So how about the ride then? We only had a couple of hours testing the XX1 but what we found we liked. We we’re on board a spanking new Specialized S Works Enduro that is an amazingly capable 160mm trail bike and felt like a blumin rocket ship, more like a downhill rig. The ‘Top Of The World’ track at Whistler (Canada…duh) was our first dive into the eleven–speed set–up sans chainguide. At 5000ft it’s reminiscent of Alpine descents; fast and loose, tight and twisty, but rocky as hell. If the chain was going to come off it would come off here. Back wheel canyoning off the rocks, suspension being beaten to a pulp as the Enduro hammered the mountain. The drive train was eerily silent, all I could hear was rocks being parted left, right and centre…oh and me wheezing. No matter how hard I tried to lose the chain, she was steadfast. Back pedalling over the rough stuff, shady shifting, erratic power delivery all failed to dislodge the chain from the guideless front ring. Visually it doesn’t look right, probably because we are so used to seeing a front guide, but that chain did not want to come off even through the double black, natural, rooty gnarly descents of the Garbanzo sections. However you might consider running a small taco or possibly even a top guide if you wanted absolute piece of mind during an enduro race (as Sram tester Jérôme Clementz has been know to do).

Once at the valley floor we headed out to the Lost Lake trails to work through the gears. The shifting was flawless, probably as you’d expect on a brand new set up, so it’s going to be interesting to see how it performs after a month or two in heavy Welsh shit over the winter.

My current ride is a 1×10 11–36 with a 34 toothed ring up front, so this 10–42 with a 34 felt identical but with the option to engage the gigantic 42 tooth monster for the steeper pitches. I like a bit of running so that could be why I don’t mind at all being on my feet out of the saddle cranking quite a hard gear up a hill. Our local Welsh tracks have a few real steep climbs that I usually get off and push when it’s muddy. The 42er should allow me to remain seated for the extra traction. We’re all about the downhills but there is something quite satisfying about clearing a climb to your next descent.

I reckon front mechs are history for enduro bikes. Front mech placement always seems to be an after thought from frame designers, a bulky tab welded on at the last minute. Moving to a 1×11 system will let frame designers concentrate on a neater better performing chassis.

The 42 will prove a useful bail out gear for those who relish getting to the top of a climb in the saddle rather than on foot, but anyone apart from the fire road sprinters won’t have much call for the 10 toother on the back.

What is the durability going to be like with the XX1? Well as we said we only spent a couple of hours on a new set–up. A long wet winter testing in Wales is needed to see how the system performs with wear and tear after some aggressive, gritty riding in abrasive, metal eating muddy conditions.

It’s a bit of a pricey number too. There’s no middle ground of trying to do this on the cheap, it’s all or nothing.

But I reckon Nigel Tufnel and Spinal Tap fans will love this bit of kit though.

Price: $1499 TBC (this includes: crankset, bottom bracket, chainring, chain, rear mech and shifter)