2008 Enduro SL Expert Feedback

I don't have the 08 Enduro, but I do have the 07 S-Works Enduro SL.

The E150 forks have all been sorted out by S. If you send in your E150 forks for a rebuild (cost me $160 total), Specialized will update it to the latest components and specs (and this is what many refer to as "09 internals, but in fact there is no such thing as 09 internals, it is whatever latest internals there is). In my opinion, the E150 forks is the BEST all mountain that has ever been made. It is stiff. It is plush. Yet it has a linear feeling to it. The forks are not too long that it inhibits your railing ability on singletrack. I think long (7"+) single crown forks don't rail well; at least I can't with them.

On bumpy high speed double tracks or fireroads, the E150 tracks so well around fast sweeping corners that many times I find myself sliding the front tire... and yet still have time to stand the bike up to catch the front it before the point of no return (wipe out). I don't think would have the confidence to do this times after times with a single crown though. I know riders who are much much better than I going technical downhill with big steps and drops.. and they do this on their single crown forks.. but on bumpy highspeed double track, they have trouble keeping up with me around corners.

The E150 is probably the lightest double-crown that is massed produced. In fact, it is lighter than many of the 140mm single crown forks out there, and definitely lighter than all 160mm single crown.

I give Specialized major props for going all out in making the E150. It's really a shame that they only used it on the 2007, 2008, and only the S-Works 2009 Enduros. Really a shame in my opinion. (I would never trade in my 07 S-Works enduro for the 2010 S-Works one either).

It's also my opinion that all the other high-end "all-mountain" bikes like Ibis Mojo, Santa Cruz, Pivot, do not compare to the E150 equipped Enduro. Sure the Enduro is not the fastest climber, not the fastest on the flat, but it has more lateral stiffness due to the 4bar suspension. When I tail whip the Enduro, I know exactly how the end will slide. When landing on the rear wheel, I know it will not give me bs squirmy feeling like the Mojo. I don't get the same confidence from the other highend all-mountain bikes, especially those with older DW link construction. I will say the DW suspension bikes pedals better than the Enduro, but I'll take the Enduro's stiffness and active under-braking over DW pedaling efficiency any day.

The only drawback of the E150 is that because it's a double crown, you can't turn it tight like a single crown. So on tight switchbacks, I have to dab my foot down to turn the bike!
But this is the nature of all double crowns.

IMO, Enduros with the E150 will someday become a classic. I mean there are many 6+ travel bike out there with 6+ forks. But I think the E150 equipped Enduro is the be best integrated of them all.

This is from S web site and it looks more like gold color


Picture on random web site


If Ti Pab is more of silver color, it's great thing for me.

calisun said:

Chauzie,

Thank you for your info. Sounds like 07/08 Enduros are way to go if fork and shock has been serviced.

Click to expand...

and here's a pic of my Enduro in a recent post
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=634101

(I replaced the stock AFR shock with the Marzocchi, but this is more out of curiosity than a need. I explained it in that post).

so summary, get the E150 Enduros if:

- you don't race. you don't care about being first to the top
- you enjoy climbing/crawling over small boulders to test your skills, but yet not looking to race with anyone
- you fancy doing small drops and small jumps, yet don't want to abuse your body joints
- you enjoy a supple ride but yet at the same time don't want the noodle feeling up front nor back end, especially on high speed double track
- you want a well balanced 6" bike, but not looking for a sofa to plow downhill against the clock
- you want a bike that can rail relatively smooth and flowy singletracks "almost" as well as the Epics, but will smoke them Epics when there are abundant babyheads and ruts on such trails. Not to mention your joints will thank you for it (hey, as i get older, pain tends to creep in quicker and go away slower!)

Don't get the Enduros if:

- you're looking to launch from things starting at 5 feet high. There are much better bikes for these, like the SX, and many others.
- you do a lot of of tight switchbacks, because you're gonna be dabbing your foot all day with the E150 lol.

The real jewel of the Enduro is really the E150. It's what gives it the stiffness and plushness so you can rail and bomb at the same time. All the other high end all-mountain bikes like RFX from Turner, Pivots, Ibis, etc, etc, may have longer travel forks but those forks ain't the the same stiffness AND plushness like the E150.

Now this is just me talking, I'm an average mtb biker with average skills, who like to do things slowly, maybe fancy a little drop now and then, does not want to get hurt or get abused by the bike (it's an age thing). And as a hobby like to tweak with his Enduro so he can pose, like those rich old baldy guys driving Ferraris down a coast highway but can't shift the thing if not for paddle shifters. Hehe. But at the end of they day, we enjoy life.

Calisun,

I also want to mention that when you do send in the E150 forks for a rebuild, you can ask that your forks be re-valved to your weight (riding weight!) as part of the rebuild process. I'm 130 lbs naked and re-valving made the E150 feels even better than new! (The E150s on medium Enduros coming off of the assembly line were probably valved for guys in the 170-180 lb range). S will not charge you any additional fee. Complete turn around time (if shipped from Southern CA) is about 6-7 working days, which is quick. You will need to go to an authorized dealer to have them ship the forks in (I just went to Rock N Road in Laguna). Make sure you tell the LBS that you want to send it in for a rebuild (so that the LBS doesn't think you just want to change the dust seals and oil (which they do perform at the shop).

My forks didn't get services until 2.5 years after use. The recommendation is yearly. But I rode it until the forks got sticky and loses its plushness (you can clearly tell when this happens), then I sent it in. S will warranty the forks for 1 year after every rebuild. ie, if the forks blowout during the 1 year after you had your rebuild, S will rebuild it again at no charge (save your receipt!). If you ask me, it's really one of the best warranty policy AND service in the industry.

If you do send the E150 in for service, make sure you send the lower clamp in with them! The tech told me that it helps them to check for stiction when they have the lower clamp to work with!
btw, my forks got rebuilt from S facility in Utah. Hope this helps!

Specialized Enduro 2008 Expert

Ive have had my enduro for just over a year and love it. Sent the E150`S off to specilized for a service last week and had new cartridges in the forks and feels sweet now. Love everthing about this bike.