Bikes for Enduro... The restart

[Nofearnofun]

Did you roll on down the hill and hit the gap jump at the bottom ?

 

It hadn't been build then, I did size it up when I was down for the Kzn enduro but it wasn't part of the stage so I didnt hit it. I will be down there this weekend and want to check out all the new freeride stuff so I will probably hit it this weekend if i am not riding alone.

Edited April 15, 2014 by Nofearnofun

[Nofearnofun]

29er Cherry Popped. 20 minute S Works Enduro Review.

 

Clown bike

It’s a White 3 Series BMW (boring)

Head angle is too steep

I’m not a dirt roadie

 

These are all things I’ve said about 29ers. I’ve never been a fan to be honest. I like riding downhill and my “XC bike” has 4 pot brakes, 203mm rotors and a 170mm fork. Mountain biking for me is about smiles not miles.

 

And then Specialized ruined it all by releasing the S Works Enduro.

 

A few friends had ridden the test units that Spec have been letting loose on the trails at the Test the Best demo days and raving about them. Still skeptical. Then Marc from Olympic said he could get me a demo to test for a weekend. We’d already planned a weekend away at the Garden Route Trail Park so it was Game ON!

 

Where we went.

 

If you don’t know about it write this down. Garden Route Trail Park. This is a newish venue for riding on the Garden Route. Situated in Barrington about 20km inland from Sedgefield. Think G Spot with the best berms I've seen in SA into tight forest single track with short little lung busters to help you get elevation. It might have been an unfair test cos the place is pretty much made specifically for the S Works.

 

Mark Gordon of G Spot fame is the trail builder. He is busy with a Pump/BMX track at the moment that would not look out of place in one of those Pumptrack movies. It’s BY FAR the best Pumptrack I’ve seen with my own eyes.

 

Pumptrack

 

Back to the bike.

 

Build.

 

What can I say about the build of the S Works Enduro? Everything on the bike is top drawer. As you’d expect from a 110k bike. Carbon rims. CCDB Air in the back. Pike up front. Avid 4 pot trail brakes doing the stopping and an XX1 gearbox all mated together on a very purposeful looking frame.

 

The suspension worked amazingly well. As did the brakes and XX1 drivetrain. So nothing unexpected there.

 

The only possible criticisms I had of the test unit is the Specialized Dropper post instead of the market leading Reverb. But that’s really just nit picking. Once I got used to what the Command post was up to I was more than happy.

 

On first appearance I thought the stem was a bit long for the way I like a bike to feel and the flat bars had me raising my eyebrows but those criticisms melted away once I rode the thing.

 

This was a good day

 

The Ride

 

Oh My God!

 

That about sums up the performance of the S Works. I’d spent Friday riding my bike (Intense Tracer) and having a blast on the trails. Then Saturday was my day with the S Works. I’d never ridden a 29er before and was expecting it to handle like an Ox Wagon. Boy was I wrong.

 

The top of the Yellow trail at GRTP starts with 6 rollers and 2 little doubles that I always seemed to case on my Tracer. On the S Works right out of the box 30m into my first ride on a 29er and the jumps were butter. Further down the trail there are a few berms that have these great little crests where you unweight the rear into the next one. I could feel the rear skipping across the ground. I'd only ever felt that feeling in Les Gets. The endorphin's were pumping. Yeeeeeee. Then into the river forest and suuper flowy techy single track. Damn I was having fun.

 

 

Riding up. The bike pedals so well and feels so good underneath that it’s actually a pleasure to ride up. I kept seeking out little bits of uphill single track to ride up. The blue trail at GRTP intersects with the yellow at one point and we were using that to get back up. It’s a fun little bit of single track. Made all the more fun by the S Works.

 

The balance of the bike was pretty much spot and there were no funnies in the air. It almost feels intuitive.

 

Other peoples opinions

 

These guys are all downhillers and 29er skeptics. This is what they had to say.

 

JP reckons it's 30-40% better on the ups than his Ibis Mojo. On the downs he said they were on a par.

 

Deon said It really is good with a smile on his face.

 

Karl complained about the gyroscopic effect and that it didn't levitate itself back up the hill. He's just grumpy.

 

Dan nodded.

 

 

It’s not all Champagne and Roses however

 

Look it’s DAMN expensive. It’s hard to justify the 110k price tag of this bike. But it is top level in every respect and it rides up and down very very well. Which is a pretty difficult trick to pull off no matter what the marketing departments of the various bike companies tell us.

 

There is a noticeable gyroscopic effect when jumping and turning the bike but that’s to be expected with the 29 inch wheels. It’s not a huge issue. It just takes a little extra muscle getting the bike to change direction. You can still get it sideways tho.

 

 

Apart from that I think it’s pretty much faultless as a trail bike. Put it this way. If I could have only one bike. For the rest of my life. I would choose the Spec S Works Enduro. No doubt. It's a great bike. The best trail bike I've ever ridden. Would I take it to the Alps? HELL YES!

 

Thanks to:

 

Garden Route Trail Park for the amazing trails (Expect a little edit soon)

Specialized SA for the use of a truly great bike

Marc from Olympic Cycles for organizing the test unit for me.

 

Would it not be a good idea to hold on a bit and test the 650b and decide which one you prefer?

 

I will admit than when I was upgrading from my old 120mm stumpy I did loan a 29er stumpy from spaz for a weekend to test as well. The ride was brilliant as I expected but I couldn't live with looking down at the fork and seeing just how much it was flexing while riding! I would have also had to upgrade the wheels as the roval wheels flexed when flicking the bike around. I am sure the Enduro would be better tho.

[Hairy]

Yeah dude, the only way I will let her go would be as a complete bike and the price would be rediculous due to how much I love the bike!

 

Considering it is only a 120mm travel bike it has seen some gnarly bits a trail and has never let me down

dude ... who is the fatty who is taking your bike for a joy ride while you watch .... that should already drop the value ten fold!

[Nofearnofun]

dude ... who is the fatty who is taking your bike for a joy ride while you watch .... that should already drop the value ten fold!

 

Dude, the things this fatty has done on that bike it's a miracle the frame hasn't snapped or cracked!

[Hairy]

Dude, the things this fatty has done on that bike it's a miracle the frame hasn't snapped or cracked!

That bike is getting cheaper and cheaper with every post you make

[beanz]

Would it not be a good idea to hold on a bit and test the 650b and decide which one you prefer?

 

I will admit than when I was upgrading from my old 120mm stumpy I did loan a 29er stumpy from spaz for a weekend to test as well. The ride was brilliant as I expected but I couldn't live with looking down at the fork and seeing just how much it was flexing while riding! I would have also had to upgrade the wheels as the roval wheels flexed when flicking the bike around. I am sure the Enduro would be better tho.

 

I'd also be hold back on dropping 110 gs until you've tried the 650b.The spez enduro 29er seems to be getting all the accolades, but is it really because it is such a good bike, or is it because it's such a good bike AND it's got wagon wheels?

[deviate]

 

I'd also be hold back on dropping 110 gs until you've tried the 650b.The spez enduro 29er seems to be getting all the accolades, but is it really because it is such a good bike, or is it because it's such a good bike AND it's got wagon wheels?

 

Intense tracer T275. Full carbon. Xx1 drivetrain with pike and reverb. Adjustable rear from 160-145(without changing geometry . 65k.

 

VPP. ... That would be my buy.

[Guest Omega Man]

I'd also be hold back on dropping 110 gs until you've tried the 650b.The spez enduro 29er seems to be getting all the accolades, but is it really because it is such a good bike, or is it because it's such a good bike AND it's got wagon wheels?

Um..... No. 29er. I can't afford the 110k boy. Looking at the Ali version. And only in 6 months.

[LazyTrailRider]

I just wanna jump off everything I see... and it accelerates so FAST!

 

Aha. I noticed a few sprightly segment times show up on Strava over the weekend...

[beanz]

Um..... No. 29er. I can't afford the 110k boy. Looking at the Ali version. And only in 6 months.

 

Meanwhile I'm trying to wean myself off wagon wheels!

[LazyTrailRider]

Um..... No. 29er.

 

I know, I felt silly the first time I admitted this as well. Now, I wouldn't trade my OneTen29 for any other bike out there.

[Iwan Kemp]

Duane,

 

I'd recommend you ride a LT 29er in Tokai or Jonker's worst before you declare you infinite love from a roof top. Trail in the pics look smooth and well-maintained. I have found with LT 29ers you have to go VERY stiff with your wheels for it to track like you hope it to. As in PLENTY STIFF. Lots of twang when things get rough.

[MoreTrails]

Ja, wouldn't buy it purely because its a Spaz!

Also, they have the most unexciting boring gwinningest rider on their team.

 

You would never say that cyclists are opinionated, would you...

[gummibear]

Carrying the Equilink suspension platform forward, the Compulsion 10 runs 160mm travel front and rear through a Rockshox Pike RC fork and Monarch Plus RC3 rear shock with a custom tune. By the numbers the bike runs a 66 degree headtube, 73.7 degree seat tube, and 436mm chainstays and will be sold in 16, 18, 20, and 22″ frames. The frame uses a hydroformed double butted 6061 aluminum front and rear triangle with a tapered head tube, internal dropper routing, threaded 73mm bb, and 142×12 rear axle.

 

http://brimages.bikeboardmedia.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Felt-650b-compulsion-disc-brake-road-thru-axle-cross-mike-wolf-antique-archeology20140411_0919.jpg

[Guest Omega Man]

Ja, wouldn't buy it purely because its a Spaz!

Also, they have the most unexciting boring gwinningest rider on their team.

 

You would never say that cyclists are opinionated, would you...

 

You need to understand something about me. I'm not one to praise something just cos it's the new shiny thing. I really really wanted to hate it. Honest. I challenge you to ride one and not be tempted to sell one of your children into slavery for one.

Edited April 15, 2014 by Omega Man

[Hairy]

http://sheldonbrown.com/images/m8000.jpg