Submitted by
Frank
a Weekend Warrior
from Huntington Beach
Date Reviewed: November 18, 2005
Strengths: Climbs well, plush and well balanced suspension, suspension lock-out and travel adjust, descends very well, great brakes, descent components, looks cool.
Weaknesses: Tires, maybe.
Bottom Line:
Great bike, fun to ride, great for trails, rolling hills, jumps, tight berms and fast downhill singletrack. Instills confidence.
Similar Products Used: Ti-hardtail, Aluminium hardtail
Bike Setup: Changed to XT hollotech cranks, 2.4 fr and 2.3 rear tires, Monkeylite XC bar, upgraded Manitou fork with 8inch rotor and Easton EA50 seat post.
Strengths: Fun bike. Good all-around trail bike for the price. good for downhilling, jumping and riding techincal stuff. Adjustable, plush, not too heavy. good warranty. nice breaks
Weaknesses: Broke at shock mount (like everyone elses), but was warranteed quickly, also one recall, and pivot bolt came out - fixed w/locktite. stock tires, seatpost clamp, rear wheel clamp. low bb for tech stuff. Some ghost shifting probs. Not the best climber (shock bobs and front end can wheelie up) but this is not an XC racer anyway. Front hub and seat clamps.
Bottom Line:
This bike rocks for the trials I ride (rocky norcal/sierra foothills stuff mostly). It is not a racer or a hardcore freeride bike but it does well on every trail out there, and has taken my riding to the next level. Despite some probs and needed upgrades it has and does serve me well. I do have to take off a point for the probs and some of the stock parts, but this bike is still serving well. Broke the frame in St George, Utah, but the crew down at Red Rock bikes and Spec got me back in the saddle in no time (had the new frame in 2 days, saving my mtb vacation THANKS RR crew-you rule) Had probs with ghost shifting but lengthening the cable housing did the trick, mostly. Pivot bolt came out a few times but blue locktite fixed. Anyway this bike is pretty sweet - would be a good choice for someone who wants a sweet trail bike that can do a bit of everything and is fun for downhill but doesn't wanna spend more than about 2G.
Similar Products Used: NA - my first mtb with any suspension
Bike Setup: stock w black fork, etc, except for - answer protaper bars(trimmed) Giant short barends, WTB seat (helps w'tech climbs, Shimano M646 platform spd pedals for bashing rocks, Conti Vertical Pro tires
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Daryl King
a Cross Country Rider
from Boise, ID, USA
Date Reviewed: November 14, 2003
Strengths: Strong frame, good suspension action, comfortable, strong brakes, good travel, looks cool
Weaknesses: if you set the linkage at 4.75" of travel with the 69 degree head angle, the shock linkage comes too close to the rear tire
Bottom Line:
It's a good all-around bike for hard XC riding and light downhill. It keeps good traction going up, and is smooth coming down. Really, if you compare it to frame only the Intense Tracer, you can't beat the price.
Bike Setup: stock. changed tires, seatpost, brakes to avid mechanicals and SRAM levers, stem.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Himes
a Weekend Warrior
from Waltham, MA
Date Reviewed: September 19, 2003
Strengths: versatile adjuments, tracks well, fairly efficient, great stand over height
Weaknesses: Some stock parts - seat post(crap Kalloy - it bent), QR's(too sharp at ends); difficult to portage(due to monocoque frame design); BB too low for E Coast riding
Bottom Line:
Great trail bike for the price. Will stand up to 4-5 hour rides and not beat you up along the way, as advertised. The bike has good balance/stability if you're in the sweet spot - it sensitive to weight shift, which is great unless you're tired and sloppy.
Some of the stock parts are crap price reducers (seat post, seat, tires). I like the rediculously long handle bar - great leverage. May suck in tight trees though.
Manitou Black is best Manitou I've owned, but its still no Bomber by a long shot. Great adjustabilty and decent stiffness. Survive many a front wheel drop landing! Just doesn't eat bumps and rocks like a Bomber.
