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Submitted by
Alex
a
from Sheffield
Date Reviewed: May 30, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | I only have the frame! I hammer it.., give it all i can and occasionaly think im going to brake it but i never do! Good small travelle xc bike, can take all the drops and rough terrane that my friends new long travelle all mountain bikes can! so there!!! | | Weaknesses: | bushings at the swing arm end of the rear shock ware out frequently, and the head tube is a bit to flexy for aggressive xc. | | Bottom Line: | Brilliant frame, best of the enduro's i recon! (untill this year) | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
sixer
a Weekend Warrior
from Bloomsburg, PA, USA
Date Reviewed: April 13, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | used | | Strengths: | Strong, light frame with forged parts, great geometry, versatile | | Weaknesses: | Brand new specialized bikes are very expensive | | Similar Products Used: | downhill rentals-kona stinky, iron horse 7point, test ride-hecklers | | Bike Setup: | 07 (old frame, but not as old as the one pictured at the top of this page) medium, lyric coil fork, hone crankset, low BB mount | | Bottom Line: | This is an outstanding bike. If you buy it new (as a leftover) it is still very expensive, but you get a great warranty. I bought mine used, but in great shape. This bike climbs fine as long as you aren't in a big hurry and descends like a short-travel downhill bike. The upgrade from a comp or elite up to an expert or pro is definitely worth it, IMO.
I am still getting used to a dual-suspension, but I don't have any bob issues. I run the lyric fork with no compression damping, full travel and DHX5 air rear with no propedal-99% of the time, I am still climbing everything I did on my hardtail. The bike is a little leggy-feeling (tall, choppered out) at slow speeds, but as soon as you get a little speed, it settles down and behaves nicely.
This bike will split duties between fun trail rides throughout the year and occasional trips to Diablo freeride park in the summer. The only other bike I even considered for these purposes was the heckler (but never found one with the right build at the right price).
4 out of 5 for value because they are expensive (but worth it).
5 out of 5 overall because this bike will be a blast on ANY trail except for a XC race course. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nigel Smithers
a Downhiller
from Exeter, England, UK
Date Reviewed: December 31, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | The Rift (Wales) | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Superb handling at high speed through rocky terrain, through roots, step downs, 2-6ft drops and pretty much anything thrashing. Linkage is amazing too with no sloppiness in the rear end wandering all over the place when the frame is pushed hard. | | Weaknesses: | Not enough XL sizes!! | | Similar Products Used: | Santa Cruz Nomad, Santa Cruz Heckler, Foes FXR and Intense 6.6. | | Bike Setup: | (2-shocks) #1. Cane Creek Double Barrel with a 500lb Ti-spring. #2. Marzocchi Rocco Air WC RC: (2-Forks) 1. Rock Shox Lyric coil to go with the Cane Creek shock. 2. Marzocchi 55ATA SL 1 125-165 air fork. The rest of the kit has Hope M4 185mm brakes, Sram X0 08' drivetrain, Saint Crankset with an MRP chain guide, Schwalbe Nobby Nic 2.4 tyers, Chris King headset, DT Swiss 5.1 rims with Hope Pro 2 hubset, Race Face Diabolus stem(silver), Race Face Diabolus bar(silver), Odi lockon grips with blue clamps, braided hoses, Thomson seatpost, Wtb saddle, Salsa clamp. Had the frame custom painted since it was pretty worn out from the previous owner. It is now in custom annodized cobalt blue with a silver fleck to add depth to it. Silver is in the front by the headtube fading to the deep blue and then down by the drop outs it blends into a silver again. Nice job painting the frame lads in Exeter. | | Bottom Line: | With the right kit, proper setup with the shocks and forks this bike is bloody amazing and bollocks to boot. The bike weighs just shy of 31 lbs and I am a large fellow standing around 6ft 5" and weighing around 240lbs (US weight). I managed to find an XL frame and the original paint was from the Enduro Elite (green)! Nice original colour but faded and worn out. Might I suggest custom painting the frame to your likes so one can really be inspired to ride the dicken out of it. Cheers mates. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom Judy
a Downhiller
from Cool, California
Date Reviewed: September 24, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Clementine Loop | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | Cyclepaths (DEMO) | | Strengths: | Best All Mtn Full Sus bike I have been on for the money. Specialized Warranty Top notch. This bike handles technical steep descents like D-Ville and Sierra foothills with ease. I am 5'10" 170 lbs, went with the large frame | | Weaknesses: | Like so many others, originally bought 02 Enduro Sport FSR, cracked frame at Seat tube, but, Specialized replaced with 04 Enduro Pro frame no questions asked. Definitely had to do some upgrades for top performance and durability (see set up) Still hear creaks when up hilling. My rig is 31 lbs, a little heavy for uphill | | Similar Products Used: | SC Blurr, Rocky Mtn, probably 1/2 dozen other all mtn bikes in last 4 years | | Bike Setup: | 04 Enduro Pro frame, XTR fnt/rear Dérailleurs and brakes, sealed BB, WTB Weirwolf 2.35", Stans tubeless, Mavic rims, 02 Marzochi Bomber fork ,DHX 5.0 rear | | Bottom Line: | One day at D-Ville just for fun I rented a SC Blurr to compare, using the same wheel set. Could not tell the difference. That sold me, considering that the Blurr cost much more. This was the first full suspension I have owned, sold my old bike (Trek 8700 Carbon Hard tail with Rock Shoxs on front) after the first 6 months of this and never looked back. Yeah extra weight was an adjustment, but, I love gravity. Have now added a Giant Glory DH to the quiver, and am winning DH races. The base of that success is definitely this Enduro Pro.
If you want an awesome all mountain Full Suspension bike that will perform, and last, look no further. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
raphael
a Weekend Warrior
from norcal
Date Reviewed: September 20, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | flume and downieville | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | used frame | | Strengths: | the versitality | | Weaknesses: | none w/ my parts | | Similar Products Used: | custom iron horse f.r.,jamis dakar, rocky mountain switch, santa cruz bullit | | Bike Setup: | enduro pro frame, nixon elite fork, lx cranks and derailer, bb7 disc brakes | | Bottom Line: | good for single tracks | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a Weekend Warrior
from Renton, WA USA
Date Reviewed: September 29, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Chikamin Creek - Minnow Ridge | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | warrantied | | Strengths: | - A perfect All Mountain bike that climbs, descends and is capable of handling light stunts.
