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29er Enduro Clash: Specialized Enduro 29 VS Trek Slash 9.9 RSL VS Evil Wreckoning X1 | MBR
Evil Wreckoning X1 €5,999.99
Evil isn’t like other brands. It doesn’t follow specific model years; it doesn’t make road bikes or kids bikes; hell, it doesn’t even write the model names on its frames – which is confusing to say the least, given that its full-suspension bikes are all based on the same Delta System suspension design and all share a very similar profile.
With such disregard for convention, it should come as no surprise then that the longest travel bike in the Evil fleet is actually a 29er. With 161mm of travel, the Wreckoning is second only to the Specialized Enduro in terms of suspension firepower, but it has another weapon up its sleeve: asymmetric mounts on the carbon swingarm let you push the head angle and BB height of the Wreckoning well beyond current norms. In the lowest setting the head angle measure a slack 65.4 degrees and the BB drops to a ground scraping 334?mm.
Changing the geometry isn’t as straightforward as on the Trek, but thankfully the four bolts that attach the asymmetric mounts to the swingarm and Dog Bone are all the same size, so you can’t screw it up. The links are also marked Low and X-Low, so there’s no confusion over which geometry setting you’re in.
And if you can’t find your preferred geometry with the flip chips, the oversized head tube on the Wreckoning will swallow an angle adjustable head set so you can mix and match you’re preferred BB height and head angle.
Specialized S-Works Enduro 29/6Fattie £7,400
It’s evolution, not revolution for the 2017 Specialized Enduro 29. Sticking with it’s proven X-Wing frame construction, that sees the shock attach just below the intersection point of the crisscross top tube, the latest Enduro 29 platform has been refined, rather than completely redesigned.
It’s totally different animal though. Travel has been taken up a notch to 165mm, so you no longer have to pay a suspension penalty for choosing bigger wheels. This has been made possible by the oversized ManFu rocker-link that does away with the need for a seat stay bridge. An added bonus being that there’s tons of tyre clearance.
Another first for the 2017 enduro is the carbon rear end. And while we doubt this offers much of a weight saving, it’s the way most brands are going on their top-end bikes. The rear end is now Boost 148 and the Enduro 29 is the only bike in this test that’s actively promoted as Plus compatible; hence the 6Fattie tag.
Specialized has also revised the geometry. The head angle has been slackened to 66deg and the seat angle steepened by a full degree to put the rider in a better position for climbing. Other nips and tucks include a shorter head tube to keep the handlebar height in check and a reduced seat tube length that makes it much easier to fit a longer dropper post. At present, Specialized is sticking with its 125mm Command Post IRcc but the seat tube diameter has been increased from 30.9mm to 31.6mm, so we suspect Specialized has something new up its sleeve.
Trek Slash 9.9 RSL £6,000
Trek has changed gears for 2017. Gone is the 140mm travel Remedy 29 that Tracy Moseley piloted to three Enduro World Series titles, replaced instead by the new Slash 29.
And it’s not simply a name change. Travel on the Slash has been pumped up to 150mm and the geometry and sizing are bang up-to-date.
At present the Slash 29 is only available with a full OCLV carbon frame and there are two flavours; the top of the range 9.9 RSL that we’re testing here, and the RockShox equipped 9.8 at £4,600.
One of the most obvious changes to the frame is the Straight Shot down tube. The concept is simple: eliminate the gooseneck where the down tube joins the headtube and the frame can be made lighter, stiffer and stronger. The only problem is that now the fork crown can hit the down tube. Trek’s solution: the Knock Block steering lock. It’s a neat replaceable component in the headset that limits the steering with back-up protection on the frame, just in case.
A less obvious change is that the shock is now mounted on bearings in the frame and upper link. It’s a similar setup to that used by Giant, and the benefits of the reduced friction are amazing small bump sensitivity and increased grip. So much so, that the Slash 29 never felt like it had less travel than the other bikes in test. It’s also one of the only bikes equipped with a Fox Float X2 shock where we’ve actually had to add damping rather than subtract it.
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