Chisel Women's

mtb1620–2020 USD

Origin

Value-oriented XC race hardtail — aluminum alternative to Epic XC for riders who want race performance without carbon price Specialized with Mike d'Aluisio (DSW frame technology) Chisel — sharp, precise, engineered — reflects the XC race focus and DSW precision manufacturing Trek X-Caliber, Giant XTC SLR, Cannondale Trail

Specifications

Frame: Specialized M5 alloy with D'Aluisio Smartweld (DSW) technology, XC geometry, internal cable routing, BSA threaded BB, 12x148mm Boost rear, 27.2mm seatpost. Frame from ~1400g.
Weight: kg
Drivetrain: Shimano 2x10 — Deore shifters & front derailleur, XT Shadow Plus rear derailleur, 36/26T crankset, Deore 11-36t cassette
Brakes: Shimano MT-501 hydraulic disc, resin pads, front and rear
Wheels: 29" Stout XC alloy rims, 25mm internal width, Specialized sealed cartridge bearing hubs, 15x110 / 12x148 Boost thru-axles

The verdict

+Strengths

DSW aluminum frame — exceptional ride quality for alloy, praised across multiple major publications
Genuine XC race geometry — longer reach, slacker head angle than previous Rockhopper-based frames
Boost spacing (15x110/12x148) — stiffer wheel interface than standard
2Bliss Ready tires — tubeless setup straightforward
RockShox Judy Gold air fork — tunable, lightweight
Women's-specific saddle (Myth Sport 155mm) and crank lengths
Strong braking (Shimano MT-501 hydraulic disc)
Shimano XT rear derailleur on Comp — notably high spec for the price
Internal cable routing — clean aesthetic, protected cables

−Weaknesses

27.2mm seat tube — limits dropper post options (most modern droppers are 30.9/31.6mm)
No dropper post included on any variant
2x10 drivetrain on Comp — older standard, most XC bikes moved to 1x by 2019
Front wheel can feel flexy when pushed hard (Stout XC alloy rims)
Geometry firmly XC — less fun for technical trail riding vs enduro-geometry hardtails
Women's Chisel discontinued after 2019 — only one production year

Did you know

01DSW (D'Aluisio Smartweld) is Specialized's proprietary aluminum welding innovation — moves joints away from highest-stress areas
02MBR called the Chisel 'one of the best ride qualities of any aluminium frame on the market'
03BikeRadar praised how the Chisel 'flows along and conforms slightly to the trail' — unusual compliance for aluminum
04Women's-specific Chisel featured shorter crank lengths (165–175mm by size) and narrower 720mm bars vs unisex 740mm
05The Myth Sport saddle (155mm) is Specialized's women's XC-specific saddle — also used on Era and other women's MTBs
06Chisel uses Boost spacing (15x110 / 12x148) even on lower trims — uncommon at $1,500 in 2018–2019
07Chisel line is still active in 2026 — now available as Chisel Hardtail (€1,599) and Chisel Comp (€3,299)