Submitted by
twoxstreem
a Weekend Warrior
from Stamford CT
Date Reviewed: May 4, 2011
Strengths: Climbs, e150 fork, durability
Weaknesses: weak rear derailleur hanger, thomson seat post, factory wheels.
Bottom Line:
This bike is SOLID! I have had her for 3 years and i bought her all most new 2nd hand off a guy who had too many bikes to ride. I'm 5'10, 240, and I ride a medium because this is a LONG bike and I like the shorter stature of the Medium, I've ridden the large too, both are very comfortable as well.
Plenty of travel and climbs like a lighter bike. I replace the seat post after a few rides for a thomson, removed the outer ring for a rock guard and added the specialized derailleur hanger (a buddy kept breaking his on hard landings but i've never had an issue) The factory wheels are good but if you get tweaked off of the jumps they will loosen up quickly. Everything else is set it and forget it.
I have not had any issues with the e150 fork and will have a hard time riding a bike with anything else. The rear shock is a little squishy at times but when you set this up correctly the bike rides like a cross country bike on the single track and a downhill bike on the downhill.
Bike Setup: 2.35 nev's, rock guard , spec's derailleur guard, thomson seat post.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
biggrumble
a Weekend Warrior
from Boston, MA
Date Reviewed: May 3, 2011
Strengths: Frame geometry is both confidence-inspiring and nimble, component group is great (near-perfect shifting, great brakes). Climbs well, while being uber-plush. Rear shock is a standard size, so it's upgradeable (not true for 2010+ models).
Weaknesses: Yearly shock service required to maintain the warranty, and needs to be done by Specialized, adding $150 per year expense. A little nervous that one of the rear shock bolts needed warranty replacement during the yearly service. Stock tires not durable, got cut open by a rock. Doesn't climb like a hardtail. Top/down tubes seem a bit thin, but have had no problems. Rear hub sucks, does not have enough points of engagement and has needed frequent adjustment.
Bottom Line:
F***ing awesome bike...I fall more into the fat XC rider category versus pure all-mountain rider, but this bike laps up everything I'm willing to throw at this bike and begs for more. Climbs reasonably well, descends like a beast. This thing always wants to go faster, but also eats through slow, technical rock gardens. If I could only have one bike, this would be the one.
Similar Products Used: 1999 Hardrock, 2003 Stumpjumper FSR, Trek 6500
Bike Setup: 2009 Stock except tires and brake pads (stock fork is Fox Float RL 150 instead of E150 fork).
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Submitted by
Big Chan
a Cross Country Rider
from Central, Mass, USA
Date Reviewed: September 11, 2010
Strengths: Great Handling. Light for the amount of travel that it has. This bike has the ability to bring an unquenchable passion to your mountin biking. Corners Well. Nice High clearance
Weaknesses: E150 Fork is horrible. I have brough mine in for service 4 times in the 3 years I have owned it. Most recently I broke the dropout on the fork. I have also blown blown 2 Brain rear shocks. the stock wheels are not strong enough for daily riding. Deraileur hanger breaks with a small breeze.
Bottom Line:
Great ride but seems like it was built to Fail. Fork is Horrible. Linkage is deteriorating. Hydroform down tube is too thin for an AM bike. Many of us ride where there may be rocks and this bike is not tough enough for any contact with rocks as the frame will dent a fork will break.
Strengths: Good ergonomics, Makes biking on trails very comfortable, and can absorb pressure encountered from a lot of obstacles. Specialized has good support on this bike.
Weaknesses: The seat post clamp scratches the frame, and is not durable.
Bottom Line:
It does what is intended for my purpose of trail riding and meets my expectations. I also like the prompt and generous customer support from my LBS and Specialized when I have issues about the bike. Its the best bang for my buck.
Submitted by
Oldy Moldy
a Weekend Warrior
from Penticton, BC. Canada
Date Reviewed: September 5, 2009
Strengths: Mostly everything so far. The dual crown fork inspires confidence.
Weaknesses: None after seven months of use.
