Enduro SL vs. Enduro for trail riding?

Here at Lee Likes Bikes, we tackle the important questions.

Hi Lee,
I’m having a bit of a dillemma in terms of chosing a bike.

I have a 2004 Enduro and love it, but i’m plowing through the travel, feeling the flex, and beating the wheels pretty hard.

I wanted a 2007 Enduro (non-SL style) then convinced myself that i should get the SL Pro.

It seems like an amazing bike but I was still a bit iffy on the more xc-orientation of it. I love to go full tilt on descents (like Santa Theresa, Braile+all of demo, and other fun bay area trails) but I also like to hammer up the climbs.

I’m now back to thinking I should get the non-SL enduro pro for the kind of riding I do, and what I’ll probably do is sell the ’06 36 that comes on it and buy an ’07 36 talas rc2 (more travel, better bottom out resistance, better talas system than last year).

I know you’ve ridden both. Once you’ve ridden the SL would you look at the heavier regular Enduro as a waste of time, or would you consider it better for certain types of riding? How noticeable is the 3-4 pound difference?

Thanks

-Colin

Hi Colin.

Now that I’ve ridden the Enduro SL, my regular Enduro will get a single ring and DH wheels. It’ll become an SX Trail Lite. (If I keep it; I haven’t had a need to ride it since the SL came.)

For extended-remix trail riding, the SL is noticeably more efficient. Imagine the weight of your 2004 Enduro, with the stiffness, slackness and travel of a 2005-7 Enduro, with almost the pedaling efficiency of a Stumpjumper.

I know those trails very well, and I know the SL was tested on those very trails. And the test crew rides harder and faster than 99.99999% of mountain bikers. I can’t imagine anyone shy of a pro DHer would push the SL harder than they do.

So here’s my point: For the kind of riding you’re describing — long climbs and pinner descents — the SL is a better fit than the classic Mighty Enduro.

— Lee

PS: A few pounds feels very different when you’re attacking a tight trail — in that situation it’s all about acceleration. On the long climb out of the Demo, the extra weight gets lost in your Camelbak, fat butt, rolling resistance and general fatigue.