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Which enduro bike climbs best?

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Which enduro bike climbs best?

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flag dhrider8051
Posted: Apr 5, 2021 at 19:29 Quote
I just got a yt Capra pro al and am loving it.

It’s feels capable of going up hill and absolutely shreds the downhills.

But I’m looking for a bike that is a bit more capable of going uphill.

The frames I have in mind to replace my Capra are

Evil wreckoning v3
Specialized enduro
Santa Cruz mega tower
Yeti sb150
Ibis ripmo

The bike has to have 29” wheels preferably carbon ,be a little lighter but not a requirement and have a low stand over height like my Capra. And pedal noticeably better than my Capra and be as good as my Capra descending or at least close .
flag soloknight6
Posted: Apr 5, 2021 at 20:18 Quote
dhrider8051 wrote:
I just got a yt Capra pro al and am loving it.

It’s feels capable of going up hill and absolutely shreds the downhills.

But I’m looking for a bike that is a bit more capable of going uphill.

The frames I have in mind to replace my Capra are

Evil wreckoning v3
Specialized enduro
Santa Cruz mega tower
Yeti sb150
Ibis ripmo

The bike has to have 29” wheels preferably carbon ,be a little lighter but not a requirement and have a low stand over height like my Capra. And pedal noticeably better than my Capra and be as good as my Capra descending or at least close .

Uphill: Ibis>Yeti=Evil> (Santa Cruz ? Specialized.)

Downhill: Evil = Specialized > Yeti > Santa Cruz > Ibis.

One bike quiver: Ibis.

* My opinion is based on binge-watching review videos, not actual experience. *
flag dhrider8051
Posted: Apr 5, 2021 at 20:56 Quote
Glad for your opinion which further increases my opinion as the evil wreckoning as the top contender the only thing is I’m not sure the parts will be compatible with the evil frame from the Capra I don’t know enough about bikes to know
flag norfiril
Posted: Apr 5, 2021 at 20:56 Quote
Tested the Evil, Santa Cruz and Ibis for two weeks each. Also owned a Pívot Firebird 29.

From them all the worst climber is the Santa Cruz. Bikes like Megatower, Firebird, Wreckoning or Slash are bikes that make it to the top but not very good all rounders.

Ibis and Yeti are much more capable not only because of the system but also seat angle. From them I choosed the SB150, I think it’s more or less the same uphill and it’s better downhill but that’s personal preference
flag mtbtrekracer
Posted: Apr 5, 2021 at 20:57 Quote
IF theres a lockout what do you not like about the Capra climbing? it sucks in open as i've owned one but no issue with locked out.

if you're going to get a Ibis, start a youtube channel then offer them advertising for your cheap bike...

Consider the NP MEGA and RM Altitude.
or if you ok with less travel then Norco Sight is very good.

Vancan said the evil climbs better than the Enduro. Best all rounder he liked the Altitude
As cliche as Yeti is, frame strength is a problem I see all the time.

There's never a perfect Enduro bike and after awhile you will ride a different one an always say "this is so much better"
I base my Bikes on what i want them to do best at, in this case descend - so i buy a good shock with a lockout...

Personally i own the mega, meta and slash, ride the slash mostly as its good at everything heading downhill, i lockout the shock on climbs.
flag soloknight6
Posted: Apr 5, 2021 at 21:00 Quote
dhrider8051 wrote:
Glad for your opinion which further increases my opinion as the evil wreckoning as the top contender the only thing is I’m not sure the parts will be compatible with the evil frame from the Capra I don’t know enough about bikes to know

The new Evils are superboost, and take a 30.9 seatpost. So, you will need a new dropper post, new cranks, new bottom bracket, and a new rear wheel.
flag englertracing
O+
Posted: Apr 5, 2021 at 21:41 Quote
Evil would probably climb the worst
flag dhrider8051
Posted: Apr 6, 2021 at 0:41 Quote
mtbtrekracer wrote:
IF theres a lockout what do you not like about the Capra climbing? it sucks in open as i've owned one but no issue with locked out.

if you're going to get a Ibis, start a youtube channel then offer them advertising for your cheap bike...

Consider the NP MEGA and RM Altitude.
or if you ok with less travel then Norco Sight is very good.

Vancan said the evil climbs better than the Enduro. Best all rounder he liked the Altitude
As cliche as Yeti is, frame strength is a problem I see all the time.

There's never a perfect Enduro bike and after awhile you will ride a different one an always say "this is so much better"
I base my Bikes on what i want them to do best at, in this case descend - so i buy a good shock with a lockout...

Personally i own the mega, meta and slash, ride the slash mostly as its good at everything heading downhill, i lockout the shock on climbs.

I’m in horrible shape it climbs decent it’s perfect downhill

I’ve never ridden a bike where I look for drops and rocks to pop off on rock gardens I’m loving the bike just my cardio is Horrendous I walk the bike up any hill I should have just gotten the yt tues 29er at this rate

I also forgot yes I was also considering the nukeproof and meta am 29

But am looking for a bike with a really good anti squat platform that makes me gravitate towards the boutique evil and ibis and other aforementioned brands
flag onyxss
Posted: Apr 6, 2021 at 5:12 Quote
dhrider8051 wrote:
mtbtrekracer wrote:
IF theres a lockout what do you not like about the Capra climbing? it sucks in open as i've owned one but no issue with locked out.

if you're going to get a Ibis, start a youtube channel then offer them advertising for your cheap bike...

