever live, who decided to pick up mountain biking, and was just a half second shy of winning the World DH Championship in '96 on an Intense. Specialized won the bidding war for him in '97, and he helped bring tons of sponsorship money in to the sport with the Specialized team, sponsored by Pringles and Mountain Dew among others.
I hated that bike. I've had great bikes, good bikes, ok bikes, and bikes I didn't really own long enough to form an opinion on - but that Specialized is the only bike I ever straight up hated. It was mostly due to the Rock Shox Judy XL fork, which used friction to damp its coil springs. Friction is not a good way to provide shock damping. It just frustrated my every time I took it out.
But that's a story for another day. What's important now is that this FSR Elite used Specialized's MAX Backbone frame, aka Manipulated Aluminium Extrusion. If you look closely, you can see that from the cranks to the headtube is one piece, presumably extruded through a mold. Or whatever. I have no idea how that works to be honest - I presume it's like those Play-doh things where you'd force Play-doh through a shape to get a long star-shaped tube of Play-doh? If you are young and wondering what the hell I'm talking about, I don't know what to tell you, this is what we had to keep us entertained in the late 70's.
The Extreme on the other hand, is a bit of monocoque at the head tube attached to a tube sub-frame. Cool I suppose, but not as cool as the MAX Backbone frame.
Also, the picture on the left is Shaun Palmer's FSR. Palmer was one of the best snowboarders to ever live, who decided to pick up mountain biking, and was just a half second shy of winning the World DH Championship in '96 on an Intense. Specialized won the bidding war for him in '97, and he helped bring tons of sponsorship money in to the sport with the Specialized team, sponsored by Pringles and Mountain Dew among others.
My connection to the FSR Elite? I worked at a crummy little IGA in Edmonton where the meat dept. guy had an FSR Elite with the Manitou X-Vert double crown, Syncros Revolution cranks, and probably XTR. This bike was loaded. And I'd jump on it and ride it around the back of the store when he wasn't looking. Pretty sure he works at Revolution Cycle in Edmonton now, where this bike came from originally.
Sadly, I had an X-Vert fork - that I only recently sold - that would have been perfect for this bike. But, the Girvin Chubby is a rare piece, so we're happy with that. And we're happy with those CODA cranks, which are not going to stay on this bike. We are not happy with the cheapo 7-spd shifters, 7spd wheel set, and the homemade shock linkage.
I had hoped I was seeing a BETD link - an upgrade to the stock shock mount that increased the travel, but instead, it really looks like two pieces of aluminium just bolted on, moving the shock mount point back a bit. Looking at it, I'm not sure that it's really making any difference.
Sadly, I had an X-Vert fork - that I only recently sold - that would have been perfect for this bike. But, the Girvin Chubby is a rare piece, so we're happy with that. And we're happy with those CODA cranks, which are not going to stay on this bike. We are not happy with the cheapo 7-spd shifters, 7spd wheel set, and the homemade shock linkage.
I had hoped I was seeing a BETD link - an upgrade to the stock shock mount that increased the travel, but instead, it really looks like two pieces of aluminium just bolted on, moving the shock mount point back a bit. Looking at it, I'm not sure that it's really making any difference.
Wrapping up the assessment of this 36.5 pound monster, we see that someone has ground off the cantilever cable housing stop from the frame. Huge weight savings there no doubt. And, maybe the most amazing thing on this bike; the Bassano Vuelta Bomber Extreme use only saddle. It's freakin' HUGE. Like comically large. Why did they think that DH seats should be so big? I really don't think that the average DH course would have you sitting on the bike very much. And even if it did, why this?
One last thing - look closely at the seat picture and you'll see a chunk of metal next to the seatpost. I don't know what this is. A very shady looking shim. I'm really hoping there's no damage in there and it's just that someone couldn't be bothered to round up a 30.9 Specialized post.
Not sure what I'll do with this yet. I have a nice Fox 130mm fork that would be great on it, and it needs a proper drivetrain. But I do kinda like that Girvin fork.
Stay tuned for updates.
One last thing - look closely at the seat picture and you'll see a chunk of metal next to the seatpost. I don't know what this is. A very shady looking shim. I'm really hoping there's no damage in there and it's just that someone couldn't be bothered to round up a 30.9 Specialized post.
Not sure what I'll do with this yet. I have a nice Fox 130mm fork that would be great on it, and it needs a proper drivetrain. But I do kinda like that Girvin fork.
Stay tuned for updates.
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