Seeing Jared Graves aboard a Specialized rather than a turquoise Yeti, the bikes he spent the last decade racing on, might seem a bit odd right now, but something tells me that feeling will disappear once the Australian starts reeling off race wins aboard his new Enduro. We caught up with Graves this weekend while he was racing and testing at the Thredbo downhill round of the Australian National Series, an event that he is at to put as much time as possible on his new 27.5'' wheeled bike, suspension, and tires before the EWS season kicks off in a few month's time.

Graves has not only gone from Yeti to Specialized, but also from Maxxis to Specialized rubber, from Shimano to SRAM, and from Fox to RockShox. These are massive changes for a racer who has had one of the most consistent packages of any, a package that had obviously been working well for him. Forget about where Gwin is heading to, I'm more interested in seeing how Jared gets on with his new... everything.



Jared Graves 2016 Specialized Enduro
  Graves' race bike for the rough Thredbo downhill course is close to what we'll see him on at the EWS rounds, minus the BoXXer fork.

Enduro vs. SB6C

The Yeti SB6C and the Specialized Enduro are both top-level machines, but just how different are they for a guy like Graves? ''The short chain stays are the main thing, but even that was never been an issue when I was deciding, when I was testing the bike and all that,'' he said of the Enduro's 422mm rear end, which is 20mm shorter than the back of the SB6C he rode last season. There's a good reason for Jared feeling comfortable on the new bike so quickly: ''Because of all my years of doing 4X and BMX, and I've always done downhill runs on the hardtail in the 4X days, the chain stays were a lot shorter than on these bikes, I've found it easy to adapt to.''

It certainly doesn't sound like we'll be seeing any chain stay-gate stories involving Graves in 2016.



The Suspension Switch

It's a bit of a different story when it comes to the switch in suspension, although that's a given when you consider all the variables involved, and that Jared is using this so-called off-season to find the base settings that he'll continue with throughout 2016. This is extremely important as most of the top pros don't make any drastic changes from race to race once the season starts. '' We're still getting there with a few things. I felt at home on the fork straight away, but with the shock, we're getting it set up to how I like everything,'' he said of the process.

Jared has been working through these changes with RockShox's Jon Cancellier, a name that might ring a bell to those familiar with SRAM's BlackBox program that's reserved for only their top riders. One thing that hasn't changed is Graves' preference for quite a lot of ramp-up through the fork and shock's stroke.

''I like my front and rear end set up with volume spacers to the point where I rarely even get full travel out of them, so that's what I've done with both the fork and the rear end.'' You can imagine how progressive his setup must be if a guy as fast and aggressive as Jared isn't hitting bottom that often, all thanks to a handful of Bottomless Tokens.
Jared Graves 2016 Specialized Enduro
Depending on the terrain, he'll switch between the Vivid Air and the Monarch Plus DebonAir throughout the season.

bigquotesI'm playing with it every day. I come back and put an extra 10 psi in the fork, and then see how that feels. Then let out 20 psi out and see how that feels, and then come back to somewhere in the middle. I like to learn about the product that way, to learn how it feels. And that's the only way you'll know how to set up your own stuff; if you try all the extremes as well. That's what this race is for.

Jared Graves 2016 Specialized Enduro
The Thredbo course is extremely fast and rough, so a BoXXer replaced the Lyrik that Graves had been using.
Jared Graves 2016 Specialized Enduro
A 30mm rise Renthal handlebar for Jared.


The swap from Fox to RockShox has also seen him be a bit more open-minded about his settings, with him explaining that the wholesale change has had him experimenting with things he might not have done in the past. "I'm trying the extremes of the settings. I've been running a lot more sag in the rear end than I normally would,'' he noted, a change that probably works well with the extreme progressiveness he prefers. ''Typically, I like to run a super stiff rear end, just from my 4X and BMX days, but I've been spending some time trying to adapt to some settings that will be good for a wider range of terrain. Thinking outside of my normal way of thinking.''



