Specialized Butcher Tire Review

Specialized have been making bikes for decades now. They have slowly begun to produce their own parts and accessories for bicycles as well. With the demands of the UCI World Cup Circuit and having a strong team of riders to help them Specialized began developing Downhill oriented tires. 2010 saw the release of the Specialized Butcher Tire. 

Features

• Casing: 60 TPI, dual ply
• Compound: Base 70a / Top 42a
• Bead: Wire
• Pinch Protection: Butyl inserts at bead
• 26" x 2.3; psi 25-50; approx. weight 1250g
• 26" x 2.5; psi 25-50; approx. weight 1260g

Q & A With Specialized

What type of terrain is the Butcher tire designed for?  Intermediate/Mixed conditions.
How long was the Butcher under development and what if any pro riders had input on its design?  Time of Butcher took about 7 months.  Monster Energy Team, including Sam Hill, feedback was instrumental in the creation of the Butcher.  As well as Riders/Racers from across the globe and in our own office here in Morgan Hill.

What were some of the major concerns when creating this tire? (Weight, traction, pinch flat, etc.)  Of course we wanted to create a DH tire as light as we could without sacrificing other important traits.  Pinch flats are addressed with our butyl insert on DH models.  This stiffens up this area and when railing and cornering down hills, it keeps structure to the sidewalls preventing pinch flats.  For traction, we went with a soft 42a durometer for the complete knob tread.  We mated this to a harder 70a compound completely underneath.  So not dual compound, but dual layer compound.  This gives the soft tread knobs the perfect amount of support to stick when you need the traction.  This is found on our DH line, from the HillBilly, Butcher and Storm DH.
 
Is it likely we will see this tire offered with different compounds in the future?  We continue to strive, innovate and raise the bar on our products.  So if our studies and testing find an option that will enhance the performance for this type of rider, then we will develop it.
 
What about UST compatibility?  We do not make a UST version of the Butcher.
 
How has this tire preformed on the race circuit so far?  The results and feedback of many riders in this discipline have been very good!  Our sponsored Monster Energy Team communicated to us that they are pleased with their offerings and we are giving them the tools they need to win.  Testament to that is Sam Hill’s victory at Worlds.  There are many other teams and pro riders, (in our office too) who consistently podium and rave about the performance of not only the Butcher, but our complete line of DH models.

We weighed the tires and they varied by as high as 90 grams. This is pretty normal keep in mind it is steel wrapped in rubber. So if you are real concerned about weight just weigh them before buying. The tires mounted easily. They are very big their 2.3 is about as wide as most companies 2.5 so keep that in mind. 

Overall The Butchers rolled very well. We are closing in on about seven months of riding on them. We have yet to pinch flat them so they have very good pinch flat protection. I have run pressure as low as 21 PSI on very rocky terrain with the Butchers. Where we ride is almost all rock. Luckily the tires stuck onto rock faces very well and held a line over the most off camber boulders and baby heads the trails had to offer.

We took a few road trips both north and south to find soft dirt and did we ever. In soil the tires dug in and drifted in a very predictable manner. They held a line and would slowly begin to slide. They worked well in both sand and clay based soils. 

As a downhill tire The Specialized Butcher may be hard to beat. It handles most surfaces very well. We have not ridden them in the wet but it only rains here about twenty days out of the year. These tires we would highly recommend and a few of our testers have picked up sets at the local dealer. Overall we are thrilled on the way these tire performed for us.

2010 Canfield Jedi F-1 Review

Welcome to the first frame review for www.downhillnews.com. The frame we are testing is a 2010 Canfield Jedi F1 size large. The build kit we chose was a mixture of parts that we have had good luck with in the past and are proven performers. Check out what the build kit looks like below.We will be adding images, and information over the next few weeks so check back to see what we think of the Canfield Jedi F1.

