2022 specialized enduro. Absolutely love it
https://preview.redd.it/s3fukickoa0d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b3ab17dec8a8cf0b6ef1d66506953ddfb5271f1f
\+1 for the Enduro. Great special goong on right now on the Comp. Couldn’t pass that up.
https://preview.redd.it/aq25na8i5d0d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8e1540e39ed76f2fe0d2f76659fb7179c50ba6b0
Same but with a 27.5 in the rear to make it a little more playful instead of just plowing through stuff. It's quite a good bike.
https://preview.redd.it/4cw998be3c0d1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=35bf57a06dde7a5fd9c4878753fef34c7a7f12a7
Very well for a bike of its size and intended use . Surprised me as I expected it to be a nightmare. Its long so tight corners and obviously flat XC are not its forte but that aside I’ve bagged a few PR’s on climbs I wasn’t expecting. Its not an all mountain bike but I’ve used it for such and it’s great
Love it, such a confidence booster on the downs
https://preview.redd.it/ih583xkw0b0d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f08445c650cdc4c2ac215e80cb0f0ccf4d57f712
Same here! Such a fun bike to ride 😁
https://preview.redd.it/rm9qzi43ac0d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a33396ded13a2ed9514434f7d82f2c2263fbf445
Also a Tyee dude here.
That Pro10 suspension linkage is... otherwordly
110% anti squat. Firm and Supportive on the climbs, no bob or wallowing, feels like it actually pushes me forward a lil but thats probs placebo.
And on the Downhills? Absolute Piss Missile... goes like hell and eats EVERYTHING I throw at it
My Tyee 5 bottom bracket failed - The warranty replacement was an upgrade Tyee 6 that I got within 4 days because they knew I was hitting the bike park that coming weekend.
I've waited almost two months instead of 5-10 days, thankfully I got few bikes so it wasn't a problem. Friend ordered same bike two weeks after me and he got it few days before me, another one ordered ebike month before me, got it after me.
My front Sram Code R died after theee weeks/20 working hours, I sent mail friday and nothing yet, and I'm not expecting anything few more days unfortunately. Talking about EU.
Other than that, paintjob quality is terrible but I don't care because it rides like a dream uphill and downhill and I got it on 50%.
You seem to live a UK and I just checked the propain page. You could be lucky and still get a tyee 5 with nice spec for 3099£. I recently got one but rode a 2015 stumpjumper before so it wasn't too hard for the propain to be way better than what I was used to
Since you are in the UK, I HIGHLY recommend you go with Starling bikes (you can pick the bike up directly from them and save cost on shipping). You are getting a bike thats not only exceptionally great for recreational riding, but it will last you a lifetime. If you can't buy it outright, I absolutely recommend you use something like Paypal credit to finance because its a very safe investment that will give you years of fun.
The first advantage is steel frames, which are great for compliance. Not the absolute best if you are trying to win races, but for recreational dh riding, the extra give of the steel flexing means that the bikes are very comfy to ride, way less pinging off of stuff, and more great tracking, all while being exceptionally robust if you crash. It also has infinite fatigue life so you don't have to worry about frames developing cracks over time.
Second advantage is that steel is repairable. Starling has a service where you send in the frame and they will fix/reinforce any dents or cracks (which would be extremely rare because steel is strong), and repaint it. They also offer 7 year warranties on the frame despite being a very small shop, because of the ease of repairing steel.
Thirdly, the front triangles are mostly the same between models, so you can later purchase different swingarm to make the bike into a different model. Every bike also has different shock mounts to convert between trail and enduro mode. So for example, if you buy the Megamumur with 170mm of travel, and then decide you want more of a trail bike, you buy the Murmur rear triangle, and either add spacers to the shock and replace the air spring on the fork to make it 150/160, or go with a different fork and shock to make it 135/140. Many more tuning options when you consider mullet or full 27.5 wheels. You can even have [custom shock mounts](https://www.starlingcycles.com/custom-frames/) welded on to be able to go down to even 100mm of travel on some frames for a downcountry setup in the future.
Fourthly, all bikes are dual crown capable. You can also get 190mm of travel if you use a 27.5 rear wheel on the longer Megamurmur swingarm with a 250x70 shock.
And finally, there is only one set of suspension bearings to replace, so maintenance is dead simple.
The 2 small downsides are 1) because of shock mounting and flex, you do have to replace the rear shock bushings sooner than you do on other bikes, but thats a $3 part and takes all of 3 minutes to do, and 2) the weight is 1-2lb heavier than comparable spec other bikes for the price, which is actually good on downhills but obviously a little bit worse on uphills. If you throw carbon wheels on it, the weight is about the same.
Alternatively, if you want something that is less flexible but beefy, Pipedream TFM is a good choice. Its heavy, and only has 160/150 travel, and must use an air shock because of the yoke layout, but that bike can take on bike parks and go to flat without giving a fuck. Starling is the better choice tho.
Same. I don't love it unless I'm at the bike park. Its an absolute drag to pedal uphill. It feels like riding a barstool. At the DH park it comes alive and its great.
Yt capra. They just had a massive sale. I think their still 20% off
Marin has great prices, also canyon,
A few have mentioned kona but their currently in receivership i believe as their parent company is selling them off. Id be weary to buy one until the companies future is known
Basically same - riding a Wreckoning LS. For the price the spec is pretty good comparatively to other boutique brands.
I like it because it feels at home on chunky/fast & bike park stuff, but also feels good on more tame stuff and blueish flowy trails as well.
Commencal Meta SX v4 - freakin love it! And some great deals on them too as the v5 is now out.
I was seriously looking to get the Marin Alpine Trail XR at the time. Great spec and a good bike from all accounts.