- 6" of travel in the rear
- strong beefy frame
- descends incredibly well
- Slack head-angle
- descent climber for it's size, weight and slack HA
- DHX 5 Air & 36RC2 (great match) | | Weaknesses: | only things I can think of are
- BB height is a little low
- weight (but for a strong 6" travel bike, I really can't complain) | | Similar Products Used: | '03 Enduro Pro w/BETD 6" upgrade. '05 marz AM1 130-150mm, '99 FSR Ground Control. '03 Fox TALAS RLC (125mm); 03 Pushed Fox Float RL w/iTch switch | | Bike Setup: | 2006 Enduro Pro frame (large), DHX 5.0 Air, '07 36RC2 TALAS (160mm), CK headset, Mavic 819s, hope bulb hubs,X.9 triggers w/R-Der, XT FD, XT cranks, E.13 DRS, Enduro Pro 2.3 tires, Thomson Seatpost, Thomson stem, EC70 MonkeyLite Risers, ODI lock-ons, wtb laser stealth, 540 pedals. 32.5 lbs | | Bottom Line: | I cracked the '03 at the seat tube weld earlier this year and Specialized sent me the '06 Enduro Pro frame. All I had to do was purchase the rear shock. Specialize's warranty is awesome!
My '03 Enduro was capable, but I find the '06 to be the perfect bike for the aggressive trail rider that enjoys light stunts and descents.
This is one of the most capable, confidence inspiring rides I have ever owned. The geometry is right on for my style of riding. The headangle is approx 67.5 with the 07 36RC2. The front and rear smooth out the chatter bumps with ease.
I actually raced this bike in the Test of Metal in Squamish this summer and finished in the middle of the group of 800 riders. This was my first race.
The bike descends incredibly well and much better than my '03. It handles 3-5ft drops without any problems. The DHX and 36RC2 just soak it up. It rails corners on descents and is capable of clearing tight switchbacks during clibms. However, I do feel the weight difference between my 28 lb '03 and the 32.5 lb '06, but the bike still climbs incredibly well. And the beefier frame is just what I need for my style of riding. With the DHX and frame geometry I don't notice any bouncing during climbing.
I regularly take it to Tiger Mtn where there is a steep 3 mi. climb from the parking lot to the trail head, then a long 8 mi. descent on single track and some fireroads. I'm typically passing other riders on the way up. If I didn't catch them on the way up, I certainly do on the way down.
With the right mix of components I'm sure you could get this bike around the 30lb mark. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom
a Weekend Warrior
from Yucaipa, CA
Date Reviewed: August 20, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Santa Ana River Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Lightweight, handles the climbs and the descent very well. The frame warranty is outstanding. | | Weaknesses: | The frame cracked at the top of the weld where the seat tube connects to the top tube/monocoque structure. Specialized warranted the frame in just a couple of days!. I now have a brand new frame. The one that broke was a 2003 year model, they sent out a 2004! So I guess that this is hardly a weakness, as I will be a Specialized customer for life. | | Similar Products Used: | Turner Burner, Uzzi SL, Uzzi DH, Azonic Saber | | Bike Setup: | Fox 125R, Fox Float, Sram X9 drivetrain, Sun Singletrack wheels, Juicy 7 brakes | | Bottom Line: | This bike has been one of my favorites, the other one was the Uzzi SL. It is light enough to pedal up, and with 5" of travel, plush enough to have fun on the way back down the trail. I am still not a fan of the 'pedaling platform' style bikes, the FSR suspension, in my opinion, is where it's at. Throw in the reasonable price, manufacturer support and warranty, and great performance, this is a great bike! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Neil Croxton
a Weekend Warrior
from UK
Date Reviewed: August 11, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Any | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$3000.00 | | Purchased At: | Leisure Lakes, Wolves, UK | | Strengths: | DH capability, but still climbs well for weight, very balanced with stiff, precice handling. Value for money (mine cost £2100 for S-works 05) | | Weaknesses: | Tyres (occasionally unpredictable on corners). Talas RC2 forks have lost 5mm of travel....somewhere. Mojo promised to return them to me FOC. | | Similar Products Used: | Scott Ransom, Specialised Stumpjumper FSR, Orange 5, Orange Patriot XC & Excel. | | Bike Setup: | '05 S-works enduro (large) with Easton bar and stem (65mm), DMR V12s and ODI grips. Set up with slack head angle shock mount. | | Bottom Line: | Bottom line is -I love this bike.
I am of the DH rather than XC persuasion, but really enjoy the UK/Welsh trails and my local spot of Cannock Chase. This bike can do everything you want it to. Also off to Glen tress soon - cant wait!!!
It is very easy to review this bike - if you want a do-it-all ride and don’t mind sweating a bit more on the climbs only to rip up the DH and jumpy trails then this is the bike for you. If you want to beat all your friends to the top or ride a lot of flat singletrack then buy something else, because this bike can get bored (buy a stumpjumper). For more extreme XC / freeride / "this week's buzz word" the frame is awesome and combined with the super stiff Fox TALAS it often feels unstoppable. I also tried the Orange Patriot, which was a similar ride, but I found the medium too short and large too long (I am about 6'3"). The L enduro with short stem is spot on. '06 model has improved Fox DHX air shock, but after quite a bit of tweaking my 5th element is spot on.
I spent 18months looking for the right full suss bike for me (after all £2000 is a lot for the wrong bike) and I have not regretted my decision for 1 second even after trying the Scott ransom, which rides very similarly. In fact when you put them side by side the similarities are almost uncanny.....! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Craig Miller
a Weekend Warrior
from New York, NY, USA
Date Reviewed: July 26, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Porcupine Rim, Moab | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$2800.00 | | Purchased At: | Back Bay Bikes, Boston | | Strengths: | Flexibility
Agility
| | Weaknesses: | Saddle | | Similar Products Used: | Santa Cruz Blur, K2, Yeti, others | | Bike Setup: | Standard
Might get one of those seatposts that flips up/down
Someday will upgrade to an auto-sensing rear shock (mine's old) | | Bottom Line: | After years of riding a hardtail, and taking on more and more challenging / technical trails, I decided I needed a full suspension. I wanted something that could handle the toughest trail, and that I could use for occasional downhilling, too. But I wanted it to be able to attack the uphills just as well! Because I love all types of trails: from the curse & wimper killer technical, to the crazy teeth-chattering downhills, to fast smooth rolling hills.
This bike fits the criteria. That simple. It feels perfect on every trail, letting me adjust as I go. My model's a couple years older now, so I have to reach down to lock out the rear shock on the uphills, but I guess the newer models have the auto-sensing rear, so all the better.