Wheels and Tires

The Thredbo National downhill course is rougher than a Compton high school and extremely high speed, making it an ideal place for Graves to put his EWS wheel setup to the test. His Enduro's wheels are unlabelled, a sure sign that something is up with them - Specialized wouldn't miss a chance to show Jared on their wheels - and it turns out that they aren't exactly stock. Specialized offers a $600 USD aluminum Roval Traverse Fattie wheelset with a set of less expensive hubs at the center, as well as a pricier, carbon model (the $1,400 USD Roval Traverse SL Fattie) with high-end hubs in the middle. Graves has combined elements of each by lacing the aluminum rims up to the hubs from the carbon wheelset.

"In the past, I haven't been too shy to say that I'm not really a fan of carbon rims,'' a fact that he's previously mentioned here on Pinkbike. ''There's definitely a time and a place for it. For sure, they're unreal in certain situations, and if you can get away with it on the terrain, they're awesome. But here it's just square-edge rocks at 60 kph, and people are just blowing up wheels left and right."


Jared Graves 2016 Specialized Enduro
  The hybrid wheels feature the less expensive aluminum Roval Traverse Fattie rims but high-end hubs, and they're laced up with thicker gauge spokes than standard. Expect an XX1 cassette to replace the tiny, seven-speed X01 DH block.


The custom hybrid wheels are also laced up with thicker gauge spokes than standard, and Graves sounds like he's found a setup that he'll use when the real season starts. Reliability is the goal, or at least the ability to finish an event on a damaged rim if need be, something that carbon rims aren't exactly known for. In fact, Jared admitted that he dented an aluminum Roval Fattie rim so badly that it needed to be binned after his run, but that his tubeless setup held air regardless.

This kind of thing, which may look like a big issue to the casual observer, is exactly why Graves is at Thredbo testing for his EWS campaign, and it also played out how he would have hoped. "I got a lot out of this weekend with bike testing,'' said Graves. ''It's been very beneficial already."


Jared Graves 2016 Specialized Enduro
Like a lot of fast racers, Graves is fond of a cut down soft-conditions tire for dry weather.
Jared Graves 2016 Specialized Enduro
He's also been running the Butcher, and with everything set up tubeless.


And then we get to the tires, which, for the first time in many years, aren't from Maxxis. His Specialized deal includes rubber as well, and Graves has found himself using a modified 2.5'' wide Hillbilly as his go-to choice. "It feels predictable in the dirty, loose over hard pack. It's my favorite tire of all of the Specialized tires in those conditions," which probably describes a lot of the tracks in Australia. He's trimmed the crown lugs down a bit to help increase rolling speed on the fast Thredbo course, and they're mounted up tubeless rather than the ghetto-tubeless (a split tube used a rim strip) that Graves had employed as recently as last year.

The change in rubber has required some evaluation, though. "With Maxxis, you just run the Minion, and you just call it good,'' said Graves of his long-time favorite tire. ''You're just so used to that tire, but I've been trying a lot of different combinations to learn about the product and what does work best in a given sort of condition. It's been a lot of fun actually. It makes you think about things you wouldn't normally think about."




EWS Setup

So how close is Graves' Thredbo downhill bike setup to his EWS setup? Not far off, he says, other than a big change up front in the shape of either a Pike or a Lyrik replacing the BoXXer. "I'll switch between the Vivid Air that I've got on at the moment and a Monarch Plus DebonAir. But this bike, short of the BoXXer, is what I'll be racing on," he said.

That also includes the new MRP SXg chain guide and its no-contact lower element that he'll bolt on when the course demands a bit of extra protection. Don't expect the close-ratio X01 DH seven-speed cassette to be on his bike when it's time to race enduros, though, as he'll likely mount up a much wider range XX1 block for big days on the bike.

