Specialized Chisel Hardtail: suspension setup & specs
The Specialized Chisel Hardtail is a cross-country hardtail with 100 mm of fork travel. This page lists the 2 current builds with fork and gives matching starting values for SAG and tyre pressure.
Calculate the setup for your Specialized Chisel Hardtail →
All builds
Fork, weight and price according to the manufacturer. Wheel size: 29.
| Build | Fork | Weight | RRP | Calculator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chisel Hardtail | RockShox Judy Silver (100 mm) | – | €1,349 | Setup → |
| Comp | RockShox Judy Gold (100 mm) | – | €1,699 | Setup → |
How it compares
On travel, the Specialized Chisel Hardtail is right where the “cross-country hardtail” category usually is: 100 mm up front against a median of 100 mm from 46 bikes. Among Specialized’s mountain bikes, the Specialized Chisel Hardtail has the shortest fork travel. Specialized builds the frame from aluminium.
At €1,349 for the Chisel Hardtail build, pricing is typical for the category (median €1,450). For the Comp build, Specialized asks €1,699. Up front, all builds get a RockShox fork. In total, 2 different forks are used, from the RockShox Judy Silver to the RockShox Judy Gold.
Setup notes for this spec
- Fork (RockShox Judy Silver): air goes in through the valve on top of the left leg. After every change, compress the fork firmly a few times before measuring SAG.
- Rebound: turn the red RockShox adjuster fully closed first and count clicks from there – that way you can note settings and restore them later.
- Hardtail: without rear suspension, rear tyre pressure largely decides comfort and traction – it is worth testing in 0.1 bar (1.5 psi) steps.
Target SAG for the Specialized Chisel Hardtail
The table converts the recommended SAG percentages into millimetres, so you can check them with the O-ring directly on the stanchion. Adjust the air pressure until the value is right. If Specialized specifies its own target SAG for your model, that takes priority.
100 mm fork (all builds)
| Riding style | Fork SAG |
|---|---|
| XC / touring | 17 % = 17 mm |
| Trail | 20 % = 20 mm |
| Enduro / rough | 22 % = 22 mm |
| Bike park | 20 % = 20 mm |
How to measure SAG is explained in our guide SAG setup.
Tyre pressure starting values
The values apply to 2.35″ wide tubeless tyres with a trail casing. With an inner tube add about 0.2 bar (2.9 psi), with an insert take off about 0.1 bar (1.5 psi). Stock tyres: Fast Trak 2.35.
| Ready-to-ride weight | Front | Rear |
|---|---|---|
| 60 kg | 1.43 bar (21 psi) | 1.63 bar (24 psi) |
| 70 kg | 1.55 bar (22 psi) | 1.75 bar (25 psi) |
| 80 kg | 1.67 bar (24 psi) | 1.87 bar (27 psi) |
| 90 kg | 1.79 bar (26 psi) | 1.99 bar (29 psi) |
| 100 kg | 1.91 bar (28 psi) | 2.11 bar (31 psi) |
| 110 kg | 2.03 bar (29 psi) | 2.23 bar (32 psi) |
| 120 kg | 2.15 bar (31 psi) | 2.35 bar (34 psi) |
Air pressure in the fork
The sticker on the fork and the manufacturers’ setup charts give you a first pressure. Our calculator is more precise and suggests rebound too – always check the result via SAG.