They should ship it with one of those seat-posts that flip up/down. Then it would surely be the most versatile bike on the market.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom McGuinness
a Cross Country Rider
from Park City, Utah
Date Reviewed: July 9, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Ball Snapper | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | Private Purchase | | Strengths: | Great geometry for me (5'10 145), great warranty, the Fox suspension makes all the difference in the world. | | Weaknesses: | Keeps tipping over a low speeds and always down the fall line, never up. Just kidding. I Wouldn't want to try to hammer out an expert class xc race on it | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Stumpjumper FSR, M4 S-Works FSR | | Bike Setup: | XTR all around, Fox Talas RCL, Fox Float rear w/ lockout | | Bottom Line: | Sold my Specialized S-Works M4 FSR that I loved because I knew I wouldn't ride it again after getting on the cushy enduro pro. It's a bit heavier (29lbs vs 24lbs of the M4) but it's soooo nice. Can consistently clean sections of trail that I couldn't do before and you can eat a few energy bars while you're waiting for your friends at the bottom. I think it's a perfect bike for the diverse riding in Utah especially when you're going to spend hours at a time in the saddle. It was worth gaining a few more pounds for a few more inches of travel | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jonathan Harris
a Cross Country Rider
from Grand Junction, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: March 10, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | horsetheif bench (fruita) | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | Private Purchase | | Strengths: | Solid Frame (2004 model). Straight tracking. Climbs like a goat, descends as fast as you can push it. Specialized customer service is first rate. | | Weaknesses: | 2002 Model developed crack in frame. Specialized sent me a new 2004 frame which is much beefier. low quality manitou black front fork (expert model) | | Similar Products Used: | GT hard tail. | | Bike Setup: | Some 2002 components on 2004 frame. XT/XTR, Fox Float, Mavic/Hugi UST wheelset. | | Bottom Line: | This bike sold me on why mountain biking is actually fun. I now actually want to get out there and ride now because the bike is so confidence building. Kudos to Specialized customer service for warantee replacement of cracked frame. As long as they keep making a solid product I will continue purchasing their bikes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gerry
a Downhiller
from Mission Viejo, CA. USA
Date Reviewed: February 14, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Ira's | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$3500.00 | | Purchased At: | Rock N' Road | | Strengths: | This bike can handle some rather steep technical trails and not skip a beat. I love the 36, DHX set up... very nice! Very agile with the low center of gravity. Avid brakes are incredible. | | Weaknesses: | Saddle really BLOWS! The stock 'S' stuff is functional but aesthetically speaking is just blah... | | Similar Products Used: | Bullit, Nomad, Blur and a few other bikes... | | Bike Setup: | Changed all the Specialized house brand stuff, Thomson 31.8 stem and post, Easton EA70 bars, Crank Bros Mallets, CK Headset and WTB Weirwolf front and Exiwolf rear. | | Bottom Line: | This bike is a blast!!! Was torn between the Nomad and this bike, the determining factors were; a smoking deal and EVERY one has a Nomad so I wanted something different yet capable... this bike loves to go fast and the 4-bar suspension soakes everything up. The bike takes a little getting used to on the LONG climbs, downside of the 4 bar but pro pedal really helps, the weight will be a factor (coming from a SS) so don't be in a hurry. When the trail turns south be prepared for some serious fun! Parker @ Rock n' Road is a GREAT guy and will always take care of you! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rob P
a Cross Country Rider
from Chandler
Date Reviewed: December 21, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | National | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$3500.00 | | Purchased At: | SMC | | Strengths: | Beefy construction for bigger riders(220 lbs), climbs well, descends well, great warranty | | Weaknesses: | Fox fork has 5 3/4 travel not 6" like advertised. cheap wheelset for such an expensive bike, heavy XL 33 lbs, progressive rear shock, leaks a lot of air | | Similar Products Used: | turner six pack, uses specialized rear triangle patent | | Bike Setup: | upgraded wheelset with chris king hubs and mavic 819's, thompson stem and seatpost | | Bottom Line: | Since I weigh in at 220's i was looking for a beefier bike with strong pivot points and a great warranty. It took some time in the saddle to get used to the extra weight, now the weight is not a problem. the descends very well, soaks up a lot of the rocks here in az. as for the fox fork, it is very tunable, like i said previously, its not 6". i was recently in the bike shop and they had left over 05 enduros, specialized sent them the new fox dhx rear shocks due to the problems with the progressives, but will not change out on the used bikes, since they know there are problems with them i would think specialized would upgrade previously purchased bikes.
after riding the bike for almost a year now, my technical abilities have improved and overall riding has increased greatly.
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan0
a Cross Country Rider
from Nashua, NH USA
Date Reviewed: October 20, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2800.00 | | Purchased At: | MTB classifieds | | Strengths: | THIS IS FOR 05 model
strong, quick , adjustable, fox 36 fork, big 8" shimano up front 6" rear brakes | | Weaknesses: | tires, grips | | Similar Products Used: | Yeti,Titus, sugar1, | | Bike Setup: | stock except for tires and grips | | Bottom Line: | I wasn't used to the weight, my sugar was 25lbs. and this is 32 but... once used to the extra weight this bike rocks. I prefer more cross country so turn the knob on the fox 36 down to 120mm ,viola cross country handling. some ripping downhills or drops, crank that fork up to 150mm..sweet, just walks over rocks and logs. super tough, decent climber, excelent downhill. I can honestly say it has made me a better rider, it just gives you more confidence. With the light weight racing/cross country type bikes you need to watch what you roll over, especially heavier riders. This ride so far is bullet proof
the original tires while gripping well had too much rolling resistance, swapped em out for some weirwolves much better. also swapped the grips for some ODI lockons | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kevin
a Cross Country Rider
from chapel hill
Date Reviewed: October 16, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | one with hot babes on 'em | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Solid frame. Nice geometry set up and riding position. I actually feel confident doing everything on my hair raising circuit. Even attempted a few hucks I wouldn't dare do on my Kona or any Kona. | | Weaknesses: | FSR shock linkage. On a setup for the 2nd of two consecutive log hops I heard "SNAP!!" Checked every weld point of the frame. It was the linkage. A screw snapped in half. Now I have to wait 5 days for a new one. Told my LBS to order an extra since I am 283 pounds. Maybe I'm 275 now. I check the scales and get back to you. | | Similar Products Used: | Kona Kikapu (not recommended - snapped two wimpy frames). Cannondale Jeykll (Ah-ight, my back up bike - still not completely built :O(). Giant Yukon (for bike paths only - hardtail. Too many wheel rebuilds. Ditched it). | | Bike Setup: | Fat Mammoth wheelset. Marzocchi DJ III 100mm. Intend to slap avid BB7s 8 inch rotor on front, oversized riser handlebars, thicker railed saddle, and 3 way coil in the back. I think these projects justify a raise at work or Bill Gate's charity. | | Bottom Line: | Nice aggressive XC / lite free ride frame. Easier to climb with less travel of front of course. Great Clydesdale choice. Great NBA player's choice. My head is in the clouds. W rides a Trek, so I'm happy on Specialized. Boo Trek! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael
a
from Coloma, CA
Date Reviewed: August 28, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Hole in the Ground, Ward Peak/Stanford Rock, Moab | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$3950.00 | | Strengths: | See detailed note below: | | Weaknesses: | The only weakness in the component mix that I was able to find in my research was the Custom Progressive 5th Element Air shock. It is a custom shock OEMed to Specialized for this bike and probably delivered before it was ready for prime time. I was able to find a number of instances where the shock blew up right out of the box and went through several re-builds. In fact, after several re-build attempts on the air shock, I found people who got a Custom Progressive 5th Element Remote Reservoir Coil shock as a free replacement to the air shock. At this point the Custom Progressive 5th Element Remote Reservoir Coil shock is the only other shock that will work on this bike. In ’06 the bike will come w/a Fox Air shock as standard spec. The good news is that the Custom Progressive 5th Element Air shock seems to fail right off the bat, if it is going to fail, so if you get a good one it is a non-issue. Additionally, I as well as most other people who reviewed the bike like how well the shock works in the total package. When I bought my bike I negotiated a deal whereby they included a Custom Progressive 5th Element Remote Reservoir Coil shock as a backup to the air shock in case the latter failed out of the box. Three weeks, 14 rides and 150 miles and I have had no problems w/the air shock so far. | | Similar Products Used: | Rocky Mountain Switch Pro, Rocky Mountain ETSX-50, Specialized Stumpjumper, Ibis Custom Trials/Trail Bike | | Bike Setup: | See Specialized Website for stock setup then check out the changes I noted below. | | Bottom Line: | First of all, thank you, to everyone who has taken the time to review a product here on Mtn. Bike Review. I just went through a process of replacing all my gear as well as adding the required pieces for lift-serviced riding. The real world end user reviews made all the difference in finding the right gear in every instance.
