Thanks for posting this video! i modelled my own 2023 "downcountry" chisel build after your bike, and i couldn't be happier with the result. my upgrades include xt drive train, slx shifter and brakes, dt swiss xm 1700 wheels, and 120mm fox 34 factory fork - not cheap, but definitely a worthwhile upgrade. 10 months later, and i still love every ride!
That's awesome to hear and glad you love it - it's such an amazing bike and so fun to ride!!! Try the XT shifter - it gives you the rapid upshifts and I think it is a worthwhile upgrade
Nice to see your video! I was looking exactly a used Chisel for more than a year and i just got it new in sale. Striped the frame of all componensts and upgraded with parts from my old Spec. Now its 10.7 kg. with pedals and rips!
I’ve built up mine with the same “evo” concept, using a SID120 upfront, a Deore groupset, and XM1700 wheelset. I use double Rekons most of the year. I totally aggree with everything you said here :) It’s a super versatile, but still very fast XC/light trail bike that’s perfect for 95% of my local terrain. It doubles as a gravel bike if I put my carbon wheels with Race Kings on it. I also 100% aggree with all those youtubers saying that for european gravel, a hardtail is a much better bet 9 out of 10 times. We just don’t really have the Dirty Kanza type terrain that gravelbikes were originally created for. European offroad terrain is twisty and undulating most of the time, which really plays to the strengths of an XC bike imho.
Oh wow sounds like we have really similar builds! I didn’t know that about European gravel scene, that’s super interesting. Thanks for the comment and ride on
Fully agree, a 120mm RS SID fork, a dropper post and 2.4'' tires turn the Chisel into a capable, light and fun trail bike. Except for rough and fast(er) downhill sections I love it more than my SC Bronson v1.
Nice ride! I'm approaching my fifth season on my Chisel. I've been running a dropper with a Fox StepCast fork at 100mm. I still love the bike and ride it more than my Epic Evo. I have done plenty of gravel rides and just chuckle at my friends who still insist on riding a drop bar gravel bike, and then put on a dropper, a fork, fatter tires etc. My Chisel is so much more comfortable, stable, and cheaper. It's such a fun, versatile bike. It really renders drop bar gravel bikes redundant while also being a blast on singletrack.
@@michaelthompson1640 I don't know if I like it more, I just find that I tend to pick it when riding my local trails or if I tag along for a gravel ride. It's so light and simplistic. It's the first bike I have truly loved owning.
I agree. Definitely a sleeper bike. I got mine setup with a 120mm Sid, a PNW dropper, Nobl TR32s w/Aspens, a 38t oval and a 10-52t Garbaruk cassette w/XTR drivetrain and brakes. Great gravel bike and also a great XC race bike. Light, cheap and durable. Love it.
Nice! I went the opposite route. I have a pnw dropper with maxxis 2.5 / 2.3. Super fun. I use it on some local trails bit I enjoy commuting with it as well.
really like your video, it further convinced me to change my fork. I was hesitating between the RockShox and the Fox 34 at 120mm, and finally, I’ve decided to go all the way like you did. I bought the Chisel Comp but in the 2022 model. I plan to upgrade the brakes to XT instead of the Level. I’ll also switch to GX for the transmission and change the saddle, which I find uncomfortable.. thanks agai 😉👍
Really nice bike!! I'm going to purchase a LTD frame to replace my actual steel frame. I've got the same fork, with 120mm of travel. I was planning to turn it into a 100mm travel, but after knowing your thoughts I think I'm going to keep it as it is.
Part change was likely due to availability. Surfing the internet it seems that Shimano still has issues with supply chain and parts availability. Also, like everything else bikes are for sure going up in costs...
Can you use the Chisel as a gravel bike too? I’m torn between the Chisel and Diverge Evo. I’m in RVA similar trails to you in NOVA. I plan on riding in forest roads, single track and gravel. Basically I want one bike to do it all 😆
I don't use it too much for gravel but I do ride to trail heads with it and it's great for that. I have a cyclocross bike for gravel rides. One bike to do it all is tough because it will never be great at everything. Pick the bike you think is the coolest and you'll be happy :)
So for the price of the bike stock and then the cost of all the upgrades, aren't you pretty close in total cost to have gotten a higher spec bike in the first place?
