Specialized epic review

Replacing the Brain with AI and algorithms?

Mar 12, You must login to Pinkbike. Don't have an account? Sign up. The Specialized Epic has a long history of being one of the fastest bikes out there, with a specific bent towards racing, long efforts, and efficient travel over terrain.

Specialized epic review

It featured the same frame and shock with the Brain damper, but added a mm travel fork, dropper post and chunkier tyres to create a more approachable XC bike. There was a greater focus on comfort and plush suspension performance, though as a side benefit it was also significantly lighter. Specialized has taken that feedback on board and has completely overhauled the Epic and Epic EVO platform for , shifting their intentions in the process. The Epic has evolved into a dedicated mm travel race bike platform, and in a lot of ways represents an evolution of the previous Epic EVO. Meanwhile the new Epic EVO has been pumped up even more, turning it into a lightweight but highly capable trail ripper. For those who are less concerned by remote lockouts and place a greater emphasis on having fun on the trail, the Epic EVO is a seriously fast and capable XC bike. Both the Epic and Epic EVO share the same brand new frame and suspension design that sees rear travel increase to mm. The EVO then heats things up with a bigger mm travel fork, chunkier tyres and more powerful brakes. Add in a wider bar and shorter stem, and it really does start to creep towards the trail bike category alongside the Trek Top Fuel , Scott Spark and Pivot Trail Another point of difference is the rear shock. A fatter downtube makes way for a nice and wide opening that can easily swallow a pump, while a low-profile hatch hinges directly into the carbon frame.

This is one of the key benefits over a manually-operated system, and it means the back end of specialized epic review bike rides firmer and higher to improve pedalling efficiency, while the fork remains open so it can freely absorb impacts.

The bike looks low, long and lean — and lifting it up confirms a truly astonishing lack of weight. No, the one purpose of the Epic Pro is flat-out racing. Everything about the bike — the spec, the tyres and the attitude, is set up for between-the-tapes thrashing. All I needed to do was to fit the supplied tubeless valves, add some sealant to the minimally treaded Fast Trak tyres, fit a cage and SWAT tool and head out into the hills. The mm with grips bars and shortish 60mm stem put everything where you want it to be.

Rocketship fast when you hit the pedals; far more capable and confident than the amount of travel might suggest; covers ground incredibly quickly. Specialized gave the Epic and Epic EVO a makeover for , stretching both bikes out and lowering and slackening them. Travel is increased from mm to mm and, unlike the Epic, the EVO forgoes the use of the auto-adjusting Brain shock — which places a remote reservoir containing an inertia valve down by the rear drop out, connected via a hydraulic that runs through the shock yoke and down the seatstay. Cables are routed internally and just behind the bottom bracket, and where the rear triangle meets the front, Specialized has plugged the gap with a thin rubber grommet to help prevent crud build up. The Epic EVO is available in five different sizes, all of which sport 29in wheels. The With a bottom bracket height of mm with a drop of 36mm the Epic EVO feels ground-huggingly low. Instead, Specialized includes its no-frills alloy option. The real plus is that the Select uses a regular rebound adjuster rather than the fiddlier 2. You will still need a 2.

Specialized epic review

One of the best-known XC bikes on the market, the latest Specialized Epic is notable for two reasons. First is the updated geometry, reflecting the changing nature of XC courses, with a longer reach and slacker head angle. Although Specialized has rejigged the shape of the bike, with longer tubes, it's still kept the weight low The main story here is the Brain, designed to keep the suspension firm for pedalling but instantly make it fully active when things get rough. It works using weighted inertia valves, which open up the compression circuits of the fork and shock when a bump force is encountered. The rear Brain — the small reservoir tucked in behind the non-driveside dropout — is now closer to the wheel axle and has improved oil flow for a smoother feel. Both fork and shock have five levels of manually-adjustable Brain sensitivity and are built by RockShox.

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Only downside I see thus far How does the new Epic compare to the short travel Epic World Cup? Crappy wheels is one reason why I buy frames and not complete bikes. Not me that's for sure despite the first 2 years being free. Takes even less effort to use than a dropper, which you did use on the Lux, because it comes with one. This improves pedalling response and lifts the BB height to provide more ground clearance, making it the better climber. JE17j Aug 4, at She didn't not use it, she turned it to it's lowest setting because it's crap. These are;. There are times where the confident demeanour can get you into a bit of trouble on rowdier trails. And in contrast to previous bikes where the "trail" version is essentially just a mm bike with a mm fork on it, this looks like they thought about the geometry for both versions, and it can still be set in a "high" mode if you want to make it a little XC-racier. Aside from its longer legs, one of the biggest stories for the Epic 8 is its distinct lack of a Brain damper. Looks like a great platform for a great downcountry tandem bike or dandem as we call them. WheelNut : I'm so sorry this is happening to you. Buy if

After months of teasing, the Specialized Epic World Cup has finally arrived! A brand new model for , the Epic World Cup cuts a striking, hardtail-like figure that immediately draws parallels with the Trek Supercaliber. Instead it utilises an all-new shock with an innovative air spring that aims to provide a highly efficient pedalling platform while maintaining a clean, cable-free cockpit.

Longroadtonowhere 3 days ago. I can review the RC for you since I have one: Climbs like a hard tail, goes down like a mm single pivot. Yeah, this looks like a great bike. This means that the suspension is locked out more often to save energy and make your pedalling more efficient. That way the EVO models will just be a matter of spec rather than a completely different frameset. Geochemistry : A light bike that goes up as well as down is a trail bike. This makes it more comfortable on long days in the saddle, and it immediately feels less racy as you swing your leg over the saddle. Jealous of all those great Squamish trails!!! Molded separately and bonded on after. All adjustments can be made via the AXS app.