2021 Evil

Insurgent / Frame Only

Hit the bike park or get ready for some enduro racing with the Evil Insurgent MX 29 with, you guessed it, a mullet wheel setup. Combining a carbon chassis with 170mm of travel and coil shock, plus Evil’s notoriously cool good looks, its clearly aiming to be among the best enduro bikes out there, and based on our first impressions it may well get there. Need to know Bike Park/enduro machine available with 27.5in wheels and a 180mm fork or an MX 29 configuration (29in front/27.5in rear) and 170mm fork Full carbon chassis with adjustable geometry and Dave Weagle DELTA suspension design using a DH-level coil shock Three build levels available: SRAM AXS, XO1 and the most affordable GX Eagle spec featured here Suspension delivers 168mm rear travel, with a wider/stiffer Super Boost + rear axle Smooth pedalling, urgent sprinting manners and good seated position for climbing makes it easy enough to get around on Evil bikes look cooler than ever, but I still struggle to tell each model apart even after testing most of them since the brand’s mid 2010 makeover. Having a smaller rear wheel on the latest Insurgent MX 29 certainly helps, especially when it’s the only mullet in Evil’s range. That’s not to say it’s not still confusing, as Evil uses the same Insurgent frame to produce two versions of the bike: one with 27.5in wheels the other with MX wheels.   Ready for DH and enduro tracks Originally a 160mm enduro machine, the latest 27.5in Insurgent packs more travel and a longer 180mm fork and targets wannabee jibbers and Rampage huckers more than purebred racers. In contrast, the MX version ridden here bolts a 29in front wheel and 170mm fork to the frame and aims the bike at the same downhill and enduro tracks as the Evil Wreckoning 29er, albeit with a smaller (quicker to turn and accelerate) rear wheel.  Whether the 27.5in Insurgent is nimbler or not, chuck this MX version about and it immediately identifies as an Evil with the brand’s familiar formula for maximising thrills and flattering skills, rather than only focusing on top speed. Frame and suspension It’s reflected in the geometry too, where Evil’s attitude doesn’t fully follow the long-low-slack philosophy of using length to ride ever faster, instead relying on balance and handling, rather than just being planted and stable.  With the familiar curvy carbon looks, comes the familiar DELTA link suspension. It looks complex, but is a single pivot design where the links provide a ‘dual progressive’ curve to provide support around sag, float in the mid zone to maximise traction, all with enough ramp up for bottom out resistance. It makes flamboyant claims for a suspension curve, but I’ve yet to ride an Evil with dodgy suspension, and it’s particularly sweet here with stable, efficient pedalling, precise tracking and stacks of smooth support. Components Evil knows its suspension is a strong suit, so damping is prioritised at every level to eliminate compromises. As such, even the entry-level GX …Continue reading »

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It’s been a while since the Freehub team received a 27.5-inch bike for review. The past few years saw 29-inch bikes move into the spotlight with promises of better stability over chunky terrain, increased traction and an overall faster feel. Evolution continues though, and a new wave of mixed-wheel mountain bikes have come to market to supposedly offer the best of both worlds—snappy fun out back and sheer plow-ability up front married together in one machine that begs to be pushed hard over tough-to-manage terrain. Like other brands, Evil recently joined the mountain bike industry mixed-wheel soirée by taking a tried-and-true 27.5-inch model from their lineup—in this case the Insurgent—and reconfiguring it to accommodate a larger front wheel. Unlike most other brands, Evil made the call to roll out two options for consumers with their new Insurgent: a dedicated 27.5-inch version for the die-hard small wheel fans, and a mixed-wheel monster version that boasts 168-millimeters of travel paired with a 170-millimeter fork. Intrigued, I opted to test the latter build which Evil has dubbed the Insurgent MX. It’s clear from Evil’s advertising that the Insurgent MX is aimed squarely at riders who like to frequent hellishly steep trails as part of their regular riding routine. Here in the northwest corner of the United States, such terrain is usually accessed from behind gated forest roads meaning, of course, that a long and painful climb is required before digging into the main entrée. Immediately, I felt that the Insurgent platform was especially well-suited for this kind of situation. It’s a light-feeling package that doesn’t leave much to complain about on even the hardest climbs. While suffering away I found myself staring down at the bike’s RockShox Super Deluxe coil shock as I tried to comprehend how the Insurgent MX could possibly remain so composed and zippy on the climbs. This is one of the rare long-travel bikes that feels just about the same climbing with your butt in the saddle as it does during extended standing efforts—the anti-squat really is that good. With its slack 64.2-degree head angle (in the steeper of two possible configurations) and short 430-millimeter chain stays, it’s not the ideal bike for eking up 20 percent climbs but it scoots around uphill corners like a bike with half of its travel.

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Everything about the new Insurgent is boosted, from the Super Boost rear hub spacing to a wider, stiffer main pivot.

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