Submitted by
Chad Thomas
a
from Lancaster, PA, USA Date Reviewed: September 9, 2005
Favorite Trail:
#4 in Mount Gretna, PA
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$700.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Rolls over logs and rocks with ease. Great product spec. for the price. Comfortable geometry. Magura Julie brakes are amazing. Rear suspension stays pretty well locked out on climbs. Pretty good weight considering travel. Looks pretty sweet once the fenders are off, and you throw some clipless pedals on it.
Weaknesses:
Low bottom bracket height, Crappy seat post, looses traction easily on loose terrain. Front suspension bob on standing climbs.
Similar Products Used:
GT LTS-2
Bike Setup:
stock, except for thompson elite seatpost
Bottom Line:
I Bought this bike because after hours of reading reviews I found it to be the best all around bike at a price I could afford. Great all around bike; xc, downhill, technical, and even light freeriding. Rolls over logs and rocks like a monster truck! Seriously, this makes riding technical terrain so much fun I almost pee my pants some times. I bought a new bike mainly because I wanted disc brakes, and I can't over-emphasize how much I love them. I can lock up my wheels on even the steepest downhill, they perform well in all conditions, who cares if your rims are a little out of true, and they are pretty much maintenance free. Frame seems to be really solid. Most components are very high quality for this price range. The biggest problem I have had is with the peice of junk seatpost (30.9 mm diameter so you can switch it out) on this bike. Works okay if put the saddle center rails, and crank down, but otherwise it keeps shifting around, and you have to stop every 5 minutes to re-tighten it. The other main problem I have had is with loose terrain. While this bike does climb pretty well for the amount of suspension it has, and a relatively heavy weight (somewhere around 28 lbs.), it fails in loose pack terrain. Don't even consider getting out of the saddle on climbs either. I also found that it decends very well, but not on loose terrain (i.e. stones or loose dirt). This leads me to think that the problem may be the tires, which don't seem to have very good reviews, and not the actual bike. I may switch them out soon, even though they are in good shape. The front suspension also bobs considerably while climbing standing, but you shouldn't really do that anyway unless you are on the road. To be fair though, it is 4" of pretty plush travel, so it's going to bob a little. I have had no problems with blowing seals on the fork, and I've taken it over some pretty gnarly terrain. Lastly, and very importantly, THE BOTTOM BRACKET HEIGHT IS VERY LOW. This shouldn't be a huge problem if you know how to ride well, but I do smack my pedals on rocks considerably more than I did with my old bike. I'm told the bb height was even lover on 2000 models. Despite the negatives listed here I have had a blast with this bike. The difference in suspension in imcomparable to my last bike, and the braking power makes a huge difference. I've cleared sections that I never would have cleared on my old bike, and this bike does very well as a good all around bike. Who really rides only downhill anyway? Where I come from when you go down a hill, you need to pedal back up it. This bike makes a joy of both. The geometry is super comfortable, and while my front end does lift off the ground (completely screwing up my climb, while climbing steep climbs in a low gear), this bike still climbs pretty well if you just put a little extra weight over the front tire on steep climbs. I'm able to ride this bike for hours, and not expereince near the fatigue that I'm used to, due to it's extremely comfy geometry, and riser handlebars. Overall an awesome bike, and I am very happy with my purchase. I find myself riding more than I ever did, and you can't beat this bike on the rocky, rooty, technical terrain of the Northeast US. The only bike I would buy before this one, since they have come down in price considerably is the Mountain Cycle San Andreas. It's reviews are nearly flawless, and this bike has stood the test of time. It can be purchased at adrenalineproshop on ebay new for under $1,400. All things considered though, buy this bike and you'll never want to leave the trail.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
timish horbay
a Downhiller
from edmonton alberta canada Date Reviewed: August 9, 2005
Favorite Trail:
dirt merchant
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Purchased At:
western cycle
Strengths:
not a bad climber and the components are good for the money. the brakes were excellent even after 2.5 years of thrashing.
Weaknesses:
rear shock was a little harsh as was the fork. both blew out after a year and i got a romic in the back and a black (manitou) in the front. limited seatpost adjustments
Similar Products Used:
trek liquid fuel 10,20,30, new enduro expert, kona dawg, santa cruz heckler and blur.
Bike Setup:
stock apart from changes listed above.
