Zerode Taniwha Review

Zerode Taniwha Drive Side Frame

Zerode bikes launched in 2011 and have been producing gearbox Downhill Bikes for 5 years now. During that time there has been a rising demand from customers and others interested in dropping the traditional derailleur on their AM/Enduro bikes. These systems inhibit the suspension, add weight to the rear end and allow a somewhat vulnerable mechanical piece to dangle a few inches from the ground. We would like to introduce you to The Taniwha a 12spd Pinion Gearbox, Carbon Fiber trail slayer.

Zerode Taniwha Drive Side Angle Shot

Rob Metz has spent the last 5 years producing Zerode downhill bikes. This was a high single pivot gearbox bike. Well, the time has come for Zerode to release the highly anticipated trail bike. Please allow us to introduce to you The Zerode Taniwha. This is a 160mm, 650b wheeled bike sporting a 65 degree HA and using a Pinion 12 spd gearbox that is mounted into its Carbon Fiber frame! For the “enduro” frame Rob found it best to go with the more common lower single pivot design. Once again you will not need a derailleur, cassette, shifter, chain guide, cranks or BB for the bike.

Zerode Taniwha Non Drive Side Angle

Zerodeusa began importing and distributing Zerode bikes back in 2011. At that point it was Zerode's high pivot idler bike called the G1. The Mountain Bike market began to change around this time and many people began to trade out their downhill bikes in favor of long travel trail bikes. Once this Enduro craze hit Zerode knew that a trail bike would have to happen sooner rather than later. Rob started contacting carbon manufacturers in Asia about producing small batch runs of the Zerode trail bike. Santa Cruz agreed to help Rob out and sample frames began production shortly after. Take a look at the Geometry of the Zerode Taniwha compared to the Santa Cruz Nomad and you will notice they are nearly identical in the size department.

Zerode Taniwha Features

• Carbon Frame
• 650b
• 12spd Pinion Gearbox
• 31.6 Seatpost
• 142mmx12mm rear hub
• Water Bottle Mount
• 430mm CS Length
• 74.5 Seatpost Angle
• 65 Degree HA
• 600% Range
• Equal Gear Steps

Zerode Taniwha Pinion Drive Side Detail

The suspension design of the Taniwha is a simple linkage driven single pivot. Rob explains the reason for this is that it has the exact same Anti-Squat (100%) throughout the whole range of travel. This also allows for a very easy suspension set up. The Zerode has a slightly progressive design that the rider can fine tune easily with HSC/LSC and shock spacers. After riding the bike for almost 6 months we can say with certainty that the pedaling feel of the bike is totally unique. It offers tons of traction and never stiffens up while going over obstacles.

Zerode Taniwha Pinion Non Drive Side Detail

Many gearbox advocates like to press the point that you eliminate the most fragile part of the Mountain Bike when using a gearbox. This is very true to a point but not the reason Rob Metz made Zerode. His driving reason for going the gearbox route was to eliminate unsprung weight from the drivetrain and by doing so dramatically improve suspension performance. The combination of saving 1.5 pounds off your back wheel and keeping chain driven suspension effects away provides a bike that has some of the best feeling suspension that we have ever ridden. It is very sensitive to small nuances on the trail. It feels as supple as a downhill bike going along chatter filled terrain. Having the ability to shift while coasting is another benefit of using a gearbox system. This can allow riders to change gears over the roughest terrain or while in mid turn.

Zerode Taniwha X2 Shock Mount Detail

Building the Zerode Taniwha was trouble free. It went together easily and we just had to watch the cable install video on the Pinion Website a few times to get that running smooth. The i9 305mm Enduro wheels are strong trail wheels. These are a bit stronger than was probably required and we could have laced up some lighter custom wheels and saved some weight. We opted to build the bike with almost the exact same build that we used on our Evil Insurgent Review. Overall our complete Zerode Taniwha came in at 34.85LBS and we are running WTB Convict/Trail Boss front in rear both in TCS casings. So these are about 1.5 lbs heavier than a Maxxis set-up would be. So, in theory, you could build one close to this at the low 33lbs range. Just an FYI our XL Insurgent weighed mid 32LBS with a very close build so about 2.25 lbs lighter in a frame size bigger than the Taniwha we tested.