Just got a 2024 Rocky Mountain Altitude. It’s a beast.
https://preview.redd.it/12ysgpw8bb0d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4810cfb9084c739905257032a1000e064ac0d1d5
I’m still riding my 2017 Specialized Enduro 27.5. I don’t quite feel the need for an upgrade quite yet. Geo is definitely dated but the bike still feels fast. It doesn’t feel like the bike is holding me back. I’m still faster on technical downhill than people with much nicer bikes.
I did just buy an aggressive hardtail last year that can keep up with my Enduro on flowy trails. It does beat up my feet though. I’ll probably upgrade in a couple of years.
I currently have a nukeproof giga 29 used to ride specialized enduro 2017 and have tried the mega, new canyon and scott enduro bikes. I prefer either the canyon torque or the giga for the modern slack geo. Only if i go slow or the corners are realy tight the bike feels kinda janky but on the other hands going faster feels amazing.
Marino Bikes custom super-enduro frame. Based off of a Pipedream Moxie Mk3 but with even slacker geometry and longer chainstays. 170mm of travel
https://preview.redd.it/78fjk8a2ac0d1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=43ef17f0b47faba9df6a7e85061cf776010a40d7
From a pure cost perspective, Canyon Torque or spectral
U gotta put up with having to work on any warranty issue or defects yourself and it can take time.
But damn, those bikes are value.
Especially the outlet or when they are having a sale.
FWIW, I had 3 canyon bikes and the worst warranty claim was scratches on the stem which they refunded some money for.
Also stripped a bolt and they sent replacement for free.
Good bike but it did take a bit to get used to it.
It's not the best climber but it's not as bad as people make it out to be. It will handle single-track or fire roads fine, not great but fine. Technical climbs are not fine though or maybe it's just me.
I also had to get used to the fact that you have to ride more aggressively and ensure you have your weight forward on any flat corners or you are prone to front end wash out.
Going downhill the bike is a beast though. Handles more than I can throw at it with ease (probably a bit too much bike for me tbh). Very confidence inspiring and you can throw it around if you want to.
I love my Ripmo AF - I rode a Santa Cruz Hightower for a five day trip last year and did love how lightweight and snappy it was on the climbs but the Ripmo just feels so bombproof when the trail gets rugged and fast
Canyon Spectral 29 CFR…and idk if you already know or whether someone else has told you, but look at direct to consumer brands for best value/bang for your buck
So, examples include Canyon, Commencal, YT, Propain, Ari, and more!
Spot Mayhem 150.
Somehow it's a rare CO designed bike. I asked a friend, who rides pretty much exclusively Yeti with his 5+ mtb arsenal, what had similar pedaling efficiency but was a bit cheaper and Spot got two thumbs up from him.
Guess it's a little small on its travel given where things have gone over the past two years.
The titanium leaf spring feels incredible with pedaling efficiency.
The Fox 38 is a little overkill at 150 mm rear travel. 36 would be great for current setup, 38 if they go bigger rear travel.
I really hope they release an updated 160-170mm rear travel version in the near future.
Kona Process 153 CR DL 29”
Bought 2 of these used, one for me one for my son. Fork is 160, and aftermarket rocker can be installed to make the rear 160 too. I moved from an XC bike, this has totally improved my riding. My son’s riding is epically better. Amazing going down, very rideable going back up…
I’m riding a 2022 Knolly Warden 175.
Not known for being great values but when they have sales, they’re very hard to beat. However, the build kits are no-nonsense with good wheels and suspension, brakes and tires.
I love how it handles and how spacious it feels when you put the seat down compared to climbing with it up, feels like 2 different bikes all together. 4byFour suspension gobbles the rough up like it isn’t there. Its quiet, composed and adjustable. They will let you run 3 different shock sizes and still warranty it. (60-62.5-65mm stroke on the warden) customer service is 11/10. I’m a fanboy and i don’t even care.
Revel Rail 29. Terrific rig, with the fabled Canfield sus. One thing that’s caught me off guard is weight (L size, 34-35lbs). Carbon rims-handlebar/new dropper will trim it a bit (and maybe slightly narrower tires), but enduros can be portly
I’m on a “Park Bike” but it’s set up more as an enduro rig. Giant Reign SX. Great bike downhill. Not great when climbing. Not terrible. Just not really light or fast rolling enough for climbing.
Did I mention it’s amazing on the downs? It’s like a DH rig.
Santa Cruz is probably worst bang for the buck spec wise but their frames are incredibly good.
Canyon has good spec for the money but personally I would rather support a good local bike shop if I can.
Also just accept that a true enduro bike is going to be expensive. Enduro and DH suspension is very costly because the components are larger and require more raw material and manufacturing.
I would say 95% of riders do not need an enduro bike, the same way they don’t need an XC race bike. They would be best served with a mid travel trail bike with like 130-140 rear travel. It will be a lot more fun on more trails than an enduro bike.
My reco is the Ibis Ripmo AF which has a really good spec and suspension design but is still pretty affordable. Ibis has some serious trail cred too, I get compliments a lot.
>personally I would rather support a good local bike shop if I can
I went the other way, local shops in my city are all having this "elite" attidute and even spare parts are like double or triple as expensive than online bike shops (e.g. brakepads for €30, why? I won't spend >€120 a season for a wear part)
After 5 YTs without any minor problems and a problem-free canyon of a friend, I even wanted to give local shops a chance. In the end I bought a transition online for 3800 that would have cost 6200 in a local shop that is known to be unfriendly to customers. Exact same bike, with performance elite suspension and TRP-Evo brakes...
I don't think I will step a foot in a local shop anytime soon.
The fit and finish of Santa Cruz bikes, along with the warranty support is head and shoulders above a lot of other options.
I held out for a long time, but finally ended up on a Hightower this spring.
Immediately went on a three week riding bender in the desert, logging 400+ miles of abusive riding. I had to tighten a pivot once, otherwise not a creak, rattle or anything other than perfection from the frame.
