Help me choose: Spesh Enduro SL Expert vs. Kona Coilair

[mazer75]

Both bikes are ~$3k. Both bikes are all-mountain/free ride.

I've ridden both, and I like both very much.

My only concern with the Specialized is the fork and shock (both made by Specialized). I am worried about track record with these, and repair costs down the road. However I like the geometry of the Enduro SL more than the Coilair.

The Coilair is a great bike, however you don't get nearly as much with the component set vs the Enduro SL Expert (especially brakes, derailleurs, wheelset). However the fork and shock are "standard" and repairs ought to be cheaper.

Does anyone know people who have the 07 Enduro and can comment on the shock/fork reliability and performance after a few hundred miles?

All comments are welcome!! And if there are any other bikes in the $3k price range I should be considering, please let me know! Thanks guys--

mazer

EDIT:

I am staring at my new 07 Enduro SL Expert, large, in Orange anodized. I love it. The guys at The Path really hooked me up today as well. Tani helped me out the whole way, and I am very grateful and feel VERY good about my purchase. I'm looking forward to a great service relationship with The Path as well, and will definitely buy from them in the future.

WOOHOOO!!!!!!

I will post some pics later!!

Thanks to everyone's advice in this thread. I know I made the right choice and I look forward to riding with you guys soon!

What are the best trails around 90045 for the weekends? I work in Redondo Beach, and will be bringing my bike to work for some after hours rides. I need some trail suggests for the entire LA area I have friends who can show me where to go in the OC.

Finally, I will likely be at Bikes N Beers this Sunday as well, so I'll likely see some of you there.

Thanks again everyone!

[BFloFoxRider.]

i dont care for the coilar
well its nice but ive never really been a fan of kona for mountain bikes

however, i do love the enduro expert sl
thats the one with the new specialized triple clamp correct?
that thing is bomb
an xc triple clamp
and when you climp you flip the switch and its locked out and when you push donw, it locks it down a few inches
if it were me i would go for the enduro, but once again only my opinion and you may think different
oh and i raced an enduro at southridge for DH
and it was perfect!
and it pedaled way easier on the wall

[andino]

the SL is an awesome bike...i wouldn't worry too much that spesh is making their own shocks on this model either...anything goes wrong they'll take care of you

[ride hard]

personally id go with the sl its a nice bike, but the coiler is a good one also just depends on what you like more

[0gravity]

If the Enduro is the one with the Specialized-designed dual crown, I noticed it has a pretty narrow turning radius because the crown hits the frame. I'd guess the shocks are good since they got a top designer from Fox. But still, there's sometimes something to be said for waiting out first generation tech and seeing how it fares. That being said, I suspect the Specialized will be a better all-around bike -- especially in terms of being an OK climber for a trail bike. The coiler looks more free-ride-ish than the SL. This is just a quick first impression, though. I'm sure you'll do your research.

[mazer75]

Hey thanks for all the replies. I'm definitely leaning towards the Enduro SL, as I think it's the better bike for me.

I have been checking the mtbr forums as well, and there is some talk over there about the '08 models coming out soon. Can that really happen this early in the year? Is that typical of Specialized's product cycle??

Any insight into that would be greatly appreciated (because I can wait a few months to see). Thanks again everybody--

mazer

[BFloFoxRider.]

hmm not too sure
but regardless which on you end up buying your buying from incycle right?

[andino]

the 07 spesh bikes just came out a few months ago so i don't think 08 is due anytime soon...maybe aug/sept at earliest

[mazer75]

Originally Posted by BFloFoxRider.

hmm not too sure
but regardless which on you end up buying your buying from incycle right?

Well, I don't know... what can the guys at Incycle do for me??

I have a good friend who has friends who work at The Path. Those guys have been great to me as well so I will be buying from there. That is, unless we can talk about the price of a 07 Enduro SL Expert (in the Orange anodized color)....

Originally Posted by andino

the 07 spesh bikes just came out a few months ago so i don't think 08 is due anytime soon...maybe aug/sept at earliest

Yeah that would be a long time to wait for my own ride.

Right now I'm demoing bikes from The Path, so I should get my own bike sooner rather than later.

[BFloFoxRider.]

well depepnding on waht size you are
incycle has a large blue enduro expert sl in stock... carbon fiber
but those guys hok you up pretty damn good
go in and talk to them
im sure theyll hook you up
=)
that shop is bomb
go in and talk to them

and the one in san dimas is the best
just cuz its local for me and i know basically everyone there...

Originally Posted by mazer75

Right now I'm demoing bikes from The Path, so I should get my own bike sooner rather than later.

Hmm not sure about the path but at incycle every time you demo a bike you get that money as credit towards a new bike and you can earn this credit up to 4 times i think the rule is
is pretty sweet

[gurp13]

I like Specialized. Most of the stuff I've bought with the red "S" on it has treated me well. I didn't like the tires that came with my Stumpjumper, but others say Spec'd makes some good tires. Otherwise, I think the stuff Spec'd makes has been pretty good.

I was skeptical about the Spec'd brand shocks too, but have been hearing good things about them. Bottom line, Spec'd spends an awful lot of money on R&D and I have to imagine that the stuff they put out there has been worked on pretty hard. Interestingly, the only negative I've heard about my '06 Stumpjumper is that the Fox shock gets stuck down and has to be rebuilt by Fox. So, even having the Fox name on there is no guarantee of perfection.

I agree, too, that it's a good company. I think they'll take care of you.

I also like Incycle. Ask for Chris Merrill. He's a good guy and honest. But, he can't spell for shit.

[BFloFoxRider.]

dirttorpeedo chris?
or another chris?

[gurp13]

aye, that's the one
the man who loves high speed durt

[BFloFoxRider.]

yup
i think he helped invent dirt =)


now i hope he doesnt get mad at me for that one =//
lol

[PacMan]

Go for the Enduro. If I had the $$ I'd own one for sure. I was able to have a rather extended test ride on one and fell in love.

[tkblazer]

from what i've heard coming from SL riders is that the SL is intended as more of a long travel xc bike and isn't really designed to take heavy abuse like the regular enduro and coilair are designed for. go with what suits your riding more and that should be the one for you. in regards to the sl turning radius, you just have to spin the rubber frame protector around for more angle

[guero]

what type of riding do you plan on doing? the 07 Coilairs and Coilers have a pretty slack HT angle which cater to more of the descending end of things, if you got a fork with an ETA, then it wouldnt be that big of a deal...one thing i noticed with the konas is that the components generally are generally mid grade, unless you go with a Deluxe or a Primo model. i ride an 06 Coiler Deluxe and am loving it, its on the heavy side of things at 37.83 pounds, but i still clean climbs and enjoy the cush on the downhills. i dont have much knowledge of the SL, i'd say go with what feels best and what bike will suit your riding style best.

[mazer75]

I think my riding style (if you can call it a 'style' even) is XC. I want to climb!! I don't want to really jump chasms all day long either. So I think overall the SL is the best choice for me (now). I'm going to The Path today to see what's up.

Thanks for all the advice in this thread guys... maybe I'll see you out on the trails soon on my new orange anodized Enduro SL??

[ODB]

Personally, i wouldn't want to be the guinea pig on an entirely new suspension platform. What about an Iron Horse MK III or 6-Point as another option?

[tkblazer]

MKIII is a freakin solid bike that pedals well... ask dino brown... i know there have already been problems with the new specialed suspension, but thankfully they have been taking care of customers by overnighting new parts to them while they hopefully fix all the bugs.