Fox Float RL, with Itch switch, is a sweet trail shock with adjustable travel and lockout, but it will bottom out on even 4-5 foot drops(maybe not if you chck the spring pressure more often than me). I'm looking to upgrade to a coil-over to support my free riding style. But the Float hasn't leaked or blown yet!
Big S disc brakes are pretty good too - although I've never riden any other. Good modulation - don't have that on/off feel, and good stopping power.
Great multi-pupose bike. Proof Taiwanese welders aren't all that bad. Definatley a jack-of-all-trades and master-of-none.
Favorite Trail: Lynn Woods, Porcupine Rim, Nelson Trail
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Purchased At: 1880.00
Similar Products Used: K2 4000 (not that similar...)
Bike Setup: Stock, except Easton seat post, Conti Vert Pro 2.3's, RF bash guard (big ring removed), Oury grips (can't beat those), Big S (shimano) platform clipless pedals
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Daniel
a Cross Country Rider
from Sterling, MA
Date Reviewed: June 16, 2003
Strengths: -Very fast on downhills -Good on single track -Good in muddy conditions with the proper tires -A decently fast climber with the rear locked out -Very big confidence builder when riding fast on rocky stuff
Weaknesses: -Can be slow on smooth uphills and on the road -A bit heavy at around 30 pounds -Stock tires are not good
Bottom Line:
This is a good bike for those of you who are not ultra concerned with weight. When you get on a downhill you can easily beat any one on a hard tail. This is a good all-around bike for people who ride a little bit of everything.
Submitted by
Chris hoch
a Downhiller
from barre vt
Date Reviewed: May 16, 2003
Strengths: Smooth, Plush, and accurate control all in one bike.
Weaknesses: cable routing, bad factory seat skewer, no front shock lock out.
Bottom Line:
I give this bike a 8 out of 10, because lets be honest does perfection exist?
Full Review I fell in love with this bike the first time I test rode it at the dealer. First impressions mean a lot. It immediately caught my attention as I mounted the sleek, but rugged frame. With no cross bar to hurdle I felt more comfortable in the standing position, The wider handle bars were a bit alien to me at first but, I quickly felt the advantage of their stability and reactive control.
The rear fox RL shock is amazingly versatile which I suppose fits great with the concept of the Enduro line of bikes, that of being sort of a cross-training or dual use set of wheels. (DH and XC) I could only come up with one short-fall with the rear shock and that is, when in long stroke mode the travel is enough to rub the back tire on my seat mounted tool bag... Too much travel? who would of thought.
The front shock is the Manitou Black, they have changed to fox for the 2003 models, I heard. I can only say I wish it had complete lock-out, but it has still got a complete array of adjustability from compression to 5in of travel and more. I have still yet to completely understand the complexities of all the variables on the geometry and ride. but I appreciate the flexibility and option to choose, so That why I give this bike a 8 out of 10, because lets be honest does perfection exist?
Notes of negative interest: questionable cable routing, bad factory seat skewer, all the frame issues have been resolved, Other than those issues, quality is outstanding. Love this bike.
Similar Products Used: Rockhopper, stumpjumper, paramount
Bike Setup: Shimano XTR, rear, Lx to finish out the bike
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Fat Tire Maniac
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver,CO,USA
Date Reviewed: May 7, 2003
Strengths: Versatility, Price, Value, Fun. This bike performes best in rough terrain with occasional climbs and downhills. I have been on bikes that climb better, but the Enduro Expert does an respectable job on those 2000+ foot climbs and shines on those "smack my a*s and call me happy" down mountain runs.
Weaknesses: Saddle (replaced with Terry Ti Fly perfomance saddle). Occasional ghost shifting.
Bottom Line:
This bike is fun. At 28-30 lbs, it climbs good. Most of the trails near Denver CO go straight up and straight down and the bike handles the rocky mountain terrain as I expected it would. I recommend this bike to those fat tire maniacs out there who just love to spend a day on those long epic rides and need a bike that can handle anything that the trails throw at it.