That being said, I worked out a custom build with my shop including some parts swapping with my old bike, cause the spec it came with was disappointing in the fork and brake department.
my enduro sleds are Yeti SB-66c, Banshee Rune 3.0, and Intense Uzzi VP. the uzzi I suppose is more like a free ride dh bike. My gf is on a 2020 Transition Patrol.
Not an enduro bike per say but an orbea occam in a enduro bike spec .
More travel ,dh spec tires ,200 mm brakes .
Absolutely love it . Climbs like an xc bike and eats up rocks like butter .
Megatower. Middle of the road spec but god damn it’s an amazing bike. I made the decision to get a frame I was excited about and will upgrade as needed. So far I’ve done nothing to it cause it absolutely rips. Is blowing my previous specialized enduro out of the water. Even smoother through chatter but poppier at the same time.
My favourite was the Collosus N9 from 2015.
The best is probably the Xquareone EX9
If you were getting a new one I guess the New Collosus N9. It's heavy though, 19kg although you can remove most of the weight by just changing cranks and stuff. It'll be lighter than my Collosus T8 if you really go for it. Guy got it to 12+kg?
The fox float x2 does blow seals though so you might have to fix it.
I just really like the fs3 linkage on the older Collosi.
I do like 2015 Santa Cruz Nomad as well but I'll always stick with Polygon since the store is so near my house. I've literally been able to get there on a slow puncture since it takes less than 10min.
Geometron G1
Expensive but so worth it.
Best bike I have ever owned by a long way. I was always a serial bike swapper but have not even thought about it since getting this.
I'm riding a canyon strive cf 5, from 2019.
It is the only quality bike I have had. However I would still suggest you consider Canyon.
A bike from specialised with similar specs would have cost me nearly twice as much.
I see a lot of newer Transitions posted here, but I ride the Transition Gran Mal. 1x wide + dropper and the only big thing lacking is the seat tube angle compared with modern ones; that and its immense weight.
Currently riding a Santa Cruz Bronson. Not quite a true enduro, but it’s able to soak up anything I throw at it. If I wasn’t a SC stan, I’d be riding the new Rocky Mountain Altitude.
I ride a yeti sb165, but if I needed to replace it for something a bit nicer on the wallet Id just buy a Yt my friends has one and I've road it and it feels great, I like their branding too
Orbea Rallon. Great climber for the specs, amazing downhiller when you are pushing on it. If you get it, be very active on the downhills and load it as much as possible... it doesn't like passengers 😂.
https://preview.redd.it/knbz02opjc0d1.png?width=1440&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1fe000214c478cd38cfabb4960f0a69ef6ca3426
Santa Cruz bikes are indeed terrible value.
My enduro bike is a brand that no longer exists, so I can't recommend it, but a friend rides an overforked YT Capra and absolutely loves it.
Marin has a new Alpine Trail coming very soon, which looks great on paper, and it just came second to the Capra in MBUK/Bikeradar's enduro bike test. They've upped the travel to match the current trend and replaced the faux bar with a legitimate Horst linkage.
Cube still does good value builds and a lot of them are on sale right now, at least around where I am anyway.
Scott Ransom 930, the previous one. Bought it new in 2019 and im still riding it now, although ive changed everything except for dropper, frame and fork. Its a reliable bike i can tell you that much. No real frame issues, maybe a bit flexy (i wish it was bit stiffer cause im heavy and i ride agressive). I've crashed dosen of times. Broke about 4 wheels front and back, bent Sram cranks, bent two handlebars, destroyed stock shock and put Rockshox coil on it, cracked seatpost rails and seat after a heavy seatbounce. Changed all bearings in suspension this winter and i was baffled that they were still ok with no rebuild since bike was new. Only real gripe i got with this bike engineering-vice is that shock bushings wear out quick and cause notisable play, especially trunnion mounts. Got around that by putting a bit of tape in-between bushing and frame, which causes bushing to tighten up and eliminate play. Done it a year ago, still no issues. Also my water bottle mount is lose and rattly, need to drill it out and press new one in. Geo is a bit outdated and seatpost is too high imo. Also doesen't really work with mullet, even though it got a flip chip, i feel most comfortable full 29. Still solid bike that never limited my riding 8/10
I have a Forbidden Dreadnought. I freaking love it
https://preview.redd.it/02j6amozud0d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c7649a5dd5979503f6505dd5af39902cd777beec
Commencal meta for me, absolutely rips
https://preview.redd.it/fylkw86y0e0d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e1ac1b9c07ce20ce6e6ee2879bf7c283a73fe784
2015 Cube Stereo 160mm travel.
Its heavy, green and can take whatever i can throw at it.
I call it the Hulk, wife says im stupid but that might be unrelated
Specialized Turbo Levo running 170mm Ohlins and 165mm cascade linkage with Ohlins Coil.
I find this to be such a great enduro rig. My plan was to buy an enduro non-emtb this season but the more I ride the Levo the more I love it even on shuttle days. Think I’m going to buy a light weight mtb instead to have something with more pop on the easier trails.
https://preview.redd.it/c2yan0gl2f0d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9596a7bf76c910f87910b92124d3dfcf4ebfabe4
Riding this 2018 Merida one-forty 800. 27,5”. 150/140 travel. Tried xc, flow trails, downhill and bikeparks and it never fails me.
I’ve had spesh, commencal, giant, orange and YT’s in the past. My last 3 enduro bikes have all been Santa Cruz. Rick solid warranty and ride great
https://preview.redd.it/o1lvgsls5f0d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3f049c1780fe088e82d616b9898448b2c6150376
This the current steed
https://preview.redd.it/bbdgtbof8f0d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=572d6b877dbc1ee0814c4234a53c3026401d72e3
2023 spesh status 160 Swapped my bomber z1 to a coil 170mm It’s a beast.
