We all know the standard trail conversation, “what the hell is that you’re riding?”. Well, if you’re riding a Plus bike, and a women’s specific one at that, then you’re bound to draw a crowd. Throw in a Specialized SWAT system and let the questions begin. We have been testing the Specialized Rhyme FSR Expert 6Fattie to see how it handles.
Specification of the Specialized Rhyme FSR Expert 6Fattie
The new Specialized Rhyme 6Fattie starts at € 2900 (£ 2500) with the top end Expert model (as tested) topping out at € 6300 (£ 4800), it comes with a solid ‘women’s specific build kit’ with all the contact points featuring well thought out components. A SRAM XO1 1×11 drivetrain looks after the gearing, with many brands opting for 2x drivetrains for our ‘weaker legs’ it’s refreshing to see Specialized realize women want high performance 1x drivetrains too.The 10-42t cassette accompanied with a smaller than average 28t chainring to give a lower gear range means there is little you can’t crank this bike up. A FOX Float factory DPS rear shock has been treated to the ‘Women’s RX trail tune’ taking into account the lighter weight and less aggressive style of most women riders. Thankfully Specialized have kept things burly up front and a Fox 34 forks keep the front end ready for the big hits with 150 mm of silky smooth travel. Specialized’s own brand 6Fattie Purgatory Control / Ground Control tires have a huge contact patch with their 3” width sticking like a hedgehog to a dartboard to the trails. 720 mm wide bars may be a little narrow for some ladies and the low bottom bracket (331 mm) may cause some consternation if you live in an area with rocky climbs, but an equal number will love the improved cornering.
Fork: FOX 34 Plus Performance Elite, 150 mm
Rear shock: FOX FLOAT Factory DPS with AUTOSAG
Brakes: Shimano Deore XT
Drivetrain: SRAM X01, 1×11
Seatpost: Specialized Command Post IRcc (XS/S: 75 mm, M: 100 mm)
Stem: Specialized XC (XS/S: 45 mm, M: 60 mm)
Handlebar: Specialized, 720 mm
Wheels: Roval Traverse 650b, 29 mm internal width
Tires: Specialized 6Fattie Purgatory Control/Ground Control 60TPI, 2Bliss Ready, folding bead, 650bx3.0″
Weight: 13.8 kg
Price: € 6300 (£ 4,800)
Riding the Specialized Rhyme FSR Expert 6Fattie
With the bigger Plus tires the most important factor is pressure. It’s easy to think that with huge volumes you can run crazy low pressures like a fat bike, but this results in a lazy, sluggish bike that handles like a drunk horse. We found the sweet spot to be 1.0 and 1.1 bar front and back respectively, giving fast rolling speed and plenty of support in the corners. With the correct pressures, the Rhyme 6Fattie is a fun bike right from the go, the generously ratioed gearing allows for easy climbing and the Body geometry Women’s Myth saddle keeps you comfy as you spin up to the top. Testers expecting sluggish climbing from the wide tires were pleasantly surprised by the agility and speed with which it climbs, on trail centres and hardpack the bike surges upwards with a very fast rolling speed. The women’s RX trail tune on the fox float rear shock suited our 58 kg tester and the AutoSAG worked well to find a good base setup that required little tweaking (aggressive riders may want to add more pressure) we found rear traction was great through sweeping turns and high-speed straights. Through more technical sections we found that the Rhyme sucked up the hits well, rolling noticeably easier than 27.5” bikes through chatter. Intermediate riders will enjoy added confidence from the Plus tires, making for a comfortable ride with masses of grip and security, easy on the arms and upper body.
When the trails get very steep, we found the Purgatory Control / Ground Control tires made the handling a little vague and less responsive, lacking the razor-sharp handling required for dynamic riding on enduro trails, and some more aggressive tires would be needed. While the stability is unquestioned, on very hard trails experienced riders may find the 6Fattie less capable on the limit than its standard tired stablemates, but that would be missing the point a little. On flowing trails and fun corners the Rhyme 6Fattie is delirious fun, especially for an intermediate rider. Oh yes, and the SWAT storage system is amazing, all bikes should have one.
Conclusion
Specialized should be commended for offering a ‘female specific’ bike without suggesting a ‘dumbed down’ version. For anyone looking for a bike to boost their confidence on flow trails, singletrack and trail centres, the Specialized Rhyme 6Fattie offers masses of grip and excitement and is effortless to exploit. The AutoSAG and SWAT system ensure simple setup and make it easy to enjoy the Rhyme to its full potential. However, those looking to smash steep terrain or enduro trails should mount some more aggressive Plus tires or stick with traditional rubber.
More Information on specialized.com
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