Over the last decade, enduro has grown from a grassroots scene in the French Alps to a worldwide phenomenon. Enduro racing is now one of mountain biking’s most popular racing formats because it focuses on the part of the trail that (most) riders love: the descents.
Enduro has also changed the way modern bikes are designed. To survive the gnarliest trails, enduro bikes have become longer and slacker, with more suspension travel and 29" wheels. These features give any rider the confidence to send it downhill at warp speeds. At the same time, these bikes need to be efficient enough to pedal back uphill and handle all-day epics. If you’re looking for a race-proven enduro bike that can tackle everything from weekly trail rides to bike park trips to the Enduro World Series, these are my top contenders.
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Yeti SB150
[product-block handle="2022-yeti-sb150-t2-l"/]
Front travel: 170mm
Rear travel: 150mm
Wheel size: 29"
Frame material: Carbon
Head angle: 64.5°
Reach: 460.2/480.2mm
Yeti has been a top dog in the enduro racing for years and won multiple championships with its Switch Infinity suspension system. Switch Infinity provides a solid pedaling platform, but it allows the main suspension pivot to switch directions as the bike moves through its travel so there’s still a plush, bottomless feel. The current SB150 is a favorite here in the Colorado enduro scene and it has already scored several EWS wins under two-time Enduro World Series champion Richie Rude.
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Specialized Enduro
[product-block handle="2020-specialized-enduro-elite-m-3"/]
Front travel: 170mm
Rear travel: 170mm
Wheel size: 29"
Frame material: Carbon
Head angle: 69.3° (low)
Reach: 464/487mm (S3/S4)
The Specialized Enduro actually predates modern enduro racing, but I like to think it’s named after the discipline it excels in most. Completely redesigned in 2020, it takes suspension and frame design cues from the World Cup-winning Demo downhill bike, so you know it’s fast. It pushes the limits of travel and geometry with 170mm of travel all around and an ultra-slack 63.9° head angle, essentially creating a mini downhill bike that can be pedaled uphill.
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Trek Slash
[product-block handle="2021-trek-slash-7-m"/]
Front travel: 170mm
Rear travel: 160mm
Wheel size: 29"
Frame material: Carbon or Alloy
Head angle: 64.1° (low)
Reach: 456/474mm (M/ML)
The Slash keeps things under control with Trek’s patented ABP (Active Braking Pivot) suspension system. With a pivot at the rear axle, ABP is able to separate braking forces from suspension forces so the suspension always stays active, even when the rear brake is engaged. This helps maintain traction on steep and loose descents, giving riders the confidence to brake later and go faster.
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Santa Cruz Megatower
[product-block handle="2021-santa-cruz-hightower-c-l"/]
Front travel: 170mm
Rear travel: 165mm
Wheel size: 29"
Frame material: Carbon
Head angle: 63.5° (low)
Reach: 452/472mm (M/L)
Santa Cruz was one of the first to discover the descending power of big 29” wheels with the original Hightower trail bike. Its factory enduro team even opted for the Hightower over the longer-travel Nomad. To satisfy its racers, Santa Cruz began boosting the travel numbers until the Hightower evolved into the 160mm-travel Megatower. It balanced efficiency and plushness with Santa Cruz’s proven low-mount VPP suspension system. In 2022, it was revamped as the Megatower V2 with 5mm more rear travel and a slacker head angle.
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Canyon Strive CF
[product-block handle="2020-canyon-strive-cf-7-0-m-1"/]
Front travel: 160mm (170mm in 2021)
Rear travel: 150mm
Wheel size: 29"
Frame material: Carbon
Head angle: 66°
Reach: 440/470mm (M/L)
The Canyon Strive CF is the bike of 2021 Enduro World Series champion, Jack Moir. He rode it to five race wins in 2021, beating Richie Rude and his Yeti SB150. It's big party piece is Shapeshifter, a remote geometry/suspension adjuster that reduces rear travel and steepens the head and seat angles for improved climbing performance. For 2022, the Spectral has been completely revamped into the Strive CFR which now has 160mm of travel and a slacker 63° head angle to be more in line with its competitors (specs above are for the pre-2022 Strive).
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Nukeproof Mega 290
[product-block handle="2019-nukeproof-mega-290-rs-c-xl"/]
Front travel: 170mm
Rear travel: 160mm
Wheel size: 29"
Frame material: Carbon or Alloy
Head angle: 64°
Reach: 455/475mm (M/L)
The Nukeproof Mega is the bike ridden by downhill legend Sam Hill to three consecutive Enduro World Series Championships from 2017-2019. For two years, Hill rode and won on the 27.5" Mega 270, but the 29er version of the Mega was released in 2019, and it became the first 29er to win an EWS title. Though the longer travel Nukeproof Giga has since been released, it doesn't have the Mega's resume of race wins (yet). The 160mm Mega is still a formidable downhill weapon and likely more practical for most riders on their home trails.
