The M5 aluminum Epic Comp 29 has 100mm of travel and 29-inch wheels to smooth any cross-country terrain.
29" M5 alloy Competitive XC frame with 100mm of supple FSR suspension features 29er-specific geometry with short chainstays, low BB, and roomy top tube for confident all-day riding and racing
Specialized and Fox blend their brains to develop the FlowControl Mini Brain shock with Brain Fade inertia valve, air spring, and adjustable rebound for World Cup - and local trail - domination
RockShox Reba RLT 29er fork with 100mm travel, rebound/compression adjust, and Floodgate control allows this 29er to soak up rocks like no other
Specialized Hi Lo disc hub with 142+ spacing and sealed cartridge bearings has a higher flange on the disc side, which stiffens the wheel in this high-stress area
S-Works The Captain 29 x 2.0" front and S-Works Renegade 29 x 2.0" rear 2Bliss Ready dual compound tires work together to deliver exceptional speed and traction, while minimizing rotating weight
SRAM's venerable X9 long cage rear derailleur is super tough and light, yet delivers pinpoint shifts in the worst conditions
Strengths: Rolls extremely well over trail chatter and small rock gardens. Carries more speed on flats and downhills than my 26er. Reasonably light weight for a 29er at this price point.
Weaknesses: None found yet.
Bottom Line:
I am a cross country/trail rider who likes to do an occasional xc race. I ride every weekend and 1 - 2 times during the week. I was looking for an everyday bike that worked well as both a trail bike and an occasional xc race bike. This review is for a Medium frame. With crankbrothers eggbeater sl pedals the bike weighed 27.9 lbs off the showroom floor. I was skeptical of the Fastrak 2.0 front tire & Renegade 1.95 rear tire. They clearly are designed as a lighweight cross country race tire. I was pleasantly surprised at how well they gripped. The brain shock works flawlessly and soaks up the bumps, while staying stiff on the climbs.I feel like it climbs the same as my Stumpjumper 100mm fsr, but is noticeably faster on the flats, descents and anything that is rocky or trails with lots of ruts. So far I like the stock saddle, the Phenom. Even though it has less padding than my WTB Rocket V, it has turned out to be quite confortable.
Strengths: Solid frame, suits larger riders, rear shock set up is a breeze. Very comfortable ride.
Weaknesses: As with everyone else the rear hub issue is really disappointing. I've had it replaced once already and it's heading back next week for another replacement - that is with around 3 months of regular riding. The second one was picked up by the shop mechanics when they did my initial service on the bike, they were surprised when I said it had already been in once for the same thing.
A big let down on an otherwise awesome machine. You think they would have had something like this well under control or put out a product recall and put something that works on it. If it fails a third time my LBS owner will be getting a fair talking to over it and had better come good on upgrading it.
I also replaced the seat clamp with a crank brothers unit as I had issues with the seat post dropping, now it's bomb proof.
I also upgraded my handlebars, probably more to suit my own body geometry but the standard issue bars weren't too flash.
Bottom Line:
Again, apart from the hub issues I really love riding this bike. Now I have the other (minor) problems sorted I can't wait to get it out on the trails and am getting more confident with the bike so that I can tackle new and more challenging courses.
The change in riding from my old stumpy 26'er is amazing - unfortunately I can only blame me for poor riding or lack of fitness now as blaming the bike won't hold up with many.
The bike is a climbing macchine and on the downhill stretches it chews up enough bumps to keep me on track.
Strengths: The bike is really sturdy for it's frame. Very light
Weaknesses: Handle bars are super thin
Tires!
Gears
Front shock doesn't completely feel locked out
Bottom Line:
This is my first Full Suspension, therefore I have a lot of riding in order to get use to it. I am 6'4 240 lbs and it holds me up well. The tires are horrible and don't grip. Handlebars are weak. When I lock out the Front shock I noticed it didn't really lock out. I don't know if it was me or if I just need to get use to the gears, but it is kinda weird. I need to take it out a few more times to get a full understand of it. I also took it to the wrong trails for its first trial run. I will try a place tomorrow that I know the trails really well. Though for the price I paid for ($2K on sale new) you can't beat it. It will require some upgrades, but with time I can make it better.
