The Epiphany replaces a longtime fixture in the Ellsworth family, the 5” travel Id. The Epiphany packs 5.25” of travel into a scant 5.75 pound package, made possible by the use of a beautifully machined magnesium rocker and US-produced, proprietary drawn, internally taper butted, externally shaped tubing.
Submitted by
ilovemybikemorethanmywife
a Cross Country Rider
from SoCal Date Reviewed: November 6, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Nobel Canyon
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$4600.00
Purchased At:
North of the Border
Strengths:
Individuality, lightweight for a 5.5" travel bike, super quality welding, after dialing in smoothens out the trail like you wouldn't believe. Climbs like my Truth. Almost.
Weaknesses:
The head angle in almost the same as my Truth. Just not as able a trail bike for this reason. Out of saddle efforts result in a LOT of bob (fox float rear).
Similar Products Used:
I have an Ellsworth Truth, demoed a Moment for a week.
Bike Setup:
140mm TALAS FIT QR, mavic 819/king wheelset, full SRAM X0/elixirs, Thomson, WTB, Nevegal 2.1f / 1.95r
Bottom Line:
OK. I Demo'd a moment for a week and had so much fun it hurt. But I own a Truth and do more XC type riding. My Truth wasn't up to an all mountain ride - the Epiphany is. But I find the steep head angle (same as Truth almost!?) just too steep to render the Epiphany a capable 5.5" trailbike. It is a great long travel XC machine, but I think a Titus or a Turner may have more mountain trail oriented geometry. Bit dissapointed by the bob on out of saddle efforts - wish I had the RP23 with lockout for those. Feels like the frame needs it...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
fbtreat4
a Weekend Warrior
from austin, tx, usa Date Reviewed: November 6, 2009
Favorite Trail:
greenbelt
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$7000.00
Purchased At:
a bunch of places
Strengths:
Light, Strong, Super Plush Travel, Looks Badass.
Weaknesses:
Expensive
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
Here are some pics of my new Epiphany with the DT-SWISS EXC RTL 150mm c20 fork, Formula R1 Brakes, Spinergy xyclone discs with Continental Race Tubeless, Chris King Headset, FSA xc carbon bars, Race Face stem, SRAM Shorty Attack shifters, Thompson masterpiece, WTB Rocket V Stealth Ti Saddle, Crank Brothers Egg Beater 4ti Pedal, XTR Cranks and XTR everything else... 25.2 LBs complete...
Bottom Line:
I have been wanting to upgrade to full suspension for years but never felt the technology had been fully realized until I rode this bike. I think it will serve me for as long as my previous hardtail... 10 years.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
tailgomperz
a Weekend Warrior
from Orange County, CA, USA Date Reviewed: October 23, 2009
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1750.00
Purchased At:
Path
Strengths:
Detail and workmenship is comparable to custom built bikes. the bike is very light weight for a 5 inch travel bike, climbs well, no pedal bob, light frame, and very well balanced, predictable handling. Ellsworth Company. They have a trade in program so I traded in my Truth for a discount on the Epiphnay frame. No other company offers that program.
I also own a custom made Independent Fabrication 29” Deluxe Titanium Mountain Bike. The Indy Fab was custom built for my body geometry so it fits me perfectly. The Ellsworth fits me just as good and the quality is almost as good as the Indy Fab. The climbing ability of the Epiphany is as good as my Indy Fab. The Epiphany has no problem keeping pace. On the downhills, there is no comparison. The Epiphany will smoke the Indy Fab. The Epiphany is the bike to ride when the trail contains: technical rough terrain, drop offs, down steep gnarly sections and long adventure rides. My other ride only sees beach bike paths, long smooth fire roads and road adventures. Let me make it simpler. I take the Epiphany to MOAB and the Indy Fab to the BEACH. The Epiphany is the best bike I have owned over the last 20 years.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Sgweekendwarrior
a Weekend Warrior
from Singapore Date Reviewed: July 19, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Petir where everything meets...:)
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$6000.00
Purchased At:
All over the place
Strengths:
Plush, composed, confident...great on the climbs and even faster on aggressive downhill action. Always thought ICT was just another jargon these moutain-bike companies try to introduce just so they can bump up the exclusive factor...well, all I can say is that it really works and given the number of bikes I've tried...this is by far the best of everything..a true-blue, tried and tested trail bike for people like myself...THE WEEKEND WARRIOR. The 5.25 travel allows me to go over rock gardens/creeping crawlng tree roots and manage 4-5 foot drops like never before and that is exactly the kind of terrain we have here in Singapore.
The Epiphany is the kind of bike that makes you wanna ride every dam weekend...RAIN OR SHINE!
Weaknesses:
None so far...unless we suddenly have mountains and huge-ass jungles in Singapore.
