Any one got one and use it as their main bike?

I haven’t but I would if I had one. Look a lot of fun.

I have a charcoal Comp alu in 650b, size large. 2017 model but heavily discounted as shortly before new models dropped (with only slight tweaks). Proper capable, surprised myself what I can do on it. I can’t say I just use it as the main bike, mainly as I got it to replace an old coil Mega for uplift duties. However, I have used it for XC on the south downs and with the lockout it pedals very well and done pedalling trail centres after uplight days. Put some lighter tyres on and it would be fine in that sense. For me I don’t like too much travel or slackness for general trail stuff and have a hard tail and stumpy 29 for general duties. Depends where you ride and who with on what, but very versatile in that category of bike.

I am more of an XC and trails type bike – hence own a camber evo – but did demo an enduro on same demo day and loved it too. I tried to satisfy and itch but merely inflamed it

Yes I have and I love it. I am consolidating down to only two bikes. My CX bike for road and light off-road and my enduro for everything else. I did feel a little bit over-biked on occasions but I’ve stopped caring what other people think. I find it comfortable and easy to pedal and it is more than capable riding the downhill tracks that are in my skill range. It was perfect for the Alps.

To be honest I love it so much I have just bought a second one (pro) and am going to be selling my 6 month old elite should anyone want a small one.

Did you want to know anything specific?

I was just wondering how people got on with them as an all round bike. Similar to you timidwheeler, I have a Diverge for road/light off road duties and will be upgrading from a Camber.

Well I’m very happy. I did have a Whippet but I never rode it as I always chose one of the other two.
We were at the FOD at the weekend. The Enduro was quite happy on the blue, Dowies and the downhills. If I’d taken the CX we would have ridden the green/bridleways and the blue. Both good days out and neither would be better on a hardtail.
Which Enduro are you considering?

I have both a smuggler and an Enduro (2018 29er).

At the weekend, will predominantly pick the enduro (as typical weekend riding suits the enduro), although heading to off piste cannock on saturday, so will use the smuggler and ride the enduro at FOD (not trail centre) on sunday.
Midweek rides have little elevation gain and is a mix of trails/street riding, so smuggler is best, could ride the enduro.

I did think about consolidating to one bike and considered a Fuel EX and a Stumpjumper. But given the amount I ride, two bikes is convenient, the smuggler gets a hose down on a Wednesday and a proper clean Thursday night.

If I lived somewhere were there were proper trails on my doorstep that warranted an enduro type bike, I’d have one bike. But due to where I live and the riding I do, two is easier/more convenient.

For a 160mm travel bike, the enduro climbs very well. Have you looked at a Stumpy? There is rumoured to be a new one next year.

I do, have done from 2004 on various ones, now on my fourth which is a 650b S Works which i built up from parts. Has LB carbon wheels, dual Lyriks and will be upgraded to 12 speed when I can find the time. Its a very capable bike both up and down. I do have the option to take other bikes out of the garage but the Enduro is my go to bike
Both my daughters ride them, Katie my eldest has now got her sisters old one after we found a home for her 2006 one and Abigale has the 29er which she prefers. Again used for everything from all day epics to playing about in Wharncliffe.

Been on a 2016 E29 as my main bike for much of the year.

Surprisingly versatile and pedal-friendly. Not an all-out enduro sled at all, despite the name.

More thoughts…

First impressions: Specialized Enduro 29

Ha! I have a 2004 Enduro, now retired and stripped of components so the frame hangs on my front room wall.

I’ve toyed with the idea of picking up a bargain 2016/17 carbon frame, I’d love to have an Enduro again and it’s hard to see where I’d actually ride it properly living in Kent. If I lived in Wales, I’d have one in an instant.

I had a 2014 26er Enduro & used it in Aus & NZ, incredible bike. I agree with Tracey in that it climbs like an XC bike, & is on another level going down hill.
Only bad points are the integrated Campy headset & Sram press-fit BB unit. My BB creaked unbearably then siezed up over the space of a couple of weeks. Replaced for Hope BB, no probs since.
My lower headset bearing couldn’t handle a NZ autumn, replaced it with a bottom Hope bearing, has been just fine since. Just a shame you can’t replace the top Campy bearing with a Hope, as the original components are very badly sealed for UK conditions.

Recently bought a 650b frame, dying to build it up!

Dont own one, but have ridden a friends 2016 29 incher, its a good bike, he has several bikes to choose from , but only ever uses the enduro.

I like it too, I do have a couple of criticisms, but I think these have been address in the latest model. The bottom bracket feels a little too high, so the bike feels less stable than it could. And its a little short in reach. Like I say though I think these two issues have been resolved in the newer model.

I got a 29er carbon enduro in the sales. It is amazing for making gnarr easier. And I’m really really looking forward to taking it to the alps next summer, which is what I bought it for.

HOWEVER

I agree with Tracey in that it climbs like an XC bike,

WADR This is just bollocks. If your XC bikes climbs as badly as an enduro then your Xc bike is pisch.

