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Specialized Bicycles Enduro Expert (08) | $4300
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Specialized Enduro Expert

BikeRadar verdict

35 out of 5 stars

"A very fast trail bike for those who ride the trail, but not so great for those that attack it"

By Ian Collins

With an integrated front end, full 150mm travel and torsionally stiff chassis the Enduro Expert looks great on paper. Its suspension behaviour makes it a very fast trail bike for those who ride the trail, but not so great for those that attack it

The Specialized Enduro range is the zenith of their theory of totally integrating suspension components. It features their own brand fork, shock and stem and even their own front hub axle standard. We find out if the big S can do a better job than the leading shock and fork manufacturers.

Ride & handling: stay neutral

It took quite a while to get our Enduro set up, and we never really found an optimum setting. The shock and forks Spike Valves are quite intrusive, even with the external low speed compression adjusters backed right off, it was impossible to get the compliance we wanted over the small stuff.

We had to run lower-than-normal pressures to get traction. This meant the fork and shock ate up all the travel very quickly – and unnecessarily – when the Spike Valve was bypassed with a sharp hit, or when the bike was pushed hard into a corner. Increasing the high speed damping would combat this, but it’s a service agent job. 

The Spike Valve, combined with the light weight means the Enduro climbs really well for a 150mm (5.9in) travel bike.

We did eventually find the ideal riding style to suit the Enduro – very neutral. If you pop off every bump and stomp the bike into berms the bike dips and dives and doesn’t respond to your input the way you would want. But if you ride totally neutrally, and let the damping circuits of the fork and shock do the work for you, the bike makes amazingly quick and controlled progress down the trail. This combines with the neutral handling geometry and superbly accurate tracking fork perfectly, to make a very capable trail bike. 

Frame: flowing four-bar

The first thing you notice is the frame’s sculpted, flowing lines. The very heavily hydroformed Optimized Radius Engineering top and down tubes have a huge weld area to the sculpted, forged head tube. As always with Specialized, there’s a Horst Link to eliminate brake jack, and this, along with all the other pivots, runs on sealed cartridge bearings. 

The 150mm (5.9in) of rear travel is achieved through a four-bar rear end actuating the shock through a compact link plate. The lower shock can be mounted in low or high positions to give a bottom bracket height of a very acceptable 14in or 14.4in and a head angle of an equally happy 67 degrees or 67.9 degrees respectively.

Equipment: in-house gear dominates

The spec is dominated by in-house components, with only the drivetrain, brakes and wheels not having a big S on them. The fork is the 150mm (5.9in) version of the Future Shock fork. Both the fork and shock have a Spike Valve, which adds low speed compression but pops open with a sharp impact. SRAM’s X.0 rear mech and X-9 shifters, and custom Avid Ultimate 7 brakes finish everything off nicely.

User Reviews

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  • User review of Specialized Bicycles Enduro Expert (08)

    I have had the Enduro SL Pro 2008 since it has come out and have recently started to understand how it should be set up. It was hard work, but then maybe i just expected a MAC attitude "out the box" and it will work.

    I would say that I am not 100% in agreement with the comments in the article, but only because after months of use I now know how to set it up, and when you get to that point you will see that the Enduro can be very fast and aggressive in all conditions that the elements thrown at us, and terrain, but do not expect to get to grips with it quickly.

    But when you do... LOVE it you will.

    DC

    0.3
  • User review of Specialized Bicycles Enduro Expert (08)

    I also have an 08 Pro Carbon and the review is correct with the small bump suspension performance but it’s very plush on larger drops. The Enduro SL is the lightest bike in its class making climbing a breeze, much better than my 07 Spesh XC FSR.

    This bike is a mountain machine.

    0.3
  • User review of Specialized Bicycles Enduro Expert (08)

    i have the specialized enduro expert 08, and i don't find any problems with the suspension at all.

    it a extremely capable and nimble bike, and can handle anything i though at it,

    the bike gets better and better every time i ride it.

    0.3
  • User review of Specialized Bicycles Enduro Expert (08)

    Bought this bike in May 08 despite all the negative press and forum debates about the suspension, simply because it felt like the right bike for me when I test rode it.

    I have been riding it virtually everyday on local trails (Surrey area) & practicing jumps/ hops over logs etc when not working on speed & stamina. I'm 17st And 6ft 2 & haven't had any problems with (that suspension). Also most importantly, I haven't had this much fun on a bike since my 1st BMX 25 years ago!! Nuff said.