Strengths: Good stability. Love the combination of front shox & brain lock out when climbing.
Weaknesses: Grinding noise from rear hub after 150km of ride.
Bottom Line:
I've got this bike for only 2 months. It's a nice bike to ride. I have been gliding pass my friends effortlessly. I throughly enjoyed riding it every weekend till the day the rear hub started making noise. It was only my 8th ride on this bike. I have put it to another 50km round of trail and it gets noisier!!!! Later I found there are lots of people facing the same issues ranging from 2011 model till the 2012 model. Is it the users, design or manufacturing issue? Definitely for my case it's not the user... Will Specialized able to solve the issue? Just wait and see... I maybe just replace the rear hub on warranty till its over while hoping they would resolve the issue. It's real disappointing for the price paid. It's like buying a luxury car with an unreliable wheel...
Strengths: light weight, 29er, rear shock, good choice of tyres on bike
Weaknesses: BB - mine was replaced under warranty. Maybe could have been 110mm up front
Bottom Line:
Now after a few months of riding I give my impression of the 2012 version. I have previously used a XTR hardtail. I was uncertain about going full suspension and to a 29er at that. However all my fears were unfounded and I certainly have enjoyed riding this bike and recommend one:
1. This bike is ideal for me to do the odd race and mountainbike epic. If you want to race your mates down single track trails then I suggest you consider the stumpjumper or similar. You can still race your mates down single track on this bike (I do) but I don't consider this a bike to do heaps of big jumps
2. The Brain technology the advertisements talk about certainly works. Hill climbing is excellent and the geometry is such that you can ride up really steep hills without the front wheel lifting too much
3. If you are slightly above average height then go for a 29er. It is indeed faster. I regularly ride a 1 hour firetrail course. I am 2-3 or so minutes faster on this bike than on my old 26inch hardtail. I do this loop a lot. It does indeed roll faster
4. It does appear very slightly slower on tight single track than my 26er. However overall I would never go back to the 26er. The bike rolls over rocks and roots very well
5. The BB started making noises but the shop replaced it with a higher spec model
6 I have not had problems with the hubs like other reviewers. Wheels still true. I am 82 KG
7. Brakes appear to stop you well. However they overheat on long steep descents compared to my Magura Louise on old bike. I guess I will need to replace them at some point.
Overall this has been an excellent purchase and recommend this product
Submitted by
Jkj
a Cross Country Rider
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: March 24, 2012
Strengths: My review is on 2012 version. The brain work extremely well, the flame is stiff, the setup is overall good.
Weaknesses: The "hubs". Not only the rear, front one as well! Just Last week the rear free hub was down after the hub been replaced! The wheels are soft. I have changed the stem, handle bar etc. I will replace the wheelsets once the warranty is over!
Bottom Line:
If they can fix the "hub" n wheelset problems, it will worth all the 5 chilis!
Submitted by
Javy05
a Cross Country Rider
from Coral Springs, FL
Date Reviewed: March 21, 2012
Strengths: Stiff frame! Brain rear shock is flawless; Super fast bike!
Weaknesses: Rear Hub makes noise after the first ride.; SRAM X7 shifters are not intuitive and require a strong push to change gears.
Bottom Line:
I was impressed with the bike from the test ride. When I got it to the trail I instantly noticed the benefits of the 29er wheels. Plus, this frame is very stiff (compared to my Scalpel) and the bike just propels forward with every pedal stroke. The rear suspension is the best part of the bike! It was easy to set up and works better than any other system I've ever tried. The bikes feels like a hardtail on the smooth stuff but absorbs every bump when you need it to. The Reba RL fork is very impressive as well. Once dialed in correctly, it is very plush without being mushy at the same time. The bike came with SRAM X7 shifters and front derailleur and X9 at the rear. While the shifting is precise, it is not at intuitive at the Shimano rapid fire shifters. The X7 shifters require a LOT of effort to change gears and the shifting is not smooth. My previous bike had XTR shifters and XT derailleur and the shifting was buttery smooth. I know its not an apples to apples comparison but the SRAM set up leaves a lot to be desired for being a new bike. On to the rear hub.....I read so many reviews on here about that rear hub being crap and they were ALL CORRECT!! The rear hub started making this grinding noise after the FIRST RIDE!! WTF?? I called my LBS and was told to bring it in as they would have no trouble repairing/replacing it under warranty. For the price of this bike and its intended target rider, I feel Specialized have dropped the ball on this one. Other than the hub, I am in LOVE with this bike. I may upgrade the wheels and the shifters in the future but plan on riding it like it is for as long as I can. This bike is the best cross-country bike I have personally ridden and I was a diehard Cannondale fan before this. If Specialized can fix the hub issues, they can have a 5 chili bike right out of the box but for now they get 4.