"Fundamentally the Zerode Taniwha is about making the mountain biking experience better. Nothing inspires us to ride more than a quiet, low maintenance, confidence inspiring bike

The 12 spd pinion gearbox offers a huge spread of gears that goes well beyond today’s 1×11. Whether you are grinding up an epic backcountry single track or blasting down a high speed fire-road there is a gear to do the job. An unexpected pinch climb will never be a problem again, changing gear is effortless and immediate.

A significant reduction in unsprung weight ensures suspension performance that is undeniably better than any Enduro bike equipped with a rear derailleur. Symmetrical spoke angle ensures a very strong, light rear wheel that further improves suspension performance.

A simple, effective and proven suspension platform combined with a fixed chain line optimizes pedaling performance through the entire travel range. It is difficult to approach the elegance and performance of this layout with any virtual pivot design.A sleek full carbon frame offers excellent stiffness, reduced weight and flawless beauty in a modern geometry.

Maintenance and tuning of gears are almost nonexistent, sprocket and chain life are massively extended. On a Zerode, that brand new drivetrain feeling happens every day.

For those that ride for fun, the Zerode Taniwha will inspire you to ride in any conditions on any trail. If you are racing, whether it for an EWS podium or for bragging-rights amongst mates, the Taniwha provides an edge your competition won’t have.”

Zerode Taniwha Pro Build Complete Zerode Taniwha Pro Build 

• Zerode Taniwha Large Frame Fox X2
• Fox 36 Rc2 Fork
• Chris King Inset
• Gamut Cillos Stem
• Enve DH Bars
• Hope Tech 3 E4 Brakes 203/183
• Industry Nine 305 Enduro Wheels
• Fox Transfer 150mm Dropper
• WTB Convict TCS-WTB Trail Boss TCS
• Fabric Saddle
• ESI Grips

Zerode Taniwha Geometry

I took the Taniwha out on a trail that climbs about 700 feet in just over 1 mile and I could tell The Zerode had a 4 lbs weight gain over the Django I tested earlier. It's pedaling ability was good even with the X2 shock in open mode. For about 85% of the time while climbing we used the pedal feature on the X2. But you could tell it had more weight compared to the last bike I was on. It also offers a bit more traction on the climbs as well.

Taniwha Pinion Tensioner Detail

Once at the top I strapped on my bell and goggles and got ready to drop in. The first part is high speed and fire road width with a good scattering of rocks. I could tell right away The Taniwha was more forgiving when hitting bigger rocks than the previous test bike. It didn't have the roll over ability as the Evil Wreckoning but the 29" wheels gave that bike a large edge. The suspension on the Zerode did smooth the entire trail out better though.

Zerode Taniwha-Pinion Mounting

The trail takes a hard left through rocks and enters a very high speed off camber single track section. there are some large rocks here you dodge and weave your way through. After that, it goes right back across the mountain through some ruts and up and over a steep roller that acts as a G-out and typically uses most of a bikes suspension when hitting it at speed.

Zerode Taniwha Pronouced TANIFA

This trail is somewhat smooth compared to others in the area. Also towards the end, you have to climb up some twisty single track to finish it off. this is where we used the ability to shift without pedalling in the very tight turns and come out in a gear that was easy enough to climb with. Overall the trail was a little too mellow for The Taniwha. You could tell it wanted something much rowdier to show off its unhindered suspension.

Taniwha Pinion Cable Routing

About 300 feet up from the first trail is one that is rock filled for about 500 yards and enters a fast twisty section of trail for the last mile or so. This is a good trail to get a feel for how a suspension system will perform. The entrance to this trail you can hit pretty high speeds my best ever was 28mph and I was just under that aboard The Taniwha. The bike felt stable going fast and there are rocks scattered all across this double track section of trail. It seemed to offer good traction and felt very planted in the high-speed quick turns in this section.

