Specialized Myka FSR Comp - opinions?

Hi all...I just discovered this forum and glad I did! I'm a relatively new road cyclist and ride the Specialized Ruby Comp. I'm now looking into mountain bikes, and since Specialized is all I know, I'm thinking of the 2009 Myka FSR Comp. From what I know it has all the features I'd want in a mountain bike but I live in a small town and looks like I wouldn't be able to test it out before ordering. I should have a chance to try out a similar one, but was wondering if there is anyone out there who has it and what it feels like. I tried out a Gary Fisher...it road well, but didn't feel quite right for me. I don't want to jump into it tooo fast for a $2000 bike, but at the same time, I want to get on the trails!! Let me know what you think! :)

I would not buy a mountain bike without trying it out. Roadies coming over to the dark side don't always understand what a mtb should feel like, and many times will accept too big/too long as OK. Specialized does make awesome bikes, but I would spend some time researching frame sizes that fit someone of your proportions well.

I have a Spec FSR expert, WSD and I love it ---it's the demo of what I think became the Myka last year. I am 5-3.5 and ride a medium Women's frame, I have split proportions of leg/torso.

See if your shop will order one with out you having to buy it. There is NO WAY I would spend $2K on a bike if I couldn't try it first. Too many times you buy a bike without trying it, and the fit is NOT perfect and they try to convince you to take it any, "oh we'll just change the stem" for you. Which is not the same thing as a bike frame that is the right size.

Take a road trip to a place that has a good selection of different brands/sizes. Or, join a gals ride where you could try lots of differnt bikes just by trading. :p

Thanks for your reply...looks like I'll be able to test one out this week, sooo pumped!
I'm about the same height as you, and was told the medium would probably be the right size, but I'll see what the test ride is like. :)

I agree 100% with Irulan. I'm glad you are going to be able to test ride the bike to get a feel for it. I am also 5'3.5" and ride a Spec Era Marathon in a medium and it fits a treat. I'm a bit short in the body but with longer legs and gorilla arms. I believe when I had my fitting session we went one size shorter in the stem even so.

One other thing to carry in the back of your mind is that I think that women who have been roadies (guilty as charged your honour) and more particularly women roadies who have always ridden "men's bikes" often under-estimate the effect that too long a top tube on an MTB will have.

We are used to a more laid forward and stretched out position and may be inclined towards thinking that the WSD bike in the right size is too short for us. I found it weird feeling how upright and over the bars I was on a WSD MTB. But once I started to realise how much you need to be able to be mobile over the bike and shift your weight so far forward and back, I realised that in the stretched out position of a longer top tube I would never have been able to get far enough back and still control the bike!

Hi Pinkbikes...
That's one thing I was thinking, how much different the position and feel will be like on mountain bikes compared to roadies, but thanks for the advice...that gives me the idea that it's supposed to be different! I actually excited to see how the climbs will be!

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Originally Posted by pinkbikes

I agree 100% with Irulan. I'm glad you are going to be able to test ride the bike to get a feel for it. I am also 5'3.5" and ride a Spec Era Marathon in a medium and it fits a treat. I'm a bit short in the body but with longer legs and gorilla arms. I believe when I had my fitting session we went one size shorter in the stem even so.

One other thing to carry in the back of your mind is that I think that women who have been roadies (guilty as charged your honour) and more particularly women roadies who have always ridden "men's bikes" often under-estimate the effect that too long a top tube on an MTB will have.

We are used to a more laid forward and stretched out position and may be inclined towards thinking that the WSD bike in the right size is too short for us. I found it weird feeling how upright and over the bars I was on a WSD MTB. But once I started to realise how much you need to be able to be mobile over the bike and shift your weight so far forward and back, I realised that in the stretched out position of a longer top tube I would never have been able to get far enough back and still control the bike!

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Originally Posted by pinkbikes

I agree 100% with Irulan. I'm glad you are going to be able to test ride the bike to get a feel for it. I am also 5'3.5" and ride a Spec Era Marathon in a medium and it fits a treat. I'm a bit short in the body but with longer legs and gorilla arms. I believe when I had my fitting session we went one size shorter in the stem even so.

