Specialized Launches $999 Carbon Hotwalk for Toddlers

Dec 3, 2020
by James Smurthwaite  
photo

Specialized has designed what it calls the 'ultimate first bike' with a full carbon version of its Hotwalk strider bike.

The frame, fork, handlebar and wheels are all carbon and the Rhythm Lite tires have also been redesigned for lightness on this bike with the aim of making it as maneuvrable as possible for young shredders. This is the only kids' bike that Specialized has ever made from carbon and as a result, it's also the brand's lightest ever bike, coming in at 4.63 lbs (2.1kg).

photo
Specialized has designed these bars to be 38% smaller than regular bars for smaller paws.

Specialized has also spent some time desigining some kid-specific features on this bike including handlebars that have a 38% smaller diameter, a handle under the saddle for parents to use to carry the bike when the child gets tired and streamlined stays that make it easier for kids to put their feet down. Specialized also built a new test for this bike to ensure it could support children up to 40lb (18kg).

photo
Slim chainstays make it easier for children to put their feet down.
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Even the tiny wheels get the carbon treatment.

The bike is designed for riders up to 35 inches (88cm) and Specialized recommends an age range of 18 months to four years. As cool as it is, the bike doesn't come cheap. The original aluminium Hotwalk retailed for $175 but this one is more than five times that at $999 USD/£999 GBP. The bike will be on sale from December 3rd, just in time for a very lucky kid's letter to Santa.

More info, here.

Editor's Note: A separate version of this article was mistakenly published too early last week. We apologize for any confusion caused.


Posted In:
Reviews and Tech Press Releases Kids Bikes Specialized Specialized Hotwalk


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710 Comments
  • 1330 6
 *Kid tips over $1000 carbon bike immediately onto asphalt, cries*
*Dad also cries*
*Specialized laughs*
  • 19 3
 LMAO
  • 33 7
 "Comment Gold" on the next Podcast.
  • 25 1
 www.youtube.com/watch?v=memW8V7GgQ0
  • 3 1
 This is gold. @ischiller please make this happen.
  • 29 0
 @JustAnotherRiderHere: If specialized doesn't come out with a carbon version of the inchworm in 2021, I will throw hands
  • 179 92
 PB reader buys 5K carbon mountain bike. Uses for 12 months. Sells it and buys another one with new color ways . Logs onto PB to scoff at 1K carbon kids bike that could be used for 2x as long as their last bike. The carbon kids bike weighs 1/3 of the aluminum version. Could resell for good price or pass on to younger child in the family for them to use another 2 years, then resell for still a good price. Still says not worth it and buys $1500 budget carbon wheels to save 200 grams.

Seeing production bikes that weigh less than half of a child's body weight is a big win for getting kids fired up about riding bikes.
  • 251 0
 It's not even s-works though
  • 88 1
 Funny, but anyone that's tossing that kind of coin at a Strider will run it over in the driveway with the Range Rover & not blink..... and order another w/ overnight delivery!
  • 10 0
 @JustAnotherRiderHere: if they made an inchworm for adults i'd deffo fork over some cash. no doubt
  • 48 0
 @flipoffthemonkeys: I think they call it the sybian...
  • 51 1
 @garrettstories: Nice story Garrett
  • 44 5
 No place for feet... No brake.

Specialized makes $1000 strider, misses market completely.
  • 32 0
 @phalley: Leaves room for an upscale model release next season. They need to figure out how to get Ohlins on it somehow
  • 95 4
 What is the youngest age of a dentist?
  • 55 2
 @phalley: S-Works is 20g lighter and cost is $1800. Levy is currently test riding and held up on releasing the article due to media date embargo.
  • 61 1
 @will-burr: I'm waiting for the Dangerholm version.
  • 74 0
 No SWAT compartment?! NO SALE!

Seriously, though, where are the kids going to store their goldfish and bandaids? Missed opportunity here, Speccy...
  • 6 0
 If only it came with super wheels and rev grips
  • 1 0
 @rickybobby18: I got nothing for this one.
  • 11 0
 @phalley: they will release a $2,000 S-Works version with carbon rims, better carbon frame layup and improved aerodynamics next year.
  • 13 5
 Specialized has lost their mind on bike pricing.
  • 18 0
 @Mac1987: And no dropper? I don't think the Pinkbike audience is going to like that.
  • 21 0
 Grim Hotwalk Donut. Have Barellis daughter test it.
  • 69 0
 No sippy cup mounts? Unrideable.
  • 3 0
 @JustAnotherRiderHere: SOOOOOOOOO GOOD!!!!!!!!
  • 12 0
 @BikesBoatsNJeeps:

100% this. That was my largest oversight when buying my kids run bikes, It gets overlooked, but will allow kids to build exponentially more confidence when they start to get the hang of gliding, balance and speed .... once they get past the sitting on the seat and walking stage.
It is thoroughly disheartening watching your child get off and walk down a hill instead of being able to have fun rolling down it in a reasonably?> controlled manner.... watching your child speed uncontrollably down a hill, waiting for the inevitable disaster, although potentially awesome for Friday Fails is also not very fulfilling.....

It also saves your wife giving you shit about wearing out the toes on kids shoes every week....
  • 14 0
 My daughter eventually figured out how to drag her heel on the rear tire, but that blows out shoes too. So. Many. Rain boots. My neighborhood is really hilly and my kid was terrifying my wife as she took off down hills. Plus you're always worried about a car popping out of a driveway. The option for a rear brake and a place to rest your feet are a must.
  • 2 0
 @phalley: @Roval @Ohlins @Ergon
  • 25 0
 @garrettstories: absolutely a light bike is really cool to get kids stoked on a bike... however, keep in mind that most children will be transitioning to pedal bikes between the ages of three and four and no way a child between the ages of two and three needs the grams savings of a bike like this for the demands they have of their bike. They can get just as much from a lightly heavier aluminum bike IMO. This is more for parents and status and you are kidding yourself if you think there is a justifiable increase in return based on measures for your child on this item.
  • 28 0
 @krka73: they'll have to blink because the Range Rover will instantaneously start leaking oil after running over the bike. RR will spend 9 weeks at the shop and will never run the same again.
  • 7 0
 @garrettstories: also a big win for getting them hooked on carbon so they can become the 5k carbon mtb PB reader for a lifetime of sales and stupid upgrades
  • 4 0
 @snl1200: Speaking of "Status"...can you buy a Status in North America yet? Or just $1000 scoots?
  • 8 0
 @blowmyfuse: I'm currently not in the market for either so am not sure- but definitely $1000 scoots. I hear it comes with hair gel, a pint sized arc'teryx onesie and an Oakley decal for your miniature Hummer if you order now.
  • 5 3
 You forgot to add:

*Dad checks bike first*
(Cracked frame)
*Dad starts crying*
  • 3 0
 @garrettstories: lol true, If you actually calculate the cost per ride of your bike, the numbers often come out horrible
  • 5 0
 thank you to Big S for making this and BP for publishing it. These are some of the best comments all year... LMAO!!
  • 7 0
 @BikesBoatsNJeeps:
Yeah really, $1000 for “the ultimate first bike” should at least get you a rear brake. My daughters $200 run bike had one...
  • 22 0
 For $1,000 I'd expect a full chart of geo measurements.
  • 12 0
 @opetruzel: Wait for the EVO version
  • 1 0
 @JustAnotherRiderHere: Bwahaha!
  • 1 0
 @garrettstories: @tkrug: Cruzee bikes make all of this with alu, Strider have top of the line model with similar specks, having said that ;

however I agree finally more competitors!

My point is big brands did shitty job in the past to make good kids bikes, and only now are ramping up, there plenty of kids bike manufactures that made a good job!
  • 5 0
 Jeff Bezos has entered the chat room
  • 2 0
 @garrettstories: Its not that much lighter, my kid’s Woom 1 weighs 3kg or 900g more than the Carbon Hotwalk.
  • 1 0
 @azawad: what do you mean? It’s proportional to the size
  • 5 0
 @BikesBoatsNJeeps: I love the simple and elegant design, but believe even baby strollers need breaks in hilly areas, like, I don't know... San Francisco?

Maybe the breaks should be integrated into foot pegs like moto, in combination with a internally sealed rear drum break. This way a child can achieve more breaking power using their weight & standing up, while maintaining total control with both hands firmly holding the handle bar, while they build hand strength and dexterity.
  • 12 0
 @garrettstories: or PB reader buys the 4.2 lb Vitus nippy for 50 bucks or the 7 lb magnesium Vitus Smoothy for 100 bucks and donates the difference to get underprivileged good bikes (hint, not specialized kids bikes, they are crap).
  • 6 0
 @BikesBoatsNJeeps:

“Misses market completely”

I’m not sure the market for this actually exists, but if it does it more than likely doesn’t care about the lack of those features. Someone buys this because it’s a statement, not because it’s functionally better than any other balance bike.
  • 6 1
 @garrettstories: You can not be serious? My dad bought a bike for my oldest brother back in the late 50's (made of steel) and we all rode it, all 6 kids, damn rusty pos bike lasted 25 years. That investment was better than some dumbass buying his brat a $1,000 hunk of carbon.
  • 2 0
 @BikesBoatsNJeeps:
Agree with the limited foot rest space.
But brakes on a balance bike is wasted. I have put my three boys through balance bike. Brakes are useless. Kids use their feet and don’t touch the brake. They seem to automatically drag feet as soon as the get to a speed they are confident with. If they get out of control they don’t reach for the brake and they death grip and grind their shoes.
  • 3 0
 @JustAnotherRiderHere: I want the 29r version please.
  • 1 2
 @speedfreek: balance bike plays a huge part in motor skill development for the kid;


Whem mom And dad shred new stumpjumper their kid will get new spesh as well now, prior that spesh did walmart level kidbikes
  • 2 0
 Nice, but you did have a week to think of this comment seeing as pinkbike posted it last week then deleted it.
  • 1 0
 @phalley: spot on! Such a miss by Specialized.
  • 1 0
 And the 2020 winner of best comment goes to...
  • 3 0
 @Trudeez: That is Fricken funny!
  • 1 0
 @BikesBoatsNJeeps: It would have to be a super mini hydraulic brake, they are half way there with the bars, but for a very young child to be able to squeeze a brake easily and effectively it would need to be a very special brake and absolutely yes it is is possible.
  • 1 0
 @BikesBoatsNJeeps: Commencal make a strider with a rear brake and it’s around $180. It’s still a lot of money for a strider. My two year old needs me to stop being cheap.
  • 2 0
 Brakes Breaks Brakes Breaks. PB parents FTW.
  • 2 0
 Of only those BigWheels that my friends and I used to t-bone each other with had been made of carbon.
  • 4 0
 @snl1200: This should have been called the Specialized Status instead.
  • 2 0
 @Mcphisto1978:
Rim brakes suck for kids on balance bikes. There are balance bikes with disc brake mount and they are excellent. Production Privee used to sell one, which is now sold be Commencal.
We've got one for our daughter. The bike even has foot rests!
  • 1 0
 @garrettstories:
Where does one go to sign up for the spend-5k-a-year-on-a-mtb club? I, and probably 95% of PB readers would love to know.
  • 2 0
 @Ryanrobinson1984: brilliant! Smile
  • 4 1
 @bikesboatsnjeeps: Agreed footrests are essential so that you raise riders who are actually able to control a bike when out of the saddle. And they may be able to ride the pumptrack eventually.

To put all our pissing in context, a kid rides a balance bike loads. And after the kid progresses to a pedal bike, it is being passed on to so many other kids. I honestly don't know anyone who's bought one new and I doubt even know the first buyer. And I don't know who's got ours now after we passed them on (and they passed them on too). Isn't 1k considered an "affordable bike" here on PB, possibly even a "beater bike" or "N+1 bike"? None of these will probably see the amount of riding time as a decent balance bike gets. If the lower weight actually inspires the kid to get up that hill once more for another rush down and another great memory, it is actually well worth it. A kid will most likely have a good time on any decent steel or short fiber plastic composite balance bike, no question. If riding one of these with an even lower weight and better handling will give them a great time, it is still a worthy consideration.
  • 2 0
 @BikesBoatsNJeeps: We have Spec Hot Walk (Older version. No carbon Big Grin ) without brake and Commencal 12 with disc brake. For the first year kids are unable to learn how to use the brake. They start to use it when they are around 3.5 years ols, and by that time Spec HotWalk is way to small and unstable for them. Especially on pump track. That's why there's Commencal 12 Wink
  • 1 0
 @SimonVelo: Does your kid know about this substantial issue?
  • 3 1
 @speedfreek: It probably appeals to the same crowd that would buy a 10.000$ Stumpjumper, even though a 4.000$ Stumpy is functionally equal. Literally just because they want everybody to know that they can.
  • 1 0
 @pakleni: at 3.5 my kid had moved onto a pedal bike, with hand brakes.
She was on the kick bike from 18 mos to 3+ and then she started pedaling to keep up with her little friends on their pedal bikes. I still have the kick bike and #2 is on the way, I'm considering making a disc mount and lacing a up a wheel with a disc hub, and a 120 rotor from a scooter. I have some old Hayes Strokers laying around. Maybe if I get bored during my 12 week parental leave.
  • 1 0
 @BikesBoatsNJeeps: Hayes, Tektro and Sram will not work. Been there, tried that. They can't grab the lever. Only Shimano works (shorter one finger lever is the best).
  • 1 0
 @nickmalysh:
As a father of three I assure you I am aware of the benefit of balance bikes. My eldest (turned 4 back in September) progressed from his balance bike to a 12” wheel pedal bike a month or two ago; completely skipping the stabiliser/training wheel phase. Interestingly though, his balance bike did not have a brake or footrests. It would have been nice to have em, but it’s not the be all & end all.

