Foldable Bikes Party: Throwback Thursday: Ned Overend’s 1992 Specialized S-Works M2

Thursday, 5 November 2015

Throwback Thursday: Ned Overend’s 1992 Specialized S-Works M2

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The bicycle industry has seen its share of wonder materials come and go. In the early 1990s, Specialized pinned its hopes on metal matrix composite – 6061 alloy tubing reinforced with aluminum oxide ceramic particulate, supplied by Alcan and then marketed as ‘M2’. Like beryllium and magnesium, metal matrix didn’t quite stand the test of time – but not before racing legend Ned Overend piloted this shining example to heaps of cross country wins.

The draw of metal matrix was an understandable one. By dispersing small percentages of aluminum oxide ceramic powder during the alloying process, the resultant material would end up stiffer than the otherwise-standard aluminum upon which the composite was based, all while adding essentially zero weight. In practice, this would lead to lighter frames since less material was needed to maintain the same stiffness.

Less weight, the same stiffness, and a fancy buzzword to boot? Sign us up.

Specialized had high hopes for its 'M2' metal matrix frames back in the early 1990s

The problem, however, came in actually turning that potential into reality. Ceramic-reinforced metal matrix composites are notoriously hard on cutting tools, for example, and tubing supplier Alcan only offered its ‘Duralcan’ in a limited range of sizes, all of which were strictly round in profile and straight-walled. In the end, the high manufacturing costs and limited design flexibility doomed metal matrix as yet another ‘what could have been’ material.

Complete bike specifications

Frame: 1992 Specialized S-Works M2 Team Issue
Fork: Specialized Future Shock
Headset: Specialized, 1 1/8in threaded
Stem: Zoom, 135mm x +6°
Handlebars: Zoom alloy, 560mm, with Profile bar ends
Grips: Grab-On foam
Front brake: Suntour XC Pro
Rear brake: Suntour XC Pro
Brake levers: Suntour XC Pro
Front derailleur: Suntour XC Pro
Rear derailleur: Suntour XC Pro
Shift levers: Suntour XC Pro
Cassette: Suntour 7-speed, 11-28T
Chain: Suntour
Crankset: Suntour XC Pro Microdrive, 175mm, 22/32/44T
Bottom bracket: Specialized Direct Drive Titanium
Front rim: Specialized TXL21, 32-hole
Rear rim: Specialized GX23, 36-hole
Front hub: Suntour XC Pro Grease Guard
Rear hub: Sugino Tension Disc 846
Front tire: Specialized Cannibal Umma Gumma, 26x2.2in
Rear tire: Specialized Ground Control More Extreme, 26x1.95in
Saddle: Vetta SL
Seatpost: Suntour XC Pro
Pedals: Shimano PD-M737
Other accessories: Ciclomaster CM37 computer, N-Gear chain watcher, Specialized alloy bottle cages (2)
Weight: 12.25kg (27.00lb, complete, as pictured)