Are Downhill Bikes Pointless? | Enduro Vs DH

Downhill is often compared to the F1 of cycling, but in that sense, they should require a whole lot of maintenance per mile, and be practically useless in a whole bunch of other scenarios? Enter the Enduro bike, which to continue the motorsports analogy has got to be more similar to a rally car, capable of going up and down and unlikely to break down regardless of whatever you throw at it. Does the Enduro bike not just render the downhill bike useless with its versatility? Neil and Rich are at an impasse...

⏱ Timestamps ⏱
00:00 - Intro
01:53 - Mountain Bike Top Trumps
03:29 - Why Are Downhill Bikes Special?
04:45 - What Makes Enduro Bikes Special?
05:38 - No Compromises
05:57 - Rough Terrain
07:54 - Handling At Speed
09:03 - Tight & Technical Terrain
09:39 - Are DH Bikes Pointless?

Useful Links:

Do you have experience on both downhill bikes and enduro bikes? Which do you prefer? Are you happy to compromise on an Enduro bike for the day at the bikepark?

Watch more on GMBN...

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[ondrejjanoska]

I love my DH....but to be honest is better to have both.

[fraanzfan]

CONTROVERSIAL: DH Bikes with a dropper post and a 12s cassette are great

[JeffMTBinVA]

I love you guys and I appreciate the videos. I was really looking forward to this but I was hoping for more, like switching off bikes and comparing impressions from each.

[ZEEPOW]

If hitting a bike park with super gnarly, steep trails and an uplift a DH bike will provail. But for where most of us ride and how we ride a mid travel Enduro bike is more than enough and is far more practical.

[jotathompson]

I'm 42 6ft 8 104kg the DH bike is required for many reasons. Started doing downhill and free riding in my early teens when it was hardtails with 80-100mm suspension (that did my knees. played rugby in my 20s (there goes the shoulders) and have been a builder/carpenter for 25yrs (rest of my body has now left the chat) so basically need that 200mm travel for the many injuries I've had over the years. And can still ride 8+hrs with my son on gnarly decents to the degree me and him are currently preparing ourselves for crankworx Rotorua 2025

[blakebradshaw]

Watching this as someone who’s rode downhill on 100mm XC hardtail bike as a novice rider. The enduro bike sounds perfect!

[natepittenger]

I have a Pivot Phoenix 29 and I think it’s literally the most perfect DH bike ever for bike park riding. I get a dozen or so days a year at resorts like Vail, Snowmass, and Trestle, and though I know that my enduro-ish bike is fully capable of riding those trails, there is absolutely nothing like a proper DH bike. I actually ride the DH bike more over the summer than I do my trail bike. Obviously a trail/enduro bike is far more versatile, but if you are doing lift-assisted riding often, a DH bike is absolutely the ticket. And I fully believe that learning the kind of stuff you can smash through on the DH bike translates to more confidence on the trail bike too.

[NB-rimw]

Best, most honest review by a pro rider! Some of the best content out there!

[kame]

I've been dreaming of a dh bike since I first saw a dh fully as a kid in the 90s. Living in a sort of montaneous area with lots of trails but no lifts or shuttles whatsoever, and having turned 41 without ever turning from a very mid rider to a shredding daredevil, I've come to terms with the fact that Enduros or even solid trail bikes will probably be more than I will ever need. Settled for a Giant reign eventually 😊

[trailpimp]

DH bikes are a must if you live in a ski town and ride the lift all summer or even shuttling

[ashleynicholls]

Jesus. A GMBN video without an E-Bike 🙌

[AK-ContentCreatIon]

Cool video as always! Thanks! I would never have the courage and or technical skills to need to ride a DH bike, pretty sure, the enduro that I ride is also be "to good" for me and my skills, too capable. Even on the gnarliest track I have the courage to ride.. And since I can only afford one, AND have not all the time in the world, I'm reaaly happy. The reserves one has with a DH I will propably never need. I ride a NOX 7.1 Hybrid Enduro eMTB with 180/180, Fox 38, DHx Coil.... Stay safe and keep on riding

[danhopkins]

The coolest one? The one I have in my garage. I would be happy with either! Beats falling downhill for sure.

[Norway-BOY-MTB-Mountainbike]

NO Bike be " Pointless ", Just how you ride it !! Right !!??

[Dannyie]

I totally agree. You need both if you can afford it. The Downhill for Downhill specific tracks.

[lsebsheff]

I've been riding my Banshee legend recently, it's been sitting in my shed for 5 years, I don't plan on leaving it so long again, it was awesome on the rocks at bpw last week

[Chaoshero]

the orbeo in this video is kinda ugly... but Enduros can also look super cool

[Vokunos]

i think Downhill bikes are the best bikes... well for people that actually can use them to their full potential. lets be real most of us dont have the riding skill that requires much more than an decent trailbike. Downhill bikes are made for going downhill fast and everything else besides that is an absolute chore on those so why would yall ride downhill bikes if you cant even ride an trailbike to its full potential.

[rip.tear.]

I have a Capra Core 5 and a Cube Two15 as my park bike where the tracks are gnarly enough for it. A lot of "DH" bike park trails have corners which are too tight for a DH bike so you end up being significantly slower.

[williamthompson]

I just bought a DH bike and found myself riding my enduro bike at the park and feeling fine. I think you need to have a DH bike that has a well functioning fork for it to be fun