Consider the NP MEGA and RM Altitude.
or if you ok with less travel then Norco Sight is very good.

Vancan said the evil climbs better than the Enduro. Best all rounder he liked the Altitude
As cliche as Yeti is, frame strength is a problem I see all the time.

There's never a perfect Enduro bike and after awhile you will ride a different one an always say "this is so much better"
I base my Bikes on what i want them to do best at, in this case descend - so i buy a good shock with a lockout...

Personally i own the mega, meta and slash, ride the slash mostly as its good at everything heading downhill, i lockout the shock on climbs.


I’m in horrible shape it climbs decent it’s perfect downhill

I’ve never ridden a bike where I look for drops and rocks to pop off on rock gardens I’m loving the bike just my cardio is Horrendous I walk the bike up any hill I should have just gotten the yt tues 29er at this rate

I also forgot yes I was also considering the nukeproof and meta am 29

But am looking for a bike with a really good anti squat platform that makes me gravitate towards the boutique evil and ibis and other aforementioned brands

Fastest enduro bike is the one with NinoSchurter on it :-)
Just loose 10 pounds and get fitter and you will be waaay faster than any equipment you put on bike (except maybe motor). Difference between models you consider are waaaay smaller (irrelevant) than rider on the bike.
Problem with riders these days is that they forget its still the rider that matters way more than 10g lighter whatever component.
But i know - its way easier to throw money into bike and say magic words with it "...this 10g lighter stem will for sure make me faster..." than going through training regime, nutrition plan etc... Big Grin
flag Loki87
Posted: Apr 7, 2021 at 6:11 Quote
onyxss wrote:
dhrider8051 wrote:
mtbtrekracer wrote:
IF theres a lockout what do you not like about the Capra climbing? it sucks in open as i've owned one but no issue with locked out.

if you're going to get a Ibis, start a youtube channel then offer them advertising for your cheap bike...

Consider the NP MEGA and RM Altitude.
or if you ok with less travel then Norco Sight is very good.

Vancan said the evil climbs better than the Enduro. Best all rounder he liked the Altitude
As cliche as Yeti is, frame strength is a problem I see all the time.

There's never a perfect Enduro bike and after awhile you will ride a different one an always say "this is so much better"
I base my Bikes on what i want them to do best at, in this case descend - so i buy a good shock with a lockout...

Personally i own the mega, meta and slash, ride the slash mostly as its good at everything heading downhill, i lockout the shock on climbs.


I’m in horrible shape it climbs decent it’s perfect downhill

I’ve never ridden a bike where I look for drops and rocks to pop off on rock gardens I’m loving the bike just my cardio is Horrendous I walk the bike up any hill I should have just gotten the yt tues 29er at this rate

I also forgot yes I was also considering the nukeproof and meta am 29

But am looking for a bike with a really good anti squat platform that makes me gravitate towards the boutique evil and ibis and other aforementioned brands

Fastest enduro bike is the one with NinoSchurter on it :-)
Just loose 10 pounds and get fitter and you will be waaay faster than any equipment you put on bike (except maybe motor). Difference between models you consider are waaaay smaller (irrelevant) than rider on the bike.
Problem with riders these days is that they forget its still the rider that matters way more than 10g lighter whatever component.
But i know - its way easier to throw money into bike and say magic words with it "...this 10g lighter stem will for sure make me faster..." than going through training regime, nutrition plan etc... Big Grin

Pretty much this.
People will tell you how one bike is better than the other, but reality is, that if the bike fits you well enough, the difference in uphill capability will be marginal. Not even considering the fact that all these comparisons usually forget to mention the differences in component spec like tires. Like, I will never ever try pedaling a bike with Continental Baron Projekts up a hill again, because they have the rolling resistance of a block of cement. What I'm getting at is, there's too many variables at play and you should try to optimize your bike first. Saddle position can have a huge impact as does seat post extension. Tires of course can make or brake a bike, so if your conditioning is bad, there's no use in logging around a heavy casing tire for fun on the downhills if you don't make it up the hill in the first place. Change the tires to something lighter, play with saddle position, lock out the damper and see where that gets you.
Once you know where the actual problem with your Capra lies, you can go ahead and make an informed buying decision, like looking for a steeper seat angle, more anti squat etc.
Just going ahead and buying the next bike based off some random recommendations won't get you far. In the end though, no bike will fix bad cardio, I've had to learn that lesson as well
flag DHhack
Posted: Apr 7, 2021 at 8:08 Quote
soloknight6 wrote:
dhrider8051 wrote:
I just got a yt Capra pro al and am loving it.

It’s feels capable of going up hill and absolutely shreds the downhills.

But I’m looking for a bike that is a bit more capable of going uphill.

