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EWS Pro Bike Check: Max Chapuis’ 2020 Specialized Enduro 29

Swiss rider, Max Chapuis shows no fear on even the most gnarly of gaps, so it’s no surprise to see the Specialized Racing Team rider choosing a burly 170 / 170 mm travel Specialized Enduro 29 for the final round of the EWS. We stopped by to see how he sets his bike up.

Max Chapuis races for the Specialized Racing Team and finished an impressive 30th in the final EWS round in Zermatt, taking him to 17th overall for the 2019 EWS season – impressive results indeed.

Max Chapuis’ Specialized Enduro 29 runs on coil suspension and weighs in at 15.4 kg with CushCore fitted at both ends.

Standing at 180 cm tall, Max chooses to race a Specialized Enduro 29 2020 model, in size S4. The new Specialized Enduro is the perfect bike for the tough stages of Zermatt, with 170 mm travel front and back and fast rolling 29-inch wheels, there’s little that this bike cannot plough through.

Max’s bike has a full SWAT system, with tool in the bottle cage, chain link and breaker hidden in the top cap and a full puncture repair system hidden inside the frame.

Suspension setup of Max Chapuis’ Specialized Enduro 29

With an increased leverage rate and a more progressive curve, the new 2020 Specialized Enduro 29 is a good candidate for a coil shock, especially as the anti-squat has been increased by 40% for more efficient pedalling. As such, Max chooses to run all-coil suspension, with an Öhlins TTX Coil RFX 36 fork fitted with a medium spring and Öhlins TTX Coil rear shock with a 480 lb spring.

With 170 mm travel front and back, and 29 inch wheels, the new Specialized Enduro 29 is the perfect beast for the tough trails of Zermatt.
The new 2020 Specialized Enduro has a redesigned linkage which is more progressive, with increased anti-squat making it a good candidate for a coil shock, in this case a Öhlins TTX Coil with 480 lb spring.
Heavy metal. Max uses an Öhlins TTX Coil RFX 36 fork fitted with a medium spring

Specification of Max Chapuis’ Specialized Enduro 29

The specification of Max’s Enduro is not too far from stock, but with a few interesting exceptions. The bike runs on Specialized Roval aluminium wheelset, and Max chooses to run Specialized Butcher tires front and back in the 120 tpi BLCK DMND casing. The BLCK DMND casing has a second ply running from the bead to the shoulder knobs, helping stabilize the side-wall without compromising on flexibility of the main tread. Max runs 1.6 Bar (23 psi) on the front and 1.7 Bar (25 Psi) on the rear with Cush Core at both ends. A full SRAM Eagle drivetrain is fitted with 170 mm cranks and a 34 tooth cassette. Chain retention is looked after by an E13 chain device.

Max runs 203 mm rotors front and back, on a hard-charging 29er we approve
The Magura MT7 Raceline brakes are fitted with Loic Bruni custom brake levers.
Max runs a 160 mm Bike Yoke Divine dropper post…
Combined with the Wolf Tooth remote, our favourite aftermarket dropper post remote.

For maximum braking, Max runs the powerful Magura MT7 with 203 / 203 mm rotors front and back, and has the LOIC BRUNI signature levers. The brake levers are mounted to a Renthal Fatbar Alloy bar cut to 760 mm, with a Renthal Apex stem. The dropper is a Bike Yoke Divine with 160 mm of travel, paired with a 143 mm Specialized Power Arch Saddle. The final ingredient on Max’s bike are the HT Enduro Race T1 Pedals.

HT Enduro Race T1 pedals are a popular addition on the EWS circuit
An E13 chain guide keeps the chain in check…
…paired with a heavy duty chainstay protector
Max took 17th overall in the 2019 EWS series, impressive indeed.

Here you’ll find our first ride review of the all-new Specialized Enduro 29

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