One other thing to carry in the back of your mind is that I think that women who have been roadies (guilty as charged your honour) and more particularly women roadies who have always ridden "men's bikes" often under-estimate the effect that too long a top tube on an MTB will have.

We are used to a more laid forward and stretched out position and may be inclined towards thinking that the WSD bike in the right size is too short for us. I found it weird feeling how upright and over the bars I was on a WSD MTB. But once I started to realise how much you need to be able to be mobile over the bike and shift your weight so far forward and back, I realised that in the stretched out position of a longer top tube I would never have been able to get far enough back and still control the bike!

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great explanation of the issues with changing from a road type fit to a mtb fit.

I have this bike and I love it! I got the 2008 model for a steal at my LBS (less than $500). I ride it to work every day and anytime I have to go somewhere within the city. Even though I'm not using it for the traditional MTB purpose, it's still a great bike.

Let us know what you think!

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Originally Posted by bluejellybean

Hi Pinkbikes...
That's one thing I was thinking, how much different the position and feel will be like on mountain bikes compared to roadies, but thanks for the advice...that gives me the idea that it's supposed to be different! I actually excited to see how the climbs will be!

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It's funny really. I had never thought I would enjoy mountain biking. I was so into the whole efficiency of roadies and how light and fast and "every joule of energy you put in sends you forward" they are.

But some of this was because I just hopped onto my DH's MTB which was silly really since it was a low-end duallie built for somebody a whole foot taller than me. It was like riding a tractor.:p

So riding a well-fitted, nicely-specced hard tail was a good start for a roadie. It felt really odd and upright and forward. But I soon leanred how to throw my weight around it and then moved onto the Era when I was ready for a duallie. It still climbs well thanks to the Brain, which I have set pretty much one click off the firmest setting.

As a roadie who is no doubt accustomed to a firm climbing platform, you may need to talk to whoever sets you up on it about suspension settings that will allow you to get used to the somewhat more bouncy life of FSR. As for climbing, you will find it funny. When I ride the roadie I would sit to descend and bounce up out of the saddle a lot to bust over the top for shorter climbs. On the MTB I do the opposite - hit the attack position (standing) almost all the time and sit to climb! Just remember that to get traction you need to find a sweet spot for your weight. I well remember my coach preaching "The S on the nose of that Specialized seat is for Sphincter, so that's where it should be!":D

That's exactly what I'm going through...I think the reason I love road cycling is for the speed and distance I can get out of it...I've always been an endurance person...then something hit me recently, maybe the need to shake things up a bit and I want to do some cross training in the trails!
I also took a guys bike out in the parking lot, WAY too big, so I think getting the proper bike, proper fit will feel amazing!

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Originally Posted by pinkbikes

It's funny really. I had never thought I would enjoy mountain biking. I was so into the whole efficiency of roadies and how light and fast and "every joule of energy you put in sends you forward" they are.

But some of this was because I just hopped onto my DH's MTB which was silly really since it was a low-end duallie built for somebody a whole foot taller than me. It was like riding a tractor.:p

So riding a well-fitted, nicely-specced hard tail was a good start for a roadie. It felt really odd and upright and forward. But I soon leanred how to throw my weight around it and then moved onto the Era when I was ready for a duallie. It still climbs well thanks to the Brain, which I have set pretty much one click off the firmest setting.

As a roadie who is no doubt accustomed to a firm climbing platform, you may need to talk to whoever sets you up on it about suspension settings that will allow you to get used to the somewhat more bouncy life of FSR. As for climbing, you will find it funny. When I ride the roadie I would sit to descend and bounce up out of the saddle a lot to bust over the top for shorter climbs. On the MTB I do the opposite - hit the attack position (standing) almost all the time and sit to climb! Just remember that to get traction you need to find a sweet spot for your weight. I well remember my coach preaching "The S on the nose of that Specialized seat is for Sphincter, so that's where it should be!":D

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Oh it will be amazing. I am quite the enthusiastic convert now. There is something about the physical challenge of the obstacles and the sheer adrenalin rush that really gets you in. I even stopped riding my roadie for a little while because I thougth it was boring!:eek:

Thankfully I'm over that now and have things back in proper perspective (you know - you should love all your children, even if for different reasons!) There was a great thread a while ago about why people who rode both roadies and mtbs liked them both. It really put it in perspective.:)

Mot to hijack your thread but what about trying a similar bike? I am getting a new bike and the Myka is what I am leaning towards based on fit, price and okay I admit looks. They only have a Safire for rental so I am taking that out next week, I know it is a better bike but similar linkage. I just want to see how I like the full suspension after learning on hardtail. I am so confused! :confused:

That's exactly what I did :) I was able to find a safire to try out...it was great and now my myka comp is on order! Should be here in a few days! Woo hoo, I can't wait! The Safire is the bomb, but a little out of my price range!
Let us know if you end up with the myka too!

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Originally Posted by Aggie_Ama

Mot to hijack your thread but what about trying a similar bike? I am getting a new bike and the Myka is what I am leaning towards based on fit, price and okay I admit looks. They only have a Safire for rental so I am taking that out next week, I know it is a better bike but similar linkage. I just want to see how I like the full suspension after learning on hardtail. I am so confused! :confused:

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Originally Posted by bluejellybean

That's exactly what I did :) I was able to find a safire to try out...it was great and now my myka comp is on order! Should be here in a few days! Woo hoo, I can't wait! The Safire is the bomb, but a little out of my price range!
Let us know if you end up with the myka too!

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Yeah the Safire is just a little more than I want to spend but I can take it on the trail and the Myka I can only go in the parking lot. I am thinking based on the fit of the parking lot test the Myka will be a dream but I am going to try a Trek Fuel too (my LBS might be able to swing a deal on it but dang it is ugly).

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Originally Posted by Aggie_Ama

Yeah the Safire is just a little more than I want to spend but I can take it on the trail and the Myka I can only go in the parking lot. I am thinking based on the fit of the parking lot test the Myka will be a dream but I am going to try a Trek Fuel too (my LBS might be able to swing a deal on it but dang it is ugly).

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Let me know how the Fuel test run was like...I was looking at that one too, but didn't bother taking it out...(yeah, it makes you wonder why they made it baby poop brown...to blend in with the trails?!)

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Originally Posted by Aggie_Ama

Yeah the Safire is just a little more than I want to spend but I can take it on the trail and the Myka I can only go in the parking lot. I am thinking based on the fit of the parking lot test the Myka will be a dream but I am going to try a Trek Fuel too (my LBS might be able to swing a deal on it but dang it is ugly).

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I learned on a Specialized rockhopper hardtail...a fine little bike, I have a Specialized Era FSR that I have had for a little over a year and I LOVE it...and it was worth the five or six years to learn on the hardtail....I fully appreciate my bike!
I have a friend who rides the Myka, and it works great for her. She loves it. But FOR SURE try it out! Everyone is different.

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Originally Posted by bluejellybean

Let me know how the Fuel test run was like...I was looking at that one too, but didn't bother taking it out...(yeah, it makes you wonder why they made it baby poop brown...to blend in with the trails?!)

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It reminds me of this gawd awful brown Oldsmobile my Pawpaw had in the early 80's. Then he traded it on a nice sparkling light brown - the two colors in the Fuel! I told DH if I get her she is being named something like Delta (the car was a Delta 88).

I am test riding (and hopefully ordering!) this weekend.

I got IT today!! I have to say, I'm a little hurtin' in the shoulders, but I just picked it up quickly in between work and will be going for a proper fit on the weekend. Looks like I'm going to have some fun times ahead...but, those platform pedals that it came with have got to go! I can't ride with them...maybe it's because I started off on a road bike, I like to be clipped in and can't seem to climb a hill too easily on my new Myka!

Congratulations! Hope you really enjoy it!:D

I know what you mean about the pedals though. My first mtb came with SPD clipless pedals and I was a bit scared to be clipped in on my first ride off the road. So I left those little platform things they clip into them on there for the first ride. But it's funny, after the first few minutes I knew that I had to be clipped in - all those years of being clipped in on a roadie meant I felt completely insecure NOT clipped in! So I just loosened off the pedals as far as they would go, clipped in and prepared for the gumby stacks!:p Once you've been clipped in for so long, you're clipped in for life I'm afraid!:)

Yeah, I felt like my feet were wanting to fly all over the place and just couldn't get the 'umph' to go! Hopefully there will be some in stock this weekend, otherwise it'll be another week to wait, but still, I plan on hittin' a trail or two this weekend to try it out!

