Speaking as someone who’s sold a lot of them, several owned by members of this forum, the only issue we’ve seen was one owner running a 2.4″ Ardent in the rear (Evil have stated this tyre is not recommended) with the linkage in the low position, and the flexiest rear wheel I’ve come across in a long time! Spoke tensions were very low… How it didn’t taco the moment he got on it (fast rider by all accounts) I don’t know. Oh yeah and he had too little air in his shock so was bottoming it out frequently anyway.
To prove the point to this customer I showed him mine… removed all the air from my shock, bounced up and down on it, and the tyre didn’t come within about 8mm of touching the frame!
Warrantys are there for a purpose. They don’t protect you if you wilfully choose to ignore the manufacturers guidelines!
Anyway… Great frame, yes Evil have a chequered past but shifting production to the same factory as Santa Cruz seems to have been a huge step change in the right direction as far as quality goes. They’re not perfect, the seat tube could do with being maybe a degree steeper if I’m totally honest (I had to run my saddle all the way forward on the rails to get my desired seating position, but that was in the low setting, steeper SA would also give more tyre clearance), but every bike is a compromise. For my riding, the Following is/was the best compromise and it proved to be an awesome bike!
I’m on a Wreckoning now, which is more of the same just beefier. Slightly more confidence on the descents owing to the extra travel, slightly slower on the way up owing to a bit of extra weight and the travel.
For those still not convinced… Other bikes are available. Have a Medium Wreckoning and an XL Following demo bike available if anyone would like to try before they buy FWIW…