Specialized Women’s Rhyme Pro Carbon 6Fattie

Field Notes: Though the name is deceptive, the Rhyme Pro Carbon 6Fattie is not actually a Fat bike, but a 27.5” Plus bike with 3” tires – fat to be sure, but not Fat. Our women’s tester had been riding mostly full-on Fat bikes in the months leading up to her test of the Specialized Rhyme Pro Carbon 6Fattie, so she was having a good ole’ time whipping this bike around and bouncing through rocky sections with the smooth, deep travel. The Fat bikes she was riding had only front travel, so jumping on a bike with 135mm of rear travel and 150mm of front, she felt like she was experiencing a full-suspension bike for the first time again. And in the New England trails – rife with massive rocks, slick roots and ubiquitous loose gravel, not to mention mud and snow of late winter – the long travel and wide sticky tires were ideal. 

Tester Comment: “The bike seems to fit really well. I’m sitting deep in the cockpit and the reaches are very natural. It’s also a whole lot of fun, and it feels so tiny and light compared to the Fat bikes I’d been testing.”

Pros: A bike at this price point will generally have a lot of pros, and this is no exception, so we only have room for the key benefits. First, the geometry and even tubing have been purpose-built for women’s biomechanics. Specialized was among the earliest adopters of designing bikes specifically for women, and they’ve had many years to dial it. Some scoff at this idea, but for our tester, the difference was clear, with better ergonomics and a super comfortable ride. The spec on this rig is also excellent with SRAM’s new XO1 Eagle 1x12 drivetrain and shifters combined with our new fave Guide RS brakes. And the Roval Traverse wheels seal the deal with extra wide rims that support the plus-size tires perfectly but remain relatively light. Finally, the SWAT storage system is borderline genius – a cutout in the massive downtube provides storage inside the tube itself, with room for a tube, tool and even pump.

Cons: We’ve grown accustomed to Specialized’s Brain suspension technology – a system that senses the direction of the force and locks out/opens accordingly, eliminating the need for remote lockout – but alas, this bike doesn’t have it (although the suspension is still excellent overall). We also lament the lack of any way to fully lock out the shock, which would help on steep climbs and powerful accelerations.

Key Attribute: Ride Quality

Bottom Line: The Specialized Rhyme Carbon Pro 6Fattie is clearly a top-end women’s Trail bike with outstanding spec and a premium full-carbon frame. The 27.5” plus-size wheels with 3” offer incredible traction and add some small-bump absorption to the already dialed suspension, and provide added confidence through tricky terrain as well. With women’s specific geometry, suspension and tubing, the ergonomics and ride were noticeably improved for our tester. But all of this does not come cheap, and at $6,500 the bike is certainly not for the casual rider or the value-minded. And we weren’t blown away by the rear shock’s adjustability, although it’s not a major detriment.