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Orbea Rallon
[product-block handle="2021-rallon-m-team-xl-blu-red"/]
Front travel: 170mm
Rear travel: 160mm
Wheel size: 29" front, 29"/27.5" rear
Frame material: Carbon
Head angle: 64° (low)
Reach: 440/470mm (M/L)
The Rallon has been a long-time favorite of bike reviewers and it’s the bike of choice for the PinkBike Academy. The beautiful asymmetrical frame maximizes stiffness and reduces weight, while the progressive rear suspension is happy to play with coil and air shocks. If you seek more maneuverability, the flip-chip allows you to easily run a 27.5" rear wheel for a mullet set-up. With riders like race winner and championship contender Martin Maes on the Rallon, you can expect some big race results soon.
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Cannondale Jekyll
[product-block handle="2021-cannondale-jekyll-29-xx1-m"/]
Front travel: 170mm
Rear travel: 165mm
Wheel size: 29"
Frame material: Carbon
Head angle: 64°
Reach: 450/475mm (M/L)
The Jekyll made headlines when it was completely redesigned for 2022 with high-pivot suspension. The high-pivot design provides a more rearward axle path, helping the suspension absorb impacts, while an idler pulley compensates for chain growth so there’s no nasty pedal kickback. The result is an ultra-plush-feeling rear end that easily soaks up bumps and keeps the bike in control through the gnarliest terrain. Plus, the Jekyll's enduro pedigree runs deep, having carried Jerome Clementz to many an EWS victory in the early days of that series.
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Ibis Ripmo
[product-block handle="2020-ibis-ripmo-l-2"/]
Front travel: 160mm
Rear travel: 147mm
Wheel size: 29"
Frame material: Carbon or Alloy (Ripmo AF)
Head angle: 64.9°
Reach: 460/475mm (M/L)
Under fast riders like Robin Wallner and Bex Baraona (now on Yeti), the Ibis Ripmo has been a consistent podium threat. It uses a tried and true DW-Link suspension system, which provides excellent pedaling efficiency for long transfers and all-day rides. Of the bikes listed here, it’s more conservative in terms of travel (147mm), making it perfect for riders seeking a sportier ride or who value the ability to climb quickly.
Rocky Mountain Altitude
[product-block handle="nc_2022-rocky-mountain-altitude-a70-coil-lg-29-gn-gn-l-2"/]
Front travel: 170mm
Rear travel: 160mm
Wheel size: 29" or 27.5"
Frame material: Carbon or Alloy
Head angle: 64.4° (POS 1)
Reach: 449/474mm (M/L)
Rocky Mountain has been at the sharp end of enduro racing for years and it's big-hitting Altitude is now the reigning Enduro World Series champion thanks to Canadian ripper, Jesse Melamed. The Altitude uses Rocky Mountain’s Smoothlink suspension with the RIDE-9 flip-chip and a flippable rear dropout. This provides nine geometry settings and two chain stay lengths so geometry geeks can customize the bike to match their trails or riding style. It's also the only bike on this list with a dedicated 27.5" wheel option for small and medium sizes.
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Final thoughts and honorable mentions
This list is limited to 10, so of course, it misses out on a lot of great bikes. The great thing is that there are so many amazing enduro bikes on the market, we're spoiled for choice. Here's my short list of honorable mentions that I think deserve serious consideration:
- Commencal Meta AM 29 - One of the most successful bikes in the EWS, winning multiple championships with Cécile Ravanel. DTC.
- Specialized Stumpjumper EVO - A shorter-travel alternative to the Enduro. Super adjustable. Mullet compatible. Comes in an alloy version.
- REEB Sqweeb - Built in a barn! Aluminum frames. Made in the U.S.A. Customizable geometry and powdercoating.
- Giant Reign 29 - Made by the world's biggest bike manufacturer and the king of value for performance.
- Guerrilla Gravity Gnarvana - Modular frame. Made in the U.S.A. with Revved Carbon.
All of these bikes are extremely fast and capable, and I’d be stoked to ride any of them. Currently, I'm riding a 150mm REEB Sqweeb, but recently, I've developed a hunger for more travel. Because of that, the 170mm of travel on the latest Specialized Enduro is looking really good to me. In fact, I chose the Enduro for my previous Ultimate Enduro Bike Dream Build.
Which would you choose? Or do you think there’s some other enduro bike (Pivot Firebird? Transition Spire? Kona Process?) that belongs on this list instead? Let me know in the comments!
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