Specialized Enduro 08 - Issues / problems encountered???

crazee_jamie

I'm interested in comments anyone has encountered with their 2008 Enduro. This is the forum to discuss the Specialized Enduro... Think it'd be interesting..

I've six 2008 Enduro Comp SL's, in various sizes and after fourth months of guests giving them a good seeing to in a resort in Austria, most of the front wheels have the front wheel bearings on their way out.. The rim is a DT Swiss 420SL, not the strongest, so maybe this is a factor for why the bearings are going??

Has anyone experienced this issue with their own bike? Is it a common fault with the front wheel???

Enduro 2008 - Lets talk!

Anonymous

the mags havent given the expert or carbon pro very good write ups this last couple of months but if you look at the user reviews which follow on the bike radar reviews, folk seem very happy with them.

also, mtbr.com has dozens of reviews for the bike by real time owners who all seem reall happy, i think it averages out as 4.6/5 which seems pretty good. from what i can gather, the bike takes a lot of setting up and experimenting to get perfect but once its done, the bike is awesome.

i certainly hope so as i took delivery of one last night 8)

bikeradar review with satisfied customers at the bottom.

mtbr reviews

mind you, alot of the reviews were by folk who had only had the bikes for a short period :?

SDK2007

The front bearing weakness was picked up in the MBR magazine review.
I've used mine for around 60 hours of riding with no problems so far.

Anonymous

your carbon one is such a good looking bike, you should have lent your pics to the bike mags, much better than the ones they took themselves.

how are you finding the tyres? i just converted mine to tubeless as i had a spare stans set in the toolbox, they're suprisingly light for a big tubeless tyre, i weighed em at about 650 grams!! they feel quite tacky on the edges so im expecting them to wear down super quick

SDK2007

Thanks - I'm a semi-pro photographer hence the better than average photos

I've changed my tyres to Maxxis Minions but they are touch heavy and draggy for long 6+ hour rides so am thinking about going tubeless. The only thing that is stopping me is that it seems 50% of people who have converted have problems with punctures, air loss etc.

Can I use the Stans conversion with the DT 420 rims ?

Anonymous

thats what i have done but only because the tyres are tubeless ready and because i had a stans lying around.,the tyres went straight up and are sealed already, took about half an hour to do both wheels. dont try and convert regular tyres, in my experienc`e, it just doesnt work properly or reliably

tubeless is the business in my opinion, i shaved about 350 grams off the bike by getting rid of tubes (450g is a pound!!) and i wont get any punctures.

you wont loose air if you use proper ust/tubeless tyres as they are designed to work properly. in general, dont expect to be saving much or any weight, i dont even run lower pressures but the fact i never get stopped by punctures is worth its weight in gold.

SDK2007

The only reason I would convert is to save weight - I can't remember the last time I had a puncture. If the weight saving is small then I don't think I'll bother. Thanks for the advice though

jummer

i am chuffed to bits with mine and mine is a 07 the only problems i have had is the rims arent strong enough but im not the smothest rider ihave had mine for a year now and the only things i have had to replace are the wheels wich i am in the process of doing now but the front hub is a bit of a headache because nobody stocks them and not many have the adapters for the trueing stand
jer

crazee_jamie

The bikes in my fleet are being used for downhill and technical descents for the majority of their ride time... This is probably why I'm experiencing all my front bearings are all over the place. The DT swiss wheels are absolutely pants for hard riding as well.... Way too light for what they're being used for over here.... Again, they're being used more so for DH than anything else. Plus, I've been taking them, alogn with guests to bike parks. Probably not the best idea, lol..

Anonymous

i was thinking the rims mght be a tad light weight for the purpose of the bike, am i correct in thinking it is a version of the 4.2d rim?

have yours been buckling under use and would you say your bikes are being ridden for their intended purpose?

is any of the wear and tear you are experiencing due to the fact that the bikes are hire bikes and therefore not used as proficiently as if used by an owner?

Anonymous

ive just checked and the same rims are used on the epic, a lightweight race bike :?

bigdavep

sheepsteeth wrote:

your carbon one is such a good looking bike, you should have lent your pics to the bike mags, much better than the ones they took themselves.

