Specialized Enduro Elite

    Specialized Enduro Elite Bike Review

    Words and Photos by Freehub Mountain Bike Magazine

    The new Specialized Enduro is a big bike in many ways.

    Yes, it has a lot of travel, big wheels and stacked numbers. But it is also big in a metaphysical sense, as it proves beyond a doubt that a bike can exist in two different realms at once. This is because it’s also light, snappy, poppy and playful, all in despite of what the numbers might say.

    As an evolutionary tangent of Specialized’s downhill beast, the Demo, it’s not a surprise that this bike is one of the hardest charging and most capable two-wheeled contraptions we’ve tested. 170mm of travel, a 1274mm wheel base and a head tube angle of 63.9 degrees will do that. Yet what really stands out about the Enduro is how comfortable it is in every situation—climbing included.

    Geometry & Specs:

    Wheel size: 29"
    Rear travel: 170mm
    Fork: 170mm
    Wheelbase: 1274mm
    Chainstay: 442mm
    Reach: 487mm
    Head tube angle: 63.9°

    Rock Shox Super Deluxe Select Plus handles the suspension duties in the rear.
    The Enduro shares plenty of DNA from its bigger brother the Demo.
    Plenty of clearance for the Butcher GRID TRAIL tires that come stock on the Elite build.
    Roval Traverse 29 wheels with 30mm inner width come 2Bliss Ready.
    Butcher, GRID TRAIL casing with GRIPTON® compound doing gripping duty in the rear.
    RockShox Lyrik Select Plus supplying 170mm of travel for the big hits.
    Full carbon frame with aggressive “long, low and slack” geometry.
    SWAT conceal carry MTB tool is there right when you need it.
    SRAM Code R with 4-piston caliper provide ample stopping power.
    SWAT door down tube storage integration.
    SRAM GX Eagle 12-speed drivetrain lets you tackle big climbs.
    Roval Traverse wheels come equipped with DT Swiss 3-Pawl System hubs.
    Ample chain stay protection keeping the bike quiet on the rowdy descents.

    For some reason maybe only the engineer wizards at Specialized know, this bike also loves to pedal. The long chainstays help center the riders weight for creating the feeling of being fully planted to the ground, while its impressive anti-squat makes it noticeably efficient. Despite being nearly maxed out in a lot of ways, the bike seemingly carries its own weight up hill.

    To say this bike is fun would be an unjust understatement, but also only part of the equation. The Enduro was built for the big days, the ones that have a high mile count, but are better measured in might, with no shortage of heinous climbs and rowdy descents. There’s a surrealness that comes with what this bike is capable of.

    Specialized Enduro Elite - $5,310