Specialized 2015: The Enduro Gets 27.5-Inch Wheels

Jul 14, 2014 at 6:07
by Richard Cunningham  
Specialized S-Works Enduro 650 2015
  Specialized took its sweet time before entering the mid-wheel marketplace. The S-Works Enduro 650b is the first production bike from Morgan Hill to sport 27.5-inch wheels.


Specialized officially adopted the mid-size wheel standard, two years after it sent out a memo to the press that the pioneer mountain bike brand had no intention of producing a 27.5-inch-wheel bike, stating that they were convinced that the 26-inch format was fine the way it was, that the 29er was a far better choice for a bigger wheel bike, and that the mid-sized wheel “...represented the worst of both worlds.” Specialized also covered their butts, writing that they would consider producing 27.5-inch bikes if there was sufficient consumer demand. Well that day has apparently arrived, and Pinkbike was invited to Hood River, Oregon to test ride Specialized’s 2015 S-Works Enduros: The Enduro 29 and its direct descendant, the Enduro 650b. The plan was to ride the two bikes back to back on the eight stages of the Oregon Enduro Series event, held on the spectacular Post Canyon trail network.

Specialized S-Works Enduro 29 2015
  Perhaps the most decorated bike that Specialized has produced in a decade, the S-Works Enduro 29 is upgraded with its 30-millimeter-wide Roval Fattie SL wheelset, an S-Works carbon crankset and a sweet little dropper post lever under the left handlebar.


About the 2015 Enduros

Speaking very candidly about their decision to build a 27.5-wheeled version of what may turn out to be the best performing mountain bike that the brand has produced in a decade, Specialized said that the primary motivation was market driven – there is massive interest in 27.5 – and also, after evaluating the potential benefits of the mid-sized wheel, that, while the great majority of riders at Specialized are sold on 29ers for trailbikes, that the 27.5-inch wheel can outperform the 26-inch to the point where there is no reason to continue to develop new models in the original mountain bike wheel size. Without putting it in writing, Specialized stated that 27.5 is the new 26 – and that said, they were now tasked with building the best-performing 27.5 bikes made.

Is the Enduro 650b a ground-up design based upon 27.5-inch wheels?

No, in fact, the new chassis uses the 26-inch-wheeled Enduro front section, paired to a new chain stay, seat stay, and shock extension design. When Specialized engineers did the math, they realized that, once they adjusted the steering geometry to be slightly slacker for the slightly larger wheel, that using a 160-millimeter-stroke fork would still fit almost exactly in the same space. To achieve the correct bottom bracket height and also to take advantage of the larger-diameter wheel, while keeping the new bike’s chainstays short, the team designed a new swingarm and seatstay strut, thus creating a “new” chassis for the Enduro 650b.

Specialized S-Works Enduro 29 2015
  The Addition last season of the Cane Creek DB Air Inline shock gave the Enduro a big performance boost, as did the RockShox Pike fork.


Compare the geometry of the two bikes below, but before you get hot about the fact that the 29er and 27.5-inch Enduros do not share the exact numbers, it must be so. To achieve similar steering and handling qualities between two different wheel diameters, the head angles, fork offset, chainstay length and other minutia must be tweaked. Smaller wheels, for instance, require slacker head angles. Some numbers, like the Enduro 650b’s shorter chainstay length (422mm), however, are benefits endemic to the smaller diameter wheel. Shorter stays give the Enduro 650 better weight transfer for climbing and the smaller wheels allow for a more compact wheelbase for crisp handling.

That said, being restricted to using a front section predesigned for a 26er to come up with a competitive 27.5 bike presupposes that compromises were made in the Enduro 650b’s numbers – geometry tweaks that could or may be addressed with a dedicated mold in the near future. Recent history shows that every brand who has adapted an existing bike to a new wheelsize has returned shortly thereafter with a dedicated design. To Specialized’s credit, however, the Enduro 650b absolutely shreds in its present form.

Specialized S-Works Enduro 29 2015


What’s new about the Enduro 29?

Aside from some cosmetics and new upper shock mount that saves some weight, the 2015 Enduro 29 chassis is carried over from model year 2014 – which is a good thing, because it remains one of the most outstanding AM/trailbikes available in any wheel size. Rear-suspension travel sits at the same 155-millimeters, and it uses a 160-millimeter-stroke RockShox Pike Solo Air fork. Most of the Enduro 29’s upgrades for 2015 are in its components, which are duplicated in the Enduro 650b range.

Specialized S-Works Enduro 29 2015
  SRAM Guide brakes and a 200-millimeter rotor up front ensures sensitive, one finger braking.



Specialized's SRL dropper post lever is brilliantly
simple and effective. We hope that they intend to
offer it as an aftermarket item. It should operate
any cable type post.

Twin Component Specs

Four Enduro models will be offered in each wheel size, with the same spec at each level. The S-Works and Expert have carbon frames, while the more affordable Elite and Comp have an aluminum chassis. Drivetrains are SRAM XX1 for the top-drawer S-Works, SRAM X01 for the Expert, SRAM X1 for the Elite, and an single ring drivetrain for the Comp. The entire lineup gets some version of RockShox’s highly touted 160-millimeter Pike fork, and Specialized offers its top three Enduros ready to race, with Cane Creek’s DB Air in-line shocks, and internally routed Command Post IR dropper posts that showcase Specialized’s, sweet new below-the-handlebar remote lever called the SRL (Single-Ring-Lever). The S-Works gets and Specialized’s carbon 30-millimeter inside-width Roval Traverse Fattie SL wheels, while the Expert, Elite and Comp share the aluminum versions. All models feature the new Slaughter Control rear tire, with a Butcher Control up front. https://www.pinkbike.com/news/specialized-slaughter-tire-first-ride.html. The entry-level Comp sport lacks a dropper post and its rear suspension is powered by a Fox CTD Evolution shock.

Specialized S-Works Enduro 29 2015
  (Clockwise) SRAM one-by-eleven drivetrains appear on three out of four Enduro models, as do dropper seatposts. A look at the carbon Roval Traverse Fattie SL rim. The S-Works crankset uses a spacer arrangement so the chain will clear the spider using a 30-tooth narrow-wide chainring. Thick decals help to protect key areas of the carbon frame.


Sizes offered for the Enduro 650b are different, because of the 27.5-inch wheel frame’s lower stand-over height (10-millimeters) and its average, 38-millimeter shorter wheelbase. Enduro 650bs come in small, medium, and large, while the longer and taller 29er chassis comes in medium, large and X-large. Prices for the Enduro 29 and Enduro 650b, however, are the same for each level, with the S-Works at $9300, the Expert at $6600, the Elite at $4900 and the Comp at $3600 USD. Weights for each bike were not given, but a look at last year’s Enduro 29 models should get you within 100 grams plus or minus. Specialized says that the Enduro 650b is about a half pound lighter than its 29er kinfolk.

Speilaized S-Works Enduro 29 2015
  (From left to right) The Enduro Expert, Enduro Elite and Enduro Comp builds are duplicated in 29 and 27.5-inch-wheel models.




FIRST RIDE:
S-Works Enduro 29 vs
S-Works Enduro 650b


Riding with the folks at Specialized is not to be taken lightly. Every ride begins with light conversation and then quickly evolves into a World Championship. Curtis Keene was our guide – calling for two ride sessions each day, repeating key stages of the Hood River Enduro so we could get our game on as quickly as possible. Stages varied from bike-park type flow trails, to thin forest tracks littered with steeps and rocks. With good line-of-sight on much of the course, speeds were as high as courage would allow on many descents. It was easy to find trouble in the heavily wooded sections, though, as thick dust hung in the air and forced trailing riders to fly blind into chunky sections. Keene was loving life. Enduro was his job and the Specialized S-Works Enduro 29 was his office. The eventual race winner was intent on giving us a crash course on both.



Speilaized S-Works Enduro 29 2015
  New Roval Traverse Fattie wheels toughen up the Enduro 29 and it feels more stable in the chunky stuff.


The Enduro 29:

I won’t give a blow by blow on how the S-Works Enduro 29 rides, because PB Tech Editor Mike Levy covered the very similar 2014 version in depth a few months ago in this excellent review, and I would report a much similar experience. On the Oregon dirt, and armed with Specialized’s super grippy Butcher Control 2.3-inch tire up front and the speedy, Slaughter Control 2.3-inch rear tire, the latest rendition of the carbon fiber S-Works Enduro 29 was a weapon. I had not ridden one in over a year, and thus expected that I would need few miles of trail to adapt to its handling. Nope. It fit me perfectly, and the initial setup for the Cane Creek DB Air shock and RockShox Pike Solo Air fork proved to be spot on. Beginning on a bike that felt familiar, I spent over six hours on the S-Works 29er before switching to the Enduro 650 – enough time to get pretty confident with its handling and power transfer.

Enduro 29 strong points: It is rare to ride a 29er with 155 millimeters of suspension travel that changes direction with relative ease and responds lightly to steering inputs. Its climbing is efficient as long as one can maintain a minimum speed and flow. Specialized has developed an offset 30-tooth narrow-wide chainring for its S-Works carbon crankset that works with a 104mm bolt circle. The 30 makes long climbs livable, compared to the typical 32-tooth ring that cranks with a similar BCD are limited to. Finally, the more obvious strength of the 29-inch Enduro is its ability to carry speed when the track is bumpy or rock-strewn. Add the stabilizing effect and smoother ride that the Roval Fattie rims give to the tires, and its already stellar performance in the rough get one level better. Summed up, the new S-Works Enduro 29 is strong in every corner of the all-mountain/enduro performance envelope. It requires very little from a rider to cover semi-technical terrain at pace – up or down.

Enduro 29 weak points: Get too slow on a climb and the Enduro 29’s extra rubber and heavier wheels will start to tax your legs. The S-Works model that we rode had lightweight carbon Roval Fattie SL wheels and the lighter tire casing option, but as the day grew longer, the legs were reminded that there are flywheels attached to the bike when hitting punchy climbs. The faster roll-over of the 29er S-Works plays a larger role at slow to moderate speeds. The force of impacts grow exponentially larger with an increase in velocity, so there reaches a point where the moderate reduction of the 29-inch-wheel’s strike angle cannot mask the fact that the fork and shock only move 155 millimeters. As we adapted to the race course and speeds increased, so did the occurrence of flat tires. Everyone who returned on a 29-inch-wheel Enduro did so with the O-rings glued to the fork crowns and pushed to the end of the shock body. Not so much with the longer legged Enduro 650b. The Enduro 29 also requires more time to set up for a turn, and its 780-millimeter handlebar slows steering input further. It take little time to get used to – especially if one is coming off a super slack AM bike or a DH sled, but the Enduro 650b sets up quicker and easier.



