Many said it could not or should not be done…build a 29er FS with 155mm/6″ of rear wheel travel into a tidy package with the FSR rear suspension and do it for a wide market. Things would get too big, too long, too ‘too’. But here it is, the just released Specialized Enduro 29er line of big wheelers ready to be hitting trails sometime in the future. 155mm of rear wheel, FSR type travel, frames in alu and carbon…yes, there is an S Works version that is said to be around or under 26lbs…all with 430mm/16.9″ chain stays and spec’d with 2.3 tires (that are really 2.2s). That is hard to do and only one other bike on the market gets close to there that I am aware of and that is the Lenzsport line of 29er FS bikes with 17.3″ stays and 6″ of travel.
Fox forks in 150mm guise or, depending on the model, 150mm/120mm Talas versions, Autosag rear shocks for easy set-up (excluding the S Works equipped Cane Creek shock) round out the squishy parts.
Also pretty darn new are the Roval Traverse SL 29 142+ rims in a 29mm rim width. Zero beadhook technology, 15mm or 20mm front hub compatible and in 32 spokes. Dt Swiss based hub as always with the high end Rovals. Other models get a 28mm wide alloy version…only the S Works gets the carbon wheels standard. I bet that these will also be ready to go aftermarket in a non-142+ version.
The S Works gets the goodies besides the candy wheels…XX1 drivetrain, very tunable Cane Creek shock, Talus fork, and the new Command Post IR with internal routing and reduced activation effort. Below that is the Enduro Expert Carbon 29 SE in a 1/2 caff frame…carbon main and alu rear…and the Enduro Comp 29 SE in alloy frame all around. Looks like Avid brakes and drivetrain on all models.
That is the good news. The bad news? Only the Comp SE is coming into the US market for now. Really? So I was told. Pricing will be comparable to the 26″ version and it will be ready to buy end of March/early April.
More info as we get it and yes, we are already planning to ride one. WHEEEE!!!!
Now some pics and the spec sheet for the three models here in a PDF file.
Seems pretty cool. It’s way more travel than I would ever need. But I would be interested to the those wide rimmed wheels on a shorter travel bike with similar short stays. I think I would buy something like that right now.
@Wish I Were Riding, check out the Devinci Atlas (al or carbon). It’s got even shorter chainstays (by a hair) and l10mm travel in the rear. Don’t know about availability, but it sounds like want you would like.
I think it’s hilarious that Specialized released a marketing image showing one of their employees peeing.
A boundary pushing bike in more ways than one.
BTW: Talas, not Talus.
Isn’t there also a beaver peeing in front of the tree in the middle? lol
… no it is supposed to be a Bigfoot (hence the dual message of the “It really does exist” slogan
).
@Simenf…ahhh, thanks for the correction. Talas it is. I always do that…I just hear the word and think ‘Talus slope’.
gg
Hard to imagine a 29 bike with that travel and 17″ chain stays. With such short chain stays, this bike should remain reasonably nimble. Now it’s time to get 100 to 120mm bikes with 17″ chain stays and efficient rear suspension designs.
I wouldn’t have thought it possible with reasonable geometry. Great to see this sort of innovation continuing on niners.
Pissing on the competition!
Remarkable achievement. Now wonder if I need a ladder to climb up onto it or if they managed to produce a low BB that doesn’t hit rocks when you use all of that rear travel. Now that would be trully revolutionary !
A 335 BB and 155mm travel. Add a 175mm crank and pedal and how will that work? Designed only to pedal on flat ground?
Cynical until tested I suppose. Look forward to your report!
Really cool, but us tall guys (you know, the ones that really need 29ers?) could use a xxl . . . A little bit more room in the top tube so we can run a short stem would be great. I’m sure people will say “it rides big” but that is b.s. I know it is all about demand, but I demand that companies make stuff just for me!
As a side note, thank you Santa Cruz for making the perfect bike (LTc) in the perfect size and showing us tall freaks some love!
Specialized seems to be making fewer XXL’s every year, maybe to many warranty issue ? That said, my Stumpjumper Expert XXL is still going strong and it’s a great bike.
Specialized seems to be making fewer XXL’s every year, maybe too many warranty issues w/ big guys ? That said, my Stumpjumper Expert XXL is still going strong and it’s a great bike.
Don’t get too excited re the short chainstays, the bike itself is as long as f…king 18 wheeler. The only reason the top tube is short is because the head angle is so slack and the seat tube is so steep. Check out the wheelbase. The medium is 2″ longer than my XL Breezer Cloud 9, admittedly a short wheelbase 29er. The XL has a 47.5″ wheelbase. My question is when is someone other than Breezer going to make a full suspension 29er that has short chainstays and a reasonable front center.
@Joao…put a 67.5 degree HT angle and a 150mm fork on your Breezer and see what the wheelbase would be. FYI the much loved Banshee Prime in XL with the CS set at 17.4″ has a 48″ wheelbase.
IIRC Breezer likes to build with a long stem so they draw the front center back in with a 72* ST angle. It is the way Joe thinks it works best.
Not saying that the Enduro is not spec’d with a long Eff TT, but keep some perspective.
gg
@Joao…again…Breezer makes an FS 29er?
“My question is when is someone other than Breezer going to make a full suspension 29er that has short chainstays and a reasonable front center.”
gg
HEY GG,
my bad. joe’s working on a FS 29er, maybe this year? you’re right, any FS 29er with 150mm travel is going to be stretched out pretty far.
I did a search for short WB 29ers and found the Devinci Atlas Carbon. Short CS’s and short wheelbase, re the same as my Breezer. Gotta check one out somehow.
