Evil Bikes Insurgent LB X01 Eagle Mountain Bike reviews and deals for sale

Whether you’re looking to hit big features in the park or pedal all day to the best ribbon of singletrack, the Insurgent LB makes things a “little better’er” with Boost spacing, water bottle cage mounting on the medium through x-large sizes, a new, lighter carbon layup responsible for a half-pound weight reduction that also remarkably improves lateral stiffness and compliance, and of course, fresh paint to make your buddies jealous. Evil’s bikes are notoriously fun to ride and the Insurgent LB turns that to 11, equally ready to hit big features in the park as it is to pedal for hours on end during backcountry epics. This build is our own, pairing the ultra-capable Insurgent LB frame with SRAM’s top of the line X01 Eagle drivetrain and e*thirteen finishes, for a mountain-ready enduro bike.

Evil maintained the geometry that had us loving the first Insurgent, for a responsive and shred-ready frame. Having a look at the linkage reveals flip chips that alter the bottom bracket height and head tube angle. When dropped to the XLow setting, the bottom bracket hovers a mere 13in above the ground, while the head tube kicks back to a slack 65.2 degrees. Yes, those numbers were commonplace on freeride and DH bikes not too long ago, however, this is a bike that’s also at home pedaling and cornering as if its job depended on it, as evidence of its stubby 17in chainstays, so it's not a chore getting to choice sections of trail, and you'll be glad you're on it when things head downhill. The LB enjoys a lighter weight carbon layup that helps improve the overall ride quality, which correlates to more compliance without sacrificing stiffness where it's needed. Most impressively, it managed to drop nearly half a pound from the overall frame weight while still retaining the desired ride characteristics. This marvel of unidirectional carbon and one-piece molded construction is able to withstand the hardest hits on the most demanding trail and keep coming back for more.

In contrast to more complicated, multi-pivot suspensions that populate the market, on The Insurgent, Evil uses its own linkage driven single pivot suspension design, dubbed Dave's Extra Legitimate Travel Apparatus, or DELTA for short. Dave as in Weagle, also of DW-Link and Split-Pivot fame, worked closely with Evil to create a platform that checked off every ride attribute it sought to achieve in a suspension design. When put to the test in real-world applications, DELTA is amazingly capable. Looking back at our field notes reveal words like "supportive cornering, excellent big-hit management, playful pop, and wonderful pedaling efficiency". So versatile is the ride provided from the wonderful suspension package that we wouldn't hesitate pulling it off the bike rack and subjecting it to any unknown trail network.

The DELTA suspension design was originally a platform meant for testing different suspension curves, and it's most basic, defining attribute is its virtually limitless adjustability. Given this evidence, it becomes apparent that The Insurgent's shock setup is far more important than on a non-DELTA frame. Lucky for us, Evil worked closely with its suspension suppliers for the proper tune and it includes a built-in sag meter to facilitate easy tuning without needing an abacus or slide ruler. Simply reset the dial, mount the machine, and add or remove air pressure as needed to achieve the prescribed 30% number. Once tuned, DELTA allows for a supple off the top feel with a supportive mid stroke for wallow free cruising and pedaling efficiency before ramping up and preventing harsh bottom outs during park shenanigans and on shuttle laps.

Our build for this Insurgent LB cherry picks the best blend of components to keep you shredding in style. SRAM’s X01 Eagle drivetrain provides ample gearing to get you up the steep bits and speed back down the trail. The FOX Racing Shox 36 Float fork offers 150mm of travel up front to absorb all the chatter and rock drops of your favorite trails. The e*thirteen LG1 wheels, paired to their TRS All-Terrain tires provide a capable and fast-engaging platform for efficient pedaling and confidant descending. This build spares no detail, with TruVativ carbon components to further decrease weight and increase stiffness for an efficient ride.