Graves was coy when it came to anything else he might be changing up, saying ""We also have the Stumpjumper as well, and we've got a few sneaky things in the works that I guess we can't talk about right now. I think it's going to be pretty cool, the things we have planned for the start of the EWS," but he stopped short of giving up any hints.
Jared Graves 2016 Specialized Enduro
MRP's new SXg chain guide offers full-sized protection and retention, but the position of the lower element allows it to run contact free.


Jared Graves 2016 Specialized Enduro
  Graves was at the Thredbo National DH race on his Enduro to test the bike and a number of different components on some fast, rough terrain. As a bonus, he finished in second place, less then two seconds behind the winner, Graeme Mudd, who was on a downhill race bike.


One thing that we do know, however, is that he won't be on plus-sized tires for any upcoming races. "I haven't ridden one at all yet, no. Never say never, but I don't see it [EWS racers using plus-bikes] anytime soon. A lot of people say that they're a lot of fun, but, for racing, if you're going to make tires beefy enough to handle what we put them through, you're going to have to make a two-kilo tire.''
bigquotesYou set up the bike how you want it set up, and whatever the weight is, that's what it is because you can't just magically make it a kilo lighter or something.

While Graves certainly doesn't want to turn over 2,000-gram plus-sized tires, he isn't overly concerned with how much his race bike weighs: "I honestly haven't even weighed it. I can be a bit of a weight weenie with some things, in certain areas where it's not going to matter, but you're not going to not run a heavier casing tire if you need a heavier casing tire, you know.'' In order to win, you need to finish, and this is especially true if your goal is an Enduro World Series overall title in 2016.

Jared did exactly that two years ago, so he knows what it takes to get the job done, and there's no doubt that he's working hard to become the first two-time men's Enduro World Series champion.




Author Info:
mikelevy avatar

Member since Oct 18, 2005
2,032 articles

194 Comments
  • 316 10
 Do you even DOWNDURO?!
  • 53 19
 Durohill?
  • 23 45
flag Takeshi194 (Feb 7, 2016 at 16:42) (Below Threshold)
 Downhuro
  • 14 60
flag GOrtho (Feb 7, 2016 at 16:54) (Below Threshold)
 Endurownhill
  • 39 2
 Umm... do you not?
  • 11 27
flag RedBurn (Feb 7, 2016 at 17:00) (Below Threshold)
 endurhill ?
  • 16 4
 @theminsta Starting trends with the wrong bike....
  • 15 20
flag Jack-T-Media (Feb 7, 2016 at 17:47) (Below Threshold)
 endownhill
  • 34 3
 Gotta give credit where it's due: Jared lit the downduro torch in all of us

Once you go downduro, you alwaysduro...
  • 69 1
 DOWNUNDERO mate!
  • 62 3
 This threads going downhill fast. I don't know how much more I can endure, this might send me to my grave. Bla, bla, bla.
  • 18 5
 ENDHURO!
  • 4 18
flag lurch710 (Feb 7, 2016 at 19:24) (Below Threshold)
 Durolux?
  • 2 7
flag LuisCR (Feb 7, 2016 at 23:39) (Below Threshold)
 Downdurero
  • 34 1
 @yerbikesux No, because you don't Strava freeride.
  • 2 8
flag homerjm (Feb 8, 2016 at 8:09) (Below Threshold)
 EnDHuro is the word!!!
  • 72 4
 " A 30mm rise aluminum Renthal handlebar - no carbon up here for Jared." right, except that IS a carbon bar Razz

