Specialized Safire

Frame

A 5" travel suspension frame designed for smaller riders is a sight to behold, as it is certainly about time we girls had a lightweight bike in this travel range. The Safire is built from the all new FSR M5 manipulated alloy for a lightweight ride and fitted with Specialized's AFR rear Shock with remote Trail Tune inertia valve, with adjustable rebound and Brain Fade. This system allows the suspension to work based on the terrain not what the rider is doing or pedal action. The Brain Fade works at all times but is especially useful whilst climbing, reducing pedal bob and enhancing climbing ability by stiffening the rear end travel. On descents though expect the opposite, the suspension works fully and responds well to big drops and small repetitious bumps alike.

On their website Specialized say "This smart suspension system features a fully active design for confident traction and control on any trail, while remaining fully independent of brake forces and chain torque." Well, we'd have to agree with that!

Components and contact points

There's nothing that shouts out 'girl's bike' on the Safire, the graphics and design as well as the female specific components are subtle and the later work well for smaller riders. As always it's the small details that really count and we were not disappointed. Starting in the cockpit, the smaller grips and sensible width bars work well for women riders to give good control and set-up feel. Stem length and bar height were well thought out for the sort of riding you'd be doing onthe Safire, a variety that is, so the ride position was neither XC nor freeride but a happy medium allowing both.

The crankset is Shimano's XT with 170mm cranks, a good length for riders of our size and weight (we tested a Medium) and found the gearing spot on and perfectly setup. The gearing is SRAM's X-0 system which we really like, especially the easy shifting helps smaller hands and minimises the stretch to change gears. We have found thumb shifting a bit heavy and awkward for our small hands on some systems but not with the SRAM X-0 system.

Braking is thanks to Custom Avid Ultimate 7 hydraulic disc brakes, with 160mm rotors giving reliable braking on all terrain and without adding weight too. The brake levers could be easily adjusted for reach so smaller hands had no issues with stretching to brake.

Forks are Fox F120 RLC forks with 120mm travel, and rebound/compression adjustment and fitted with a lock out too. Wheelset is composed of DT Swiss custom X420 rims, 24mm with eyelets, and a Specialized front hub and DT Swiss rear hub.

Ride

We already mentioned the adjustable brake levers and solid braking with the Avid Ultimate 7 brakes. These points are particularly important when descending and seeing as we enjoyed that so much on the Safire we were pleased to have our brake levers and bite point exactly right for precise and accurate braking.

Specialized Brain

The Brain works well and is especially noticeable whilst climbing, actually that's not strictly accurate as you can't feel the Brain working. It's not like a normal shock where you can chose the setting of Pro-Pedal or fully open position and it works like that constantly until you change the setting. The Brain works away and changes all the time responding to the terrain and your requirements, it sounds weird but it does work.

The new BrainFade features on the new Specialized shocks mean you can set the Brain to work on more of a wide range now, so smooth terrain characteristics are customizable, and the amount of plushness you want can be tuned to your weight and riding style. This is easier than it sounds, there are basically dial two adjustments to set-up once you've set the air pressure to your weight. We rode the Brain set up in it's various plushness settings, from firm to fully active ride feel, and we enjoyed it best set-up on the plusher side. We got the most out of the descents yet didn't suffer on the climbs either, an unusual combo that we really have got used to and thoroughly admire.

If you fancy splashing out on a lighter and tricked out version of the Safire, you need to look at the S-WORKS Safire FSR. It may set you back £3999 but what a great way to spend four G's. Spec consists of Shimano XTR, Magura Marta SL hydraulic disc brakes, an upgraded Specialized Future Shock S120 and Roval Contrôle XC race wheelset. So where does the rest of extra price-tag go I hear you say, well check out the frame specifications. We're talking a FACT 10m carbon Designed for Women frame, with Az1 construction and M5 alloy chainstays. Plus FACT 10m carbon seatstays and Designs for Women geometry, now we're talking proper light weight!