Speilaized S-Works Enduro 29 2015
  The Enduro 650b is slightly more compact in length and height - and it comes in size small. Handling mimics the Enduro 29, although it feels more maneuverable throughout the speed range.


Enduro 650b:

During the launch, Specialized officials made it clear that, given their druthers, they would not be having the 27.5-inch launch at all and that, “Everyone here chooses to ride an Enduro 29.” This actually made the Enduro 650b better, I believe, because the engineers, marketing staff and test riders were honed on a damn good big wheel bike, so when the time came to crank out a mid-sized wheel version, they tuned the new Enduro 650 to emulate the best qualities of their Enduro 29s. Had Specialized followed the more predominant trend and modeled the new bike after the well-evolved, but perhaps dated traits of a 26-inch wheel bike, I don’t believe it would possess the high-speed stability and easy handling qualities that make it a stand-out performer. In short, Specialized’s first 27.5-inch-wheel AM/trailbike may prove to be the best of both worlds – not the worst, as predicted.

Enduro 650b Strong Points: As mentioned, there is much parity in the handling qualities of the 29-inch and 27.5-inch Enduros – to the point where, once I became at home on the Enduro 650b, I sometimes had to question which version that I was on. The 650 turns into a corner more aggressively. I first noticed this on flatter turns or when setting up for a berm, where I would sometimes slide the front tire momentarily because I was steering into the turn more than necessary. The 29er requires more steering input to get the same results – so when I first switched to mid-size wheels, I was over correcting. Once you commit to your line or set up for a turn, the Enduro 29 will want to stay the course. The positive side of the 650’s sharper steering is that the bike can be moved around in a turn and it is easier to make mid-course adjustments should your original plan go wrong. For a trail rider, that could mean safely riding out of an otherwise untenable situation – for an enduro racer, it could be a real time saver.

Enduro 650b Weak Points: Argue all you want about wheel diameters, but the Enduro 29 will roll faster than the 650 over most of the race course. Back to back riding illustrates this well enough so that no other conclusion can be reached – but the margin is much less than 29er advocates will likely admit. In an enduro situation (you can substitute ‘shuttling’ or ‘lift access' here), where climbing is minimized and descending can approximate the speed and technicality of DH racing, having the 650’s extra measure of suspension travel, more agility and lighter, sturdier wheels could win the day – and often does. On Post Canyon’s varied tracks, and without the pressure of timed competition, I would choose the Enduro 650b, because it felt more like an extension of my body when I was pushing hard or hitting an unknown feature. That said, if I was looking for seconds on a timed stage, I may find myself wondering if I was giving up something to an unseen Enduro 29 rider.

Specialized S-Works Enduro 29 2015
  Curtis Keene comes in hot on his Enduro 29. Some of the Post Canyon flow trails were incorporated into the Hood River Enduro stages. Keene made sure that we hit them daily.


First Impressions:

bigquotesAs most of my riding is testing bikes, and I rarely enter races, I would choose the Enduro 650b because it is a more playful feeling, easier bike to ride than the 29er version. Physically, there are men and women who simply will not comfortably fit on the Enduro 29, and for them, the 650's handling and performance are so close to the 29er's that the efficiency afforded by the better fit and measure of control should boost or at least match the performance of that same rider uncomfortably patched onto the big-wheel version. Granted, there is a lot of speculation in this first ride report of Specialized's latest S-Works Enduro 29 and 650 that only a definitive long-term test or metered comparison can sort out. For now, I can wholeheartedly say that Specialized's first 27.5-inch-wheel bike is a sweet ride - and worthy of its namesake. - RC


Author Info:
RichardCunningham avatar

Member since Mar 23, 2011
974 articles

361 Comments
  • 406 15
 Does the bike back pedal as well as the company?
  • 35 100
flag jclnv (Jul 14, 2014 at 6:56) (Below Threshold)
 How are they back pedalling? They still say that the E29 is the better bike.
  • 74 4
 jclnv: I believe "back pedaling" is in reference to specialized saying 650b was unnecessary before capitulating to market demands this year.
  • 137 43
 specialized if you get rid of the 26in enduro or a 26in enduro evo i kill everyone, making everything 27.5 is dumb stop now
  • 58 36
 Not hating on 26, but have you ridden a 27.5? It's amazing!
  • 63 27
 ya its not good for freeriding and everyday stuff and not as fun in my opinion
  • 43 50
flag lurch710 (Jul 14, 2014 at 7:47) (Below Threshold)
 Yes i have. it handles like shit on technical terrains
  • 8 17
flag jclnv (Jul 14, 2014 at 7:51) (Below Threshold)
 Coffatire, It is unessersary to them, that's why they all ride the E29.
  • 35 17
 @lurch-ecd I beg to differ....I have both Enduro and downhill bikes in 27.5 and they absolutely destroy the technical terrain, jumps and anything you throw at it!
  • 15 13
 @SimonBros, glad it worked for u.
  • 87 32
 26 inch diehards be bagging on the bigger wheel sizes on PB, but be getting passed by a 29er on the trails... But that's none of my business.
  • 41 69
flag singletrackslayer (Jul 14, 2014 at 8:48) (Below Threshold)
 @Patrick9-32

No, the bike doesn't back pedal. You pedal and it goes forward. If you back pedal, the freewheel kicks in, and lacks any backward movement. You can put a fixed gear on it if you want to pedal backwards, but I don't think that works very well on a full-suspension bicycle.

Regards,
Lack of Irony
  • 33 1
 clearly feels more like "adapt it or die" & not so much "innovate or die". they had to. they probably didn't want or saw the need to.
  • 18 12
 If they kill off the enduro evo or try to make it 650b I will hate specialized forever. I stopped reading after they said that there is no reason to still produce the original mountain bike wheel size. I thought specialized was doing a good thing by offering all three wheel sizes but they broke that promise now.
  • 11 3
 What promise?

A quote or link perhaps?
  • 26 4
 This is nothing new for the big S. Jason Chamberlain said the same thing a few years ago about 150mm hubs on the Demo saying that 135mm was lighter, more available, and plenty stiff....then not a year or two later the demo is spec'd with a 150mm rear end. The really funny thing is that the Specialized factory team still runs custom rear ends with the 135mm spacing. I wouldn't be surprised if they continue to have 26" frames and wheels available for their pros well into the future...What people want to buy and what actually works the best are two different things.
  • 16 2
 promises in business? that's funny.
  • 18 3
 this is basically Spesh admitting "OK Giant you win - We'll make a 650b, but only under duress and with much trepidation!"
  • 24 7
 This is pathetic. People here keep going on about how the bike companies are forcing us to go 650B. They arent. Go to an enduro race and listen to everyone harp on about how much faster the 650b tyres roll over stuff and how they are way faster now. Most of this is in their head imo but the public has completely bought into it and Specialised would be insane not to follow it up. Most people do not want 26 inch bikes anymore.
  • 18 6
 People complain that the industry is forcing people to change wheel size etc. Now Specialized said that they don't want to change, but they have had to because the consumers have demanded it, and people complain about that too. Take it easy people, they are giving in to what the majority is asking for, and even though I like my 26", i like that specialized is saying "o.k. most of you want it, so we'll give it to you".
  • 16 6
 This goes out to all the 26" lovers who only buy used parts/bikes, you didn't vote with your $$. And the people who are buying new bikes want 650b/29. So it the market forcing the companies to change not the other way around.
  • 14 5
 this cracks me up. I had a very intense conversation with a few of the specialized reps at last years Interbike in Vegas. All of them saying they have done many many test and they show that there is no advantage in any situation for the 27.5 size. Specialized makes rad bikes that's for sure... but there attitude is sometimes a bit to much.
  • 3 2
 @hllclmbr I could be wrong on the promise but I thought I remember specialized saying that they would continue to offer all 3 wheel sizes when the 650b stumpjumper came out.

And I understand that 650b might be better for racing but for people who want to have the most fun 26 is better IMO. I just hope at the very least specialized continues to offer a 26 inch enduro. Maybe they could focus on developing the 27.5 and 29 but just continue to offer the 26 inch version.
  • 15 1
 Holy shit, they're a business. How many shitty movies slay it at the box office? Way too many. Point is: consumers do the talking with their wallets.

Specialized was likely correct in that 27.5 was not necessary when 26 was already here. But going out of business was a stupider move than not only remaining profitable, but continuing to flourish.
  • 9 2
 Like others have suggested, we wouldn't be busting their balls if they weren't such dicks about it to begin with. i just like to use more colorful terms. Just 10 months ago at Interbike 2013, Giant had HUGE ten foot high "27.5" displays made up to put all over their giant (no pun intended) Giant booth. At the Spesh booth 1.) other exhibitors couldn't even walk into it until the final day of the show showing their elitism even at an industry trade show, and 2.) they were dissing 27.5" because everyone else had it at their booths.
  • 8 2
 @cuban-b exactly. I don't have anything against them making 650b bikes but saying that there is pretty much no reason to make 26 inch bikes is pretty shitty of them.
  • 6 1
 Another thing I just thought of is that while yes consumers apparently want 650b. If they still think that 26 and 29 are better options: A) why did they say that there's no reason to make 26 inch bikes and B) why don't they stick to there guns and make 26 inch and 29 if it's truly better and maybe the market will figure that out as well. I mean come on its specialized I highly doubt they would go out of business just for not jumping on the 650b band wagon. Like it or not they still make some of the best moutain bikes and road bikes in the world so why would they have to worry about going out of business unless there just that greedy.
  • 49 3
 About consumers voting with their wallets - that is an illusion. Customers buy what shops have to offer, and shops gladly ordered 27.5 bikes that companies offered them to buy. If you think that a mythical creature called "consumer" has any super powers, you have a lot of work to do. Consumer is to spend between 8-10h at work, to earn money which he will exchange for necessities: goods like food, clothing and services like health care, sewage or trash disposal. Now he earns more than that, he is told that he needs surplus, then he better spend that surplus on stuff he does not need or this world economy will disintegrate in a matter of 2 weeks.

One of those unnecessary things is mountain bikes which need to be selling out on a regular basis or the bicycle industry will disintegrate like economy. The only way to keep the cash flow is to reinvent the wheel. It has LITTLE to do with making us having more fun on bikes, vast majority of bike tech and the accompanying Racing fairy tale is for us to keep buying. That is not all because human factor of skill and fitness is so dominating over the bike tech. That is because we do not really need all that stuff, we also do not need to race, and we defo don't need to watch others race. We do it because we like to think that we need all that. If any of you thinks that it plays any bigger role if we ride 26 or 27.5 or even 29" wheels, you are bloody deluded, because as Deeeight told all of us numerous times, 26" happened by mistake anyways. And going up a wheel size is definitely not going to make any bigger difference to how you ride and how you perform.