Nice write up, always interesting to read about pro bike set up.
  • 58 2
 Good catch! Fixed!
  • 14 1
 Why aluminum rear end on an S Works?
  • 5 42
flag ridehard84 (Feb 7, 2016 at 17:06) (Below Threshold)
 Certainly is not a carbon bar.
  • 7 2
 I guess he's using the Gold Carbon fatbars?
  • 21 2
 My bad guys.... I definitely thought that those were the aluminum Renthal fat bars. I see now that they are indeed carbon.
  • 2 8
flag homerjm (Feb 8, 2016 at 8:17) (Below Threshold)
 If you are 60 kg you can choose lightweight everything (wheels, cranks , pedals , brakes...) while racing but never a weak cf bars and paper tires...I think like Jared, flat tires are for loosers and cf bars would end like cf wheels.
  • 3 0
 I weigh 185, and have broken an alloy bar landing a step-down jump. It was probably 5 years old and should have been replaced. Also, recently I broke a carbon crank arm in half that was less than 2 years old, and gave no hint it was about to fail. I still trust my carbon DH bars after watching a friend attempt to destroy a carbon bar by smashing it with full strength into a steel anvil repeatedly. Barely a scratch. I'll take alloy cranks, thanks!
  • 2 1
 I went OTB recently and bent my raceface Chester Alu bars about 40degrees from their normal position! if they were carbon I reckon I'd have been screwed!!
  • 62 3
 That Specialized Minion really looks the goods.
  • 19 4
 They're both made by CST.
  • 4 0
 It's funny, because when I see their tyres that are sold under their own name (CST), I only seem to see cheap €12,- city and/or kids bikes tyres.

It feels like saying Fox and Rock Shox are being produced by RST.

I know it's true about CST, it just sounds weird to me.
  • 5 0
 Looks like a Minion... but rides better! I hung my minions up for Butchers years ago and aside from 1 free set of minions I got, I never looked back.
  • 3 2
 Greetings to Cheng Shing Tire fans from Conti user, once tried german tires never looked back on those chineese crap Big Grin
  • 1 1
 I also heard the Specialised employed the need designer from Maxxis to revamp their tyre range so there is no surprise there are similarities
  • 1 0
 @chrismac70 There's a bit more to it than that. And Chris no longer works for SBC. But the Butcher, Ground Control, and redesigned Purgatory did come out of that era.
  • 1 0
 Compounds and casings are different.
  • 42 8
 I like his shoes, look a bit like running shoes. Makes me think... Maybe It's time for Offroad Triathlon as an olympic discipline. Swimming with Sharks + trail running + Enduro. Sharks with frickin' lasers attached to their heads...
  • 29 1
 Sharkduro?
  • 2 0
 Sharkrundo
  • 1 0
 It would give the word "blood" in today's VOD Deity video a whole new meaning.
  • 8 0
 I do like the idea of trail running and MTB instead of running and road cycling. I think instead of swimming it needs something like rafting?
  • 3 0
 @Mattin check out xterra if you havent already. Its doing exactly what you are describing.
  • 3 0
 XTerra is the event you are after. Rough water swim, mtb, off road run.
  • 1 0
 Sounds sick Smile
  • 8 1
 But XTerra is lame, it's an offroad event for roadies. There should be some danger involved, rough tracks, kayaking sounds good!
  • 1 0
 I have a pair of those shoes. They're way stiffer than they look. Decent walking but no way anyone is running them.
  • 1 0
 Well if the event is held in the right spot in either Australia or South Africa you can do MTB, trail running, rough water swimming and have more sharks than Sharknado had falling from the sky. Entries may be low though...
  • 37 8
 I like how the article shows him working on his bike. Like he's a privateer. Like there aren't 20 guys from Specialized and SRAM there.
  • 53 2
 This was an Aussie National round, not a WC or EWS event, so I suspect that he was there on his own or maybe with one mechanic for him, Keene, and Brosnan. That photo does make him look like one of the many guys who travel to the races and sleeps in their van, though.
  • 10 14
flag GOrtho (Feb 7, 2016 at 17:35) (Below Threshold)
 A lot riding (pun intended) on him doing well as the Endurobassador for Specialized. If I was managing the program with a rider this good I'd sure as heck have guys there getting data, working set up, vetting rubber, tweaking multiple black box shocks. Competition is just around the corner. I wasn't really trying to bag on him, he's a super cool dude, and probably likes to work on his bikes for nostalgia's sake. However, I still don't believe its a guy and his van, eating ramen on a camp stove like we do at races. He's better than us. Much better than us.
  • 6 0
 He may have had some support from the Specialized guys on site, but Graves was definitely pitting from his car as the photo shows!
  • 10 0
 There was two or three small (3m x 3m) SRAM tents. One for the riders to chill in and another for the two mechanics to work on bikes - mainly tech support for the non supported riders who needing things fixed or serviced. I was staying a couple doors from Jared (Richie, Curtis and Cody), who all worked on their own bikes before, during and after the course was open to ride. He certainly did not have the support he would have at an EWS round with his personal mechanic.

