NoWhammies

I seem to recall hearing over coffee/beer/whatever that Specialized uses proprietary components on their bikes, forcing you to purchase Specialized gear/parts. Is this true? When I spec them out online, they are using what seems to be Shimano/SRAM components, so I'm unclear on where there proprietary bit comes in. And if Specialized is using proprietary parts/components, what are they exactly? How does it impact on your use of the bike?

Thank you.

Seattle Forrest

Proprietary motor.

surak

Future Shock is proprietary. It's the only non-trivial proprietary part on my 2019 Roubaix. Hasn't bothered me yet, though it's easy to find plenty of wailing and gnashing of teeth about it on BF.

More of their bikes are using proprietary D-shaped seat posts. My Giant has one too, while my 2019 Roubaix uses standard. I have yet to want to switch posts but prefer standard. D-shape supposedly makes saddle alignment a non-issue, but I've still managed to carelessly misalign my saddle on the Giant by a fair amount when I thought it couldn't happen.

topflightpro

A lot of manufacturers now use proprietary seatposts, particularly on aero frames. I wouldn't let that be a determining factor.

Several years ago, Specialized released its SCS road disc wheel system, which it thought would be copied by the rest of the industry. It wasn't.

That said, Specialized, like most manufacturers, uses its own branded bars, stems, saddles and wheels, but they can be swapped out with pretty much any other option.

Iride01 

Probably the materials of the frame or some unique way they manufacture the frame or any other component they make. But as for the Shimano, SRAM, or any other groupset on them, they are standard in that respect.

But of course Shimano, SRAM and others have their proprietary stuff too.

Are you wanting to copy it and sell it? or just asking if you can put other components on it?

Mitkraft

To better answer your original question, No, the drive trains are not proprietary neither is most of the bike except very specific limited examples as stated above.

HTupolev

D-shape is primarily for aerodynamics and compliance.

It being "for alignment" is silly. It's not difficult to adequately align a saddle, and a circular cross-section protects the bicycle by being able to twist in a crash, in addition to allowing the rails to be intentionally positioned non-straight if that's ever needed or desired for whatever reason.

surak

Nobody said the D-shape was "for alignment," so I find it odd that you use quotation marks as though you're quoting someone (in this case, implying me, since you're quoting my post). It is something that the LBS will tell customers to assuage concerns about its proprietary nature, because the rest of the benefits are arguably marginal.

I've never noticed any benefit to supposed increased compliance. I don't ride my road bikes like cruisers with all my weight on my butt. You won't see tandem owners wishing they had a D-shaped stoker seat post.

As for aero frame features for a rec cyclist, BF debates the value plenty. It's pretty low on the list of advantages.

What is an actual, tangible, and noticeable difference between D-shaped and standard seat posts is that if I wanted a different seat post, I'd be s.o.l. This is exactly the type of effect of being proprietary that the OP is asking about.

HTupolev

You did:
Those were scare quotes, and I was ridiculing the idea. I don't think we disagree with each other.

surak

Well we may not disagree with each other, but it's a stretch to interpret what I wrote to mean that the reason the D-shape exists is for saddle alignment.

HTupolev

I didn't mean to imply whether or not you yourself were making the claim. I was disagreeing with the idea, regardless of who suggested it. By using the word "supposedly", it seemed like you were implying that someone was implying that it was one of the reasons for the D-shape.

ksryder

Well, they certainly use... specialized parts!



I'll be here all week!

NoWhammies

Thank you

Just asking to know what I'm getting in to if I were to purchase a Specialized bike. Am I locked in to their system, for example.

ksryder

Somewhat depends on the bike you're talking about. Example: I have an older Tricross that uses some sort of proprietary headset--although plenty of people have retrofitted them with third-party headsets.

teejaywhy

He didn't say it was "for alignment."

Dean V

They sometimes use their own cranks but Shimano etc can be fitted with adapters.
The earlier model Diverge had an odd rear hub spacing and as has been mentioned there is the future shock on the Roubaix.
So you could say they don't use much odd ball stuff and it certainly is nothing compared to all the proprietary parts on many modern bikes, especially around the bar/stem area.

surak

We cleared up -- HTupolev was referring to my implication that someone (the LBS) told me the D-Fuse seat post eases saddle alignment, which isn't true but is something that I've also seen bandied around elsewhere.

znomit

What are the chances of getting parts for the future shock in 15 years?

Alexbn921

Actually pretty good. They have 3 models with it and I have a feeling that it will be part of their production for the next 10 years at least. Epic XC ones on the other hand are going to be very hard to come bye.