The Evil Insurgent LS is a long-travel enduro and freeride platform built for riders who prioritize aggressive descending and park laps over strict race-day efficiency. Delivering 168mm of rear travel driven by Evil’s signature DELTA linkage, the frame is designed around either a mixed-wheel setup with a 170mm fork or a dedicated 27.5-inch configuration with a 180mm fork. This current "Lightly Salted" generation retains the major architectural updates of the 2022 redesign—including a straighter top tube silhouette and a stiffer Super Boost 157mm rear end—while folding in practical modernizations like Universal Derailleur Hanger (UDH) compatibility and refined shock hardware. It is a gravity-leaning machine that balances massive bottom-out support with a surprisingly active, playful character, suiting riders who want a highly capable bike that still encourages popping off lips and searching out side hits.
| Stack | 612mm |
| Reach | 456mm |
| Top tube | 590mm |
| Headtube length | 104mm |
| Standover height | 692mm |
| Seat tube length | 390mm |
The Insurgent LS utilizes a flip-chip system offering Low and X-Low positions to fine-tune the chassis. In the Low setting, the bike features a slack head tube angle around 64.2 degrees, providing high-speed stability without pushing the front wheel so far out that it becomes unmanageable on flat terrain. Evil pairs this with a relatively steep seat tube angle—measuring roughly 76.9 degrees on a medium frame—which centers the rider efficiently over the bottom bracket for seated climbing.
The defining geometric trait is the exceptionally short 430mm chainstay length, which remains constant across the size run. This compact rear center is crucial to the bike’s maneuverability, allowing riders to easily manual, square off corners, and navigate tight uphill switchbacks despite the long wheelbase. In the mixed-wheel configuration, the smaller rear wheel naturally lowers the rear axle, giving riders a distinct sensation of sitting deeper into the bike on steep, slow-speed technical descents.
Frameset
Frame
Insurgent LS, 168mm travel, UD Carbon, full internal cable routing, SB+ 157mm rear spacing, integrated chain guide, threaded BB, UDH compatible
Fork
RockShox ZEB Ultimate, 29", Charger 3.1 RC2 w/ ButterCups, 170mm travel, 44mm offset
Rear shock
RockShox Super Deluxe Coil Ultimate RC2T, Trunnion, 205x65
Groupset
Shift levers
SRAM Eagle 90 T-Type trigger
Rear derailleur
SRAM Eagle 90 T-Type
Cassette
SRAM XS-1275 T-Type, 12-speed, 10-52T
Chain
SRAM GX Eagle T-Type Flattop chain
Crankset
SRAM Eagle 90, T-Type, 32T, 170mm
Bottom bracket
SRAM DUB, 73mm BSA (threaded)
Front brake
SRAM Code RSC (hydraulic disc)
Rear brake
SRAM Code RSC (hydraulic disc)
Front rotor
SRAM CenterLine, 200mm
Rear rotor
SRAM CenterLine, 200mm
Wheelset
Front wheel
Industry Nine DH S Hydra 29, 30.5mm internal, 110x15mm (unless upgrade selected)
Rear wheel
Industry Nine DH S Hydra 27.5, 30.5mm internal, 157x12mm (unless upgrade selected)
Front tire
Maxxis Assegai, EXO+ TR, 29x2.5 WT
Rear tire
Maxxis Minion DHF, EXO TR, 29x2.3 WT
Cockpit
Stem
Race Face Aeffect R stem, 40mm length, 35mm clamp
Handlebars
Race Face Chester 35 alloy bar, 780mm width, 35mm rise, 8° backsweep, 5° upsweep, 35mm clamp
Saddle
WTB Volt Medium, 142mm width, chromoly rails
Seatpost
Bike Yoke Revive dropper (S: 125mm, M: 160mm, L: 185mm, XL: 213mm)
Grips
Evil Palmela Handerson lock-on
Evil offers the Insurgent LS across four primary build tiers: Eagle 90, GX, X0, and XX. Every model in the lineup prioritizes suspension performance, outfitting the frame with a 170mm RockShox Zeb Ultimate fork and a Super Deluxe Coil Ultimate rear shock. This ensures the core damping and ride feel remain consistent regardless of the chosen price point.
The build ladder primarily splits along drivetrain and braking lines. The GX build utilizes SRAM's mechanical GX Eagle group, while the higher tiers move into wireless shifting, culminating in the XX Eagle AXS transmission on the flagship model. Braking power is handled by SRAM Code RSCs on the Eagle 90 and GX models, whereas the X0 and XX builds step up to SRAM's heavy-duty Maven Silver brakes with HS2 rotors for maximum stopping force.
Rolling stock also shifts across the range. The Eagle 90 and XX builds feature premium Industry Nine DH S Hydra wheelsets, capitalizing on the frame's Super Boost 157mm rear spacing. All builds are finished with a mix of Race Face cockpit components, Evil's own carbon or alloy handlebars, and BikeYoke Revive dropper posts.
Reviewers consistently praise the Insurgent LS for masking its massive travel behind an agile, highly responsive ride character. The DELTA linkage, particularly when paired with a coil shock, excels at isolating the rider from harsh impacts. Testers noted the suspension's ability to "swallow deep holes and mute trail chatter" (Freehub), creating a sensation that one rider described as "floating on a carpet of velvet cushions" (YouTube). Despite this plushness, the bike avoids feeling sluggish. The mixed-wheel configuration helps it maintain a dynamic feel, with reviewers highlighting its ability to carve tight lines and "change direction like a house fly" (Freehub).
Surprisingly for a gravity-focused bike, the pedaling platform earns high marks. The suspension provides strong anti-squat, making the bike an efficient climber that easily navigates technical ascents. One tester even gave its uphill maneuverability an "A for switchbacks" (YouTube).
The primary criticisms focus on component spec and frame standards rather than ride quality. Multiple reviewers found the stock SRAM brakes on certain builds underpowered or noisy for a bike of this capability, suggesting an upgrade for heavier riders. Additionally, while the Super Boost rear spacing increases frame stiffness, testers noted it complicates aftermarket wheel sourcing.
