Evil Wreckoning LS

Evil released the Wreckoning 3 in 2020 as a 2021 model year bike. It didn't take long for Evil to launch this Wreckoning LS version (LS stands for Lightly Salted). The LS version uses the same frame, so geometry is unchanged, but adds a couple useful updates; captured shims in the linkage that don't fall out when you pull the shock, a Universal Derailleur Hangar and an updated frame colour.

Evil Wreckoning LS Summary

• 166 mm rear travel with 170 mm travel fork
• 29 inch wheels
• 64.6° / 63.9° head angle in the Low / X-Low Settings
• 430 mm chainstays on all sizes
• Reach is 475 / 468 mm in a size large in the Low / X-Low Settings

Fit and Geometry

I giddily unboxed the XL sized Evil Wreckoning LS. That first peak of the frame through the packaging, and I instantly loved the matte terracotta colour called Clay Porter, a classy nod to one of my favourite filmmakers. I got the tires pumped up and suspension set up to my liking and wheeled the bike outside. I excitedly mounted the bike, and then quickly realized I couldn't reach the pedals, F! Even with the seat post as low as it'd go I was short by a good 3 inches. WTF Evil, who'd make this bike for? String bean aliens? I don't have the longest legs around, but I didn't think my 32 inch inseam was that insufficient. The problem here is the exceptionally tall seat tube, with a rather long 213 Revive seat post that couldn't be fully inserted. Soaked with inadequacy, I asked Evil for a shorter seat post, which they thankfully sent in a jiffy. With this shorter drop seat post my feet could now reach the pedals, and that's handy! It's at about this time that I figured I should check out the geometry chart on their website. The Evil Wreckoning is, errr, compact. So compact in fact, it's the shortest wheelbase and steepest head angle bike I've ridden since the 130 mm travel Druid back in 2019. Here's a comparative geometry chart of similar, size Large, bikes inspired by Mike's Jekyll article:

"Houston! We've got a problem ..."

See, I've been banging on about trail bikes needing to be longer and slacker since the beginning of time, and now I have this beautiful thing in my garage that is the complete antithesis of that diatribe. In a nutshell the Evil Wreckoning LS has the shortest wheelbase, shortest rear center, steepest head angle, and longest / slackest seat tube amongst its peers. Party on! Let's go do some skids!

Frame Layout

The Evil Wreckoning is a linkage-driven, single pivot bike. The main pivot is relatively low in the chassis, so we can expect the Wreckoning to be fairly efficient pedaling, but with the compromise of some braking force influence on suspension, and being a bit harsher through rough sections of trail. The shock is driven by a linkage, resulting in a nicely progressive ramp up through the stroke.

The front triangle feels reasonably stiff, with quite a bit of compliance built into the rear triangle. The bike weighs in at 34 lbs with pedals, and the heavy DH casing Specialized Hillbilly up front. With the stock EXO casing front tire, it'd be 33 lbs, which is quite light considering I'm testing the cheapest build, with a coil shock.

The Wreckoning comes with a Low and X-Low mode. I like bikes with adjustable geometry, you get two bikes in one. Flipping the flip-chips on the Wreckoning isn't trivial however. You have to remove the shock, and 19 other parts to flip. The X-Low mode slackens the head angle by 0.6°, slackens the seat tube by 0.5° and drops the bottom bracket by 9 mm.

Parts Check

Boingy Bits - The Zeb and Super Deluxe Coil were fantastic. Both were easy to get dialed in and are top performers on the trail.

Spinny Bits - I love the buzz of the I9 Hydra, and while I've had issues with I9 hubs on my personal bikes, I had no issues with the wheels during this test.

Grippy Bits - EXO casing tires shouldn't be on a 170 mm travel bike, and a MaxxTerra compound shouldn't be on the front tire.

Stoppy Bits - The G2 brakes were ok, but I think a Code brake is more appropriate on a bike of this travel.

Going Bits - The GX drivetrain was flawless through the test.

Sitting Bits - Volt Saddle and Revive post were awesome.

Hanging On Bits - While I didn't love the shape of the house brand bar, I didn't hate it either. The house brand stem, and grips worked just fine.

Pricing

This Wreckoning LS as tested is the cheapest GX I9 Hydra build, which will set you back $8,676 CDN or $6,450 USD. The top spec build tops out at a price of $9,299 USD. A frame set is also available for $3,750 USD. While this certainly isn't cheap I think the price is in line with comparable build and travel bikes on the market.