Bottom Line:
Love this bike, I'm so impressed at how good it climbs for a six inch bike although the travel adjust sure helps. Solid front end with the integrated stem and the Juicy 3's do a fine job as stoppers. This bike is a do-it all bike so if your like most and can only have one this is the bike.
Similar Products Used: Trek Fuel 90, Trek Liquid 55.
Bike Setup: Once the suspension is set than it's perfect. Takes a bit to set up but it's worth it.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
DYUSIP
a Weekend Warrior
from Surrey, Canada
Date Reviewed: August 31, 2009
Strengths: ergonomic design, lightweight for an all mountain bike type.
Weaknesses: The e150 fork has been leaking oil, and looses air pressure. Got fixed by the LBS after over a month. Now the never ending squeaking from the stem that clamps the stanchions is becoming louder and more irritating. They've been torqued to specifications but won't stop squeaking.
Bottom Line:
With all the problems encountered, the stress, loss of ride time, I'd better think twice buying one.
Great DO IT ALL bike
Like they say: climb well.. descend better :P
difficult to step up the suspension right initially, but once done this bike will give you confidence to do things you never tough.. In fact, it can give you overconfidence and can make you brake a rib :D
I would suggest only to replace the rear tire, for a non S-Works Eskar (these tires are great), but the S-Works model has a thin lateral wall and that's bad in rockgardens
Bike Setup: Stock, but with Eskar Control 2bliss at rear
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Chopstick
a Weekend Warrior
from Portugal
Date Reviewed: April 7, 2009
Strengths: Stong, reliable, low maintenance, versatile. Very good fork and shock absorber.
Weaknesses: Altough it requires low maintenance, when it does it won't come cheap. Kinda expensive for the parts it brings, like the crankset, the rear hub and the brakes.
Bottom Line:
It's the ultimate do everything machine, climbs very well, has a good riding position for long distances, yet, when the fun part of going along with the gravity comes it just blows your mind. Feels relaxed, planted to the grond and deals with all types of irregularities. The fork feels very plush and the shock absorver never bottoms out.
At first it may be hard to adjust and sync both the fork and the shock but once you get it right youre sitting on a couch with wheels and pedals.
Similar Products Used: Trek fuel EX8, Specialized Pitch comp, gary fisher hi-fi.
Bike Setup: Stock.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Beerhunter
a Cross Country Rider
from Blue Mountains Australia
Date Reviewed: January 28, 2009
Strengths: Balance, technical climbing, DESCENTS.
Weaknesses: None so far.
Bottom Line:
When I first started MTB, rigid bikes were all you could get. Now they are a fashion item...I'm an old fart who has, over 20 years, moved from XC riding, to a little XC racing, and now much more to "trail" riding. I am now less interested in the day long fire trail rides than the fun, 2 hour, technical ride on the local single tracks. Over the years I had found that I was avoiding more and more the really difficult trails in my area, as I had been over the handlebars on almost all of them. I thought, as I am not a good enough rider to deal with the hard sections, why not just get a better bike?
Of all the bikes I tested over the 6 months of looking the two I liked most were the Yeti and the Enduro. Both have a slacker head angle than the others, which allows me to adopt a "head up, no worries" attitude on almost anything. I just could not beleve how confidence inspiring these two bikes were on technical descents and over drops. It takes more body english to turn the bike in tight singletrack than the XC bike, but it is just a matter of adjustment. I have never hit the fork on the frame, and cant see that I ever will, so dont see that it is a limitation. The Enduro does not jump out of a corner, or climb a fire road like an XC bike, but I dont care at all. The back tyre stays glued to the ground on steep and tecnical climbs, so I am able to make sections that had always been beyond me. If there is a steep descent, compression and then climb I do the first part of the climb much easier as my speed at the bottom is so much higher. Its just a hoot to ride...
I bought the Enduro as a demo bike from a bike shop owner who is the same height and weight (and age) as me, so I did not have all of the setup headaches that others have mentioned. To date I have had no issues at all with the forks, which in my opinion is the bikes great strength, and is the one point that really sets it apart from the other bikes I rode.