The frames I have in mind to replace my Capra are

Evil wreckoning v3
Specialized enduro
Santa Cruz mega tower
Yeti sb150
Ibis ripmo

The bike has to have 29” wheels preferably carbon ,be a little lighter but not a requirement and have a low stand over height like my Capra. And pedal noticeably better than my Capra and be as good as my Capra descending or at least close .

Uphill: Ibis>Yeti=Evil> (Santa Cruz ? Specialized.)

Downhill: Evil = Specialized > Yeti > Santa Cruz > Ibis.

One bike quiver: Ibis.

* My opinion is based on binge-watching review videos, not actual experience. *

I went down that rabbit hole and ended up with the Ripmo AF. At a minimum, buy the carbon one and get it with an air shock. I’ve got coil with progressive spring and it still bottoms to easily on medium sized hits, if you like big hits look elsewhere. There is a lot of flex at the head tube and at the bottom bracket, to the point that Ibis won’t warranty a frame if it’s been over forked. The rear wheel hangs up on square edges noticeably more than my buddies Yeti or Santa Cruz bikes. Once things calm down I’ll buy a new frame, hopefully a sb150 if I can swing it.
flag Kidklayko
Posted: Apr 7, 2021 at 9:45 Quote
The Ripmo will climb the fastest but it falls into the All-Mountain category, not the enduro. The Wreckoning will sure as hell climb the fastests in the enduro category. In my experience, the Megatower climbs like a pig. I couldn't stand it. The Enduro will be the fastest on the downhill, almost guaranteed. It is supposed to be a great bike park bike. The SB150 climbs really well also and has a fun racey feel on the downhill.

Basically for the Wreckoning and SB150, you will probably not have to use the climb switch at all. You might have to use it for the Enduro, and probably will have to for the Megatower. If I had to choose one I would have to go with the Wrecker, so plush, and it climbs like a smaller bike in my opinion. The Wrecker's suspension design is unlike any other design with the great small bump compliance, strong mid-stroke support, while it still feels incredibly bottomless. The short chainstays also make the bike feel surprisingly mauneravable, it still feels amazing in terms of point and shoot stability.

Best climbing: Ripmo-Wrecker-SB150-Enduro-Megatower

Best descending: Enduro-Wrecker-SB150-Megatower-Ripmo
flag Explodo
Posted: Apr 7, 2021 at 10:13 Quote
DHhack wrote:
I went down that rabbit hole and ended up with the Ripmo AF. At a minimum, buy the carbon one and get it with an air shock. I’ve got coil with progressive spring and it still bottoms to easily on medium sized hits, if you like big hits look elsewhere. There is a lot of flex at the head tube and at the bottom bracket, to the point that Ibis won’t warranty a frame if it’s been over forked. The rear wheel hangs up on square edges noticeably more than my buddies Yeti or Santa Cruz bikes. Once things calm down I’ll buy a new frame, hopefully a sb150 if I can swing it.

I have a first gen Ripmo with a Float X2 shock and I don't notice any hanging up on square edges. I definitely DID notice hanging up on square edges with a Santa Cruz from the same time.

The Ripmo V1/Float X2 combo is horrible for standing up on the pedals. Something with more mid-stroke support would make the Ripmo an amazing climber since it's already a very good climber.

The climb switch makes a noticeable difference, so there's always that.

I don't think that the Ripmo is necessarily a good bike for jumping, but if you're a rider that mostly stays on the ground it's very good at eating up what is thrown at it no matter the speed.
flag DHhack
Posted: Apr 7, 2021 at 10:35 Quote
Explodo wrote:
DHhack wrote:
I went down that rabbit hole and ended up with the Ripmo AF. At a minimum, buy the carbon one and get it with an air shock. I’ve got coil with progressive spring and it still bottoms to easily on medium sized hits, if you like big hits look elsewhere. There is a lot of flex at the head tube and at the bottom bracket, to the point that Ibis won’t warranty a frame if it’s been over forked. The rear wheel hangs up on square edges noticeably more than my buddies Yeti or Santa Cruz bikes. Once things calm down I’ll buy a new frame, hopefully a sb150 if I can swing it.

I have a first gen Ripmo with a Float X2 shock and I don't notice any hanging up on square edges. I definitely DID notice hanging up on square edges with a Santa Cruz from the same time.

The Ripmo V1/Float X2 combo is horrible for standing up on the pedals. Something with more mid-stroke support would make the Ripmo an amazing climber since it's already a very good climber.

The climb switch makes a noticeable difference, so there's always that.

I don't think that the Ripmo is necessarily a good bike for jumping, but if you're a rider that mostly stays on the ground it's very good at eating up what is thrown at it no matter the speed.

The V2 is just as bad standing up with my Jade X coil, doesn’t matter where the climb switch is it bobs like crazy in a full power sprint, the switch is helpful for seated pedaling however. This behavior does hinder its speed for pump track and dirt jumper style trails. Regular trail riding it jumps fine. Looking at the axle path, any hits beyond sag and the axle is moving forward, contributing to that harsh feeling.

https://m.pinkbike.com/news/behind-the-numbers-ibis-ripmo-v2-2020.html
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