Specialized Myka FSR Comp - opinions?

**Aggie_Ama** · 07-06-2009, 10:36 AM

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?!)

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.

**bluejellybean** · 07-08-2009, 06:25 PM

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!

**pinkbikes** · 07-09-2009, 04:20 AM

Congratulations! Hope you really enjoy it!

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!

Once you've been clipped in for so long, you're clipped in for life I'm afraid!

**bluejellybean** · 07-09-2009, 06:54 AM

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!

**Aggie_Ama** · 07-09-2009, 07:21 AM

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.

**bluejellybean** · 07-09-2009, 06:20 PM

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.

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

nerdgirl · 07-23-2009, 04:38 PM

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!

**jbrbike** · 07-24-2009, 12:06 PM

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.

nerdgirl · 08-06-2009, 08:09 PM

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.

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

**BikeDutchess** · 08-06-2009, 09:54 PM

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.

nerdgirl · 08-07-2009, 12:23 AM

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.

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*:
----------------------------
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
-----------
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.

**Aggie_Ama** · 08-09-2009, 05:39 AM

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.

nerdgirl · 08-18-2009, 07:37 PM

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

**bluejellybean** · 08-20-2009, 06:48 PM

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

impressed!

**sirensmyst** · 06-08-2010, 09:15 PM

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?

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