Submitted by
rmatthes
a All Mountain Rider
from Portsmouth, NH
Date Reviewed: February 20, 2012
Strengths: This bike rocks - like many others I love the Brain "Set it and forget it" rear suspension. The bike is fast, handles almost any terrain, and is an excellent climber.
Weaknesses: The stock hubs on this rig are weak and although my LBS has stood behind them without fail - I upgraded to some lighter wheels (Stan NoTubes) with the Stans 3 hubs.
Bottom Line:
It is hard to beat this bike for the money and when compared to the carbon model I saved $$ and used that to upgrade my wheels. Now my rig is lighter than the stock carbon model and i have a sore set of wheels (though the hubs are dodgy)
Bike Setup: Stock except upgrade to Stan's NoTubes ZTR Crest w/ Stan's 3 Hubs; Removed outer front chain ring - added bash guard.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
MC
a Weekend Warrior
from orland park, illinois
Date Reviewed: January 9, 2012
Strengths: Purchased a 2011 Specialized Epic Comp 29er in April 2011. Logged 1200 miles on this sled mostly ST riding. Out of the box it performed flawlessly with only minor adjustments and 1 trip back to LBS. I've taken long rides[ 100 m. ] and the usual 20 to 40 mile runs 3X a week. This bike rocks. SRAM components work well, shifting is quick and spot on. 30 speed gearing is more then you'll ever need [ 2012 model went to 20 speed ]. Disk brakes [ Elixir ] will stop on a dime. Brain technology is superb, smooths out the worst roots, rocks, stumps and holes when needed yet holds as a hardtail in or out of the saddle. 100MM front Reba Rockshock is decent. Good buy for an entry level Brain controlled machine. Frame is solid, pivot points are tight, Phenom saddle is comfortable. Of course there are always issues with any purchase but all & all a very solid bike. I recommend this bike to any true weekend warrior, it will take anything you can put in front of it.
Weaknesses: Rear hub [ entry Shimano ] developed a crunching and popping noise which the LBS eagerly fixed but came back. A bent front rim [ DT Swiss 450 ] was replaced with an upgraded DT Swiss M520 though no mechanical failure was cited [ just having fun ].
Bottom Line:
Been riding a 20 yr. old Schwinn Sierra 26 and logged about 8000 miles.Bikes have come a long way in that time. To ride this Epic Comp 29er is a great joy. The research and development have paid off for Specialized. I will make some component changes within the months to come. But up untill now I've enjoyed every mile.
Submitted by
reynolds_953
a Cross Country Rider
from Peoria, IL
Date Reviewed: December 3, 2011
Strengths: The M5 frame seems very well constructed and robust. It rides very well and is comfortable on long cross country rides. It tracks and responds well. It's a fast bike.
Weaknesses: I prefer Shimano over SRAM, so I switched out the drivetrain. Will likely upgrade other components over the next few years.
Bottom Line:
I recently switched from a 1991 Specialized Stumpjumper Comp to a 2011 Specialized Epic Comp 29. I want to mention that I purchased the bike at Johnny Sprockets in Chicago. I drove about 150 miles up to Chicago to make this purchase. Manuel and his staff were great to work with and I highly recommend his shop.
For my purposes the Epic is overkill, but I got a very good end-of-season deal on it that made getting it rather than the Stumpjumper EVO 29 I had been considering an easy choice. I am primarily a road bike rider but also ride my mountain bike on a converted railroad right of way. My rides on this trail are typically 20-40 miles.