It’s also missing the point of my comment - it matters not one iota that this bike lacks those features. Functionality is not the point of this; it’s a statement piece, nothing else really. And that’s fine - a Lamborghini Aventador is far less practical than a Ford Focus, but given the choice I know which I’d have...
  • 1 0
 @BikesBoatsNJeeps: for what it's worth, my kid had a used commencal with rear disk and switched over from foot to hand brake only sometime around his second birthday, and is now using front and rear brakes competently on his pedal bike at 4. We've got a second baby now who is on a woom 1 at 14 months old and now I'm kicking myself for not saving the commencal as I do believe the brake made a big difference and finding one used again is gonna be a lot hard in the current market.
  • 1 1
 @JustAnotherRiderHere: Let the poison out.
  • 4 0
 Condom is sooooooo much cheaper.
  • 3 0
 @opetruzel: Details of the new BRAT compartment to be confirmed post-launch.
  • 1 0
 @vinay: Yeah, that's just too heavy
  • 1 0
 @jamescrutchy: Sometimes it baffles me what kind of money grown ups are willing to spend to save some weight on their bikes.
  • 1 0
 Rich dad problems
  • 1 1
 @vinay: Dude, you can insert anything for ...willing to spend to____. Something tells me there be a few billion people in the developing world that could say that about almost every aspect of your life. Mine too, so not hating or anything.
  • 3 0
 @garrettstories: I was curious how someone might defend this bike. I gotta give it to you — it’s about as good a defense as any I can think of. One of my other thoughts on this is you have parents who are really psyched about riding, are really stoked to get their kids into riding, and want to buy them something nice to start riding. They have the money, so when it comes to getting their kids into it, they spare no expense. It’s purely emotional, for sure, but if people want to do it and it makes them happy, it’s their life.

Still, regarding the hand-me-down theory: I bought my son a steel DK strider when he was 3 for $125, and it is now in my first daughter’s hands. When she’s done with it, it will go to her little sister. Then I will sell it for maybe $25? For $100 I feel I’ve gotten my money’s worth, and it’s in fine shape. Kids are at once hard of these things (falls, scratches), and not quite hard enough (nothing beyond cosmetic damage). Steel is good enough. Not a lot I could do to justify to myself to buy this carbon bike, personally.
  • 3 0
 Wait... I came up with another practical reason people might actually want to buy this bike.

How many times have you bought your kids something and they play with it like twice? Well, if I got my kid this strider, you bet damn well we are going to be on this bike Every. Single. Day.

Ha!
  • 2 0
 @opetruzel: The goldfish owned by kids that ride these are REALLY GOLD!!
  • 3 1
 @Chuckolicious: Yeah, but I meant to say this for the same audience. A good bit of the PB audience is willing to pay 1k extra to get a carbon frame instead of aluminum. To lower the sprung (not unsprung) weight of their bike. The question is, does that make the adult bike ride proportionally better compared to what a kid gains when having a blast on a lighter weight (yet sufficiently strong and stable) balance bike? I'm by no means saying that people should spend the same on their kids' toys as they do on their own, just that the hate Specialized gets for going all out on a balance bike is quite odd when it is coming from people who might not even notice if the value of their complete mtb inventory (bike(s) and gear) would be 1k cheaper.
  • 2 0
 @Seawild66: gimme a break from your spelling of brakes!
  • 1 0
 @phalley: thats the real shame
  • 1 0
 @vinay: I have 3 kids and 3 balance bikes being purchased as new, agree that they took shit ton of abuse over last 5y, however the only thing I would change is a grips in case I'll ever sell them;
  • 2 0
 @gnarparr +++
  • 1 0
 @Mac1987: It already has carbon rims.
  • 2 0
 @garrettstories: I think being able to have access to a bike gets a kid fired up to ride bike. Most families can't afford a 1,000 bucks for a bike that is ridden for a year or less. Its also a tiny resale market on a $1,000 strider bikes. Having had two kids myself who both started on riding a strider bike, biggest factor in getting them to ride was having a bike, not the weight of what they ride. Also kid strider bikes are quite light no matter the material, I probably had a strider on the heavier side of things and it was not an issue for my daughter or son.

Side note: Most people I know who mountain bike and have families don't buy new bikes every year, more like a new bike every 7-10 years and even than they are looking at mid range bikes not top of the line.
  • 1 0
 @BikesBoatsNJeeps: I have two kids on run bikes. It's better without brakes. Their hands are too small to use them efficiently and it overly complicates the process. They just drag their feet to slow. A place to put their feet while coasting would be a plus though.
  • 1 0
 @Mac1987: It has carbon wheels.
  • 1 0
 @sirkpeak: As they made smaller diameter handlebars here, I was hoping they would actually make the handlebars so that kids could hold on to the bars and actually operate the brakes.
  • 1 0
 @BikesBoatsNJeeps: My 3 kids all learned on the aluminum Hotwalk and it was basically the same as this. They moved onto pedal bikes at 2 years old without training wheels or brakes, so I don’t see how a footrest is necessary.
  • 1 0
 @Mcphisto1978: 100%. Kids small enough to ride this don’t have anywhere close to the hand strength or motor skills to operate a handbrake or foot pedal. It has to be simple.
  • 1 0
 *Dad the Dentist laughs.
  • 1 1
 @vinay: Ahh, gotcha. Ok, we’re in agreement!
  • 1 0
 youtu.be/bzdmLLKWflQ
  • 2 0
 @garrettstories: Did they make the new guy at the shop rep this bike?
  • 1 0
 "Your comment has received 65 new replies"

Me: WTF !!!
  • 1 0
 @phalley: Oh, they will. Limited Edition soon for $500.00 more.
  • 1 3
 @garrettstories: Oh, shut up.
  • 1 0
 @Mcphisto1978: Doing statistics with a correlated sample of three data points is useless. Brakes on strider worked for me
  • 1 0
 @Mac1987: it does have carbon rims
  • 1 0
 Golden
  • 1 0
 @phalley: gonna get one and put on a boXXer
  • 439 96
 fuck off specialized
  • 61 20
 Probably cost $100 to make...
  • 45 78
flag BiNARYBiKE (Dec 3, 2020 at 9:39) (Below Threshold)
 Seriously. Immoral.
  • 84 32
 @BiNARYBiKE: Whatever dude. Dont buy it.
  • 54 53
 @BiNARYBiKE: Oh boo hoo capitalism
  • 52 1
 It's not April 1st. I don't get it?
  • 24 28
flag facelessghost (Dec 3, 2020 at 10:26) (Below Threshold)
 @BiNARYBiKE: If you don't like the bike, don't get one.
  • 33 4
 Great more trash.
  • 9 0
 Ha! I laughed at that comment. I was hoping to see funny comment on dated STA HTA reach ect.....and not to forget the outrageous BB height
  • 30 2
 @OldScratchJohnson: probably made for less in China by someone not too much older than the target user.
  • 19 8
 @OldScratchJohnson: Probably less than that. But then you have to hang around $75 worth of parts on it. And then you have to add in packaging, the cost of putting it on a boat across the Pacific, the cost of getting it from Long Beach to Specialized's warehouse, etc. Total cost to produce the product is maybe $300. Then it gets sold to a shop (and shipped to them) for around $600. Specialized makes $300 or so, which largely goes towards marketing, administration, and ancillary costs like paying Loic Bruni's salary (which is actually just more marketing, but whatever). Once it's at the shop, it'll inevitably be marked down, so they're realistically making around $200 on it as well.
  • 12 5
 @toast2266: Specialized employee comment...
  • 7 1
 @OldScratchJohnson: but also true. Still, no footrests is a dead set miss.
  • 7 6
 They just made sure I won't even consider their bikes in the future.
  • 3 1
 @OldScratchJohnson: Ha. No such luck. But just because the math pencils out doesn't mean I think people should buy one. Crotch goblins that have barely graduated past shitting their pants don't need fancy carbon bikes.
  • 1 0
 @toast2266: THIS!

but I can't blame Big S for wanting to make money when there is a market for such a thing. Brand recognition can start pretty young...
  • 7 2
 @toast2266: does anyone actually need a fancy carbon bike? Unless it's putting food on your table no you don't. It's crazy how many people are upset here yet they don't realize or comprehend 99% or realistically 100% of every product posted here on PB no one needs and the world could do without. Yet we are still here and still spend exorbitant amounts on money because we want to.
  • 4 1
 @kleinschuster: of course not. Mountain biking is a leisure activity. No one really needs a mountain bike of any kind, carbon or otherwise. That said, a carbon bike for a 2 year old is pretty low on the totem pole of questionably justified "needs."
  • 1 0
 @honda50r @facelessghost : believe it or not, you're allowed to criticize something. Especially honda, I wouldn't be proud to encourage the mindless acceptance of things.
  • 6 0
 @ReformedRoadie: “Made for kids, by kids.”
  • 5 4
 So let me get this straight - if a company produces and markets a product that is not within the scope of your budget or concept of “good value”, they should get lost??

Then there are A LOT of companies to become frustrated by. Have fun with that.
  • 1 0
 @OldScratchJohnson: you mean $100 for specialized to f*ck off, or this tiny bike to make?
  • 1 0
 @OldScratchJohnson: tbh more than likely
  • 1 0
 @kleinschuster:

I can’t tell, are you arguing for or against spending “exorbitant amounts of money” on something like this?

If against, keep in mind we live in better homes than the vast majority of the world, have vehicles and healthcare, and jobs that pay better than most. By your logic, we don’t need those things either if others can survive on less...but they sure make it better.

As an aside, I’m so sick of this pseudo-socialist mindset that so many PB commenters have where everything is about whether or not someone else “needs” it compared to the standards of the person doing the criticism. We live in a capitalist society and are free to spend our money on whatever we please.

I don’t personally see enough value in this to justify the price tag, but if somebody else wants to that’s their prerogative. They don’t owe me a damn thing.
  • 2 0
 @Reno233: My argument is that it's no one's business what someone else spends their money on. I'm laughing at all the hypocrites and whiners hear claiming this product is so ridiculous and illustrates everything wrong with the world today yet they don't comprehend that applies to literally every product promoted on this site. You don't like it or think it's ridiculous, no one else cares and you're not going to make the world a better place by complaining about it, move along and don't read the article or buy one.
  • 1 0
 @kleinschuster: Sounds like we agree. Have a good one mate.
  • 278 0
 Huck to flat video plz.
  • 9 0
 Comin' up next on The Violence Channel: An all-new "Ow, My Balls!"
  • 267 5
 Its never to early to teach your children consumer based elitism
  • 8 2
 Its also a lesson for the people who make them.
  • 4 0
 this comment.
  • 13 0
 A toddler working in many Asian factories would need to save for years to buy one of these only to find it way too small.
  • 9 0
 Specialized will come out with a half year geometry change. LOL
  • 1 0
 @vjunior21: or maybe bigger wheels?
  • 6 0
 @vjunior21: wait for the dribble down tech.
  • 6 2
 Spoiled toddler’s plastic toy can feed a third world family for a year.
  • 205 4
 I want the S-works version............
  • 83 0
 they really should have just slapped S-works on it, it is the top tier model after all
  • 119 0
 Is there a frame only option?
  • 44 1
 as for the tires, are they really Specialized or did someone had to work overtime with a Sharpie to black out another brand?
  • 68 0
 No bottle mount. Pass!
  • 4 0
 @lognar: top tier for now......
  • 9 0
 You're crazy to think that Specialized isn't actually going to make an S-Works version.
  • 1 32
flag healthy-not-sick-biker (Dec 3, 2020 at 9:51) (Below Threshold)
 @dolores: For now on nobody will ever acknowledge your comments, because you won two fantasy series. Was it worth it though?
  • 4 0
 That will be coming next year with a carbon seatpost and carbon saddle base/ rails
  • 7 0
 A bar end multitool won’t need a chainbreaker.
  • 1 0
 The S-Works e version is in test. Just saying...
  • 139 2
 Dentist-in-training-mobile
  • 75 1
 Fun side-note: I've been riding a Yeti this year. Suddenly I'm getting advertisements in my FB feed for dentist tools. Seriously. (I'm not a dentist).
  • 6 0
 This is orthodontist territory. Kid plays with bike a few times for a year and outgrows it.
  • 5 0
 This is for trustfund babies.
  • 180 50
 Why, why, why why why !?!??? The f&ck is wrong with these people, the Planet is trying to survive from human activities and they just decided to produce a high end bike for a toddler who only cares about shitting and eating.... the can learn as good as on the 20 years old balance bike or the odd £50 one as well... God this actually upsets me
  • 26 52
flag rickybobby18 (Dec 3, 2020 at 9:33) (Below Threshold)
 Would you rather they get fat on a hoverboard?
  • 33 34
 Simple way not to be upset ...don't buy it. Yes it's obnoxious, but will most likely be passed on or sold off just like most other strider type bikes.
  • 37 9
 @rickybobby18: No, as I said, they can learn on any £50 balance bike as good as this...
  • 72 6
 My kid's, and many others kid's balance bike was purchased used and made of plywood. He gave no sh!ts. Used it for all of 6 months and was off it. It will by-in-large rust away and decompose some day after hopefully a bunch more kids learn on it.