So drop the seriousness in this pointless discussion because we are all fated to pretend, particularly those who use words like "facts". Biking brings us closer to nature, gives us fun and provides a chance for mental and physical training. One cannot measure that.
  • 5 8
 So what...
  • 6 1
 www.pinkbike.com/news/26-vs-275-vs-29-Wheels.html

Everyone should just read this and then we should all just take a chill pill and go ride. I realize I'm changing my tone here but yeah it all comes down to preference that's what gets me upset about this its like we're getting the right to chose taken away. Specialized if you're reading this just keep making all 3 wheel sizes for the love of our sport.
  • 8 5
 I ride with a guy who is on 650b...but me and my 26" is faster....
  • 4 3
 ^remember, the people have spoken with their $$$. it's not faster...it's just...more fun.
  • 10 11
 I recently purchased a 27.5 all mountain bike and i must say, it really is an amazing wheel size, faster rolling, plows over the rough stuff and just as playful as a 26er. Whats not to love?
  • 27 0
 I think the point is that its completely in your head. 26 inch rolls over stuff only a tiny bit less well but is a little more playful, more agile and faster accelerating. Whats not to love? Its marketing hype, exxageration and nostalgia on all sides of this argument. None of them are significantly better than the other hence the fact that there was probably no real reason to change from 26 inch to 27.5.

And the reason most people go "oh but i tried a new 27.5 and it was amazing" is....its a new bike!! And new bikes are always amazing when people buy them and ride them for the first time. I never remember people saying how poorly their brand new 26 inch bike rolled 2 years ago. Most people do not have a clue what they are talking about is the simple truth.
  • 7 0
 @metong "Faster" is not accomplished by wheel size alone, perhaps your skill/technique is better?
  • 2 1
 what sh*t is this? .. LOL
  • 1 0
 Suck... I agree with waki again.
  • 2 2
 @WAKIdesigns

great post!

the irony of the "26 is real" line of thinking is that it was only decided by a business decision - the "safe" supply of an abundance of existing 26" beach cruiser tire stock sitting in warehouses

if the originators of the commercial mountain bike had followed their hearts and taken the big risk (choosing what they felt was better i.e. Nokian tire in 700c x 2", but very limited supply) we would all have known the MTB as 29" from the first day it was commercially available

BUT, it (29" MTB) may have never been available in commercial quantities so perhaps the "wrong choice" of the 26" was the right choice for MTB to come into cycling and effectively save the cycling world which was in steady decline due to the rise of the automobile and the stale state of road cycling
  • 7 3
 Hamp--how 26 came to be is irrelevant. How many useless (and I guess useful) inventions do we have that came by accident? Invention birth really doesn't matter. Countless inventions created my chance or mistake. I honestly don't care what size anyone rides. I just PERSONALLY believe that 27.5 is all koolaid and everyone is demanding it and drinking it up by the gallon. Again, to me, there simply isn't enough Positive difference to spend 8k to go up or down such a small difference. Going 26 to 29 you notice immediately the benefits of 29 but you clearly feel what you've lost from the 26. And the same is true from going 29 to 26. If you read these reviews--and I know you do, you can tell that the writers are reaching for something that's just not there. The 29 version of this bike is clearly the superior bike. This review basically admits it. Why not do a 26 inch version? Demand they say and they are right. Koolaid.

Only 3 years ago it was border line blasphemous to insult the top of the line 29ers. The debate between 29 and 26 was fierce. Now, with a new wheel size all the negative things about 29 inch tires are plastered all over the reviews and the most common 27.5 benefit is, "man, you can still maneuver it like a 26! OR "it can almost roll over stuff like a 29er!" Which to me is like saying you don't need this bike but here's the koolaid,drink up drink up and buy. Kinda funny.
  • 4 2
 i remember my first day on pinkbike....
  • 8 4
 While certainly funny, Specialized is not back pedaling in the least. They are quite clear about the fact that they are making a 650b begrudgingly, because the consumers want 650b. Visit any bike shop, and they all report the same thing: kids want 650b or 29er.

Say what you will, but there is no top-secret meeting of the bike industry demi-gods wherein they all formed a conspiracy to update wheel standards. The simple fact is, bikes these days are pretty damn good. Suspension technology rivals that found in formula 1 and motorcycle application, and engineers are using advanced materials to create bikes with incredible attributes. Progress is going to be harder to come by - and examining what the "ideal" wheel size might be is going to be a great way to eek out a little more performance.

If you really want to define yourself as a biker who only cares about fun and agility, then why aren't your riding BMX or shouting for a 24" wheel size? I bought an S-Works Enduro 29, and it is faster than my old Enduro 26. It makes it easier for me to get to speed, carry speed, and corner....and it is more fun to ride than my 26" bikes before it. Keep on filling blogs with your distaste for progress; the rest of us will be out on the trails, enjoying the speed and fun.
  • 3 3
 TLDR
  • 4 3
 Progress shmogress. Bottom line is they guessed wrong and now they want a piece of the pie. #eggonface
  • 1 0
 @twofoxes-Exactly...I agree.........but some advertisements are trying to project that size matters....which in this case....dont.. Cheers Wink
  • 2 8
flag scottrallye (Jul 18, 2014 at 11:56) (Below Threshold)
 Kill 26". Kill it with fire.
  • 3 1
 www.mtb-mag.com/en/interview-curtis-keene-speaks-on-racing-his-career-and-more

Curtis Keene admits the big S was forcing his to race on a 29er.
  • 2 0
 Forcing him to race a bike they manufacture V's one they didn't? Leov has the pick and rides 29" and kills it.
  • 2 0
 I only buy second hand bikes and bike parts and I can assure you sir I am much quicker and better at riding bikes than these ex-golfers on 650b at enduro races!
  • 132 6
 "the 650b is a more playful feeling as easier bike to ride than the 29".... yeah.. so imagine how playful the 26 is.
  • 42 3
 THIS IS TRUE. It's not all about racing.
  • 10 0
 ya, my thoughts exactly...
  • 26 0
 Quantitatively, 3.7% more playful.
  • 3 0
 That 650B Enduro being easier to ride than the 29er kinda makes me lol at the whole 29er concept... coming from someone whose primary bikes are 29ers too!
  • 18 4
 My ONLY issue with the wheel size debate is once 27.5 came out all the facts about clunky 29ers came to light--i lost my trust in the industry. I always felt the 29er push was a ton of marketing and once 27.5 came out it proved that. I have no issue with wheel sizes but it makes no sense to me to ride a 27.5--and i even bought one--then sold it. I rode my buddies 29 FS and it was identical to the 27.5 for me. When I go 26 to 29--yes I can see a difference. 27.5-29--same geo (ish) feels exactly the same, luggish on my corners, tankish on my climbs, airbus on jumps. I don't get it. Just get a 29er or a 26...
  • 16 11
 27.5 rides identically to 29"?

Get out of here with that nonsense.
  • 7 7
 Luddites.
  • 17 4
 Yes, that's exactly what I said. 27.5 rides identically to 29--full on blanket statement. You always troll like that? Maybe re read my post and write something worthy of a discussion. My experience hllclmbr. MY EXPERIENCE. Troll elsewhere. This is from article "Enduro 29 will roll faster than the 650 over most of the race course"--so why not ride a 29er? Then, "where climbing is minimized and descending can approximate the speed and technicality of DH racing, having the 650’s extra measure of suspension travel, more agility and lighter, sturdier wheels could win the day"--are these not the superb benefits of 26? Essentially 27.5 is minimizing the biggest benefits of each tire size. Is 27.5 truly smack dab in the middle--for you? Best of both worlds? For ME (I know this is nonsense for you) 27.5 loses too much of the 26 play and handles like a 29er--without all the full 29er benefits--so I'd just buy a 29er.
  • 7 1
 Far from luddite my good man. Far from it. I always laugh when people pose a valid argument and the response is, "you just hate progress!" Did you read the article? "stating that they were convinced that the 26-inch format was fine the way it was, that the 29er was a far better choice for a bigger wheel bike, and that the mid-sized wheel “...represented the worst of both worlds.” Specialized also covered their butts, writing that they would consider producing 27.5-inch bikes if there was sufficient consumer demand. " This statement has nothing to do with performance/progress. Dropper seat posts are progress.Good thing when they starting draining blood to cure illnesses someone said--not too sure this is progress--good idea maybe--buuuuuuuut--not so much progress, let's think of something else maybe.
  • 12 24
flag hllclmbr (Jul 14, 2014 at 10:11) (Below Threshold)
 Yes, I troll like a boss.

It's cute that the 26 for lyfe crowd have so taken to the unquantifiable term "playful" as their raison d'être.
  • 2 5
 Maybe it's possible that reality is different than people's uninformed beliefs?
  • 2 0
 ^rc used "playful" in terms of 650b. he has been a long time 29er fan as well but sometimes facts can be cute. it's not a size thing. it's a fun thing. a factual thing. but please, run what ya brung
  • 5 1
 Not a 26 for lifer. This is going nowhere. I own a 29er hardtail, 26 160mm, had a 27.5, sold it.
  • 3 0
 the spesh product i'm waitin on are the 2FOs
  • 9 3
 And you see kids, this is what happens when you give into peer pressure... you make sh***y products
  • 3 1
 @Silly Willie1... maybe people have their own opinions and you can't accept that people have their preferences. That is the reality.
  • 1 1
 Yeah, I'm a fool. I've ridden at least five wheel sizes, and think they all have a place. Trolling again, looking to get banned? You're so good at it! What is it, twice now you've been banned for trolling?
  • 1 2
 Actually more like 8....
  • 1 2
 Fulibug ^^^^ Been riding both the flat-pedal and clip-in version of Specialized's new 2FO flat-sole shoes and will be posting the review very shortly. The enbargo lifted yesterday. The shoes offer some important improvements. I'm riding the clip-in 2FOs in the pics - but the best pic available of the new shoe is on the top spot of the podium at a certain World Cup DH.
  • 1 0
 nice! thnx, rc! i saw a pretty invovled write up on vitalmtb yesterday. you're talkin about brosnan, right? definitely interested in the flat version. curios what you think of that sharkfin sole layup and if it works fiveten well. i wonder if they'll be in court with that "slipnot" name...haha.
  • 2 0
 sorry. gwin at pmb?
  • 3 2
 @newtoDH yeah, imagine how much more playful a 24" is then!
  • 54 3
 "...there is no reason to continue to develop new models in the original mountain bike wheel size."