    0.3
  • User review of Specialized Bicycles Enduro Expert (08)

    Bought this bike in May 08 despite all the negative press and forum debates about the suspension, simply because it felt like the right bike for me when I test rode it.

    I have been riding it virtually everyday on local trails (Surrey area) & practicing jumps/ hops over logs etc when not working on speed & stamina. I'm 17st And 6ft 2 & haven't had any problems with (that suspension). Also most importantly, I haven't had this much fun on a bike since my 1st BMX 25 years ago!! Nuff said.

    0.3
  • User review of Specialized Bicycles Enduro Expert (08)

    I have a SL expert. I read all comments and reviews on this bike, About fork problems etc. When i first rode the enduro its small bump performance was terrible so i did some research and checked the 'service' agent only air chamber (spike valve) and found it was incorrect, once i had this set correctly the bike went like stink!

    It climbs much better than my 2006 stumpjumper on the tec stuff maybe not as good at fire road

    climbing.

    Coming down hill its very very fast.

    I would recommend this bike in a heartbeat and the warranty on the frame and shocks is awesome.

    0.3
  • User review of Specialized Bicycles Enduro Expert (08)

    i've just brought an enduro expert 08 and am trying to set it up. what tips can you guys give me for dialing in the suspension properly. i'm not sure i like having to pump up the shocks each time though.

    what things do i need to check are set correctly or should i not touch anything?

    otherwise the bike is really nice and i'm getting more confident and comfortable with it each time i ride it.

    0.3
  • User review of Specialized Bicycles Enduro Expert (08)

    I have a 08 Enduro Pro carbon bought in May and although i think it is a great bike i to have trouble setting the suspension up. I have also gone through 2 full sets of pivot bearings the front forks have been replaced under warranty due to no rebound function, the front wheel had to be replaced after the rim broke in two! the rear free hub died and the X9 rear shifter spring died!

    My local Specialized dealer is a complete waste of space and told me that after only 6 months of riding all these faults are expected and i have spent a total of £560 on this bike! Not really happy about this on a £2700 bike i did expect more reliabilty.

    Anyway appart from that it rides like a dream and it handles long rides at Afan and i would recomend it to anyone, but make sure you have a good dealer in your area and not the wsters that i have!

    0.3
  • User review of Specialized Bicycles Enduro Expert (08)

    Does anyone have any recommended settings for the Spike valve?

    I'm about 12st.

    0.3
  • User review of Specialized Bicycles Enduro Expert (08)

    Have had the Enduro Expert 08 since it came out and like many here have taken a while to get used to it. The front forks were repaired under warranty due to a damaged oil seal and the rear shock has also been replaced due to a seal failure, but all under warranty and after a fair amount of use.

    Being advised by my LBS to actually check the pressure in both fork legs (contrary to Specialized original advise) has balanced the forks up nicely (I think I put 73 psi in the non-regular serviced leg for my 81kg weight).

    I also managed to break the casting at the bottom of my right fork by apparently over-tightening the pinch bolt when re-installing the front wheel - surprising as I was trying to be deliberately careful as I had heard that this was a weak spot. Obtained new replacement fork and was surprised (or rather not) that this has been beefed up since my original fork.

    Overall a very comfortable bike for a long day in teh saddle, great at climbing, even better at absorbing anything that you can throw at it on teh downhill too as it is very stable and predictable, though I still find it hard to pop the front wheel up when necessary for coming off a drop off or approaching a lip.

    Chinners

    0.3

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Specification

Name:
Enduro Expert (08)
Built by:
Specialized Bicycles
Price:
$4300.00

Available Sizes:
L, M, S, XL

Frame & Fork:

 
Frame Material:
M5 Alloy
Fork Model:
Future Shock e150 SL

Brakes:

 
Brakes Brand:
Avid
Brakes Model:
Ultimate 7

Transmission:

 
Gearing:
27 Speed
Rear Derailleur Brand:
SRAM
Rear Derailleur Model:
X0
Shifters Brand:
SRAM
Shifters Model:
X-0

Wheels:

 
Rims Brand:
DT
Rims Model:
X420
Rear Hub Brand:
DT Swiss
Rear Hub Model:
370
Tyres Brand:
S-Works
Rear Tyre Size:
2.3in

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