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Big enduros in bike parks?

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downhill knolly bikes recommendations
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boomer_glassworks

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hey, I tried to search for a similar topic because im sure its been asked to many times already but had no luck. Iv heard a lot of people recommend that if you live close to bike parks and plan to frequent them then you should get a full downhill bike because its the safest on the bike and your body, but iv also heard a lot of people say theres NO need for full downhill bikes unless you are racing in a downhill competition, planning on jumping 20+ft table tops, or have goals of doing the most gnarly double blacks out at whistler, which im not planning on attempting any of that for a few years because of multiple head injuries. I have never ridden a full downhill bike before so thats where im hoping i can get some advice from you guys.

I currently live in Colorado but travel a lot in the summers, I like to ride steep and technical terrain but defiantly love some flow jump trails too. I'll probably be sticking to blue, red, and single black tech and flow trails at Trestle Bike Park, Vail, Keystone and Breckenridge here in Colorado, I also plan on going out to Moab and PNW with the goal to do big descents that doesn't always have a lift or shuttle access. Im thinking about building out a Knolly Delirium 27.5 with 180/175mm travel with Fox suspension for the bike park days and for the bigger descents. Iv talked to custom service over at Knolly and they said this bike is meant to be ridden in bike parks all summer long to just get a good set of wheels but im worried that i should be building out a downhill specific bike since i have access to so many different resorts here in Colorado. I'll put the overall specs of the Knolly below so hopefully you guys can give me your best recommendation based off your experiences and what iv explained my situation being. Also i'm 6ft tall and 170LBS not sure if that makes a difference or not. Thank you in advance for any help!

Knolly Delirium Geometry and Specs
------------------------------------------
HTA- 64degrees
Effective STA- 76.5degrees
Reach- 500mm
Wheelbase- 1254mm
BB height- 350
Chainstay length- 431.5mm
Stack-605
 
#3 ·
You’re fine. If you’re doing mainly park riding maybe a heavier casing tire, but that bike isn’t going to fall apart on you for DH riding all summer. Keep everything maintained and you’ll be fine.
 
#4 ·
"Doesn't always have lift or shuttle access" means you go with an enduro bike or an e-downhill bike. Although downhill bikes are a lot more fun in a bike park, a modern 150mm enduro bike can handle parks just fine. At 175mm rear travel, you're basically buying a DH bike with a single crown fork and more gears.
 
#5 ·
I think you can get away from the trails you mentioned on a bigger travel 'trail' bike. Enduro bikes are that, trail bikes.

There's a difference between true DH bikes and enduro bikes. I don't race and I don't do massive jumps, but I can tell you I would not have as much fun riding down the single black and double black trails with my enduro bike compared to a DH bike.
 
#6 ·
oy! We are a Trestle family too :)

good used DH bikes are, in the words of another forum member, “cheap as chips”.... if you are willing to NOT get into a “look at me” competition with the most expensive and flashy components. I also have a big travel, light weight carbon enduro that can handle the bike parks. That is where all my money is. But at the bike parks I still prefer the DHer for the ride and stability. I don’t need it because of my mad skillz or landing big hits. For me it’s comfort and stability.

Slightly off topic... re affordability.... if you don’t want to spend a fortune on a growing kid, I bought a used size small 26’er DH bike for my 11 year old girl that was a fraction of what a good enduro would have cost, for park riding. For her, I also added a large rear cassette, so she can have a good low range for pedaling and whatever small uphills we encounter at Trestle
 
#7 ·
pcrussell50 said:
oy! We are a Trestle family too :)

good used DH bikes are, in the words of another forum member, "cheap as chips".... if you are willing to NOT get into a "look at me" competition with the most expensive and flashy components. I also have a big travel, light weight carbon enduro that can handle the bike parks. That is where all my money is. But at the bike parks I still prefer the DHer for the ride and stability. I don't need it because of my mad skillz or landing big hits. For me it's comfort and stability.

Slightly off topic... re affordability.... if you don't want to spend a fortune on a growing kid, I bought a used size small 26'er DH bike for my 11 year old girl that was a fraction of what a good enduro would have cost, for park riding. For her, I also added a large rear cassette, so she can have a good low range for pedaling and whatever small uphills we encounter at Trestle
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Trestle rider here too. I've ridden a 140mm travel bike at trestle, a 170mm enduro, and a DH bike. I won't do the 140mm again, but the enduro feels pretty good there because it's not ridiculously steep. Now if I rode Angel Fire all the time, I would definitely want a DH bike for that. That place is STEEEEEP.
 
