Evil FollowingvsWreckoning

The Evil Following, with its 120mm of rear travel, carves out a niche in the downcountry and short-travel trail segment, often described as punching far above its weight. It's designed to be a highly efficient climber and a surprisingly capable descender, built for riders who prioritize a poppy, engaging feel and precision on varied terrain. The Wreckoning, on the other hand, steps up as Evil's long-travel 29er, packing 166mm of rear suspension for enduro racing and mini-DH duties, yet reviewers consistently highlight its unexpected agility and playful character for a bike of its size. Both bikes share Evil's proprietary DELTA suspension system, a Dave Weagle-designed linkage-driven single pivot lauded for its blend of supple initial travel, supportive mid-stroke, and a bottomless ramp-up. This shared DNA means both bikes offer a unique, damped, and engaging ride feel, but they apply it to very different ends of the mountain biking spectrum. The Following aims for a balance of quickness and composure, making it a firecracker on flow trails and technical climbs, while the Wreckoning is built to absorb huge impacts and maintain composure at warp speed, all while encouraging creative line choices and jumps. The core difference lies in their intent: one to be deceptively capable in short travel, the other to be fiercely capable in long travel without sacrificing fun.

The Evil Following is revered for a ride quality that reviewers often call a "magic carpet ride," smoothing out the trail and making roots "disappear underneath you" despite its limited 120mm of travel. This plushness, combined with its stiff carbon frame, gives it "laser-like accuracy" and a highly responsive feel, eagerly reacting to rider input. Cornering is a standout trait, with some riders reporting they were "terrified how hard this bike hit corners and shot me out of them," praising its ability to carve with incredible precision. Its lively, "poppy" nature makes it a joy for interacting with the terrain, finding lips to boost and lines to thread. The Wreckoning, with its 166mm of coil-sprung DELTA suspension, offers an even more cushioned experience, consistently described as "cushy" and "bottomless." It truly "eats up terrain," allowing riders to hold lines through severe chop and absorb massive hits without flinching. Despite its burly, mini-DH aspirations, the Wreckoning retains a surprising nimbleness, often likened to a "bike-shaped surfboard." Its short 430mm chainstays contribute to a "slicey" feel, allowing for easy maneuverability and the ability to "kick the rear end out" for quick directional changes or playful skids. This blend of stability and agility gives it a "dare-you-faster" character, making it a "grin-inducing" bike on steep, fast, and technical descents. While both bikes are lauded for their cornering prowess, the approach differs. The Following thrives on precision and hitting exact lines, launching you out of turns with incredible force. The Wreckoning, in contrast, offers immense grip to "rail turns" at speed, then transitions into a predictable breakaway that encourages a more dynamic, freeride style. In terms of high-speed stability, the Wreckoning generally feels incredibly composed, surging down the roughest trails with unwavering confidence. The Following, while largely poised, did prompt one reviewer to note it could feel "a little twitchy" at its absolute top speed, possibly due to its steeper 66.6-degree head tube angle compared to the Wreckoning's slacker 65.2-degree angle (in the selected sizes). Comfort on both bikes benefits greatly from the DELTA system, with the Wreckoning's coil shock offering perhaps the ultimate in small-bump compliance and traction. However, the Following's air-sprung SIDLuxe still impresses for its travel, effectively insulating the rider from chatter. The Wreckoning's robust frame and ZEB Ultimate fork further enhance its ability to absorb impacts, making it "nice and soft and fairly easy on the hands" and less fatiguing on long, rough descents. For climbing, both bikes utilize the DELTA system's anti-squat characteristics to provide a firm pedaling platform, making them surprisingly efficient. However, the Wreckoning's longer travel and geometry mean it requires a bit more body English on the steepest, tightest climbs to keep the front wheel down, a characteristic less pronounced on the shorter-travel Following.