Zerode Taniwha Shifter

There is a small climb up that takes you to the rocky part of the trail. You enter this on a fading right-hand turn that drops you into the rock garden. The rocks range in size from marble up to knee high here. The fastest route is a straight line down the middle and linking the sections together by hopping over and down the larger embedded rocks. Overall I would say the suspension worked remarkably well. The trail felt smoother than it did on many of the other trail bikes we have tested. Maybe saving the weight off the back wheel does translate into better trail manners after all. This trail has some loose turns and the Zerode Taniwha seemed to offer a fair bit of traction. It wasn't as much as a 29" bike but more than a normal 650B seemed to offer. This also can be attributed to the suspension sensitivity and the low center of gravity. There are a number of fast turns back to back in this trail that you can hop the bike into and hope it grabs traction. The low center of gravity really seemed to help the bike find grip easier here than many of the other 650b bikes we have tested. Moving around on the Taniwha to effect front end traction or lift the front wheel was very easy. The window of balance on the bike was huge. Keep in mind this frame is a fair bit shorter than the last two bikes we have tested so this feeling can directly be attributed to the gearbox being down low on the frame. The Zerode proved to have a stiff frame. I never noticed The Taniwha showing any kinds of flex in tight turns or even high-speed rock filled ones.

Zerode Taniwha Internal Routing

So the Zerode Taniwha descends well in part due to having a very light rear end and one of the lowest centers of gravity around. Also, the simple suspension design works very well at eating rough terrain and is one of the easiest to set up. But how does the Taniwha climb or pedal? Let us get this out of the way now. You can tell it has a gearbox when pedaling on the flat ground. It makes a bit more noise than a standard bike with a full chain guide. It isn't as loud as the old school Mr. Dirt guide but it makes noise just a slight whirring from between your feet. Pinion claims the gearbox gets smoother as you rack up the miles. We put about 500 miles on the bike and would have to agree with them. It did begin to make less noise and seem to offer a bit less resistance. Honestly, if there is a bit a drag while riding the Zerode Taniwha it is very mild. In fact, it may entirely be in my head. Getting to the trails from work is about a 2-mile flat pavement pound. I never made it there as fast as I have on a few other bikes. Now shifting the Zerode takes a bit of forethought at the beginning. The Pinion will not shift into an easier gear under load. When I say load I mean like the weight of you leg will prevent it from shifting. So essentially you have to stop pedaling the Taniwha to get it to shift. On the steep technical climbs make sure to shift when you can and not when you need to since it may not be possible. Another thing that was noticeable was the lack of engagement provided by the Pinion. We had i9 wheels with 120 points of engagement and it still had some play. This was really obvious when you back pedal and then try to pedal forward. The gearbox would take about 30 degrees of rotation before it engaged. It would be interesting to see what an Onyx hub would feel like. Using a Pinion adds about 2 lbs to The Zerode Taniwha and there is no great way to cut that weight back. As stated earlier we had an Insurgent with the exact same build in size XL and this Taniwha is a LG frame and still, the complete bike is about 2.2-2.4 lbs heavier. The new C-Line Pinion will shave about 250 grams off the bike so you will have a 1.75lbs penalty. Is the added weight and shifting issue worth it to avoid a derailleur? This is all dependant upon you, where you live, what you ride and how lazy you are on servicing equipment.

Zerode Taniwha Rear Chainstay Clearance.

There are some areas to improve and this will all depend on Pinion and what they can do with the box in the near future. The "Grip Shift" on the Taniwha was a non-issue it took a few rides to become accustomed to the wrist twisting mode to shift gears. I have had a few SRAM Grip Shift bikes back in the day so I have some experience with it. There is no issue of a missed shift or of an accidental one for that matter. MX bikes ride terrain four times as rough at speeds that are much faster and having a twist throttle is a non-issue for them so why would a twist gear shift be an issue for a MTB? What needs mentioning here is the insane range that The Pinion P 12 gearbox offers. It is just over a 600% range and Rob from Zerode equates it to having a 10-60 on the rear of a standard bike! Another good thing is that every gear change provides the same ratio jump you will never shift a gear and make a dramatic change like you can with a normal 11-12spd system. If you require a different gearing setup for your Zerode you can do it but you must use the Pinion front and rear sprocket to do so. They offer a few teeth in either direction from the ones specked on the Taniwha. I would venture to say that most riders will almost never use the two top easiest gears. They are so tall that to keep a walking pace you are spinning fairly fast on the cranks! Speaking of range the ability to dump a large number of gears with the twist of a wrist is something that can become a great benefit for those that ride in terrain with large elevation changes or tighter trails. Keep in mind you can all this without having to move the cranks!

