Specialized Bicycle Components, Inc., commonly called Specialized, is an American company that designs, manufactures and markets bicycles, bicycle components and related products under the brand name "Specialized". The Morgan Hill, California -based company was founded in 1974 by Mike Sinyard.
Sinyard started out importing Italian bike components that were difficult to find in the United States, but the company began to produce its own bike parts by 1976, starting with the Specialized Touring Tire. In 1981, the company introduced its first two bikes, the Sequoia, a sport-touring design and the Allez, a road bike. Specialized also introduced the first major production mountain bike in the world, the Stumpjumper, in 1981.
Till today, the company continues to produce bikes under the Stumpjumper name, including both hardtail and full-suspension models.
BRAND FEATURES /CATEGORY
In 2002 the brand introduced a shock with a mind of its own, and revolutionised bicycle suspension. The Brain Technology knows the difference between pedaling force and bump force. It keeps suspension firm on smooth terrain and switches suspension to fully active, the instant things get rough.
Responsible for the most efficient full suspension XC bikes ever, Brain technology has come a long way over the past two decades, and is in a class by itself when it comes to instantly and automatically adjusting suspension from firm to active to maximise efficiency and control.
Specialized continues to invest in research and development that would improve the quality of cycling. With OUTRIDE, the brand is poised to prove cycling benefits the brain! Through research, cycling programs, and grant giving activities, they provide evidenced-based cycling interventions to improve social, emotional, and cognitive health.
CORE VALUES
Although bikes have the power to improve lives and change the world. Like all consumer products, however, the process of manufacturing bikes uses resources and produces waste. With over 1000 people directly employed by Specialized, the company is also committed to continuously evaluating the impacts of their operations, learning what can be done better, and engaging with their employees, suppliers, and the cycling community in order to improve.
Specialized is fully committed to;
• Respect for human rights. The people who design, manufacture, distribute, sell, and service Specialized products all deserve to earn fair wages and work in safe conditions, free from coercion, harassment, or abuse.
• Respect for the planet. The brand is posited to deliver the highest performance products with the minimum footprint and longest life.
• Respect for communities. Collaboration is key to progress on the most difficult challenges we face. From advocating for local trails, or for better labour and environmental standards in the global bike industry, Specialized continues to collaborate with like-minded individuals and companies who can help bring the change we wish to see in our communities.