I guess I understand everyone and their "don't buy it!" response, but in reality there are "externalized costs" that we all pick up on the back end, when ridiculous items like this are produced for a throw away culture. I participate in the marketplace, own an MTB that is far from "green." But, I understand your frustration.

Furthermore, how about be a good Capitalist Christian and pay someone's rent whose kid sleeps in a car this winter rather than buy your kid this piece of plastic. Hows that for a guilt trip. Wink
  • 9 30
flag JustAnotherRiderHere (Dec 3, 2020 at 10:22) (Below Threshold)
 @mkpfaff: the systemic failures of others simply do not come into play when I purchase my toys.
  • 10 3
 @dmdcycles: Now apply this to everything else in your life ...
  • 13 23
flag tobiusmaximum (Dec 3, 2020 at 10:40) (Below Threshold)
 i hope you have zero unnecessary belongings in your house before you're wailing on other people.
  • 8 0
 @facelessghost: I do, whenever I can. Actually just sourced one of these balanced bikes for my nephew, yes of course I could have spend £400, but I'm pretty sure he wont disagree with the £50 second hand one :d
  • 20 0
 I only care about shitting and eating too.
  • 1 0
 @JustAnotherRiderHere: Jajaja! Good on ya!
  • 8 0
 Actually this is good if you think about it. So you have rich people with more money than brains. And you want to part them with that money so x number of people can have a fragment of that sum. The less resources put in that product is actually better for the environment. So you exchange a lot of money for a product with questionable (resource-wise) value. Something like luxury industry preying on whales. This is better than rich people hoarding money right? Wink Better to be distributed to to less rich ones in a way.
  • 2 0
 To be fair my 2 year old twins care about riding their bikes as well. Also the I would need to blow £2k on these so I’m out. LOL
  • 4 0
 So many more important things to give AF about...
  • 8 1
 Juxtapose that bike with the miles long food lines in the USA, and it pretty much sums up everything wrong with our current economic system.
  • 15 7
 The culture of status and elitism that many of us encourage is a legitimate issue that we should consider more seriously. Stuff like this puts it in perspective. Yes, you can choose to not buy something. On the other hand, if it doesn't exist in the first place it can't be bought. Sometimes it is up to the company to have some _______ discretion and choose to market things consciously and stop contributing as much to a society of polarization.
  • 7 17
flag davec113 (Dec 3, 2020 at 16:11) (Below Threshold)
 @A-HIGHLY-EDUCATED-PROFESSIONAL: go live in a cave.
  • 2 1
 Specialized’s new strategy seems to be putting out products at f-ked up prices. Like the 15k road bike. This is a slap in the face because they think they can just mold something out of carbon for $40 base cost and sell it for $1000 and idiots will still buy it.
  • 2 0
 @blackthorne: The funny thing is that if the layup was actually made by an American, it would be much more expensive yet.
  • 8 5
 The amount of downvotes on my comment is a shining example that hypocrisy is acceptable to many people in 2020. Not a surprise really.
  • 4 1
 @tobiusmaximum: Spot on... I am in a similar boat. Rubber side down man! Sure this one will get the inevitable downvotes as well
  • 4 3
 @tobiusmaximum: there's a difference between hypocrisy and inconsistency.

Arguing that a person on a diet should go ahead and finish the cake if they've slipped up and had a single slice would be absurd.

Likewise, saying someone cant be angry at the excess of a $1000 kids toy because they (probably) have a nice bike or two at home in the garage is not helpful.
  • 2 3
 @tobiusmaximum: I'd rather admit I'm a significant hypocrite than realize that I can justify any frivolous expense and ignore the impacts of the decision to buy something.
  • 2 2
 @A-HIGHLY-EDUCATED-PROFESSIONAL: but if you're a hypocrite whats to stop the morality driving your strider bike purchasing decisions from swaying?
  • 3 2
 @davec113: well, the contrast between the comment you refer to and your little thought-out and crudely worded answer to the highly-educated-professional explains adequately why he is highly educated and you are just, uh, dave...
  • 2 4
 @Heidesandnorth: Well, you're a stupid $hitc@nt, aren't you?
  • 4 0
 @overconfident: 'not helpful'? thats a bit fluffy isn't it?

lets just say it how it is, if you have things you don't need then you have no right to dog other people about the things you think they don't need.
  • 2 1
 @davec113: Ah the irony.
  • 4 0
 @mkpfaff: I have been trying to remember the term externalize costs for years now. It's such an important concept that things that are cheap to produce and cheap to purchase have huge costs to society. You pay for plastic in tax dollars to dispose products, you pay for aluminum in destroyed drinking water etc

But thank you for saving my brain! Could not come up with the term.
  • 1 2
 @blackthorne: Yup, the irony of a bunch of stupid $hitc@nts putting down a $1000 toy while they ride around on much more expensive toys, all the while rich folks blow multiple thousands just on jet fuel to go on vacation. It's so f'in stupid I can't bring myself to actually type out more than what I have as it's clearly going to lost on the stupid $hitc@nts anyways, you stupid $hitc@nt.
  • 5 1
 @friendlyfoe: Cheers my man!

It's such an important and often ignored concept; all the more important as large companies weasel out of paying their taxes. The "multinational corp" is basically just a tax sheltering scheme. Another "Pump and dump." Pump out stuff for cheap, dump the real costs on everybody else. And frankly a lot of the practical materials R&D gets lifted from higher-ed and the military that we all pay for.

Cursed by being trained in The Dismal Science.
  • 1 0
 @mkpfaff: Dude, RL 20II on your profile pic? or is that like a 500a with Perigrines? Big Grin
  • 1 0
 @A-HIGHLY-EDUCATED-PROFESSIONAL:

Marx and Lenin couldn’t have put it better. It would go something like this:

“ Sometimes it is up to the STATE to have some _______ discretion and choose to PROVIDE things consciously and stop contributing as much to a society of polarization.”
  • 1 0
 @Reno233: Okay? Yes, in general a government should provide some services (the "conscious" part in the whole discussion is the subjective thing) to the people. Thanks for pointing that out. I'm very thankful that we live in a country with significant provided education.

An additional note: If a quote isn't actually a quote, it's not very productive to bring it up as a quote. I do nonetheless appreciate you bringing up the point that governments should provide things to people.
  • 2 0
 @A-HIGHLY-EDUCATED-PROFESSIONAL:

"that governments should provide things to people."


Sure, roads, BASIC infrastructure and military to serve in. Beyond that, they are a hindrance to the well prepared. As for education? Socialism destroyed public schools in the US two decades ago. Trophies for everyone
  • 1 1
 @A-HIGHLY-EDUCATED-PROFESSIONAL: Oh, city I am from....40%highschool drop out rate, 80% of grads are functionally illiterate and $ per student is 3rd highest in the nation...teachers bitch about working their part time jobs (with no valid product provided) and want raises....simple solution for me....leave the state to where there is no income tax....
  • 3 0
 @A-HIGHLY-EDUCATED-PROFESSIONAL: I guess I should’ve put the sarcasm in quotes for you too.
  • 1 0
 I now feel obligated to point out that in case you didn’t notice, I used your own quote with only two word changes to point out that you’re making a communist argument.

I’m not sure what point you’re trying to make by bringing up education, but it seems you’re advocating that a company should show restraint to whatever comfort level you have with consumption? If that’s the case, you’ve lost me in a capitalist society. Buyers and sellers are free to conduct commerce in an open market, barring regulatory limits, which don’t apply here.

Take your high horse and do with it what you will... for yourself. Leave everyone else out of it.
  • 5 0
 @bman33: Nice catch! Thats my old RL20II. There’s a kids bike I can get behind! Just sold it to the museum, kind of regret it now, but it’s gone to a good home.
  • 1 0
 @mkpfaff: Was that Winkleman?? Something like that. I had a red one...then the Haro Pro Freestyle Tour...wanted QuadAngle with Mr Sticks CW bars....
  • 1 0
 @JustAnotherRiderHere: Colin Winklemann? I didn’t hear about that guy till later. He ripped. Was he was associated with that bike? It was the Prostyler, kind of almost a weird flatland bike.
  • 1 0
 @mkpfaff: Colin was later than the 80's. More mid to late 90"s. DK bikes. He committed suicide sadly
  • 1 0
 @bman33: Those were my thoughts exactly. RIP
  • 87 15
 I saw this the first time it was posted, and then taken down. Still just as ridiculously ostentatious and unnecessary the second time around. Post it again on April 1, and it will make more sense.
  • 35 70
flag jaycubzz (Dec 3, 2020 at 9:08) (Below Threshold)
 take a chill pill bro
  • 102 40
 Imagine being upset by this.
  • 52 19
 Imagine defending it as a valuable product, rather than a gauche little bauble for ones over-entitled offspring.
  • 21 31
flag mrpfp FL (Dec 3, 2020 at 11:52) (Below Threshold)
 @Steventux: Show me on the doll where people with wealth you can’t comprehend hurt you.

For the record, I am a blue collar auto mechanic. I don’t care what the filthy rich do with their money.
  • 11 1
 Bro there isn’t even space for a water bottle...
  • 6 0
 I’m neither upset by it, nor defending it. I just don’t understand. Its been a good mental exercise to try to figure out a good, rational reason why someone might buy this. I can’t come up with any. It’s an emotional purchase, if anything. I don’t begrudge anyone who buys it, if it makes them happy, but yeah, I don’t understand.
  • 7 3
 @mrpfp: and exactly THAT is the problem! Because you don‘t care and you don’t do anything, the gap will forever widen.
  • 6 0
 @Heidesandnorth: So what right does he have to tell other people — filthy rich or otherwise — to do with their own money?
  • 8 0
 @Heidesandnorth: I’ll give you all the time you need to coherently explain why my apathy towards a child’s bicycle is widening any gap other than our positions on this matter.
  • 1 1
 @mrpfp: I'm a mechanic too! Maybe we have lots in common.
Please refrain from implying I am the victim of something and therefore inherently weak because of that, it's a shit way to treat someone.
I think I could afford to buy one of these for my kid for xmas but I understand it has no more value than the $50 version.
I couldn't give a f*ck who buys this, or why, I am merely using my freedom of speech to say I think it's a worthless piece of shit and anyone considering buying it possibly has more money than sense.
  • 5 0
 its a grand. thats it. almost everyone carries a phone worth that much. some people spend that a year on booze. some on coffee. its nothing. to think that people with money would even think twice about buying this, is crazy. i might buy one just to put it on the wall, its a work of art. what makes me laugh is that of all the pointless shit humans produce, bikers are getting upset about a BIKE! lol. gtfoh.
  • 1 0
 @tobiusmaximum: Thank you for your service in this matter.
  • 4 0
 @Steventux: You seemed to imply I was defending it as a valuable product. I only claim it’s silly to lose sleep over someone spending their money in a way you don’t see fit especially when gauged on scale of what people spend on things that have zero function or purpose. If a rad mom or dad has the means to put this under their child and everyone is smiling then who should be upset?
Why should anyone ride a $12k AXS machine when a $2400 hardtail provides fun for countless people around the world? This entire thread is a testament to the lack of scope or perspective employed by the average person.
  • 3 0
 @TheR: What is funny is the number of dudes I know who live pay check to pay check and finance their $6000 bike at 25%+ APR......THAT is far more stupid than someone who can pay cash for a $1000 kids bike.
  • 1 0
 @JustAnotherRiderHere: Yeah that’s not the smartest move, but what are you gonna do? People have to decide these things for themselves.
  • 1 1
 @TheR: But,but, but...I hear that all debt will be absolved....where again is my safe space?
  • 1 0
 @mrpfp: I totally agree regarding the money people spend on bike tech when they should be spending time on their technique. I admire the engineering of the hi-tech stuff and I understand that R&D has to reach market for companies to warrant paying for it.
For the Average Joe like me I couldn't agree more, a $2500 bike is good enough to get out, get fit and have a lot of fun.
I think the same applies to a child's bike though, the magic ingredient is parental time and encouragement, not carbon fibre.
  • 1 0
 @tobiusmaximum: Funny you mention booze because I had a few drinks last weekend and decided it was a good idea to order one of these. LOL. Still debating on whether to return it or not. It looks super cool in person.
  • 1 0
 @mixmastamikal: good for you buddy, I think it looks amazing.. don’t know what all the fuss is about.
  • 53 0
 Pros: light weight for parents to carry for miles after their spoiled child looses interest in the bike because it's not motorized.