Also, Specialized had a tent for the three Aussie riders (McMillan, Davis and Atkinson). They had one mechanic from Sydney to work on their bikes. Definitely not the support you think Jared received here. I didn't see Keene in the pits at all, he only rode the flow trail, and the downhill course as a sweep rider. After that he was working on his bike in the exact same spot as you see Jared in the above photo.
  • 18 10
 I'm interested in the contrast between Graves' eight year old Caddy and Gwin's Porsche GT3. There can't have been that much difference in their salaries can there? I'm thinking Graves has invested his in property and wine, whereas Gwin is more of a money, hoes and clothes kind of guy?
  • 6 1
 Graves keeping it real, no fancy cheerleaders. Just lets results do the talking and PR for his self.
  • 12 3
 This.. Is low. Who cares about how are they spending their well-deserved salary?
  • 3 1
 @jaame: "money, hoes and clothes"? Are we talking about the same Aaron Gwin?
  • 2 0
 Sarcasm and the Internet eh?
  • 3 2
 Graves probably spends Friday nights toenail-clipping his tires to get the knobs just right. I'd prob do the same if I was still single.
  • 2 1
 happily married bud
  • 1 1
 She helps
  • 25 4
 The stanchions of the Lyric should say Lyric in huge letters like the BoXXer
  • 25 2
 Should they spell it like that too?!
  • 3 2
 It's funny you pay that bogey because yes, they should!
  • 2 1
 Agreed, that would be cool. Great article.
  • 22 9
 Mike, you must be one of only a select few that thinks how graves gets on with his changes is more exciting than where gwin is going. Just look at all the damn comments. Then again you are the big enduro supporter so I'm not surprised.

Good insight into some of the comparisons to his old set up though. I'm with him on carbon wheels for sure.

