[Craw]

I'm interested in the 05 Specialized Enduro Expert. Since I'm retiring my old Bullit soon, I figure the Enduro seems like a good replacement. I mean, I've realized that I'm not as awesome of a rider as I thought I was, and I've never really used the Bullit to it's full potential. Now I just want something that can take some abuse, but doesn't have to be a tank.

I haven't really ridden bikes with air shocks though..have any of you ridden the 5th Element air shock? Coming of my Vanilla RC coil over, will the ride quality of the air shock be totally different?

 

[The Amish]

That was my friends first bike, took him less than 2 months to snap it in half riding agrressive xc. Now he has an Id and no problems. If you do buy one dont push the suspension or you'll tear it out at the weld seams.They did warranty it as a defect but i still think its a deathpony not to mention he missed a month of riding

 

[The Amish]

Legs make good suspension too, you should think about a hardtail with an agrresive fork. it will make you a better rider anyway

 

[Dogboy]

That was my friends first bike, took him less than 2 months to snap it in half riding agrressive xc. Now he has an Id and no problems. If you do buy one dont push the suspension or you'll tear it out at the weld seams.They did warranty it as a defect but i still think its a deathpony not to mention he missed a month of riding

He is inquiring about a 2005 Enduro. Completely different bike from the one your friend broke.

I had a 5th Air on my Blur and had great luck with it. The 5th on the Enduro has a bigger volume, so it should run lower pressures and feel even more coil-spring like.

 

[SkaredShtles]

Legs make good suspension too, you should think about a hardtail with an agrresive fork. it will make you a better rider anyway

Arms make good suspension too...... you should think about a rigid. It'll make you a better rider, anyway.

-S.S.-

 

[The Amish]

Finaly changed it huh, probably couldnt afford to keep up with the warrantys anymore. I would still take something like a P-bike ive seen many a man get down on those

 

[The Amish]

Your right on the arms thats why my trials bike was built with a rigid planet x

 

[SkaredShtles]

Ummmmmmmmm... yeah. But we're talking "trail" bikes, right?

-S.S.-

 

[The Amish]

A bike is a bike ive seen 10 foot drops on gemini's with fox air shocks and 15yr old kids take leaps as big as their age on beat up p2's. point is technology doesnt make the rider nothing more

 

[SkaredShtles]

A bike is a bike ive seen 10 foot drops on gemini's with fox air shocks and 15yr old kids take leaps as big as their age on beat up p2's. point is technology doesnt make the rider nothing more

So you ride a rigid trail bike?

-S.S.-

 

[The Amish]

I have specialist with a dirtjumper thats my do all bike and a Dare i take Dh'n so im pretty well represented with both kinds of bikes. If the kid admitadly doesnt have the stones to ride a bullit I dont really see the point in having a suspension a hardtail would be way more versatile. Urban, trail, and dirt jumping. Anything is possible on a hardtail, ive tested this theory extensively. What do you ride

 

[SkaredShtles]

I have specialist with a dirtjumper thats my do all bike and a Dare i take Dh'n so im pretty well represented with both kinds of bikes. If the kid admitadly doesnt have the stones to ride a bullit I dont really see the point in having a suspension a hardtail would be way more versatile. Urban, trail, and dirt jumping. Anything is possible on a hardtail, ive tested this theory extensively. What do you ride

A Giant NRS. Depending on what he likes to ride, there may be more sensible choices than a hardtail. For me, a hardtail isn't the optimal bike. And for many others....

-S.S.-

P.S. Anything is possible on a rigid, too.........

 

[rpk1988]

I had a chance to ride the Enduro Expert around our shop and then listen to some dudes talk about the whole Specialized line. The Enduro is a big big big change from last year. The new 5th Element on the rear goes sweet with the bike. You have to put air in the negaitive chamber too to keep it from losing its air. But that is required when the assembler puts the bike together. The Fox 36 feels awesome. I love the new frame design and I wish I could have one myself but dishing out $3300 even if I get a discount, its still going to be a lot of money. But I would say go for it. You will have soo much fun on it.

There is an Enduro in our shop that is last years model, and the guy didnt snap it in the usual spot that they snap. He snapped both of the chain stays off. Its ridiculos and he said he was just riding along.....

 

[The Amish]

one by one I'll convert you all. Old school is the way to go. As for the rigid fork, you show up with a rigid pink bikeand a camera and we'll see whats possible

 

[rpk1988]

How about we all ride hardtails with front forks and still use are arms to make about 10 inches of travel out of a 80mm fork......hahaha...just a thought.

 

[HRDTLBRO]

one by one I'll convert you all. Old school is the way to go. As for the rigid fork, you show up with a rigid pink bikeand a camera and we'll see whats possible

We'll see who's wrists break first, too...

 

[The Amish]

I had a jekyll it was my first bike. They sold it to me as one of those "do-all" full suspension bikes. I cracked the swing arm and never bothered to get it fixed what a waste of money that was. ride hardtails

 

[rpk1988]

Thats why they called them Cannonfails. My Jekyll still holds up suprisingly. We will see how long that lasts.

 

[The Amish]

Look at the curved part of your swingarm next to the wled it may be cracking already ive seen 2 with cracks there the other kid didnt realize it till I told him. probably saved him alot of pain

 

[Craw]

I had a chance to ride the Enduro Expert around our shop and then listen to some dudes talk about the whole Specialized line. The Enduro is a big big big change from last year. The new 5th Element on the rear goes sweet with the bike. You have to put air in the negaitive chamber too to keep it from losing its air. But that is required when the assembler puts the bike together. The Fox 36 feels awesome. I love the new frame design and I wish I could have one myself but dishing out $3300 even if I get a discount, its still going to be a lot of money. But I would say go for it. You will have soo much fun on it.

