Bike Check: Cody Kelley's Specialized Enduro SX - Sea Otter 2014

Apr 13, 2014
by Mike Kazimer  
Cody Kelley bike check

Cody Kelley may not yet be a household name, but the 20-year-old showed impressive speed and fluidity as he took the Sea Otter Dual Slalom win over past champions Kyle Strait and Brian Lopes. The Specialized rider was aboard an Enduro SX, a bike we first saw at Sea Otter last year. The 100mm travel bike is designed specifically for slalom and 4X racing, with a low, 311mm bottom bracket height, 419mm chainstays, and a 68 degree head angle.

Cody Kelley bike check
ENVE's carbon DH bars and M70 wheels keep the weight down, and a Specialized Butcher in the front has plenty of tread to provide locked-in cornering traction.

Suspension duties are handled by a Fox RP23 rear shock and a RockShox SID World Cup in the front. You wouldn't normally expect to see a SID on a bike such as this, but remember, gobs of plush suspension aren't needed for slalom racing. A very stiff air spring setting with just enough give to take the edge of hard hits keeps the bike high in its travel when smashing berms and darting in and out of the gates on the way to the finish. ENVE's new M70 carbon wheels, which weigh in around 1600 grams for a pair, were shod with a Specialized Butcher tire on the front, and the lower profile, faster rolling Captain was on the rear. Kelley was running a 10spd SRAM drivetrain, with an e*thirteen upper guide installed for extra security.

Up front, ENVE's carbon DH bars were bolted into a Truvativ Holzfeller stem with a healthy stack of spacers underneath to bring the front end of the bike up. ODI's Vans waffle patterned lock-on grips were also in place, along with a set of Avid's XX disc brakes. All in all, this is a high end bike purpose built to be light, fast, and able to be pushed hard without failing, a strategy that worked, since at the end of the day, Cody Kelley piloted it to victory at the 2014 Sea Otter Classic dual slalom.

Cody Kelley
Cody Kelley, rocketing towards the finish.

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61 Comments
  • 76 7
 Nothing out there can accelerate like this 26" wheeled beauty !
  • 32 39
flag asteezc1 (Apr 13, 2014 at 12:38) (Below Threshold)
 except for 24s
  • 31 4
 Or a 26" hardtail with the same build specs.
  • 9 6
 Oh god, leave wheel sizes out of this asteezc1, clearly you're drunk.
  • 10 10
 Its not wheel size it is who is riding.......#26forlife
  • 4 5
 KieferEvans: They did leave wheel size out of it. Isn't it interesting when 27.5 wins wheel size is never left out of the article, but when 26" wins there's often little or no mention of wheel size.
  • 6 3
 This article is about the neat bike, people need to stop causing fights on the interweb about wheel sizes... Ride what you want and be happy.
  • 19 1
 This is the kind of bike we need for a lot of "home freeride/DH trail" I think (without big rocks-garden, and other biiiig stuff who need 180-200mm suspensions) !
Maniable, with enought suspensions (if built with 140mm forks) for the small woops, and jump landing clean, I'd love to have this bike...

Why we can't find something like that easily? Frown
  • 3 0
 I completely agree, I'm after something similar.

I've been looking at a Commencal Absolute SX?
  • 2 0
 exactly my thoughts and why I got one.. After spending a good amount of time in whistler on a DH sled, I simply couldn't justify riding one on the mellow trails we got back home in my country.
  • 3 0
 @JakeWI : I think an Absolut SX is a great option. Never tested one, but someone with me ride one, and the bike looks good !

I also think in a bike park, if you don't do the hardest tracks (like black ones), a 180-180mm bike is a great thing to have fun, by sending some x-up and stuff like that.