I’m reviewing the ’05 Specialized Enduro Pro w/6 inches of travel at either end handled by the Custom Progressive 5th Element Air shock and the Fox Float 36 RC2 TALAS fork. To begin with I am biased toward the high end, hand made, boutique bike manufacturers like Rocky Mountain and Santa Cruz for all the many advantages that their fine products have. My last two bikes were a Rocky Mountain Switch Pro and a Rocky Mountain ETSX-50. I haven’t owned a Specialized product since I bought a Stumpjumer back in “81. With that said, I am completely in love w/this version of the Enduro, it’s component package and how well it all works across a broad range of cycling experiences. I have had the bike for 3 weeks and have 14 rides logged as well as 150 miles. That experience includes everything from California Slickrock to buffed singletrack to rocky, gnarly DH runs to jump and drop sessions as well as the uphill required to access all the afore mentioned fun. So far I’ve done no lift serviced riding but that is because this thing goes uphill so well I haven’t felt the need to pay for an uphill ride in order to get my downhill thrills. Which is the heart of the beauty of this bike; it is as close as it gets to a “one bike does it all” reality. The other two bikes that I researched that are getting excellent reviews in this regard are the Santa Cruz Nomad and the Giant Reign #1. The first was slightly more money than the Enduro and an 8 week wait to get and the second didn’t seem, to me, to quite measure up to the Enduro or Nomad.
I set up the bike with the bracket that gives you a 68.5 degree head/seat tube angle and the lower of the two bottom bracket settings. With this bracket and the front fork in the 6 inch travel mode the bike just rails corners and makes descending a smooth pleasurable experience. When it is time to go back up hill crank the front fork to its 4.3 inch travel mode thereby steepening the head tube angle by a little less than 2 degrees and you have a bike that climbs far better than its stock 32 lbs would suggest. The only caveat is that in this mode you have to be very careful in regard to smacking pedals due to the lower BB height. The bottom line is that at both ends of the spectrum the bike works just as it was meant to allowing me to climb easier and descend faster than I thought possible.
I went on the make the following changes to the bike; most of which were designed to turn it into even a better climber on demand while still preserving the downhill ease when needed.
• Added a GravityDropper seatpost w/a 4 inch drop: This is a revolutionary product that, I believe, will change how well we ride. The ability to drop the seat, in an instant, by 4 inches through a handlebar mounted lever allows greater confidence to deal w/downhills and technical sections. I think this product will have as positive an effect on mountain biking as shaped skis have had on downhill skiing.
• Added an eThirteen chainguide and bashguard that allows duel chainrings up front: This product is great for jumping onto/over logs and making sure the chain doesn’t rattle off on rocky downhills.
• Added Bar Ends and replaced the 26” mid-rise handlebar w/a 28” mid-rise handlebar: The bar ends really help with the climbing ability and I still end up w/an inch wider bar for better downhill control.
• Replaced the 70mm 10 degree rise stem w/a 50mm 0 degree rise stem: This makes it much easier to loft the front end of the bike at will and gives better control while in the air. The added bar ends make up for the loss in climbing ability by going to a shorter stem.
• Moved the seat all the way forward on the seatpost: This puts my weight over the pedals for better climbing ability. I’m able to comfortably do this for three reasons:
o This frame has a relatively long top tube on the medium size.
o The bar ends give me more room to move over the front tire.
o The GravityDropper seatpost allows me, in an instant, to eliminate the seat as an issue on all downhill/technical sections.
• Installed Stans Tubeless Kit: I can run tire pressures in the low 30’s for better traction and flats are a thing of the past.
• Traded out stock tires for WTB 2.5 inch Weir Wolf and Timber Wolf: These give me better corning and downhill capability and the low tire pressure give me great traction going uphill. The rolling resistance is higher but that is an acceptable trade off.