That’s a great question and something I debate with me self over doing upgrades. And all in I’d be hard to say, some parts were gifts and have sold or broken the parts I replaced. And can always take these parts to a new bike frame and sell the chisel frame. The frame alone sells for $1500k new. Plus I love ❤️ my bike, and I have fun in it
It’s also customized, which you cannot do. I’d say customizing for arguably better parts is worth at least 15% premium I did up my Rockhopper, literally down to frame (Bb, headset, wheels, brakes, power train, dropper, cockpit, crankset) only original thing was the saddle. But it’s about the fun factor, not always about financial engineering
@@michaelthompson1640 That is awesome and a great perspective! I always consider the same when wanting to upgrade things but at the end of the day, you got to be having fun!
Anyone been able to ride/compare is this generation of chisel with the 2019 chisel (older school geo) which is the one I have. Is it worth the frame upgrade if I want to upgrade the fork and wheels in similar way to this vid
Got a Chisel Comp and it's a real good deal! Haven't upgraded anything yet aside from grips. Some vlog rides in my channel and hopefully you can visit too. Thanks. 😎👌
Thanks for posting this video! i modelled my own 2023 "downcountry" chisel build after your bike, and i couldn't be happier with the result. my upgrades include xt drive train, slx shifter and brakes, dt swiss xm 1700 wheels, and 120mm fox 34 factory fork - not cheap, but definitely a worthwhile upgrade. 10 months later, and i still love every ride!
That's awesome to hear and glad you love it - it's such an amazing bike and so fun to ride!!! Try the XT shifter - it gives you the rapid upshifts and I think it is a worthwhile upgrade
Nice to see your video! I was looking exactly a used Chisel for more than a year and i just got it new in sale. Striped the frame of all componensts and upgraded with parts from my old Spec. Now its 10.7 kg. with pedals and rips!
Do you have somewhere the list of upgrades to lower to that level?
@@moisestatis5418 i have a list of the upgrades, now ist 10,4 kg (did not understand "*to lower to that level*)
@@PresiMinchev I meant to reach that weight. Is the list available? Thanks
@@moisestatis5418 mtbr forum has a specialized chisel topic. Lots of builds there
I’ve built up mine with the same “evo” concept, using a SID120 upfront, a Deore groupset, and XM1700 wheelset. I use double Rekons most of the year. I totally aggree with everything you said here :) It’s a super versatile, but still very fast XC/light trail bike that’s perfect for 95% of my local terrain. It doubles as a gravel bike if I put my carbon wheels with Race Kings on it. I also 100% aggree with all those youtubers saying that for european gravel, a hardtail is a much better bet 9 out of 10 times. We just don’t really have the Dirty Kanza type terrain that gravelbikes were originally created for. European offroad terrain is twisty and undulating most of the time, which really plays to the strengths of an XC bike imho.
Oh wow sounds like we have really similar builds! I didn’t know that about European gravel scene, that’s super interesting. Thanks for the comment and ride on
@@michaelthompson1640so what's the better choice.... Specialized fuse or chisel??
helpful post!
Fully agree, a 120mm RS SID fork, a dropper post and 2.4'' tires turn the Chisel into a capable, light and fun trail bike. Except for rough and fast(er) downhill sections I love it more than my SC Bronson v1.
Nice ride! I'm approaching my fifth season on my Chisel. I've been running a dropper with a Fox StepCast fork at 100mm. I still love the bike and ride it more than my Epic Evo. I have done plenty of gravel rides and just chuckle at my friends who still insist on riding a drop bar gravel bike, and then put on a dropper, a fork, fatter tires etc. My Chisel is so much more comfortable, stable, and cheaper. It's such a fun, versatile bike. It really renders drop bar gravel bikes redundant while also being a blast on singletrack.
thanks for the comment and can't believe you like it more than the epic evo, i really want one of those! sounds like you have a slick set up.
@@michaelthompson1640 I don't know if I like it more, I just find that I tend to pick it when riding my local trails or if I tag along for a gravel ride. It's so light and simplistic. It's the first bike I have truly loved owning.
Thanks for the video, I had doubts about upgrading to a fox fork 34 sc.
I agree. Definitely a sleeper bike. I got mine setup with a 120mm Sid, a PNW dropper, Nobl TR32s w/Aspens, a 38t oval and a 10-52t Garbaruk cassette w/XTR drivetrain and brakes. Great gravel bike and also a great XC race bike. Light, cheap and durable. Love it.
So much fun and so good! Glad you like it too and sweet build!
Great video and helpful perspective! I am thinking about getting one of these as a complete bike or waiting to see if they restock the Epic HT.
Thanks!!! Can’t go wrong with the chisel!