As much as I like this bike, I am with concerns. This bike does have a history of early production frame cracks and weakness. Specialized assured me that my frame is a late 2002 production frame and has been reinforced in those weak frame areas. I would love to give this bike 5 flamin' chilis all the way around but because of the frame worries I can't.
Favorite Trail: Arlington Tree Farm, Wallace Lake , Cranberry Lake, and anything that requires climbing
Duration Product Used: 6 months
Price Paid:
$1899.00
Purchased At: Everett Bicycle Center
Similar Products Used: Santa Cruz, Cannondale, Gary Fischer, Giant
Bike Setup: Specialiazed
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
lovethisbike
a Weekend Warrior
from Ont. Canada
Date Reviewed: January 6, 2003
Strengths: adjustability of suspension components, plush ride, good all round bike & looks cool!
Weaknesses: none yet, as this bike was made after the recall on the frames, except the bike can make you a little cockey in your riding ability!
Bottom Line:
WOW !! What a bike! I was a little worried awith all the reviews about the weak spot in the frame, but Specialized has recalled the 2002 enduro experts & fixed the problem. I'm not a little guy & it has taken everything I have thrown at it so far! Good on the long haul & on the technical stuff too.
Similar Products Used: Specialized Hardrock, hardtail w/ susp. seat post.
Bike Setup: stock
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Gilboy
a Cross Country Rider
from Scranton, PA
Date Reviewed: December 14, 2002
Strengths: Suspension design, ride
Weaknesses: Frame cracking
Bottom Line:
I had a 2000 Enduro Pro that I upgraded with a 2002 Enduro Expert frame. Yes, I had the probems others have had. Right bottom pivot bolt backed out (fixed with Locktite), seatstay replaced under recal, and finaly the frame cracked at the top shock mount. Bottom line is Specialized screwed up. If you have a 2002 Enduro with top tube sticers you can peel off.. Your frame WILL crack. But Specialized knows this and will replace it free. It will start small so it won't leave you stranded or hurt (just without a bike until LBS swawps out the frame). OK... your without a bike for a few weeks; but you get a 2003. You will make up for any suffering when you sell it and it is a year newer.I thought it was the end of the world when mine cracked; but then so did my freinds Gary Fisher Sugar Plus, and anothers Cannondale, and anothers GT. Other reviewers have complained about the front tire getting light on steep climbs here are the fixes: 1 change the pivot setting to the other setting. 2 lock out the rear on climbs 3 upgrade to a larger frame.
Bike Setup: Hayes hyrraulics, Manitou Xvet super, Panaracer Trailblasters on Mavic 221 wheels, XTR drivetrain
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Hugh
a Weekend Warrior
from Switzerland
Date Reviewed: December 9, 2002
Strengths: Value for money All-round competence Fine design
Weaknesses: Standard bars Standard saddle Frame worries
Bottom Line:
Having read all the reviews on this sight I took a few precautions before going out. I got the shop to swop the standard bars which are ridiuculously wide and an odd shape for a pair of Eastern bars. I threw the saddle out an put a Terry Liberator on. I took out the bottom bracket pivots and locktighted them back in. I put a lizard skin on the chain stay and superglued some innertube onto the Horst link. As a result of all of tweaks I have had no trouble at all and I would recommend anyone to do the same. I do have frame worries - the shop assured me that the seat stay has been replaced under the recall but I cannot find any code on it. Speciallized told me that some early frames had failed at the top shock mounting but that later frames had been beefed up. I hope so. It's hard to really go for it or go for a long ride if one is worried about the frame breaking (having never had a frame break in 15 years of mountain biking). However, performance is great - a real revelation after my last bike. It's a lot heavier but soooo much more comfortable. 4 Chilis because of mods I had to do and worries about frame. Otherwise a great bike so far.