Ride Impressions

I pull the Wreckoning off the bike rack, start my ride. First impressions climbing the Wreckoning LS are that it pedals firmly. The pedal mode on the Rock Shox Super Deluxe coil is aggressive, and when combined with the decent anti-squat built into the Wreckoning's architecture, results in a firm efficient platform for climbing. The light EXO casing tires in the harder Maxxterra compound further helped to make the Wreckoning feel effortless to pedal. I then wheelied clean off the trail. The short rear center and slack seat stube puts my fat ass over the rear axle. This means that on anything remotely steep I have to move so far forward, I'm grinding my grundle into the tippy top of the nose of the saddle to stay upright. On anything steep and technical the front end of the Wreckoning is light and wandery, which makes getting around switchbacks and up steep bits very difficult. To avoid flatting the paper thin EXO casing tires I have to run high tire pressures, which when combined with the hard MaxxTerra compound results in the Wreckoning LS spinning out the wet roots / rocks on the climbing trails. In the X-Low setting, technical climbing is honestly abysmal, setting the record for most walked test bike I've ever reviewed.

Once you're done wheelying and walking up the climb, it's time for the fun bit, going down. This initially proved scary. The EXO casing, MaxxTerrafying tires are woefully inadequate around here in the winter, and maybe it's because I didn't have the balls to go any faster than walking pace, but the G2 brakes felt a bit anemic too. With the cold and damp conditions I decided the front tire was preventing me from properly testing the bike, so I switched it out for a Specialized HillBilly. This made a large improvement.

With the front tire sorted, descending is where the Wreckoning put a smile on my face. I thoroughly enjoyed riding the Wreckoning; it's nicely balanced from front to rear, and proved easy to ride. The compact geometry means it's eager and agile to turn. I loved how urgently the Wreckoning changes directions. On tighter, more awkward trails the Wreckoning is a joy to ride. The short rear center means the front end comes up with ease, allowing the rider to squeeze sneaky manuals into almost every section of trail. Popping lips with such a short wheelbase is easy and satisfying. The Wreckoning seemed to relish being flung from feature to feature down the trail.

With the Wreckoning LS having more anti-squat, due to the lower main pivot, it feels like Evil went for a relatively light tune in the Super Deluxe coil. I could run the shock with less low speed compression damping and still get firm acceleration out of the Wreckoning. This feels fantastic on smoother trails when the brakes are off. On steeper, rougher trails however the short comings of the lower single pivot start to show. There is some brake squat, and the Wreckoning isn't the most compliant with larger square-edged bumps.

While the compact geometry on the Wreckoning LS might not be my particular cup of tea, I found I was able to ride this bike very quickly through tight, awkward sections of trail. The Wreckoning LS is the type of bike that makes time in the slow sections, and then takes a skilled rider to hang on in fast, scary sections where is there is less time to gain. In the right hands, the Wreckoning LS is a fast little bike. Another major upside to the compact, agile nature of the Wreckoning LS is that it makes easy, benign trails a blast to ride. Jibbing around on trails, and pulling for weird gaps was effortless and rewarding.

Conclusions

CONS: The Evil Wreckoning LS is a deeply flawed bike. The seat post length is too long, and the seat post angle is way too slack, making it very difficult to climb up anything technical. The geometry as a whole feels outdated. The build on this bike (outside of the coil shock and Zeb fork) feels like it'd be more appropriate on a 120 mm travel bike, which is actually the exact same build Evil offers on their 120 mm travel Following and 140 mm travel Offering. The Wreckoning LS sort of feels like long travel bits were put on a short travel bike, but one that isn't very good at climbing. The hundreds of bolts in the suspension will come loose, and the flip chip requires a comical number of parts to be removed to flip.

PROS: If you've made it this far you'd probably think I absolutely hate this bike. But sitting here now, writing this review, reflecting on my time on the Wreckoning LS, I really enjoyed this bike. I found the drunken climbing characteristics a challenge that were equal parts frustrating and satisfying. Riding the Wreckoning LS down trails I know well felt sped up, making them more exciting. Sections that are normally blasé on the Endurbro ballistic missiles in the stable made me fizz on the Wreckoning LS. With so many super-aggressive enduro bikes on the market, I like that Evil has made something different, something fun and playful, but still with a bunch of travel to go smash around on. Not everyone has the trails or ability to stretch the capabilities of the super long, low, slack bikes that are the norm now. If you're one of the folks that feel enduro has ruined trail bikes by forcing bike manufacturers to make any bike over 150 mm travel their "enduro race weapon", this is a bike for you. If you can live with the challenging climbing characteristics of the Wreckoning LS, and are looking to squeeze more fun out of your local trails, I think the Wreckoning LS is fun bike worth checking out.

Evil Wreckoning LS