Cons: price, no foot rests for kids to develop turning skills with feet on frame, air valves still look extremely hard to attach a conventional floor pump head without an adapter, no disc mounts for future XTR hydraulic brakes.
  • 5 1
 Lightweight? It's heavier than a Vitus Nippy which costs less than 50 €, comes in 4 sizes, and has frame made out of aluminium.
  • 3 1
 @TheJD: This - Or a Cruzee, 1,9kg and around 100€ new.
  • 2 0
 @TheJD: My 1.5 year old was complaining about the torsional rigidity of the wheels and frame of his current balance bike so there's that too.
  • 50 5
 www.ebay.com/itm/12-Inch-Full-Carbon-Children-Balance-Bike-Kids-Push-Bicycle-For-1-3-Years-Old/263728511992?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item3d6771bbf8:g:Z3cAAOSwrhhaE8e7&amdata=enc%3AAQAFAAACcBaobrjLl8XobRIiIML1V4Imu%252Fn%252BzU5L90Z278x5ickkXKoKcbeZcOrOku%252BoOBl%252BS2pcyf5vQAcCr%252BcEop6cQ1hA79qwbkyIaA0uZhYwuXrsGo6BmlF1kN4Ypf%252Bgvde4A3Oq%252BmSzlzzktNPzamyVO4uzUcPsT0w2zYvSYaDNLD%252BSGs4jro1NE32qoptKtuBhOpMJLn4oT%252FYsrPLc5fzQKlN35TjgrQ1CMhHpXpk2jYe405DVKB6iTp3L5N428NYLvz0hYEpfnRX%252BLeIHzGmKes6ROf1o02A%252FzPxwqrE3HU%252FJ2Ph%252BNcptHMPUqnfhey4iktVcbWREnirX8e1OvcDLAQk%252BCQZcgbRNlhDeMQoW9pkucJ5pqjPk1FqbrCjd3X4dy0eBt4LPw4Y2h4HPpPykr1traE5GyPXHVH4fWW1uAcLg8hRnzVe80X6Z%252FEU%252BON99rh8MIEgbWYATbfsOktBuirvUx%252FWSXhVqNTd2VZlHyx9xofCQuCFFdb8Lt%252Bj0lEv6F9Hq7yllMbUFQGlMRAYx5e3l3iIR7bVNu4ypvwWwnoexibH3L9AsW9bo0R5aR20EvxWoB2PgiGHGIhFQTvBEcAUl0Kp8CQ2Ewp%252FTJda3UU%252F1HN4B7%252FCUbE5slTUZ07PjC5vQkrTJGadYurbBhEzBywF%252BQUsVx6Taq8BV62yUjmIQyCQ8vvYyvjOhZRGUXoBgkQ3YrcIlWgOHybTHDUARf4ejo1O08YrYa%252BrJJMmmkB1y%252FaiwRr6AqkKuXEe%252B90eX7drJYCGhMTtPIjdtNMeFLuvUOYH99I4UsVqlkxmU2cxldORVjM4lkG98OMCq8tZyWQ%253D%253D%7Ccksum%3A26372851199284177a722cce47ae99d5a281553632a7%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A2334524

My neice loves hers
  • 107 0
 You can typically delete everything after the "?" in URLs:

www.ebay.com/itm/12-Inch-Full-Carbon-Children-Balance-Bike-Kids-Push-Bicycle-For-1-3-Years-Old/263728511992
  • 61 0
 @hamncheez: Cool thanks for the tip friend (-:
  • 3 1
 Two bikes...come out of the EXACT SAME Chinese factory but one is even more ridiculously priced than the other.
  • 2 0
 Chillafish push bike: foot rest and foot brake, tool-less adjustable seat height, airless rubber tires, 8 lbs., $70,
  • 6 2
 @TimRidesBikes: In fairness, that's because Specialized paid for the molds and R&D, and a lot of these cheaper bikes are likely 3rd shift and/or QA fails from Specialized, so I'd expect more imperfections and issues.

HOWEVER, $1000 for a toddler bike is just hilarious and pure flex. Specialized definitely knows their market.
  • 4 0
 @ArmyFork: Tideace is one of the bigger and better established Chinese brands for carbon frames -- they've been around for years and lots of people ride them.

Their carbon balance bike was available far before the Specialized was announced -- as far as I know it's based on their own molds.
  • 2 1
 @TimTucker: Fair enough, if that's the case then Specialized can go jump off a bridge on this one.
  • 3 0
 I had to retype this entire URL to make it work. Took me 25mins, but totally worth it.
  • 1 0
 @rockyflowtbay: If you type with BOTH index fingers, you could cut that down to 12.5 minutes!!


.....or you could just copy & pasteSmile
  • 2 0
 @GT-CORRADO: I am only 4 years old, so that seems tough. But with my part time job, I should be able to afford one of these carbon run bikes.
  • 42 1
 This has to be one of the most 1% things ive ever seen
  • 25 14
 This may be for the 10% who will swear till their dying day they earned everything they have in a genuine meritocracy but will quietly buy every advantage real or imagined for their kid because why take chances with competition when you can just pay to win
  • 17 32
flag JustAnotherRiderHere (Dec 3, 2020 at 9:53) (Below Threshold)
 @Snfoilhat: Awwwwww.....someone feel left behind by society?
  • 20 3
 @JustAnotherRiderHere: Everyone in the bottom 90% is in pretty good company, according to the math
  • 5 13
flag danielstutt (Dec 3, 2020 at 10:11) (Below Threshold)
 @JustAnotherRiderHere: we'll take that as a yes.
  • 7 2
 @Snfoilhat: why wouldn't you want to give your family members every advantage possible? Life isn't fair one bit lol.
  • 3 1
 @DylanH93: no advantage with carbon (insert smirking face)
  • 7 0
 You know those Lexus commercials where the couple but each other his and hers Lexus (Lexi??).
Those people screw and spawn kids that ride carbon balance bikes.
  • 39 1
 For the discerning toddler who demands the utmost lateral stiffness with vertical compliance.
  • 3 1
 Jackson Goldstone approves this
  • 37 1
 Where is the swat box? I don't wanna spend a grand on it and carry the diapers in my hand instead of it
  • 30 0
 The Boulder dads are rubbing one out right now.. I expect to see these all around Valmont Bike Park.
  • 3 0
 This is so wrong but hilarious at the same time.
  • 1 0
 So ‘got damn true. Boulder bros LOFL!
  • 32 6
 It is absolutely absurd and unnecessary. All the same I kinda like it! And it is the cheapest full carbon build ever done by Spesh!
  • 2 1
 But it’s more progressive has less squat and is more rigid!
  • 35 0
 I desperately want to retitle this story “Specialized Launches Ultralight 8lb Carbon Bike for $999” but I feel like y’all have just barely begun to forgive us for the Grim Donut April Fools. Smile
  • 2 0
 @brianpark: Just have a picture of the new S-works stumpy with this run bike waaaay in the background as the thumbnail image
  • 1 0
 @brianpark: The 8lb would prob be one red-flag too many. Something along the lines of Specialized making a carbon 1k bike though... Wink
  • 1 0
 @brianpark: If you subscribe to the notion that all publicity is good in the long run Specialized has won big time with this little over the top kids toy. 615 Comments and counting...in roughly 24 hours. I don't remember the last time I saw an article garner so much attention and the comment section so entertaining. Boom, splat, pop! It's like the end of the "Kingsman" movie around here.
  • 32 8
 You know how every time a specialize article appears at least one person comments asking why so many people hate on specialized. This is why so many of us hate specialized.
  • 22 0
 "Specialized Releases Full Carbon Bike for Under $1000"
  • 1 0
 @rjm94566 Your spin marketing game is strong.
  • 20 4
 3 year-olds can flex on their toddler peasant friends. "Yea my dad got me this carbon toddler bike and Patagonia puff-coat that I'm going to use for only 6 months." Strangely and disgustingly enough, there's a market for this. Check out Denver and BC.
  • 1 0
 Marin Co uni specs.
  • 18 1
 Goes nicely with that $100k sprinter van and your armada of $8000 bikes. I'm sure these will sell out in no time. After all people love spending exorbitant amounts of money on anything bike related.
  • 2 19
flag OldScratchJohnson (Dec 3, 2020 at 9:37) (Below Threshold)
 My Sprinter cost $44,000 new. What does that make me. I own 1 bike btw.
  • 28 0
 @OldScratchJohnson: it makes you not the person he's talking about
  • 5 0
 @OldScratchJohnson: not a dentist.
  • 8 0
 @OldScratchJohnson: That makes you homeless by the Carbon Standard.
  • 14 0
 There is demand for a $1,000 strider bike? My two kids used the same $75 super cycle strider, that i got from Costco, over a period of three years. When i was done it was sold for $25 bucks to another family who is getting plenty of use out of it.

Parents do not need to demand carbon bikes for their kids. What parents want is an affordable, durable bike that is not going to break the bank. Kids do not have the skills or knowledge to warrant a $1,000 bike.
  • 1 5
flag ross005 (Dec 3, 2020 at 20:32) (Below Threshold)
 Thats the equivalent to saying who needs a lambo...no one does. Most people won't consider a lambo and just buy a corolla...but lots of people are very rich or have no concept of saving and will blow every penny they have...thats the target market for this bike.
  • 6 2
 @ross005: I work with a number of guys who have Lambos. I believe most of them have run out of things to spend their money on and still cannot spend it all
  • 2 0
 @ross005: Rich people don't get rich and stay rich by blowing their money. Show me a rich guy and I will show you a cheapskate.
  • 1 2
 @riklassen: Huh....I work with, ride with and do business with MANY folks who are millionaires many times over. Can't say that I have ever found anyone of them to be "Cheap", I have however met many people who feel that people owe them. Just yesterday I was reprimanded at Dunkin driv-thru for not leaving a large enough tip for someone "in a car like that".
  • 1 0
 @JustAnotherRiderHere: Ok sure.
  • 1 0
 @riklassen: You know, jealousy is never a positive attribute. Not ever. Apathy is maybe just a bit worse...in the US, however, most of the time it is simply ignorance that rules the thought processes of most (more so public school educated, errrr, I mean indoctrinated). It is a shame really, how pathetic so many folks are day to day, their grand dreams involve a lottery ticket, not the product of their own hard efforts.
  • 16 1
 Is this a joke, or will parents actually pay one grand for a balance bike for their 2 year old.
  • 16 3
 yeah wtf even just buy the $175 and put the rest into college tuition savings or charity or....beer.
  • 12 1
 This bike is about as useful as those bike trailers you use for a year and then they take up room in your garage. My 2-year old rode a 16" bike with training wheels. At 2 and a half I took the training wheels off and pushed the kid down the lawn. About 3 tries is all it took for 2-wheeled balance. Don't baby your kids too much, they're tougher than you think.
  • 7 0
 I bet they will sell out
  • 3 0
 @SlodownU: same. My little guy rode away first try at just under 3. Bye bye balance bike.
  • 2 0
 You would be amazed at how much money some people have lol
  • 3 0
 @SlodownU: One big downside to the training wheels for kids that young is that it's near impossible to take them on training wheels to singletrack, a skills park with wooden features, or skateparks -- all of which are perfectly doable on a balance bike.

I've seen both my kids use the balance bike as a way of testing out things to ride that they otherwise wouldn't feel comfortable trying on their pedal bikes first.

On the bike trailer note, we've gotten a lot of use out of ours even as the kids have gotten older -- for longer rides, we'll start with both kids riding and then let the 3 year old ride in the trailer for a few miles to rest if he starts to get tired (with his bike strapped to the back of the trailer via gear ties).

Beyond that, I just toss a big cardboard box in the trailer and use it for things like running errands or picking up carryout food. Way more fun to take the bike than load up in the car for a 1 mile drive.

Once the kids get too big to fit, I'm planning to make some modifications and turn it into a dedicated cargo trailer.
  • 3 0
 @dglass: Beer. Definitely beer.
  • 13 2
 The people-“make bikes cheaper, please”

Bike manufacturers-“we here you loud and clear”

*One $1,000 kids balance bike later*

Bike manufacturers- “ just what you asked for, right?”

The people- “ are you F-ing serious*, not today Satan”
  • 14 0
 I’m getting 3 of these so I can just throw them away as my kid grows instead of adjusting the seat.
  • 1 0
 lol
  • 1 0
 I keep threatening to TP my own yard to show off my quantity to TP in the closet.......suckahs!!!!! (somehow, a few hundred rolls of the good stuff...for the two of us)
  • 14 3
 All this and no handbrake? You had one job Specialized...all you need to do is copy what the Boutique's have done VASTLY better than you in the kids bike realm. I've seen more than one kid do a header into a parked car on a hotwalk. Kids need a brake on these things at some point...if they are only reliant on dragging their feet, it eventually goes pear shaped. Then when they transition to an early pedal bike (Spawn Yoji), they have no idea how to stop...then they drag their feet and wreck the hell out of themselves. Balance bikes isolate this hand brake skill a bit while on a small, easy to ride bike. They need a hand brake if you are dropping big money.

Also, Spesh...no one asked for this. What they did ask for was an AIR forked, hydraulically braked, compact geo, light wheels and tires, appropriate cranklength for around 600$ that isn't a heap of trash like your Riprock. Just copy the Vitus Nucleus and add a few bucks and copy the geometry from Commencal/Norco/Spawn/Prevelo/Trailcraft and boom...you'll dominate. But yeah go ahead and make 1k$ hotwalk lol...one day you'll realize that the kids scene is important for the community as a whole.
  • 12 0
 What’s up with such a steep headtube angle? I want my 2 year old to crush steep chunky lines!!!!
  • 12 0
 Beginning of time: no horse
Mythical times: Trojan horse
1820: Straw horse
1920: Wooden horse
2020: Carbon horst
  • 16 4
 Jesus that's such a waste of money
  • 18 3
 It's all relative. Multi-million dollar watches exist, after all.
  • 7 4
 @hllclmbr: but you can wear a watch for 20 years. Your kid is going to grow up and it'll be a teck deck for them at 20
  • 9 0
 @giantwhip: what part of multimillion....
  • 10 3
 We as adults ride around on hyper expensive toys (our bikes) in the woods. It's all relative. This bike, just like all strider bikes, will no doubt be passed down or sold to other parents with toddlers and be used for years. It won't end up in the trash. Extravagant? Sure. However, if someone can afford it and digs it, why not?
  • 4 1
 @giantwhip: You can buy over 30,000 of this bike for the price of the most expensive watch ever sold. That watch isn't going to get worn, at least most of these will get ridden.
  • 1 1
 @Patrick9-32: Remember in Brewsters Millions...he mailed the stamp......
  • 3 1
 @JustAnotherRiderHere:

OK, but a 30 million dollar *watch* exists. As do 50 million dollar cars.

