Spring, 2000 -> Present

Introduction:
My Specialized Enduro Pro came into my possession in the spring of 2000 as a $1200 employee purchase from Blue Mountain Sports in Jim Thorpe where I worked as a sales person and wrenched for a year and a half. By 2005 all that remained of the original bike was the front shifter, hub, and rim! Everything else has either been broken, worn out, or upgraded. Although I have to admit, the former 2 resulted in the subsequent upgrading. My relationship with this bike is one of love, hate, and much money.

Purpose:
The bike served as my launching board into Down Hilling as well as serving a hefty portion of my cross country needs. I stopped the DH torture I was lavishing upon the machine when I purchased my first full DH rig, the karpiel, in the spring of 2002. The bike still was used in my Dual Slalom races and for dirt jumping though. Despite also having a Gary Fisher hard tail after the spring of 2003, I continued to ride cross country on this bike regularly. Thus it has always kept a full three rings up front and has never topped 30lbs. 6 years later, it is my favorite bike.

Mechanical History Overview:
The bike has had its' share of mechanical failures and bugs. These include 2 cracked frame components, shifting issues associated with the rear cable routing, a bottom bracket height which was too low on the 2000 frame, a stuck rear linkage bolt which prevents pivot bearing replacement, an upper shock mounting position which is too wide (I got it from the factory this way. Strangely, all other frames I have seen have the correct spacing). The Enduro story also includes many other issues which are associated with the componentry combined with huge amounts of rocky trails and an over zealous riding style. I ride rain, snow, or shine as fast as I can as often as I can in an area which gets a lot of foul weather. This typically means that if I get two years out of a component I am doing pretty well.

Frame:
1st: 2000 Specialized Enduro Pro 3.8-4.6" travel, A1 Aluminum. Warrentied due to crack associated with seat post quick release lever in 2002.
2nd: 2002 Specialized Enduro Pro 4.0-5.25" travel, A1 Aluminum. Still in use, though in dire need of replacement by 2005. Ovalized B.B. shell, Dent in down tube, Pivot bearings shot, Rear derailure hanger attachment point is slightly deformed, and a Large wear spot on head tube (mostly aesthetic though).

Fork:
1st: Answer Manitou X-Vert Super, 4.1" travel, 2000-2002. Retired due to incredibly loud creaking! The fork was a product of bad designing in which the steerer tube was insufficiently attached to the crown causing catastrophic failures for some unsuspecting riders. Manitou had realized their error by the time I had gotten my fork and put a pathetic red compression fit strengthener into the bottom of the steerer tube under the crown. I suspect the steerer tube was creaking back and forth in the crown causing the horrific noise!
2nd: Manitou Black Super Air, 2002-2003, 120mm. Felt good when it worked, blew out on me, got it warrentied, it lasted 2 rides, was sent a new coil version which I promptly sold for 300 bucks.
3rd: Marzocchi Z1 FR SL, 130mm, 2003-present. Nice fork. Completely blew out in the end of 2004. I rebuilt it with new seals and new oil. Have to admit it was the first time the shock saw new oil or any servicing. There is some play in the bushings, but I didn't replace them when I had it apart. I plan on putting the new bushings in next time (If there is a next time??).

Rear Shock:
1st:Fox Float R, 3.8"-4.6" adjustable travel through a linkage change. The shock was critically dyeing in 2004, suffering from blown dampening and leaking seals requiring it to be pumped up several times through out a ride!
2nd: Fox Custom, 4.00" - 5.25" adjustable travel shock through its' itch switch. It came stock on my new 2002 Specialized Enduro Pro frame. It completely blew in the fall of 2004.
3rd: Progressive Suspension 5th Element Air 2004. It worked great at first but by the end of 2005, (My lightest cycling year ever), the rebound blew out. I then catastrophically doomed it from repair when I broke the SPV valve right off! (One of my all time worst bike mechanic maneuvers! God Damn It!) I rode the bike with no SPV and rebound through the end of 2005. :( I prefered my Fox shocks and will be looking to stick with that brand in the future. I attempted to disassemble the shock on the 24th of Dec 2005.

Brakes:
1st: 2000 Hayes Hydraulics. The good old ones (not those crappy HFX newer ones). Worked well until 2004. Front and rear died, causing perpetual oil leaks and air getting into the system during 2004.
2nd: 2004 Shimanoe hydraulic XT brakes, 2004-present. Disk brake technology has come a long way since 2000. I am changing all my bikes over to the new Shimanoe XT brakes as the Hayes one by one died.

See the Enduro in action here.
                 3 bridges Rothrock State Forest
                 A large rock garden in Rothrock State Forest
                 A practice DS run in Vermont
                 Race run against friend Matt Kuhnel in Vermont

© September 6, 2008