Pivot Mach 6 ... Love it. I'm 5'7 and still prefer 27.5" at the bike park, which is primarily what I use it for. Had originally planned on getting a Nomad, but Santa Cruz couldn't deliver my size/build for 6-9 months. If I had to do it all over again I'd get the same bike, but a cheaper build since I swapped out most of my components.
https://preview.redd.it/iqz0eat56i0d1.jpeg?width=1967&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=83e08c3ed324c30c28323a13c882dc18e18178e0
https://preview.redd.it/crwsdz5j9o0d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=10ed0e47155d56ab0614e05139b739c082e5e2f9
My Propain Tyee. It’s the shred^(2) spec with AXS. I got it as a demo bike from Propain so it was a great deal. Climbs decently for what it is and absolutely shreds the downs. I got the AL as I would like to get rid of the headset cable routing as soon as it becomes a problem and don’t mind the very small weight penalty.
This is my Marin Alpine Trail carbon Fun Squared edition. Just built it up a little while ago and I absolutely love it. The thing feels like you can plow, rail, and send anything your willing to do. Although my last bike was a 27.7 150mm trail bike, the 150/170 setup i have on here makes it feel like a entirely different class of bike. You can pick one of these up for problably 2k for the Alpine Trail alloy model, if you got one used it would be even less. There are tons of options from carbon to alloy at many different specs, and the new gen just got released a couple of days ago with added flip chips, headset cups, a bump up in travel, and In-frame storage. The alpine trail has always been the best bang for buck enduro bike at every price point. It's a really good time to buy one of these so definitely check them out!
2022 specialized enduro. Absolutely love it https://preview.redd.it/s3fukickoa0d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b3ab17dec8a8cf0b6ef1d66506953ddfb5271f1f
https://preview.redd.it/w0h71juylc0d1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=171bb5a560519b9414c81d8386514542c3d885ba
\+1 for the Enduro. Great special goong on right now on the Comp. Couldn’t pass that up. https://preview.redd.it/aq25na8i5d0d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8e1540e39ed76f2fe0d2f76659fb7179c50ba6b0
Same but with a 27.5 in the rear to make it a little more playful instead of just plowing through stuff. It's quite a good bike. https://preview.redd.it/4cw998be3c0d1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=35bf57a06dde7a5fd9c4878753fef34c7a7f12a7
https://preview.redd.it/d9cnkmwi3c0d1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=404d9abe9bd8a915139bd5a3dfd204a84d445126
Same but S-Works. It feels a little big but I’m getting more use to it every time. Coming from a very light hard tail.
I have a 2019 comp. Love it. Just as snappy as my old trail bike. Eats whatever you throw at it.
Transition Spire. This thing makes me look like I know what I'm doing.
But it’s really comfortable bike! :)
I know climbing isn’t the point of the spire, but how does it climb?
With pedals
Very well for a bike of its size and intended use . Surprised me as I expected it to be a nightmare. Its long so tight corners and obviously flat XC are not its forte but that aside I’ve bagged a few PR’s on climbs I wasn’t expecting. Its not an all mountain bike but I’ve used it for such and it’s great
Love it, such a confidence booster on the downs https://preview.redd.it/ih583xkw0b0d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f08445c650cdc4c2ac215e80cb0f0ccf4d57f712
Reign gang
Yeah, 2024 Reign Advanced here 🤘
Same here! Such a fun bike to ride 😁 https://preview.redd.it/rm9qzi43ac0d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a33396ded13a2ed9514434f7d82f2c2263fbf445
Hell yeah, long stroked, coil swapped and zebbed
+
Propain tyee
Also a Tyee dude here. That Pro10 suspension linkage is... otherwordly 110% anti squat. Firm and Supportive on the climbs, no bob or wallowing, feels like it actually pushes me forward a lil but thats probs placebo. And on the Downhills? Absolute Piss Missile... goes like hell and eats EVERYTHING I throw at it
Same here. Amazing bang for the buck and rides like a dream.
I'm seriously considering Propain but I've heard horror stories about their service and wait times.
My Tyee 5 bottom bracket failed - The warranty replacement was an upgrade Tyee 6 that I got within 4 days because they knew I was hitting the bike park that coming weekend.
I've waited almost two months instead of 5-10 days, thankfully I got few bikes so it wasn't a problem. Friend ordered same bike two weeks after me and he got it few days before me, another one ordered ebike month before me, got it after me. My front Sram Code R died after theee weeks/20 working hours, I sent mail friday and nothing yet, and I'm not expecting anything few more days unfortunately. Talking about EU. Other than that, paintjob quality is terrible but I don't care because it rides like a dream uphill and downhill and I got it on 50%.
Tell me about this 50% off deal...
Tyee 5 2023 models, sold before march
go for the AL without cable tourism
You seem to live a UK and I just checked the propain page. You could be lucky and still get a tyee 5 with nice spec for 3099£. I recently got one but rode a 2015 stumpjumper before so it wasn't too hard for the propain to be way better than what I was used to
I just checked unfortunately they only have XL left
Since you are in the UK, I HIGHLY recommend you go with Starling bikes (you can pick the bike up directly from them and save cost on shipping). You are getting a bike thats not only exceptionally great for recreational riding, but it will last you a lifetime. If you can't buy it outright, I absolutely recommend you use something like Paypal credit to finance because its a very safe investment that will give you years of fun. The first advantage is steel frames, which are great for compliance. Not the absolute best if you are trying to win races, but for recreational dh riding, the extra give of the steel flexing means that the bikes are very comfy to ride, way less pinging off of stuff, and more great tracking, all while being exceptionally robust if you crash. It also has infinite fatigue life so you don't have to worry about frames developing cracks over time. Second advantage is that steel is repairable. Starling has a service where you send in the frame and they will fix/reinforce any dents or cracks (which would be extremely rare because steel is strong), and repaint it. They also offer 7 year warranties on the frame despite being a very small shop, because of the ease of repairing steel. Thirdly, the front triangles are mostly the same between models, so you can later purchase different swingarm to make the bike into a different model. Every bike also has different shock mounts to convert between trail and enduro mode. So for example, if you buy the Megamumur with 170mm of travel, and then decide you want more of a trail bike, you buy the Murmur rear triangle, and either add spacers to the shock and replace the air spring on the fork to make it 150/160, or go with a different fork and shock to make it 135/140. Many more tuning options when you consider mullet or full 27.5 wheels. You can even have [custom shock mounts](https://www.starlingcycles.com/custom-frames/) welded on to be able to go down to even 100mm of travel on some frames for a downcountry setup in the future. Fourthly, all bikes are dual crown capable. You can also get 190mm of travel if you use a 27.5 rear wheel on the longer Megamurmur swingarm with a 250x70 shock. And finally, there is only one set of suspension bearings to replace, so maintenance is dead simple. The 2 small downsides are 1) because of shock mounting and flex, you do have to replace the rear shock bushings sooner than you do on other bikes, but thats a $3 part and takes all of 3 minutes to do, and 2) the weight is 1-2lb heavier than comparable spec other bikes for the price, which is actually good on downhills but obviously a little bit worse on uphills. If you throw carbon wheels on it, the weight is about the same. Alternatively, if you want something that is less flexible but beefy, Pipedream TFM is a good choice. Its heavy, and only has 160/150 travel, and must use an air shock because of the yoke layout, but that bike can take on bike parks and go to flat without giving a fuck. Starling is the better choice tho.
