Do You Need A Downhill Bike? | Is An Enduro Bike Faster On A Downhill Track?

Modern enduro bike geometry is approaching that of downhill bikes, with both types of bike sharing many of the same angles. Does that mean an enduro bike is as fast as a downhill bike on the descents? Neil pitted his Giga against his Dissent at Dyfi Bike Park to find out...

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[bluebulerias]

Neil Donoghue calling himself an average Joe. Now that's a good joke!

[anthonycphillips]

On your second run, you've gotten warmed up to the track. Give yourself second run on each bike and see the results. You may have to do three runs each..

[adrian_veidt]

*Meanwhile, in an alternate post apocalyptic future:*

"Do you need an Enduro bike? Is a Down country bike faster on a Downhill park?"

[damarapoledna]

I prefer the full-on DH for when my talent runs out the bike will help keep the right side up.

[bilbo]

Are they a bit too specific, yes.

Does part of me still really want one,

[aaronchyea]

0:55 lets take a sec to appreciate that background

[kevinreid]

to be fair the giga isn't really a normal "enduro" bike is it...180 front and back I would class that more of a bikepark machine....would have been more accurate to do this on an orbea or scott genius...something with 160/150 travel maybe. Still closer than I thought it would be timing wise.

[JaggersLips]

According to recent studies, most mountain bikers enjoy buying new parts for their bikes but don’t ride them that much.

[quietknight]

Enduro bikes can never make dh bikes obsolete, the only thing that can make dh bikes obsolete would be the death of dh racing.
If enduro bikes descend better than dh bikes it simply means that they will be used to compete in, and win, dh races. In other words they will literally BE dh bikes, nothing remains static so it would simply be that advancements for dh had been found by making the bikes more nimble, and the fact that that nimbleness made them suitable for enduro would remain so regardless of the fact they started out as enduro bikes.

[shemshem]

something can be said for downhill laps at the bike park though, I would 100% choose a DH over an enduro in the bike park, I can spend way more time on the DH just because it does not tire me as much, plus I tend to get less scetched out and crash, plus DH feels like it can do way more so you tend to hit the big stuff and go faster way sooner.

[Tony_P]

Have downhill tracks become enduro tracks ? Hmmmm...

[hanangwicaksono]

Dh bikes are usefull when you left behind by that one friend who ride a hardtail

[simonschlender]

I think nothing can beat a DH Bike at the Downhill ✅

[harveyjoneswoodsman]

Me 40 pushing 42 lb 18 year old trek diesel up local mt just for 10 minutes of adrenalin and fear lol dh not dead!!!

[Zac_Martines]

For the longest time I happily rode an enduro bike, thinking it was all I ever needed. I just recently got a DH bike and now I know I was wrong.

[Hesster_dj]

I just don’t want downhill bikes to die because I simply just “fancy” them!

[-TheRealChris]

My favorite bikes are the last generation of 26" Downhill Bikes, i like the balance of stability and maneuverability they have for the old school style DH trails where i ride. The rear wheel weight bias of DH bikes also really makes sense once stuff gets properly steep.I only ride gravity stuff and if i had an enduro bike id still push it to the top anyway.

[-glossy]

Everything's blended together almost any bike can do anything

[promodsteve]

I have an enduro and downhill bike. NO WAY do I need a downhill bike but it is so much fun to ride and that's what matters most to me.

[andresamson]

They basically have the same Geo, on a hardcore DH track, you will benefit the 20mm more travel and stiffness of fork/frame. Also, you can make an uncompromised downhill rear suspension kinematic on the DH that will simply not work well for climbing. Last thing, the 12sp rear mec of the enduro is more likely to be clipped on feature... thus more risk of mechanical issue in the race....
So ... is a DH bike obselete? NO! We should simply be super grateful that the super enduro bike are so close behind and while giving us that ability to climb back up