#8 ·
Agree that trestle has some nice smooth flowy jump trails that are perfectly fine for enduro. Even hard tails in some cases.

Along those lines of steeps, my carbon enduro has 203’s for brakes so I can definitely stop.

But I still prefer my cheap DHer for the parks.
 
#10 ·
triple crown - will be much more smoother
short case - will not be trashed

you can hit bike park on any bike, most fun will be on DH bike since it will compensate lack of skills and will be safer to certain point (which means more fun) also for jump line I would nit choose 500 reach unless you are 6'5''
 
#11 ·
Having DH bike for park rides is like having motocross in your garage for track days.

Dh bikes designed to be ridden downhill as fast as possible in the most comfortable way while being abused. Its super fun having dedicated bike for park days, but be honest with yourself and think if you gonna use its full potential (after all its race bike), as well as maintaining another bike... or better having enduro/big mtn/freeride bike that can be used everywhere from local trails to park rides.
 
#12 ·
boomer_glassworks said:
Isn't it mostly head tube angle, wheel base, reach, and chainstay that effects the downhill feel of the bike besides suspension? If that's the case most of these freeride 170-180 enduros have all the same specs as a downhill bike besides the travel.
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I think that while enduro bikes are getting longer and slacker, DH bikes have become longer too. So I don't know if they're equal just yet or if they're ever gonna be.

I'm no engineer, but suspension design has something to do with it too: an enduro bike is also designed to be pedal well for in between stages and for the everyday rider that needs to ride up hill (IE, me), whereas a DH bike's suspensions is designed for going down. On the enduro bike while going downhill, you fight against the suspension characteristics that help it pedal. I can't tell you how much or how little that effect is, but I believe it's there.
 
#13 ·
Basically this ^^^

If you can afford to keep a DH bike around that you will only ride down hill, IME, you will like it. This is what I do. I bought a used mid-grade DH bike of the level of componentry that you might find at the rental shop of the bike parks. I use it at the bike parks and shuttle trails where I get my wife to run me up.

If you don't want to drop $1500 on a used, dedicated DH'er, then a good enduro will be fine. I ride my enduro all the time... Except at the parks.

-Peter
 
#14 ·
DH bikes are for DH. Nothing is as good. Best chance of enjoying the DH vs fighting it.
 
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#15 ·
I've been riding a Santa Cruz Megatower at north east coast bike parks over the last two seasons. It is absolutely able to crush all jump lines but I find it's limits on really rock steep tech. The fork flexes and I wish it was raked out like a modern DH bike. I have also been wondering if a full DH bike is worth it and if I could have one I would. My local park is Mountain Creek and I am certain a DH bike would be safer and more capable then my bike. Highland bike park on the other hand feels just right for my enduro bike. Overall I think a DH bike will be worth it if riding extremely rough/steep terrain and bike parks on a regular basis. I try to get roughly 30 park days in per year so I can barely justify it, but I like the idea of more stability and safety. Look for demos at the end of the season for very good deals.
 
#17 ·
riding skills and experience I think play a part between being able to use a DH and enduro platform efficiently to an extent. DH'ing an enduro takes a bit more finesse and smoothness while on a DH bike you can otherwise blow through rough stuff
 
#19 ·
shwinn8 said:
riding skills and experience I think play a part between being able to use a DH and enduro platform efficiently to an extent. DH'ing an enduro takes a bit more finesse and smoothness while on a DH bike you can otherwise blow through rough stuff
Click to expand...
well put. This has been my experience too. I only ride my enduro when I need to ride uphill. Or at local shuttles like Apex and Mt. Falcon where there aren't any jumps and it's a good opportunity to work on finesse and smoothness with the enduro. Also jump parks like Ruby Hill and the one in Boulder. But for anything lift-served, it's DH all the way for me.
 
#20 ·
I like riding DH bikes a lot - I am just not beat up as much at the end of the day.......with that being said...I recently purchased a complete DH bike (Canfield One.2) ....I put in a dropper post a climbing gears. This is the best pedaling big bike I have ever had. It isn't that far behind my SC Nomad and Canfield Balance. If you see the One.2 ask to pedal it - I am amazed. So you basically have a way beefed up Enduro - which I handles a ton of stuff

Any other One.2 riders want to chime in
 
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