Ned Overend's S-Works Ultimate, Shaun Palmer's FSR
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Ned Overend's old Specialized S-Works Ultimate was proudly put on display at this year's Sea Otter Classic.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Ned Overend's old Avid Tri-Align cantilevers have certainly seen better adjustment days but they were state of the art back in the day. Despite not being close to centered, you can still tell how upright Overend ran the arms.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Grip Shift on a downhill bike? Yes, sir.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
A stiffening rib running nearly the entire length of the seat stay was required to keep the tube from collapsing under braking loads.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Downhill racing has certainly changed since Shaun Palmer raced this bike in 1996. Check out the huge gearing.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Shaun Palmer's 1996 Specialized FSR used a custom machined upper shock linkage.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The chain guide on Shaun Palmer's 1996 Specialized FSR is decidedly primitive looking but in fairness, such technology barely existed back then.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
This is what Shaun Palmer used for downhill racing in 1996.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Check out the sketchy front brake mount on Shaun Palmer's 1996 Specialized FSR.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Shaun Palmer's 1996 Manitou fork may have dual crowns but the stanchions are still tiny as compared to modern options.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Direct-mount stems have certainly gotten more elegant since these days.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
First-generation Hayes hydraulic disc brakes were fitted to Shaun Palmer's 1996 Specialized FSR.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The titanium lugs and carbon fiber tubes of Ned Overend's old Specialized S-Works Ultimate yielded one of the lightest frames of its time.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Specialized's own skewer clamps a Hugi rear hub - a precursor to the current DT Swiss design with the same star ratchet driver.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The titanium lugs were made for the project by Merlin Metalworks.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The bridgeless chain stays on Ned Overend's old Specialized S-Works Ultimate leave little surface area on which mud can accumulate.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Shaun Palmer obviously couldn't see the, "win, win, win!" note on the underside of the down tube but perhaps it was encouraging just knowing it was there.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Specialized wasn't showing much of anything new at this year's Sea Otter Classic (aside from the elusive Demo Carbon downhill bikes, which were decidedly tough to nail down). However, a pair of retro racers from the mid-90s was arguably more interesting.
Ned Overend's old Specialized S-Works Ultimate was (and still is) a stunning machine back in its day, built with custom carbon fiber tubing bonded into titanium lugs TIG-welded by Merlin Metalworks. Barely two inches of travel came courtesy of the Specialized Futureshok – a variant of RockShox's Mag 21 – and braking power was provided by a set of machined aluminum Avid Tri-Align cantilever brakes. Down below, Shimano's eight-speed XTR derailleurs and cassette were matched to a pair of Grip Shift shifters.
Shaun Palmer's Specialized FSR is perhaps even more a commentary on the style of downhill racing back in 1996 as compared to today. All-out speed was often a deciding factor rather than the ability to navigate insanely treacherous and steep terrain. As compared to contemporary downhill rigs, the gearing is inordinately tall and the spindly stanchions on the dual-crown Manitou fork likely wouldn't even survive a modern World Cup course.
Nevertheless, Palmer won a silver medal at the 1996 World Championships on this machine. There's no telling at this point how much punishment this bike would have survived but no matter – it lasted long enough to get the job done.
Shaun Palmer's 1996 Manitou fork may have dual crowns but the stanchions are still tiny as compared to modern options.
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