*a violin plays*
  • 49 2
 "and also, after evaluating the potential benefits of the mid-sized wheel,"

= "and after almost missing the train, we finally got an idea about the market trend and the $ we would lose if we did not follow the trend"
  • 7 13
flag Pichy (Jul 14, 2014 at 8:53) (Below Threshold)
 Now they will sue every other brand using the "650b" name. Drunkcyclist will like this bike tho
  • 48 10
 I really don't like that cables hanging under BB - it looks just awful!
  • 19 2
 I agree. I will never understand this cable routing scheme. Notice how in all the promo picks those cables are edited out, but in the actual PB pics they are fully visible...
  • 32 9
 It's been proven to work just fine, I don't see anything wrong with it personally.
  • 37 1
 I've ridden an SX Trail with that cable routing on various terrains and rides, everything from Ontario XC to Whistler DH and have never, ever once caught or bashed a cable under the BB. It is intuitively wrong, but practically fine.
  • 5 2
 You would rather it going above the BB rubbing against the frame?
  • 9 2
 just awful is fair to say but its a lot easier to maintain bikes with external routing.
  • 5 0
 I think it's less about the routing than the amount of excess cable dangling down in that area. They could keep the routing that way but maybe add a downtube/cable protector or cover to keep them out of the way and from getting damaged.
  • 4 0
 It may not look as clean but it's so easy to work on compared to internal cables. You will more likely destroy something solid like a chainring before those flexible cables.
  • 2 0
 I've got a cable under the BB on my Cannondale, never had a problem yet (touch wood haha).
  • 2 0
 The under the BB cables have given me issues in the rocky desert. Need to carry a constant cache of zip-ties.
  • 3 2
 I bought a 2013 EVO frameset. When I was building it and got to running all the cables I thought I was going to lose my mind. In person I hate how it looks. There is also an issue where the cable for the rear derailleur zip ties to chainstay. If you put 2.4 tires or bigger it will rub the cable. All they needed to do is run the cables down the top of the down tube, not under it. As far as the wheel size goes I am very sad to see the 26 go away. Can't say I'm surprised, but I still don't like it.
  • 2 0
 It could be done more neatly, no doubt. But it
s mostly aesthetics (except the ones on this demo bike seem excessively long)
  • 3 1
 My buddy rides an Enduro 29. One bad rock strike and it pinched his rear brake like. Ran the rest of the 15 mile downhill with only a front brake. Then went to the local bike shop for the emergency repair during lunch before the next shuttle. I think the bill was around $85 for the line and the bleed. The bike absolutely rips. But, I will never buy a bike with this cable routing for this very reason.
  • 2 0
 Same system on my YT. A rock (i suppose by the sound) was thrown on the cables. Big nice cuts in the dropper cable and the brake cable. So not a big fan of this solution, or at least there should be a protection.
  • 1 1
 Just put a neoprene chainstay protector around the cables/hose if it causes you issues.
  • 2 0
 Santa Cruz carbon frames had external routing and still looked good, also has protection under there. Recently saw a Specialized frame cracked cause there's nothing there to protect it. And having a bike that looks like its sporting an old man sack seems wrong for the price tag.
  • 1 0
 I had a YT with this solution as well and i was constantly breaking gear cables. On more than one occasion it happened that my new gear cable lasted less than one ride. Stupid way of routing the cables i think.
  • 1 0
 I have never had an issue with this cable routing. When I first got my enduro I was a little nervous with how the cables hung low below the BB. Instead of bitching about it I went to work on how to solve my worries. I let the air out of my shock and ran the cable and housing slightly away from the BB. By doing this I knew that if I were to bottom out the rear end I would have enough extra not to do any damage. Then I pulled the housing and cable tight to the down tube and eventually got to the shifter and brake and had all this extra shit swooping way out in front of my cockpit. From there I cut the cable and housing for the shifter and the housing for the brake and bled the rear brake. (I also did this for the dropper post and front brake) I now have a pretty clean look on my bike which can be seen here.http://www.pinkbike.com/u/wcjrush/album/New-1X-for-the-enduro/
  • 3 0
 You can't put a protector around these cables, they need to move with the suspension, which is the reason for their extra length
  • 1 0
 The bottom of my BB shell is covered in paint chips, some all the way to the metal. Fuck putting cables there
  • 1 0
 Put electrical tape or stickers on your bike in every place where cables/hoses can rub...
  • 1 1
 You put the chainstay protector around the cable/hose ONLY.
  • 26 2
 I was going to hate on S for selling out, but hopefully people will get 650b crazy for this bike so I can find a used enduro 29er at a lower price.

After a weekend of riding 650b against 26 and 29, I believe that 95% of people in a double blind test could not identify a 650b from a 26 unless they looked at a receipt.
  • 7 1
 hamncheez ... I bet you are so right. Especially with larger front tires, such as the Conti Trial King 26 x 2.4
  • 1 0
 My 26 Enduro with 2.4 Trail Kings is almost indistinguishable in wheel size against my buddies Trance 27.5
  • 1 0
 mtbkook: Out of curiosity, what type of tires on your buddy's Trance 27.5?
I'm so curious how the TK 26 2.4 measure up to moderate size 650B tires.
I know my TK 2.4 measure about 27"
  • 33 7
 So once again they cannot be bothered to design an actual 650b frame, who could have guessed.
  • 14 15
 Pretty much! For a bike that is supposed to be a mini DH bike, that's a damn steep HA! I may use this opportunity to pick off a 26" Enduro at a sweet price now- so thanks Specialized!
  • 19 1
 What are you on about? It's 65.5. A degree slacker than the 26".
  • 7 0
 The head angle is great.
FRGuild: 26" Enduro has 66° HA. But I think it the 26" is still the better bike Smile
  • 3 0
 @frguild, slash, sanction, tracer, ..u name it, most are 65-66º, 2014-15 models.
  • 3 3
 2mm of BB drop is pretty disappointing. So far, the limited selection of 650b bikes I've ridden, I've been able to predict how much I would like the bike purely based on BB drop. Course, if you don't actually design a new front triangle, kinda hard to engineer any more drop in.
  • 1 4
 If you want BB drop you want a 29".
  • 2 2
 Or a 27.5 that has BB drop. Like the KHS I rode. Cause I actually don't want a 29"
  • 4 2
 "First production bike from Morgan Hill with 27.5 wheels." Wraong.
  • 2 2
 BB drop is one of the biggest impacts on handling. The market focuses on HTA, but BB drop and trail are the game changers from a design perspective.
  • 3 1
 Indeed, what made me a believer in 650b is that it gives you that little bit of extra ground clearance at the BB to have BB drop, vs 26" which starts having some real issues with pedal strikes when the BB rests below the axle line.
  • 1 3
 Why not?
  • 1 2
 Because you're a troll?
  • 2 1
 what is the bottom bracket drop on the 29er? 19mm?
  • 1 6
flag jclnv (Jul 14, 2014 at 17:23) (Below Threshold)
 Yeah the 29" is superior in every way.
  • 21 0
 "I’d cut the handlebar to 760-millimeters".. First time I've ever heard that on a pinkbike review!!
  • 41 0
 Hahaha! I know. Usually it's--"the 760s were a little tight for me so I opted for a flag pole.
  • 16 1
 Doesn't do the credibility of the review/reviewer much good when the details are all wrong! The 650b Enduro uses a 26" front triangle not the 29" version, forks fitted are 160mm Pikes on all Enduro models not 150mm on the 29er as stated, rear travel on 650b Enduro is 165mm (not mentioned in the review granted), It's Curtis not Kurtis...

I've heard that Specialized's hospitality is good, I take it the free wine went down well and made things a little hazy... ;-)
  • 2 0
 I believe the Enduro uses a 26" front triangle and the Stumpjumper uses a 29er front triangle, with an external lower HS bearing (the red-flag that sumptin' was up).
  • 2 1
 The fact that they couldn't be bothered to design an actual 650b specific frame makes me extremely dubious about this bike. They will work the kinks out and produce the real version next year.
  • 18 2
 death of the 26"...come on. There's still a target market, especially for a such a high travel bike, just freakin let us keep living in our 26 world if we so choose
  • 2 1
 If people want to keep riding 26" wheels fine, stock up on them or build there own?
  • 3 0
 you can. Just don't buy a 650b
  • 3 2
 If you guys bought enough of them, they wouldn't have stopped making them. Companies want to sell stuff to make money.
  • 1 0
 You can still buy a completely new 24" DH bike if you shop around hard enough. Halo still make wheels and tyres (and actually make a pretty wide range of 24" tyres up to 3" wide). 24" isn't dead yet, I doubt 26" will ever dissapear. People saying it will are just scaremongering idiots.
  • 14 0
 Translation: We don't even really like these bikes, they're not as good, but these ignoramuses keep buying 27.5. We had too!

Maybe Niner will get on board now!
  • 9 0
 I cannot wait for their owner's speech at that launch event, never has so much crow been eaten.
  • 12 0
 That dropper lever is exactly what I hoped someone would build, I have been using a front shifter for my dropper for over a year and love the leverage ratio and ergonomics. Glad someone basically took all the shifting stuff out and made it the way I would if I had the equipment to do it from scratch.

on a side note, you can make your front shifter work by taking the return spring for the little thumb release (down shift lever), that way it never clicks in to place.
  • 3 0
 I'm going to have a good time watching people proclaim the gloriousness of this lever, after listening to the internet rage at the Fox lever, which not only accomplishes the same thing, but has a dedicated lever for the middle position, which was a huge upgrade (to me) from the command post I had before it.
  • 2 0
 I am just saying I love my X-9 lever for my command post, glad to see that they are using that same technology/ leverage in a stripped down package. I don't like the Fox lever to big bulky and awkward. The command post has three positions and I love it. I also love the symmetry of two X-9 shifters, one for my rear shifting and one for my seat post. The old command post lever just didn't have enough leverage and made an otherwise great post crappy when the cable got a bit dirty or bent or even over time. Now only if they would convert the head of the post from one bolt to two.
  • 1 0
 Fox post has 3 positions as well. and the lever is actually very slim. the problems are that it looks bulky because it's hanging off that gangly clamp it uses to attach to the handlebars, and it's too open to keep dirt out of the cable housing if you live someplace muddy, which will be true of this lever as well(I can see the exposed cable in the picture.) I like that this specialized lever looks like it's i-spec compatible, but it would be hard to go back to hitting the lever, then searching for the middle position with your butt like I had to with the command post. Even so, I'd have stuck with that first gen command post I had, if my bike had been able to fit me correctly with a setback post.
  • 12 3
 It cracks me up when people complain about having MORE options in mountain bikes. If you don't want to buy a 27.5/29er don't worry, you'll be able to buy a 26" bike for many more years at a steeply discounted price. And just like V-brakes, bar-ends, and front derailleurs they will fade into mountain bike history.

