Today, Specialized drop news of the new and updated 2021 Chisel cross-country bike. The aluminium race bike has been on a diet via the use of welding tech and shaped tubing, plus there's now increased vertical compliance and all new specs. 

• Specialized Chisel Comp X1 review
• The best hardtail and full suspension mountain bikes you can buy for under £1500
• The best mountain bikes we've tested that you can buy and get shipped to your door

Specialized says that new D’Aluisio Smartweld Technology (DSW) and M5 aluminium allowed them to use the lightest possible tubing and to create an ultralight frame without compromising strength or stiffness.

This tech was in use on the last year's bike too though, you can see what our Jon thought of that bike here. Spesh say the welding is smooth, producing good looks, plus it's stiffer at the junctions of the bike, more durable and consistently so across the bikes they manufacture.

The new welding tech allowed them to re-shape the tubes and employ a different tube design (including thinner tubes) for the tuning of specific areas of the frame to create a perfectly balanced ride. On top of this, they say they use smaller oval seat stays are laterally stiff whilst being vertically compliant so the rider can carry more speed when the going gets rough. 

Geometry has been updated too, the 2021 Chisel is slacker by nearly two degrees at 68 degrees. It gets a lower bottom bracket by 3mm and an increased reach too, on a medium the reach is up by 12mm to 430mm.

There will be two bikes available from today, the Chisle Base at £1,399 and the Chisel comp at £1,699. The former gets a Rockshox Judy  Silver 100mm fork with a thru axle, Shimano M4100 brakes and 12 speed Deore kit elsewhere. The more expensive bike gets a Rockshox Judy Gold fork, Shimano M6100 brakes and a SLX 12 speed drivetrain. 

• www.specialized.com

You might also like: 

• SRAM's SX Eagle budget 12-speed mountain bike drivetrain: weights and tech specs
• Buyers guide to mountain bike tyres - get the best rubber for your MTB
• Your complete guide to Shimano mountain bike disc brakes