2017 Evil Wreckoning X01 Eagle

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During the 2018 Vital MTB Long-Travel 29er Test Sessions, Evil's The Wreckoning went head-to-head with four other leading bikes. What follows are our thoughts specific to The Wreckoning. Be sure to check out the main feature for an in-depth comparison video, timed testing results, and more.

Highlights

• Uni-directional carbon frame
• 29-inch wheels
• 161mm (6.3-inches) of rear wheel travel // 160mm (6.3-inches) fork travel
• DELTA System suspension
• Various 216x63mm shock upgrades available
• Flip chip adjustable geometry
• Internal cable routing
• Integrated 30% sag meter
• Downtube, seatstay and chainstay protectors
• 180mm rear brake post mount
• e*thirteen TRS Race carbon wheels
• Fully integrated carbon guide
• Threaded bottom bracket with lower two ISCG05 mounts
• Boost 148mm rear spacing with 12mm through axle
• 1X-specific drivetrain
• Measured weight (size medium, no pedals): 31.5-pounds (14.3kg)
• Three year limited warranty
• MSRP: $6,899 USD base price, $7,799 as shown

Strengths

Evil has followed a similar path in recent years while continuing to refine their bikes. The style of a sturdy single-pivot with a progressive DELTA linkage has served them well, and it served us well as in years past. Of all the bikes tested, this was one of the hardest to bottom out – even with a coil-sprung shock. It is also incredibly supple off the top, something that gives it gobs of traction and a very secure initial feel. Usually, when a bike displays those qualities compliance in the mid-stroke can suffer, but that isn't the case with the Evil. The bump-eating capabilities of the bike are simply excellent. It feels so stuck to the ground we are hard pressed to favor any other bike when the going gets slippery, and this makes it very secure-feeling and easy to ride.

Similar to the Specialized Enduro 29 Coil, The Wreckoning won't get up hills quickly. Given enough power, however, the supple suspension and e*thirteen TRS tires will claw their way up any terrain. The shock is equipped with a switch that improves pedal response by moving oil flow to a second compression circuit (or a second descend mode, if you prefer). It isn't a tank either, as it was lighter than two other bikes in our test – a testament to the Evil considering its meaty tires and a coil spring in the back.

Evil's overall component selection is excellent. The elephant in the room as far as specification goes is the PUSH ElevenSix shock. It is phenomenal – so good, in fact, that it is hard to tell where or how it has such good performance. We didn't notice anything wrong with its performance through all sorts of terrain. The ElevenSix is a pricey upgrade at $900 over the stock RockShox Monarch Plus RC3 Debonair shock, but if you are looking for the utmost in performance and custom-tuned suspension modes, there are few, if any, equals available.

Weaknesses

The Wreckoning does many things well, but they seem to be compartmentalized. The grip and suspension would lead one to believe this bike is capable of anything, but, a bit oddly, we didn't develop more trust in it as time went on. We had to work to balance out the front and rear suspension as the RockShox Lyrik RCT3 fork needed more support to keep up with the rear end of the bike. It was also tough for our testers to find their ideal front to back balance – they felt it was just a bit too small and lacked the stability of the other bikes in rough high-speed sections. Moving to a larger size may not be advisable given the longer than normal effective top tube length (a result of the slack seat angle), so it's a game of tradeoffs in some ways.

Climbing is definitely not the Evil's strong suit. Even though it isn't the heaviest, it felt like it while pedaling and pumping. The laidback seat angle and slow-rolling rear tire didn't help, and despite excellent on-the-fly shock adjustability there was no getting around the fact that it feels a bit heavier than it is in most situations. We wouldn't suggest this bike for all-day affairs as it would be tiring after lots of hours in the saddle.

A few frame details could use some refinement, including very tight mud clearance and an awkward geometry adjustment procedure. Lastly, even though the Evil can be sold directly to consumers, pricing seems relatively high.

Suggested upgrades for a few hundred dollars: The bike is deserving of a 200mm front brake rotor. We'd also consider adding a Cane Creek Angleset to slacken the front end out while keeping the geometry adjustment in the higher position.

Geometry

Suspension Analysis

Using the bike industry's leading linkage analysis software, André Santos was able to determine a close approximation of The Wreckoning's kinematics for the purpose of this review. Though they don't always tell the full story, these charts provide great insight into several key factors that impact how it rides.

André's Observations:

• The Wreckoning has good progressivity at 25%, meaning that the frame offers resistance against harsh bottom-outs.
• Great pedaling efficiency with approximately 100% anti-squat on most rear cogs for a 30-tooth chainring.
• The amount of chain growth and pedal kickback are under normal levels for an enduro bike.
• Anti-rise values are near 90%, a typical result for a swingarm single-pivot design, meaning that the geometry is preserved under rear braking.
• Overall, the Wreckoning is a moderately progressive bike with very good pedaling efficiency.

Vital's preferred suspension settings for a 175-pound rider on stock components: 400# spring // HSC - Stock setting // LSC - Stock setting

What's The Bottom Line?

The Wreckoning is a very unique bike in that it can handle just about anything, but only truly excels at a few things. It absorbs bumps very well, taming the terrain in a way that few can. This can make the ride a bit less exciting, however. It had the best feeling traction out of all the bikes in the test, especially at the rear end, and was very easy to ride downhill even when tired. Surprisingly, things can get a little bit twitchy without much warning at high speeds, and the closer we got to our limit the less confident we were.

If you prioritize descents above all, choose to ride where grip is of paramount importance, have chatter for days, or just want to monster truck everything in sight, the Wreckoning could be the ticket. If you are into lots of ups, downs, and big adventures, we'd steer you another way.

Visit www.evil-bikes.com and the 2018 Vital MTB Long-Travel 29er Test Sessions feature for more details.

Vital MTB Rating

About The Testers

Steve Wentz - Age: 33 // Years Riding: 21 // Height: 5'8" (1.73m) // Weight: 174-pounds (78.9kg)

"Despite what it looks like, I'm really precise and calculated, which I'm trying to get away from. I'm trying to drop my heels more and just let it go." Steve is able to set up a bike close to perfectly within minutes, ride at close to 100% on new trails and replicate what he did that first time over and over. He's been racing Pro DH for 15+ years including World Cups, routinely tests out prototype products, and can squish a bike harder than anyone else we know. Today he builds some of the best trails in the world.

Brandon Turman - Age: 31 // Years Riding: 16 // Height: 5'10" (1.78m) // Weight: 175-pounds (79.4kg)

"I like to have fun, pop off the bonus lines on the sides of the trail, get aggressive when I feel in tune with a bike, and really mash on the pedals and open it up when pointed downhill." Formerly a Mechanical Engineer and Pro downhill racer, Brandon brings a unique perspective to the testing game as Vital MTB's resident product guy. He has on-trail familiarity with nearly every new innovation in our sport from the past several years and a really good feel for what's what.

Photos by Luca Cometti // Video by gordo with assistance from Suspended Productions