Take a deep breath and enjoy this article "cough cough" advertisement.
  • 4 1
 Not true Ryan. If you want a 26'er your options are becoming limited. Example, the Yeti SB-66C, not made anymore, but a perfectly capable bike.
  • 4 1
 Great point with the SB-66C...that was a sweet bike.

Yeti ended production mid-year due to a slump in demand (though I still think frames are still available as new old-stock). I'd be willing to bet that if you wanted to pick up a new one with a warranty you could find one. However, the market has spoken on 26" wheels. Regardless of the reason, consumers are simply not buying them at the same rate as 29 or 27.5.

Have you checked your eBay or Clist for amazing 26" bikes? It's really awesome or sad depending on how you look at it. As a recent passenger of the 650b bandwagon I didn't want to buy something that I won't be able to sell in 2-3 years...and unfortunately a 26" bike has less resale value.
  • 7 0
 I am curious about the new 650b and will demo one asap. Having said that if it doesn't perform as well as my 26 enduro, I'll be finding me a new bike manufacturer. I won't stand by a company that TELLS me what I have to ride. Especially when the what I see on the trails is completely in contra of "market" demands. The "market" is fabricated by the industry. Take heed Spec...
  • 9 0
 26 " wheels need a new hope , a saviour , a big company to make a new amazing 26 "specific trail bike - just to stir the pot a bit , I'm not down with this genocide .
  • 5 0
 How about a company dedicated to 26. Sixer instead of Niner.
  • 4 0
 Check out the reviews of the new Evil. Looks pretty sweet with it's 26" wheels!
  • 8 1
 Who the FECK can afford all these super dooper carbon funny sized wheel bikes anyway??
Truth is - usually people that cant feckin ride them!!
They sit at the top of the hill with all the gear and no idea, talkin pish & quoting magazine articles about uni directional carbon lay outs, then get blown away by a 15 year old on a clapped out hard tail circa 2004.
Hopefully 26inch bikes will become cheaper now.
Owned
  • 1 0
 True, but specialized wants old farts with money to blow. As does any company.
  • 1 0
 I agree
  • 2 0
 Those old farts changing bikes every tear pay for all the top of the line stuff you see in biking, they play a vital role in financing what somecall "progression". Most importantly they also put those super bikes and super parts on the second hand market so that you can buy them barely used at half price. So show some appreciation to us Big Grin
  • 1 1
 Good point, but these dudes over price their bikes. If you haven't sold your bike in 2-3 monts, it's time to lower the price. Don't ya think?
  • 7 1
 After rolling the hills this weekend on a 27.5", I can say I really didn't notice shit. I would love to just stick to the 26" wheelset, I already have my 2000 dollar investment on a bike I love. Nobody wants their shit to go obsolete because manufacturers are going to be dicks about this. Like seriously, the selling points of 27.5 aren't even that impressive to me. Better rollover seems to be the biggest reason, but I didn't feel any noticeable difference at all. Shame on riders who are endorsing this crap in PB frontpage interviews, grow a backbone it's okay to tell your sponsor it really wasn't that different of an experience. Really pathetic that manufacturers had to resort to this in order to continue making money. I understand that Pinkbike is getting operating revenue from the guys who want to push things like 27.5, so shame on you folks too.

Now would be a great time for a new manufacturer to enter the market with a durable and affordable 26" wheelset, since so many people still run 26" and all the manufacturers have killed off the size for their product lineups. Basically what's going to happen is people are going to be looking for a new wheelset for their bike and 26" wheels will become scarce on the used market since you won't be able to get them new. Ultimately people will be forced with the decision to buy a new bike somewhere down the line. I would rather buy a new wheelset if I love my damn bike so much.

And lol@specialized.
  • 7 0
 Not everyone who is over 6'1" wants to ride a 29", make an XL in other wheelsizes please! Also, that geo chart is terriblly organized.
  • 1 0
 For god sakes please
  • 1 0
 Agreed, where's the xl? Hope they come out with one cause the Geo looks really good and us tall guys might want one....
  • 1 0
 XL 26ers handle like shit. They need a mile long head tube so you can't buy replacement forks, and with chainstays that short and a seat tube that long you end up with your arse behind the rear axle.
  • 10 5
 A company as big as specialized You'd think they would spend the time in R and D and design a proper 650 front end and not a 29er with a spacer for the fork... Biggest pile of crap I've ever seen and ive been an engineer for 20 years.
  • 11 4
 You're basing your engineering assessment on mere photos, and zero real world experience?

Armchair engineer, at best.
  • 4 0
 Agree. This bike is an insult.
  • 3 1
 the front end is from a 26 enduro. The stumpy uses a 29er front end. It's all about the geo and it doesn't matter if it's from the ground up or not. 650b is so similar in size to 26"
  • 6 0
 Actually it does matter if it's designed from the ground up to be 27.5" or not- you can only manipulate the rear triangle so much to accommodate different sized wheels/fork length without making things too wonky in one area or another. That's why the 27.5" Stumpy is low and steep (using the 29"er front triangle designed around greater BB drop and a longer fork), while this 27.5" Enduro is somewhat high and slack (using the 26" front triangle designed around less BB drop and a shorter fork).

I figured the 27.5" Stumpy was just a stop-gap on their part, can't believe they took the same approach for the Enduro.
  • 1 1
 @phillywa, as an engineer then you would know the cost of carbon molds and how insanely expensive they are. To launch new molds to change a BB drop by 2mm is retarded and something 99% of the people would not feel. Looking at the numbers they have listed and if they are truly accurate, I can see why they didn't feel the need to launch entirely new molds to get such a small change out of it.
  • 2 1
 Yeah ka-brap I know how expensive moulds are, I did some a few years back ( im a machinist by trade) for a client but cmon, specialized turns over ridiculous amounts of money, the least they can do is invest for their loyal customers. Giant and trek do it and they are as big as the big S.
  • 2 1
 Engineer and machinist are two distinctly different professions, y'know.
  • 2 0
 Not in my case it isnt
  • 1 0
 the consumer is going to pay in the end with new molds. The BB height is 1 mm higher than the the 2014 Enduro. Big frigging deal and once you go slack, you never go back.
I think @miles-e is from a competing bike company (1 post) and upset that Big S makes bikes better than theirs.
  • 1 0
 Ha ha, not from any bike company, and actually own a Specialized I'm pretty happy with.

The 1mm increase is obviously minimal, but along with everything going slacker, the trend has also been lower- the new Nomad dropped ~2/3" and is now 1/2" lower than the 650B Enduro. Just comparing the 26" Enduro/Stump Jumper to the 27.5" variants, the difference in bottom bracket height changed from 16mm to 25mm, while the difference in head tube angle went from 1 degree to 2.5 (!)- they're clearly going in different directions on those two metrics based on the constraints of which front triangle they started with.

I think the 27.5" Stumpy is probably more of a compromise than the Enduro (as one would expect with 27.5" being closer to 26" than 29"), but I stand by my original point that you can't just take existing front triangles and throw on different sized wheels and fork and claim everything ends up exactly where you'd want it any way. Evidently it's "close enough" for Specialized, and undoubtedly many riders as well (Fan bois or not), I just think they could have done better.
  • 1 2
 That could certainly be the case, but I'm a licensed EE, and I'd never ever say, "I'm a solderer by trade", though I was pretty badass at soldering before I did the hard work to become an engineer.

YMMV, of course.
  • 1 2
 Also, assuming you're legit, you're overpaid for one of your professions and underpaid for the other, but it averages out to underpaid, based on what machinists make and what MEs make.
  • 3 0
 Wow!! Didnt know somebody knew soooo much about how much I get paid and what the award rate is in Australia. Get back in your hole you ignorant American
  • 6 0
 lol Do what you want Specialized..........I just picked up a brand spankin new Enduro Expert Carbon for 3499$ out the door.
Thanks for going back on your word, I owe ya one...(Or should I say ~3000$ worth).
  • 1 0
 Wow, where at? I want!
  • 1 0
 In bullshit city because the dealers cost on that bike is $4200.
  • 2 0
 Direct quote.... "We are just trying to get rid of it to make way for the "new" 27.5's".
Close though on the city, I think "bullshit city" is probably somewhere on I70 in Colorado. The city where I snagged my deal was in Utah.
  • 9 0
 Bikeradar disputes ,they claim that the front triangles are 26"
  • 1 0
 It's a 26-inch front.
  • 2 0
 Based on the geometry chart posted, I'm inclined to believe Bike Radar about Specialized using the 26" front triangle. Look at the top tube lengths and reach measurements. See how much shorter they are on the 650B? What's listed for the 650B is exactly the same as the 26" has. If they used the 29er front triangle they would be the same.
  • 1 0
 the "new" stumpy 27.5 evo simply uses a 29er front triangle with an adapter on the lower headset bearing to rake it out
  • 7 0
 you realize that specialized has had the 650b stumpjumper for sale this entire summer, right?

also, his name is: Curtis Keene -- just saying.
  • 6 0
 Can we have a filter that hides all comments that complain about wheel size and Specialized's change of attitude towards 27.5? I want to read some discussion about the bikes without all the whining.
  • 4 0
 So they dropped the fork travel on the 29er from 160 (in 2014) to 150 (for 2015)? That's a shame, does anyone know if the pike can be set back to the longer length with spacers?
  • 2 0
 It's still a 160mm fork.
  • 1 0
 Ok, confused, why do they say it's 150mm stroke for the 29er and 160mm for the 650b then?
  • 2 0
 'Cause it's a PB article, and they got it wrong.
  • 1 0
 sideshow. I think they got it wrong but you can easily change the pike from 150-160.
  • 3 0
 Quote - "Specialized took its sweet time before entering the mid-wheel marketplace. The S-Works Enduro 650b is the first production bike from Morgan Hill to sport 27.5-inch wheels."