Yet here we are, complaining about a thousand dollar toy.

WGAF?
  • 12 1
 Is this a bike for ants? It has to at least three times bigger for humans to fit on it
  • 16 6
 instead of making adult bikes that have been out of stock for weeks, they make a kids bike no one will ever buy? cool
  • 8 0
 It's the supply of parts, not frames, that's the bottleneck. That thing has no parts.
  • 3 0
 Covid is causing shortages of material. with the carbon fiber needed to make one adult bike, they can make 10 of these. hehe
  • 10 0
 Fact: This balance bike was made from recycled cracked S-works frames
  • 5 0
 This is genius from a marketing perspective. I bet specialized doesn't even intend to break even on the sales from this bike. This will just help subliminally position themselves further into the premium segment that they've been aiming towards for a while now. Similar idea to the $700 wheels that apple sells for their desktop mac. Watch this video it explains the concept better than i can youtu.be/mBHY_Qaw5AI
  • 4 0
 EXACLTY. I would guess the online media coverage alone will be more valuable than the sales. Brilliant move on their end.
  • 1 0
 Dead on.
  • 7 1
 Other brands have been doing a plastic balance bike for years. The only thing worth noting about this one is how crazy expensive it is and how stupid anyone would have to be to buy one
  • 5 0
 @Larkey1: Do not underestimate the stupidity of the general public.
  • 5 0
 I’m struggling to be bothered by this.

It’s going to be sold to people where this bike will be a minute percentage of the parents bike collection.

I bet you could sell it on once your kid has grown up, for minimal loss (as with most kids bikes) making it the same or similar total cost as cheaper options.

£3000 wheels, £1000 cranks, £2000 forks, none of these really make a difference to the vast majority that ride them, yet they sell pretty well.

If you/your kid doesn’t like it, don’t buy it.
  • 5 0
 The only positive thing about this, is that it's aimed at toddlers who are too young to brag about owning one. It's really the expensive bikes aimed at 8-16 year olds that sicken me.. You hear them at the trails talking about their next upgrade, or how crap the other kids bikes are.. And even if you think 'my kids would never be like that'.. Think again And it's your fault
  • 6 0
 Ok that was a bit strong. Long day But I really hate expensive products aimed at age groups who can't earn them for themselves... They end up making poor kids feel inferior.
  • 2 8
flag JustAnotherRiderHere (Dec 3, 2020 at 18:18) (Below Threshold)
 @nordland071285: So....
  • 7 0
 Thanks for making biking for kids more accessible, inclusive, diverse, affordable...wait a minute, I meant douchie.
  • 8 0
 This is the final sign of the end times. The great reset is upon us!
  • 4 0
 Maybe if they didn't make the regular Hotrock out of lead, they wouldn't need a carbon one!

From one Dad to potential others... NEVER buy a regular specialized Hotrock 12 or 16". My daughter had a 16" for about two days... the thing was 25lbs !!! I was insulted and I really think it tarnishes the image of the company... you should be able to trust the brand.

I swapped it for a 16lbs Spawn and she's never looked back. (and there are several other brands that put the mainstream guys to shame)
  • 6 0
 The seatpost isn't carbon?!?! What do you think my kid is, a peasant? Pffftt, ghetto...
  • 1 0
 Not to mention the steerer tube and stem. Here ya go.
www.pinkbike.com/news/7-kids-bikes-taipei-cycle-show-2018.html
  • 3 0
 This just seems to be the problem with mountain bike manufactures these days. Bikes are too expensive. Most entry level carbon bikes start at $4000+ and go up to $12000. Bikes are so expensive that shops and companies have to offer financing so people can actually buy them. That's insane, you have to finance a bike! I'll probably get some comments that you have the option to buy a cheaper bike which is true but then I consider the cost of bikes in the past. Back in the early 2000 my first full suspension bike was a giant NRS 1 which at that time was a very high end bike. I paid $2200. It had a SID world cup fork and rear shock , all XT, hydraulic disc brakes (when disc brakes were not standard), tubeless rims (another newer technology at the time). Yeah it was aluminum not carbon, it was light for its time. That same level (as in a premium top level full suspension mountain bike) bike in the market these days would probably go for 7 to 8 grand. I also looked the 2004 carbon Fuel 100, now of the first carbon bikes, and at the time was what team trek was racing and was the envy of 16 kid who raced, retailed at $4500. Bikes are too expensive.

Damn, I'm getting old and doing the "back in my day" rants now. Time for a carbon fiber specialized walker?
  • 5 0
 Seems their must have Hhhhhharry potter magic involved in making the Vitus Nippy 1.7kg and only £45 (my son takes his bright Gold one everywhere)
  • 6 1
 Yeah it's completely unnecessary but I'll be damned if it's not rad. That said, the kid won't get the enjoyment out of it that the parent(s) will.
  • 1 0
 Exactly. No little kid knows they’re riding a $1000 bike.
  • 7 1
 Perfect bike for those divorced orthopedic surgeons to get their neglected children
  • 3 0
 my nephew got this canyon 1000€ kids bike. i thought what are they doing. but he rode it a lot, was perfect for him, then they sold it for 900€ 2 years after. actually not so bad at all. with this carbon thing, i dont know
  • 4 0
 Not expensive enough. I need to spend at least 2 grand to impress the other dads when I nonchalantly drop the amount I paid for this over single malts after my weekly polo match.
  • 3 0
 No platform to stand on, that's a major downside. No disc brake compatibility, bummer. I think they missed the mark here. This is a much better bike: www.pinkbike.com/u/adrian-montgomery/blog/the-juliana-vivi-balance-bike.html
  • 8 4
 Imagine being one of the poor souls that regularly post here that have to buy anything that pinkbike writes an article about, and then seeing this.
  • 4 0
 There're people who buy everything PB posts about?

I'm skeptical.
  • 9 2
 No
  • 2 0
 Indeed
  • 6 0
 What, no carbon spokes? I'm out.
  • 6 0
 No Swat storage for snacks? Missed opportunity.....
  • 4 0
 If I have a $1,000 kicking around, that money is going towards upgrading my front suspension. I will use my coin jar to get my kid a strider bike.
  • 8 2
 what a way to underscore inequality
  • 4 0
 It is amazing how quickly one can go from wanting a Specialized (after yesterday's field test video) to hoping a company goes out of business....
  • 2 0
 No bottle cage or dropper post pass. So Specialized has time to waste their engineers talent to design this master piece, they better come up with something really special next year, maybe a dropper post that drops 100mm but tilts too. WTF
  • 2 0
 All joking aside, it is really terrible to see how heavy kids bikes are. The small striders are still OK, but the 12 inch and larger models with pedals are often around 10kg. Regular buyer has no idea and buys something pink with unicorn stickers regardless of quality and weight. I'm happy to see brands consider the weight of the bike in relation to the weight of kids.
  • 4 0
 That's a lot of money. Approximately half of what my ex- spends in a summer on haircuts, talk therapy, and Panera sandwiches.
  • 3 0
 @gmoynihan: For a second I thought I saw Pantera sandwiches and was all like 0_o

I'm trying to convince the Mrs to shave her head and start wearing wigs. Would save $$$ and I could have a new GF every night!

LoL
  • 1 0
 @m1dg3t: wigs are a big turnoff imo but to each their own
  • 2 0
 Thats actually a pretty cool idea albeit ridiculous and way too expensive it is hilarious. Specialized is just messing with us now. It should say S-WORKS on it and definitely needs foot pegs. Im curious to see who buys one of these.
  • 2 0
 OK, the price point is commented heavely already.
Not need to jump in.
But there is a HUGE market for light kids bikes,
That none of the big bike. Companies jumped on so far.
Over here (Austria, Germany) there are a handful of companies that can't satisfy the demand and have waiting lists of over 3onths for a kids bike. The resell value is almost the same as retail, sometimes higher because of availability.

Still the big brands produce 16" inch wheeled bikes that weigh 10kg (my 26" enduro weighs 12kg WTF)?
The wheels of this bikes have the same amount of spokes!!!?? As mine have. The Brakes, the same geometry and leverage, the shifters are the same, and and and...

It is expensive, but specialized ain't no twat.
This is there flagship - some people will buy it. Wait for it, the just explored a new market. Wait for it to be exploited.
Good times ahead - for kids at least.
  • 1 0
 For sure this is more about getting attention (and it clearly works in that respect) than actually making a serious commercial product, but If you are going to try to make a brand / design statement, then the product should at least be well designed!

They completely missed the most important feature to help kids progress, which is a side area where kids can rest their feet on and use to stand up on. Both my kids had and loved the old version of this and spent almost all their time standing up on it once they were comfortable balancing. As a result of this failure in design, this product does the opposite of what they were intending, because it inherently undermines Specialized's reputation as a company focused on well designed / performance focused bikes, and instead makes it look like they just make over priced products.
  • 1 0
 the thing is... environmental impact will be absolutely negligible, it will actually make some kids and parents happy, but... its just odd. It gives me that creepy feeling that things are just a little too off in Morgan Hill. Is Robert Egger still there? Is this processing a childhood trauma? Yikes!
  • 1 0
 Sick Idea but the negatives have been said.

Plastic bike from Costco $69.99 CAD.
Has footings
Weighs little
Can take a pounding.

photos.app.goo.gl/8wpDnZ85Du4QStbSA

photos.app.goo.gl/fM9L4eTcYkAbYchv7

photos.app.goo.gl/9Q498tsgz21jKe2E6
  • 1 0
 Litespeed's product info:

"Handcrafted from 3/2.5 and 6/4 titanium, and utilizing a new compact geometry, this state of the art tricycle will provide families with riding memories for generations to come. Litespeed?s custom-built, CNC-engraved, anodized aluminum fork comes with a Cane Creek C2 headset. The 50mm stem eases steering through the aluminum riser bars, while the extended rear axle provides unparalleled rider stability. The spring-loaded saddle cushions its rider on those long century rides, while the pneumatic tires and titanium frame absorbs any vibrations the sidewalk has to offer."
  • 2 1
 No balance bike is worth that kind of money. But I will say that 5lbs would be really nice. Some of the kids bikes out there weigh over 20 pounds, and when the kid only weighs 30, it's hard for them to handle. Lighter bikes for kids will definitely make it more fun for them, just wait until they cost a reasonable price.
  • 7 2
 Too many people make too much money
  • 2 0
 I make too much money and I wouldn't buy this.
  • 7 1
 Mildly offensive.
  • 17 12
 The poors are getting angry again
  • 15 0
 says the guy that sells on his secondhand jerseys and pants for extra coin
  • 6 10
flag misterkslays (Dec 3, 2020 at 10:38) (Below Threshold)
 It's incredible the amount of people here crying and complaining about this product's existence and PB publishing the article. No one is forcing anyone to purchase this or controlling your computer forcing you to click on the article. If people want to buy this good for them if they chose to use their disposable income or credit card for this. Just because someone would purchase this item doesn't mean they should be donating the money to charity or you should be upset by what they purchase. Free market capitalism will decide whether this item was worth Specialized's efforts.
  • 12 1
 Free market capitalism doesn't shield products and services from criticism either.
  • 5 5
 @Almazing: No one said it should. Is it a necessary product? No. Can that be said about 99% of the product articles on this site? Yes. Doesn't stop traffic from flowing through here every day and doesn't change the fact that a bunch of whiners here are getting upset about a product no one is requiring them to read about or purchase. Customers wallets will do the talking and if a company can make a product and profit from it they are free to do so. At the end of the day the development cost and whether Specialized even sells 100 of these will pay off for the marketing they are getting out of all the articles being written about this thing and you still getting the Specialized brand pushed in front of you.
  • 7 8
 @Aaddaamm: why do you care how someone else spends their money? Jealousy doesn't look good on anyone. Do you also get upset by people that have more expensive dwellings, cars, bikes, clothing, etc. than you? If someone wants to spend their earned money or credit on pointless and or obnoxious items they are free to do so in most of the world. If you don't like that and want conformity maybe consider moving to a more restrictive country.
  • 6 2
 @kleinschuster: Damn you with all your logic and objective thought! Big Grin
  • 1 0
 @rabidmonkfish: you want one?
  • 1 0
 @nickgarrison: misread, disregard.
  • 3 2
 @kleinschuster: the free market is anything but free. Multiple companies would have failed in 2008 without government bailouts/socialism saving many companies.
Democracy is influenced by Lobbyists as much as altruism
  • 2 1
 @woofer2609: While I agree there is very little true definition based free market capitalism alive in the world and companies should fail for poor business practices independent from their size that isn't relevant to anything in this discussion, the article, or the products. This isn't a political or macroeconomics discussion, solid job injecting even more nonsense here. The generally used and understood term of free market capitalism to illustrate a company and its products success being decided by customers willing to support the enterprise is a pretty basic concept.
  • 3 0
 Let companies take advantage of people with money to burn. I can only hope these margins will help subsidize the value options.
  • 1 0
 Seems a bit excessive, but I'd love to see brands like Specialized put some actual effort into their little kids bike lines. I'd love to be able to be able to support my local shop when buying my son's bike (for which I'm much more likely to pay retain than for my own), but the kid specific brands (Prevelo, Room, etc.) are just killing the major brands when it comes to 20in and smaller bikes.
  • 4 0
 Can we all just agree to hysterically laugh at any parent we encounter with a kid riding this atrocity?
  • 4 3
 can people not take this so seriously? they clearly don't intend to sell many of these but i'm sure they used it as a good R&D tool for carbon layup development. R&D labs always work on weird stuff like this.