The final weight w/all these changes is 34 lbs. 6 ounces. To all the XC people out there I’m sure that this seems far too much. However, with the ability to change the geometry of the bike so easily it pedals uphill in an enjoyable manner. You obviously aren’t going to win any XC races on it but you can comfortably cruise all day and scream downhill whenever the opportunity presents itself. Have fun and remember that the most important nut on the whole bike is the one that connects the handlebar to the seat so don’t crank it down so tight that you can’t back off when appropriate. (-:
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Hickey
a Cross Country Rider
from Billerica, MA, USA
Date Reviewed: August 15, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | E-Bay from guy selling single bike | | Strengths: | I have the older version of this bike. I believe it is a '99 or '00. Definately a sweet ride cross country, especially flat ground and downhill. Does great on the road also. Great for muddy days due to position of handle bars. This keeps you centered and in control of your bike at all times. | | Weaknesses: | Certainly not the best climber. You can buy the lightest components and gagets that you want this bike is still fairly heavy. Otherwise, this bike works wonders. | | Similar Products Used: | none this is the first bike that I've had since I became a serious rider. | | Bike Setup: | You looked at the price and said "you must be joking". Nope not at all this kid had enough of his bike and sold for whatever bid he could get. Was a sweet ride when I got it with the Margura Julie hydrolic discs but hydorlic a line blew out that never could be repaired. Now has Avid mechanical. Fox front fork; totally sweet. Rear shock is a "pimped out" Fox float. Has all the bells and whitles including lock out and dampening. Xt everything; Shamano; including clipless pedals. | | Bottom Line: | When I first got this bike, I hated the weight and just not used to full suspensions. Now with Ryno light rims, Factory DH 2.3 tires, and Thompson stem, this bike is a sweet ride. If you have some dough when you find a deal on this bike buy it. Fix up the one for the deal and have a blast. I hear the new frames are breaking alot so I recommend buying an older model. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
TIM
a Weekend Warrior
from CORONA
Date Reviewed: August 11, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | SAN JUAN TRAIL CLEVELAND NF , SKYLINE | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$2100.00 | | Purchased At: | SUPERGO- FOUNTAIN VALLEY | | Strengths: | SOLID COMPONENETS THROUGHOUT | | Weaknesses: | CHAIN SKIPS A LOT UNDER FULL LOAD ON THE 2ND AND THIRD FRONT GEAR. VERY ANNOYING. CAN'T SEEM TO FIND THE PROBLEM HAD BIKE SERVICED TWICE - ANYONE ELSE HAVE THIS HAPPEN? | | Similar Products Used: | FIRST FULL SUSPENSION BIKE, GT BACKWOODS, VARIOUS TREK HARDTAILS , K2 RAZORBACK (DEMO'D) | | Bike Setup: | ALL STOCK EXCEPT FOR OURY GRIPS, MAXXIS MOFO 2.35 | | Bottom Line: | MY REVIEW IS FOR THE BIG GUYS OUT THERE THAT ARE HAVING TROUBLE OR DIFFICULTY MAKING A DECISION ON BUUYING A BIKE THAT WIL SUPPORT THEM. I'M A BIG GUY 6.0" WEIGHING 260 WEIGHTLIFTER, FOOTBALL CENTER TYPE GUY. OBVIOUSLY I'M NOT THE 156 LB GUY THAT IS OUT RACING THIS BIKE EVERYWEEK. THIS IS THE BIKE FOR A BIG GUY THAT LIKES TO GO OUT AND HIT A FEW JUMPS AND SOME FUN DOWNHILLS WITHOUT SHREDDING THE BIKE. I LOOKED AROUND A LONG TIME FOR A BIKE THAT COULD HANDLE ME VS., A BIKE THAT I COULD HANDLE. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BIKE FOR ANYONE THAT IS BIG LIKE I AM! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
TC Stone
a Racer
from Spartanburg, SC
Date Reviewed: August 8, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Rocky Ridge Trail in Dupont | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Strengths: | The frame and Fox talas fork | | Weaknesses: | Mavic 717 | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale jekyll, trek fuel 100, | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for the spinergy xyclones, a must have for drops and jumps. | | Bottom Line: | This bike has climbed and descended everything in pisgah and dupont. Specialized has definitely done their homework for the enduro line. If you are looking for a bike you can ride anywhere, this is the bike. This review is for the 04 enduro expert. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan
a
from Hood River, OR, USA
Date Reviewed: April 7, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Mt. View Cycles | | Strengths: | Versatility... | | Weaknesses: | This is an "all around" bike and would not be PERFECT for XC racing or Downhill/big drops. The 20mm thru axle is a compromise - the strength/stiffness is nice, but obviously it is a pain if you want to take the front wheel off. | | Similar Products Used: | Turner O2, Trail Demo: Stumpjumper 120, 5-spot, Big Hit | | Bike Setup: | Stock Medium Enduro Pro (6in version) | | Bottom Line: | This is a great bike for people who don't want or can't afford a "quiver" of bikes, but want to do a mix of XC, all mountain, free-ride and the occasional shuttle-run. At 31.5lbs and with a suprisingly efficient suspension design the bike still climbs remarkably well, and I am not even close to pushing it on the decents yet.
I've only been on about 6 rides so far, but I will give you my first impressions. On climbs the bike is certainly a bit heavy, but the suspension effects are suprisingly mild. I started out cranking up the damping on both the fork and shock for long climbs - and this had the desired effect of nearly locking out the suspension. But I have since realized that it still climbs well even with the suspension active and I no longer bother to adjust the damping. Every trail around here involves significant climbing - 2000+' of vert. is typical of a 2hr ride and I can't complain about the bikes performance. I have it set-up with the 69.5 head angle and 150mm fork travel and I rarely even bother to crank down the fork for technical climbs. There are sections of trail that I had trouble climbing even on my O2 (A bike that climbs spectacularly well) and I can still get up them just about as often on the Enduro (the big tires/low pressure probably help here - even though they slow you down at other times). Needless to say, unless I am out for a very long ride (4+ hours) or try to race, I don't envision any complaints climbing. And when I am riding with other "big" bikes it is obvious that the Enduro is vastly more efficient. To be honest, I have not ridden side-by-side with a VPP-free or other comparable bike, but I have been very impressed with the climbing so far.
As for the decents, the bike really shines. High-speed descents are far more comfortable now and the few drops I have tried have all gone very smoothly. I only weight about 165, and even my O2 was OK on small drops, but at 3' to a flat landing the Enduro doesn't even blink. The Enduro is definitely NOT a down-hill bike, but I suspect it can handle 90% of what most people think of as free-riding and if you want to "earn" your turns I can't even imagine doing it on anything else. (As a side note, if you are worried about the interupted seat tube, don't. Unless you need a longer than stock seatpost you should be fine. I am 5'10" have another inch to go with the seat in the high position and can lower it to within 3-4" of the collar without hitting the shock. I am a BIG fan of raising/lowering the seat to suit conditions and I don't have any complaints.) I will try to write an update as the stunts dry-out and my confidence increases. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
This Bike Rocks
a Weekend Warrior
from NSW
Date Reviewed: March 20, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Mt Wellington, Tas | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Insurance Replacement | | Strengths: | Most Awsome 6" travel frame available, with pedal platforms feels like riding a xc rig up hills and descends like skiing 2' of fresh powder. | | Weaknesses: | THe saddle is crap - bent after one descent prang.
The wheel should have been built with heavier guage spokes (for heavier guage riders). | | Similar Products Used: | Giant AC-1, Cannondale Jekyl, Old Specialized big hit, FSR ground control. | | Bike Setup: | 05 model Small frame (5'10") lock on grips, wider bars and longer stem, Azonic platform pedals. | | Bottom Line: | Turned me back from a couch potato into a rider again. This is the 3rd Specialized I have owned, and even though they may piss a few off, I can't think of a better brand to buy. Everything about this bike is excellent, but I have to keep all the pivot points and B/B clean or they creak and carry on like hell.