Bottom Line:
a great starter bike! i used mine for xc for a year and then after swapping the shocks, i was actually able to use it as a freeride/ jump bike (by that point i had outgrown it a little!) beyond the cheap suspension this is an excellent bike. i regret selling mine and wish specialized would bring a similar one back!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Justin Easley
a Racer
from Roy Date Reviewed: May 9, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Skyline
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
work
Strengths:
Super sweet climber, narly descender, and with the right components... very light
Weaknesses:
3.6 inch travel setting leaves small amount of pedal clearance
Similar Products Used:
schwinn moab
Bike Setup:
XT everything, carbon bar, WTB wheelset
Bottom Line:
this bike is dope,it is very easily comparable to the stumpjumper in every way. the old cross country style frame is sweet... Specialized should have kept it. this bike is solid all around. Super dependable. everyone who doesn't like it is a harcore masher.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Johnny Brouwers
a Weekend Warrior
from Wouw, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands Date Reviewed: August 25, 2003
Favorite Trail:
everything technical
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$1750.00
Purchased At:
Otto Groeneveld
Strengths:
- great bang for your buck - 4 bar linkage rear suspension - adjustable head angle - perfect trailride bike for me - strong frame - stiction free, almost maintainance free pivots - looks good - Smooth suspension front and rear. Front suspension easily adjusted to riders weight. - front tire - very good stock rear shock with rebound adjuster - comfy saddle
Weaknesses:
- tire clearance - Crappy seatpost quick release. My seatpost is going down every ride. I broke two of those quick releases. - Rear shock should be mounted the other way, with the rebound adjuster on top. This way it doesn't eat metal out of the link when adjusted to the slacker head angle setting. - I can't use a the 2,2" rear tire I have now with the slacker head angle setting. The tire wil hit the rear shock. I want to ride it in the slacker head angle setting, but do not want to change to a less taller (and less wider) rear tire. - stock stem is too long - Stock seatpost is not strong enough. I have bent it. - stock saddle has really weak rails. I have bent those too. - Stock rear tire has the most weak side walls I have ever seen. Watch out for snakebites! I've had several of them with the Team Master. - I don't like the shape of the stock brake levers - Stock headset sucks. I lost my seals at some point. - The seal of the stock rear hub makes a terrible noise. It doesn't stop when 'serviced' the hub. - the forks should have a rebound adjustment - lower shock bushings wear too fast
Similar Products Used:
Giant XTC, Orange Patriot 7+, Scott Octane DH, hardtail
Bike Setup:
Specialized Enduro Sport 2001 frame, Marzocchi MX Comp 110mm air forks, 32 hole-DT Cerit-DT Comp-Mavic F219 wheels, Salsa Cromo skewers, Specialized Enduro 2,2" tires, Continental tubes, Schwalbe rim tape, Raceface Taperlock steel bb, LX e-type front derailleur, Raceface Prodigy XC 22/32/44 crankset, Shimano SPD pedals, Sram PC69 chain, Shimano LX cassette, XT rear derailleur w/ LX derailleur wheels, Gore ride-on RD cable, Shimano FD cable, Chris King headset, Raceface Prodigy 80mm stem, Easton EA50 1,5" rise monkeybars, S-works grips, LX shifters, Hayes Mag brakes 6", Thomson seatpost, Specialized Body Geometry Sport saddle, Fox Vanilla RL shock w/ 850 inch/lbs spring
Bottom Line:
I weigh a bit more than 200lbs and I am a hardcore trailrider. This is the perfect bike for me! Upgraded everything (except front derailleur ;)). Very good on technical sections.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
David
a Weekend Warrior
from Ottawa Date Reviewed: November 28, 2002
lower end parts spec; 27 inch riser handlebar, 30.8 pounds stock; numerous pedal strikes; the shock needs to be inverted so the rebound adjuster is up in the seat mast, otherwise the shock contacts and chews up the suspension linkage in the 4.6 inch 69 degree setting.
Similar Products Used:
None. My other bike is a 10 year old Kona hardtail with Rock Shox Quadra.
Bike Setup:
My bike is the 2001 Enduro Sport, with coil-over shock, Z5 air fork, low-end Specialized crank with steel chainrings and Pro-Max V-brakes.
Parts Changed: 24 inch flat bar; Selle Italia saddle; Bontrager Race-Lite ISIS crank and Bontrager BB; Cane Creek AD10 shock; Avid SD Ti brakes, XT wheel skewers. No fenders or chain guard. Stan's no-tubes sometime in the near future.
My bike is now under 28 pounds (medium-frame) with stock tires and tubes.
Bottom Line:
I really like this bike. I bought the bike and parts on sale so it didn't cost that much to upgrade. The suspension is great, and it climbs and descends well. It is now light enough to race XC in the sport class, but the longer travel makes it a good all-rounder. I'll be keeping it for a while.
Disk brakes would be nice, but would add to the cost and weight. When I have to replace the wheels for some other reason, I'll get some then.
Stock, this is a great full-suspension bike for the money. Carefully upgraded, it is better, and still a good value.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chance Richie
a Cross Country Rider
from Saratoga Springs, NY Date Reviewed: September 26, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Daniel's Road
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
Blue Sky Bikes
Strengths:
Tough, fast, and agile. A great bike for the money.
Weaknesses:
None so far. I haven't had any problems with the front fork, but we'll see.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Rockhopper (2)
Bike Setup:
Stock
Bottom Line:
This is the first mid to upper range bike I've had and I love it. It is faster, climbs better, and gives me more confidence on the rocky single track of NY than my Rockhopper did. I am not sure if this would be the case with any bike >$1000, but Specialized has always worked well for me.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Lance Starling
a Downhiller
from St. George Utah USA Date Reviewed: September 15, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Green Valley Loop
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1400.00
Purchased At:
Red Rock Bicyles
Strengths:
This Bike has a great back suspention, I can never bottem out with it. Its the best bike for the money. Turns like a dream.
Weaknesses:
The front suspention sucks! I was riding down some single track, and the stupid thing exploded on me! If i were you i would go for Marzocchi. Get some Metal Brake levers!
Similar Products Used:
2001 Cannondale super v 500
Bike Setup:
Just like the photo at the top, but I put a Marzocchi Z1 Freeride on it.
Bottom Line:
This is Bike is so rade if your jest starting to freeride, its a great bike for XC. If your over a year of freerideing, get a bigger bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jet Downhill
a Weekend Warrior
from Livermore, CA Date Reviewed: September 1, 2002
Favorite Trail:
rough, long, downhill singletracks
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1600.00
Purchased At:
l.b.s.
Strengths:
Excellent handling. Excellent rear suspension. Good climber. Corners well.
Weaknesses:
Stock components-brakes, shock, crankset, and seat.
Similar Products Used:
Cannondale Jekyll, S.C. Superlight, Cannondale Super V.
Bike Setup:
Fox Vanilla RLC 125 fork, Fox Float shock, Mavic 223 rims/Xt hubs, Avid Mech Discs, Easton M.L. bars, Larsen TT's.
Bottom Line:
This bike has the sweetest rear suspension around! The four bar linkage is no joke. It stays fairly firm under hard pedaling and sucks everything up at the same time! You can shift, brake, and pedal over anything. No ghost shifting or rear suspension jacking under hard braking. This thing also corners better than any full suspension 5-inch travel bike i've ridden. It simply rails corners and makes trick corners seem too easy. If your looking for a good "freeride" bike that is more XC oriented, get this one. It's just fun, fun, fun!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Akky
a Cross Country Rider
from New York Date Reviewed: July 23, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Great frame, brakes, components mix
Weaknesses:
Low bb height, seat, handlebar was replaces after the first ride.
Similar Products Used:
1st mountain bike.
Bike Setup:
Flat bar, Mosquito gold tires, Race Face bash ring, Hayes discs, otherwise stock
Bottom Line:
For it being my 1st mountain bike, I can't complaint, I haven't taken the bike close to it's limits yet, so I guess I'll be keeping it for a while. Will upgrade parts as they break, and would prob add tubeless tires in the near future. Very happy with the purchase. Could be use for some light freeriding, but I don't think it could handle major downhill, least not with that fork.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
a Weekend Warrior
from Glendora, California Date Reviewed: July 21, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Monroe/Mystic
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1100.00
Purchased At:
Supergo, Santa Monica, CA
Strengths:
Frame, brakes, rear susp., reliability.
