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I've recently unexpectedly had a sizeable tax refund so am looking to treat myself to a full suss that is up to date with all the latest technology etc and will hopefully future proof me for a few years.
My general riding is local loops in the woods and on the moors (generally max 20 miles) with a good bit of climbing (I live in Yorkshire!) But obviously what goes up must come down, and also trail centres such as Gisburn and Dalby from time to time.
The specialized enduro comp has caught my eye as you seem to be able to pick them up second hand alot cheaper than stumpjumpers for equivalent model year/component spec but I have a couple of concerns:
Is it going to be a pig to ride uphill and make me wish I'd bought a stumpy
Is a size large going to be too small for me (I'm 6'1" - for some reason no XL is available in the 650b model)
For reference I'll be coming from an On One 456 Evo 2 with heavy basic Shimano Wheels so the climbing thing may be an improvement even if it is seen to be crap in general
Any input is much appreciated
i owned a enduro 29 for six months last year. bought it specifically to ride up and down some big hills. i took it up Skiddaw and down Ullock for it's 1st ride, and 2 weeks later up and down Helvellyn.
on wide rocky open descents, it was fantastic. proper fast and stable. on slow tighter trails, it felt far too long and cumbersome. also it felt very high. this may have been because i ran the suspension hard.
i rode it around the Nidderdale loop, and it felt like far too much bike for most of the trail, and imho , it is totally the wrong kind of bike for any trail center.
a good hardtail 29 would be better suited.
the enduro 29 is a proper big trail/mountain kind of bike.....imho
I love mine however not the single front sprocket but thats just a fitness thing. It is a big bike and my recently fitted dropper post makes a big difference to the fun had going downhill. It is a bit unwieldy on tight corners however it rolls over most things with no issues.
I ride out of Courmayeur wich means a road cycle then shove/carry up to the ridge, long windy single track along and steep switchback paths down and it copes pretty well.
Im 6'6 and 120kg and ride an XL.
Niall
it is totally the wrong kind of bike for any trail center.
Yup. Haven't rode a trail centre yet that a hardtail isn't the best tool for the job.
Don't own an Enduro but 6 of my mates do. They don't seem to suffer on the climbs and rip on the way down. Mostly 29ers, except for the little fella who wasn't allowed one cause he's only wee 🙂 (honestly the shop wouldn't sell him one!). He's on a 650. I understand that Specialized's policy is to offer the 650 version up to L size and if that's too small, then you go 29. Little touches like thinner grips etc on the 650 in an attempt to tailor the bike to suit [s]midgets[/s] rider size.
Sounds like even a Stumpy would be too much bike for your riding and the Camber would be better. I had (still have but gave it to my eldest) a Stumpy Evo and loved it but unless i was in the mountains, it was a little too much bike. I'm 6'5 and had a L for 3 years. Yup, it's as a little cramped but there were no second hand XLs about when i was buying. You'd probably be fine on a Large imo.
I've a 29 Enduro, very fast down, climbs well for a long travel beast, highish bb is a god send on natural rocky stuff. It's totally OTT for the South Downs but great on Dartmoor and some of the Peaks.
Undoubtedly good bikes but frame geometry is a bit short.
Also you might be better on a bike with a bit less travel.
What's your budget?
I have a large 2015 650b Enduro. previous bike for me was a large on one 456 evo 2 as well, oh and I'm 6'1 haha! you will find the Enduro better in every way. it may have something to do with the fox float ctd shock out the back but i find the rear suspension can feel a little dead at times, don't know how better to describe it. apart from that it's a cracking bike. it is a bit shorter than the current trend but for me the the jury is still out on that as It doesn't feel too cramped when riding and i have a 6'5 arm span!
Like previous people have said, you really need to consider how much bike you actually require. I race quite a few enduros in the year and ride some pretty rowdy stuff but 160mm both ends is probably too much for about 60-70% of what i take it on. It's nice to know you have it when you need it i guess
Thanks alot for the feedback everyone- much appreciated
To be honest I'm swaying towards it probably being too much bike for what I do- just seen a very good deal on a second hand one that has me trying to convince myself it would be perfect!
Budget up to £1500 at a push but probably prefer to stick to £1200- £1300 if I can, I've had my eye on the Whyte T-130 (completely different style of bike to the enduro I know!) for a while but the XL seem to very rarely come up second hand, and I'm very much a fan of buying SH and letting someone else take the bulk of the depreciation.
If anyone has any other suggestions for similar style mid travel full sussers that are available in decent large or XL sizes I'd be all ears - I tend to prefer larger bikes hence my concern about the Large size Enduro being a bit cramped
I bought one on a whim and hate it. No where near as nice I expected.
If anyone's after a medium s works.....
haven't rode a trail centre yet that a hardtail isn't the best tool for the job
You haven't had the pleasure of Swinley then, the UK's least gnarly trail centre but also the most annoying on a hardtail because of the sheer amount of flat yet mildly bumpy stuff.
The Enduro is big bike though - probably 50% more travel than works best for trail centres and XC.
