moabRover

I checked that out - nice to see a vid from a Seattle bike shop. I'm actually more impressed with the Enduro Evo after seeing what the Firebird weighed pre-modification and what it took to get the weight down. The Firebird started at 34lbs with no dropper post, a coil fork, an air shock, and a carbon bar. Put full-coil suspension on the bike, a dropper post, and an alloy bar, and a comparable Firebird would likely be heavier than this Enduro Evo. The guy easily put $3k into the bike to get it to 28-27lbs (still no dropper post), and the end product was not a bike suitable for freeride, park riding, or even aggressive all-mountain. Even the shop dude that built the bike kept referring to it as a "long-travel trail bike" and highlighted that the tires were "alright" for trail riding, but not for Whistler. The wheels, tires, and suspension on that build were all matched for the intended purpose - trail riding. If you want a sub-30lb, more pedal friendly, enduro/all-mountain bike for a lot less money than this guy spent, buy a carbon Enduro (or a carbon Nomad). You'll even get a dropper post. If you want an even lighter, more pedal friendly, aggressive trail bike, buy a carbon Stumpjumper Evo.

Not exactly a precise conclusion there - "it's just not an efficient design." Not sure what you mean, but a large, painted Uzzi frame is 9.6lbs and the small is 9.2lbs. Build it up with the same parts and you're 0.7lbs to 1.1lbs heavier than the Enduro Evo, depending on the size. That doesn't mean the Uzzi isn't a great bike, but it doesn't work to say that swapping out the exact same parts onto a lighter frame will somehow lead to a heavier bike. I'm not sure who's drinking what, but you might want to check your cup, bottle, tumbler, whatever, and refer to the Law of Conservation of Mass from grade school science. Also, the SXT and Enduro Evo are different bikes, with different frames, and the Enduro Evo reviewed rides on a new frame design this year. Seems strange for you to argue that the frame couldn't be 8.5lbs just because a 3 year old, previous generation, different model bike had a frame that was 1.5lbs heavier.

I'd be interested to see the parts spec (and price) needed to get a size large Firebird down to 27Lbs.

To those who don't like the cable routing, fine. To each, their own. But it's just not true that you hit the cable housings any time you hit the bash on these bikes. I've ridden Enduros and SXs for several seasons in the PNW and Whistler, and I've never had a problem with the cable routing. If you our your buddies like grinding trees or rocks like rails in a skate park, I can see you'd have a problem. Could cables get hooked or hit? I'm sure it's possible, but is it a problem? No more so than having a rear derailleur.

I have no idea why Hill chose to leave Specialized for Nukeproof. I won't even try to guess. But it wouldn't be the bike - he was an active part of designing the current Demo 8, and according to Hill himself (at least in his past interviews), he was a driver of several of the bike's defining features. And after being at Sea Otter, the decision is a complete mystery to me. The contrast between the support, equipment, and resources available to both teams was stark. CRC/Nukeproof with an inflatable tent and furniture blowing around in the wind vs. Specialized with a full paddock of bikes, mechanics, and a support trailer nicer than most condos.

Actually, when I think of the well thought out originals, I think of these - http://gp1.pinkbike.org/p4pb3132519/p4pb3132519.jpg; http://www.sicklines.com/gallery/data/534/medium/SX_Frame.jpg; and http://www.specialized.com/OA_MEDIA/2003/bikes/03EnduroSXFrame_d.jpg. I can't wait to see this new SX in action and ride it. I have a 2011 SX, and it's the kind of bike that makes you look for reasons to ride. It's solid, fast, and loves berms and jumps. If these bikes fall into your "dumbed down product - as usual" category, then we should all tell Specialized to dumb-down their products as much as possible.

Don't let the stated purpose for the bike fool you. The last SX was built as a narrow-purpose bike, too, and it is one the funnest bikes I've ever ridden. It's awesome on flowy trails, loves to jump, and is a rock-solid mini park bike. Given the engineer behind this bike and the riders it was designed for, I'm sure this version will be just as fun.

@ deeeight - It's usually not difficult to see what patents a company owns. Just go to USPTO.gov or search the European patent register (likely where you will most easily find Lapierre patents) using "Lapierre" as the name of the owner. If you want to know what their patents cover, look near the end of the patent at the patent claims. The claims define the scope of a patent. And until you know what they've patented, it's a little premature to offer blanket criticism.