I just saw a specialized 650b Stump jumper at my loal shop over a month ago - go figure...
  • 3 0
 FOR THE LOVE OF BIKE!!! , can bike designers PLEASE just add 26"/27.5" interchangeable rear dropouts and at least 2 options for shock length without messing up leverage. Us cyclists will sort out the rest .. no one size fits all plain and simple. If Spesh dump there 26" line, riots in the streets... Probably the end. Ha Ha
  • 1 0
 Thank goodness for Scott bikes they actually got it on this point! Fuck the big S,
  • 5 1
 OK now lets have a side by side comparison riding the 650 vs 29 on video like that Manon vs Rachel one... Same rider, same course... and see the results... Will make a sick video I think
  • 1 2
 Please scroll up.
  • 2 0
 Please read my comment properly... I meant something like this

www.pinkbike.com/news/video-carpenter-vs-atherton-leogang-2014.html
  • 5 0
 Amazing how stupid the masses are .... 650 has been around all these years and suddenly give it a new name & they are the "best of everything" wheel. ... Total BS
  • 3 0
 Hm, wheelsize wheelsizs wheelsize, dont you think that about an Inch in wheelbase and 2degrees head angle might have an influence on the handling of the bikes too?

another thought, back to back riding to determine which is better? I don't know but i am always way faster and more relaxed on the second run on the same trail no mater which bike... RC's your reviews are always really weird... sorry man...
  • 5 0
 Looks sick but I hope the new 2015 demo 8 will be 26 ich adjustable 26er for life sorry 650b fans
  • 1 1
 Prepare to be disappointed.
  • 4 1
 An argument is made in this article saying 27.5 is lighter, stiffer and more agile than 29. Well the same is true about 26 in relation to 27.5 but when was the last time we heard that?
  • 4 3
 Because 26" needs ridiculous geometry to get the same ride characteristics. For the current balance between stability, and agility, 27.5" is a better fit. If playful was the end all be all, we would still use 71 deg HTA.
  • 1 3
 and the same argument is made for 24" vs 26" but that's not discussed either, for good reason.
  • 2 1
 Yes but there's no 24" enduro to reference.
  • 1 2
 Damn companies restricting our buying choices! Why won't they let the consumer decide if they want 24" wheels on the Enduro?
  • 2 0
 Willie1: There are three wheel sizes for the enduro, 24" isn't relevant to this discussion for good reason. If the reviewer is going to talk about how "smaller" 27.5 wheels increased agility, stiffness... it should also be mentioned that the 26" enduro further enhances these traits. Not mentioning this would be like saying the E27.5 rolled faster than the E26 and not mentioning how the E29 would roll even faster.
  • 2 3
 But 24" would be even better according to the logic of the 26-4-lifers! Why isn't it offered? More choice is better, let the consumer decide! (Maybe yjey did in the early 2000's, when 24" rear tires were offered, and were found to get hung up too easy. 26" is a bit more stable, but it required DH geometry to get a trail bike to handle the way people want them to. Then comes 650b, and the geometry can get a bit more neutral, resulting in a better handling bicycle. 29ers go a bit farther than some riders want, and reciprocating weight becomes more of an issue. See, its all a trade off. If 26 was that perfect, geometry would have reasonable HTA/ trail, CS length, and BB drop for neutral handling, but it can't. Slacking a bicycle out is like using a larger wheel. Both have similar effect on handling. If you are not riding 68-71 HTA, you don't actually prefer 26". You want something more stable.
  • 1 0
 There are 2 things here: minimum production quantities (companies simply can't make everything in all sizes) and everyone who is arguing "let the customer decide" is exactly what is going on. There are TWO customers: the first is the dealer, the second is the end user. If the dealer can't sell 26" inch wheels or doesn't want to, then they aren't going to order as many bikes from said Brand. The end user is 99% left to buy what the dealer has, especially in the case of Trek, Giant, and Specialized who only work with dealers. The customers have already decided, namely the dealer and secondarily the end user. The average end user wants the new and fresh, regardless if it is new and fresh and the dealer wants to sell that to them. What has happened with Yeti's SB66 is a perfect example of a great bike that has little demand from both the dealer and the end user.

When brands simply force things upon the industry, these things die out quickly without dealer support and end user purchase. When you see 650b/27.5 becoming more popular, it isn't a brand conspiracy- the reality is that dealers are supporting it and end users are purchasing it. End of story.
  • 2 1
 So you guys don't want the super playful and fun 24" wheels? What the hell? I thought this is what everyone wants!!!!!!
  • 1 0
 willie1: that's like saying you 27.5'ers don't want 29.5 wheels! What the hell, they would be so much faster!
  • 1 0
 No, we like the balance between the traits. That's something the 26" 4 life guys never seem to get. I own 24, 26, 700c, 650b bikes and like them all in certain applications. It's not about faster, but better all around performance. Who would give up better suspension, better brakes, or more neutral handling?
  • 1 0
 Balance of traits can also mean worst of both worlds.

Speaking of better brakes/suspension. The lighter your wheels/tires, the better both those things perform. Since 27.5 is only 25mm bigger the weight savings aren't huge but between two rims and tires it adds up. Even if 27.5 was the same weight, bigger wheels don't zip around corners and change lines as well. That's a physics issue that's never going to change just as 26" will always hang up more and roll slower. Choose what's important to you, there's always going to be a compromise! All things equal, 27.5 physically can't be as agile, light and stiff as 26, or roll as fast as 29" To me that's worst of both worlds, to you it's the perfect compromise.
  • 1 1
 The increased tire contact patch (small difference) plus increased air volume (small difference) offset the slight weight difference. If you can't corner faster on 650b, there is something wrong. I never understood that argument as pro 26". The ability to adjust a line, maybe, but not general cornering. Traction helps line adjustment too. You could use the argument that a 1.95" tire is lighter, more agile, and playful than a 2.4" tire, but people like the traction and ride quality of 2.4" tires.
  • 2 0
 And one funny thing is that everyone, well most forget that KHS re-started with the 650b back in 2005 or 2006. Marketing is a way to tell people what they need to buy to revamp sales weather a good or a bad thing. When KHS brought out the DH 300 with 650b tires and Login brought it out to the red bull rampage it made people see that with the right tweeks here and there it can be utalized to make the overall ride a better sensation. I have been saying this for years that a 29er is best suited for XC and 650 for gravity bikes. Specialized is smart for listening to their market demands to produce a bike of equal quality to everyone tdo nt lose and sales. I think its good that they listen to their fans and continue to evolve the market with everyone's needs and or wants.
  • 2 0
 Only reason I bought a 650b bike to replace my 26'' bike was because the manufactures slowed down or stopped producing their updated products for 26'' size wheels. I didn't want to have to compromise or pay a premium on tyres or wheels in a few years time. I knew I didn't want 29er wheels because I'm too short and wanted something I could move around easily without sacrificing the amount of travel I had available. Maybe we should let the bike industry have this one, learn from it, and not buy into the hype for the next minor upgrade. Wait for something substantial.
  • 2 0
 At the end of the day, and even though I hate to admit it... I'm short. That's why I Mountain Bike. It's a great sport for small dudes with big balls. I'm just wondering if the whole wheel thing shouldn't be tied a little closer to the specific rider and their measurements (height and inseam). I kinda do like the idea of rolling over stuff faster and easier, but I like being closer to the ground and having a saddle that's low enough to step off of very easily. Back in college some 20 years ago, I rode with a guy who was 6'5". I always thought it was funny that we had bikes with the same tire size. I can see why my buddy would love to ride huge wheels. But for me... I don't know. My favorite place to ride is the North Shore, and I'm never going to race anybody there or anywhere. I just like finishing a line and looking back up at the trail and saying "wow, I can't believe I just rode that." There are plenty of switchbacks and other technical features out there that I am pretty sure I personally could not clear with big wheels. So I am personally writing Santa to ask for a 27.5 lb, 26" Enduro with 8" travel, with adjustable lockout/travel/geometry on a bar button. And I really would like a straight seat tube. For who I am, and the riding I do, I want that seat to go all the way f'n down!
  • 6 0
 great nice looking bike. period!
  • 4 1
 For now, I can wholeheartedly say that Specialized's first 27.5-inch-wheel bike is a sweet ride - and worthy of its namesake. - RC It's not treir first, the Stumpy 27.5 has been around a few months now
  • 5 0
 That's exactly what I was thinking, he forgot about the Stumpy!
  • 2 1
 He said first all mountain bike
  • 2 0
 The 650b stumpy is lack luster. IF they had actually designed a new frame with geo specific to the wheel rather than raiding the tool shed for spare parts, it would have been far better.
  • 1 0
 the Stumpy is lack luster and the Enduro will be also. It's another bike that is spare parts.
  • 6 0
 How about an Enduro 26 vs Enduro 650B timed test?
  • 1 0
 That's what im into.
  • 2 0
 "Kurtis Keen" and the "2104" 29er.

That aside, it's a very nice, fairly in-depth review. But really...all it takes is testing the 29er back to back with a 650b bike and instead of having amazing big hit response and crazy nice steering there's suddenly complaints about the 29er? I mean the last review treated the enduro 29er as the second coming is all.
  • 5 0
 So the 650 is more playful and fun than the 29'er. Imagine how much fun you'd have on a 26"
  • 1 2
 Don't forget there are 24, 20, and 16" wheels that should be even funner!
  • 2 0
 Frick, hurry up and put that dropper lever out at a reasonable price. The current command post lever is shite. PS - it's a real low blow that I can't route my Reverb internally without widening the standard frame guide and voiding my warranty.
  • 2 0
 So then use a Kind Shock LEV or LEV Integra. They fit without messing with the frame
  • 1 0
 Thanks for that, I'll look into it. Still bummed that I can't use the perfectly good Reverb I already have without external routing though.
  • 7 6
 All I can say, is that when you read PB reviews of Specialized bikes or products it is immediately obvious that the get a lot of ad revenue from them. Not hating on Specialized as I have one of their Enduros and it is a good bike but that huge ugly dropper post lever .......
  • 1 0
 To PB's credit they called it simple and effective - not innovative or groundbreaking. Which is dead on given that riders everywhere were repurposing front shifters exactly this way until the better levers started coming out on dropper posts. I ran an old XTR lever this way with my Joplin in the days before the LEV lever. I wouldn't go back.
  • 4 1
 I take most of Pinkbike's review with a grain of salt, especially when the review is on a Trek, Specialized or Santa Cruz. I'm sure we'll see some prominent Specialized advertising on the Enduro this week on the site. For full disclosure it would be nice to know if Specialized payed the travel expenses for the PB crew to come out and test the bike.
  • 1 0
 I'm surprised there isn't more hate for it yet, since it's almost exactly the same as the much internet hated Fox lever, which I have, and like. I was planning on replacing it with a front shifter pod, but after using it, having a "no thinking required" button for the middle position is really useful.
  • 5 0
 I think PB should be forced to use a title like 'Advertorial' for all features where the company has basically paid for a review. It's like product placement on the TV. Pinkbike are never gonna turn round and say 'This bike is shite' even if they were testing a Raleigh Activator. It's a fundamental flaw in their ability to give anything a honest review.
  • 1 0
 "but that huge ugly dropper post lever ......."

major complaint there.. reviews of Spesh products tend to be favorable in most publications, could it be they make good stuff? You do have an Enduro after all so it can't be such a surprise...
  • 4 1
 "...Mike Levy covered the very similar 2104 version in depth a few months ago..."

