[Closed] 08 enduro sworks carbon

I ride an '07 S-works Enduro (bought new as a 50% off bargain at Christmas '08, 'twas new old stock...) Absolutely love it 😀 It's exactly what I wanted from a full-suspension bike (I originally had a Yeti ASR and that was just to XC for me!).

It feels absoulutely planted on just about anything you throw it at, the E150SL fork is seriously stiff (25mm axle and triple clamp design, it'd want to be!) The bike climbs very well for a 6" rig (dropping the fork to 100mm makes a big difference on the steeps and is soooo easy to do with the adjuster being up at handlebar height). Out of the seat sprinting is very efficient as well (I don't feel any bob tbh). Yes it's heavier than an XC rig, but not much more (mine weighs in at 28 pounds inc pedals + gravity dropper seatpost).

I had some issues with my shock and fork, but Specialized warranty service is very good, as is their turn around, I was back on my bike in 1-2 days each time (twice in total). They just swapped the internals out for new '09 ones, I've had no problems at all since then (touch wood!). There's a 5 year warranty on the fork & shock (as long as you stick to the maintenance schedule) which is great and I'm totally confident in Specialized backing this up.

Can't really comment on the longevity of carbon, I haven't had a big crash as yet, but I've read enough about it to feel confident in it when the time comes (hopefully not for a long while yet!) I reckon a crash that'll damage carbon would put a serious dint in a comparable alloy/aluminium frame! And if the crash is that big, the least of my concerns will be my bike I suspect (bones are more fragile than carbon!).

In short... I love my Enduro. Whether you'll love it depends on what sort of riding you do I guess 😀

BTW: check out the Specialized forum on mtbr.com for plenty of info and advice!

thanks
riding is aggressive xc, trail centres, wek away spain etc
not into jumping, or major downhills
read loads of bad reports re shocks, but package looks tempting, with an 08 frame and fork for £1500

that's what I paid for my complete '07 bike 😉

I think the '08 fork/shock package is pretty sorted, and any hassles you did have would be sorted out very quickly by Specialized I'm sure

I have one, bought the frane only deal as I had just sold my expert SL and swapped all the parts. All the problems with forks were early problems and now sorted. The e150 fork is a lovely stiff and plush fork, I prefer it to the 09 Talas36RC2 that I had. It will suit that riding superbley. It will build up light if you get good parts and Roval Traversee wheels.

I have a non-carbon version, it's an 08 with 09 internals in both the shock and fork. Yes the 07's had some troubles and to be honest, I had a wobble with my fork. But, that said, they come with a 5 year warranty, which I think is pretty impressive!

I got mine as my trail centre/Spain/Alps etc bike and to date it's not put a foot wrong. I've changed a few things though, wider bars (Easton Havoc), Time platform clipless, ODI Intense Lock Ons, SDG Ti railed saddle, Pure slidy seatpost and a bigger front tyre. Oh, and SRAM Matchmaker clamps!

Am very pleased with the way it rides, very pleased indeed.

If its the dual crown forks, don't bother: Dual crown forks are a waste of time on xc bikes, even free-ride bikes are moving away from them. All they do is limit the turning circle and could potentially damage the frame in a crash.

Oooo... I just bought some Traversee's (£350 from Freeborn on preorder, frickin bargain 🙂 ) Have to wait till the end of May for them though 🙁 But it's all good as I'll be in Australia for all of May, hurrah! 🙂

I reckon these'll shave another pound off my bike... it's gonna fly!

I agree with Catnash, the Enduro sounds perfect for what you ride (it's exactly why I went for it and sold my ASR)

If its the dual crown forks, don't bother: Dual crown forks are a waste of time on xc bikes, even free-ride bikes are moving away from them. All they do is limit the turning circle and could potentially damage the frame in a crash.

Have you ridden the Enduro? I really don't find the 'limited' turning circle an issue (except in a car park where I'm deliberately looking to find fault 😉 ) As for damaging the frame in a crash, well Specialized designed the bike around this fork and if it did cause damage, I'm pretty sure you'd have a good case for a replacement frame. As it is, I'm confident it'll handle it fine (just make sure your rubber bump stop thingies are in place 😉 )

I haven't ridden the Enduro, but I have ridden other bikes with dual crown forks and all I can say is give me a single crown fork everytime. With the advances in technology, dual crown forks are now as stiff as dual crowns so that is no longer an advantage.

I too am thinking of buying the same to replace my '06 Enduro.

I'm not worried about the frame taking a bit of abuse - I'm sure it's designed to take it.

However, I have been a bit put off by a thread on mtbr where some guy hit his BB shell on his S-Works (hardtail I think) on a rock, cracking it and Spesh would only give him 20% off retail.

yep, saw that thread with the damaged botom bracket. ive had spesh bikes before and the warranty has been fantastic, but not sure about carbon damage

thanks to all for feedback

Those dual crown forks have never ever restricted my turning circle on tight switchbacks, up or down.

interesting to think that you'd get a new frame and fork if you crashed card enough for the fork to damage the frame.

i dont think spesh would give you a new fork and frame if you crashed, they are good on warranty , but not that good!

Been tempted by the 08 full bike offer myself (£3k) but I could get a Zesty 514 + a lot of change for that, is it really worth anymore?

I've got an Enduro SL and have been pretty chuffed with it to be honest. Have put a pair of Roval Traversee wheels on it and have replaced the e150SL forks with some 09 RS Lyrik U-Turns. Was happy with how it rode before but imo the new wheels and the Lyriks have seriously improved the ride. The Coil 09 Lyriks are much better than the Spesh forks in terms of small bump performance and also don't dive through the travel like the e150's.

The rebound circuit on my first AFR rear shock died but was replaced and fitted under warranty within 2 working days. The current rear shock has now been fine for over 6 months.

One thing worth mentioning is the absolutely stupid DESIGN FAULT of the AFR rear shock though... When you come to do an aircan service (I do one every 2-3 months) you obviously have to unscrew the aircan, doing so lets air into the negative chamber. When it comes to screwing the aircan back on you trap negative air and it pulls the shock down so that you end up having a 130mm ish travel bike and lower BB height... To get around this you have to do a bodge job involving a drinking straw to release all the trapped negative air and achieve the full 150mm...

The AFR shock works fairly well imo but the negative air issue is a basic mistake - couldn't Spesh have just paid some money to Fox to be able to use their patented dual chamber??!! Anyway...

bennyboy 1
can you e mail me the bodge
looks like ill be going for one, so may as well know how to service it
cheers

A better way to tune the negative air, (though a guy at Spesh USA says not to) is use fishing line. I used the liner from a gear cable.
bennyboy any uestions just ask. I have loads of links guides etc etc. Owned an nduro since the first small in the UK

martyn.j.nash@btopenworld.com

interesting to think that you'd get a new frame and fork if you crashed card enough for the fork to damage the frame.

Al - I don't thing anyone would expect a new frame in that scenario. 20% off retail is rubbish though - you'd probably get almost that in a shop anyway.

My concern is a rock cracking the BB shell - surely there should be some reinforcing that prevents this, or Spesh should be more sympathetic with the discount. I mean, encountering rocks on an MTB - it's hardly to be unexpected is it?

I place helicopter tape, that wont stop cracks but after flying through the DH bits in brechfa as fast as I can, I have no worries about hitting things. (with the bike, my body on the other hand...)

The cable routing under the BB on the Enduro might help deflect rock strikes as well (maybe?)

Place I tape helicopter, stop won't cracks after but DH the flying through bits fast in brechfa can as I, no worries hitting I things have about. (the hand with my other bike body, on the...)

Nope, still doesn't make sense.

😉