But I prefer to have fun on a bike, than ride fastest as I can. Big Grin
  • 2 3
 I also like the Diamondback Dreamliner. Haven't ridden one, but looks sick . . .
  • 2 0
 I've had a nukeproof rook for a while, great wee bike but I don't really have any stuff around me to ride it to its full potential anyone want to buy a sweet frame?
  • 1 0
 the rooke is a cracker wee bike. rode one a few times and was very impressed. Looks different too. But as you say, you prob need the right terrain to fully enjoy it
  • 1 0
 I have a 55 on mine and it rides awesome
  • 2 0
 There are several great slope options out there which fit this bill. I have a Black Market Killswitch (100mm) with an Argyle RST (100-140mm). That gives you a lot of options for slope, DS, and smooth air DH trails. It can run gears, or SS and has ISCG tabs. Sounds like what the OP is looking for - too bad I'm not selling Wink
  • 1 1
 killswitch is a cool lookin bike too
  • 1 0
 Agree, I've been looking at the Camber Evo- better for pedaling up than the SX I'm guessing.
  • 1 0
 I love my Absolut SX, but in hindsight I would have bought something with about 100mm rather than 140. I prefer a SS bike to just take the sting out of things rather than being a full on full-susser. I'd look into trying the new Morpheous, or maybe the Ticket. The Rook is ok, but it doesn't excite me as much somehow. The Canyon SS bike prototype looks tasty but it could be a while before that's available.
  • 1 0
 Yep, I am in the same boat. I have a 140mm forked hardtail play bike which gets ridden so much more than my big bike. I just don't need all that travel for my local stuff. (it was awesome in Whistler though) I would love a little short travel rig like this.
  • 1 0
 @NR8productions The Ticket.... You speak about the thing that I have in picture next to my bed to sleep well ? Yeah, I think this is a perfect bike (like a lot of SlopeStyle or Single Speed bike), to just ride as smooth as possible the trails, and pedal sudently hard to get out of a hard section or to send a big jump easily. Smile
  • 1 1
 Really? Because I feel like every new "trail" bike that's hit the market in the past two years has similar geometry capability.
  • 16 2
 Is it only me that thinks this looks better than their p-slope?
  • 7 1
 Totally agree, but definitely built for a different purpose.
  • 15 3
 26 ain't dead !
  • 11 0
 what a beauty
  • 15 4
 That fork looks dangerous ://
  • 4 0
 Whatever. I'd still ride it
  • 6 0
 Yea I think we could say this was a Special weekend with Gwin, Shaw an Kelley winning...
  • 3 1
 I can attest to the fact that this bike is amazing as I've got one, and that's not even being bias! 120mm fork, 10speed road cassette and it's taken everything from fast flowy local trails, full on DH at revolution bike park, jumps, xc jaunts and everything between. Light, low slung, accelerates like a demon and the MOST FUN bike ever. Especially compared to the bevy of 650B and 29ers I tried today at a demo day. They were c*** and made me really appreciate my 26" SX!!!
  • 4 1
 Really? I've been one of those 26'' nuts who'd never move to a different wheel size, but I tried out a 650B and a 29er at the glentress demo day yesterday and I have to say, a Saracen Ariel 650B is almost as playful as any 26'' bike I've rode, handled tight stuff magnificently, I would probably move to 650B if I had to. Seriously man, 29ers may not be everyone's cup of tea but 650B is amazing.
  • 2 1
 I tried the 29er stumpjumper expert evo and the 29er enduro expert carbon and I know it seems cliche but genuinely did find the wheels flexy. didn't get on with the stumpy at all (the large was too big and I'm 6'2"!), and while the enduro was way more playful, still seemed less so than I'd like! Which is a shame cos I quite like specialized bikes! The lapierre zesty 650B I tried, again, kinda like the stumpy. just felt too long! again, a shame cos while I've always thought of 29ers as flexy wagon wheels (suspicion confirmed haha) I like the idea of 650B - was just disappointed!
  • 1 0
 Yeah I suppose you just have to ride the right bike. That's the thing with demo days, they don't always have your size etc. I had a ride on the Trek Remedy 9 29er and I really don't like the way 29ers corner, but yeah 650B's nice if you get the right one, still going to stick with my 26'' for now.
  • 5 0
 Thats a really long wheel base
  • 5 0
 Xx1 disc brakes have I missed a new development out ???
  • 3 0
 Avid XX Disc Brakes...light as balls but no stopping power. It's not like Cody needed really strong brakes anyways though!
  • 1 0
 All this talk about fork stiffness. This bike is set up for 4x with a svelte cross country fork. Frame looks nice. Bike looks like a Frankenbike.
  • 1 0
 I wonder if he had multiple companies and bikes to choose from would he still choose specialized
  • 2 0
 Looks sick. Bet shed be nice as a park bike with a 120-130mm fork on.
  • 1 0
 Did anyone notice Lopes was on Tracer 275 in his DS race? Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of the Enduro Sx, just sayin.
  • 14 15
 A 1st and a 2nd for 26" wheels. pfffffff The bike industry need to stop with the nonsense that bigger wheels are better/faster.
  • 29 5
 this is dual slalom, a discipline that relies heavily on handling and agility. big wheels will never be able to compete with 26 in DS. however, they will and they do in XC and enduro- DH can be contested.
  • 11 2
 DS courses are also smoother than any other category so the improved roll over of rocks/roots is rather moot when you encounter none. They had to ban 20" wheels remember, the courses are that smooth.
  • 6 11
flag mate1998 (Apr 13, 2014 at 11:18) (Below Threshold)
 27.5 and 29 lovers up there ^^^
  • 3 3
 Slalom bikes are a rare breed, and I don't believe that the 'Industry' has or ever will push for 650b wheels in slalom. Yes I am bias to 650b because I own one and its bad ass. But I also have 26" for slalom/dj.
  • 8 1
 Doesn't all riding require handling and agility? As for rolling over rocks and roots some people need bigger wheels to do the work for them while others fall back upon handling and agility to get the job done.
  • 1 0
 DS and 4X are much more like BMX.The rolling advantage gives you nothing on this type of course. A 24" wheel would be faster still, but no one makes frames for 24" anymore, excepting street and DJ, but the geometry is too steep for these speeds. Pick the right tool for the right job! My son used 20" for BMX when he raced. I used 24" and 26" because it worked better for me at my age and height.

Mojoronnie, I guess you ride a fully rigid bike? Suspension makes the ride easier, as does a slacker head angle. Real bike handlers don't need those bandaids either.
  • 1 0
 In theory, since the turns are usually banked anyway, the extra inertia of a 650B and better traction should result in faster cornering speeds so I would not be surprised if we see some pro's running 650B hardtails this season on some DS courses.
  • 1 0
 Good point. Its which is the bigger influence. Racing BMX, I never thought I needed more traction, but I am a vet rider. YMMV!!!
  • 1 0
 That bike looks really long but really short/low to the ground.
  • 1 0
 God damn that's a piff bicycle.
  • 1 0
 I ride this frame with a dropper and 130mm fork. Panty soaker
  • 2 0
 like a slopestyle
  • 3 3
 Surely running those XC forks will give people bad ideas now?
  • 1 0
 Love at first sight
  • 1 0
 video?
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