Good Points
Keenly priced
Reliable
Comfortable (well, as comfortable as any hardtail ali frame can be!)
Versatile
8-speed cassette (more reliable and less fussy than 9-speed)
Reusable chain split link
Shielded front hub bearings


Bad Points (that wouldn’t cost anything for Specialized to address)
Bottom cable routing! C’mon guys, this is an off-road bike! Top routing please!
Aluminium frame! We want steel for it’s far better longevity, and softer ride.
175mm crank arms; should be able to select 180mm length on a gents bike of this size at no extra cost (if all the bikes manufactures did this, 180mm cranks wouldn’t be a special item, and wouldn’t be more expensive than 170mm or 175mm ones)
Octalink bottom bracket/chainset; square taper would be more reliable
Top swing front derailleur; I’d rather they left off the additional bottle mounts and went with a much more reliable conventional derailleur


Bad Points (I’d gladly pay more to have addressed)
Combined shift/brake levers; for a couple of pounds more let’s do the job properly
Useless ‘cosmetic’ fork; Marzocchi MZ Supercomp (or similar) should be minimum spec. on any ATB/MTB
Needs to lose a couple of pounds (but then don’t we all!); the new fork would help a long way here
No shielding on rear hub bearings, inexcusable on an off-road bike!


Summing Up
A good general purpose mount that with the benefit of a little thought and some extra investment could be a 28lb extremely good general purpose recreational mount


Mods Thus Far
Deore M510 V-Brakes
Deore M510 Brake Levers
XTR Brake Cables (Full Outer Rear)
STX-RC MC38 Shifters
LX M570 Rear Mech
LX M570 Skewers
ODI Rogue Lock-On Grips
USE SX Shokpost
WTB Speed V Pro Saddle
DMR V8 Pedals
VDO A8+ Computer
Crud Race Pac Mudguard Set


Mods In Mind
Marzocchi MX Pro Fork
XT M770 Front Mech
XT UN73 Square Taper Bottom Bracket
Deore M510 Hollowtech Square Taper Chainset 22/32/44
Mavic XC717 Rims on LX Hubs, 36H Rear, 32H Front
Kool Stop Mountain Dual Compound Brake Blocks