Build quality. Suspension design. Geometry. All around killer bike.

Price.

I'm rocking an original first generation Evolve. Many years, and 1,000's of miles on this frame. The quality of this bike is unmatched. I'm a big dude, 6'4" and 250+. I broke frames from Trek and Santa Cruz before buying this bike. I can't speak for the carbon frames but these aluminum frames are outstanding. Handles great. Low maintenance.

Solid climber, stable, very comfortable, no pedal strikes, light, no bob on open shock

noisy, no water bosses inside front triangle, derrailleur hanger breaks easily

This is my second Evolve, the first one was an 2012 aluminum sst2, this one is cf, feels lighter and reponses better, It doesn´t feels fast but it is FAST, corners like it is on rails, climbs like a scared goat, makes you feel safer any time, time goes too fast on this bike, I always want more time! I am 43 and this one is the right one for me, I got lucky I found this baby on ebay new, maybe I have never bought it at full price.

Similar Products Used:

Evolve SST2, Salsa Big Mama

This is one of the most comfortable bikes I have ever owned. It is made for all day trail rides. It is a great looking bike that gets a great deal of attention. It is very stable on fast rocky descents.

This bike has a long wheel base compared to most bikes. While it is stable at high speeds, it is like a tank in the tight single track. While most XC bikes are designed to carve around corners, this bike is best taking slower sweeping turns. I did have a warranty replacement that took 6 weeks to sort out. The Ellsworth Wheels are flexy.

Due to the handing and maneuverability of this bike, I did not take it on rides with the fast group. Fast rides were reserved for the hard tail. It was best suited for slower paced casual rides over long distances. I ordered my bike with the Ellsworth Wheels. Those were total junk! They were flexy and did not do well tubeless. After trying 3 different tires, the Ellsworth rep stated that they had issues with tubeless in some wheels. Bad wheels and a warranty issue, not a good experience. It is comfortable! Almost like a beach cruiser for the trails. That can be good if you are into 4 hour trail rides.

Similar Products Used:

intense, specialized, trek

Despite it's wheight, it climbs like a goat. It descends on rocky terrain like a bullet train. On flats, it simply rides like a rolls Royce.

Incredible to say, but none. Perhaps the weight, but the ride quality is that good that it's not really an issue.

I've been riding this steed for close to two years, racing it and throwing everything South Africa has to offer. And let me tell you that after 20 hrs plus of riding on the us east coast, it is simply bigger, rockier, rooter and faster here. I race competitively both road and mtb and have done several multi day stage races on the evolve. Simply put, it's fast, its comfortable, it's forgiving, and just keeps on going. I have used and abused it on rock gardens (climbing and descending) rode 100s of kms on rutted and dusty jeep tracks (yes, many a times surrounded by African wild animals of the hoofed variety), dropped over ledges, you name it. Yet, it still rides and looks like the very first day. I upgraded form my 26 inch steel IF hard tail, which I now turned into a SS, and it was like mtb had become a new sport. Actually my only regret is that it became easier and hence the reason I needed a SS. No kidding. I'm 6.9 and weigh 165 pounds. I honestly have a hard time thinking how someone can come up with a better xc and trail machine

Solid climber, solid descender, amazing xc rocket, incredibly balanced

None

I bought the Evolve frame and built it up after riding a Trek Superfly 100 for a couple months- got a great deal on the Trek, but never quite fit me. The Evolve geometry simply fits my build better than the Trek. I'm a long-legged 6-footer, 160lbs. The balance on this bike inspired confidence from the very first ride. I love how it handles on everything from long steep climbs and fast descents, to flowy, fast singletrack. I've spent 4 months on this rig, set up with full xt/xtr, easton haven wheels and 2012 Fox 100s front and back. Bike weighs in at 26.5 lbs-- not bad for a quiver of one rocket ship that handles like a 26er with all the benefits of bigger wheels. Simply the most fun I've ever had on a mountain bike.

Similar Products Used:

2011 Trek Superfly 100 29er, 2010 Giant Anthem 26er, Fisher Sugar

Great Handling. Excellent Suspension

Bottle cage won't fit inside front triangle

I'm on my 2nd evolve. I started with the first generation and loved it. I now ride the stt2 version and still love this bike. The suspension is very good at absorbing both small bumps and large hits. It also feels great to me while pedaling and climbs efficiently. I've never been too concerned about pedal bob. Any bike will move up and down if you bounce all over it like a crazy person.

The handling is spot on for me. Ellsworth has the geometry dialed in IMO. The steering is very neutral and goes where you point it. This is especially noticable on tight switchbacks going up or down. Bikes with slack head angles have a heavy floppy feeling to me. Why people say slack HA's are more stable, I don't know? I've ridden many bikes and the bikes with slack head angles seem like they want to go left or right, but not straight when going to rocky rooty stuff. Perhaps at higher speeds on smooth singletrack the slack HA's feel good.

This bike is also a work of art. It's great to just look at!

I've raced semi-pro/cat 1 in the past and this this bike was perfect for it. Although, it seems like race courses are being groomed so that there is less carnage- there are times when a nice light hardtail would be good to have. But being I don't earn a living from racing and log most of my miles riding for fun I choose the Evolve.

The suspension design is excellent and the geometry yields great neutral handling.

Cannot fit a bottle cage inside the front triangle.

I'm on my 2nd evolve. I started with the first generation and loved it. I now ride the stt2 version and still love this bike. The suspension is very good at absorbing both small bumps and large hits. It also feels great to me while pedaling and climbs efficiently. I've never been too concerned about pedal bob. Any bike will move up and down if you bounce all over it like a crazy person.

The handling is spot on for me. Ellsworth has the geometry dialed in IMO. The steering is very neutral and goes where you point it. This is especially noticable on tight switchbacks going up or down. Bikes with slack head angles have a heavy floppy feeling to me. Why people say slack HA's are more stable, I don't know? I've ridden many bikes and the bikes with slack head angles seem like they want to go left or right, but not straight when going to rocky rooty stuff. Perhaps at higher speeds on smooth singletrack the slack HA's feel good.

This bike is also a work of art. It's great to just look at!

I've raced semi-pro/cat 1 in the past and this this bike was perfect for it. Although, it seems like race courses are being groomed so that there is less carnage- there are times when a nice light hardtail would be good to have. But being I don't earn a living from racing and log most of my miles riding for fun I choose the Evolve.

Fast, nimble, well built, solid construction

Expensive...but worth every penny!

This is a big boy bike, I'm 6' 4" and weigh in at a svelte 245 Lbs. and every bike I have owned up to now has always felt a little tight or I had to really baby them on the trails for fear of breaking something. This bike is fantastic!! It is nimble, quick, and so much fun to ride! I have over 1800 miles on it and it still looks brand new. The 29" wheels soak up bumps, rocks, and logs like they are not even there. I'm very confident riding any trail on this bike, from technical to single track this bike rocks! I just love it! This is one bike Tony Ellsworth and his folks got right!!

Similar Products Used:

Ellsworth Isis, Trek, Diamondback

unbelievalbe susspension, incrediblly built, fast, very fast

none really, maybe weight a little

yeah its worth it, this is my first 29er, I have only about 50 miles on it but now that I am getting used to the geometry I can't imagine riding anything else. I will post again in about a year for an additional review, but the early result is this is a fantastic bike/.

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cannondale scalpel