We are confused. What's going on with enduro bikes? As soon as we load the 2020 test bikes onto the FREERIDE bus, we start discussing and ask ourselves: Are these still enduro bikes? Some of the bikes look more like big bikes. First and foremost the new Specialized Enduro, whose new kinematics and beefy looks actually come from its big brother, the Demo. Even in the top version for a dizzying € 11,000, it weighs 14.1 kilos, despite carbon at the front and rear.
The fact is: manufacturers are pushing their enduro bikes more towards downhill. But the range of use is not only shifting as a result, it is naturally becoming smaller. The all-rounders are becoming specialists, and if you're not careful, you'll end up with a downhill bike in disguise. In short: where it says Enduro on the label, it doesn't necessarily mean it's more Enduro! The reason for this development is probably the influence of the EWS, the Enduro World Series. And its race-loving engineers, inspired to build the athletes the fastest bike for the race. Because - and we all know this - the Enduro tracks of the EWS are in no way inferior to the downhill tracks in terms of roughness, speed and gnarliness (as the Americans like to say). If you want to ride fast here, you need a long, flat, low bike with a robust design and plenty of suspension travel. If you want to win here, you need: a mini downhiller! And many of the 2020 enduro bikes have become mini downhillers.
But we also have to ask ourselves whether we are partly to blame for this development. After all, we often test enduro bikes on downhill trails and favour the bike that can best cope with the adversities of the topography. The answer: Yes, that's true. However, it is our job to push bikes to the limit. Even our journalist colleagues from Auto Motor Sport don't stroll through 30 km/h zones with their test cars, but instead hurtle through water-flooded bends at 180 km/h - something that probably very few of us ever do with our cars. Phew, that gets us off the hook!
Our appeal to you, so that there are no long faces after the purchase: Check what you intend to do with the bike. Are you mainly travelling in the low mountain ranges, possibly mostly on undulating trails with lots of up & down, or do you prefer to ride in the now trendy enduro regions such as Latsch, Reschen, Finale Ligure etc. with their steep descents or even in the park?
Find out which enduro bike might be right for you in the test report. The entire article with all test results, technical data and grades for these seven enduro bikes is available as a PDF in the download area below:
- Conway WME 627 Carbon
- Cube Stereo 170 SL HPA
- Giant Reign Advanced Pro 0 29
- Mondraker Superfoxy Carbon RR
- Rocky Mountain Slayer Carbon 70
- Specialised Enduro S-Works
- Yeti SB 165 Turq-Series T2
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Dimitri Lehner
Editor