• 2010 Canfield Jedi Build
• Frame Canfield Jedi F1 Large
• Fork Manitou Dorado Pro
• Rear Der. Shimano M810 GS Saint
• Shifters Shimano SLX
• Crankset Shimano Saint 165mm 36 Tooth
• BB Shimano
• Chainguide MRP G2
• Cassette SRAM PG 970 11-26
• Chain SRAM PC 951 9sp
• Brakes Formula K24 ORO
• Brake Levers Formula
• Bars Easton Havoc Low 31.8
• Stem Twenty 6 F1 Stem
• Headset Chris King
• Pedals Twenty Six Prerunners
• Seatpost Thomson Elite
• Saddle WTB Devo carbon Team
• Wheels WTB Laserdisc DH 20mm F and 12mm by 150mm rear.
• Tires WTB Dissent DH F/R Kenda DH tubes

TOTAL WEIGHT OF COMPLETE BIKE IS 40.13lbs

2010 Canfield Jedi F1 Geometry (MD) click image

2010 Canfield Jedi F1 Geometry (LG) click image

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Frame Features

• "Formula 1" Suspension
• 7005 Aluminum
• 150 x 12mm Hub Spacing
• 83mm BB Shell
• Fit up to a 2.7 tire
• 20mm max bearings
• Replaceable rear derailleur hanger
• Ribbed Chain Stay and Seat Stay Tubing with a Dedicated Thru Axle
• Laser etched logos
• Titanium pulley cog
• 7.75” vertical rear wheel travel plus 2.5” rearward travel (feels like 10”)
• 10.5 lbs with Elka Stage 5

Specs

• Recommend fork length(s) - 8"
• Shock Specs - 8.75" x 2.75” (222mm x 70mm) with 22mm x 8mm hardware
• Bottom bracket - 83mm x 128mm
• Seat post - 30.9mm
• Seat clamp - 35mm
• Rear dropout spacing - 150x12mm through axle (included)
• International standard disk brake mount
• 05 ISCG tabs for a UPPER PULLEY Chain guide (extra wide)
• Headtube - 1 1/8"

Canfield is a small company based out of Utah. It is run by Lance and Chris Canfield who will actually answer the phone when you call. It all began in the late nineties when both brothers realized they could build bikes. They began the search for the "holy grail" of mountain bike suspension. What they discovered was that a "Parallel Link" system worked very well in downhill applications. So they began building bikes using this system and have been tweaking it for about a decade.

Over the years bike geometry has become more refined while shocks and forks are now much more adjustable. This demands fine tuning of any linkage system. After tweaking the suspension around it became apparent that using an idler pulley to put the chainline on the same level as the high pivot would benefit the bikes by minimizing or eliminating chain stretch. The reason is that minimizing chain stretch is a good thing because it eliminates pedal kick.

"Canfield Brothers Suspension has been developed from the minds of two brothers, Lance and Chris, over the last 10 years. Focusing on a parallel link suspension systems, the brothers have been prototyping and producing the leading edge of this suspension system.

We intended to make a Rearward Arc wheel path Downhill frame with zero chain stretch, braking that squats or leans back for you and has an efficient pedal feel. The Formula One Jedi is the culmination of 10 years of development and prototyping. We started with a 12″ frame the Big Fat Fatty Fat, then the 10″ Fatty Fat, then the 9″ Formula One, and now the 7.75″ Formula One Jedi. The Canfield Brothers suspension feels so smooth because of our virtual pivot moving high to low and the efficient pedaling feel that allows you to pedal through bumps. Our braking is neutral and even leans back and gets low for cornering and steep riding.

"This Bike is Magic. Period. We spent 9 years perfecting the suspension and geometry. Don’t be fooled into thinking that this feels like anything else you have ever ridden. Nothing out there feels even close. The amount of rearward travel added to the flawless braking and tight chain stays makes this bike rip.