@Joao: I rode an Atlas at Interbike: http://twentynineinches.com/2012/09/25/interbike-2012-ride-impressions-devinci-atlas-aluminum-fs-29er/
I’m not sure it was set up properly, (although a tech helped me get it set up), so my impressions may be skewed, but the short wheelbase/rear center wasn’t an advantage on Bootleg Canyon’s trails.
GG,
I read your report, wasn’t exactly impressive. But I think you’re pretty tall, right? I’m 6’1″, long legs, short torso. I think the Atlas would be a good fit for me. Most bike this size have such a long front center that I need a short stem, putting me too far behind the front wheel. Even my Breezer is a little too long, but when I put a 90mm stem on I found I had to steer the bike. With a 105mm, I’m over the front, maybe stretched a bit further than I prefer, but the steering is more intuitive.
@Joao: If you are referring to the Atlas report, that was me, not Grannygear, and I sound almost the same in proportions to you.
@Joao…that was Guitar Ted, not I. He is around 6′ and heavier than I.
I am not surprised that you like the Breezer with a longer stem as that is the way it was designed to be run. The one I rode came with a 120mm stem IIRC and that was waaaaayyy too long for me, regardless of the designer’s intent.
It is unlikely you will find a trailbike set up that way though…much different dynamic, as you know.
gg
Okay you,
are you saying you don’t think the Atlas will be the fit I prefer? The geometry, HA, WB, front center are re the same as my Breezer as is the 100mm travel. Kind of a crap shoot because there aren’t any around to test ride.
Meant to say, okay you two…….
So, any thoughts on the Atlas for this 60 year old cross country guy. Thinking the new Ripley might be a fit also if it ever gets released, tho it won’t be selling for $2100.00 like the carbon atlas
@Joao: It may fit your needs as far as how you want the bike to fit, the wheel base may appeal to you, and the price may be attractive. I was not all that impressed by the rear suspension. Again- those rides are merely impressions. We get one go around, then write our thoughts. It by no means is a “review”.
That said, my feeling is that with the riders weight so far rearwards in relationship to the chassis, it places a strange leverage on the suspension that, in my opinion, is not optimal. But I might change my tune if I had one around to tinker with.
You may love it, but I can not advise you further. I do know that I rode other FS bikes there that seemed much better and well sorted, even on a single test ride, than did the Atlas. (But they were all longer wheel based bikes.
)
Finally found the bike I’ve been wanting….
OK boys, here’s my two cents based on my maiden ride last night and my longer ride today on my Atlas SL.
First off, don’t use a 100mm fork unless you want a cross country ride, and if you do, don’t even think of using the Lo setting. I want a cross country ride, but my first time out last night I was having my doubts. 100mm SID, Lo setting, and 30% sag all conspired to have me hitting my pedals constantly. ARGGGGH!
Today, different story. Flipped the chip, 20% sag, no pedal strikes, and it’s a love story. The bike feels like home. The first time I pointed it downhill on singletrack, then rocky, rutted double track just blew me away. The suspension eats it all up, feels like 5 inches travel and with a 105 17degree stem, the bike handles like my Intense 5.5 26″ bike, but lighter and more stable. I was so happy, I didn’t want to come home. I love steep head angles, especially on a 29er, I was able to whip the front wheel around switchbacks like it was a 26er.
BTW, I’m 6’1, long legs, short torso, the frame fits me like it’s a custom build. I only wish they’d make the head tube longer so I wouldn’t need so many spacers. I don’t know what builders are thinking, it’s a lot easier to put flat/reverse rise stems on in order to have your bars low than it is to get your bars higher.
Here’s my build:
Atlas SL large frame
Stans Race Gold Wheels, Maxxis Ignitor EXO 29×2.1
Sid RCT3
XT shifters and deraileurs 11/36 cassette
XO AM carbon cranks 24/38
XTR Race Brakes
Easton EA70 carbon riser bars 20mm rise, 635 wide
Easton EA70 seatpost
Ritchey WCS stem 110 17degree
Cutter carbon rail seat (165 grams)
haven’t weighed yet, rides very light, guessing 24.5 or so.
Sorry re the double post, didn’t want to be anonymous
Finally found the bike I’ve been wanting….
OK boys, here’s my two cents based on my maiden ride last night and my longer ride today on my Atlas SL.
First off, don’t use a 100mm fork unless you want a cross country ride, and if you do, don’t even think of using the Lo setting. I want a cross country ride, but my first time out last night I was having my doubts. 100mm SID, Lo setting, and 30% sag all conspired to have me hitting my pedals constantly. ARGGGGH!
Today, different story. Flipped the chip, 20% sag, no pedal strikes, and it’s a love story. The bike feels like home. The first time I pointed it downhill on singletrack, then rocky, rutted double track just blew me away. The suspension eats it all up, feels like 5 inches travel and with a 105 17degree stem, the bike handles like my Intense 5.5 26″ bike, but lighter and more stable. I was so happy, I didn’t want to come home. I love steep head angles, especially on a 29er, I was able to whip the front wheel around switchbacks like it was a 26er.
BTW, I’m 6’1, long legs, short torso, the frame fits me like it’s a custom build. I only wish they’d make the head tube longer so I wouldn’t need so many spacers. I don’t know what builders are thinking, it’s a lot easier to put flat/reverse rise stems on in order to have your bars low than it is to get your bars higher.
Here’s my build:
Atlas SL large frame
Stans Race Gold Wheels, Maxxis Ignitor EXO 29×2.1
Sid RCT3
XT shifters and deraileurs 11/36 cassette
XO AM carbon cranks 24/38
XTR Race Brakes
Easton EA70 carbon riser bars 20mm rise, 635 wide
Easton EA70 seatpost
Ritchey WCS stem 110 17degree
Cutter carbon rail seat (165 grams)
haven’t weighed yet, rides very light, guessing 24.5 or so.