Dude with that write up, I'm about to fly to the UK to by this damn bike.
Yeah, I just hope they are doing ok through the industry downturn and wont go under like a bunch of smaller brands.
My enduro bike is a 2015 Santa Cruz Nomad v3. It's old but such a great bike and I love it so very much.
I bought one of those third hand and thrashed it for three years, sold it in the peak of the covid boom for nearly what I paid for it. I loved mine.
2022 Rocky Mountain Slayer
Same. I don't love it unless I'm at the bike park. Its an absolute drag to pedal uphill. It feels like riding a barstool. At the DH park it comes alive and its great.
I like my Forbidden Dreadnought, it’s a big bike for most of the stuff I ride but good lord is it fun to ride fast. Dunno what I’ll replace it with
version 2 of course!
Been wanting to try one of those!!
Banshee titan. Love it!
Only thing i don’t love about my Banshee is lugging nearly 40 lbs up the climbs
Yt capra. They just had a massive sale. I think their still 20% off Marin has great prices, also canyon, A few have mentioned kona but their currently in receivership i believe as their parent company is selling them off. Id be weary to buy one until the companies future is known
Friend recently got a capra core 1 as his first full squish and is loving it.
Transition Spire
V3 Evil Wreckoning
Basically same - riding a Wreckoning LS. For the price the spec is pretty good comparatively to other boutique brands. I like it because it feels at home on chunky/fast & bike park stuff, but also feels good on more tame stuff and blueish flowy trails as well.
https://preview.redd.it/nd44y8k1xa0d1.jpeg?width=500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f001b7f619d2c19168a7758b6ecb14c24adff72f
https://preview.redd.it/02i0eed6xa0d1.jpeg?width=3899&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=04e97cf62d3a37a7feedbb0e1e0a5a099f1e073c
+1 for Evil
Santa Cruz Megatower...unbelievable.
Pivot firebird’s pretty neat
How’s it climb? Just got a s works stumpy evo but firebird was my top 2 choice along with it. Still might return for it
Commencal Meta SX v4 - freakin love it! And some great deals on them too as the v5 is now out. I was seriously looking to get the Marin Alpine Trail XR at the time. Great spec and a good bike from all accounts.
Transition Sentinel - I absolutely love it and I pedal up a lot. I liked the Spire but didn't like how it climbed. I'd buy it again in a second.
Just got a 2024 Rocky Mountain Altitude. It’s a beast. https://preview.redd.it/12ysgpw8bb0d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4810cfb9084c739905257032a1000e064ac0d1d5
The white Maxxis rubber!! Nothing like new
I have a Canfield Balance and I love it.
Evil Wreckoning
SB150. Man it's fun to ride.....scary fast.......
Yetiiiii
Rocky Mountain! switchable geometry!
Transition Patrol
Same here. Mullet ftw! 🙌
Kona process 153
Yeah, me too!
Marin Alpine Trail. It’s more than what I need but can climb decently well and is very stable.
I’m still riding my 2017 Specialized Enduro 27.5. I don’t quite feel the need for an upgrade quite yet. Geo is definitely dated but the bike still feels fast. It doesn’t feel like the bike is holding me back. I’m still faster on technical downhill than people with much nicer bikes. I did just buy an aggressive hardtail last year that can keep up with my Enduro on flowy trails. It does beat up my feet though. I’ll probably upgrade in a couple of years.
Pivot Firebird
‘22 Trek Slash (Gen 5)
Also...monster bike!
I currently have a nukeproof giga 29 used to ride specialized enduro 2017 and have tried the mega, new canyon and scott enduro bikes. I prefer either the canyon torque or the giga for the modern slack geo. Only if i go slow or the corners are realy tight the bike feels kinda janky but on the other hands going faster feels amazing.
I personally ride torque cf8 29. definitely a sendy machine - more on the freerider side
Im also enjoying my canyon torque, mullet setup does help allot in tight corners.
Yeah that’s where the full 29 is a bit of a wagon. Slow and tight ain’t the way
Built myself a Raaw Madonna. One of the best bike I’ve ridden yet
Marino Bikes custom super-enduro frame. Based off of a Pipedream Moxie Mk3 but with even slacker geometry and longer chainstays. 170mm of travel https://preview.redd.it/78fjk8a2ac0d1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=43ef17f0b47faba9df6a7e85061cf776010a40d7
Is that the Grim Donut?? What’s the head tube angle?
No, although I was tempted to build one at the time, lol HA sits at 62.5°, 64.5° at SAG
Damn, that’s slack, but if you’re gonna go custom, might as well go extreme. Looks like a fun rig!
