Specialized Bicycle Components, Inc. (1974–2026)
MTB
All Models ViewThe company was founded in 1974 by Mike Sinyard out of Morgan Hill, California, a cycling enthusiast who sold his Volkswagen Bus for $1,500 to fund a cycle tour of Europe, where he bought handlebars & stems made by Cinelli to take back to the US.
Specialized BMX 1996-2016
1996 They have steel entry-level versions, cromoly versions, & aluminum versions, with a range of fear template bikes called the FAT BOY.
1997 Specialized started it’s Fatboy BMX Line up with just 4 race models. They were instantly recognizable by the fat oval tubes & Y shaped frames. This design was something no one had seen before.
1998 They would add a 24” version of the aluminum A1, an Expert version of the 4130 Fatboy & a Park/Street model with the all chrome Flyboy. This would be the only year for both the 24” A1 & Flyboy.
1999 Specialized would release 4 new frame designs. First a new Monocoque aluminum frame in both 20” & 24” versions for the Fatboy race line. A new 4130 street frame with the 415 line, & the all new 4130 Vegas line for dirt jumping. This would also bring the Fatgirl with a sloped top tube for female riders. The Monocoque frame would prove to be stronger & more durable than the previous Y framed race models. The Vegas & 415 would complete the lineup with 10 complete bikes.
2000 Would make more improvements to the Monocoque frame, redesign the 415 & improve the Vegas frames. Specialized also added the TRX version for a mid level bike. Little racers would also get smaller versions of the Monocoque frame in both Mini & Expert sizes. Color Options for some models were added.
2001 The Fatboy name was dropped from all the models. The year would bring more improvements to the Monocoque frame & would introduce the S-Works Hydro-Form frame for racing. Both the 415 & Vegas frames would again see improvements along with adding an expert version of both.
2002 Brought the beginning of the Hydro-Form Hemi line. The same technology from the 2001 S-Works frame was brought to the Hemi Pro, Hemi Comp & a 4130 version for the MX. Improvements were again made to the 415’s & Vegas frames designs with dual cable routing. The S-Works DIRT & ST(street)frames were introduced as frame only options made of high end Reynolds 853 butted Steel. The S-Works Race frame was improved & a 24” model was added. Both came with an optional Disc Brake mount. The Vegas line saw the introduction of the Dirtboy & TRX 24”
2003 Brought 15 models plus 3 S-works frames. All the race bikes now came with Euro bottom brackets. The Vegas frames were redesigned again to look more like the S-Works Dirt frame. The 415 line would also undergo a transformation to look like the S-works ST frames. The Streetboy would be added to the 415 family.
2004 Would bring big changes to every bike. The 415 & Vegas lines would be replaced by the New Fuse models. A New S-works Fuse frame & a New S-works Hemi frame were introduced. The Hemi frames were completely redesigned to be lighter, stronger, & stiffer. And a full line of Kids Hemi’s were added from mini, junior, & expert.
2005 This would be the last year Specialized offered a full line of BMX bikes. The Hemi’s would only get new paint jobs & decals. The S-Works Fuse frame would see improvements but the S-Works Hemi would remain the same with a Brushed Aluminum option.
2006 Specialized would cut the Hemi line right before production started. They would only offer the Fuse models from now on. The S-Works BMX frames were also cut from the lineup right before production.
2010 This would be the last year of the Fuse BMX line.
2011 Specialized would create the P Series BMX Line. Only 3 bikes would be offered this year. A P20 Amateur would be the lower grade frame & bike. A P20 Pro would be the High end Frame & complete bike. There was also a P24 added to round out the BMX models.
2012 Specialized would Drop the P24 form the lineup. They would add the P18 Amateur for younger Kids with 18”wheels.
2014 Specialized would make an all new Reynolds 520 Double Butted Frame for the P20 Pro. The Amateur would come in Hi-Ten Steel again.
2016 Specialized would only offer a P20 Pro & a P20 Am for BMX.