It also sounds like those bikes ride very differently which is also not a surprise. I hope he has a good season, last year was one to forget (except the end!)
  • 71 8
 I just find the whole EWS thing more exciting and interesting than a WC weekend, but I might be in the minority on that one. Watching the top ten guys do their run live is incredible, don't get me wrong, and the riding is out of this world, but the EWS series and the bikes the racers are on just do something for me. Both are awesome.
  • 20 1
 There bikes and and a type of riding that most people can relate to. As much as I love doing shuttles in reality 80% of my riding and the bike most of the time is more in line with enduro riding (all be it much slower) and I'd say that is the same with many people. I do love watching the WC though and nothing beats the excitement of watching a downhill event, but I probably won't buy another downhill bike and I know a lot of people that have sold their downhill bike and just ride a Reign etc all the time. Unless you are racing (and you arn't Graves/Barel) you can ride pretty much anything on a modern enduro bike.
  • 17 2
 Regardless of what Graves was riding, thats a spectacular effort from Mudd! Credit where credit is due..
  • 12 0
 Just thinking how the boxxer raises the BB height plus the short rear stays plus the high front end with raised bars , kind of goes against alot of the things we are led to believe a new Skool 'enduro' bike should be. Just shows if you got the skills you can ignore the bullshit!!
  • 2 0
 The way modern enduro bike should be is probably based on a temporary way that someone like Graves had his bike set up years ago. For him it was just one is a long series of setups but it was the one snapshot that the industry latched on to.
  • 2 0
 Well said mate. A bike's purpose is to be riden ! Love being on two wheels.
  • 2 0
 If you run the numbers it actually ends up being a pretty sick whip. The bb ends up a hair over 14" and the head tube is about 64 degrees. I am almost temped to do it to my bike.
  • 4 0
 I am thinking it's a 180mm boxxer. Easy enough to do. Lots of guys run 180mm single crown forks in EWS.
  • 9 1
 Jesus some of the bullshit on this is unreal, Graves could win a race in a wheelbarrow nevermind on one of the world's best bikes.Brand haters are a terrible side to a great site like Pb.Half have probably never worked on or ridden most of the gear they put down so therefore haven't a clue what they are shitting on about
  • 1 0
 Well said mate !
  • 1 0
 It's true though, I'd say plenty haven't ever stood trackside and seen how good these top guys are and they don't seem to be worried about their gear choice or brand as long as it works and obviously whatever they use does work. I'd love to see an old klunkerz style race with all the top guys on really old bikes that would be interesting Smile
  • 10 0
 Vivid Air never die
  • 1 0
 i thought the enduro uses uses a different length size that what is common around., if so, that's a custom vivid air?
  • 7 2
 I think yes, it's s.s.s. Vivid air (specy stupid Standard), with usual pro stardust inside.
  • 12 4
 I hope there'll be at least one guy riding the e29... Err ... where's Mitch?
  • 4 1
 Really nice article but would have liked more to read about the differences of the bikes. Like which frame size is he running now and then, whats about the differences in reach and head angle?
  • 5 0
 @mikelevy I read the article but may have missed it... Is he on a size medium or large frame? Thanks.
  • 4 0
 Nice write up. Despite being a yeti guy I'm excited to see what he can do with a specialized. Always thought their bikes and products were very good for a big brand.
  • 4 1
 I terms of performance it doesn't matter if it is a big brand or a small brand. There are big brands that make great bikes and small brands that make shit bikes and vice versa.
  • 2 1
 I want to see how much he actually rides the enduro compared to the stumpy.... I think I have read before that Keene rides the stumpjumper the majority of the time also.... If you watch on track season 2 you can Keene on the enduro in what appears to be a ews race.
  • 2 0
 He's going to ride the Enduro for almost all the races. Last year Curtis rode a Stumpy for only 1 or 2 races.
  • 8 0
 I was drunk last night
  • 1 0
 Would love to know what the "thicker guage" spokes he is running on those wheels as I have the same rims and have been breaking the standard spokes like spaghetti.

Bike shop said DT dont have thicker gauge straight pull spokes
  • 1 0
 DT champs ?
  • 7 4
 Haha, as a fellow tribe member, I secretly hope he's slower on the spesh. But in reality he'll probably be just as fast. But a guy can hope :p.
  • 1 0
 I think it will be interesting to see how long it is till he's on a longer frame/2017 enduro/etc. coming from Yeti who were definitely quick to jump on the super long top tubes. I'd think it would be really hard to go back to comparatively shorter reach?

Also, I'd think that would be why he'd be quick to ride the stumpjumper with the longer frame available??? But IDK?
  • 1 0
 Er... He could use a large if he wanted to or f*ck it, even extra large. I mean, why limit yourself? The back ends on them are identical anyway and maybe he could go for a 100mm drop dropper.
  • 1 0
 He's riding the large frame now. There is no XL Enduro in the smaller wheels, not since like 2010 or so? And even with the large he's not getting the geo numbers he had at Yeti.

SO, my guess is we'll see new geometry numbers on the probably soon to be released 2017 models..
  • 2 0
 @theminsta look another downduro bike!

