Buyer’s Guide 2017: Specialized Camber Comp Carbon 650b

The Camber’s 27.5-inch wheel platform accommodates a wide range of rider sizes, and it steamrolls over just about everything. 130 millimeters of travel seems to hit the sweet spot for a nimble trail bike too. It’s a fun ride on rocky, technical terrain but sacrifices some climbing prowess with a heavy build. The carbon front chassis is paired with an alloy rear end that adds weight but keeps the price down to a competitive $3,800.

The women’s-specific build comes with a Fox Float Performance shock that features a Women’s RX Trail Tune. It’s tailored for lighter riders and makes for a smooth suspension and rebound combination that won’t buck you around over rough terrain.

The modern trail geometry includes a slack 68-degree head tube angle and long 1,151-millimeter wheelbase that creates locked-in confidence on hairy descents. A steep seat tube angle (74-degrees) provides an efficient riding position for climbs and rolling flats as well. However, at 28.58 pounds the Camber doesn’t exactly climb like a featherweight cross-country rig.

A PF30 bottom bracket makes hard pedaling feel more efficient and responsive but it still feels a bit sluggish and heavy when the trails get steep. Happily, SRAM’s NX drivetrain with RaceFace 28-tooth crank paired with an 11-42-tooth cassette helps with the climbing, offering a wide gear range to spin up the climbs a little easier.

Component Highlights: SRAM NX drivetrain with RaceFace 28-tooth crankset and 11-42 cassette; Shimano M506 hydraulic disc brakes; Fox Float Performance 130mm shock; RockShox Revelation RL fork with 130mm travel; Roval Traverse 650b wheels