Weaknesses:
Forks, tires, forks, seat, forks, bars,forks, stem, forks. (Manitou SX100) Replace forks as soon as possible, unless you like going over the bars!
Great all around bike. Light DH & freeride, XC, just crusing with the seat all the way down at the beach bike paths. This is the best bike for the money. The stock forks are the only real weakness. I ride this bike as a cardio builder, trailbike and urban thrasher.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mat Hurst
a Downhiller
from England Date Reviewed: July 7, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Anywhere Where there are Extreme Drops
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
www.evansctcles.com
Strengths:
The strenghts of the bike shine through every time i ride it, along with the outstanding strenght of the frame, it with-stands anything i throw at it, I have recently purchased a new Fox rear shock, so that it is now capable of more devilish drops. I actually own and Enduro Sport FSR, but there the same Frame, just without the disc's.
Weaknesses:
There are only a few weaknesses as i can see, the rear end of the 4-bar linkage on the FSR frame becomes very loose and wobbly, allowing the wheel to becom looses and look slightly buckled, but all in all the rest is extremely good, also the saddle does not have good enought mountings, and moves every time i land on it, allways sounds al if the suspension has Snapped, Scary!!!
Similar Products Used:
Ralight Bandicoot, BIG MISTAKE, nothing compares to the FSR, GT i-drive, Rocky mountain 9, Caondale, and a big hit, NOw thats a bike!
Bike Setup:
Marzocchi Super T's on the Front, Mavic 321's with Hope M4's, Fox Rear shock, Massive Azonic saddle! 2.6 Kujo DH at a squeeze Tyres! Its an amazing set up!!
Bottom Line:
All in all, this bike is one of the best bikes ive ever ridden, It is the easiest to control, and has a fantastic Position when seated, It will never let me down, and if i was advising anyone, i'd tell them to get a specialized FSR, wither Enduro, which isnt really for drops or downhill, but ive converted it for my races, or a Big Hit.If your into Long distance riding Or just Freeriding, this is the Bike for you, it caters for everyone! :)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Relayden
a Weekend Warrior
from Orocovis, PR Date Reviewed: June 22, 2002
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1150.00
Purchased At:
local shop
Strengths:
Good price, FSR suspension, Great frame, can be improved as you kill older parts, very good foundation. Can,t beat the price was on clearance. Fenders a plus! I'm in the caribbean and when it rains youll see a lot of mud.
Weaknesses:
S parts, Crappy saddle, stem too long, composite brake lever, wheels mmm! soso. rear tire 1.9, hell no!
Excellent bike for do it all,climbs very well, and goes down very fast, a little more travel as the 2002 model, wouldn't be bad, steering dramatically improved as soon as parts were swapped, fork and stem are very stiff, the black is a little too soft, the stem is awesome, wheels are holding up, magura julie brakes surprised me, good stoping power, and almost no squeal. Neverthless,I want to know if anyone has had this problem, the rear coil over shock, when set up in the 69 deg and 4.6 position, the plate holding the spring hits the link, preventing full travel and marring both surfaces had to invert the shock. Sholdn't buy if youre an xc wheight geek, should if you really like to have fun and epic rides.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
dennisd
a Cross Country Rider
from Cornwall, Ontario Date Reviewed: April 15, 2002
-poor parts spec as shipped -handlebars to wide -crappy saddle -hock that crankset asap!
Similar Products Used:
too many too mention
Bike Setup:
I bought the Enduro Sport. So a few things needed to be switched out. I ditched the saddle right away for a Selle Italia. I ditched the pro max V brakes for XTs, ditched the Forearm II crankset for an XT, replaced the lower end deore shifter/lever combo for XT shifters and levers.
Bottom Line:
This is an update from my previous post from last December. I've been riding the bike all winter in the iciest trail conditions and I've pulled no punches.
So what's the verdict? This is still the greatest ride I've ever experienced on a mountain bike. Active rear suspension, in my opinion, is superior to virtually any other design based on pure performance . So far the frame and rear shock have given me zero problems. To me that's important, big time. Also I have to admit that a few upgrades will make this bike shine like a star.
I knew that a few parts switchouts were going to be necessary when I bought it. This is the Enduro Sport after all, but considering how well the bike rocks on the dirt, it was money extremely well spent.