Get one if you can! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mick
a Racer
from Duluth, MN USA
Date Reviewed: March 11, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Porcupine Rim Moab | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$3500.00 | | Purchased At: | Ski Hut | | Strengths: | Climbs like a goat and descends like an anvil. Corners like a dream and the sun rims are virtually bomb-proof.
Although part of me was ethically against purchasing another bike from one of the Mass Production giants. Specialized seems to have created some amazing machines recently. I was ready to lay $$$$% down for a VP Free, when two people mentioned the New Enduro. I did some research and went for the Enduro Pro.
I do not regret the move in the least. The Fox 36 RC2 and 5th Element shocks are relatively easy to adust and when the bike is dialed in, beware! I was able to climb the National Trail at South Mountain in Phoenix when others with their lighter XC rigs were floundering. Coming down ANY descent was like floating on BUTTAH. No problems!!
Granted, I didn't huck any 20 footers, but would feel confident dropping this rig off of a 6-8 footer. | | Weaknesses: | Front derailleur placement is touchy. Adjusting the position is limited because of adjacent suspension linkage. | | Similar Products Used: | SC Blur, Bullit, VP Free; Cannondale Jekyll | | Bike Setup: | 2005 Enduro Pro size S with a Gravity-dropper seat post. I am 5'9", 155# with a 33" inseam. A few words about the seatpost: "Stellar. YOU should get one!!" | | Bottom Line: | This bike is the perfect "all day" bike. Get it dialed in and it will be your best buddy.
It is built for riders who are fit and who like to climb as well as descend. On a particular day, I spent about 5 hours on South mountain near Phoenix. It was one of those days filled with spiritual experiences that come about a few times in a decade. The bike is heavier than my usual ride ('04 S-Works Epic Disc) and I was expecting to perish on the climbs--not the case at all. It handled well on the climbs and actually felt much more agile than my lighter rides (Ibis Alibi; BOSS). The thing was king on the descents. The Big travel (8-10") bikes seem to have too much sag. Personally, the Enduro Pro is the perfect all-around bike that I have ever had the luxury to ride.
Will be taking it to Moab in a couple of weeks and will see how it handles the climb from town. If my opinion changes much, I will amend this review or write a new one. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
J. Brouwers
a Weekend Warrior
from Wouw, Netherlands
Date Reviewed: December 28, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | any foreign trail | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Groeneveld | | Strengths: | *** THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE 2004 ENDURO PRO FRAME ONLY WITH FOX FLOAT ITCH SHOCK W/O PROPEDAL ***
Pretty much everything
The frame comes reamed and faced from the factory too | | Weaknesses: | Interupted seattube design (although very pretty) | | Similar Products Used: | 2001 Enduro FSR 3.8"/4.6", 2003 Hardrock Comp | | Bike Setup: | Medium 2004 Enduro Pro frame, King headset, Fox Forx Vanilla RL 5", Float Itch RL shock w/o ProPedal, Hayes Mag 6", LX/XT/XTR drivetrain, telescopic seatpost, EA50 riser, 80mm Raceface stem, SDG Bel Air saddle, Specialized Mudflap shock protector, 22T/32T Holzfeller w/ bashring, F219 rims, Salsa QR's | | Bottom Line: | In 2001 I bought the older style Enduro with 3.8"/4.6" of travel and a coil over shock. It served me well over the years and it felt pretty much perfect geometry wise. I always thought the suspension was pretty good too (it was my first full suspension bike). This summer, however, the frame cracked at the seattube weld so I contacted my LBS. After only seen emailed pictures of the crack, they already ordered a brand new Enduro frame for me. How sweet is that! SPECIALIZED WARRANTY IS THE BEST!
I´m 6"1" and asked for a medium frame 'cause I always felt pretty comfortable on my old medium Enduro too. Anyone may say I need a large one, but with a 80mm stem and the seatpost pretty high I feel really comfortable aboard the bike.
So I always thought the old Enduro had good suspension, until I got to ride this bike on the trails. The rear suspension is sooo compliant. Small bumps, they´re all gone. At 30% of sag, the rear shock doesn´t even bottom out on a 4 feet drop to tranny. I love that progressivity! I don´t huck this bike, I´m just a trail rider that likes the odd drop. For me, with the setup as above, this is the ultimate do it all bike.
Sometimes, when I´m riding to the trailhead, I find that the bike bobs a bit too much. A problem? No way! Just switch it to 100mm and the bob is minimal. The shock also has a lockout.
I also found out that the lower shock bushing wears out pretty quickly. Not a surprise, as the shock and the bushings are directly in line with mud and dirt. I just bought this 'Mudflap protector' as Specialized call it. The amount of dirt thrown onto the shock is dramatically reduced now. Thank you!
I love this bike so much. I´d marry her, if that was possible. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mickey
a Cross Country Rider
from palm coast fl
Date Reviewed: November 18, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Purchased At: | extreme cycles | | Strengths: | very smooth and fast through chaotic conditions | | Weaknesses: | seat post q/r | | Bike Setup: | xt disc hubs(all the xt stuff matches the frame color nicely)thomson stem and seat post,cc headset. | | Bottom Line: | I had a 02 enduro pro and after two years of beating,the frame developed a small crack at the weld below the seatpost.I loved the bike much, so I was concerned about losing her.Took her back to my LBS and ten days later I was riding an 04 pro,unreal.the bike rips.THANKS specialized and extreme cycles! Oh yeah, the charge for the upgrade:nada | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
wayne
a Weekend Warrior
from geraldton, western australia
Date Reviewed: November 8, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | the next one | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Purchased At: | bike force geraldton | | Strengths: | geometery, balance, xtr shifters, weight(my weighed 27 lbs)ITCH switch is great for my style of riding, | | Weaknesses: | re-specing to 6" front rotor | | Similar Products Used: | follow up from earlier report | | Bike Setup: | xtr shifters, xtr cranks, xtr front and rear derailier, xt wheel set, michelin tubeless wheel set,the rest stock | | Bottom Line: | after 1 yr I still am absolutely wrapped in this bike, it does everything I wanted and more, I have gone back to 69 degree set up as its more balanced and not as twitchy.It has now done over 1000kms and still hasn't been back for its 1st service, not even the gears have had to be adjusted. For next year I will upgrade to carbon bars and go to 8' front rotor (I don't do big jumps or downhilling so I can't see me having a problem). Have just seen 05 range of enduro's and am glad I have this model as I think It is over kill for my style of riding(fast rough single track and epic rides). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kevin
a
from crest california
Date Reviewed: October 31, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | yea lets put that on the internet | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | bicycle wherehouse | | Bottom Line: | This '04 frame was a replacement for my 99 fsr pro frame. The only thing that went wrong on my old frame was the shock mount under the seat got oblonged. Specialized did a "crash replacement" because admitadly ... i abused that bike! it was 5 years old and has over 1500 miles on it so they sent me this frame new no questions asked for $300 dollars.
