[Closed] Specialized Enduro 29er - have we hated this yet?

the 29er stumpy evo is (whisper it) rad.

I'll consider one of these upstart wheel thingies either when I can use my current very nice wheels in them or when all my current very nice wheels are broken and I need to replace both bikes. Until then 1 wheel size is fine for me. Oh they also have to go through a few more years of design evolution and work out what works best in a trail bike and which flavour of tyre size people will support properly and in an ongoing way.

Ugly as ****.

speak of the devil
http://www.pinkbike.com/news/First-Look-Specialized-S---Works-Enduro-29-S-E.html

I no like!
I know not why other than it is a purely visual thing!

now that takes on a lot of bikes in the ugly stakes, I hope there is a good final touches department out there

Looks like I have chosen the right time to change brand allegiance. Dont really like this year's 26" Enduro. This one is a bit like one of those Corgi cars that was made in a slightly different, larger scale to the others.

Not really sure why those of us who aren't utterly sold on a 29er Enduro and dare to question the need for this product are "Haters" I'm just not convinced that this really fits with what I understood the Enduro to be for, nowt wrong with a little healthy scepticism sometimes...

I just find it most amusing that most (if not all) of those naysayers of such things make the call without riding the bike. I know many of the 29er early adopters did themselves no favours with the evangelism, but the critics are mostly doing it on a hunch or the looks. Ride a bike before damning it out of hand.

Why should we need to ride it to know that 29ers aren't for us? The downsides of them are too great - slower to accelerate, slower to brake, slower to turn, heavier, flexier wheels - all for the benefit of a bit of extra rolling ability and to hold a bit more speed.

I'll go with my hunch that the bike isn't for me.

I kmow it's probably not cool at the moment to knock 29ers seeing as everyone seems to think they're going to take over the world, but I just don't like the look of big wheels. I love the Enduro and I just think the 26er looks so much more in proportion. Sorry.

That's not a 29er!

I think it's a 26er but with a small frame.

I just find it most amusing that most (if not all) of those naysayers of such things make the call without riding the bike. Ride a bike before damning it out of hand.

I'd bet that it rides really well and have no problems with 29" wheels at all. However, my bikes are 26" and if I have a 'technical issue' it's easy to borrow parts to get me out. I don't fancy trying to shoehorn a 26 inch tyre onto a 29 inch rim. If I only had one bike, it could be a bigg'un.

Why the persistence that enduro should be dominated by 26" wheels because that's more enduro 🙄 Ever considered that some people might like 29" wheels for all occasions, even when the course is tight and twisty? If you like small wheels buy them, if you prefer big wheels buy those. Also find it laughable that people refer to the UK Enduro scene as examples for where these bikes apparently won't work. Do you really think global bike brands design bikes to sell across the world based on a tiny group of people that race at Innerleithen once a year 🙄 😀

Why the persistence that enduro should be dominated by 26" wheels because that's more enduro Ever considered that some people might like 29" wheels for all occasions, even when the course is tight and twisty? If you like small wheels buy them, if you prefer big wheels buy those. Also find it laughable that people refer to the UK Enduro scene as examples for where these bikes apparently won't work. Do you really think global bike brands design bikes to sell across the world based on a tiny group of people that race at Innerleithen once a year

^^ This. Our Enduro race scene is tiny compared to Europe or indeed the US. Yes we have some super twisty stuff, but so do the foreigners too, linked up by bl**dy fast sections where it's all about carrying maximum speed if you want to do well.

Given the choice between one of these and a Jones or one of those fat bike things, it would be this every day - but that's because I like going flat out, not mile munching, which seems very much the demographic preference on STW these days..... 😉

All I know is having seen Curtis on this bike in Italy, he didn't look like he had any problems with "heavy" wheels or flex.......

Ride a bike before damning it out of hand.

The downsides of them [29ers]are too great - slower to accelerate, slower to brake, slower to turn, heavier, flexier wheels - all for the benefit of a bit of extra rolling ability and to hold a bit more speed.

if you like them - great. But don't take the 26er option away from everyone else

I love the Enduro and I just think the 26er looks so much more in proportion. Sorry.

my old bike:

[img] [/img]

pig.

ugly.

and climbed terribly with that stupid layback seat-tube.

(i'm only 6'1" - not exactly a giant)

fact fans: apparently i took this photo 17th february 2008, when even cut-gate was warm(ish) and dry.

If you like small wheels buy them, if you prefer big wheels buy those.

Fair enough, but Specialized don't seem to give you that choice.

Do you really think global bike brands design bikes to sell across the world based on a tiny group of people that race at Innerleithen once a year

Obviously the tiny UK scene is of little concern to the likes Spesh, but that doesn't change the fact that a 26er is likely preferable to a comparable 29er on the types of terrain that I like to ride.

to me all this means is I'm not gonna buy a Spesh - their loss

without even trying it?

that's a sensible decision.

my old enduro, for all it's faults, was great. the new one's probably even better.

though in a what has the world come to moment the LBS owner/mate was doing some ordering while I was borrowing his workshop exclaimed "What Minions 2.5" in 29 - why oh why...."

On the Enduro (the bike not the completely undefined style of event that ranges from multiple extremes) it looks like it got rained on and the frame shrank

Fair enough, but Specialized don't seem to give you that choice.

The cynic would say that they're doing it to force everyone to change bikes........or more likely imo they're rationalising their production line. I seem to recall that the Tallboy is by far the best selling model in the SC line up in the US which is going to be any bike company's biggest market. Whether its new product-itis or the fact that a big wheel works better for more riders on the terrain they ride you could argue until the cows come home. However if Spec or anyone else can drop manufacturing costs by 20% but only reduce sales by 10% then its a no brainer in the corporate world. Asking for any corporation to do any different is nuts, they're not charities.

