SPECIALIZED SWORKS ENDURO
£8,999 Overhauled for 2020 and now faster than ever
After spending years refining the last Enduro, Specialized decided to go back to the drawing board and start this new one from scratch. It takes much of its inspiration from their World Cup-winning downhill bike, the Demo, and is designed to be even faster than the old bike.
The frame
The Enduro’s new suspension layout positions the main pivot further forward and they’ve raised the bike’s instant centre, to create a more rearward axle path, which should help maintain momentum when battering through square-edged hits. Anti-squat has also been increased, by a claimed 40 per cent, to improve pedalling efficiency and ensure you can still get this big-wheeled, bigtravel beast back to the top of the hill. It now sports a massive 170mm of rear bounce, here controlled via a trunnion-mount Fox Float X2 shock. The leverage curve has been tweaked too, to improve both initial sensitivity and end-stroke progression.
There are four sizes available (S2 to S5), with reach figures ranging from 437mm to 511mm. Our S3 test bike had a generous reach of 464mm (with flip-chip in ‘low’ setting) and a super-slack 63.7-degree head angle. The BB isn’t the lowest, at 345mm.
Not only is the Enduro now only available with 29in wheels, there’s also no alloy option. The top-end S-Works frame here gets carbon fibre top, middle and lower links to save a claimed 250g over the standard composite frame. All Enduros get an in-frame SWAT storage box too.
The kit
This shockingly expensive model is the priciest in the four-bike line-up and touts a drool-worthy spec list, including Fox Factory dampers, a Shimano XTR 12-speed transmission and four-piston brakes, plus the new wireless RockShox Reverb AXS dropper post. A carbon Roval Traverse SL bar and wheels add to the bling factor and price too.
The ride
Get moving on the new Enduro and it’s hard to ignore just how supple the rear suspension is. The lightest touch gets the bike sinking into the initial part of its travel and ensures the rear tyre stays glued to the trail. We did find ourselves reaching for the low-speed compression damping lever on the rear shock on extended climbs, but it’s by no means a slouch when going up. The fact it weighs just 14.67kg and has a 76-degree seat angle are contributing factors here.
On mellower trails, where supple suspension can sap energy when you’re trying to pump and push
through undulations, we added more pressure to the shock and upped the low-speed compression by a few clicks to help liven things up a little, without losing that initial plushness. The Enduro doesn’t lack support, thanks to the controlled way in which it deals out its travel. This means you can load the bike heavily through turns and pop out with speed. We swapped the 50mm stem for a 35mm replacement, for an improved ride position and lighter feel through the bar, but the steering remains calm, thanks in part to the slack head angle and the short offset on the fork.
It’s when speeds pick up and the terrain gets more intimidating that the Enduro really shows what it’s capable of. Sure, it’s a fun bike to ride on more sedate terrain, but point it into a blown-out, bump-riddled track and this bike delivers confidence and traction by the bucketload. The smooth suspension and balanced ride dynamic help to calm the chaos going on beneath the tyres, and while Specialized’s Butcher may not be one of our go-to tyres for all-round traction, we were surprised by just how much grip the Enduro could generate in dicey conditions. Even the wandering bite point on the rear XTR brake didn’t prevent us taking the outrageous line choices that the Enduro encourages.
While this S-Works model is a ton of cash, its geometry and suspension layout are shared by the £4,499 Enduro Comp, making that bike look extremely appealing. ROB www.specialized.com
POINT IT INTO A BLOWN OUT, BUMP RIDDLED TRACK AND THIS BIKE DELIVERS CONFIDENCE AND TRACTION BY THE BUCKET LOAD