I wouldn't buy it, even if I had kids and was rich, but I still think it's cool
  • 1 0
 The general market for these is likely the same parents that are already spending $1000 on carbon bmx race bikes for their kids competing at a national level.

At that point, they're spending far more on travel than the bikes themselves over the course of a season.
  • 5 0
 Specialized is straight-up trolling the masses at this point.
  • 1 0
 If you're willing to go a bit heavier, you can get a titanium one on ebay from China for $500. Honesty after seeing the terrible quality of the strider bike we bought my daughter, I thought about buying a ti frame and transferring over parts. Turns out she didnt like her balance bike and moved to pedals pretty quickly.
People lose their rational minds when it comes to buying stuff for their kids (or buying bike stuff in general).
  • 1 0
 Striders or any equivalent is going to work just fine for a light, little kid for the time before they get peddaling, imo. There’s not much to it that can go wrong and the size of the kid can’t put much demand on it. We had a Strider and it was awesome, now it’s off on another journey helping some other kid get an early start to biking. Well worth the $100
  • 1 0
 For that kind of money I would rather have the local cabinet shop make my kid a wooden scoot bike out of some nice exotic wood, with a nice shiny finish (which certainly wouldn't stay shiny long...) And would probably have enough left over for brakes...
  • 2 1
 Hum - I can buy a strider bike for my kiddo for $89 from a big box or web distributor that weighs 7lb. At the same time I can buy a strider bike for all my friends kids, Neigbor’s or provide a donation to holiday fun such as toys for tots. How much will my kid notice difference in performance? I didn’t realize 2lbs weight saving and reduction in rotation weight made much difference on flat ground? How’s geo compare to strider or Specilized heavy standard hotwalk?

I don’t think kids give s***, it’s parents who think wow look at my kids and his carbon bike without pedals.
  • 1 0
 I think can summarize most of these comments in the following three sentences, all of which are true, imo;

(1) This thing is inarguably a waste of about $900.
(2) People will absolutely buy it (probably because they're insecure c*nts that need to flex on their douchebag neighbors).
(3) it's their money and therefore is not, nor should it be, any of your business.
  • 1 0
 Wow.
Specialized, when we said more competition in the bike industry, we didn't mean for you to compete with these...
www.pinkbike.com/news/randoms-part-2-taipei-cycle-show-2019.html
www.pinkbike.com/news/7-kids-bikes-taipei-cycle-show-2018.html
  • 1 0
 Is it April 1st already?? This is a hilarious joke about record unemployment by specialized. I don't understand these bikes anyways, why not some pegs or brakes? I don't want to see 3 year olds flying through the chunder death gripped on Friday fails.
  • 1 0
 I don't think this is for parents to buy. I think this means that there are enough boomer grandparents out there who ride and could give two shits about spending $1000 on a rad gift for their child. For instance, I (jokingly) told my mother that my 4 month old son needed this... She then proceeded to ask me for the link????‍♂️
  • 1 0
 Upto 18kg only? My toddler was past that mark by the time he was 2.5 y.o. Not that it would be the only thing keeping me away from buying one of these.
Looks great though. If Specialized could re-engineer this into a mass producive cast aluminum or even plastic (without CF) versions at affordable pricees it would be even better. Seems doable.
  • 1 0
 I am an industrial designer and although I appreciate the design and engineering applied in this bike, it is ultimately wasteful and unnecessary. My kids learned how to balance on a bike by the time they were 2 and both jumped on pedal bikes by the time they were 3. These are tools disguised as toys, their function is to teach toddles how to balance on two wheels whilst having fun on it. They will be used for very little time and kids will enjoy doing that in any balance bike that is more sustainable than this one. A product like this is unjustifiable in a modern world. A company this big with this much resources should set the trends in sustainability. Yo Specialized! Take a t least the foreword from the Patagonia playbook!
  • 1 0
 All my nippers learnt to ride on the spesh strider. That was 10 years ago, and we still see it about town going strong. Can't recommend them enough. More expensive than others, but resale is solid, like the bike. As for this carbon iteration, its a thing of beauty. Enjoy the aesthetics. And well, if you are lucky enough to afford one, go fill your boots
  • 1 0
 There was a time when kids bikes were made from wood and made just as much fun. But hey - lets shout sustainability for all we do and save 0.00023% cardboard with a new packaging concept andwe're all set. It's only the kids future....
  • 1 0
 Meh, if I wasn't already halfway through the stride phase with my youngest, I'd consider buying this. I like nice bikes and love that my kids like to ride. Once you're done, you could resell it for close to half. 500$ for multiple kids to use isn't hard to stomach. I know the age range here makes it easy to hate on Spec, but there is a market for the product. The reality is, there are a lot of highly paid people who enjoy this sport. If I can justify spending 1000$ on an ENVE rim, then I can justify spending the same on a bike for my kid.

However, I'd guess the real reason they're introducing this bike is exactly for the response they're receiving here. They're trying to position themselves as the utmost high end manufacture and drive discussion/brand recognition. This bike will be featured in places beyond bike websites. This will generate press in mainstream magazines and websites, which will drive "dentists" to purchase one of Spec's other bikes. This product costs them very little to develop, but helps spread that high end perception. If they sold even a few of them, great, but I'd be willing to bet that this product's funding may have come from the marketing department (and the response here is exactly what they were looking for).
  • 1 0
 Ah, the sweet sweet smell of the liberal elite profiteering for "renewables" and selling virtue at every step while reinforcing the inequality divide.

Just post the energy and lifecycle impact of every item in marketing portfolio Specialised, and every other brand and lets see them green credentials Bike Industry.

Woeful slide of credibility into a failing and moribund America, Europe.
  • 1 0
 hi5bikes.fi/tuotteet/306/743079/mondraker-2021-grommy-12

IF I would want to spoil a kid, I would rather take this. E-bike, premium brand and also more affordable. Did someone mention disc brakes as well?
  • 1 2
 But it's aluminum, for nearly the same price.
  • 4 0
 Ha one bored pandemic project later....
  • 1 0
 The Woom 12 has a handbrake, steering stabilizer, long wheelbase for stability, super low standover and costs significantly less. This bike is for people who don't understand skill development.
  • 1 0
 I know... this is mostly marketing and we all talking about it.. that what is all about... but in the real life this is $1000 non recyclable trash for few hours of fun for some dentist's toddler... :/
  • 5 1
 I swear it's not april fools for a good 5 months?
  • 3 0
 MTB shredder parents: Kids bike weights suck. They weigh half as much as my kid.
Specialized: Hold my beer.
  • 2 0
 The downtube looks like it can hold a couple hundred Wh -- do you know if this has the 2.1 or 1.1 motor? Curious about the assist level as well.
  • 3 0
 No way to mount a bottle cage, I'll spend my grand elsewhere thankyouverymuch.
  • 2 0
 "Hey Johnny, Look what Santa got you!"
"Wow! Take it out daddy. I can't wait"'
Bike comes out of box and kid goes in to make a $1,000 fort.
  • 3 0
 "Boss, we have some carbon fiber left, what do we do? Do what ever you like, i'm out"
  • 1 0
 Youth getting started on carbon earlier and earlier. The way things are accelerating, kids will have moved onto titanium gravel bikes, panniers and complaining about bottle cage mounts before they get to high school.
  • 3 3
 While I cannot get on board with this, I am all for the most expensive kid's bike I can afford...My kid's first bike was a $600 early rider that was the lightest I could find and had one some awards and shit...And you know what? At three years old he got on, no training wheels, and pedalled away! Is he a prodigy? Hell no..Did the bike help? I am certain it did. After my second son riding it for a year I sold it for $300 and I am sure the dude will sell it again and this bike will last longer than any cheap POS from walmart. Now I have bought a used spawn bike, upgraded as any good biking dad is want to do, with SLX/XT 11 speed shit, will hand it down to second boy, then sell for close to what I bought it for, and the cycle will continue. All those people saying expensive bikes are a waste, blah blah, for dentists, blah blah are missing the fact these bikes are far better to stoke the fires of kids AND will have a much longer lifespan, ultimately creating less waste (at least in theory). My story and sticking to it! So get in line now for my kids 24" Yama Jama with carbon bar and XT/SLX drivetrain! It'll be a bargain in a few years!!
  • 1 0
 I agree (in principle). Do i think its stupid in the sense that the difference between this and a $200 balance bike is super minimal? absolutely. But is it cool and fun to have if $1000 is a drop in the bucket of someones budget? Absolutely. I got my son a balance bike at 1 off amazon (banana bikes GT, it rocks for the price), and when i saw him pick up on it so fast we had the opportunity to get him pedaling quite early. Being young and small, no budget oriented pedal bike would work as he doesn't have the size or strength to compensate (too heavy, poor geometry), so i bit the bullet and ordered him a Spawn Yoji which was a sizable expense for us. However, the quality and thoughtfulness of the bike truly made it so that he could learn to pedal at not even 2 1/2, and as you stated, i get to pass it down to my other son and any future kids and then sell it for maybe a $200 loss over 5 years or so. If you can afford it, have fun, if you can't then don't sweat it and work with what you can while focusing on the actual fun of riding so that your kids will do the same. Also, i can only imagine how fun it must have been for the designers at specialized to get the work memo "make a baller balance bike, spare no expense", take about dream project!
  • 1 0
 @scratch01: for sure - this run bike, no bueno! ridiculous on all accounts. But a cool bike that is actually light enough to pedal and makes sense for the body of a kid, all in!
  • 4 0
 I assume it’s slacker and longer than last year’s model??
  • 2 0
 Yes of course, but still no mounts for a bottle cage!
  • 2 0
 @krka73: they are saving that for next year, along with a flip chip geometry adjustment for the bike park days
  • 2 0
 @johnny2shoes: will these kids grow up to post on PB, 12" wheels for life?!
  • 1 0
 @krka73: Yea, every new bike that gets released: "They should make that in a 12-inch version."
  • 3 0
 @AndrewFleming: is 12” the fun size jib wheel or fast rolling 29er of the toddler bike shed?
  • 2 2
 And people wonder why kids grow up these days with a sense of entitlement? The person who even suggested this at the focus group should be fired. I am actually disgusted. Surely this comment will be downvoted to oblivion by all the elitists on here.
  • 2 1
 @m1dg3t So will a 3 year old even know what the bike is made of or if its a new or used strider regardless of brand? Gonna be all ok
  • 2 3
 @bman33: Guessing you were you born with a silver spoon too, eh? Not even gonna waste my time conversing with you on this subject because it is clear it would accomplish nothing.
  • 4 2
 @m1dg3t: both parents blue collar, lower middle class but thanks. Seems you are the one coming across with judging others without much context... must be fun being that miserable. As are reminder we are all adults riding around on overpriced toys in the woods. I hope you get out, ride and have a good rest of your year.
  • 1 1
 How about specialized makes a $1000 full carbon Enduro bike to sell to city groups so we can get kids of all ages out and learning mountain bike skills! Tear down the ridiculous barrier to entry instead of building the barrier higher...
  • 3 0
 Or maybe "entry" bikes don't need to be full carbon?
  • 1 0
 Side note I agree with everything else you said... yes less expensive good bikes... just not necessarily carbon
  • 1 0
 @mtbikeaddict: it's the principle of putting money back into the sport. I ride alloy and always will.
  • 1 0
 Say all you want but there is no denial this thing looks beautiful. Besides that, of course no one with a bit of common sense is going to buy a 1K toddler bike. And there is one big flaw, being the absence of a footrest.
  • 1 1
 Guess this is for the rich parent's(Dentists, Doctors, Actors, Social Influencers, etc...) gift for their rich spoiled kid. I'm surprised Specialized didn't make that with an extra digit with another 9 - either at the front or last and have the decal "S-Works" pasted on the main tube!
  • 1 0
 And yet they do not make a xs 27.5 or 26" for the youth. My son outgrew his very old 24" big hit grom and the next size up is for 5'4" and 29er wheels.
Status grom would sell, YT is out of stock.
Liv Intrigue it is!
  • 1 0
 Don't like it don't buy it doesn't quite work for this as noone asked for it anyway. A bit like saying don't like the president's tweets don't read them. It's still a massive problem
  • 1 0
 Commencal still make the best balance bikes then. Foot boards disc brake on the back. My little girl never had stabilisers after riding a good balance bike, this isn't a good balance bike, it needs a brake at least.
  • 1 0
 oh specialized, the donald trump of bike industry! what they sometimes do is just plain wrong, but still manage to make a lot of money while giving the internet unstoppable resource for making laugh and memes.
  • 1 0
 For the dentists and lawyers in training, who never dig, can't fix a flat and 100% need coaching lessons. I came to pinkbike today for the Friday Fails, this is the biggest fail of 2020 yet.
  • 4 0
 Is it April already?
  • 4 0
 Park City Strider.
  • 2 1
 I don't think specialized realizes how kids treat things... shit gets ran over by mom all the time.. F*** outa here with this. lol
  • 1 0
 a href="https://www.pinkbike.com/forum/listcomments/?threadid=225348">Such a peasant's bike.... I want suspension for my toddler's bike. And a maple leaf./a>
  • 2 0
 Is it possible that Specialized released this just to throw the PB comments section into overdrive?!
  • 1 0
 Teaching kids how to be weight weenies before they can walk. Who buys their kid anything else besides a good old fashion cheap steel first bike??
  • 1 0
 This reminds me of the $850 titanium tricycle Litespeed was selling about 15 years ago. I wonder if that’s still on the market?
  • 1 0
 The aggro high-fives and smug, diabolical laughter in the Spesh marketing conference room when they came up with this idea must have been heard around the globe.
  • 2 0
 That the kid will outgrow in under a year... smart money, real smart money.
  • 2 1
 1000 bucks and the kid wants to ride a real bike after one year. That makes it more expensive over the usage time than my enduro bike
  • 3 0
 How highly relevant for the world today.
  • 35 36
 Love the PB comment section, bunch of broke people that can't wrap their heads around the kind of money some people make. Would I buy it- no. Do I personally know people that would without thinking twice- yes. They make that in an hour.
  • 35 8
 I don’t make that in an hour, but it wouldn’t really put a dent in my budget. That doesn’t change the fact that it’s f*cking stupid.
  • 36 7
 Sounds like you run with quite the elite crowd. You must be cool as shit
  • 8 5
 r/quityourbullshit
  • 11 5
 LOL close friends with multiple people making 4 figures an hour after taxes et al. Wow man, you're soooooooo cooooooool. lol Rolleyes
  • 9 0
 So that’s about $40k a week. I have my doubts...
  • 8 13
flag TheOriginalTwoTone (Dec 3, 2020 at 9:58) (Below Threshold)
 Thanks, you all are proving my point. You all act like 5 year olds. Never said it to be cool. Its just a fact. My wife works for the home office of 2 very wealthy brothers. They'll spend that much on truffle oil. It's been an interesting inside look into wealthy peoples lives.
  • 4 13
flag Almazing (Dec 3, 2020 at 10:00) (Below Threshold)
 r/thathappened