With this new bike I have moved from a fully rigid 26er to an FSR 29er, albeit with the Mini-Brain rear shock system. Here's a brief list of my thoughts regarding this transition:
A fully active FSR bike was out of the question for my purposes. Too much wasted energy going into the rear triangle for my cross-country type of riding. The Mini-Brain, however, does a great job for me. On my fully rigid bike, in washout areas of the trail I would look for the best track and feather the bike, whereas now I go through those spots without breaking my cadence, letting the suspension do its job. It only took me a couple of times through such patches to overcome the instinct to feather the bike.
To settle the 26er vs. 29 question, I took a couple of test rides through a grassy area near my local shop on a carbon full suspension 26er and a hard tail 29er. I instantly understood the saying that on a 26er one feels on top of the bike and down in the trail, whereas on the 29er one feels in the bike but on top of the trail. The tires on the 26er sank deeper into the little ruts in the grassy field, where the 29er just seemed to float over them. The difference was instantly apparent, and I immediately knew that I wanted the 29er.
It seems to me that for my purposes the benefit of the 29er over the 26er is nonlinear. That is, not only do I get the benefit of the larger wheel's roll out, but the larger contact patch of the tires means there is less pressure acting on the crushed limestone trail surface. The tires penetrate the surface as much, thus lowering rolling resistance. The end effect is that for what feels like the same pedaling effort, it seems like I'm getting around 2mph benefit over my old bike.
As for the bike itself, Manuel really worked with me in getting it set up to my liking. We changed out the drive system for the following: Shimano Deore XT cranks with 40/28 chainrings; Deore XT 11-32 freewheel; Deore XT bottom bracket; XTR shifters; XTR race pedals.
The stock Phenom Comp saddle didn't work out for me. The width was right, but something about the shape seemed to be prying my hip bones apart. After only 15 miles into my first ride when I got off the bike to top off my water bottle at an old train depot, I could barely walk. I have a Specialized Toupe Team saddle on my Waterford road bike that is very comfortable and I considered getting the same saddle for the Epic, but it's not made anymore. Mine has solid titanium rails, but the current one team saddle has carbon rails, which I don't want. So, I got a Selle Italia Prolink Light Gel Flow saddle and it's working out fine.
I really like the bike the way I have it set up and hope to ride it for a long time. Over the next few years I'll probably make a few more changes: Ritchey seat post, Deore XT brakes, Fox front shock. I'll probably dial up the wheels a bit too.
Similar Products Used: Specialized Stumpjumper 29er (test ride), Giant hard tail 29er (test ride), Giant full suspension carbon 26er (test ride), 1991 Specialized Stumpjumper Comp (rode for 20 years).
Bike Setup: Stock except Shimano drive train and Selle Italia saddle.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Tambike2
a Cross Country Rider
from San Francisco Bay Area, California, US
Date Reviewed: November 6, 2011
Strengths: This review is for the 2011 Epic Comp 29er. Climbs really well, very comfortable, the brain is truly "set it and forget it," handles like a dream.
Weaknesses: Some components are cheap, as others have reported. I've replaced the free hub (under warranty). On the other hand, my LBS and the Spec dealer has worked to address the issues. Front fork is OK, not particularly terrific.
Bottom Line:
Bike is an exceptional fit for me, both in terms of comfort and the type of riding I'm doing. I'm out 2-3X week, some long rides, some short. At least one 3-4 hour ride each week. A lot of fire roads over the nearby mountain, but also some single track. I'm new to mountain biking and I'm 53, so I'm not doing big drops or jumps. I wanted something that would climb really well and be capable of handling more challenging stuff as my skills and strength improved. I really do love the bike. I could have picked something plusher for slightly more comfort, but the climbing ability was more important to me. I don't need the travel a Stumpy gives. I demo'ed a bunch of bikes before settling on this one and it just felt right.
While a few components seem cheap for the price of the bike, overall, I'm thrilled with the purchase. Still excited about getting on it and pushing myself.
Similar Products Used: I've demo'ed the SJ Elite, Trek Fuel Ex 7 and 8, and a few hardtails. This is my first mtb.