This might be worth a look. The XL is not super-long, but still a bit longer than the Enduro L - and you may be on the lower end of XL anyway?
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/cube-stereo-140-hpa-race-suspension-bike-2016/rp-prod141147
You can get 10% off with BC membership.
I sometimes think I may be over biked but then you get going in rowdy stuff and its awesome. It's pretty light too so climbs fine. For trail centres i'd say any bike with more than 5 is too much but if you get out of those places then its in its element.
I am currently riding a 2015 Specialized Enduro 650b comp which I really rate, I am around 6ft 1" and would say I am at the limit of a large, any taller and an xl would be better.
I also bought a 2016 Enduro 29er which was ok but did feel very high off the ground and not as easy in the turns, to cut a long story short it was just not as much fun as the 650b.
My 2015 climbs really well and I keep up with all my mates on their Stumpjumpers and Cambers but on the downs I have to wait for them at the bottom every time.
I have ridden this at lots of bike parks and on all my local trails, I have never felt over-biked but have always felt well equipped. if you are anywhere near Gloucestershire you are more than welcome to take it for a spin
The only other thing I would say is that the 2015 Pikes had a fault with the stanchions coming loose from the crown, I got mine upgraded to 2016 RCT3 under warranty so do check there is no play in the forks if looking at a second hand 2015
I love my 2013 26" Enduro it's far to much bike mostly but I like to ride it. Climbs perfectly well and far better than a 160mm bike ever should.
Used a 2016 650b one for a weekend in Wales( afan blade & bpw )this year but could not get on with agaib climbed well but did not feel as stable on the downs. Maybe it was just set up issues
Yup. Haven't rode a trail centre yet that a hardtail isn't the best tool for the job.
Lol crazy talk. Let me know when you're off to BPW so I can order a dentist
BPW isn't a trail centre!
What is it?
How about whites descent at Afan? That's best on a HT? I've ridden it on one, it was awful!
A good upgrade to a size L or XL enduro 29 is to fit the shock linkage from the 650 enduro, it is shorter than the stock 29 linkage, lowering the BB and slackening the head angle
What is it?
The clue is in the name - it's a bike park! 😉 It's the most trail centre-like of them though, the rest of the UK's uplift venues are more downhill bike oriented.
How about whites descent at Afan? That's best on a HT? I've ridden it on one, it was awful!
Enjoyed that lots on my hardtail some years ago - long fork, big tyres and dropper. Antur Stiniog was fun too but rather brutal on the hands. It's bumpy yet flat stuff where hardtails are annoying - but I do prefer my full-sus most of the time.
Just bought a 2016 Enduro as my first 650b bike and I"m pleasantly surprised and also slightly underwhelmed at the same time.Underwhelmed at how little difference the larger wheelsize makes, pleasantly surprised at how light it is for a 165 full-sus bike.Took it to Cwmcarn yesterday and it climbed well and was a joy on the downhill sections.Thought I"d hate the guide brakes but theyre impressive TBH.Large is perfect for me with a v short stem, I"m 6ft exactly.
I see me keeping it for the forseeable future
How about a stump jumper evo 29er in large ......
..... Which I may have up for sale currently 
You haven't had the pleasure of Swinley then, the UK's least gnarly trail centre but also the most annoying on a hardtail because of the sheer amount of flat yet mildly bumpy stuff.
Not had the pleasure of Swinley but you're not exactly selling it to me there 😛 I concede that bumpy uphills are more comfortable and probably faster on a FS but know from my own experience that the right hardtail on hardpack flat/downhill stuff (your typical trail centre trail) is faster [i]and [/i]more fun - making it the best tool for the job imo.
Thought is was obvious that a bikepark and a trail centre were different beasts. Seems i was wrong 😀
Renton, what didn't you like about the Stumpy? Or have you got the itch again?
I just came here to post this picture...
[img] 
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Mmmmmm
Looks even better in the flesh. Just need to sort the brakes on it and the Slaughter off before it gets a leg over it.
I've a Camber evo 29. If the Enduro is at least as good it'll be a good bike, but you will be overbiked based on what the Camber can do.
Jim ...... I've got that itch again
Camber has a head angle from the stone ages though.
What is wrong with guides? Mine have been awesome, loads of power and modulation with zero problems.
It's people that make those comments that would sell Roval wheels. Daft.
Nothing wrong with the guides, all our bikes are standardised on one brake. Makes it alot easier with spares and pads.
I had an Enduro 29 in large and I'm 6'2". It was too short for me and like others felt it was a little awkward and top heavy. It does climb and covers ground well for a bike with that much travel. I didn't like it.
There are lots of other bikes I would choose for the riding you describe that are arpund 120-140mm travel - Stumpjumper Spectral Anthem T130s etc
Got an Enduro 650 comp and no matter where i've ridden it i've enjoyed it. From Antur stiniog to the Peak district to Cannock Chase and lots of other places it works really well. Its not big on character and for some that might be an issue but not for me.