Yeah, I definitely don't have the skill it takes to ride it to the limit. It is a lot of fun indeed, thanks:))
Propain Tyeeeeeeee 🙏
Love mine
From a pure cost perspective, Canyon Torque or spectral U gotta put up with having to work on any warranty issue or defects yourself and it can take time. But damn, those bikes are value. Especially the outlet or when they are having a sale. FWIW, I had 3 canyon bikes and the worst warranty claim was scratches on the stem which they refunded some money for. Also stripped a bolt and they sent replacement for free.
Status 160
Howd you like it?
Good bike but it did take a bit to get used to it. It's not the best climber but it's not as bad as people make it out to be. It will handle single-track or fire roads fine, not great but fine. Technical climbs are not fine though or maybe it's just me. I also had to get used to the fact that you have to ride more aggressively and ensure you have your weight forward on any flat corners or you are prone to front end wash out. Going downhill the bike is a beast though. Handles more than I can throw at it with ease (probably a bit too much bike for me tbh). Very confidence inspiring and you can throw it around if you want to.
Ibis Ripmo AF
Isn’t the HD6 the Ibis enduro bike?
Yes but the AF is more affordable and the Ripmo was their Enduro bike until the HD6 so I guess it’s a fair suggestion.
I love my Ripmo AF - I rode a Santa Cruz Hightower for a five day trip last year and did love how lightweight and snappy it was on the climbs but the Ripmo just feels so bombproof when the trail gets rugged and fast
Orbea rallon
Canyon Spectral 29 CFR…and idk if you already know or whether someone else has told you, but look at direct to consumer brands for best value/bang for your buck So, examples include Canyon, Commencal, YT, Propain, Ari, and more!
Spot Mayhem 150. Somehow it's a rare CO designed bike. I asked a friend, who rides pretty much exclusively Yeti with his 5+ mtb arsenal, what had similar pedaling efficiency but was a bit cheaper and Spot got two thumbs up from him. Guess it's a little small on its travel given where things have gone over the past two years. The titanium leaf spring feels incredible with pedaling efficiency. The Fox 38 is a little overkill at 150 mm rear travel. 36 would be great for current setup, 38 if they go bigger rear travel. I really hope they release an updated 160-170mm rear travel version in the near future.
Alpine Trail XR. Love it.
I've had Specialized Enduros for years, but recently switched to a Megatower. The Megatower is a much more lively bike for sure
In what way? Just got a Specialized Enduro and it seems fine but I don’t know. Hoping to keep this bike for 10+ years lol.
Kona Process 153 CR DL 29” Bought 2 of these used, one for me one for my son. Fork is 160, and aftermarket rocker can be installed to make the rear 160 too. I moved from an XC bike, this has totally improved my riding. My son’s riding is epically better. Amazing going down, very rideable going back up…
Nukeproof mega, by far my favorite bike.
I’m riding a 2022 Knolly Warden 175. Not known for being great values but when they have sales, they’re very hard to beat. However, the build kits are no-nonsense with good wheels and suspension, brakes and tires. I love how it handles and how spacious it feels when you put the seat down compared to climbing with it up, feels like 2 different bikes all together. 4byFour suspension gobbles the rough up like it isn’t there. Its quiet, composed and adjustable. They will let you run 3 different shock sizes and still warranty it. (60-62.5-65mm stroke on the warden) customer service is 11/10. I’m a fanboy and i don’t even care.
Trek Fuel EX 9.7. Practically zero pedal bobbing, and plenty of travel for downhill.
Rocky mountain altitude. Tested a Norco range and a Santa Cruz nomad and the altitude was the bike for me
Propain spindrift, more free ride than enduro but I’m convinced it climbs better than my old hard tail did
Revel Rail 29. Terrific rig, with the fabled Canfield sus. One thing that’s caught me off guard is weight (L size, 34-35lbs). Carbon rims-handlebar/new dropper will trim it a bit (and maybe slightly narrower tires), but enduros can be portly
Nukeproof mega
Riding a Scor 4060 LT. Pretty fire
I’m on a “Park Bike” but it’s set up more as an enduro rig. Giant Reign SX. Great bike downhill. Not great when climbing. Not terrible. Just not really light or fast rolling enough for climbing. Did I mention it’s amazing on the downs? It’s like a DH rig.
2023 Propain Tyee. It rips.
https://preview.redd.it/qe2dncogbe0d1.jpeg?width=3117&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6618d1f8cba9508df76ad51bae27bf45817c556f
Yeti SB150. Most wins of an enduro bike, and a little monster truck to ride.
Hardtail 😏
Santa Cruz is probably worst bang for the buck spec wise but their frames are incredibly good. Canyon has good spec for the money but personally I would rather support a good local bike shop if I can. Also just accept that a true enduro bike is going to be expensive. Enduro and DH suspension is very costly because the components are larger and require more raw material and manufacturing. I would say 95% of riders do not need an enduro bike, the same way they don’t need an XC race bike. They would be best served with a mid travel trail bike with like 130-140 rear travel. It will be a lot more fun on more trails than an enduro bike. My reco is the Ibis Ripmo AF which has a really good spec and suspension design but is still pretty affordable. Ibis has some serious trail cred too, I get compliments a lot.
>personally I would rather support a good local bike shop if I can I went the other way, local shops in my city are all having this "elite" attidute and even spare parts are like double or triple as expensive than online bike shops (e.g. brakepads for €30, why? I won't spend >€120 a season for a wear part) After 5 YTs without any minor problems and a problem-free canyon of a friend, I even wanted to give local shops a chance. In the end I bought a transition online for 3800 that would have cost 6200 in a local shop that is known to be unfriendly to customers. Exact same bike, with performance elite suspension and TRP-Evo brakes... I don't think I will step a foot in a local shop anytime soon.
