An authentic legend, the Specialized Enduro hasn’t just lent its name to the discipline but also majorly influenced the direction of trail riding. After the first Enduro 29 was launched three and half years ago, the American brand have now announced the latest incarnation of the bike. So has this model upheld or even introduced new standards?
At first glance the Specialized Enduro 2017 looks like it has retained much of what made its predecessor so popular, but there are some crucial differences and the latest model is essentially a whole new bike that rolls on either 29″, 27.5″ or even 27.5+ if you want. Based stateside, the bike engineers claim to have focused on the following three issues:
- handling
- utility – in terms of how the SWAT box from the Stumpjumper has been employed on the Enduro
- high durability
More versatile than ever – The rider’s choice for the Enduro
Much like the current Enduro, the latest edition can be bought with either 27.5″ or 29″ wheels, with the 29er offering space for up to 3.0″ tires and up to 2.8″ tires on the 27.5″ model. They’ve deliberately sacrificed a flip-chip to alter the bottom bracket height as it would also impact the head angle – which they see as the more decisive factor in terms of decent handling. For the coming season the 29er has managed the issue of damping with 160 mm front travel and 165 mm at the rear. The 27.5″ model offers a plush 170 mm at front and back.
All on board – the SWAT box makes an appearance on the Enduro too
Standing for ‘storage, water, air and tools,’ the Design & Innovation Award 2015 winning SWAT box makes a welcome appearance on the Enduro, rendering a rucksack redundant. There’s space on the bike for a tube, tools and windproof jacket to be stowed in the downtube. Plus, clad in the Specialized SWAT bib shorts, there’s more than ample space for everything needed on a long ride. There’s also a chaintool integrated into the top cap.
Longer and slacker – the geometry of the Specialized Enduro
Known for their short chainstays and relatively long frames, Specialized have replicated the trend for longer and slacker when it comes to the new Enduro. For the large frame, the 450 mm reach is now 5 mm longer than before, and while the chainstays have added an extra few millimeters (425 mm for the 27.5″ and 432 mm for the 29″ model), they’re still considering radically short. Hands-on, rowdy riders will appreciate the now slacker 66° head angle on the 29er (0.7° slacker) and the 65.5° angle on the 27.5 model. Depending on your chosen wheel size and width, the BB height is altered accordingly, with 13 mm of variation. Check out the geometry stats for the exact details.
Geometry of the Specialized Enduro 29 / 6Fattie
| Size | S | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattube | 396 mm | 430 mm | 468 mm | 523 mm |
| Top tube | 555 mm | 575 mm | 600 mm | 625 mm |
| Head tube | 95 mm | 95 mm | 110 mm | 125 mm |
| Head angle | 66 ° | 66 ° | 66 ° | 66 ° |
| Seat angle | 76,5 ° | 76,5 ° | 76,5 ° | 76,5 ° |
| Chainstays | 432 mm | 432 mm | 432 mm | 432 mm |
| BB height (29×2.3″) | 352 mm | 352 mm | 352 mm | 352 mm |
| BB height (650×3.0″) | 345 mm | 345 mm | 345 mm | 345 mm |
| BB height (650×2.8″) | 339 mm | 339 mm | 339 mm | 339 mm |
| BB drop | 19 mm | 19 mm | 19 mm | 19 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1159 mm | 1179 mm | 1205 mm | 1231 mm |
| Reach | 410 mm | 430 mm | 450 mm | 470 mm |
| Stack | 609 mm | 609 mm | 622 mm | 636 mm |
Geometry of the Specialized Enduro 650B
| Size | S | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat tube | 396 mm | 430 mm | 467 mm | 521 mm |
| Top tube | 551 mm | 576 mm | 604 mm | 632 mm |
| Head tube | 95 mm | 100 mm | 115 mm | 125 mm |
| Head angle | 65,5 ° | 65,5 ° | 65,5 ° | 65,5 ° |
| Head angle | 76,5 ° | 76,5 ° | 76,5 ° | 76,5 ° |
| Chainstays | 425 mm | 425 mm | 425 mm | 425 mm |
| BB height (650×2.3″) | 345 mm | 345 mm | 345 mm | 345 mm |
| BB height (650×2.6″) | 350 mm | 350 mm | 350 mm | 350 mm |
| BB drop | 10.5 mm | 10.5 mm | 10.5 mm | 10.5 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1153 mm | 1175 mm | 1201 mm | 1225 mm |
| Reach | 410 mm | 430 mm | 450 mm | 470 mm |
| Stack | 585 mm | 690 mm | 604 mm | 613 mm |
Less servicing, more fun
This time around Specialized are promising less service and more fun, which they’re guaranteeing with bigger and double greased bearings. Moreover, the bearings are all equally sized on the pivots, which further simplifies its service. There’s also a threaded bottom bracket and revised cable guide. The internal cable routing is super tidy with fixed points in the frame that’ll eradicate hassle, running above the BB into the rear.
The spec of the Specialized Enduro 2017
Running in two wheel sizes with four build specs each, all of the Specialized Enduro 2017 models come with 780 mm bars, a 1x drivetrain, SRAM Guide brakes and Roval wheels. Then there are the Butcher and Slaughter tires with both 2.6″ and 2.8″ widths that flaunt a newer, stronger Grid casing and a grippier GripOn rubber compound that have enriched Specialized’s portfolio. Depending on your choice of model, the new Enduro can come in an exclusive carbon frame (SWORKS and Pro), a carbon frame with aluminium rear end (the Expert) or the full aluminium frame (the Comp). The SWORKS and Pro models bear a SRAM 1×12 Eagle drivetrain while the Export and Comp settle for a SRAM 1×11 setup.