Zerode Taniwha Chainstay DetailConclusion

Overall we liked The Taniwha. It has a straightforward suspension design that a marketing crew doesn't need to spend millions of dollars on to convince the general public that it works. It pedals pretty well even with the X2 wide open and very little LSC on the shock. I think running the shock with a bit more LSC would have allowed us to rarely use pedal mode on the Fox shock. Even though it shares a similar suspension system with a Guerilla Gravity Megatrail it doesn't have as much resistance to pedal bob as that bike seems to. We had a CCDB Air on that so that could be the difference.

The Pinion gearbox on the Zerode moves weight off the back wheel and centers it as low as possible on the BB. This gives The Taniwha a distinct advantage over a traditional derailleur system in the suspension department. Saving almost two pounds off the back wheel makes the suspension much more active at slower speeds. Another thing that is unique to The Taniwha is it's fixed chain line that optimizes pedaling performance. It gives the bike a unique feel on the pedals and in theory is better. Going up and over rocky terrain, the bike feels like it rolls over terrain easily even when applying power. The range The Pinion offers on the Taniwha is huge and having the ability to jump between all those gears without even pedalling is pretty nice. Cornering is something I mentioned earlier and the Taniwha excels at this. This is a weak point in my riding and the Zerode provided tons of traction and a very wide body weight window. I have the tendency to weight the front too much at times and this never happened once while riding this bike. It feels as if the Zerode grants the rider and extra foot of room to make body adjustments while riding. Also worth mentioning is removing the most easily damaged item off the back wheel and eliminating it. For many, this is an issue but in all honesty, over the past 30 years of riding, I have broken about 8 derailleurs and 6 of those where during a decade of downhill racing.

So with the positives gained from running a Pinion gearbox on the Zerode Taniwha, there are also negatives. There is no denying that the Pinion adds 2.5 lbs over a traditional system and even the new C-Line version will add 2 lbs to the bike. Along with that comes its low engagement this wasn't a make or break but sometimes it was noticeable.  Also not being able to shift under load is our main issue with it. It took us awhile to get somewhat used to letting up while climbing especially on steeper terrain. Everyone gets fried out and has to shift into an easier gear at one point or another during a climb. Typically I could just dump a gear and keep going. With the Taniwha I would have to stop pedaling all together to get the bike into an easier gear. Keep in mind that Pinion hasn't been around very long and with their background in automotive engineering, I would only assume that they would get their gearboxes able to shift under load at some point. The grip shift is a nonissue for us but some have complained about it in the past once Zerode said they were going to use a Pinion. There are rumors of a trigger shifter being in the works from Pinion currently. So that may change as well.

Basically, it will come down to the consumer and their needs or desires. Do you want the most efficient suspension over rough terrain or the most efficient pedaling machine? Mountain bike designs are a compromise. You give up suspension performance in favor of pedaling performance. In the case of the Zerode we gain some weight and lose out on shifting into an easier gear under load. While you gain a very active suspension attached to a frame that corners like it's on rails due to it having a very low center of gravity. Another benefit of The Zerode Taniwha will be lower maintenance and a chain that will last seasons instead of months. With a rear cassette costing close to $300 these days, it will save you money by not replacing one of those every 6 months. In theory, the gearbox proponents are correct, you can break off a derailleur it's just a question of how often that may happen to you.

Overall the Zerode was a fun bike to ride. It was very active and ate up all trail nuances with ease. Frame stiffness was very good and it cornered better than most other trail bikes we have tested. People looking for a unique bike that will prove to be low maintenance should take a good hard look at The Zerode Taniwha. We would recommend this to a friend looking for a unique "stick it to the man" do it all bike that could spend the day at the park or a day riding the local trails. Go check out Zerodeusa for more information on the Taniwha. If they only made it in 29" wheels....