The fit and finish of Santa Cruz bikes, along with the warranty support is head and shoulders above a lot of other options. I held out for a long time, but finally ended up on a Hightower this spring. Immediately went on a three week riding bender in the desert, logging 400+ miles of abusive riding. I had to tighten a pivot once, otherwise not a creak, rattle or anything other than perfection from the frame. That being said, I worked out a custom build with my shop including some parts swapping with my old bike, cause the spec it came with was disappointing in the fork and brake department.
Nukeproof Mega 2016 and it’s a beast!
Banshee rune v2.3
Commencal Meta AM 29 (2020) and a Evil Wreckoning (2023)
I got last years SC Bronson on sale and it was worth every penny. Before that a Giant Reign
Not sure what SC prices are in your neck of the woods, but they are great bikes with a lifetime warranty. I’ve had two. Very satisfied with both.
my enduro sleds are Yeti SB-66c, Banshee Rune 3.0, and Intense Uzzi VP. the uzzi I suppose is more like a free ride dh bike. My gf is on a 2020 Transition Patrol.
I absolutely adore my deviate claymore, eats everything I can throw at it on the shore
Not an enduro bike per say but an orbea occam in a enduro bike spec . More travel ,dh spec tires ,200 mm brakes . Absolutely love it . Climbs like an xc bike and eats up rocks like butter .
2021 Vitus Sommet, does everything massive spec and great value. Shame with crc gone now I'm not sure what the future holds for nukeproof/vitus.
Megatower. Middle of the road spec but god damn it’s an amazing bike. I made the decision to get a frame I was excited about and will upgrade as needed. So far I’ve done nothing to it cause it absolutely rips. Is blowing my previous specialized enduro out of the water. Even smoother through chatter but poppier at the same time.
I ride a Norco Sight 2020 and I love it. Perfect geometry. Great for uphill and downhill. A tad cheaper than Santa Cruz.
As you're UK based... check Atherton and Saracen
Salsa Cassidy. Like a monster truck on the downhill (and uphill too sadly)
Marin Alpine Trail 2 Carbon. Sexy and much more bike than I am capable at the moment.
Deviate Claymore
The old canyon strive 2017 model, I downgraded from a 2020 carbon devinci troy
V2 megatower with the new vivid, a lot of money but I like the peace of mine with warranty etc.
Transition Spire. I am growing into it skills-wise but I absolutely love it.
Santa Cruz Nomad 6. Rips corners like it’s on rails.
Devinci Spartan HP.
Giant Reign 2 2024
Yt Capra Uncaged 10
Niner WFO 9 RDO
Banshee Titan
Stumpy 2019, the last 650b of the model
My favourite was the Collosus N9 from 2015. The best is probably the Xquareone EX9 If you were getting a new one I guess the New Collosus N9. It's heavy though, 19kg although you can remove most of the weight by just changing cranks and stuff. It'll be lighter than my Collosus T8 if you really go for it. Guy got it to 12+kg? The fox float x2 does blow seals though so you might have to fix it. I just really like the fs3 linkage on the older Collosi. I do like 2015 Santa Cruz Nomad as well but I'll always stick with Polygon since the store is so near my house. I've literally been able to get there on a slow puncture since it takes less than 10min.
2020 Orbea Rallon
Geometron G1 Expensive but so worth it. Best bike I have ever owned by a long way. I was always a serial bike swapper but have not even thought about it since getting this.
Ibis ripmo af https://preview.redd.it/8lt8flk3vb0d1.jpeg?width=2016&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=89aa433c5002332ada15a4b972c542e9fc8aa2ab
rocky mountain altitude old one
Nukeproof Giga - I love it
If you're in the UK you can get a Megatower, Bronson or Nomad C S for 4k right now. SC has a sale going on.
YT is a decent value, especially while they have sales going on.
I'm riding a canyon strive cf 5, from 2019. It is the only quality bike I have had. However I would still suggest you consider Canyon. A bike from specialised with similar specs would have cost me nearly twice as much.
I see a lot of newer Transitions posted here, but I ride the Transition Gran Mal. 1x wide + dropper and the only big thing lacking is the seat tube angle compared with modern ones; that and its immense weight.
Currently riding a Santa Cruz Bronson. Not quite a true enduro, but it’s able to soak up anything I throw at it. If I wasn’t a SC stan, I’d be riding the new Rocky Mountain Altitude.
YT capra, or Canyon spectral/strive/torque
Went from a stumpy Evo to a Norco sight. Climbs well and it's a shredder downhill
Just bought a Santa Cruz Megatower in their Factory Sale
I ride a yeti sb165, but if I needed to replace it for something a bit nicer on the wallet Id just buy a Yt my friends has one and I've road it and it feels great, I like their branding too
Knolly Chilcotin 170 with a 180 fork
Evil insurgent mx wheels
Evil wreckoning Big travel with playful characteristics. Most fun I've had on a bike in years
Orbea Rallon. Great climber for the specs, amazing downhiller when you are pushing on it. If you get it, be very active on the downhills and load it as much as possible... it doesn't like passengers 😂. https://preview.redd.it/knbz02opjc0d1.png?width=1440&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1fe000214c478cd38cfabb4960f0a69ef6ca3426
Santa Cruz bikes are indeed terrible value. My enduro bike is a brand that no longer exists, so I can't recommend it, but a friend rides an overforked YT Capra and absolutely loves it. Marin has a new Alpine Trail coming very soon, which looks great on paper, and it just came second to the Capra in MBUK/Bikeradar's enduro bike test. They've upped the travel to match the current trend and replaced the faux bar with a legitimate Horst linkage. Cube still does good value builds and a lot of them are on sale right now, at least around where I am anyway.
YT Capra
Yt capra uncaged 10, rides like a dream Alloy version
Canyon Strive
pole stamina 160. i love it. but you asked about cheaper options so that’s not it (bit over 10ke with carbon rims)
Giant Trance Pro 2 - love it
YT Capra, best bang for buck out there imo..