Fastest Bike in the world and still pushing it. Nothing maintains speed better because you don’t slow down when hitting bumps. Nothing brakes better because the rearward wheel path causes the frame to SQUAT or lean back under braking. It corners sharp with a chainstay length that is .25” to .3” shorter throughout travel than an average DH frame. Stiff rear-end with long lasting 20mm Sealed Max bearings. All of this with no pedal kick or chain stretch.

So Smooth. So Fast. So Confidence Inspiring.
This bike will change your life forever!!!"

Lance Canfield Answers Some Questions

1. How long have you been into the bike scene? Since childhood. What type of bikes did you start out riding seriously (BMX, MTB, Etc.)? BMX as a kid and in 91 started riding MTB hardtail and jumping alot. In 93 I started racing DH.

2. When did mountain biking catch your interest? When front suspension first came out. Spent a ton of time hitting jumps. The biggest modivator was when Deer Valley started doing lift service, I knew then I had to have a DH bike.

3. How did you guys get into making bikes? I was racing the National circut and had, what I felt to be the best bike out, yet felt like it wasen't performing the way I wanted. I was driving back from Big Bear in 1997 and was analizing what was good and what needed improvement. Trophy trucks and Formula 1 race cars had it right and nothing was even close in the MTB suspension world. I knew we could do it better.

4. Back then there were a few suspension systems out there what made you guys decide to go with the one you did? Cortina and Karpiel had the sickest designs at the time but still needed to be refind alot. Single pivots didn't give the design flexability that a multi link design can give. It allows you to have the best of every performance aspect, if done right.

5. What do you envision changing on the current Jedi frame over the next few years? Looks will change but the concept will remain the same. Mainly fine tuning. It will be seeing how short the chainstay can go before it gets too "nervous" feeling. We are playing with progression rates and dialing geometry in.

6. Just a thought here but having adjustable HA, WB and Travel could be seen as a big bonus. Is that something that can happen with the frames current layout? All those things can be done. Giving people options to adjust there bike can be good and bad. You don't want to give the ability to set it up poorly. That said, we will be using a 1.5 head tube so the angle adjust headset from Cane Creek will give you the HA adjustment. WB adjustment is silly, shorter is almost always better for a good rider. Travel and progression rate will be adjustable on the 2011 version.

7. The frames you have made have undergone a slow evolution becoming lighter, slacker and lower. Do you think we are approaching the magic set of numbers for downhill bikes? Like in XC and Road bikes how they stay within a degree or less either way. The industry is getting closer to those perfect numbers but there a quite a few things that also play a role in how the bike feels. The progression rate effects how low the BB feels. Chainstay length is relative to the axle path. These things will never allow us to use set dimensions across the board unless we all agree that one design is the best. Not likely to happen. I think it's more likely that other industries follow the MTB designs to make there vehicles better.

8. How do you think the three big suspension companies are doing with their most recent offerings? Getting more dialed every year but nothing ground breaking at this point.

9. Would you like to see Showa jump into the MTB scene? How do you think that would affect the smaller MTB suspension manufacturers? There needs to be more companys in the suspension game. With only a hand full of options, it leaves me wanting more. They all have ups and downs in the quality and performance and having another reputable company to choose from would be great. And I don't really see Fox, Manitou, Rockshox and Elka as small. Regardless, it's time for them all to step it up.

10. You guys have been touring the race circuit for the last decade or more. Are there any events, tracks or situations that stand out in your mind with all those races and competitions under your belts? For me, the Red Bull Rampage was a hugely defining event. It set the tone for out company. There has been lots of fun and exciting events over all those years of racing. It's exciting for me to watch Chris race, he's on the top of his game and is always one to watch for the win.

11. Canfield is already making stems and pedals are there any future components in the works? Wheels sets are on the way and tires around the first of the year.

12. Do you still do custom frames? No customs, we gave up the shop in 2004.

13. How has the response been to the Jedi? The Jedi has been our flagship and it is finally getting the attention it deserves. Riders love it, it changes that way you look at a trail and how aggresively you ride.