Bike Setup: Mostly stock except tubeless Captain Control tires front and rear, Shimano M985 pedals, tried different grips (including Ergons).
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
manabiker
a Cross Country Rider
from Garden City, Mi Wayne County
Date Reviewed: October 13, 2011
Strengths: Suspension, handling, ride, looks
Weaknesses: nothing really
Bottom Line:
This things climbs even better than the 26 in Epic, like a mountain goat, the best confidence builder ever, if you make a mistake it corrects it. A rocketship of a bike
Submitted by
SLCBKR22
a Cross Country Rider
from SLC, UT
Date Reviewed: October 7, 2011
Strengths: It climbs trees, brain shock, it wants to go fast
Weaknesses: drivetrain is a little sticky & the seat post clamp isn't the best because I have to keep raising my seat
Bottom Line:
I just got this a few weeks ago but I usually ride about twice a week so it has seen some good use. It climbs just as good or better than my HT 29'r and I don't miss anything about my old HT. It does feel a little bigger than I'm used to and I had to adjust the seat possitioning, but the suspension is great & it handles very well for a 29'r. Mid-grade components get the job done & the breaking is excellent. The thing I love the most is that it has all the good qualities of my hardtail plus the benefit of being full suspension so I don't feel like I have to micro-manage the trail. Overall, I got a great deal on a fantastic bike and I would do it over again & recomend it to anybody.
Submitted by
ArmorOfGod
a Weekend Warrior
from Topeka KS USA
Date Reviewed: September 13, 2011
Strengths: Weight, Stiffness, 29er, BRAIN, and Brakes.
Weaknesses: Rear Hub and Drivetrain
Bottom Line:
This review is for the 2010 Specialized Epic Comp 29er. Though I got a good deal on it, a couple of complaints have already came about. First off I did buy it brand new from a good LBS so I wasn't concerned about it being second hand. I took it on a few test rides and really liked how it rolled right over or through every obstacle it came across. Everything from large 3' diameter potholes to taking downhill bumps with ease. I understood it is a cross country race bike and not my EX8 trail bike so there would be a learning curve to it all but I was pleasantly surprised at the stiffness of the bike and the Mini Brain had me sold.
After buying the bike I took it on a little 2-3 mile trail ride to get the feel down and adjust the suspension. It descended real fast and made great use of the 29" wheels. Climbing was also a very pleasant experience! I thought with the larger wheels it was going to be more taxing on my legs on climbs, however I found the Mini Brain really made climbing easier than I am used to. Overall I was amazed and satisfied with the bike, until the next ride.
2 weeks later I thought I'd take it on a more challenging ride. 8.5 miles of hills and rock that I loved to ride on my EX8. Needless to say with less travel to work with the trail was less forgiving than I was used to. What I received in a rough ride was paid off with a much faster performing experience. I blew away my other buddies who rode their respective Trek and Specialized bikes. My only complaint during the ride was at times the front gears wouldn't shift, leaving the chain jammed in between and at one point this happened when I was atop a 15 foot drop to one side and a rock wall on the other. Thankfully the good Lord decided to allow my foot to come loose from the pedal and catch my balance 6" from the edge and I scurried to a more forgiving place to dislodge the chain. Overall it was a good ride with new stories to tell.
When I got home I checked the bike and cleaned everything as usual. One thing I didn't like was the sound of the rear hub. As the rear wheel was spinning I could definitely hear a bit of grinding within the hub body. Now I'm no mechanic at all but I know sounds and troubleshooting is all I can do. So naturally I call my LBS that sold me the bike and thankfully I'm always in good with the main bike mechanic. He asked me for the serial number on the bike and was going to call Specialized. A few minutes goes by and he says that Specialized was sending in a new free hub and it'll take a week to get here.
All of the parts and labor will be free of charge of course but after putting only about 15 miles onto this bike I expected more for my money. I love the bike just wish the parts worked a little better I suppose. But nothing is perfect even an S-Works Epic 29er, so we'll see how good this bike is at durability. Perhaps I received a bad hub but Specialized is coming with a remedy for that and I should be back as new within the week. Overall not a bad bike despite it's early disappointments.