Oh wait, the 2104 version was tested already?
  • 1 0
 +3 and 7/8ths
  • 1 0
 nice bike, why all the hating, they said if there is customer demand, they will make one, but at S-works level only, it's out of reach for alot of people. now if they made a 650b enduro comp, it would kill the competition. I'll stick with my Rocky for now though.
  • 1 0
 Well I don't know Specialized.....I've got a 26' S-Works 2013 Enduro and I love it but it's getting tired......If I go get another I'm forced to get the 650B......
.....or go somewhere else......

If you can promise me it's as light as my 26" and I'm still smiling after testing it....then you and I are still friends......
  • 1 0
 If you took a 650b bike and a 26er that had the same trail, head angle, bb drop and cs length etc. in other words if the fork offset was the only difference then 99% of riders would not be able to tell the difference. One would have less rolling resistance and the other would change directions faster that's it end of story.
  • 1 0
 Don't forget all the pedal strikes from the 26er that would get annoying. Btw, when I changes my MojoSL to 650b, it was immediately apparent the improvement. The mojo is on the steep side to start with, and this was a step in the right direction.
  • 1 0
 If so many people are hating on specialized for the way they handled releasing 650B bikes, just look at all the people they have sued over name infringement. Look up epic bags and mountain cycles for their stumptown bike and you will understand, that will really make you hate the Big S. I have owned a few Specialized bikes, but never again. The way they handle business is crap!
  • 1 0
 Well Specialized....I love my 26' 2013 S-Works Enduro but I want a new bike - do I go get the 650B or go elsewhere for a playful 26er.....

If it's as light as the 26" 2 years ago and I'm still smiling after I ride it....then we are still friends!
  • 3 1
 why does no one applaud Specialized for trying to not jump on the bandwagon so early? haha, cyclists and our double standards. we would've hated em for doing the opposite and doing 27.5" at the beginning
  • 1 0
 All this wheel size debate has gotten way out of hand. I was speaking to a guy on the trail the other day who admitted to being a twice a year mtb holiday goer and a occasional weekend warrior, he had a sb66c fully tricked out and was saying it was to much bike for him, and in the same breath he was going to sell it to get 650b.... why.. because he reads the magazines and internet colums in his lunch break and they say you must buy this and now he thinks his amazing 26'' is no good. ironically I'm upgrading my frame and forks just now and would love to find a nice sb66 frame to go with my pikes. Iv never ridden any thing other than a 26'' but i do think a 29er would feel quite big and a little clumsy for the trails i ride, and i don't know if i would be able to feel a massive difference on a 650b compared to a 26 to warrant adding wheels and tyres to my new build as well the extra cash it seems to cost for a slightly larger frame, or in specialized case the same size front triangle but as i said iv never ridden any thing else so i might be proved wrong and have to succumb to the hype !!! but in the mean time i have amazing days on my 26''
  • 1 0
 STOP WITH THE PROPRIETARY BULLSH!!T.

Specialized needs to drop all of the proprietary bulls&!t and spec some real parts. Their rims suck, shocks have to be custom, seat post sucks, tires suck, stems suck, bars suck. Now they are making their own chainrings? F##k off.
  • 1 0
 " the moderate reduction of the 29-inch-wheel’s strike angle cannot mask the fact that the fork and shock only move 155 millimeters. As we adapted to the race course and speeds increased, so did the occurrence of flat tires. Everyone who returned on a 29-inch-wheel Enduro did so with the O-rings glued to the fork crowns and pushed to the end of the shock body. Not so much with the longer legged Enduro 650b."

@Richard Cunningham:

So you use all travel on a 160mm fork and 155mm shock travel 29er, but don't on a 160mm fork and 165mm shock 650B (note the only difference is 5mm travel in the shock only)?

Are you sure you've set up the suspension the same?
  • 5 0
 the smaller wheel was more playful and easier to handle.
  • 2 5
 For this rider...
  • 1 0
 what goes around comes around...
  • 1 0
 Will the Enduro SX migrate to 27.5" wheels giving up a bit of BMX handling in exchange for a little better roll-over, simpler production, tire availability? Or will it remain 26"? Trail-riding my previous generation SX, one of the very few complaints I ever had was that the rear wheel would hang up in square edge and baby-head sized rocks. A 27.5" version with Spez's new shorter chainstays shoud still be pretty darn easy to manual and corner. So what's the plan?
  • 2 1
 Hm, wheelsize wheelsizs wheelsize, dont you think that about an Inch in wheelbase and 2degrees head angle might have an influence on the handling of the bikes too?

another thought, back to back riding to determine which is better? I don't know but i am always way faster and more relaxed on the second run on the same trail no mater which bike... RC's your reviews are always really weird... sorry man...
  • 1 0
 "when the time came to crank out a mid-sized wheel version, they tuned the new Enduro 650 to emulate the best qualities of their Enduro 29s. Had Specialized followed the more predominant trend and modeled the new bike after the well-evolved, but perhaps dated traits of a 26-inch wheel bike, I don’t believe it would possess the high-speed stability and easy handling qualities that make it a stand-out performer"
Someone apparently needs to tell this guy that the 2015 Enduro 650b USES THE OLD 26' FRAME.
  • 1 0
 YoKev ^^^The front triangle is from the 26 but the bike's geometry is tuned differently with the use of a different rear suspension and linkage. The 650's handling qualities are nothing like the 26. In fact, if you rode the 29 and 27.5 back to back, like I did, you would not be able to tell the difference in many trail situations. Specialized made it clear during the presentation that they believe the 29er Enduro is the bike that every rider there prefers, so it makes perfect sense that they would tune the new bike to emulate its performance.
  • 1 0
 I realize the swingarm is 3mm longer than the 26", and you say the linkage is different so I guess it must have a different ratio.
Not being a mechanical engineer, but having ridden MTB's since the late '80s, I'm of the opinion that I've developed a reasonable understanding of MTB chassis basics. IMO, since they're using the 26" frame, there's not a whole lot they can change up with the linkage. Maybe I'm wrong, but I'm of the understanding that the shock is more or less the same length, plus the frame was designed to use if not a SPECIFIC linkage ratio, then a very small range.
We've been here before with the Tracer 27.5" among others, and when it first came out Intense used the 26" frame, if not the entire chassis.
Like the Enduro 650b, the Tracer was 'terrific', and the fact that it was using the recycled 26' frame was largely minimized by the media.
Not until the DEDICATED 27.5 came out this year, did the media finally rip on the old design, or use it to show how much better the dedicated 27.5" chassis is because of it's improved geo.
Review after review of 27.5" bikes tout the particular bike in the review because IT has a dedicated 'Clean Sheet' 27.5" design, and they all like to 'compare' said bike to the nameless masses of 27.5" bikes who's manufacturer(s) were too lazy or cheap to do the same, instead [re]using their 26" frames/chassis, and simply slapping on 27.5" wheels and doing as little re-working as possible to get 'em to 'work'.
Having owned a '13 Enduro Expert 26", and currently owning the 29" version, I'm anything but anti-Specialized.
It is my strong opinion however, that the Enduro 650b is LESS than what it could/SHOULD have been.
  • 3 0
 They also have the stumpy Evo in 650. We had two at the shop I worked in way back in April.
  • 1 1
 Can they hang those cables lower please!!! Under the BB, Specilised still cant get this right on stupidly expensive trail bikes, yet the Demo, thats how its done, I wont ever take them seriously until they take this seruously and stop taking the piss!
  • 3 0
 Remember the days where a bike came out and it was either like it or don't and you didn't even mention wheel size?
  • 1 1
 Nice to see that specialized took their time with 650b wheels. While they do seem to be going back on what they said, it is also stated that they would consider the wheel size if the market showed demand. I've not experienced 650b or 29" wheels but there does seem to be a demand for the sizes, and seeing a company take time to roll out a 650b package is refreshing. The fact that they took the time to really find out if 650b is worth it and then produce a bike is pretty awesome!
  • 1 0
 Richard mentioned in the article that the addition of the cane creek double barrel inline to the 2014s was a good addition. Someone correct me if I am wrong but they have never come stock with the inline until now.
  • 6 2
 Laughing at these 650b haters
  • 1 1
 I've been waiting months for a 2015 enduro. I even sold my dream carbon demo 8 bike. =( After reading all this ^ I don't know what to do now. Idk if I can even support Specialized, they seem shady.... someone direct me in the right direction. 2015 27.5 enduro? or a used 2014 enduro 29er expert carbon? or an intense tracer 275.......... this sucks! HELP
  • 2 0
 Buy a 27.5 Enduro, I rode one a few days ago. It kicks ass, and I signed up for pb to tell you that.
  • 1 0
 Which one did you test?
  • 1 0
 Well, I happened to test the S-Works model but the lower end models with also ride incredibly well. Both the 29er and the 27.5. Personally on the NorthEast where I live the 29er would work best but the 27.5 was also a killer bike. The two were both very flickable, maneuverable, and fun. The only reason I stick with 29 is the amount of rocks, roots, and other rougher terrain we see at home. I’m going to sell my Carbon StumpJumper Evo 29er for an Enduro next year.
  • 1 0
 Nice! I actually just bought a 2014 enduro 29er (comp) just so I have a bike to ride until the 2015's are out. It was brand new, the guy never used it once. Anyways, I was impressed about how fast it rolls and it's good with the corning. The only thing I didn't like were the low end componets. I just came off a top of the line build and I can def. notice the crappy drivetrain that's on the comp. I don't know whether I should upgrade the componets and keep it or just wait till the 2015's are out. I'm so lost
  • 1 0
 You’re in a tough spot because the 2014 version isn’t too different in terms of geometry, but having the wider traverse wheel set , a 1x11 drivetrain and a DB shock (among other things) can definitely make a huge difference. If you can recover at least what you paid, buying a 2015 will be justifiable. If you lose a bunch in the process it may not be. If you are going to stick with the 29er then there may not be a huge disadvantage to just upgrading your bike unless you planned on switching to a carbon version.
  • 1 1
 I've been waiting months for a 2015 enduro. I even sold my dream carbon demo 8 bike. =( After reading all this ^ I don't know what to do now. Idk if I can even support Specialized, they seem shady.... someone direct me in the right direction. 2015 27.5 enduro? or a used 2014 enduro 29er expert carbon? or an intense tracer 275.......... this sucks! HELP
  • 2 1
 I waited months for this 2015 enduro and i'm very dissapointed. Does specialized ever read these comments? I hope they do. There's not only 1 person complaining, it's EVERYONE!!
  • 1 0
 Specialized Killed all 26" models save for the Status. The Demo went to 650b (and they are not offering an S-Works model??) And yes the Enduro EVO is 650b, but it comes with a Boxxer on the front!
  • 5 3
 Honestly! Specializd get your heads out of your ASS and quite half assing your projects.
Specialized new Solgan: Why Inovate when we can Cobble it!
  • 4 0
 Way to misspell Curtis Keene's name.
  • 2 0
 Multiple times, and a few variations of misspelling too!
  • 2 0
 Yeah. He's going to kick my ass for that
  • 1 0
 Haha classic!
  • 2 0
 Anyone what to buy a 2013 Sworks Enduro 26" (Stock with change out to 2014 pike, Raceface sixc bars and reverb). I'll be in Denver in 2 weeks :o)
  • 7 0
 I give you 2 Camel
  • 3 0
 more of a marlboro gentleman to be honest...but 4 camel might just buy it.
  • 1 0
 I just got a text message from my friend at Specialized and he also disputes the info.
The front triangles are indeed 26" wheel units and no 29ers .
Somebody at PB please revise!
  • 3 0
 Take your dumbass enduro swag and go ride a unicycle. More nimble, and lighter than any enduro you will ever see!
  • 1 0
 @the people stating they're gonna buy 26ers at a cheap price.