14. You used straight gauge tubing on the frame correct? What is the reasoning behind this? The Jedi doesn't have a single tube that is unsupported for very long. The butting would be very short and would only give you thin spots to dent. Straight gauge tubes are more resistant to damage caused by crashes and shuttling. We want a long lasting, durable frame.

15. 1 1/8 over the 1 1/2 head-tube? It has always been a weight issue. The 1.5 is between 1/4 lb and 1/2 lb heavier when all things are concidered but with the introduction of the Angleset headset, the adjustability of the HA makes the extra weight worth while.

16. Any other thoughts or things we should know about the frame? The F1 (Jedi) frame has been getting refined for 11 years now. This is the bike that keeps us going. It's changed our lives and could change yours too.

Thanks Lance for answering some questions for us.

Nate Lewis hitting the trails.

DownhillNews.com Canfield Jedi from Josef Duller on Vimeo.

Ian W

Setting the bikes sag was a snap with all adjustments on the Elka Stage 5 being easy to find. The first thing I noticed about the bike was it’s massive standover height. Also of note was the large complete bike weighing in at forty pounds.

I brought the Jedi out onto the same trail I had the V-10 out on. The trail is littered with round rocks of various sizes. The Canfield responded very well to the large rocks and chatter on the trail. The tail end stayed glued to the ground and managed to make the trail feel smooth. The bike responded well to input and would switch lines easily.

The next trail I brought the bike out on is a high speed run filled will rocks at the start, that eventually leads into tight switchback filled singletrack. Once again the bikes parallel link suspension smoothed out the terrain with ease. After carry speed down the trail for a few minutes I became comfortable on the bike. Entering the tight twisty section of trail the bike felt good and easy to manipulate. There were a few instances where the rearward travel of the suspension gave a weird feel in the saddle while taking hard tight turns.

It was time to get the bike onto a root and dust filled trail. In total I did seven runs down this trail. It is short but you can carry a fair amount of speed down it. The more runs I made the more I felt comfortable on the bike. It ate up the roots and chunder like they were not even there. After this outing I was starting to feel really good about the bike.The Jedi hopped over obstacles and maneuvered around them as I asked it to. At the same time it had the ability to carry speed over obstacles if needed. I did not feel as comfortable on the Jedi as I did getting on the V-10. It took a little more saddle time to adjust to.

There were a few things that could be improved with the bike. The first noticeable issue we had was rear tire clearance. We were running 2.5 WTB Dessents and wound up nearly rubbing the frame after the wheel went out of true. The second issue was chain guide clearance. It also began to rub the tire once the wheel became bent. Having the ability to adjust head angle, travel and progression of the frame would benefit the Jedi tremendously. I would have preferred to have the bike slightly slacker with an adjustable shock curve. Looks like the 2011 frame will offer these adjustments and also a 1.5 head tube so people can run the new Cane Creek Anglesets.

Ian F

I currently own several Canfield Brothers products that I run on my personal bike such as their unique, super-thin platform pedals and ultra-low rise direct mount stem. Having seen and experienced the quality craftsmanship and durability of these products I was excited to try out their full on DH bike. First thing you notice about the frame is how clean it is with all of the gussets and cnc’d junctions well thought out and very well designed. The next item that stands out to you is the unique chain guide set up with the roller located half-way up the seat tube which allows this bike to only be used with an MRP chain guide, not necessarily a bad thing, but limiting in some ways, as well as adding to chain drag.

My first impression of the Jedi on the trail was mixed. I felt that the suspension was great for rocks and steep sketchy terrain, but difficult to pedal even at speed. The basic bottom line for this bike quickly became the steeper and gnarlier the trail the better the bike felt. The rearward wheel travel was evident when judging speed into technical sections because the bike felt noticeably faster than others I’ve ridden (which sometimes required more breaking into certain sections of trail).