I now dont go for "training" rides at all. I just ride, anywhere that I feel like on that day. It was a heap of money to spend on a toy, but totally worth it :)
I gave it 4 chilis for value, as cheap it is not, but 5 overall, as in my view it is in the top 20% of bikes for the riding that I was aiming to do.
Favorite Trail: Ourimbah, The Chicken Run, St Helena's Ridge.
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Price Paid:
$2500.00
Similar Products Used: Coming off NRS. Extensively tried and tested bikes including Ellesworth Epiphany, Trance, 5 Spot, BMC Trailfox, Norco Fluid1, Yeti 575.
Bike Setup: Stock.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
hitek79
a Weekend Warrior
from Littleton, CO
Date Reviewed: January 27, 2009
Strengths: The suspension
Weaknesses: The suspension. Don't worry, I'll explain :)
Bottom Line:
I found this bike practically brand new for a great price and I snatched it up. Up until that point though I had only ridden XC bikes with basic 100mm suspension set ups. I got the bike home, set up the shock according to Spec's recommendations and took it out for some lift served rides. I went over the bars twice, once with the bike landing on my head. Talk about a confidence killer.
I started reading more about the bike and playing around with the suspension in a bunch of different variations and dumped the crappy Resolution tires that came on the bike and that has made a world of difference. If you don't want to take the time to really learn and adjust the suspension, you probably won't like how this bike rides. The other thing that I had to learn coming from a XC background is that this bike is expecting you to ride it hard and fast. If you try descending like you would on a XC bike, you'll crash. If you just pick your line and pedal, you'll cruise right through obstacles like they aren't even there.
Now that I'm not scared of this bike anymore, I can't wait for spring and summer. This bike climbs really well, and I look forward to taking it out on some longer trips. The ascents might not be as quick as my XC bike, but the downhills sure will be fun!
Bike Setup: Bike is stock, but with Maxxis ADvantage/High Roller tires
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Jason
a Weekend Warrior
from Auckland New Zealand
Date Reviewed: December 21, 2008
Strengths: Unbreakable, totally reliable, comfortable, a pleasure to ride
Weaknesses: 2007 fork and rear shock were faulty, Specialized replaced both with 2008 models while under warranty, now it's perfect!
Bottom Line:
I climb huge hills, race it in 12hour events, XC ride and fly downhills, this is a fantastic bike. If you want a bike that does everything extremely well, is supremely comfortable to ride, rush out and buy an Enduro. I test rode a Stumpjumper recently, another great bike and a lot more nimble but I reckon the Enduro is superior.
Strengths: everything, EVERYTHING, and umm... everything!
Weaknesses: nothing, nothing at all ( this is no an opinion, the only possible problem is 07 shocks, ive heard enough to convince me they suck, but i got the 08)
Bottom Line:
get it.
no questions.
get it.
first of all, the suspension is wholly amazing, its responsive, durable, and when specialized says total suspension integration, they arent kidding. you truly dont feel the shocks...or the rocks for that matter. its like a metal sponge that soaks up your bumps. you might want to get a stronger wheelset ( or wheel cuz i dont freeride every day). i recommend the tag frx5. its like 3 pounds heavier, but you will never need another wheel in your life.
its description says it all.
lets you speed down the mountain, and then lets you ride back up so you can do it all over again.
(try to get it on ebay or something regularly 3200 is a tad pricey)
Strengths: Its a 32 pound 6 inch travel climbing machine that descends like 40 pound bike that can't climb. The front fork is amazing and has all the kinks worked out by now.
Weaknesses: The price has gone up and the rear shock is just ok.
Bottom Line:
If you want an Epic and and SX Trail just buy this bike. It is a true all mountain bike that is going to kill anything you climb. Just don't abuse it buy freeriding every weekend droping it to flat and it will treat you good. If you want to pound a bike to death buy a Free or a Demo. If you want to climb all day and go fast back down hill buy this bike.
Still in debate over selling my Kona Coiler for one of the above. Although up to now I have been advised to keep the Coiler.
£1500 thereabout budget, plush on the downhill but p Read More »
Sorry to post this as a new thread but I am kind of lost over the amount of info in the forum.
My local dealer offers one for 2300 euros and I really love how the bike looks and Read More »
