Enduro bicycles have experienced a deep evolution in the last five years, mainly fruit of development in international competitions such as the World Series, Megavalanches and similar events. Its importance at the user level is still very strong, even despite the recent long-distance e-bikes.
There are many models in the market, each of them with different characteristics and components that sometimes make choice difficult. Beyond the brand, at the time of
Buy an enduro bike It is necessary to look at details such as the type of wheel that mounts, the angle of advance of the fork and, especially, the suspension route.
In this article we tell you some aspects that you should know when choosing an enduro bicycle. And we will also talk about our 5 favorite models.
29 "vs wheels of 27.5"
The competition brought with it the standard of 29 ”wheels to the enduro. A wheel size that a decade ago was unthinkable that it could penetrate the modality. But it is currently the final commitment in the segment and all the reference models of the large brands are presented with these serial wheels.
The reason for this radical change of standard in so a few years responds to the needs of having a faster and faster bike in the descents and rolling in the rest of the land, plain and rise. A good enduro bicycle should gather those qualities, because it is not only used to lower, also to climb strong slopes or travel flat sections.
The 29 ”wheels can balance all these characteristics and even improve them with respect to those of 27.5”. A 29 ”tire has some more contact surface with the ground than one of 27.5”. In addition, its largest diameter allows you to maintain a more constant and fast speed.
Also, and as has been proven in the
Cross country, a 29 ”wheel enhances the rolling capacity of the bicycle both in plain and up.
Where the enduro of 27.5 ”can still compete with those of 29” is in the agility and management of the bicycle. In the last, the geometry of the painting has been redefined, getting closer to the measures and angles of a descent bike. But the length of the pods has also shortened and the
offset (advance) of the fork to give the bicycle of that desired ease and agility in the curves.
Differences between Enduro and All Mountain
The adoption of the 29 ”wheels in the enduro has redefined the concept of
All Mountain, the least radical alternative of the first. Even sometimes enduro and
All Mountain They get confused in the same bicycle.
Some bikes of
All Mountain current have increased their routes with respect to previous generations, being able to find models with 150 mm or 160 mm (Trek Remedy, Radon Slide Trail Radon, etc). This generates confusion about whether those
All Mountain They can also serve for enduro tours.
They are undoubtedly valid and, depending on the level or type of routes made, with more flat sections and increases, they can even be a better option. But a current enduro carries its routes to 170 mm and 180 mm in some cases, in addition to orienting its geometry more towards the pure descent than the scheme of the
All Mountain, more balanced and rolling.
Simplifying more, if what you want is to lower quickly an enduro should be your choice. But if you do not have the descent technique more refined or you do not care about the speed, your eyes should go to the
All Mountain.
5 essential enduro bicycles
Below we have gathered five models of successful enduro bicycles in the market. Each of them has some or several of the characteristics that we have mentioned above, either with wheels of 29 ”, 27.5”, more or less travel and different design concepts.
Trek Slash
Trek Slash is one of the best examples of long -experienced enduro bike that has evolved from the already discontinued 26 ”wheels in the first years of the last decade at the current 29”, passing through the intermediates of 27.5 ” . The current range consists of four carbon and two aluminum models, and sales options only. In 2021 it has been updated by increasing the route of its suspensions up to 160 mm in the rear shock absorber and 170 mm in the fork.
Giant Reign
The Giant Reign is another example of a long -lived enduro bicycle in the market (it goes for the 7th generation), which has also ended up riding 29 ”wheels. But, unlike Trek Slash, in Giant they have contained the suspension route to offer a 29 ”bike concept to lower but versatile at the same time, with a renewed teacher suspension system of 146 mm of travel. The fork, however, offers 170 mm.
At the same time, Giant also renewed the 27.5 ”model, called Advanced to offer a more agile and balanced version, but without losing potential in the suspension. This does keep 160 mm suspension in the rear and 170 mm in the front.
Thus, three series are differentiated in the current range: Advanced Pro, 29 ”and Carbon Table; Advanced, 27.5 ”in Carbon and Reign 29, aluminum with 29” wheels.
Cannondale Jekyll
The Cannondale Enduro Bicycle was modernized in 2017, redesigning picture and suspension system. The latter integrated the Gemini shock absorber, jointly created between Fox and Cannondale herself. It was able to modify the volume of its air chamber and change, by means of a remote control installed in the handlebar, the suspension route: either in 165 mm (Flow mode to go down) or 130 mm (Hustle mode to pedal).
In this first deep renewal, the assembly with 27.5 ”wheels was maintained, but in 2019 it finally adopted the 29” wheels, in addition to reducing the GEMINI suspension routes in Flow mode at 150 mm and 120 mm respectively. The Jekyll 2021 Cannondale range consists of three models, two in carbon and one in aluminum.
Commençal Clash
Recently, to differentiate themselves from the most versatile and less radical enduro models, many brands have explored the concept of superenduro. Bicycles with suspension tours of 170 mm or higher and geometry very close to the DH, either to compete, roll outside the path in mode
Freeride, or to better adapt to the tracks of the
Bike Parks.
An example of this new twist to the enduro is the Commençal Clash, which is unmarked from the famous Meta AM with aluminum frame, 170 mm rear -travel, 180 in the striker, geometry inspired by DH's furious (64º in the direction, 77.2º of the armchair tube) and possibility of modifying in two positions the kinematics of the rear suspension.
The latter is achieved by changing orientation a 'flip chip' or anchor piece in the union between the connecting rod and the diagonal tube. You can opt for a sensitive mode (more comfort and stable in technical declines) and another Dynamic, for softer and more nervous clues.
Santa Cruz Nomad
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Image: Frans Ruiter - Unspash)[/caption]
Finally, we must highlight one of the enduro bicycles that, over the years, has remained faithful to the wheels of 27.5 ”. The Santa Cruz Nomad remains as a reference in carbon fiber and intermediate wheel standard, also offering suspension tours of wide margin: 170 mm on both axes.
It was also the first double of the brand to release the VPP suspension scheme, inherited from the V10 descent model, with the shock absorber almost horizontally on the pedalier box and partially hidden in the armchair tube. A solution that opens more space in the front triangle (to place a carrier) and provides greater progressivity to the rear suspension curve. It is currently available in six different assembly options.
The 29 ”wheels can balance all these characteristics and even improve them with respect to those of 27.5”. A 29 ”tire has some more contact surface with the ground than one of 27.5”. In addition, its largest diameter allows you to maintain a more constant and fast speed.
Also, and as has been proven in the Cross country, a 29 ”wheel enhances the rolling capacity of the bicycle both in plain and up.
Where the enduro of 27.5 ”can still compete with those of 29” is in the agility and management of the bicycle. In the last, the geometry of the painting has been redefined, getting closer to the measures and angles of a descent bike. But the length of the pods has also shortened and the offset (advance) of the fork to give the bicycle of that desired ease and agility in the curves.
Image: Frans Ruiter - Unspash)[/caption]
Finally, we must highlight one of the enduro bicycles that, over the years, has remained faithful to the wheels of 27.5 ”. The Santa Cruz Nomad remains as a reference in carbon fiber and intermediate wheel standard, also offering suspension tours of wide margin: 170 mm on both axes.
It was also the first double of the brand to release the VPP suspension scheme, inherited from the V10 descent model, with the shock absorber almost horizontally on the pedalier box and partially hidden in the armchair tube. A solution that opens more space in the front triangle (to place a carrier) and provides greater progressivity to the rear suspension curve. It is currently available in six different assembly options.