Fair enough it climbs short sections very well but saps strength on anything longer.

I really like mine, but cannot understand why you see so many people out on plods like llandegla on them. It just makes it Soooo dull.

Really looking forward to trying cavedale and suchlike on mine. And Tignes next year, but certainly won’t be using it much in between.

I have one (29 comp 2015), it is mostly my main bike in summer, the hardtail comes out in winter. Then again most of my riding tends to focus on steep, jumpy, etc for which the Enduro excels.

For long XC rides I’d take the hardtail instead. I have done some longer rides on the Enduro e.g. Black Mountains Killer Loop – compared to the HT it was a bit of a drag for most of it but super fun for like 90 seconds of the day! That said I often enjoy riding trail centres on the Enduro, though it’s not what I bought the bike for, it does climb tolerably well.

Great for uplifts but if I lived in the Alps I’d get a DH bike.

If I wanted one bike for all MTB I’d go for something shorter travel.

I really like mine, but cannot understand why you see so many people out on plods like llandegla on them. It just makes it Soooo dull.

I don’t live near llandegla so if I’m riding there I’m doing it as part of a weekend away. As I only take one bike away for a weekend, it doesn’t matter how many options I have at home. I’d always take the Enduro as it gives me the option to ride Antur or Snowdon on the other day.
The lock out on mine is excellent, for seated climbing it feels like a hardtail. I have no interest in climbing other than as a way to get somewhere, so I don’t really care if my bike isn’t optimised for going up.
For me the most noticeable thing is the tyres. At the moment I have 2.4 sticky tyres on it which are draggy. If I had some thinner, lighter tyres on it would be a better climber than my Whippet with heavy sticky tyres.

A lot of people probably don’t realise how smooth Llandegla is going to be, TBF.

Never had a xc bike. 🙂

Sorry. At work. Grumpy.

SPECIALISED enduro= brilliant bike. But you definitely run the risk of turning easier trails into plods.

If you’re riding interesting challenging stuff the defo get one (or if you like easy rides)

I am very intrigued at the modifications people here are doing with the 650B yoke fitted to the 29er. The reason why my 29er Stumpy feels ace is because the BB is nice and low. Of course, it could be slacker but it won’t take an angleset or (with a piggy-back Monarch fitted) offset eyelet bushes.

I just know that a full on Enduro 29er would still be too much bike for my local trails, sadly.

2015 Enduro Expert 29er with 36’s and an X2 upgrade along with a Nobl wheel set. I mainly ride the South Downs so it’s seriously over biked . However it climbs well for a long travel bike, I happily XC it all day whereas my 29er HT beats me up. Descending is hilarious if occasionally a tad scary. A few times I’ve realised that I’m at motorcycle speeds with little protection and things are beginning to get a bit …….entertaining.

It doesn’t so much pacify the trail, just makes it a lot quicker.

On Dartmoor and Trail Centres it’s in its element.

I am very intrigued at the modifications people here are doing with the 650B yoke fitted to the 29er. The reason why my 29er Stumpy feels ace is because the BB is nice and low. Of course, it could be slacker but it won’t take an angleset or (with a piggy-back Monarch fitted) offset eyelet bushes.

It’s a great modification, but if the Stumpy fits you well then it’s potentially a quicker bike due to the longer chainstays adding stability.

Quite odd how the reach is still so short on the 2018 Stumpy though.

Ive had a 2010 26er for 6 years. Its done about 25 enduro races, many uplifts and plenty of 5 hour odd xc rides. Love it and may well get another. If you enjoy smashing into technical descents I dont really see the point in having less bike, especially given the weight and efficiency of the newer ones (see rutland cycles for bargains but please dont buy the last blue and black carbon elite…)

Thanks for the replies. I had an s works back in 2004 and liked it, did everything on it form 24hr races to trips to Canada but was curious what the new models were like.
It will be ridden around the trail centres but i’m too old to worry about what other people think about that 🙂 It will also be used on some trips next year to Spain,Canada and France.

I’m looking at the 650b Comp version but be upgrading it to Eagle.

Not sure if this is in your price range but it already has 1×12. It’s the one I just bought.

https://www.rutlandcycling.com/371837/products/specialized-enduro-pro-carbon-650b-2017-mountain-bike-red.aspx

I have the 2017 Enduro 29er as my only bike, its been great with only slight niggles with the rear shock, awful SRAM brakes and now the spesh dropper playing up.

Awesome on the downs and fine for grinding the ups, I recently did 5000ft of climbing in Wales on it and it was me that nearly let the bike down as I didnt bring enough food!

Lots of good deals on the 2017 out there now, I’m sure if you wait till April there will be deals on the 2018 soon too!

Can only speak about my 2015 bike. Very capable.
My Bronson is better all round and quicker over a traol but I definitely feel as if the Enduro was better able to cope when it got really rough.

They are fun bikes though and I like the look of the new ones a lot.

Sorry to hijack this thread – but how does the new enduro compare to something like a YT Jeffsy?? The enduro looks like it might be pretty heavy.