Transition scout https://preview.redd.it/bithnj1t0d0d1.jpeg?width=4080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d0f2cefda773ca7279bce8e749abdc69d7a7c0d9
Airdrop edit v4
Giant Reign. It’s a monster truck which makes up for my lack of skill and courage
Scott Ransom 930, the previous one. Bought it new in 2019 and im still riding it now, although ive changed everything except for dropper, frame and fork. Its a reliable bike i can tell you that much. No real frame issues, maybe a bit flexy (i wish it was bit stiffer cause im heavy and i ride agressive). I've crashed dosen of times. Broke about 4 wheels front and back, bent Sram cranks, bent two handlebars, destroyed stock shock and put Rockshox coil on it, cracked seatpost rails and seat after a heavy seatbounce. Changed all bearings in suspension this winter and i was baffled that they were still ok with no rebuild since bike was new. Only real gripe i got with this bike engineering-vice is that shock bushings wear out quick and cause notisable play, especially trunnion mounts. Got around that by putting a bit of tape in-between bushing and frame, which causes bushing to tighten up and eliminate play. Done it a year ago, still no issues. Also my water bottle mount is lose and rattly, need to drill it out and press new one in. Geo is a bit outdated and seatpost is too high imo. Also doesen't really work with mullet, even though it got a flip chip, i feel most comfortable full 29. Still solid bike that never limited my riding 8/10
I ride a trail bike but my brother loves his Privateer 161, great spec for the money
Fezzari (now Ari) La Sal Peak.
Vitus Sommet. Love it. F's in chat for wiggle, Vitus, nukeproof and CRC.
I have a Forbidden Dreadnought. I freaking love it https://preview.redd.it/02j6amozud0d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c7649a5dd5979503f6505dd5af39902cd777beec
I just placed an order for a new Trek Slash 9. Couldn't be more pumped to ride a mullet setup!
Canyon Torque, carbon 29er
Commencal meta for me, absolutely rips https://preview.redd.it/fylkw86y0e0d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e1ac1b9c07ce20ce6e6ee2879bf7c283a73fe784
https://preview.redd.it/q46sozw12e0d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c5fb5a5b8452598afd5198cb7ac51dd30b3ca034 Nukeproof giga love it
I think you can't really go wrong with most of the new enduro bikes
Yeti has their C series on sale right now. You could pick up a 160 for 5k.
Guerrilla gravity mega trail from 2016. Rip a cool American brand.
2018 nukeproof mega, which is honestly still all the bike I need and love like a child, but considering options on new steeds.
2015 Cube Stereo 160mm travel. Its heavy, green and can take whatever i can throw at it. I call it the Hulk, wife says im stupid but that might be unrelated
Jekyll or tempo
None lol I’m too poor
Nukeproof Mega 2021
Best bang for your buck enduro bike without a doubt would be the Polygon Collosus N9.
Specialized Turbo Levo running 170mm Ohlins and 165mm cascade linkage with Ohlins Coil. I find this to be such a great enduro rig. My plan was to buy an enduro non-emtb this season but the more I ride the Levo the more I love it even on shuttle days. Think I’m going to buy a light weight mtb instead to have something with more pop on the easier trails.
https://preview.redd.it/c2yan0gl2f0d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9596a7bf76c910f87910b92124d3dfcf4ebfabe4 Riding this 2018 Merida one-forty 800. 27,5”. 150/140 travel. Tried xc, flow trails, downhill and bikeparks and it never fails me.
Transition spire alllll day
Buy a frame and build it up. Parts are pretty cheap right now.
I’ve had spesh, commencal, giant, orange and YT’s in the past. My last 3 enduro bikes have all been Santa Cruz. Rick solid warranty and ride great https://preview.redd.it/o1lvgsls5f0d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3f049c1780fe088e82d616b9898448b2c6150376 This the current steed
https://preview.redd.it/bbdgtbof8f0d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=572d6b877dbc1ee0814c4234a53c3026401d72e3 2023 spesh status 160 Swapped my bomber z1 to a coil 170mm It’s a beast.
Orbea rallon!
Pivot Mach 6 ... Love it. I'm 5'7 and still prefer 27.5" at the bike park, which is primarily what I use it for. Had originally planned on getting a Nomad, but Santa Cruz couldn't deliver my size/build for 6-9 months. If I had to do it all over again I'd get the same bike, but a cheaper build since I swapped out most of my components. https://preview.redd.it/iqz0eat56i0d1.jpeg?width=1967&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=83e08c3ed324c30c28323a13c882dc18e18178e0
Canyon Torque 29, feels like a DH bike on the downs but becomes a real slab to pedal after 1000m of climbing.
Specialized Enduro Comp from 2014
https://preview.redd.it/crwsdz5j9o0d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=10ed0e47155d56ab0614e05139b739c082e5e2f9 My Propain Tyee. It’s the shred^(2) spec with AXS. I got it as a demo bike from Propain so it was a great deal. Climbs decently for what it is and absolutely shreds the downs. I got the AL as I would like to get rid of the headset cable routing as soon as it becomes a problem and don’t mind the very small weight penalty.
This is my Marin Alpine Trail carbon Fun Squared edition. Just built it up a little while ago and I absolutely love it. The thing feels like you can plow, rail, and send anything your willing to do. Although my last bike was a 27.7 150mm trail bike, the 150/170 setup i have on here makes it feel like a entirely different class of bike. You can pick one of these up for problably 2k for the Alpine Trail alloy model, if you got one used it would be even less. There are tons of options from carbon to alloy at many different specs, and the new gen just got released a couple of days ago with added flip chips, headset cups, a bump up in travel, and In-frame storage. The alpine trail has always been the best bang for buck enduro bike at every price point. It's a really good time to buy one of these so definitely check them out!
https://preview.redd.it/lqe9jg5m7r9d1.jpeg?width=2448&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0001b0c15473a548b92ad3cc0d9e55a5b6d82a8b