How's the rear end holding up? Great, so far. There's no slop or flex in the rear that I can feel. At first I thought there might be a problem at the bottom bracket pivot, but once I switched to an XT crankset I knew the flex was coming from that piece of crap Forearm II. Bye bye and good riddance! Specialized doesn't do everything right after all.
While we're b!tching here I should mention that I docked the bike one star for the lousy saddle, cow-horn handlebars and the substandard crankset. These are things that, even at this lower pricepoint, should have been taken care of. I would have preffered a Deore crankset and it wouldn't have cost Spec that much to switch it out at the factory.
Spec-wise the Oscar goes to the Z5 Air Bomber fork. This thing is actually better than a Psylo if you can live without all of the bells and whistles. This fork basically makes the front end of the bike and I wouldn't trade it for something that cost twice as much (unless it was another Marzocchi of course).
So there's my update five months later. Before you decide to go for some high end super bike like an Ellsworth or an Uzzi, give the Enduro a shot. I've tried em all and the Specialized (with a few tweaks) can go toe to toe with these frames costing more than a complete Enduro.
That's it. I gotta ride- I'm outta here
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jacksaiss jones
a Weekend Warrior
from n wales Date Reviewed: February 14, 2002
Favorite Trail:
it's too hard to choose
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Purchased At:
evanscycles
Strengths:
brakes really impressed me after coming from pro-max & lx.this bike will offer everything you'll need for a first time full susser,good climbing,good handling.upgradable. adjustable rear shock
Weaknesses:
a better fork would do it a world of good,it feels as if it might break on anything big,tires it came with.dunno if specialized new who the bike was good for,good stopping stopping power,lt,very wide bars,invites you to take it on but will the spec handle it. I have long term doubts,but sill a lovley ride
after 3 months fairly hard riding i would certainly advise a fork upgrade,they need too much attention,too regulary.on the plus side this is a perfect first time susser for someone with medium money & medium-hardish needs.I do trust it to handle most i can throw at it but for how long is a bit of a worry considering its price tag.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Coop Flynn
a Cross Country Rider
from salt Lake City Date Reviewed: January 27, 2002
Favorite Trail:
tanner Park
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Strengths:
Great everything, breaks are great
Weaknesses:
Broke my disk break jumping, and bent my middle cogs, front fork to squishy
Similar Products Used:
lots
Bike Setup:
only ad ons bigger tires 2.5.5 in front and 2.4 in rear
Bottom Line:
Its a great bike for the money! Works great anytime, even in ice and snow. If you ride hard like me you will break parts and bend parts. Its a great bike! Looks great too!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rollo
a
from New Zealand Date Reviewed: December 12, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Oropi Grove
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
This review is for the Enduro Sport - frame only (warranty replacement). Great geometry and handling. Rear shock link adjusts bike geometry. "No-name" rear shock works well with adjustable rebound (they say it's a Giant unit).
Weaknesses:
The top rear shock mounting plates (next to the seat tube) looks very thin (about 2mm) compared to other bikes. Makes you think the 6mm bolt holding the shock would shear or ovalize the mounting holes... but it hasn't so far...
Similar Products Used:
Avanti ADX, Santa Cruz Bullit, Giant XTC
Bike Setup:
Custom build - RockShox Psylo SL (full travel with softer orange spring), Funn high rise bars, Avid cable disc brakes, Kenda Kinetics 2.1 tyres on Alex rims, Odyssey Twisted platform pedals, Shimano everything else. 600lb Mountain Speed coil spring over the stock shock unit, set at 4.6" travel.
Bottom Line:
Great all-rounder play bike. It has brought the fun factor back into my riding. It behaves so well, I forget about the bike when I'm riding and enjoy the trail more. I ran out of things to fiddle around with because it just works so well... it's easy to predict and is well mannered even in varying track conditions.
I'm 5'10" around 70kgs, and I found that the Enduro medium frame is a bit short for me, and the large one a bit too long. I went for the large frame and used a short 50mm stem, and I "fluked" a set-up that just suits my style of riding perfectly.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
dennisd
a Cross Country Rider
from Cornwall, Ontario Date Reviewed: December 8, 2001
-"chunk style" saddle -Deore shifters/levers can't keep up to XTs -inexplicably wide handlebars -
Similar Products Used:
Too many to list
Bike Setup:
Stock, except for saddle, pedals and lizard skins fork boots
Bottom Line:
After years of using using hardtails I finally decided to go for a full suspension bike this year. I bought the Enduro Sport version which has v-brakes which I prefer. I've taken the bike out a few times on some different trails under different conditions to get a feel for the ride.