It will be interesting to see how Graves rides this season being on all new sponsorships. He's literally starting over from the ground up!
  • 1 0
 Dude, I have a growing folder of downduro bikes Razz And knowing him, he's gonna be killin it. A bit sad to hear he's not getting along with the rear shock though! Love the chain guide, probably going to get one or two... And I wonder if he's trying a softer pressure out back due to the steep stock head angle??
  • 5 0
 I think he could get on the podium on a 1992 Muddy Fox Alu Comp
  • 1 0
 Very true Smile
  • 1 0
 I love these articles. The big story to me here is the section about tires. In order for a 2.5 tire to be tough enough in a high-speed, technical application they weigh about 1300 grams. So logically pushing to plus sizes makes for a setup where the benefits don't outweigh (pun intended) the costs. Also, the Hillbilly is a replica of the Magic Mary (that's a good thing!).
  • 6 1
 Fanboys everywhere are now putting dual crowns on their Enduros.
  • 2 0
 Already seen it at the local trails. I figured it was a case of ride what you've got.
  • 4 0
 thats a nice bike. i wish i could have it
  • 8 4
 Had to stop reading after the Compton metaphor. No just no.....
  • 2 0
 Exactly.
  • 3 0
 How do you hook up a vivid air to the enduro? One of those: bikeyoke.mysimplestore.com?
  • 1 0
 That's pretty cool, never knew someone made those.
  • 1 0
 No wonder, those yokes are brand new and only coming to market right now by pre-ordering Smile
I'm actually thinking about giving them a try.
The Vivid Air in the pictures however is custom... Keene and some other sponsored riders had a proprietary one just like it for several years now.
  • 1 0
 Are you even almost alowed to race ewes with triple crown forks ? I don't think you should be that thing is a straight up mini down hill bike . Although I'm very jealous of the rear shock I'll love one of those on my enduro
  • 4 1
 An Enduro with a Boxxer on the front is one of the sickest looking bikes ever!
  • 6 2
 The all new Enduro will be available for the summer.
  • 3 0
 Any mention @mikelevy from Jared about the difference between his old Di2 and the new XX1?
  • 2 0
 This: "...he finished in second place, less then two seconds behind the winner, Graeme Mudd, who was on a downhill race bike."
  • 1 0
 I've been told a new Enduro Bike will be with us us by the end of the year. Awesome insight into how a pro deals with changing bikes!!
  • 1 0
 Could anyone tell what running dual crowns on a specialized enduro would be like? Any negatives such as would the geometry be seriously affected?
  • 4 3
 Sworking! Interesting to know if Jared will be rocking the 29er also. Too bad he's not running a CCDB Air CS. LOVE That Shock!
  • 2 2
 yeah, wassup with not riding a 29r?

(honest question, not baiting. I'm still on 26" and beginning to plan for my next bike. I was under the impression that 29rs were now getting to the point they are better at gravity-oriented riding. But I'm wondering why we aren't seeing more of them at EWS style events? Is it simply that the burly tires and rims required at those events would be too heavy in the 29" declination?)
  • 3 1
 oooh, a real chainguide that's contact-free? nifty!
  • 7 1
 $169.95 or $224.95 USD seriously ?
  • 4 1
 Carbon, only $240.49 USD shipped. Colorado is a very expensive place to manufacture things.
  • 7 1
 Taiwan is expensive too by the looks of things
  • 2 0
 Rise of the Enduro :v
loL
  • 4 2
 going from Maxxis to spesh rubber......yikes
  • 1 0
 Both come out of the same factory (CST) and designed by the same person
  • 1 0
 Is the Boxxer he's running 200mm or 180mm? It looks a little shorter like it's 180mm. Anyone know for sure?
  • 2 0
 who needs a DH bike when you can podium on a endure bike? =)
  • 2 0
 Love these articles, so many cool tidbits of info.
  • 1 2
 Is it me or is that an ugly bike?! His yeti was so clean looking. I never liked the angles on the Enduro...