*Wife allegedly works with wealthy people*

*Proceeds to act wealthy by association*
  • 10 7
 @Almazing: Reading comprehension isn't your forte is it?
  • 8 6
 @TheOriginalTwoTone: Guess not. But I'm not the one flexing on strangers with wealth that isn't my own.
  • 1 0
 @TheOriginalTwoTone: Good old Steuart and Tom Walton?
  • 8 4
 @Almazing: Quote me where I flexed it? First thing I said was no way I'd spend that. The reality though is that there are plenty that will without blinking.

Part of my wife's job is cutting checks, it's insane to see the stuff they buy and what they pay for it.
  • 2 3
 @mountzlu: I have to be careful of how much I say cause she could lose her job, probably shouldn't have put the brothers in there.
  • 5 6
 @TheOriginalTwoTone:
“You broke bastards wouldn’t know wealth if it but you in the ass. I personally know my wife who works with 2 tremendously rich brothers that spend this much money on truffle oil everyday. Am I as rich as them? No. But I’m totally entitled to act like a rich a*shole because I know people that know people.”

Here you go.
  • 9 0
 @TheOriginalTwoTone: I think the issue is with you calling people "broke "in what comes across as a derogatory tone. People on pinkbike are not broke, they are by and large privileged people in wealthy countries. Average income worldwide is around 10,000 $, I suggest you check out the pinkbike survey, pretty sure you will find out that the pinkbike community earns more than that.
  • 6 2
 Bit of a simplistic comment to say we're all broke and can't wrap our heads round it. If you actually bother to take on board what some people are saying, it's not just about whether or not people can afford it.
  • 3 3
 @Almazing: Wow you nailed it, that's exactly what and how I said it.
  • 2 0
 I can make that much money in 5 seconds!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3Xh8OFwKJ4
  • 4 8
flag TheOriginalTwoTone (Dec 3, 2020 at 12:01) (Below Threshold)
 @uponcripplecreek: Well how people read it and internalize isn't my problem to be blunt.
But what do you see in every comment section for something expensive, the same lame ass comments.

People calling it a waste , for dentist etc...

I personally don't find any money I spend on my kids to be a waste, especially if it's something to get them outdoors and doing it together.

Can I afford this thing no, is it a waste no. If I made the money my wife's bosses make and my kids were at this age again, I'd have 2 custom painted ones in the garage without thinking about it.
  • 6 0
 @TheOriginalTwoTone: who TF cares about your stories?
  • 1 4
 @giantwhip: Enough people that commented about it, including you.
  • 5 0
 @TheOriginalTwoTone: I banish thee back under the bridge
  • 1 3
 @giantwhip: Still caring about my story?
  • 1 0
 @TheOriginalTwoTone: I still care!
  • 2 0
 Instead, buy the aluminum version, give it their dream custom paint job, and they will love it way more than the carbon one!
  • 1 0
 If you're thinking of getting one don't forget to budget in some money for upgrades. The alu stem and seatpost really need the carbon treatment too. Wink
  • 3 0
 Apparently Specialized has nothing better to do...
  • 5 6
 wow i didnt think humanity could sink much lower than it already has but here we are.......it will likely get broken quicker than the kid will outgrow it which also wont be long. I guess its there way of lubing you up for the fist fu*king of a lifetime when you move them up to a £10,000 grom bike and then finally a £25,000 adult bike 15 years in the future that im sure we will witness if we haven't nuked ourselves by then. its so depressing that some people are this dumb regardless of money. There's no need to be so stupid as to chuck money away.....if you are thinking of buying this for your kid please buy another more reasonable example of a balance bike and give the remaining 850 to charity cos you obviously wont notice it but it would help out so many more needy people especially at this time of year.
  • 2 0
 No room in the front triangle for a water bottle...in fact, there's no front triangle...that's a deal breaker, for me.
  • 1 0
 is Levy gonna do a balance bike field test????love to see him ride this. The impossible climb might be tricky with no foot dabs allowed though.
  • 1 0
 Pfff, ‘cruzee’ - alu frame with same weight, and yadayada benefits and grips ets;

While I agree this is nice bike, bulshitometr skyrocket out of the roof
  • 4 0
 just orderd 2
  • 2 0
 I demand SWAT and bottle mount and am willing to pay an extra grand for it!
  • 4 0
 Looks like a Strider
  • 1 1
 not sure why James linked directly to the GB version of the Spesh homepage... especially when the hotwalk isn't on the cover of that region, but is currently on the cover of the US region page...
  • 3 0
 Needs a SWAT box for LEGOS and a Twinkie.
  • 4 0
 TOT box for Twinkies or toys.
  • 2 3
 Where are the brakes, and why is it legal to sell this, or a Stryder bike, without them? My 4 1/2 YO left much of the flesh from his knees on the pavement when he got death wobbles on his Stryder. Partially my fault for not researching that this could happen, but don't think for a minute that your kid will be able to stop himself with only his feet.
  • 4 0
 @healthy-not-sick-biker: f#£k me, I never realised that they don't have brakes! That's terrifying.
  • 3 1
 @woofer2609 As a fellow parent with balance bikes in the house both with and without hand brakes -- don't think for a minute that hand brakes are going to do much better at stopping them while going downhill than their feet.

The contact patch for a 12" tire is just too small for effective braking.

If you want to reduce high speed wheel wobble, a damping headset is part of the answer -- I put them on my kids' bikes and it seemed to make a pretty big difference for my 3 year old:
canecreek.com/product/viscoset
  • 2 0
 @TimTucker: Strider bikes have an optional foot brake, which stops quite effectively, but is an option. Kids don't have strong enough hands for handbrakes, but not only does the foot brak ework, you can do cool skids!
  • 3 0
 "My 4 1/2 YO left much of the flesh from his knees on the pavement when he got death wobbles on his Stryder."

And he'll be better off for it in the long run.
  • 1 0
 @TimTucker: my 4 year old wore out a 12" tire
Se bronco. doing skids. He is on a 16" pitboss now. Handbrake Skids for days.
  • 2 0
 This is about a s wise an idea as Vancouver considering hosting the 2030 Olympics. In that it is not a wise idea.
  • 2 0
 All you complaining about the absurdity of this: Remember, Lamborghini makes an SUV.
  • 3 0
 Can't make a 27.5 stumpy but can make this bullshit...
  • 2 0
 ^this
  • 1 0
 E-bike version out next week for 2k? Top executive or sponsored rider at thre big S must have a kid this age and the R+D shop made it as a gift?
  • 1 0
 Im just going to leave this here, cheaper and way better
www.sherco.com.au/news-8894/sherco-launches-eb12-and-eb16-electric-balance-bikes
  • 1 1
 And here is another reason to never buy Specialized products. Fuck everything about this, and fuck everything about them, but above all, fuck everything about the degenerate fuckwits who buys such things.
  • 1 2
 My S-Wprks Epic Evo should be at the shop at the end of next week......(seriously). I am excited to ditch the XX1 for AXS....
  • 1 0
 I really hope this was all done because of some side lunch bet... 'if we made a carbon hotwalk, over / under, how many you think we would sell?'
  • 1 0
 I mean it's no a href="https://www.pinkbike.com/u/adrian-montgomery/blog/the-juliana-vivi-balance-bike.html">Juliana/a> - It doesn't even have disc brakes
  • 2 0
 Lol. My kids only ride bikes with Swarovski crystals covering the whole frame. Peasants.
  • 1 0
 So Strider also has carbon kick bike. It weighs in at 5.6lbs about a pound heavier, but supports up to 60lb rider versus 40lbs.
  • 1 0
 My kids 6, 3 and 3 are awesome little riders thanks to these strider bikes. But, the key item so many of these don’t have which they can learn from is a rear brake.
  • 2 0
 Everything that is wrong with the bike industry right here in one neat tiny piece of excess
  • 2 0
 Isn’t this “Jackson Goldstone” signature model a bit late on the release?
  • 2 0
 Carbon rims but not tubeless? Too heavy.
Also I'll be upgrading to a carbon seatpost.
  • 1 0
 That'll be on next years S-Works version for $2000
  • 1 0
 I know I had a pretty solid nap....but how long did I sleep for?!?!

What do real bikes cost in the future now? Like $12000?!?! Oh wait.........
  • 1 0
 as mentioned elsewhere.... Spesh can deliver a $999 kids bike but not mass market bikes.
SMH

slow clap Specialized.
sloooooow clap.
  • 1 0
 Came straight to the comments. Didn't even read the article. The comments have been gold. More than a few gave me a laugh. More articles like these, PB!
  • 1 0
 We dentists earn way too much money and I'm glad Specialized are helping out and finding new ways to separate me form my easily earned money.
  • 1 0
 I find this sort of behavior to be a real insult. My next bike will not be a Specialized. I refuse to pay an extra 25% just for a name. Shameful.
  • 1 0
 Who in the hell thought this was a good idea to spend money and resources on to develop?
  • 3 1
 Teach your kid how Specialized Carbon frames break at a young age
  • 2 0
 Finally! A bike for my kid that weighs less than my bike!
  • 1 0
 Too far, Spesh, too far. The saddest part is there are people that will actually buy it.
  • 1 0
 Probably about the only thing that's actually available to buy on their website.
  • 1 0
 I think they intended it more or less as a gift for upcoming holidays....in dentists neighbourhood.xD
  • 2 0
 $1000 with that component spec??
  • 2 0
 I‘d pass it to Dangerholm to make it even lighter ????
  • 1 0
 It should at least have tubeless tires, from the pics, it doesn't look like it does.
  • 3 1
 1000 for a hotwalk? This is like Apple company of bicycles
  • 2 0
 but does it come with a lifetime warranty?
  • 2 0
 Youve got to be f ing kidding me
  • 2 0
 Looks like a... ...dumb way to waste several hundred dollars
  • 1 0
 No one needs this. I can bet some kids would prefer the aluminum versions instead of this plastic thing.
  • 2 1
 My bikes balance bike was $60.

