FIRST Rider MBUK

THIS WRECKONING DOES EVERYTHING AN ENDURO BIKE CAN, WHILE ALSO COMING OVER LIKE A SNAPPY FREERIDE OR JUMP BIKE HALF THE TIME

EVIL WRECKONING GX EAGLE

£5,84529er enduro/mini DH rig with the feel of a 650b play bike

This all-new Wreckoning is Evil’s third, packing a significantly different shape and more travel. When it launched in 2016, this hulking carbon beast was one of the first long-travel 29ers and was often labelled ‘enduro’, even though its meathead looks belied a surprisingly lively feel and it never came over like an out-and-out race rig. Its energetic ride relied on slightly conservative geometry (compared to many of its rivals, that is) and progressive suspension, which encouraged messing about and having fun more than any bike with more than 160mm of travel should. But does a longer, slacker version upset this winning formula?

The frame

Built like a tank with huge chainstays, everything’s updated on the Wrecker’s fat unidirectional carbon fibre frame, from the more angular lines and sculpted shape, through to wholesale changes in geometry and