I am a huge fan of my Time Atac XL pedals. They are the women's version of the Time Atac XS. DH rides the XS and is also a big fan. Very easy engagement and disengagement. ;)

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Originally Posted by Aggie_Ama

I am a huge fan of my Time Atac XL pedals. They are the women's version of the Time Atac XS. DH rides the XS and is also a big fan. Very easy engagement and disengagement. ;)

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thanks for the tip, I'll look into those pedals :)

I purchased a 2009 Specialized Myka FSR Comp Limited Edition just a week ago. I've already taken it on 4 rides and I am absolutely loving the hell out of it. It performs beautifully uphill and downhill, on single track as well as wide fire roads. Lately I almost exclusively ride Sycamore Canyon in Riverside, CA, just to give you an idea of what I am using it on. (The park is like a single track roller coaster ride for varying skill levels ). Goes over sand fairly well, and I feel like I have good control on the curves speeding downhill. I get plenty of the "bouncy bouncy" ;-) going over rocks and even uphill. Love the shocks. I am only 5'2" and I got the small, and it is really nice to finally have a bike that caters to my physiology, and that doesn't feel too big.

I wasn't particularly looking for this bike when I set out to buy a new full suspension mountain bike. However, I am *so glad* that I decided to try it out when I saw it hanging there at the shop. It just happened to be the only women's specific bike they were selling, and was a special order someone had never picked up. Lucky me! Within about 3 minutes of riding it around I knew that it was the bike for me. It is a great bike for an affordable price. I am just barely an intermediate rider (but getting better all the time!), and I think riders of all skill levels would be happy with the Myka FSR.

One other nice thing-- 10% of the proceeds of the sale of the Limited Edition bike (the pink and black one), goes to the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. So you're also supporting breast cancer research in the process!

Thank you for all the info on previous posts.
I am also looking to get a mountain bike. It is a 50th birthday present to me. I love trails, won't be doing jumps but do plan on doing as much riding as I can. I do a lot of road biking and am looking forward to getting off road.

I am looking at not overspending but also getting as much bike as I can so I don't have to upgrade too soon.

I am looking at the Giant Ranier or Rincon as well as the Specialized Myka.

Any feedback on these as well as other suggestions are greatly appreciated. I road the Ranier and loved it but it is a little high for my price range unless I could find a used one.

Also, what is your preference for brakes and components? The Myka has pull brakes and the Ranier has disc brakes. Is one better for a certain type of riding?

Thank you so much for any feedback or help.:)

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Originally Posted by jbrbike

Also, what is your preference for brakes and components? The Myka has pull brakes and the Ranier has disc brakes. Is one better for a certain type of riding?

Thank you so much for any feedback or help.:)

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Hmmmm... My aforementioned 2009 Myka (see my previous post) has disc brakes. I don't think they even come with pull brakes.

The Myka HT, HT Sport, and HT Comp come with pull brakes. The HT Sport Disc and the models from HT Elite and up have disc brakes.

I definitely wanted disc brakes when I shopped for my mountain bike. I am a beginner but just felt more confident with the added stopping power that disc brakes have. And I thought my hands would be less tired due to less squeezing power required with discs. I love my Myka HT Sport Disc.

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Originally Posted by BikeDutchess

The Myka HT, HT Sport, and HT Comp come with pull brakes. The HT Sport Disc and the models from HT Elite and up have disc brakes.

I definitely wanted disc brakes when I shopped for my mountain bike. I am a beginner but just felt more confident with the added stopping power that disc brakes have. And I thought my hands would be less tired due to less squeezing power required with discs. I love my Myka HT Sport Disc.

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Okay! NOW I see the confusion here. You're referring to the HT, i.e. the hardtail. My Myka is full suspension and, as I said, has disc brakes. Important distinction-- hardtail versus full suspension.