Thats a nice Specialized Shizzle!
Thank you!
Nice! I went the opposite route. I have a pnw dropper with maxxis 2.5 / 2.3. Super fun. I use it on some local trails bit I enjoy commuting with it as well.
Great idea! In terms of head tube angle, do you know what angle you ended up with after installing the new 120mm fork? Thank you!!
really like your video, it further convinced me to change my fork. I was hesitating between the RockShox and the Fox 34 at 120mm, and finally, I’ve decided to go all the way like you did. I bought the Chisel Comp but in the 2022 model. I plan to upgrade the brakes to XT instead of the Level. I’ll also switch to GX for the transmission and change the saddle, which I find uncomfortable.. thanks agai 😉👍
Thanks for the kind response and sounds like a great set up!!! Hope you are loving it, it’s a great bike
Really nice bike!! I'm going to purchase a LTD frame to replace my actual steel frame. I've got the same fork, with 120mm of travel. I was planning to turn it into a 100mm travel, but after knowing your thoughts I think I'm going to keep it as it is.
thanks for the comment and I think you should def. keep your fork and build as it is! such a fun bike and enjoy!
Part change was likely due to availability. Surfing the internet it seems that Shimano still has issues with supply chain and parts availability. Also, like everything else bikes are for sure going up in costs...
Yea, I bet it was easier to source SRAM parts for the new Chisel. Everything is expensive these days!
I bought a Chisel Frameset for $750 in 2008!
I am 5 foot8, have XT cranks 170mm on my Chisel ltd...perfect.
Excellent set up!
Sick bike bro
Thanks Joshua, I absolutely love it
Can you use the Chisel as a gravel bike too? I’m torn between the Chisel and Diverge Evo. I’m in RVA similar trails to you in NOVA. I plan on riding in forest roads, single track and gravel. Basically I want one bike to do it all 😆
I don't use it too much for gravel but I do ride to trail heads with it and it's great for that. I have a cyclocross bike for gravel rides. One bike to do it all is tough because it will never be great at everything. Pick the bike you think is the coolest and you'll be happy :)
is this model not too small for you? how much do you measure ?
Cool bike, man! What is your height?
I am 5 feet 10 inches! Thank you
So for the price of the bike stock and then the cost of all the upgrades, aren't you pretty close in total cost to have gotten a higher spec bike in the first place?
That’s a great question and something I debate with me self over doing upgrades. And all in I’d be hard to say, some parts were gifts and have sold or broken the parts I replaced. And can always take these parts to a new bike frame and sell the chisel frame. The frame alone sells for $1500k new. Plus I love ❤️ my bike, and I have fun in it
It’s also customized, which you cannot do. I’d say customizing for arguably better parts is worth at least 15% premium
I did up my Rockhopper, literally down to frame (Bb, headset, wheels, brakes, power train, dropper, cockpit, crankset) only original thing was the saddle.
But it’s about the fun factor, not always about financial engineering
@@michaelthompson1640 That is awesome and a great perspective! I always consider the same when wanting to upgrade things but at the end of the day, you got to be having fun!
Upgrading is fun, like you get a little of a new bike every time :)
They may have raised the price after seeing your first video,#underpriced. Maybe would have been better not to mention that! :)
😅😅😅
so what's the better choice.... Specialized fuse or chisel??
Responded to your first post apologizes on the delay
Anyone been able to ride/compare is this generation of chisel with the 2019 chisel (older school geo) which is the one I have. Is it worth the frame upgrade if I want to upgrade the fork and wheels in similar way to this vid
What size ?
I ride a large
What length stem do you run?
I use a 50 mm stem
Haha. Buy it… and then change basically everything about it😂. But cool video, keep it up 👍
i am going to build my chisel.question on my mind...a part from warrenty potential issue, any other reasonable troubles using a >100mm fork?
no issues that i know of, it does change the head tube angle by making it slacker but i see that as a good thing
You think I can use the same fork on a rockhopper??
I think you can but be careful with wheel spacing // the chisel has boost hubs and the rockhopper might not have boost hub spacing
@@michaelthompson1640 I appreciate the quick response l, awesome bike by the way 🤙🏽
Got a Chisel Comp and it's a real good deal! Haven't upgraded anything yet aside from grips. Some vlog rides in my channel and hopefully you can visit too. Thanks. 😎👌
thanks for the comment and glad you love the chisel too. I'll check out your vlog too!
bro looks like lionel messi lol