The further you move away from the centre, the more specialised things become. However, when it comes to enduro bikes, where 160 millimetres of suspension travel is involved, other laws seem to apply. But first things first. We are talking about the category that marks the upper end of the test range at BIKE. In order to reconcile generous suspension travel and agile handling, bike designers often have to haggle over every millimetre. Keyword chainstay length. If you think back to the first designs of bikes with the new 27.5 inch wheel size, there were sometimes signs of paralysis instead of lively trail enjoyment. Long chainstays kept the front wheel on the ground, while the heavy wheels were slow to get up to speed. This makes the current enduro range all the more astonishing. Despite a decent amount of travel, there are not only bikes with the current standard 27.5-inch size, but also a few 29-inch bikes and recently even the 27.5-plus size. So there's plenty of choice, even in the enduro camp.
To find out which concept has the greatest potential, we invited eight high-end enduro bikes between 5499 and 7999 euros to the test. These included six bikes with conventional tyres as well as a Specialized on large 29-inch wheels and the Scott Genius LT with plus tyres. To test the suitability for touring, we took to the Isar trails and tested the downhill performance on the Tschilli trail in Latsch. With its varied character, this is the ideal route for testing the handling, suspension and puncture resistance of wheels and tyres alike.
You can find these enduro MTBs in the test:
- Cube Stereo C:68 Action Team
- Focus Sam C Team
- Liteville 301 MK13 (BIKE-TIP: Test winner)
- Mondraker Dune Carbon RR
- Propain Tyee CF Light (BIKE-TIP: Tour)
- Rocky Mountain Altitude 790 MSL Rally
- Scott Genius LT 700 Tuned Plus
- Specialized Enduro Expert Carbon 29 (BIKE-TIP: Allround)
We have already discussed the all-round suitability of current enduro bikes in previous test groups. Thanks to modern geometries, the bikes climb very well even without fork drop, which is why all test candidates do without this feature. In addition, the rear suspension can be tightened via the platform if necessary. On the Cube, Rocky Mountain and Scott, this can be done easily from the handlebars, which is a real advantage when racing. Scott goes one step further with the Genius LT Plus and also adjusts the fork at the same time using the Twinloc lever.
However, a key issue that gives a bike all-round capabilities is weight. The more expensive the test group, the easier it is to fulfil this requirement. At just 12.2 kilos including pedals, Propain impressively demonstrates what is possible and imbues the Tyee CF Light with first-class climbing characteristics. On average, the test group weighs in at a respectable 13 kilos. Compared to the previous High-end enduro test in BIKE 12/14 the new vintage has slimmed down by half a kilo, further expanding the range of applications.
The central issue of weight naturally also plays a role in the wheel concept. As soon as the diameter increases or the tyres and rims become wider, the weight of the rotating mass increases. At least if you don't want to compromise on tyre stability and puncture protection. At 4863 grams, the Plus wheels (including tyres) weigh the most on the scales despite the tubeless setup. The fitted 2.8 mm Schwalbe Nobby Nic tyres with their thin, flexible casing are even among the lightweights in the Plus range. If you want more stability and puncture protection, you will inevitably have to add another 300 grams. In comparison, the Specialized's 29er wheelset weighs 4274 grams, which puts it in the good mid-range. However, the weight alone does not protect against high inertia, as the tests on our accelerometer prove. Because the mass is further away from the hub, the 29ers only accelerate as well as the Plus wheelset. Only the equally heavy, normal 27.5 mm wheelset in the Focus is even harder to get going. Downhill, all three wheel sizes can hold their own, with the Plus tyres standing out the most due to their more comfortable, but also spongier ride feel at high speeds. The 29er also conveys a high degree of safety. Even more impressive, however, is the playful handling that you wouldn't expect from the large wheels, which speaks less for the size itself than for the implementation in the case of the Specialized.
Conclusion Peter Nilges, BIKE test manager:
In principle, all three wheel dimensions are also suitable for enduro use. However, it still depends on whether the corresponding concept is implemented well. The wheel size alone definitely does not make a good bike. When it comes to weight, however, there are limits to the Plus tyres. A stable and puncture-proof three-inch tyre with a correspondingly wide rim will always be considerably heavier and therefore more sluggish than a standard 2.3 tyre and also heavier than most enduro-compatible 29er tyres. Wide tyres will therefore have a hard time, especially in tough racing conditions where high puncture protection is important. Perhaps the golden mean lies at 2.5-2.6 inches wide after all?
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The current range of enduro mountain bikes is extremely diverse and confusing. Despite plenty of suspension travel, there are not only bikes with the current standard size of 27.5 inches, but also a few 29-inchers and, more recently, even the 27.5-plus size. So there's plenty of choice, even in the enduro camp.
Which Enduro MTB concept is convincing?
To find out which concept has the greatest potential, we invited eight high-end enduro bikes between 5499 and 7999 euros to the test. These included six bikes with conventional tyres as well as a Specialized on large 29-inch wheels and the Scott Genius LT with plus tyres. To test the suitability for touring, we took to the Isar trails and tested the downhill performance on the Tschilli Trail in Latsch. With its varied character, this is the ideal route to test the handling, suspension and puncture resistance of wheels and tyres alike.
1. enduro bikes in 27.5 inches
There are many factors in favour of the smallest wheel currently available, which is why most enduro bikes roll on 27.5 inch wheels. The smaller wheels are structurally easier to combine with a lot of suspension travel without having to make major compromises in terms of tyre clearance and chainstay length.
+ Low weight
+ High impeller stability
+ Very good availability
+ Hardly any space problems with the frame
- Poorer rolling and rollover behaviour
2. enduro bikes in 29 inch
The trick with 29-inch enduro bikes is to create space for the spring-loaded rear wheel without stretching the wheelbase to XXL. Only a few manufacturers manage to do this as well as Specialized, which means that many 29ers with a lot of suspension travel are often bulky to ride. Until recently, the choice of tyres was quite limited.
+ Very good rolling and rollover behaviour
+ Centre of gravity low under the wheel axle
- Higher weight
- Less wheel stability
- Space problems with the rear triangle
3. enduro bikes in 27.5 Plus
Scott is the first supplier to combine Plus tyres with Enduro suspension travel. The wide tyres allow low air pressures, which brings noticeable advantages. However, the width is also a disadvantage in terms of weight. The tyres are either light, but not puncture-proof, or stable and very heavy.
+ Very good comfort
+ High traction due to low tyre pressure
- High weight due to wide tyres / rims
- Currently small selection of tyres
- Space problems with the rear triangle
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CONTINUOUS REVENUE
These details are a constant source of annoyance, and not just in the enduro test group. However, some of them can be remedied with simple means.
You can read the complete test of the eight enduro bikes in BIKE 8/2016. You can read the issue in the BIKE app (iTunes and Google Play) or in the DK shop order:
