Enduro Bikes: The Ultimate Setup Guide

Enduro expert Rich Payne runs you through the latest setup trends for an improved riding experience and hopefully faster results! Learn how to set up your mountain bike for Enduro racing and 'Enduro style' riding with this complete guide! From pro tips on adjusting your bar width, control positions, and suspension setup to boost your speed and agility on the trails.

⏱ Timestamps ⏱
00:00 - Intro
00:26 - Bar Width
01:45 - Controls
03:47 - Long Droppers
05:12 - Downsizing
06:24 - Suspension
08:21 - Drivetrain
09:49 - Wheels And Tyres
12:31 - Brakes
13:59 - Be Self Sufficient
15:33 - Gearing

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Do you have an enduro bike? What setup choices have you made?

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[gmbn]

Do you have an enduro bike? What setup choices have you made?

[Phtevend]

I spotted Rich competing at the 24HOP!!! Can’t wait to see the video!

[georgesshed]

Please can you find the best MTB events in the UK this year and give us the run down, I need some inspiration and goals to get me out there in this sh*t weather.

[the_spanner_chmp]

Great video Rich and perfect timing as i have just purchased an Enduro bike 😁🤘

[SCFIII]

I hope you guys got to make it out to Hawes to ride while you were in Phoenix. It's perfect riding weather right now.

[david]

I sized down recently and I like it. I always rode large, but lately with newer geometry like on the Giant trance x 29er being large felt big to me, I recently picked up a Giant Reign E+ 3 in Medium and it feels better to me. I am 6 foot on the dot. and on Giants website I am in between bike sizes medium and large.

[charlespicard]

More sag doesn't necessarily mean "soft". It took a while for me to unlearn this from GMBN videos.

[mrvwbug]

The one place on enduro bikes where I am a firm believer in 220mm front rotors is enduro E-bikes, the extra weight of the e-bike really justifies the big rotor up front. For me personally, I'm happy with 203s on both ends on a regular enduro bike even has a heavier rider. One trick for shaving weight on your drivetrain is to run a 10-45t Shimano cassette and a 28t chainring, that gives you identical climbing gear to a 51t cassette with a 32t chainring, you just sacrifice some top speed on the pedals, though I can't think of many people that could spin out a 32t chainring.

[MrEphillip]

Welcome to Arizona and South Mountain! My home trails. Great info.

[thedude]

You missed talking about handlebar height; seems this is an important setup especially for enduro - most pros keep it low whereas some people think they need to convert their enduro bikes to beach cruisers

[mads_ittmann]

Amazing video as always!!! Do you think you can make one of these videos for trail bikes (130 to 150mm travel). Much love from the Netherlands

[DNDinitials]

Megatower, using a fork fork to store some basic first aid gear. Other than that I would say getting the contact points dialed as well as tire pressure. I just do what works for me. Carrying spares is also a necessity, as is having water.

[bodo_mtb]

The suspension component of this video has been such a point of contention. I used to run 30% sag front and rear until I watched a video that explained sag in a way that was finally clear and logical to me. I believed that running 30% in the fork was a softer more plush ride. The video suggested 20% (again, in the fork) puts me higher in the travel and would ultimately be more comfortable across roots, rocks and chatter saving more travel for the bigger hits. I tested this and I (so far) have to agree. I rode a trail I am very familiar with and must say the fork behaved and performed better at 20%. I am about the do some bigger enduro trails over the next few days so will make the ultimate comparison...but thus far I am moving up to 20% in the fork.

[codeastone]

For those how actually want to setup there suspension don’t watch this video. The sag is completely wrong recommended sag is like 20% max on the fork. I would recommend to watch the video from Pinkbike, just overall more accurate and helpful. I’m a bit disappointed 😔

[Emtbtoday]

I've cut my bars to 775 used Lee mcormacks measurements its spot on 800 was just that bit wide

[dirtbikedave]

Flatter levers puts more of you hand behind the grip instantly lessening the chance your hand can come off the handlebars without the need to grip super tightly.

[ze_pilot]

With regards to the dropper, I got a 200mm dropper for my Enduro bike… A 2018 YT Capra. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to put it all the way in. With it fully extended when it was as low in the frame as it would go, it was about 20mm higher than I needed to be. I put that dropper in to my trail bike, which ended up working perfectly, so it didn’t go to waste. I put the 180mm dropper from my trail bike in to my enduro bike, which was still a huge improvement from the 150mm dropper it came with. I still have an issue with it though. When I clamp the dropper in the frame where it’s comfortable to climb, I keep hitting it on downhill. When it’s clamped as low as it will go, the dh is perfect, but climbing sucks. I have it in the middle now with preference to downhill. Climbing is much better, but long climbs kinda suck, and going downhill is better, but the saddle still occasionally gets in the way especially when jumping. What are your thoughts on what I should do?

[kukuhwanengkirtyo]

In wet weather like in UK, it is not a good idea to keep masterlink exposed to open air that leads to corrosion sooner or later. Especially tucked with duck tape that may contain chlorides in its glue.

[technikstein]

I don’t know where you got the sag number, but most pros ride like 15% sag in enduro

[technikstein]

Less Psi doesn’t mean that it is softer, the first part is usually softer and so if you have less psi the the softer part is not available and consumed by the sag. So the suspension can feel worse