You should be a bit more discreet, collectively you're telling sellers that the market is still there and so not to give you your cheap knockdown price. Shhhh!
  • 4 1
 It would be a crime to put 26 inch wheels on it for specialized
  • 5 3
 I was holding out on 27.5 but finally tried it and loved it. Never going back to 26!
  • 2 2
 Really? Because I tried it and it felt remarkably similar to 26". Placebo much?
  • 1 0
 Anchoricex, you must be new here. The shorthand is PaWSaBEaDaboutit
  • 2 1
 I just build an enduro with 24 inch wheels and it's the best bike I've ever rides. That includes trek slash 650b and enduro 29.
  • 5 2
 Have you tried 20" wheels? They are super playful and agile!
  • 2 0
 I'm 5'7" and I test rode the enduro 29er, and the frame is a little bit to big. The 650 should fit perfectly !
  • 1 0
 who makes that little chain guide? I saw it on the 650b stumpjumper at my lacal shop a month ago, but they could not tell where I could get one.
  • 2 0
 If you want a 26'r buy a different brand, shit! doesn't sound like many of you are happy with Specialized anyways..
  • 2 3
 If you can ride anything bigger than 26" faster than a 26" you need to stop being a pussy and ride steeper, more technical trails. 29" is for cross country. 27.5" is for people who think they are "hip". In reality you are an egg if you don't ride 26.
  • 1 2
 650 b was for the "hipster's that has custom frames and wheels built for the past 5 years, or found frames and forks that had enough clearance to run the bigger wheels.
  • 2 0
 So much crapping on specialized, what they should do is get rid of that shit bag wheelset. Roval is junk.
  • 1 1
 Also, the 2015 comp looks super cheap, the elite color scheme looks identical to the 2014 enduro. The expert and sworks looks the best but there isn't a lot of people that can afford those models. WOW specialized
  • 5 1
 Boo, specialized, Boo
  • 7 0
 I agree I think they had it rhite in the first place 26 or 29
  • 2 0
 So spesh hasn't got bogged down in the whole "nice looking bikes" thing.......
  • 3 0
 Does this mean Specialized has received a patent for 650b?
  • 1 2
 As in motocross, one day the rear wheel (27.5) and the front wheel (29) will be different sizes. One day 13 speed trannys and no derailers, Twist grip gear changers and drive shafts will be standard, NO ELECTRONICS OR BATTERIES! Shocks and forks will have LEVELS built in that will be adjustable to controk the length of tracel according to the climb angle. So says MTB Nostradamus? or is it Nosferatu?
  • 1 1
 30 tooth chainring? And why can't we have a well spec'ed alloy enduro with a good 2X10 drivetrain? You know something awesome (awesomer than comp) that the rest of us can get our hands on.
  • 3 0
 I demand a Nomad v Enduro v Capra head to head
  • 4 3
 The answer to every new long travel enduro bike is 'yt Capra' - why pay more?!!
  • 4 2
 Because they're all breaking.
  • 2 2
 For better support from a bike shop that stocks the brand, i work in a bike shop and its always a pain in the ass when some chump has ballsed up building a bike he got off the internet to save himself some money, money he then looses paying to have the bike built correctly with poor support from the bike manufacturer because they sell direct to customers.
  • 1 0
 Yeah I can see why that's an annoyance but I doubt he has ballsed it up bad enough that it offsets the price difference of the equivalent spesh enduro- about 4k. He can fuck it up numerous times before he reaches spesh prices haha
  • 1 0
 No yt in the America's. Capra seems to run small on paper, as do specialized. (Toptubes/reach)
  • 1 0
 They do look sweet for 4,000 euros!
  • 2 1
 Yeah, the bike shops "punish" a guy who doesn't buy into the secret handshake, and they wonder why they are losing business! Idiots!
  • 3 2
 No price? Just as well, the site would explode with the presence of another expensive ass bike!
  • 1 0
 And what about the front derailleur and the taco blade? Will it still be available?
  • 1 0
 Ok, so now the question is Enduro 650 or Stumpy Evo 650? Have carbon Demo already.
  • 2 0
 Does anyone know what brand shoes is RC wearing???
  • 3 0
 Its...beautiful...
  • 1 0
 I love it but hate the cables below the BB! ugh. wish they would have a cleaner look
  • 1 0
 I do agree with you on that. I ride a '12 Enduro Expert Evo and I've had to do some adjustments to make sure things don't grab me from underneath.
  • 1 0
 So does this mean Specialized is done with Ohlins as well? Wonder what happened there.
  • 2 0
 the white paint in the middle of the bike is very off putting,
  • 1 1
 It's ugly!!! I waited months for this 2015 enduro and i'm very dissapointed. Does specialized ever read these comments? I hope they do. There's not only 1 person complaining, it's EVERYONE!!
  • 1 0
 I'm sure this has been said a thousand time but..... Fix your f'n cable routing spesh
  • 2 1
 If you decide to sell a 9k bike, is really that hard to design a internal route for the cables?
specialized go home.
  • 1 0
 would love to see size xl in 650b and that remote lever as a aftermarket option.
  • 1 0
 If you like the 26" enduro,check out DURT WURX on fb, almost identical geo. made in the USA cheers
  • 1 0
 Well, something good is that 26 enduro spe people just need to swap their rear brace to the 27.5 brace.
  • 2 0
 Gimme that dropper lever!
  • 1 0
 give it two years and the enduro will have 15mm longer top tubes and 30mm stems
  • 3 1
 Ok now discount the 26"Smile
  • 2 2
 They already have. They couldn't sell them! Practically giving them away.
  • 1 0
 where?
  • 1 0
 Check the LBS Spesh dealers in your area.
  • 1 0
 At last, they have changed the Command Post clamp. Looking forward to read a test of the "new" dropper.
  • 1 0
 Anyone know if the rear triangle is gonna be aluminum or are they gonna switch to full carbon?
  • 2 0
 i talked to the spesh lawyers. pb u cant use the word enduro any more.
  • 4 3
 In before 650b Special Ed hate.
  • 2 0
 tasty!!
  • 2 1
 who wears a BMC shirt during a Specialized product shoot?
  • 1 0
 No shit!
  • 1 0
 No XL 650b? So tall riders have to go into a 29 inch wheel?
  • 1 0
 any pictures of the new upper shock mount? what changed?
  • 1 2
 Why do they have to ruin these bikes with these crappy color schemes. I've been waiting months for one of these, now i'm thinking of getting something else. Lame
  • 2 0
 Bad colors
  • 1 0
 no xl in a 650!!! Come on Specialized, I'm 6'5" and i cant ride a large
  • 1 0
 would be just perfect with a -20mm stem and 880mm bars 3
  • 1 0
 Wouldn´t a Pike DUO help a lot on climbing?
  • 1 0
 So Rich...Spec. 29 Enduro or Spicy Team?
  • 1 0
 Oops ... I meant enduro 650 s-works vs spicy team w/enve wheels
  • 1 0
 Screw the wheel size, I WANT THE 2FO'S!!! Tell us more about them!!
  • 1 0
 9 different enduros + the evo s + frame options? Give me a break!
  • 1 0
 Atleast this bike is so enduro, and not just uphill or downhill bike
  • 1 0
 The comment I posted was intended sarcasm
  • 1 0
 If you already miss the 26" enduro, check out DURT WURX on fb.
  • 4 3
 is this the new 27,5 ibis? lol
  • 3 6
 I know it's a great bike and I know they make excellent bikes especially the Enduro but any time I see an article on this bike I'm gunna chuckle when I read their marketing rant like "THIS BIKE IS DIALED AND PERFECT....especially now with the 27.5 tires"

Specialized just needs to admit they were wrong and spoke too soon before the new tires were giving a fair chance to be tested thoroughly.
  • 1 0
 Shouldn't Curtis Keene have been in La Thuile on the weekend?
  • 1 0
 They did this review before this past weekend. It takes at least a week to write and edit everything.
  • 3 0
 It doesn't look like they edited ANYthing in this article to me. So many things wrong with this article!
  • 1 0
 Oh, they edited it, they just did a lousy job of it.
  • 3 2
 omg !! boner !! awkward ...
  • 1 0
 It's 1.5" more perfecter. And Freedom costs a buck-o-five.
  • 2 1
 JUST NOTHING!
  • 1 2
 Something weird about seeing an older, nerdy, Fred-looking dude with professor glasses shredding on an all-mountain bike.
  • 2 3
 Wasn't Gwin's bike in PMB waaaaaaaay longer than this?
  • 1 5
flag nismo325 (Jul 14, 2014 at 6:19) (Below Threshold)
 Gwins bike also had a boxxer on it
  • 4 0
 He had a FOX40. And I'm talking about the frame.
  • 13 0
 Think it was an enduro Evo mate, 180mm travel bike
  • 2 4
 go to hell S and all your stupid 29" enduro bikes that nobody wants
  • 4 2
 Let me get this straight. The marketing guys have gagged and tied up the engineers and locked them in a closet so they can sell us bikes "that nobody wants". Seems like an odd business plan.
  • 2 2
 The largest bicycle company in the USA doesn't know how to sell what people want? Makes perfect sense.
  • 1 4
 enduro!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Below threshold threads are hidden







Copyright © 2000 - 2024. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv42 0.052351
Mobile Version of Website