Agreed, Top PIcture

paradox1509

sheepsteeth wrote:

the mags havent given the expert or carbon pro very good write ups this last couple of months but if you look at the user reviews which follow on the bike radar reviews, folk seem very happy with them.

also, mtbr.com has dozens of reviews for the bike by real time owners who all seem reall happy, i think it averages out as 4.6/5 which seems pretty good. from what i can gather, the bike takes a lot of setting up and experimenting to get perfect but once its done, the bike is awesome.

i certainly hope so as i took delivery of one last night 8)

bikeradar review with satisfied customers at the bottom.

mtbr reviews

mind you, alot of the reviews were by folk who had only had the bikes for a short period :?

Maybe thats my problem,I am still getting to grips with the fork... hope I am rewarded like you say. I have got DT 5.1D rims on mine and know from experience DT rims are softer than most other manufacturers.

crazee_jamie

Yeah, it's pretty safe to say guests aren't treating the Enduro's like they're their own. My company should have bought a bunch of SX trail bikes in addition to the Enduro's as in effect the enduro's are being used as DH bikes.

The rims are DT Swiss 420SL... I take it the 'SL' stands for superlight.

My company must have been given a deal for the bikes, as they're 'Enduro Comp SL's'. Dont think the purchasing team knows exactly what parts are for what, and therefore they go for the most financially viable package. Shame really as the bikes wont last as long as a bike suityable for the terrain would. If Specialized ever needed a test centre, or somewhere which can give feedback on how their bikes hold out on real mountains I'd be keen to give them some feedback.

paradox1509

Sounds like the sx trail's would be the better option for yourselves, there is a review of the sx trail II in one of the mags this month and it scores a nine (tested on similar terrain as your trail centre).

crazee_jamie

Anyone know how I change the bearings on the front wheel??? DO I need any particular tools to do it?

subjude101

I've had my Enduro 08 for a year now, re-trued the rear wheel twice and just had rear bearings changed, although I was told by LBS the free hub needs changing, they would have done it at last service but Specialzed sent wrong one twice. lol.

I've also started to have issues with front wheel play (sideways movement), will put this down to bearings, anyone know what size, type they are. Any advice on rear hubs, what have you changed to?

chrisga

I just bought an 08 enduro which is an ex-demo bike and before agreeing to buy it noticed that the front wheel ran really roughly when you spun it so the bike shop changed the bearings in it before I picked it up. Ive not had any problems with the bike as yet and have done a fair bit in the last few weeks (whites level, cwmcarn XC, Mynydd how you go, whinlatter and a trip up from borrowdale toward wast water int he lake district) on it. Overall - love it, you can just ride it at stuff I would never have dreamed of riding my old bike over. Very good fun.

LoUiS1985

Hi all, i've had my enduro for about 8 months now and had to change my front wheel bearings twice already.

I am looking at getting some new wheels but due to the limiting factor of a 25mm axle, only know of a couple of sets that seem to fit the bill

1. Roval Traversees

2. Industry Nine Enduro

I like the look of these hoops, especially the industry nine wheelsets.

Has anyone got any, and if so how do you rate them?
Does anyone know any UK stockists of them?
Are there many other AM/Enduro sets with 25MM axle options?

Thanks Guys[/b]

SDK2007

I have a set of Roval Traversee wheels ordered. They are pretty much out of stock everywhere in the UK until mid June so you will have to wait a while.

Anonymous

I have some traversee wheels and they are ace and considering the spec and looks, they're pretty good value too.

LoUiS1985

yes i pretty much knew that to be honest but am also interested in what ppl think of the industry nine wheels

LoUiS1985

sheep - bet your enduro cost you an absolute s**t-load, but its very nice

Anonymous

was pretty picey to be fair but its still worked out cheaper than an equivalent model by a british manufacturer!!

the e150 and afr are amazing suspension and work superbly, over on mtbr.com there are loads of riders doing full on downhill runs on them and 6foot drops and the likes so the bike is very capable in standard format, i just had trouble with my sus and managed to get the rear shock at a knock down price and the fork wasnt full price either.

all in all its probably cost about 2500 and for the spec and looks and ride quality, its money well spent.