I'm not exaggerating now when I say that this is the most fun I've had on a mountain bike in my life. Specialized deserves the credit they get. They did their homework on this one. The Enduro holds a line and slices the balls off trails that had me begging for mercy before.
This bike has a very active rear suspension but doesn't present a problem with ascending at all. In fact ascending is easier in some ways because of the extra traction fully active suspension allows. This is no lie. Also the bike, being the lowest priced Enduro, still has a pretty good parts spec, including a four inch travel Marzocchi Bomber Z5. If this is supposed to be a budget fork you wouldn't be able to tell from it's performance.
I should mention that this is not a big hit bike by any stretch of the imagination. If you want to do 8 foot drops on a bike costing less than two grand, then look elsewhere, but you'll never find it. If you want a rig like that then you're going to be looking at three grand minimum. But that's the beauty of the Enduro. This is a good all round performer. It's the toyota of freeride bikes and that's not a bad thing.
I have only a couple of problems with the bike. Specialized seems obssesive about shipping extra-wide handlebars. I cut mine down right away. The sport version of the body geometry saddle is a disaster and ruins the feel and look of the bike. I replaced it today with an Italian beauty. The Deore shifters/levers work okay, but if you're used to XT's then they probably won't cut it. I don't feel justified in replacing them right away though because they do work.
Sorry to go on so long but take my recommendation on this bike. If you're in the market for a great looking and performing full suspension rig then get an Enduro. Enough said.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Scott
a Weekend Warrior
from Syracuse, NY Date Reviewed: December 4, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Skytop
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1300.00
Purchased At:
B3
Strengths:
Super plush suspension (even better with the right springs, mine was way too light but got that fixed and it was a whole new bike). Climbs great, can't even feel bobbing. Adjustable geometry is awesome, set it up for anything you like. Disk brakes.
Weaknesses:
Stock springs were wrong stiffness. Wheels, maybe?(worried about breaking)
Similar Products Used:
Cannondale Super V, Fisher Sugar 3 Disc
Bike Setup:
Stock
Bottom Line:
This bike rules. I ride everything on it, urban, XC, freeride. I've done some 4 footers to flat pavement and the suspension just soaks it up. My concern is with the wheels because I have already knocked them pretty out of true but they haven't shown any signs of breaking. I mainly ride rough and technical, with some "North Shore" style thrown in and this bike does it all. It climbs with my friends on XC hardtails and FS rigs and then blows them away downhill. The ride is very predictable and the adjustable geonetry means that you can set it up for anything. The Magura Julie brakes are awesome, they are super strong and very consistent and predictable. Bottom line is this is the ultimate do everything bike. If you are a big time freerider this bike could work with a few changes and you could even climb the hills. For the money you can't get a better all around bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Adam Gloster
a Weekend Warrior
from ONtario Canada Date Reviewed: October 19, 2001
Favorite Trail:
i dunno
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
paid 2175 cnd for it at cameron cycle in Sudbury
Strengths:
Everything but front derailer and long stem
Weaknesses:
it is a little ass end heavy
Similar Products Used:
notta
Bike Setup:
stratos H.E back shock, easton monkey bars , wide assed pedals, - and more to come
Bottom Line:
it's a great bike , anyone who says the suspension is to plush or the drivetrain sux has money . But for all of us avg teens who make 100 buck s a week it's a great all round bike ,better than the norco buzz , drop , or giant warp and anything similar -if your thinkin of buy it do it. The warranties are awesome and the bike is bullet proof
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
MadmanStyles
a Downhiller
from Seattle Date Reviewed: October 18, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Snoqualmie Summit DH
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
warentee
Strengths:
adjustible head angle form 70 to 69, and if u have a longer travel fork like me, you can get almost 67 degrees....smooth suspention, nice ride, stable, jumps nice, handels nice goin down...i raced on it and got first in DH, and beat half the people in XC
Weaknesses:
that bad feeling that it might break....but all bike do :-(
Similar Products Used:
99 FSR
Bike Setup:
i broke a bult on my 99 FSR and it bent the frame out a little so the nice guys at specialized sent me this frame. I have it set up for mostly freeriding, bmx flat pedals, 5 inch tripple clamp fork, bashguard, major riser bar, short stem, low seat, slack head angle, sun rhyno lites
Bottom Line:
this bike is da sheet...i mean....it it kicks serius A.....no....it's just good, and since i got the frame for FREE i give it a 5 for value
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ed
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego,CA Date Reviewed: October 1, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Goodan Ranch,Poway
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1100.00
Purchased At:
Bikes USA, Sorrento Valley
Strengths:
Amazingly plush suspension with very little pedal induced bobbing. Very stable handling. Great parts specs for the price. Powerful hydraulic disc brakes. Cool paint.
