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.
Where to get it.
No retailers stocking size SMALL.
No retailers carrying size SMALL right now.
Spec sheet.
Every component shipped with this build.
Geometry & fit.
4 sizes published.
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.
Where the handlebar sits relative to the bottom bracket — the single most important fit pair.
01Fit geometry6 values
02Component geometry2 values
03Handling geometry9 values
Which size should I buy?
Slide your height to see the recommended size. GearWise's fit algorithm works from the published stack, reach, and ETT — the brand's own recommendation may differ.
→Calculated from GearWise's own stack / reach / ETT algorithm — the brand's size chart may recommend a different size, and a proper bike fit beats any calculator.
The lineup.
4 builds, ranging $4,699 – $8,499.
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.
From the press.
3 reviews from the cycling press.
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.
Compared to.
Most-viewed comparisons.