But Im not just a hater... I am rooting for him. Jared is a top notch racer and professional. One of my faves!
  • 1 0
 What does anyone think about putting DH forks on my enduro comp 650b? I mean it isnt that exact bike as this but opinions?
  • 1 0
 @mikelevy what was the rear travel he was running in that vivid air?
  • 1 0
 Rise of the Enduro :v
loL
  • 2 1
 I was expecting a 6-fattie
  • 1 0
 certainly looks a gnarly track from the first photo!! ;0)
  • 1 0
 ????????????????????????☝
  • 1 0
 What pedal brand is he using?
  • 1 3
 From Yeti to Specialized: hmm yeah ok why not?
From Fox to Rockshox: if you want to...
From Maxxis to Specialized: not a good idea in my opinion but okay...
From Shimano to SRAM: OH GOSH PLEASE NO! NO! OH HELL NO!!
  • 2 0
 endurohero brahhhh!!
  • 1 0
 Is that boxxer 200mm or 180mm like on the Enduro Evo?
  • 1 1
 It's the full 200 mm. You can tell when you compare the boxxer that comes on the Evo to this one (the decal on the stanchion gives is away).
  • 1 0
 Graves is the real deal...Could this be Keens last year on a Specialized?
  • 1 0
 Keene gets a lot of publicity with his On Travk series, and is probably pretty popular with American riders. It's not all about results, it's about exposure and media presence. He also seems like a pretty approachable guy from what I've seen and heard.
  • 1 0
 Hey, can someone tell me what kind of pedals are these, please ?
  • 2 0
 HT, not sure on the model, it doesn't match any on their site! (proto?) www.pinkbike.com/photo/13139480
  • 2 0
 Thank you, kind sir. I though they were some kind of custom XT but I wasn't sure. Wink
  • 3 0
 Look like HT T1 pedals to me.
  • 1 0
 That's a legit bike check. His bike looks like some mad-max.
  • 1 0
 Finally on a proper ride Smile
  • 1 0
 How many top guys is Yeti going to let go? First Gwin, niw Graves Frown
  • 3 3
 I will ask again, Graves may I please have one of your yeti's?
  • 1 0
 When he was racing 4x, his old frames would show up occasionally on Rotorburn buy & sell forums.

I wish I picked one up, he is easily my favourite rider to watch, he just seems so damn genuine as a bloke.
  • 2 3
 I have a prediction Graves / Specialized will run one EWS stage on an enduro with plus sized tyres.
  • 3 1
 They will run a couple of rounds on normal tyres first to see if Graves is dominating so they can afford to gamble a good result for the sake of a marketing stunt.
  • 1 0
 I always got the impression that Graves ran what he thought was best for him rather than what his sponsors pushed. At least compared to many sponsored athletes who often compromise for what the money guys dictate. He's also pretty savvy about his set up as well. He's there for the win.
  • 1 3
 So that's what is looks like when Specialized comes to own you? Glad Graves cashed in but no dance with the devil has ever ended well...
  • 1 0
 OREO
  • 1 0
 I want that wheelset
  • 1 0
 I'm in love !
  • 3 4
 Looks like an Enduro bike
  • 2 2
 2 kilo tire?
  • 3 0
 Yup, would need some seriously reinforced sidewalls to stop the 650b+ balloon from rolling when pushed real hard.
  • 1 2
 But 27.5+ tires that are 2.8 wide are 1 kilo! How a double wall tire can go to 2 kilo? Impossible
  • 2 3
 nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnndurooooooooooo!
  • 1 4
 Does he train on the smaller block? Or is that just for the bike park? Would seem like a standard range would be more ideal, both ways.
  • 2 3
 the only thing he did is going from FOX to ROCKSHOX!
  • 1 2
 the only good*
  • 12 14
 NOOOOOOOOO! I suffering seeing Graves on the specialized bikes! Frown
  • 26 5
 I'm crying turquoise tears.
  • 5 1
 If Jared can move on with life, perhaps you guys should too?
  • 2 5
 Yew
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