EVIL INSURGENT MX 29 GX
Armed with more travel, Evil’s new Insurgent’s ready to take the baddest trails by storm
£6,599 / 29-27.5in / evil-bikes.com
Evil bikes look cooler than ever, but I still struggle to tell each model apart even after testing most of them since the brand’s mid-2010 makeover. Having a smaller rear wheel on the latest Insurgent MX 29 certainly helps, especially when it’s the only mullet in Evil’s range. That’s not to say it’s not still confusing, as Evil uses the same Insurgent frame to produce two versions of the bike: one with 27.5in wheels the other with MX wheels.
Originally a 160mm-travel enduro machine, the latest 27.5in Insurgent packs more travel and a longer 180mm fork and targets wannabee jibbers and Rampage huckers more than purebred racers. In contrast, the MX version ridden here bolts a 29in front wheel and 170mm-travel fork to the frame and aims the bike at the same downhill and enduro tracks as Evil’s 29er Wreckoning, albeit with a smaller (quicker to turn and accelerate) rear wheel.
The 27.5in Insurgent may be more agile, but chuck this MX version around and the Evil DNA shines through. It’s all about maximising thrills and flattering skills, rather than solely focusing on top speed. This is reflected in the geometry too, where Evil’s attitude doesn’t fully follow the long-low-slack philosophy of using length to ride ever faster, instead relying on balance and handling, rather than just being planted and stable.
With the recognisable curvy, carbon looks comes the familiar Delta-link suspension. It looks complex, but is a single-pivot design where the links provide a ‘dual progressive’ curve to generate support around sag, float in the mid-zone to maximise traction, all with enough ramp-up for bottom-out resistance. It makes flamboyant claims for a suspension curve, but I’ve yet to ride an Evil with dodgy suspension and it’s particularly sweet here, with stable, efficient pedalling, precise tracking and stacks of smooth support.
Evil knows its suspension is a strong suit, so damping is prioritised at every level to eliminate compromises. As such, even the entry-level GX Eagle version has the exact same Rockshox Zeb Ultimate fork and Dh-level Super Deluxe shock as the mega-money SRAM AXS bike. Top-tier Rockshox gear brings concessions elsewhere though, and for a £6.5K rig the cheaper SRAM G2 brakes lack sheer power and refinement.
Minion DHF tyres front and rear work well in dry-ish conditions, but thinner EXO casings aren’t robust enough for a 168mm-travel rig. Plus, I’ve had multiple prior issues with the Super Boost Industry Nine Enduro S wheels the tyres are mounted to. So on top of
Damping is prioritised at every level
the annoyingly loud freehub, bearing life is poor in UK mud and the wheels are flexy, leading to a nasty habit of the straight-pull spokes snapping.
HOW IT RIDES
No spokes were damaged this time, but my first Insurgent shred wasn’t much to write home about. Compared to the size Medium 29in Wreckoning I’ve ridden loads, it felt sketchy, lacked balance and was cramped. I’d inherited the bike from someone sending it deep on massive jumps at Revolution Bike Park and soon discovered near maximum damping wound on at both ends.
Factor in the 10mm-shorter stem, and the nimble mullet felt hectic in the steering department (not helped by a stupid-wide 810mm Evil bar and sticky-out grips that got wedged through trees).