Bike Setup: Stock with Eastern Monkey bars and Terry Saddle
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Hoj
a Weekend Warrior
from Leek, Staffs,UK
Date Reviewed: November 29, 2002
Strengths: Plush as you like. Handles anything you can throw at it. Climbs better than a hardtail even in thick mud! Loadsa clearance on the frame for cacky trails. Totally independant rear sus and it looks cool too.
Weaknesses: Rear shifting has always been toss. Fox shock bushings sound a bit worn. Cable routing also seems like an afterthought. Don't use Avid flak jackets, they really don't work very well..
Bottom Line:
If you don't get one you'll not own the best bike on the market. Nuff said
Purchased At: Second-hand frame (no new ones in uk)
Similar Products Used: FSR XC, Giant AC2, Scott Pogo stick, Marin Rock Springs (all demo'd for the weekend not owned, this my first full-sus)
Bike Setup: Custom build from frameset. Hope minis (big disks), LX/XT, Hope XC-F219/PsyloSL '03/Fire XCs
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Scott
a Weekend Warrior
from Aliso Viejo, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: November 9, 2002
Strengths: Still one of the best all around mountain bikes on the market. Confortable, stable, capable over almost any surface. Good factory support.
Weaknesses: New frame technology hurt early release '02 bikes (see below). A little heavy for climbing.
Bottom Line:
This is a follow up to my follow up. I regret to say my frame suffered the same fate as some of the others talked about on this page. My frame cracked, big time, at the upper shock mount/seat pod. I learned from my dealer, Rock 'n Road, via Specialized, that the early production models of the Enduro (The ones with the striping you could peel off the top tube) had a single-pass weld at the upper shock mount. This has led to numerous cracks. Later '02 models, with the decals clear-coated on, have a double-pass weld that has seemed to fix the defect.
Specialized offered me an '03 Enduro Pro frame along with the re-build labor paid for. Very cool of them. I think I'm going to hold out for the Comp as it is a better color frame.
I still love this bike alot and the company is top-notch with the customer service. I will continue to purchase Specialized bikes as long as they maintain this level of service, honesty and care.
To all of you reviewers that hate the company or the bike for this crack or minor, fixable problems...Get a life. I'd bet Specialized took care of you too and all you had to put up with was a short down time. Come on, be fair and rate the bike for its qualities and not because of compontent problems, dealer problem or even the fact that Specialized erred and has made every effort to fix the problem.
I will continue to give the best rating for value and company efforts in design and service.
Similar Products Used: Y2K Enduro Comp, Old Trek Y-bike
Bike Setup: Psylo SL; XT cranks, fr. DR; XTR rear; Thomson post; Hayes Hydros.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Jason
a Cross Country Rider
from Asheville, NC, USA
Date Reviewed: November 3, 2002
Strengths: Stylish. Rear lock out and long/short travel work well and allow you to adjust to the environment. Handles and corners great. Smooth downhill ride.
Weaknesses: Significant initial chainsuck problem - fixed with a chain upgrade and dialing in the front derailer tighter. Weak seatpost and quick release - tends to allow seat to rotate despite my best efforts to tighten well.
Bottom Line:
I love this bike. It ascends like a goat and super plush on the downs. It is a great overall xc bike that handles well. Had some initial problems that where easily fixed. I weigh 205 and the bike has taken everything I have thrown at it so far.
Here's my dilema.
I really like the look and colour of the 2007 Enduro SL Expert but I'm a little concerned about what it may wiegh and the switchback limitations of the fork, I Read More »
I am just getting back into the sport. Been riding for a month now and riding on a 10+ YO Specialized Hardrock wth no suspension. I can purchase a new 2008 Specialized FSR XC com Read More »
I have been riding a Rockhopper HT and have been very happy but am a pretty serious rider now and love to hit some rough terrain and drops here and there. I also love to do some fr Read More »
I'm looking to buy a bike in the next couple of months and I've narrowed it down to these 2 models which are the exact same price ($4400 MSRP).
Is there any advantage to getting Read More »
I'm torn between these two and wondering if anyone has experience or opinions that may help in the decision. I'm looking for a capable trail bike that can handle rough trail ridin Read More »