Zerode Taniwha Pinion Set Up

Zerode Taniwha FAQ's 

Is Grip shift the only option?
It turns out that the grip shift is a very nice match to a drive train when you do not have to pedal to change gear and the gears change instantly. If you get caught out in the wrong gear on a pinch climb you can back off for a split second and rip through a bunch of gears with a twist while the derailleur guys are trying to pedal over the top of the wrong gear or click and crunch through gears one at a time. There is no comparison in this situation. You can grab gears when coasting, back pedalling so you adapt and change when and where you shift, the grip shift lets you do this in a seamless way. I have no doubt a trigger will be available at some point. I have designed one on paper, friends have made their own but I'm not sure experienced pinion users will want to swap the grip for a trigger.

Why no horst link?
In a nut shell. I don't link them. The pedalling performance of a Taniwha is second to none. The "real" pivot design combined with a fixed chain line means it is possible to achieve very stable pedalling through the entire range of suspension travel while independently control the suspension rate via a link. With a Horst link or VVP design the virtual pivot races all over the show making it hard to control suspension rate and pedalling independently. You get a compromised design but one that marketing departments love…

Brake jack?
There is a huge amount of misinformation online about brake effect. The story goes, "single pivot designs suffer from brake Jack or brake lock out". In reality all bikes, even bikes equipped with horst links have brake effect to some degree. What happens is the traction force at the rear tire tends to rotate the suspension about the pivot whether real or virtual causing a suspension compression. It's worth noting the traction force at the rear wheel is usually small and so is the compressive effect and that the suspension is still free to respond to other inputs. Some bikes have more compression than others, in some situations this compression helps performance, in other situations it hinders performance.

I could go into an in depth analysis of brake effect. However, there is no need, motorcycles have used simple swingarm designs for over a century now, motorcycle designers fully understand brake effect and understand that a simple swingarm design is the best solution. Almost every DH world champ since records began had a bike with a brake effect essentially the same as that of a single pivot bike.

Gearbox range?
Imagine a 10-60 cassette. Enough said.

Gearbox drag?
Obviously there is an extra element in the drive train so there has to be losses. The loss is small and depends on load and gear. A comparison with a clean mech with a chain in the middle of the cassette would obviously have a standard mech come out on top. If you take into account a significant reduction in unsprung weight changing gears instantaneously and the fact the a mech drive trains efficiency falls off quickly when the chain is at the top or bottom on the cassette or when sprockets are small, then add a little bit of dirt or mud the Pinion becomes very attractive. I wouldn't use one on a road bike but a 160mm trail/enduro bike for riding proper mountain bike trails it is a no brainer .

Why a gearbox/what about the weight?
If you add a Pinion gearbox, take away a cassette (unsprung weight), derailleur( unspring weight), chain guide and build a lighter stronger rear wheel and the disadvantage is ~800g. Given that you have to power yourself and the bike up hills and overcome rolling and air resistance the extra effort required when climbing is almost not measureable. Even if it was I would happily breathe a little harder while cruising up the hills with my mates if my reward was a significant improvement in suspension performance, 600% gear range, stronger rear wheel, almost no maintenance, chains that last years, shifting without pedalling, instantaneous shifting, no chain slap, optimised pedalling etc etc I'd be very surprised if Taniwha owners go back to a derailleur.

Zerode Taniwha Grade Card 

2015 Evil Insurgent Review

Evil Insurgent Complete Build

Evil as we know it today is owned by Kevin Walsh. He purchased the brand from Dave Weagle back in 2008. Since buying Evil they had some problems on the manufacturing side with their first few runs of the Downhill bikes. With manufacturing happening in big quantities it took things awhile to get sorted out. Once production issues where sorted the guys at Evil took care of customers that had problems. Their carbon trail and downhill bike have been very successful and last year Evil came out with a bike called The Following. Now it is time for Evil to enter the 650 market with The Insurgent. Evil bikes is now using the same factory as Santa Cruz bikes for the production of the full carbon bikes and with SC's experience in building carbon bikes it sounds like a good choice. With the overwhelming accolades being bestowed upon The Following it made perfect sense for Evil to jump into the 650b market. Their new bike The Insurgent is their go at the aggressive 27.5" Enduro bike market.

