EVIL FOLLOWING MB GX EAGLE FOX FACTORY
£5,565 Do-it-all trail machine that provokes hooligan riding
Evil’s second-generation Following is more of a subtle evolution than a radical overhaul, but considering that it already rocked, that’s fine with us. It retains its uniquely curvy look and is still at the top end of boutique pricing, even though the US brand now sell semidirect in Europe.
The frame
Bulbous at both ends, thanks to a fat headstock and Boost-axled rear triangle, the Following MB uses a Dave Weagle-designed suspension system dubbed DELTA. This linkageactuated single-pivot layout pairs a mid-height main pivot with short ‘dog bone’ links that form a triangulated cradle for the metric shock. These links can achieve complicated angular and velocity shifts as the bike moves through its travel, and Weagle has plotted a ‘dual progressive’ curve that aims for suppleness off the top, support in the mid stroke and solid bottom-out resistance.
Evil have made the frame stiffer and stretched it lengthways, but it’s still middle-of-the-road in terms of shape. While their new Offering 29er has a significantly steeper seat angle, the Following still has a slack seat tube and rearward saddle position, which can be an issue on the larger sizes for long-legged riders. With the reversible suspension links in the ‘X-Low’ position, the threaded BB sits at a ground-hugging 329mm.
The kit
Our bike had an upgraded Factory series Fox 36 fork and DPX2 shock, which add £340 to the cost (the standard GX build is £5,225). A trunnion mount for the shock sees the suspension cycle fully on sealed bearings (including any eyelet rotation), reducing friction, and there’s plenty of damping oil inside the piggyback chamber to help it handle the kind of rough DH riding that works short-travel rigs hard.
E*thirteen’s TRS wheels are impressive, with a reasonable strength-to-weight ratio and good dent resistance. They’re slowed by SRAM Guide RE brakes with big four-pot callipers, which are superpowerful and controlled, and the best on test.
The ride
The Evil excels by tempering the fun factor of the Transition with a bit more efficiency and zip under power, like the Pivot. It’s not the slackest or longest bike, but it’s always beautifully balanced, and an absolute demon in the turns. Stick it in the X-Low BB position, and the Following MB has a special X factor that shines every time you lean it, flick it or smash it through corners.
The bike seems to just magically find the apex and lighten the rear tyre at the perfect moment, to spit you out with zero suspension wallow or rider weight shift. It’s properly addictive.
The DELTA suspension system works great on bumps too, letting the bike hover in a well-balanced, active mid zone, where it gives tons of grip in the loose stuff and isolation from vibration, without ever hanging up on square edges or bottoming out harshly on bigger airs and G-outs. Like a true 29er, the Evil maintains pace well too, so energy never feels wasted, especially if you push against the ground to eke extra momentum out of hollows and edges, rather than just pedalling. This bike is a beast at generating and maintaining pace off every lip, dip and edge.
It doesn’t have the deepest-feeling suspension, isn’t the best pedaller, and the seat angle could do with being a couple of degrees steeper. We’d also be tempted to save money by sticking with the RockShox Pike fork and Super Deluxe shock of the standard GX build, even though the Factory Fox kit does track well and feel seriously composed and calm. The Following MB is easily the most rounded bike here though, with a dull-feeling yet compliant chassis, a perfectly -balanced riding position and an intoxicating ‘send it’ attitude. Whether you’re clocking up the miles, flowing along manmade trails or ripping down technical descents, the Evil can do it all, and is so lively and easygoing that it makes you feel like you’re winning on every ride.
IT’ S NOT THE SLACKEST OR LONGEST BIKE, BUT IT’S ALWAYS BEAUTIFULLY BALANCED, AND AN ABSOLUTE DEMON IN THE TURNS