The specs on the bike the I reviewed a couple posts ago, the 2009 Myka FSR Comp Limited Edition has the following brakes, which are *disc brakes*:
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FRONT BRAKE
Avid Juicy 3SL full hydraulic, alloy backed brake pads, cleansweep 160mm rotor

REAR BRAKE
Avid Juicy 3SL full hydraulic, alloy backed brake pads, cleansweep 140mm rotor
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That being said, I own two mountain bikes-- the 2009 Myka FSR Comp LE, which is full suspension and has disc brakes, and a 2007 Jamis Cross Country 3.0 which is a hardtail and has pull brakes.

I guess you could classify me as an intermediate rider (I only base that on the kinds of trails I ride), and for my part, I find that I prefer the disc brakes. But then again, I do downhill a lot! Disc brakes do take some practice and sometimes some painful lessons (like an endo over the bars! lol!). As the saying goes, modulate or die! ;)

If you're not going to be doing a lot of technical riding, then I could see where pull brakes would work fine for you. Occasionally I still use my hardtail for a nice, mellow ride (like fire roads) and the pull brakes are just fine for me in that situation.

:)

I just got my bike with Disc last month and I have already endoed but not downhill. I used to ride pull (v-brakes) and I liked them very well for my level (advanced beginner or low intermediate). I did like that they were super easy to adjust. I haven't rode the disc enough to become a full convert, DH immediately loved the change. :confused:

Just an update on my Myka FSR Ltd Edition...

I went to the Mammoth Bike Park this past weekend and it performed *beautifully*. I rode mostly intermediate trails and it took everything the trails could dish out. The disc brakes were definitely a must!

I can't say enough good things about this bike
:D

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Originally Posted by nerdgirl

Just an update on my Myka FSR Ltd Edition...

I went to the Mammoth Bike Park this past weekend and it performed *beautifully*. I rode mostly intermediate trails and it took everything the trails could dish out. The disc brakes were definitely a must!

I can't say enough good things about this bike
:D

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:cool: impressed!

This weekend I was in Mammoth Mountain (CA) and decided to rent a Specialized Mika....I was very impressed at how comfortable it was and I LOVE the lockout mechanism. It has been a while for me and I am now looking for a way to save up and have one of my own. I stumbled on this thread looking for prices on line and thought I might add my experience from this weekend.
There might be a mountain bike rental shop near you?

Wow, you were in Mammoth this past weekend? But all the good trails are covered in snow. Where did you ride it? Was it a 2010 Myka? Was it the FSR or the HT?

Oh, one other thing, we had an earlier discussion of brakes. I've actually done several mods to my Myka since my last post:

I changed the stem out to a Raceface stem, put on Hayes disc brakes (7" rotors! Yay!), put on a new derailleur hanger, new crankset, new pedals (hybrids so I can either clip in or not), and the best mod: a Joplin R! Lovin' the 7" rotors; the Hayes brakes feel way better to me than the Avid Juicy 3s. Not saying that Avids are bad, just that I like the Hayes better. As to the Joplin R, what can I say-- awesome! No more stopping to put my seat down before going downhill. :D

Am currently looking into one more mod. I can replace the coil spring on the fork (the Rock Shox La Femme Tora) with a 120mm one so I can get 5" out of the fork instead of my sad little 4". (My Myka wants to be an AM bike when it grows up ;) ) Hoping to do that soon. Been bottoming out the fork a bit too often because I've been riding more aggressively.

In the future, if I can't afford an AM bike, going to get a new wheelset and put pink Chris King hubs on it :)

Got another trip to Mammoth planned in August. Pretty sure most of the snow will melt by then. Can't wait to try some of the more difficult trails. Going to attempt Shotgun (my first black diamond trail!) and can't wait to do the wall on it. Like I said, that Myka FSR is an awesome bike that has been able to take everything I can dish out. It may be an XC bike, but I ride it like a trail bike. :D

Until August though, it is Big Bear all the way (in addition to all the local trails near me).

So excited to find out about the Myka here. Been in a research frenzy to find a new mtb wsd... maybe even a 29er. (but am 5'3") Anyone tried the Myka 29er??? Much lower standover height :) That's what I'm calling around to find tomorrow... at least that's my latest thought! Hoping to ride a few Specialized bikes this weekend in western Mass.