"Do you repeatedly attempt to seperate your tires from your rims in every corner, do you say lets take this ride mellow, does your trail bike find itself going slide ways.. Those up hill both ways days just got a little less sucky. Short snappy chainstays, long top tube and a low BB set the stage for a bike that likes to party.."

Build Kit 

• Evil Insurgent XL
• DVO Diamond 160mm
• Enve DH Bars 800mm
• Hope 35mm Stem
• Chromag Grips
• Magura MT7 Brakes 203mm F/R
• Thomson Covert Dropper
• Fabric Carbon Saddle
• Hope 170mm Cranks
• Hope 34 Tooth Chainring
• Hope Pedals
• SRAM XO Shifter
• SRAM XO 11 SPD Derailure
• SRAM XO 11 SPD Casette
• Mavic Crossmax SL Pro LTD 29 WTS Wheels

TOTAL BUILD WEIGHT 31.19lbs

Upon receiving our Insurgent we opened it up and began assembling the bike. Again the finish on The Insurgent seemed top notch just like it did with The Following. Thank God for a Threaded BB and a 142 by 12mm rear hub spacing. Having the threaded BB makes assembly a bit easier and keeps the bike from making noises that should only be heard on a bikes purchased from WalMart. (Though we are running SRAM 11spd and that at times can make our Evil bike sound like a department store bike....) Overall our build kit is similar to others we have used. Our area is rocky and rough so a full chain guide, heavy tires, big brakes, and DH based cockpit round out the build.

Evil Insurgent Profile

The Delta Suspension System

"(Dave’s Extra Legitimate Travel Apparatus ) Despite Delta representing Dave Weagle’s 3rd cycling specific suspension system, we thought a super tech acronym would be much more appropriate. Well, if we had our way we would say it bends in the middle, stops and goes. But let’s be realistic, we can’t get away with that simple of an explanation. As much as we would like to think that everyone will have the opportunity to test ride an Evil, the reality is most of You will buy based on reviews, friends or Weagle’s past successes.

So the following is straight from the horses mouth ( Dave Weagle being the horse ). The DELTA system was conceived to, among other things, achieve very complex leverage rate curves that can be used to tune for varying track conditions, spring, and damper parameters. The dual progressive leverage rate curve was developed for coil sprung downhill applications to take advantage of the speed sensitive shocks on the market. Mechanically, the system uses very compact links that can achieve a lot of angle and velocity change through the travel. We can tailor the leverage rate curve to really take advantage of the shock’s valving and the way that a speed sensitive damper is designed to work. Ultimately the design achieves a high degree of suppleness early in the travel, with a very predictable high traction stage through the middle and a bottomless ramp at the end of the travel.

The whole suspension system, every attribute, is developed concurrently with each other, with the shock absorber, and with the bike’s intended use and geometry in mind. Main pivot location was carefully chosen to give the best balance of acceleration and braking performance. This careful positioning lets the bike accelerate without the need for excess damping, which in turn helps us push the limits of shock setup as far as possible to achieve ideal damper setup for any World Cup track. One of the biggest advantages of the system is its ability to let riders and mechanics adjust frame geometry without changing leverage rate and wheel rate at all.

Additionally, different link kits can be used to make drastic changes in the bike’s feel. These link kits are something that Evil’s World Cup athletes will take advantage of to fine tune for the drastically different race courses that they compete on over a race season. There is no bad option.It all comes down to personal preference. If you like to run air shocks and a position sensitive damper, we can develop that tune. If you like yourframe geometry low in the BB and slack in the head angle, or vice versa and anywhere in between, it’s covered. Upgradeability, tuneability, and personalization is what it’s all about, finding that combination that’s perfect for you and no one else."

DW D.E.L.T.A. Suspension

Evil Insurgent Head Tube

Rock Shox Vivid Air: Prior to performing shock adjustments, determine riding weight ( fully geared up ). Push the shock O-ring against the wiper seal and push the sag adjuster on the non drive side of the Delta Link forward. Lean up against a sturdy wall, friend, or telephone pole and sit on the bike. Being careful not to tip over, dismount the bike and check the SAG indicator. The SAG indicator should barely cover the 30% mark and the O-ring should measure between 15-17mm from the shock body for ideal setup. The Insurgent uses a high volume air canister which compliments the progressive spring curve of the Delta System Suspension, if a less progressive feel is desired then experiment with different air volume spacers.