There is an Enduro in our shop that is last years model, and the guy didnt snap it in the usual spot that they snap. He snapped both of the chain stays off. Its ridiculos and he said he was just riding along.....

Damn, now I really want to test ride the thing...hopefully sometime this week.

 

[Zark]

I had a jekyll it was my first bike. They sold it to me as one of those "do-all" full suspension bikes. I cracked the swing arm and never bothered to get it fixed what a waste of money that was. ride hardtails

Let me guess, jumping it?
Its a trail bike!

You are way too hardcore to hang with us tech weenies

Good work saving the world from full suspension. Just because you are an asshat who bought the wrong tool for the job, doesn't mean the rest of us should suffer

 

[rpk1988]

Look at the curved part of your swingarm next to the wled it may be cracking already ive seen 2 with cracks there the other kid didnt realize it till I told him. probably saved him alot of pain

Thanks Ill take a look. Some guy in my shop said I should look to because there is probably one there I just am not noticing it.

 

[rpk1988]

Damn, now I really want to test ride the thing...hopefully sometime this week.

Go for it.

 

[The Amish]

The guy said he wanted a bike to abuse not spandex and a bell. Id hate to see him spend $3300 bucks on a bike that cant live up to his idea of abuse he is afterall coming from a pretty burly bike he must have some intrest in free ride. By the way the jekyll was rated as Mt. cross capable in one of your tech wennie magazines. i know better now but didnt then

 

[Skookum]

i know this bike of which you speak of and i own last years Enduro. Here's some thoughts. If i had 3 large laying around i'd easily buy that bike and trade in my old Enduro for.... whatever....

i've punished my Enduro and it's held up well, i anticipate this newer frame design will hold up well since they've made the jump to 6 and 6. At first i was a little skeptical, i was thinking why make a jump to 6 and add weight when it's a little overkill really, that extra inch doesn't really do that much... But there is no wieght consequence, so that really changed my mind.

They've lowered the number of production on the Enduro so you have the steep price, the only negative that i know of. i got a complete Enduro Expert for 15 those days are over, at least for this years run....

They've dialed in air suspension, do not be afraid any longer. Yes i remember the days that they would blow up if you dropped off a curb, or felt all jerky like moving the heighth on your computer chair, no those days are gone. Air shocks are plush and dependable, and you don't have to worry about spring kits for your wieght.....

Back when i first started mt. biking top of the line DH bikes had less travel than this bike. This bike is comin in around 31 lbs. Fox 36 with variable travel single crown goodness. old school linkage that works with a progressive shock makes it pedal like a dream. A utility bike that can truly be someone's "do everything" bike. drool..................

if you get one post pics so i can hate you.

 

[SkaredShtles]

one by one I'll convert you all. Old school is the way to go. As for the rigid fork, you show up with a rigid pink bikeand a camera and we'll see whats possible

Riiiiiiiight. I did my time on a rigid. I did everything that I wanted to do on that bike. Got tired of getting beat all to $hit. Got a full sus and found I could go longer, further, and faster, with less pain and fatigue. Broke that one driving into the garage and got the NRS. Still suits the riding I do very well.........

-S.S.-

 

[Craw]

i know this bike of which you speak of and i own last years Enduro. Here's some thoughts. If i had 3 large laying around i'd easily buy that bike and trade in my old Enduro for.... whatever....

i've punished my Enduro and it's held up well, i anticipate this newer frame design will hold up well since they've made the jump to 6 and 6. At first i was a little skeptical, i was thinking why make a jump to 6 and add weight when it's a little overkill really, that extra inch doesn't really do that much... But there is no wieght consequence, so that really changed my mind.

They've lowered the number of production on the Enduro so you have the steep price, the only negative that i know of. i got a complete Enduro Expert for 15 those days are over, at least for this years run....

They've dialed in air suspension, do not be afraid any longer. Yes i remember the days that they would blow up if you dropped off a curb, or felt all jerky like moving the heighth on your computer chair, no those days are gone. Air shocks are plush and dependable, and you don't have to worry about spring kits for your wieght.....

Back when i first started mt. biking top of the line DH bikes had less travel than this bike. This bike is comin in around 31 lbs. Fox 36 with variable travel single crown goodness. old school linkage that works with a progressive shock makes it pedal like a dream. A utility bike that can truly be someone's "do everything" bike. drool..................

if you get one post pics so i can hate you.

Cool. I'm going to test ride it today, if all goes well I might be taking it home this weekend. After I test ride some other bikes as well....

 

[pixelninja]

Riiiiiiiight. I did my time on a rigid. I did everything that I wanted to do on that bike. Got tired of getting beat all to $hit. Got a full sus and found I could go longer, further, and faster, with less pain and fatigue.

Craw, have you looked at the Yeti 575?

 

[The Amish]

Im intrested to know how your test ride goes, any thoughts on what else you'll be trying

 

[dexter]

cough cough buy my 575 cough

but seriously my first 4 fs bikes where fsr suspension designs and i loved the way they rode. i have seen the old enduros get beat to death (30foot gaps, 12 foot drops to bad landings ect) and have only seen 2 crack. both where dumb asses ripping them down actual downhill trails and crashing them into rocks