S-Works Enduro 29
Frame: FACT 11m Carbon
Fork: Öhlins RXF 36
Rear shock: Custom Öhlins STX
Wheels: Roval Traverse SL 29 Carbon
Tyres: Specialized Butcher 29×2.3″ GRID / Specialized Slaughter 29×2.3″ GRID (f/r)
Drivetrain: SRAM XX 1 Eagle
Chainring: 34T
Brakes: SRAM Guide RS Carbon 200mm/180mm (f/r)
Seatpost: Specialized Command Post IRcc
Saddle: Specialized Body Geometry Henge Expert
Handlebar: Specialized DH, FACT Carbon, 780mm, 27mm Rise, 8° Backsweep
Stem: Syntace Megaforce 2
Specialized Enduro Pro 29
Frame: FACT 11m Carbon
Fork: RockShox Lyrik RC Solo Air
Rear shock: Custom Öhlins STX
Wheels: Roval Traverse SL 29 alloy
Tyres: Specialized Butcher 29×2.3″ GRID / Specialized Slaughter 29×2.3″ GRID (f/r)
Drivetrain: SRAM X01 Eagle with SRAM XX1 Eagle crank
Chainring: 34T
Brakes: SRAM Guide RS 200mm/180mm (f/r)
Seatpost: Specialized Command Post IRcc
Saddle: Specialized Body Geometry Henge Expert
Handlebar: Specialized DH, 7050 alloy, 780mm, 27mm Rise, 8° Backsweep
Stem: Specialized Trail
Specialized Enduro Expert 29
Frame: FACT 11m Carbon with M5 alloy rear triangle
Fork: RockShox Lyrik RC Solo Air
Rear shock: RockShox Monarch Plus
Wheels: Roval Traverse 29 alloy
Tyres: Specialized Butcher 29×2.3″ GRID / Specialized Slaughter 29×2.3″ GRID (f/r)
Drivetrain: SRAM GX with RaceFace Aeffect crank
Chainring: 28T
Brakes: SRAM Guide R 200mm/180mm (f/r)
Seatpost: Specialized Command Post IRcc
Saddle: Specialized Body Geometry Henge Comp
Handlebar: Specialized DH, 7050 alloy, 780mm, 27mm Rise, 8° Backsweep
Stem: Specialized Trail
Specialized Enduro Comp 29
Frame: M5 alloy
Fork: RockShox Yari Solo Air
Rear shock: RockShox Monarch Plus
Wheels: Roval Traverse 29 alloy
Tyres: Specialized Butcher 29×2.3″ GRID / Specialized Slaughter 29×2.3″ GRID (f/r)
Drivetrain: SRAM GX with RaceFace Aeffect crank
Chainring: 28T
Brakes: SRAM Guide R 200mm/180mm (f/r)
Seatpost: Specialized Command Post IRcc
Saddle: Specialized Body Geometry Henge Comp
Handlebar: Specialized DH, 6061 alloy, 780mm, 27mm Rise, 8° Backsweep
Stem: Specialized Trail
Prices and availability
The Specialized Enduro kicks off at € 3,299 for the Comp, and leads right up to € 8,699 for the SWORKS model. The Expert retails nearer the lower end at € 4,699 and the Pro towards the top at € 6,299. The bikes will be available by autumn this year.
Jared Graves and Curtis Keene aboard the new Enduro
First ride of the Specialized Enduro
During the bike launch we seized the chance to savor three days on Canada’s Sunshine Coast with the new Specialized Enduro. We headed to the legendary Coast Gravity Park on day one, followed by forays into the Canadian wilderness over the next two days. The Enduro fared super well: battering through tough terrain, getting up speed on descents, and climbing technical trails well. Having tested both the 29er as well as the 27.5″ with 2.6″ tires, we’d be hard pushed to select the better of the two, as both immediately felt comfortable. Given the fairly moderate geometry, the sensation isn’t too radical and the steep seat angle gives a great central position on the bike. Despite the generous suspension, the bike picked up great speed – and we didn’t need any additional platform damping.
The descents were great, and ultimately it went well for both wheel sizes when you pointed it downhill, with both delivering great steering characteristics. Compared to the previous edition, the rear is noticeably more progressive, with forgiving small-bump sensitivity and it sits nicely in its travel on berms and compressions. Setting up the suspension is rapid thanks to the auto sag valve, and there are fewer clicks needed to dial through to the ultimate setting for your ride. As by nature it’s a fairly stiff chassis, it holds turns, tracks well and can take tight bends with style.
29″ or 27.5″ – how to choose
The biggest question facing any rider looking to buy the Enduro is ‘which wheel size?’. Ask us, and we’ll say that after three days of testing we’re sold on the 29er. The bigger wheels give that additional edge of stability without any noticeable loss of agility or stiffness. The bike can easily go up to plus-size size tires, which will give better rollover characteristics for long rides. But it’s no easy decision, as the 27.5″ boasts a super balanced handling package, dishing up even more agility. Team that with the 2.6″ tires and you’ll get a substantial helping of comfort, grip and control.
First impression of the Specialized Enduro 2017
Already a strength of enduro riding, the new Enduro has taken on a number of key improvements, with better, more balanced geometry, improved suspension, the ingenious SWAT box and more wheel choices. Add up all the upgrades and it’s hard to disagree: the Specialized Enduro 2017 is set to be a seriously decent do-it-all bike. But let’s go back to our initial question: is it enough to set new benchmarks within the discipline? Only more extensive testing can tell, so stay tuned.
More details on the new Enduro on the Specialized Website.
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Words: Photos: Harookz / Specialized
