Specialized has a long history of suspension designs, but none can be
considered as versatile, far-reaching, or rock-solid as the latest
incarnation of its 2002 Enduro platform. A frame that holds remarkably high
stakes in its 2002 R & D budget, the new Enduro features a semi-monocoque
mainframe, a Horst Link-equipped FSR linkage design, and adjustable travel
and geometry. While on paper it’s not unlike previous designs, once on the
trail, it’s markedly different. This may just be the best long-travel,
truly cross-country-capable bike that I’ve ever ridden.

The linkage and pivots that provide the rear wheel with up to five inches
of flow are admirable. The forged alloy rocker plate is burlier than many
DH designs, and the pivots are sizable, looking strong enough to replace
the hinges of a vault door. This fortitude carries into the front end of
the bike, with Specialized’s new TransForm monocoque main triangle; both
clean-looking and reassuringly aggressive, it’s created from two
custom-formed sheets of aluminum that are first shaped and then welded
together.

There is an interesting story about the suspension on this bike-both
front and rear offer adjustable travel. Up front, the Black Elite can be
set at 100mm or 120mm, while the rear can flip from 100mm to 130mm. The
Black accomplishes the travel by simply locking the fork down into the
first 20mm of its travel, dropping the front end slightly, and sacrificing
the initial-stage travel for a more nimble, responsive front end. The rear
shock, a custom Fox Vanilla-RL, was designed in a joint effort by Fox and
Specialized, and features the “Itch Switch”-easily reached while riding, a
90º lever twist changes the air volume of the shock, and effectively limits
the travel from 5.2 inches to 4 inches. While it doesn’t affect ride height
as travel adjustments to the front end do, it does allow for a noticeably
stiffer, more progressive rear end. While the bike does feel faster and
more agile in the shorter-travel settings, I found myself rarely running
less than full travel and relying solely on the rear lockout for longer
climbs or road sections. But to keep up with a group of hardtail racers,
the shorter-travel option would certainly help.

Beginning with a long stretch of rolling, smooth single track on a
not-so-local favourite ride destination called Noble Canyon, the Enduro
Expert felt both fast and stable, encouraging me to attack shorter climbs
and leap at any rock or rise that might offer air time. This combination of
speed and fun is one I’d not felt on a bike with this much travel. After a
solid 10K of single track, I began my descent-1,000 metres down swooping
rollers with the occasional rock garden or ledge. The Enduro Expert
absolutely hummed at higher speeds, approaching DH-rig capabilities, in a
lightweight design that could easily cross up in the air before floating
through the next rock garden.

On the long climb back to the top, I found the bike easy to pilot, and
muscled up some steep sections that would be dubious on a bike like this.
The stunning range of adjustment on the Black fork, coupled with the marked
stiffness of its new Reverse Arch design, made for near-ideal front-wheel
tracking. The rear Fox shock took a little more tweaking, but well within
the first ride, I found the right combination of air pressure and rebound
damping.

The Shimano Deore disc brakes deserve special mention: forget the fact
that these are affordable-they stop as well or better than many of the
discs out there. After a brief break-in period, I enjoyed continuous
single-finger braking. In fact, it was the power of the disc brakes that
alerted me to one of my very few concerns: the 2.2-inch Enduro Pro tires
were fine for rolling single track, but tended to break loose in situations
where I’d have liked more traction. I’d happily trade the weight penalty of
wider treads for increased traction.

The low-ish 12.5-inch bottom bracket and funky cable routing didn’t detract
from the ride, but could have been cleaner in appearance. One point worth
noting: the gold linkage plate connecting the rear shock to the rear
triangle can be flipped to increase the head-tube angle, and doing so
squeaks the bottom bracket up to 13 inches. While the added clearance made
a difference, I preferred the bike’s handling with the slightly more
relaxed, laid-back geometry.

The bottom line is simple: this is by far the best suspension design
that Specialized has ever produced, and it’s definitely a new addition to
our top-ten list of all-time favourites.

Specialized Enduro Expert FSR

Price: $3,119

Weight: 28.8 lbs

Components: XTR/XT/LX drivetrain, and Deore disc brakes

Frame & Fork: Specialized Enduro FSR w/TransForm
monocoque mainframe, and Answer Manitou Black Elite fork

Geometry: 69.5º/70.5º head tube, 68º/69º seat tube (adjustable)

Sizes: S, M, L (tested), XL

Comments: Two travel settings: fast and faster.

www.specialized.com