Words by David Arthur. Photos by Dan Barham
Specialized have long been campaigners of 29in wheels, most of their range features bikes built around the bigger wheels. But there has been a sign of change, a few months ago they quietly slipped a Stumpjumper 27.5 out into the wild, and last week they announced details of an updated Enduro with 27.5 wheels.
Specialized aren’t dropping the Enduro 29in, they’re simply adding the 27.5 model to the range, giving you more choice. The 26in Enduro however has been served notice, and will no longer appear in the company’s catalogue.
The new Enduro will features 422mm chainstays with a 65.5 degree head angle and a 351mm bottom bracket height with 165mm rear wheel travel.
To create the new Enduro, Specialized have simply used the front triangle from the old 26in-wheeled bike and designed a new swingarm (chainstay and seatstay assembly) and shock extension. Those chainstays are about 5mm longer than the old 26in model.
Specialized will offer the Enduro in four builds, S-Works, Expert, Elite and Comp, and will replicate the builds and graphics across the two wheelsizes. Each model will uses the Cane Creek Double Barrel Inline shock with a RockShox Pike in either RC or RCT3 flavour with 160mm travel.
Expect a smattering of SRAM XX1 11-speed on the S-Works model and carbon fibre Roval wheels, SRAM XO1 on the Expert, SRAM X1 and an aluminium frame on the Elite and the same aluminum frame on the Comp with a Pike RC fork and Fox Float shock. Expect prices to be between £3,600 and £7,000.
The top three models also get Specialized’s new Command Post dropper with a new SRL handlebar mounted lever, which basically looks and works much like a RapidFire shifter.
