Specialized S-Works?

[firedfromthecircus]

Can anybody clear up a bit of confusion for me regarding the S-Works 'branding' or label?

I thought that S-Works was the r+d arm of Specialized and sometimes used as a label on top end stuff to differentiate it from everything else. Stuff like team frames and suchlike.

So M2 metal matrix would have been developed by S-Works, but not all frames made of M2 were badged as S-Works.

If this is the case, why do I keep seeing stuff labelled as S-Works when to the best of my knowledge it was not sold as such when new?

Or is it OK to call anything that might have been derived from something that came from the S-Works r+d program S-Works? :?

 

[BoyBurning]

S-Works was 'Skunk Works' or similar.

First appeared in 1992.

Only the top bikes from each range were S-Works, usually with decals on seat tube, top of down tube near seat tube junction, usually also on head tube.

Similarly, some top end kit was branded as S-Works.

What in particular are you referring to as being possibly incorrectly labelled?


BB.

Can anybody clear up a bit of confusion for me regarding the S-Works 'branding' or label?

I thought that S-Works was the r+d arm of Specialized and sometimes used as a label on top end stuff to differentiate it from everything else. Stuff like team frames and suchlike.

So M2 metal matrix would have been developed by S-Works, but not all frames made of M2 were badged as S-Works.

If this is the case, why do I keep seeing stuff labelled as S-Works when to the best of my knowledge it was not sold as such when new?

Or is it OK to call anything that might have been derived from something that came from the S-Works r+d program S-Works? :?

 

[firedfromthecircus]

What in particular are you referring to as being possibly incorrectly labelled?

I have seen a few bikes now that have been referred to as S-Works where I have had doubts.

The most recent one had exactly the same decals as my Stumpjumper M2, which when I bought it new in '97 was not described as S-Works!

There is also the issue of re-finished frames done with S-Works decals. :shock:

Are people just misinformed about the issue?

 

[drcarlos]

Would this not have been the halo effect and to bring in the M2 in the S-Works range for a year or two before it dropped down to the regular bikes and there was a new piece of tech only on the S-Works bikes?

Carl.

 

[BoyBurning]

What in particular are you referring to as being possibly incorrectly labelled?

I have seen a few bikes now that have been referred to as S-Works where I have had doubts.

The most recent one had exactly the same decals as my Stumpjumper M2, which when I bought it new in '97 was not described as S-Works!

There is also the issue of re-finished frames done with S-Works decals. :shock:

Are people just misinformed about the issue?

I think it's personal preferences for certain people. If they refinish a frame maybe they want to 'upgrade' it with new decals? It is possible in any case to identify S-Works from regulars by frame details [for the Steels anyway] and by frame numbers for the M2.

The M2 was an S-Works in 1992 by the way [M2 Team] so the decals might be genuine, although I have no knowledge of '97 as my interest stops at early '95.

S-Works of a given year did become mainstream models of subsequent years as Carl suggests, but only as technology not rebranding of left over frames [ie. an S-Works Steel of '92 would not become a Stumpie in '93, but the '93 Stumpie might share tubing / butting with the '92 S-Works].

BB.

 

[taffy]

So M2 metal matrix would have been developed by S-Works, but not all frames made of M2 were badged as S-Works.

pretty much

the 93 M2 stumpy i sold recently was derived form the 92 S works M2 team bikes (and would be pretty close in frame spec/build) but it isn't and S works.

 

[Anonymous]

My S-Works. Got it early 90's.

 

[Anthony]

I know about the materials and the trickle-down marketing thing, but is that all there was to S-Works frames? They weren't made in the US?

 

[firedfromthecircus]

I know about the materials and the trickle-down marketing thing, but is that all there was to S-Works frames? They weren't made in the US?

Weren't all the M2 frames made in America, S-Works or not? :?

 

[BoyBurning]

S-Works Steel were made in Japan by Toyo, as opposed to Taiwan for the regular stumpies et al...

The S/W Steels are also fillet brazed on the stays rather than tig'd.


BB