Weaknesses:
A little on the heavy side. My medium frame weighs 31 pounds with the stupid fenders removed. However, the frame looks real beefy.
Similar Products Used:
Haro EX-1 for test rides (too flexy). My old bike was a 1994 Cannondale DeltaV 500 hardtail.
Bike Setup:
Stock for now except for changing the B.G. saddle for my trusted Bontrager FS+10.
Bottom Line:
A great bike. While coming from a ultra rigid frame to this was a strange experience, there is no going back. The Enduro is confidence inspiring and makes all my rides infinetely more fun. The adjustable geometry can really make a difference. I have mine set at max travel (4.6in, 69 deg)and for stability. While the coil over sk=hock and Magura discs add weight, they work very well and are reliable so far. While this bike is a little heavy (my old bike was 24.5 lbs), it climbs very well. All that stuff they say about suspension finding traction is true! I just saw some of the new 2002 Enduros coming out, cool. But that also means that prices for the 2001s will drop. I highly recommend this bike. It is a great bike to swap out parts as they wear out. The frame is the same as the top of the line. If you get one, be careful about the frame sizing. The top tubes run short. I got used to mine but I think I need a seat post with more offset. Bottomline, this bike rocks. It flies and just soaks up all the rough stuff, while just railing the curves. Why did I wait so long for full suspension?!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
steve
a
from somers Date Reviewed: August 25, 2001
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
rear suspension is very nice, very lightwieght
Weaknesses:
front fork sucks....... manitou sx100. I just broke mine the other day.
Bottom Line:
this bike is awesome. Although i liked the front fork alot, i just found out that it sucks. If you have an enduro, i suggest you upgrade your fork. BOTTOM LINE: ENDURO RULES!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Elise
a Racer
from Nevada Date Reviewed: July 15, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Tahoe Rim Trail
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1400.00
Purchased At:
Specailized Retailer
Strengths:
Disc Brakes, Weight, Suspension, Good adjustments easily made, can be esaily changed in all conditions, tires come off fast, easy to put them back on...
Weaknesses:
The bigger ring was aluminum and could easily bend but it could easily be replaced!!!
Bottom Line:
This bike is good in all conditions... I ride it around in the mud and the fenders work get them if you can. It has good disc brakes and the suspension can be adjusted towards your weight and what style you like to ride. I weigh about 120 pounds and this bike is like perfect for me but if you weigh more I still think you should try this out. It is one of the best bikes out there cost is great
* good cost * great brakes * suspension can be easily adjusted * tires can be taken off easily for storage * doesn't squeek when you ride it in the rain * lube it up every once in a while and its good for life
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
LC
a Downhiller
from Lake Tahoe, NV, USA Date Reviewed: July 3, 2001
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Purchased At:
Sports L.T.D.
Strengths:
Brakes, Shocks, frame, everything is good about it.
Weaknesses:
Well from what I hear its just a good all around easy set up product
Bottom Line:
Its just a really good free riding bike, I have a job so I can buy it and it seems like I want it now. I tested it and it was awsome product. Shocks are great and so are the brakes, shox are equal all aruond the bike for a more comfort ride. If you love to just free ride down hill mess around jump around do all that fun stuff, then this is your bike. Its a really good all around bike trust me
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jacques Cauques
a Racer
from Alberta Date Reviewed: June 19, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Porcupine
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Nice brakes. The Maguras are sweet. The bike is ok for shuttle rides and landing big trials drops off roofs.
Weaknesses:
Ridiculous pivot point, impossible to adjust rear shock. Heavy as hell. Weird component mix.