I 100% support specialized and thier business practices. I guess not everybody likes them from other reviews written in this forrum. But then again maybe nobody would like you mr fred. Specialized rocks! NED IS THE MAN!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
fredisdumb
a
from Arcata, CA USA
Date Reviewed: October 27, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Bottom Line: | Oh fred, you simpleton you.
A bike is not a car, in 3 years the technology has COMPLETELY changed. The new '04 frame that specialized gave you shouldnt even look the same as the '01 frame you bought 3 years ago. The fact that specialized was even willing to consider replacing a 3 year old frame at all shows the level that there customer support is at. Go ask kona if they would replace a 3 year old cracked frame. Personally, the enduro has the best geometry Ive ever ridden, and the pro backs it up with quality components. I give it a 5/5 on all accounts, even though im so poor I only got to demo it. Quality costs. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Cory Clawson
a Weekend Warrior
from Denver, CO USA
Date Reviewed: September 22, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | porcupine rim | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$2200.00 | | Purchased At: | Wheatridge Cyclery | | Strengths: | Fairly lightweight (31 lbs.) for a 5" trailbike, stiff rear end, shock lockouts f/r for pavement | | Weaknesses: | Psylo fork works great after a rebuild, but needs an annual overhaul to keep that "new" feel | | Similar Products Used: | This would be my first full suspension bike
| | Bike Setup: | Mostly stock--I swapped the stem for an 80mm Sette Stumpy, Oury grips, Ritchey 2.35 tires, 180mm Kooka cranks | | Bottom Line: | After years getting beat up on my rigid, steel, 1991 Yeti FRO, I felt the need to step up to some new technology. I have not been disappointed.
I've put several thousand off-road miles on this machine now, and am very impressed at how it has held up. The rear suspension especially has been maintainance free, including the Fox shock, and it's still stiff and creak-free. 6" Hayes brakes are amazing in all conditions, and I have yet to replace the original pads. The best addition to this bike has been the 80mm stem--it really got me centered in the cockpit, and made it easier to hit dropoffs and jumps with confidence.
The only weakness to me is the Psylo fork--it needs a solid overhaul after every riding season to keep it supple, and after two years it needed new bushings to get rid of slop that was making the front end rattle and creak. But hey, I've been abusing it year round over some nasty trails, and it has never let me down, so I guess that's the price you pay for technology. Overall, this has been a spectacular bike! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Monica
a Weekend Warrior
from Logan, UT
Date Reviewed: September 11, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Green Canyon | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1826.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay - Bicycles 101 in Oregon | | Strengths: | I love the design and just about everything about this bike. | | Weaknesses: | It's a very large bike. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Hardrock | | Bike Setup: | Stock 04 Enduro Pro | | Bottom Line: | I love this bike! After doing extensive research, I decided this was the ultimate bike for me and my style of riding. I expect to visit many great trails on this bike. I highly recommend it!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeremy Collins
a Weekend Warrior
from Brea, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: August 24, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Rock It, Big Bear | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo, Fountain Valley | | Strengths: | Adjustability. Front Fork, Rear shock, everything can be dialed in. Love the Fox Talas up front. | | Weaknesses: | Stock tires are a bit weak. Switched them out for Kenda Blue Groove 2.35 | | Similar Products Used: | Cannaondale Jeykll | | Bike Setup: | Stock except the following: Race Face Stem, Race face carbon bar, CK headset, Rocket Ti seat. Romice rear shock for the bigger stuff in Big Bear and Mammoth. Totally changed the feel of the bike. Love it. | | Bottom Line: | Whatever you ride just make sure you ride. As for this bike, I tweaked mine a bit but thats just me. As is this bike kicks butt. Enjoy. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Elliott
a Cross Country Rider
from Apache Junction, AZ
Date Reviewed: August 1, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | SMC | | Strengths: | Supple, predictable handling, over the years this bike has inspired me to attempt sections I once backed away from. | | Weaknesses: | I have gone to new enduro tire in back and an old reliable WTB Mutano up front with Specialized Air Lock Tubes and Rapid Rise XTR. I didn't like the stock bar bend/feel, so Scott agreed to swap them for the EA 70s. Simple stuff, all. | | Similar Products Used: | 2000 GT i-drive and several hard tails | | Bike Setup: | EA70 bars, Diabolus stem, Hope/719 wheels, XTR rapid rise, egg beaters, etc... | | Bottom Line: | I love this bike. Many folks on Titus, Turner, or Intense bikes scoff at the Specialized, but I got the whole bike for what they paid for their frame and fork, AND mine has a lifetime warranty on breakage from correct usage (e.g. NOT running it over, smashing into the garage etc..) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a Weekend Warrior
from Logan, UT
Date Reviewed: July 26, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Anywhere remote | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | Used 5 months old - Ebay | | Strengths: | Smooth ride - great component setup | | Weaknesses: | None yet | | Similar Products Used: | GT I-drive (demo), Jamis Dakar Comp (demo) | | Bike Setup: | Stock 04 Enduro Pro | | Bottom Line: | After riding enduro motorcycles for 20 years, I decided to get back into biking for more exercise, and also to explore all the trails that are closed to motorbikes. I'm amazed at how much bikes have changed since the last one I purchased, and really just how much they've changed in the past 5 years!!! This bike seems to handle any trail I want to attempt, and I love it so far!!! I bought it from a struggling student who works at a bike shop, and the price really made the deal happen. Couldn't ask for more! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jim
a Cross Country Rider
from Doylestown, PA, USA
Date Reviewed: July 11, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | High Rodks and Jim Thorpe | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2700.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike line | | Strengths: | Very Supple. It takes everything I can dish out and asks for more. Loves to go fast, downhill, and over everything from rocks, trees, and mud. My friends and I have thrown everything at her and she asks for more. | | Weaknesses: | They dont like to ride on road surfaces. It took 2 days to get use to the new xtr brake/shifters. But they rock. The only real problem is the price they are expensive but worth the money if ya can afford it. | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | IT ROCKS
Its lite and loves to rock all day | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
steve geremia
a
from sherborn, ma 01770
Date Reviewed: June 23, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | viet nam | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2660.00 | | Purchased At: | Belmont Wheel Works | | Strengths: | shock adjustment options are just awesome....climbs very well...extra travel makes downhills faster than I have been willing to go in the past....combo shifters/brakes make for some interesting options on corners | | Weaknesses: | I have ridden the bike 6 times...all multi-hour jams....no complaints...will most likely change out tires at some point to get something more suited to my local terrain | | Similar Products Used: | giant VT1, yeti as-x freeride, kona stinky deelux | | Bike Setup: | the only thing I added is a blackspire rockring. I plan to test this out, it is possible I may remove 3rd ring and go to bash guard...rest of bike is stock | | Bottom Line: | this is my 4th mt bike since 1988...have upgraded about every 5 years or so as my riding has improved...granted its early in the process...and will take a bit to fine tune and get the bike dialed...but this is a sweet ride. I ride 2-3 times a week...usually the same single track trails...and I have been able to up my game a notch already....previous bike was a GT XCR-2000 20" frame...so in fairness by going to a smaller frame (18")and adding the disk brakes has helped a ton....,but I have never felt as "one" with a bike before... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave Hutton
a Cross Country Rider
from Seattle, WA, USA
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | NW single track | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2700.00 | | Purchased At: | Bonney Lake Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Overall good package for the price, TALAS shock | | Weaknesses: | crap tires, design of derailuer attachment at the base of the seat stay, Seat rail broke, the 6 in rotors as opposed to 8in up front, | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized FSR, Specialized S-Works | | Bike Setup: | replaced the tires & integrated breaks/shifters (to keep it the same as my other bike), Shimano PD-M647 pedals | | Bottom Line: | I have had the bike about 4 months and ridden over 700 miles but still do not feel as though I have dialed it in 100%. There is no doubt it climbs like a goat and has the ability to descend like a bomb, however I am just not there yet with this bike. With all the adjustments it definitely will take anyone a while to feel comfortable.
