User submitted reviews
Review by Todd
I have 600 miles on the bike now and have become acquainted with the bike, but it still just doesn't stand out as anything other than just ok. It looks cool, all black and stealth like, but the ride quality and handling is just ok. However, surprisingly harsh even with only 60 psi on 28mm Conti tubeless tires. It is very stiff and responsive but they missed the mark here I think on ride quality.
My previous bike was a Colnago C50, so I was riding on "vintage" equipment, but still what would be considered a race bike in its day. Honestly I was expecting significant improvements with regards to ride and handling. While the disc brakes and wheels are a big improvement, I honestly can say the Colnago handled and road as well if not better.
Quality control appears to be an issue here as well. The derailleur hanger was not installed correctly, such that initially one could not thread the axle with the wheel installed. Same wheels I had on my gravel bike that went on like butter. After playing with the alignment I got it to work but the axle still seems unusually tight going in (certainly compared to my gravel bike thru axle and the front axle on the Melee.
The top tubes on most of the bike frames now days are 1+ cm longer than the past. Enve provides limited options in the way of shorter stems and bar reach options. Additionally the extended reach with the new SRAM brake levers adds to the dynamic here. With the shortest integrated stem Enve offers is a 90mm and what they recommended base on their fit calclulator, which I purchased and found to be a bit long. I contacted Enve and while they were responsive they basically dismissed the lack of shorter stem options, which was pretty disappointing. They directing me to just look for aftermarket solutions which may or may not even fit. I guess it was my bad to expect that when paying a premium the options would be more expansive. So that's my bad in assuming that the fit calculator would be right and that if that didn't fit there would be some option that they could provide. My only real option here with what they provided would be to use their aero riser stem and some aftermarket handlebar. I didn't spend $10k on a bike to put a riser stem a bike I bought to fit based on the fit calculator that they provided.
With no option to pre-ride these bike at least locally here I went off online reviews. Those reviews were certainly not the experience I have had. Bottom line I won't buy Enve products in the future, as I think they are overrated and why pay a premium for what appears to be just average service and quality. I am kind of regretting selling my Colnago now and seriously considering selling the frame and look for a better solution at this point.
My recommendation here is that you don't buy this bike unless you have ridden it in advance, know that it will fit, and feel comfortable with the handling and ride quality.
Review by T. Phillips
Purchased an Enve Melee after a high speed crash destroyed my S-Works Tarmac. Sz 52, 40cm bars, 100mm stem, built up with SRAM Red AXS with a Quarq power meter. Rolling on Carolina 50mm wheels, Industry 9 hubs and GP 5000 TL 28mm tires. I currently have approximately 400 miles on it both trainer and outside. If I compare it to my Tarmac the geometry is almost exactly the same, matter of fact, the only difference is a 4mm longer top tube and about 150gms heavier.
This thing is stiff...but in the right places. I think that is mostly a function of my going from QR skewers to thru axles. Fully built it's about 1.5lbs heavier than my Tarmac but I went from rim brake 11 speed to disc brake 12 speed and I think that is the main reason. It doesn't feel like it has the same snappiness as my Tarmac did when climbing but all out sprinting and cornering at speed I don't notice a difference.
My only complaint if I had one is that it is only available in one color. I typically build my own bikes because I don't want anyone to have the same bike I do and with only a single paint color that significantly increases the odds I will see another that is at least similar.
Long story short, I don't have any regrets and I am happy with my purchase, would definitely buy it again and recommend the Melee to the serious cyclist!!