Even after this product release, I feel pretty good about that life choice Smile .
  • 1 0
 I'm waiting for the e-version. Seriously, I want one for the kid I don't have.
  • 2 0
 Laterally stiff but vertically compliant.
  • 2 5
 are we talking about specialized's peepee as they r@pe any potential customer of their hard earned?
  • 3 0
 No doubt it has a flex zone that takes the place of the bearing pivot
  • 3 0
 NO!
  • 6 3
 Fuck this so hard.
  • 5 0
 That's illegal in most states.
  • 4 4
 I can rationalize nearly any bike purchase. Throw kids in there and I'm a total sucker.
Three boys = 1 Commencal balance bike and two Spawn pedal bikes so far.
  • 2 0
 Dumbest thing I've seen in a long time.
  • 3 0
 $1k? good luck with that
  • 2 0
 Ok Specialized just having a laugh now
  • 2 0
 No SWAT Box for snack time?
  • 2 0
 Posted too early? Is this the unreleased bike from the enduro field test?
  • 2 0
 When you want to hate a toddler, but have no good reason.
  • 2 0
 It has no brakes. They'll crash soon enough.
  • 1 0
 No place to clip on a line so you can tow your kid? Pfft not worth the 1k then.
  • 1 0
 $1000 for a full carbon frame AND carbon wheels. Pinkbike users wanted cheaper bikes, here you go.
  • 1 1
 Is this for the kids or the parents?? Not THinking the big S has jumped the shark. Thought it had happened years ago, guess i was wrong.
  • 2 0
 Just as spesh was getn their mtb cred back...
  • 2 0
 What! Not even an S-Works sticker on that down tube?
  • 2 0
 what no water bottle mount?
  • 2 0
 No dropper?! *flips table*
  • 2 1
 What a waste of resources and a true reflection of Specialised. I guess it is all about the money for them.
  • 2 0
 Should be called the Sprog Works
  • 1 0
 Y'all wanted reason to hate on the big S in the Stumpy review... Now you can
  • 1 3
 Everyone: As a species we need to reduce our carbon footprint and environmental impact.
Specialized: Check out this $1,000 kid's bike made from carbon that they will outgrow in a year but won't biodegrade for thousands of years.
  • 2 0
 Sick.. I know what my daughter is getting for her first bday.
  • 1 0
 A starter bike for assh*les.
Am I too late? that's already been posted several times right?
  • 1 0
 No dropper, would not ride. That said the hidden cables are a nice touch. Wink
  • 2 0
 Another dumbshit move by tge specialized ceo
  • 2 0
 "Mountain biking isn't elitist at all"
  • 3 0
 No SWAT for Juice box ?
  • 2 0
 I was thinking the same thing. All that work to make this crazy thing and they don't include a SWAT.... where it makes an insane amount of sense. I mean what kid wouldn't be stoked on tossing some cookies and a juice box in there?
  • 2 0
 @onemanarmy: any kids getting this bike are unlikely to appreciate the value of anything ever.
  • 1 0
 @nordland071285: not gonna disagree with that. LOL!
  • 2 0
 What watch for the toddler that rides that?
  • 1 0
 Imagine, a Rolex on a kid who can't read time yet
  • 2 0
 This bike proves that 2020 is the worst fucking year of all time.
  • 1 0
 I'm assuming this is old hub standard on V1... look for superboost next year to get parents to upgrade.
  • 1 0
 These comments aren't nearly aggressive enough. What happened to all the trusty trolls on PB?
  • 1 0
 1000$ bike that doesn't even have presta valves, let alone tubeless compatible wheels. Pathetic!
  • 2 0
 No water bottle mount or SWAT for pacifiers or juice boxes either...
  • 1 0
 No Engine no Bluetooth c'mon Specialized how do you want to keep the Kids away from Drugs and Gangs?
  • 2 0
 will there be a e bike edition for obese kids?
  • 1 0
 Rumor has it this bike automatically pre-qualifies your child for dental school.
  • 1 0
 Do they actually expect us to buy these, when they don't even have an e-motor?
  • 1 0
 Be cool if a portion of these sales went to that program Sinyard started, outreach?
  • 2 0
 I think they need to make a dad sized one. I’d have a blast on one.
  • 1 0
 That moment when you have to check the calendar to see if its April 1st... but it isn't.
  • 1 0
 Yippee! Now even toddlers can experience the pleasure of having a delaminated Chinese carbon frame! Bravo to Spesh!
  • 1 0
 $1000 run bike and doesn’t even have a place for their feet.
But this is still pretty sick.
  • 1 0
 I'm gonna hold out for the $1,500.00 limited edition colorway....don't want to look like everyone else...
  • 1 0
 This is what's wrong with our community, even though Specialized has been crushing adult sized bikes.
  • 1 0
 Back in my day we had moulded plastic big wheels an we were hap....... Etc Etc
  • 2 0
 (gasp!) My little Tarquin simply MUST have one of these!
  • 2 0
 This is an incredibly smart PR idea. I love this exists.
  • 1 0
 I just hope it comes in a colorway that matches the new $500 Ralpha diapers that I got my kid.
  • 1 0
 I'm disappointed in the geo. Hopefully there will be a full review and huck to flat vid.
  • 1 0
 This is way too cute. When the time comes I would so purchase a bike such as this for my grandchild.
  • 1 0
 Whats delivery date for Canadian orders ?

This should have been released in October
  • 1 0
 i don't get why people bitch about this wile its apparently consider normal to buy a iPhone 1000$ or more every year...
  • 1 0
 The S-Works version drops next week. It's $500 extra, but Speshy throws in a titanium sippy cup.
  • 1 0
 My kid shaved 5 seconds off of his around the block time on this bike. Worth every penny.
  • 1 0
 Just a heads-up: editor's note is wrong - should say they forgot to publish this on April 1
  • 1 0
 Just checked the geo on the website and saw SA is 73 - it's gonna climb like crap; I could never do that to my kid.
  • 2 0
 C'mon?
  • 1 0
 Ho Ho Holy shit look the price.
  • 1 0
 i still dont even have a carbon bike lmao
  • 1 0
 Doesn't have 2 water bottle mounts, im out
  • 1 0
 Excuse me, but where is the (box) holder for juice box???
  • 1 0
 The Dentist's kid bike...
  • 2 0
 What a Wankfest!!!!
  • 1 0
 Hahahaha. Fuck Carbon everything and your ebike feelings.
  • 1 0
 How long until we have a kids bikes field test
  • 1 0
 Imagine leaving that behind the car!!!???
  • 2 0
 $999 Really?...Really?
  • 1 0
 Not so expensive for a descent set of carbon wheels (with a spare baby frame)
  • 4 0
 My thought exactly. www.aliexpress.com/item/33005377824.html.

You can get a carbon frame almost like this for $100 factory-direct.
Add sweet prismatic paint: $20
Open a mold for carbon rims: $2000
Make a pair of carbon rims of that size: $150
Add all the other bits: $100

And then add in a discount for ordering 100 of those, probably looking at $300/bike. So they're probably making 50% at least before retailer margins.

So I guess just because you're the only one to offer it you can charge $999, but they're making a fortune on every sale.
  • 1 0
 @sissypants: supply and demand my friend, also sponsored riders are being paid way more than before which is a big chunk of company expenses, but people keep praising them.
  • 1 0
 @sissypants: no need for a new mold for the rims -- there are plenty of companies out there making them:
www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?SearchText=12+carbon+balance+bike+wheels
  • 3 1
 Why?
  • 1 1
 Wow. Perfect for every dentist's child who is outperforming their strider bike...
  • 2 0
 April 1st already?
  • 2 1
 2020 gets 4/1 twice
  • 3 0
 @photodog: Naw... 2020, every day is April 1st
  • 1 0
 @photodog: More like 2/2 EVERY GD DAY!
  • 3 0
 Made by kids in Asia for kids in North America
  • 3 1
 Specialized = apple
  • 2 0
 nope...
  • 1 0
 This makes me regret being a finance major....
  • 1 1
 I will just re-post what I wrote on earlier article: all dentists in Dubai are amazed Smile now gtfo Smile
  • 1 0
 For the child of a Yeti owner....
  • 1 1
 Nah. This is for the children of riders who think Yeti is too mainstream and got a Pivot instead.
  • 1 0
 @Almazing: lmao
  • 2 0
 April Fools in December?
  • 6 6
 As awful as it is, I’ll be surprised if I don’t see at least one around here. People suck.
  • 1 0
 No, just some of 'em.
  • 2 1
 How much better would Goldstone be if he started on one of these Wink
  • 2 1
 Dentist's kids are gonna be hyped
  • 1 1
 So the dentist's kid is supposed to put their feet on that nice carbon? Where are the foot-rests?
  • 1 0
 This bike would be cool if it had footrests.
  • 2 1
 Could you fit Fox 40s or nah?
  • 1 0
 How about fox 4yr?
  • 2 0
 Sam Pilgrim has joined the chat.
  • 1 0
 I’m surprised Specialized didn’t go with 29ers on this bike.
  • 2 0
 pffff.... GTFO of here
  • 2 0
 FK MTB, I'm out
  • 1 0
 There are things that are outright stupid. And this is one of them.
  • 1 0
 This would be so cool made out of wood!
  • 2 0
 April’s fool?
  • 1 0
 Forget the kid, I want one for myself!!
  • 2 1
 A dentist bike for people on their first set of teeth.
  • 1 0
 Strider for "Dental spawn".
  • 1 0
 Super rich people have to spend their money on something.
  • 1 0
 I'm holding out for the Sworks Evo version
  • 1 0
 Specialized is such a ridiculous brand.
  • 1 0
 My first bike had no air in the tires.
  • 1 0
 I thought Below Thresholds would have put in a better effort on this one.
  • 1 1
 Watch out dad! If you jerk off on this thing, please make sure that your children are not around.
  • 1 0
 Was checking to see if it was April 1st.... nope 2020.
  • 2 0
 I need a kid!
  • 3 1
 looks like a session
  • 1 0
 I scrolled a long way down to find out who would say it. You win.
  • 1 0
 If you buy this for your kid you have too much money.
  • 1 0
 And we know people will spend it. The must have for the dentists kid
  • 2 0
 FU, S
  • 1 0
 Want your toddler to smash it on Strava? This is the bike.
  • 1 0
 Specialized just keeps finding new ways to make me disinterested
  • 1 0
 I'll take a Ps5 for 500 Alex.
  • 1 0
 I'll wait for the EVO version.
  • 1 0
 I’m 65 years old and I WANT ONE!!!
  • 1 0
 At 65 I'll probably need one.
  • 1 0
 Don't forget the Ride Wrap kit +$100
  • 1 0
 They are taking the piss, I'd be keen to know who falls for it.
  • 1 0
 What would you do with the information?
  • 1 0
 @tomhoward379: Be all keen about it n stuff.
  • 1 0
 Young dentist in the making
  • 1 0
 Is there only one of these. Would be the only reason to buy it.
  • 1 0
 Yay the dentist's kids can have bikes now!
  • 1 0
 i bet they have xxs size sc or yeti since they are about same size
  • 1 0
 Pinkbike loves specialized.
  • 1 0
 But what about the KINEMATICS???
  • 1 0
 Groundhog Day came too early?
  • 1 0
 I would expect an article like this on April 1st
  • 1 0
 id buy this if the stem was shaped smarter
  • 1 0
 Awesome, as long as you live in Holland.
  • 1 0
 Designed the bars to be 38% smaller, now that's sophisticated Engineering.
  • 1 0
 firstly e mopeds and now this.
  • 1 0
 ok i'll wait for s works version
  • 1 0
 Nine out of ten dentists approved this product.
  • 1 0
 Screw you peasants. -specialized
  • 1 0
 At least it doesn't have a pressfit BB
  • 1 0
 Pffft what no SWAT box? No water bottle mounts?
  • 1 0
 Why does this bike exist? To get people talking about it, and it worked.
  • 1 0
 Needs foam grips to drop some grams
  • 1 0
 Shred signaling at 2 years old
  • 1 0
 ugly as fuck greeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed!
  • 1 0
 Weird flex. But OK.
  • 1 0
 No dropper post ?
  • 1 0
 **
  • 1 1
 Specialized has officially jumped the shark.
  • 1 0
 DAMN!!!!
  • 1 0
 Is it April already?
  • 1 1
 A lot of dentists just got excited.
  • 1 0
 Hedge-fund managers
  • 1 0
 Again?
  • 1 1
 @Pinkbike are you just trying to upset us now? :-)
  • 1 0
 Must
  • 1 0
 Top
  • 1 0
 The
  • 1 0
 300
  • 1 0
 Comment
  • 1 0
 Threshold
  • 1 3
 These toddlers on their dentist balance bikes usually don't have a clue about riding. Can't wait for the first ones to show up on friday fails.
  • 1 0
 Huck to flat?
  • 2 1
 4 dentist kids. WTF!
  • 1 0
 April fools
  • 1 0
 "390 comments"
  • 1 0
 is it an e-bike?
  • 1 0
 Trail test tomorrow.
  • 1 0
 Comment record?
  • 1 0
 um, no!
  • 1 0
 Waiting for the s works!
  • 1 0
 Absolutely F’in NO!
  • 1 0
 Hmmmmm, i agree
  • 1 0
 Hilarious
  • 1 0
 No S-Works??
  • 1 2
 Where is the 'dislike' button?
  • 15 18
 Enough, can bike brands actually concentrate on doing some good. The money used to make moulds and develop this could have been donated to a local trail charity
  • 15 6
 Piss off you smelly hippy
  • 17 20
 haters gonna hate but i think this is pretty rad.
  • 32 6
 You probably also have frosted tips and a trust fund
  • 1 1
 @Bikebikebike03: Do rich people travel in a time machine back to 20 years ago to get their hair done?
  • 2 5
 Just one more reason I will never buy Specialized.
  • 6 2
 Because they make bad ass kids bikes?

I mean how much different is this from a $700 aluminum 16" kids bikes or $3000 full suspension 24" kids bikes? Or a $25,000 titanium bike? Or a $14,000 road bike? Or a $14,000 e-MTB?

I mean if we're going to stop buying bikes by a company because they make something outlandish we'd pretty much be out of bike companies. I mean unless you want to buy a hyper that doesn't exist... or a huffy?
  • 1 0
 @onemanarmy: my son has had three specialized bikes. 20" hotrock 24" grom and a 26" hotrock. There is no bike in his future from big S until he is 5'6". All they make are 29ers now.
  • 5 0
 @onemanarmy: Specialized has tapped into the same "simp" crowd as Apple. No normal person would not pay $1000 for a push bike.
  • 1 0
 @fruitsd79:

www.specialized.com/us/en/shop/bikes/c/bikes#/filter:wheelsize:27.5/sort:ss_price:asc
  • 1 2
 @mattsavage: dated xc hardtails or +$7000
Carbon stumpjumper
No in between. Nothing in a size xs worth considering. Meanwhile giant and trek have loads of options for kids, not to mention the smaller brands. Big S has nothing.
The last grom bike was a 24" that could fit 26, but was still made for 4' tall to 4'6" riders. And that was 5 years ago.
  • 1 0
 @fruitsd79: I went trek for 24 inch for my daughter. Spawn 30 for sun. Looking for a good 16. Commencal and spawn most likely.

Specialized didn’t hit enough buttons for kids bikes for me. Maybe this is a sign they’re going to change that?
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