My skills have definitely improved and I am attacking much more aggresive terrain and structures.
Unfortunately i think the design of the derailuer attachment is a weakness. I have snapped the derailuer hanger twice now and at the same time bent the small "B" screw eye on the seat stay. The last time I broke this totally and it could be costly ($150)...if correctly designed, the derailuer hanger should break off and not damage the derailuer or the frame, this is not the case. If you are going ot be doing really aggresive riding...mention this up front with your lbs and get some assurance as to coverage.
The jury is still out as to whether I will keep this bike... I have to give it 4 chillis because it "may just be me", however personally, my satisfaction is more like 3. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jared
a Cross Country Rider
from Mesa, AZ
Date Reviewed: May 28, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2850.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | New shimano XT (love the new dual control levers), Very well balanced bike, totally agree with previous posters... really inspires confidence. | | Weaknesses: | If I had to pick anything, it would have to be the seatpost... maybe its just me, but mine was a pain in the a$$ (no pun intended) to get the seat into a comfortable position. | | Similar Products Used: | Giant VT1, Cannondale Jekyll (and my old hardtail), Fisher Cake | | Bike Setup: | Still Stock for the time being... seatpost is gonna be the first thing to go. | | Bottom Line: | This is the first full suspension bike I've owned, I didn't really want to give up my hardtail. I really researched all the different bikes on the Internet, and finally settled it down to the Giant VT1 and the Specialized Enduro... after riding both of them, I liked the way the Enduro rode better. I'm glad I stepped up a notch though, and bought the Pro instead of the Enduro expert I was first looking at. Bottom line... I can't believe I waited so long to give up my hardtail... I'm now bombing through sections that I was picking my way through on my old bike. This bike flat out ROCKS!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim
a Weekend Warrior
from New Hampshire
Date Reviewed: May 26, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Chainlink | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$3000.00 | | Purchased At: | Littleton Bike Shoppe | | Strengths: | Great all-around bike, climbs fast, makes sketchy decents dissapear beneath you. | | Weaknesses: | respeced 6-inch front disc rotor, enduro 2.2 tires | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale Jekyll 800 (demo), 2003 Enduro Pro, Cannondale Hardtail(previous bike) | | Bike Setup: | Stock XL frame with half the seatpost cut off | | Bottom Line: | This bike is phonomonal. I tryed last years enduro and loved it. Unfortunaty i didn't have enough money to buy one then and there, so i waited for the new models to come out. This bike is nothing short of incredible. It climbs better than my old hardtail and is scary fast on decents. The only gripes i have with it would be the front rotor and the tire. My bike came respeced with a 6 inch rotor, it does the job but performace would be much better with an 8 inch rotor. Also the enduro tires are good rear tires, but not front. I always find myself trying to catch the bike on wet roots and rocks that i wouldent on my old one. But the bike is outstanding, get one if you just want to have fun. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
chris manasse
a Cross Country Rider
from phoenix, az
Date Reviewed: May 18, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | South Mountain National | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2600.00 | | Purchased At: | smc | | Strengths: | Great balanced bike that inspires confidence and makes those but pucker sections disappear. | | Weaknesses: | stem,seat post and bars work but are entry level. | | Similar Products Used: | Gary Fisher 3+ | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | Stiff and responsive. Neutral and predictable. Climbs like a goat and descends like a dirt bike. Love it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
wayne
a Weekend Warrior
from geraldton, western australia
Date Reviewed: January 28, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | the next one | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Purchased At: | bikeforce geraldton | | Strengths: | design, adjustability | | Weaknesses: | seat stays catch shoes and scuff | | Similar Products Used: | blur, giant vt, trek liquid | | Bike Setup: | mine was the demo model flown out from the usa and came speced with full xtr drive train, 2004 xt rims, kenda khama tubeless tyres, | | Bottom Line: | it has taken me a couple of months to get used to all the adjustments this bike has, i have to say my rider confidence has doubled, tricky single track that i would cautiously go thru are taken flat out now. i do a lot of epic rides and i find that by the end of the ride i could do it all again, love being able to crank the forks down for long grinding up hills, i tend to leave it in the 70.5 degree head angle to get more clearance and in the 5" mode it is still supple enough for general down hilling on trails, every thing that i was expecting out of this bike has been surpassed.
thanks to the crew at specialized for creating a fine product at a reasonable price and of course my lbs for selling it to me at a good price | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jerry white
a Cross Country Rider
from mission viejo, ca
Date Reviewed: January 27, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | san juan trail | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2650.00 | | Purchased At: | rock n road cyclry | | Strengths: | 5" of front and rear travel, new shimano xt, adjustability of ride, front and rear lockouts, good balance | | Weaknesses: | the cheesy aluminum bars and cheap aheadset | | Similar Products Used: | s-works fsr 2001 model | | Bike Setup: | added a thomson stem and seatpost and monkey lite bars | | Bottom Line: | It's the first non-xtr bike I have had in the past 10 years and I can tell you the new 2004 xt is as good as it gets. I find myself flying down most singletracks much faster and in better control. I feel like a kid with a new toy, I know however I am bound to eat it big someday casue it tempts me to ge sooooo fast. It is heavier than my s-works was but it climbs just as good. I am glad I kept the extra $1500 in my pocket and got the pro and not the s-works. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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