NOTE* These are just guidelines to start you on your suspension tuning journey. Its very important to tune your front and rear suspension together to get the best set up possible. Play around and find that special tune, then write it down so you don’t forget! NOTE* The dual progressive leverage rate curve might make some spring rates seem stiff, we encourage you to try different rates that will allow you to sit deeper into the suspension travel and find that perfect set up.

- See more at: http://evil-bikes.com/products/the-insurgent-3/#sthash.Nc1m8mxF.dpuf

Evil Insurgent Features 

Evil Insurgent Features

Looking at The Evil Insurgent geometry numbers below it becomes apparent that they went for a slack and somewhat longer frame than many companies making 650b Enduro bikes. The HA and BB numbers are adjustable via The Flip Chips. We opted to run the bike in the LOW setting most of the time. Running it in X-LOW (64.8 degrees HA) with a 35mm stem made climbing some of the steep stuff around here a bit challenging. Keep in mind we tested The Megatrail and it has a BB in low setting that is 12.7" and provides 160mm of travel. The Evil isn't the lowest bike out there but with a 64.8 degree HA, it is one of the slackest bikes. Some people are concerned about crank clearance, but it wasn't much of an issue for us and the 170mm cranks. Our frame was an XL and I am 6' 2" tall.

Evil Insurgent Geometry 

Evil Insurgent Geometry

Overall, The Insurgent built up easily. The frame and shock weighed in at 7.7LBS.  With our part selection we knew we would have a bike that could handle rough terrain day in and day out. One issue we had with the frame was the lack of a water bottle cage mount. We ended up using a Jand Strap to hold a water bottle onto the frame. Wearing a pack is something we do on longer rides but the other five days a week when you're on an hour long lunch a water bottle fits the bill nicely. We opted for the Rock Shox Vivid Air shock for the back. Kevin suggested that we may want to wait for a more trail oriented shock that would provide more mid stroke support and have a climb switch. We decided not to wait and went with the DH shock. Overall the small bump on the shock is impressive. There where times when I would have liked to use a lock out shock like on long extended climbs or when commuting on the road.

Evil Insurgent Drive Side Linkage

The DELTA suspension is very supple at the very beginning of its travel. Also, the bike's suspension seems to cycle well and offers traction by the boatload. Dave Weagel initially designed The Delta Linkage for the Evil Undead and the high shaft speeds sometimes encountered during Downhill Racing. The Insurgent offers two settings through the flip chips either Low or X-Low. X-Low mode lengthens the WB a hair, lowers the BB and slackens the head angle. For a majority of the test we ran The Insurgent in the Low setting.

Evil Insurgent Chain Guide

Overall, we where impressed by The Insurgent as it did many things well. The frame felt stiff, lively, bottomless, planted, stable and pedalled well. We just finished up testing the Following so getting aboard The Insurgent a few things became clear, like The Insurgent being advantageous when the terrain is fast, chunky or steep. Otherwise the 29" bike seemed to have the advantage looking at times on mellower trails. There are a few trails in the area that are rocky and fast approaching the 30mph mark. The stability provided by the longer chassis and added travel proved to be a positive for The Insurgent on these trails.

Evil Insurgent Non Drive Side Linkage

Ian W

Evil seems to have succeeded in creating a very capable, and stable 650b trail bike with The Insurgent. The bike was very light on its feet with the ability to change lanes and rail corners like an F1 car and proved to be a very capable enduro bike. We built our Insurgent up with DH oriented parts. That being said, we have seen many below the 30LBS mark so it could easily have been lighter. This bike has aggressive geometry but it is by no means too aggressive. In fact a bike with such aggressive angles and great suspension makes a great trail bike for the DH racer.

The initial part of the travel is very sensitive and follows the terrain very well. The bike seemed to be pretty linear. We ended up running 2 volume reducer rings in the Rock Shox Vivid Air to keep the bike from bottoming to easily. The frame came with no reducers installed; luckily we had some left from our Following test. Once we added reducers it became a harder to use all the travel without affecting the initial stroke.