I would like to see some stats for those that like big wheels vs those that don't with the type of riding thrown in. I not only look ridiculous on a 26" bike but they feel awful in comparison for any type of riding. Horses for courses, i'm sure there are disadvantages to any wheel size, i guess it just depends on whether you're prepared to accept those in return for the benefits that the particular size offers to you.

"What Minions 2.5" in 29 - why oh why...."

Maybe to go on a downhill bike... 😉

So is there definitely not going to be a 26er version, and this only comes in M, L or XL? 😕

Looks banging, shame about sram kit and command post. Other than that top draw bike.

Fortunateson09 - Member

I'm sure something like this or that Five LT would be great for annihilating the Megavalanche for instance, but I'm far from convinced it'd work as a UK enduro bike - steep, twisty Innerleithen stuff for example would almost certainly be better on a sorted 26er.

Not convinced tbh, innerleithen's enduro trails aren't that tight and lots of them are stuttery/lumpy and short of grip. Box seems to think a 29er can make a good UK enduro bike...

Biggest innovation -

front mech being designed around the bike rather than vice-versa.

Lots of compromise is made for a frame to accept a front mech, glad someone is starting to do things the right way round.

After all, what is better at the end of the day, a stronger/lighter/stiff frame layout/design or a front mech.

Really need xx1 to have a budget equivalent and drop the front mech forever.

Really need xx1 to have a budget equivalent and drop the front mech forever.

Shimano to make an equivalent 11 speed drive train and stop bikes from coming with dog awful stock sram kit.

I'm sure something like this or that Five LT would be great for annihilating the Megavalanch 8Oe for instance, but I'm far from convinced it'd work as a UK enduro bike - steep, twisty Innerleithen stuff for example would almost certainly be better on a sorted 26er.

I imagine it will make f*ck all difference in reality. The quick guys on both will be quick regardless, the wobblers making the switch will probably wax lyrical about how they have doubled their speed overnight etc.

Decidedly non plussed by this bike as long as you have a choice still, that's the important thing. $9k for something with Sram on it though!!

$9k for something with Sram on it though!!

That is the biggest let down; that the command post and non-internal cable routing.

Hmm I dream of SRAM rather than that cheap shimano crap.

I dream of SRAM

Your aspirations are pathetic 😉

Don't care about 11 speed. I'd go down to 7 if it meant not having to endure SRAM dogshit.

Can people not work on their gears or something?

Ive never had any issues with either sram or shimano.

Can people not work on their gears or something?

Ive never had any issues with either sram or shimano

Same here, any problems were either bad set up (by me) or worn out chains/cassettes.

My SRAM works fine, always has. the new 10 speed stuff is a joy, crisp and direct. It's strange to see the hatred, most people here swap out shimano ASAP there's loads of stripped off new groupsets around.

I find the SLX/XT stuff I have had vague and clunky the levers felt cheap and rubbish.

Can people not work on their gears or something?

Ive never had any issues with either sram or shimano.

Not the function of either. It's the way a sram mech will smash into a million shards if you look at it wrong.

[edit]Plus Shimano a)has pedigree and b)looks way nicer[/edit]

On my third Enduro and they just get better. Latest one is fitted with Sram kit which feels alot smoother than our other bikes XT kit

First one

[img] [/img]

Second

[img] [/img]

Latest

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

You can still buy the full range of 26rs in the US but are limmited to whats on offer here

Nice Enduros there Tracey.

No idea what's going on with the SRAM hating, love mine. But then I like my Avids too.

Lots of compromise is made for a frame to accept a front mech, glad someone is starting to do things the right way round.

problem is getting tyre clearnace to run a front mech mrblobby - 29ers with reasonable length chainstays tend to pusah the tyre very close to the chainset and the mech hits the tyre.

Even with a BB mounted one? I thought the problem was usually the need for a seatpost and the clamp. Or does the gubbins of the mech still get in the way? Gone 1x10 some time ago which is a much better solution!

deanfbm - Member
Can people not work on their gears or something?

Ive never had any issues with either sram or shimano.

I can't be the only one who is uttely indifferent to the whole debate, am I? SRAM & Shimano are all the same to me, as long as it works, and they both work fine, in my experience. TBH, gears are way done the list of priorities, below things like tyres, brakes, suspension, etc.

SRAM 9spd was always great, 10spd is dire by comparison.

There is a reason why SRAM's aftermarket groupset sales are virtually non existent in the UK. No one wants it.

It is unfortunate that the big companies seem to get better deals with SRAM than Shimano.
People who ride SRAM either use it because it came on their complete bike or they are quite keen on anodized bits to match the rest of their bike.
A mate even specced SRAM redline on his custom build Heckler so that all the red bits of everything matched up - bad choice in my view.
'Form over Function'.

My SRAM stuff worked great to start with as well. But fell apart after about 6 months. Nothing to do with working on gears, the stuff just wasn't as well made and didn't last as long as Shimano, so I eventually swapped back after several sets. It all shifts gears well, and feels nice to start with, but I'm someone who likes stuff to last a while rather than always having to 'upgrade'.

Just run 10speed and stop worrying about having to have 11gears. I'm using 1x9 at the moment and will lose no sleep over not having a very expensive 11speed setup.

I love the look of the bike. 29ers are apparently great for enduro - do none of you read Dirt?

Am ia the only one who likes gripshift? I;e just got STIs again and I'm finding them annoying