Similar Products Used:
Intense Tazer, Jeckyl, SC Bullit
Bike Setup:
Stock.
Bottom Line:
Unless you weigh 100 pounds, don't bother with this bike. I'm 190 and it's like a trampoline on the climbs and too bouncy on the descents. The Magura Julies are sweet, though -- I'm impressed with their product. Great stopping power. That's the only redeeming quality of the whole darn bike. The parts spec is a bit mismatched too.
I had the luxury of being able to ride it for two months while my roommate was away. If not, I would have kicked myself for buying such a poor excuse for an FS bike. Specialized has really slipped on this one. Even big corporate brands like Trek have better FS setups than this.
Just goes to show that it all starts with the frameset. Even if the specs were better, it would still just be lipstick on a pig. Fortunately, my buddy can sell the bike back to his shop as a rental.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jack Anderson
a Weekend Warrior
from Davis, CA, USA Date Reviewed: May 17, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Third Divide- Downieville
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1700.00
Purchased At:
Wheelworks Davis
Strengths:
Fixed the bottom bracket clearance problem! Hayes brakes! Its a Specialized (killer service from them)!
Weaknesses:
Seatpost. 00s were junk (bottom bracket clearance probs).
Similar Products Used:
Intense Tracer
Bike Setup:
XTR Shifters and rear derailleur, Scott riser bar, flite gel seat, race face cranks, XT bottom bracket, Thomson seat post, Thomson 80mm Stem, stock 2000 componentry elsewhere.
Bottom Line:
Initially bought the 2000 Enduro comp. Liked it ok until I actually took it off-road. Couldn't even pedal in a straight line with the 72 deg, 4.6" setting without the cranks hitting the ground. After a couple o nasty spills i called Specialized. Without ANY hassle they swapped the frame for the 2001 Enduro frame. I swapped shocks to keep my initial fox float and otherwise just swapped the parts off my old bike. The seatpost should be an embarassment to Tom Ritchey, had to go after bending it first day. 00 Body Geometry seat was like having a two by four jammed up my ass or maybe i just like the feel of a Flite seat, you be the judge. Felt severely stretched out on my XL (im 6'3") so i went to an 80mm Thompson stem, 72 degree head angle is now telepathic (think about turning and you already have, can be a little nervous while climbing). While swapping stuff up front i reverted back to the scott riser bar from my old bike (couldnt get used to the bend of the stock bar). Cranks were also a problem and were bent from impacts to the ground with the old frame (flexy as hell anyways), so replaced with Race Face turbines. During the part swapover I replced the crappy LX bottom bracket with an XT one. Shifting seemed to be really difficult to get adjusted properly on the 9-speed XT setup so I swapped for XTR derailleur and shifters. Hayes brakes are the most incredible thing about the bike (except for the fact that one of the bolts securing the rotor was stripped when I received the bike). Next to go is pedals, for a set of Time's.
The new frame is killer! Rides just like the Intense Tracer that I really wanted and couldn't afford. I didn't think Specialized would be receptive to my problems with the initial frame but they were extremely friendly and gave me no hassle about warrantying the frame whatsoever. Be prepared to swap some parts in order to bring things up to speed but I think this is the same of anything in this price range.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike
a Racer
from CT Date Reviewed: May 3, 2001
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Disc Brakes, smooth quality suspension, good selection of componetry.
Weaknesses:
Tires, weight, wheels
Similar Products Used:
Cannondale Jekyll 700, GT STS-1000
Bike Setup:
stock, except IRC tires, Time ATAC's and Syncros handlebar.
Bottom Line:
Good solid bike for the money. I love the magura disc brakes, they perform well in all condtions, have good stopping power and excellent modulation. The suspension is smooth and balanced, and the bike overall performs well. However, this machine is far from perfect. It's a pretty heavy bike, needs some key parts changes to lighten up. The Specialized tires aren't up to East Coast riding, and the wheels are weak, heavy, and non-disc specific, yet this bike has disc brakes. The fork is smooth and deep, but isn't very adjustable. Swap out the fork, get some lighter wheels and tires, and perhaps a stem change, and this bike will fly. I changed out the bars, as they were too wide for my preference, and I will not ride any bike without my Times. Otherwise, Specialized has hit the mark with the Enduro FSR- great bike out of the shop, and it won't break the bank.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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