Evil Insurgent Downtube Protector

The first trail I took it on was a 900 foot climb. The bike climbs well and offers good traction over loose rock.  It had some bob while putting the power down while standing but not much. The trail has some rocks at the start and the suspension tracked well over the fast rocky sections. Then it changes into a turn filled smooth trail (flow) with a few small climbs. There are a few tight turns on this trail and The Insurgent needs a bit of front end weight to help hold traction in corners. After that getting to know the The Insurgent a little better I started using more body english while turning such as attempting to always have the chin over bars and arms pressing down when needed.

Many people are huge fans of short chain stays The Insurgent is not super short but close enough. It moves quick when you lean on the bars. I did notice that the 650b Evil had a wheelbase that was almost a full three inches longer than The Following we tested last. This showed in fast, steep terrain. The Following even though it has bigger wheels was just not as stable when flying over rougher terrain. The Insurgent's rear suspension does feel almost bottomless. Riding it hard over rocky terrain you cannot tell when the shock is bottoming out.

The next trail is just above the first and is much rockier for the first 300 yards or so. The Insurgent's larger wheel base benefit became apparent by riding over the soccer ball sized rocks at a blistering rate of speed. It handled the rocks well and it was easy to change lines and hop over rocks when the need arose. Once out of the rock garden the speeds increase and you enter trees with turns carving their way down the hill. In the twisty stuff the Evil does a good job of changing lines and carrying speeds through turns. Never did the longer wheel base (48.10") on the bike seem to take away from its cornering abilities.

Across the valley is a trail that many experienced riders have a strong dislike for. This is due to it be loaded with switchbacks or "woodland based crimes against humanity". This is mainly to keep speeds down because this trail is heavily used by hikers. Initially the trail has some rocks and is high speed until you hit the first switchback.  From there you go into five more switchbacks that are spaced about 200 yards between apart. The Insurgent with its long wheelbase handled these in a decent manner. You could tell it had a preference for fast loose corners more than tight slow ones.  However, at the end of the day it can do either fairly well and do them fast.

Evil Insurgent Flip Chip

Conclusion

Overall we liked The Insurgent. It has a great suspension system that works as DW designed it. The platform allows riders to put power down, climb, handle chunky terrain and provide good mid stroke support. The bike has a long wheel base and slack head angle making it stable at speed. Combine that with a stiff frame and the more common 650b wheels and you have a great option for the Enduro racer. We would not hesitate to recommend it to a friend looking for an aggressive Enduro bike.

Evil came at the 650b market in a similar fashion as they did with the 29" market. They created a slack, low, long bike with a suspension system that provides abundant traction, pedals well and essentially feels almost bottomless. Our Insurgent was built to cater to the gravity rider. Those looking for a more trail friendly version can easily shave 2 lbs off our build and get a shock with a lock out like The Monarch.

Evil Insurgent Rear Stay

There where a few things that Evil could do to improve The Insurgent. First put a bottle cage mount on the frame! There is plenty of room for it especially on the XL and LG sizes. The other thing we noticed is that the lower down tube guard could be longer. Maybe adding three to four inches onto it will help protect the frame a bit more. These are simple fixes and at this point we are just looking for anything to complain about.

Evil has produced two great trail bikes with The Following and now The Insurgent. With their newly announced The Wreckoning a long travel aggressive 29" bike Evil has almost all the bases covered. All that is missing would be a short travel XC bike and an actual DH bike. We are looking forward to throwing The Wreckoning down some trails in the near future. Until then we will keep hammering aboard The 650b wheeled Evil Insurgent.

Let’s cut the crap. There is no “one bike to rule them all”. No magical, wheeled-unicorn that can be all things to all people. Here’s what Evil have created: It’s called the Insurgent and it is fun. The uncontrollable-cackling-while-roost-flies-off-your-back-tire variant of fun. Which is exactly what Evil were aiming for. The Insurgent will get you up that long, technical sufferfest in style with plenty left in the tank to shred a trail slide ways—the kind of trail that everyone else calls a “DH trail”.