The real downside to this suspension seemed to be the pedaling. If the trail turns uphill for more than a split second you were in for some hiking, but seeing as how this is a downhill race bike and not an XC or all mountain bike that was perfectly acceptable. Cornering on the bike was interesting for me as it was a large frame for my medium size. Even with this element the bike cornered well. It did not seem as noticeably stable in corners as the tried and true DW link Sunday, but squatted enough to keep your CG low and the bike controlled in the corners. The large size kept me from really being able to “toss” the bike back and forth through tight switchbacks, but this seemed to be more of an issue with size and not design.

Overall the bike was solid and felt well designed and built. I really liked the way it handled on the steeps and rocky fast terrain and would recommend it for someone looking for an all out DH race rig. It was a great bike to ride and could be a competitive race bike with a few wise component choices.

Nate L

I thought the bike rode amazing in a straight line at almost any pitch. Both the way it handled bumps and accelerated was impressive. While cranking hard out of a turn or getting off the back and letting the bike skip through a rough straight away, it was apparent that the rearward axle path and the Titanium Pulley Cog both were very effective and should be considered major strong points. The linkage provided a great pedaling feel and solid control while letting off the brakes and blowing through a rough section. The bike begins to have issues when changing directions. I couldn't get the bike to squat as much as I would like it to, giving is a steeper head angle and higher bottom bracket that weren't conducive to getting low and pushing through a turn.

The drawback to the rearward axle path is it is slightly noticeable through technical low speed corners. When trying to push the rear end through a turn, you can feel the effective chainstay length increase, giving the sensation that the bike is getting longer and making it more difficult to turn. After getting familiar with the handling of the bike this quirk became much less noticeable. The top tube of the frame also felt slightly small considering it was a large frame; I am 6'1”.

The leverage ratio of the frame also felt a little more progressive than I'd like. The beginning stroke when compressing the rear end would feel ideal, but it then quickly ramps up, making the bike feel like it has less travel then it actually does through choppy sections. The nice thing about this leverage ratio is it is great for absorbing huge impacts, so on drops and jumps with lousy landings, this bike will eat em' up. I think overall, Canfield made a solid bike, extremely well suited for a somewhat narrow section of riding within the downhill spectrum. If is perfect for someone who rides steep, rough trails with minimal corners and big hits, and it falls a little short when it come to tight, twisty low speed technical trails.

Conclusion

Overall the Canfield Jedi rated good amongst our testers. The overall build quality of the bike was excellent. This is a bike that can stand side by side in a lift line with any brand on the market and the attention to detail on the Jedi will be hard to beat. The bike went together very easy for the most part. The drivetrain requires some spacers to get the chainline running smooth.

All the riders agreed that the bike excelled in the steep, rocky terrain. As the trails get more vertical and rock filled the bike just seems to get more into its element. The suspension system swallows large rocks with ease and does give the rider the impression that they have more travel to use. The rearward axle path takes some time to get used to riding. Some testers noticed it more than others but in tight switchbacks the rear of the bike would lengthen as the suspension cycled through its travel. With more saddle time this trait pretty much disappears.

Canfield Brothers have been tweaking the Parallel Link suspension system for close to a decade now. Their latest offering is a rock eating rocket ship that turns the nastiest trails into sidewalks. There was no noticeable pedal feedback under braking or while pedaling through the rough stuff. Canfield’s downhill bike has been refined over the years and is now a full-blown race frame. Chris and Lance have spent the last decade working on their dream downhill bike. They have made alterations over the years and both feel as if they are very close to achieving that initial goal. With the alterations happening to the 2011 Jedi it is a sure bet that the boys are closing in on just that building the ultimate downhill bike. For 2011 the Jedi will feature a 11/2 headtube so people can run the new Cane creek Angleset headsets and get geometry adjustments out of the frame. It will also have the ability to adjust the progression of the frame via shock mounting positions. We would recommend this bike to a friend and have a feeling that with the updates to the newer model would do so even more.

2010 Canfield Jedi Grade Card