I just got the M5 S-Works FSR frameset and built it up. My S-Works M4 was pretty nicely equipped
with XT and XTR stuff, 517's, SRAM 9.0 cassette, and a Manitou Black Elite Air (80 mm) so I put all
of those pieces on the new frame (with a couple of new ones, like the Strongarm II crankset & XT
splined BB). The end result was a 26 pound bike. Not bad for a FS. It's hard for me to give up a
few pounds coming from my weight-weenie background, but this seems like a reasonable trade. After
six rides I think I can make a reasonable assessment of it. Initially the bike seemed much more
laid back, angle-wise, than my old XC hardtail. It felt pretty good to be back a little more on the
bike. Not as twitchy as being up over the head tube like I was before. Climbing still feels very
solid and I can't tell if I've lost any technical responsiveness (so if I have it's insignificant).
No problems keeping the front wheel down on steep stuff and the traction is also very good. I like
the lower top tube position too. I would always bang my knee on my old top tube on technical
ascents. I haven't hit the new bike's top tube once. On the first real ride, I was definitely
noticing the suspension. Landing a jump on the back wheel felt so nice. The bike just sticks on a
landing. The Brain shock seems to work just like they said it would. When I stand up and crank on
it, it feels just like a hardtail. No lateral slop or bobbing. Very solid. Then, when I'd hit some
chop or a bump it would immediately be sucking them up and significantly taking the edge off. I
couldn't notice any lag between hardtail mode and FS mode. Rolling up on an obstacle I could bunny
hop it with a hardtail takeoff and then get a FS landing. It felt a little strange at first but I'm
already pretty used to
it. It still feels light and responsive, which was something I was afraid I might loose going to a
heavier bike with rear suspension. My only complaint is the slight rattling sound that the brain
makes from contact with the frame. When the bike was being built, the guy at the shop noticed
this as well and thought it was a loose mount or something along those lines. It's actually part
of how the brain works (according to Specialized) and it's supposed to do that. We ended up
gluing a little piece of inner tube on the part of the frame that makes contact (inside the rear
triangle). This has deadened the sound significantly and it's much better now. It's much softer
than the sound of chain-slap and I'm already having to listen for it if I'm trying to isolate
that sound. Once spring sets in up here I'll be (hopefully) getting out a lot more. That will
give me a chance to give a follow-up longer term evaluation. Overall I'm very happy with it and
have no major complaints.
Matt