Mountain Biking - Specialized Enduro FSR and Stumpjumper VS. Other...

Hey everyone...I am looking around at some new bikes and I just wanted some advice. I want to look for a freeride bike, and the Specialized Enduro and the Stumpjumper seemed like the right bikes. I know, I'm not "new" to mountain biking, but I want to take the leap into a better bike that I can advance on. Now, with my style of riding, I like some singletrack, not too extreme downhill, and almost urban / street riding. Does the term freeride apply to these...Im not too concerned about price right now...I will save up enough money....but I didnt want to blow too much on something I really dont need. Are there any better bikes than those specialized?...I want something thats alot lighter than my 42 pound hunk of beast...sometihng I will have for a while. If anyone has any advice it would be great :D ....thanks everyone ;)

Jay

If you want to do "freeride", like drops and stairs and jumps and such, I would say go for the Enduro. I dont own one, but I have ridden one and that bike has gotten good reviews, plus its not super heavy (i think the heaviest one is around 33?). Their a good deal, and you can find them used really cheap.

I have a feeling this is going to turn into a "what is freeride thread"http://instagiber.net/smiliesdotcom/contrib/edoom/sad2.gif

But anyway....are you going to be riding this bike hard....REALLY thrashing it around? If so, I wouldent consider the stumpjumpers, and wouldent really consider the enduro either although they can take quite a beating. If you are really going to be bashing the bike around I would look at the bighit series, or the hardtail P series. If you really want to go pretty big one day, check out the bighit comp. If you get that bike, you can really grow into it and it wont hold you back. I did notice that your current bike is 42lbs and that you wanted something alot lighter. What bike do you have now? A bighit comp will weigh something around 40, an enduro in the 30's or lower.

I agree with Klein. But I don't want to see a 'what is fr' thread again. Simply put if you drops are like 5 ft to flat and 8 ft to tranny the enduro will work fine. I had a buddy thrash one here in whistler for a while and it lasted fine. I might even go with the SX which is a bit stronger construction (closer to the bighit).

As for other bikes. Kona Dawg would work, Norco has one or two as well. What range travel are you looking at and what weight?

Im not looking for a tank.....just something that had a relative amount of travel, and can still be ridden on some local trails...

Specialized SX or enduro would be great.

I love my '04 Enduro. It's been nothing but sweetness to me. If you really like doing drops, stairs, jumps, etc. I'd go with the Enduro over the Stumpy. The slacker head angle on the Enduro is a big bonus.

Of course, if you REALLY go big, then you should step up to a Big Hit as others have said. Don't be breaking your Enduro whining to Specialized for a warranty and then raising the price the rest of us pay...;)

If you go medium and not big, then the SX is the way to go. I got one recently and i was between the enduro and the bighit, the SX gave me something in the middle in terms of ability but is almost a bighit in small disguise. Same gauge of allu as the bighit, bmx headtube etc etc.

The stumpjumper is strictly an XC bike, the enduro is all around, the SX is closer to beeing a proper FR bike.

What is a specialized SX i dont see it on their website?
Also would a SC heckler fall in this catagory?
Thanks

It is a version of the Enduro, beefed up for more hardcore use, initially made for 4x racing, but in the UK it is very famous as a hardcore trailbike or light DH bike.

The heckler is at the same category, but its a single pivot.

do you guys think the enduro sx will be offered in the 05 models? I won't have the cash for the frame for a while and I know the 05's are coming out somewhat soon, definately before I have the cash so I'm worried that there will be no way to get a new one.

It should be. The bike is in a pretty unique category and fills a spot specialized currently doesn't have (without the sx). Closest thing you can get to a ht without riding a ht (as far as jumps, berms and fast flowy mtx tracks go anyways)...

UNLESS...they end up offering a demo9 style SX (redesigned FSR)...but I doubt that for next year.

thanks maelstrom

Come on, go with the Hardtail, I know you want to.;)

I'd follow Klein's advice.

The SC Heckler is a great bike. Definitely one to consider. There are many others as well.

Most of your current crop of "trailbikes" will suit your needs. Something with 4 to 5 inches of suspension travel front and rear will work.

www.harobikes.com and look at their Extreme line of bikes.
www.k2bikes.com and look at their Lithium line, or their Tirade (heavier duty freeride oriented)
www.giant-bicycle.com and look at their VT line or their AC (more heavier duty Freeride oriented)

The list goes on and on.

BTW, I also have a Specialized Enduro SX. I HIGHLY recomend the Enduro line of bikes for what you've described as your style of riding.

L8R