Similar Products Used:
S-Works Epic, YETI 575, Santa Cruz Blur
Bike Setup:
Fox Float RLC, Rear Fox RP23, USE Atom Riser, Avid Juicy Ultimate with Goodridge lines, Chris King headset/hubs, Thomson Masterpiece, Fizik Gobi XM, XTR levers/front and rear deraileurs, FSA Carbon crankset.
Bottom Line:
If you're somewhere in limbo and not sure what you want from a mountain bike...but what you do know is you wanna have fun with your bunch of friends when you're hitting the trail...this will be the "one bike to rule them all".
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Hammy713
a Cross Country Rider
from Spokane, WA, USA Date Reviewed: June 26, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Any single track surrounded by trees
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1700.00
Purchased At:
Wrench Science
Strengths:
Excellent fit and pluuuuuuush ride.
Weaknesses:
None that I have found yet.
Similar Products Used:
GT LTS 1000DS
Bike Setup:
Fox 32 Vanilla RLC fork, Fox Float RP23 shock, Thomson seat post & stem, Chris King headset & disk hubs, Avid Elixir CR brakes, Race Face Atlas low rise bars, Race Face Atlas cranks, Sram XO grip shift & XO rear derailleur.
Bottom Line:
This bike puts a smile on my face every time I ride the thing. Its super plush, takes all that I can throw at it, and is a blast to ride. Instead of dodging the rocks and ruts, I find myself looking for them to hit.
Expensive yes, but I love my bike every time I throw a leg over it and I've built it to my liking.
Made in the USA, what more can be said.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
dirtisgood
a Weekend Warrior
from Rowland Heights, CA Date Reviewed: June 16, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Depends which one I'm on
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$3000.00
Purchased At:
private
Strengths:
hand made in the USA, light, strong, most efficient suspension design, I could go on and on
Weaknesses:
price perhaps
Similar Products Used:
c-dale super v
Bike Setup:
Fox talas, mavix crossmax slrs, truvativ carbon crankset, sram xo drivetrain, avid carbon disc
Bottom Line:
A true do it all (All mountain) mountain bike that doesn't punish you in one area to be good in another. You will do things with this bike you didn't think you could.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bikesnbeer
a Cross Country Rider
from asheville, nc Date Reviewed: June 14, 2009
Favorite Trail:
where do I begin?
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$6000.00
Purchased At:
mtbr
Strengths:
ascends perfectly, descends even better, makes the hard stuff easy. great for those long epic rides. the smokey paint jobs pretty cool too. by far the best bike ive ever owned.
Weaknesses:
price and the way the cables run, thats about it. I would do it again though.
Similar Products Used:
specialized stumpy, giant trance, santa cruz.
Bike Setup:
full xtr, crossmax sl. easton bars and post.
Bottom Line:
This is the perfect bike, I really dont see what could be better, it handles well in all conditions and seems to beg for more punishment than I could ever possibly give it. besides the price and the fact that its hard to test ride unless your bike store has one built. I would definetly recommend this bike for riders who ride often. Price but well worth it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
chadinindy
a Cross Country Rider
from Indianapolis, IN Date Reviewed: June 2, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Brown County SP
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$5200.00
Purchased At:
RBikes
Strengths:
This is the best mountain bike I've ridden and owned to date. I climb much better w/ this than my previous dual suspesion. I agree that this bike makes you a better rider and gives you confidence. Great paint scheme w/ the forest green.
Weaknesses:
None
Bike Setup:
Complete XTR, Fox TALAS fork, Fox RP23 shock, ellsworth carbon wheelset (lucky enough to get cheap upgrade), Thompson elite seatpost and stem, Chris King headset, truvativ carbon bars.
Bottom Line:
Great bike, great value (got a $7000 build for $5200). Test ride one. Great company - USA manufactured who cares about environment (donate money to rainforest preservation w/ purchase of special paint scheme).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bami
a Weekend Warrior
from Arnhem, Netherlands Date Reviewed: May 21, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Posbank
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$4500.00
Purchased At:
Freeborn (UK)
Strengths:
balance / nag-free / no bob / no squat / fit / geometry / climbing / descending / stiffness / cable routing / looks (when dusty) / weight / no-frills engineering
Weaknesses:
why did'nt I know Ellsworth 10 years ago? / I'd like to have it in dark grey but nevermind :)
Similar Products Used:
Specialized SJ 2002, Specialized SJ 120 2005
Bike Setup:
Rock Shox Revelation air-air maxle / Shimano Saint brakes 203 & 180mm / Specialized Eskar 2,3 / Thomson 120mm stem / Easton low rise bar / DT 4.2D rims / some XTR stuff
Bottom Line:
unbelievable these bikes aren't more known in Europe. Last few weeks I've been builing the bike and tonight was my first ride on my favorite tracks. It feels so supple, alive, composed. Sitting down in smallest gear I cannot notice the suspension pulling in or out. Hammering out of the saddle there is just no bob and the supsension stays fully active. Through the whole stroke there are no stiff points or otherwise distracting forces, awesome feeling. And then the geometry is perfect for me, low and long, with steep enough head-angle to be very lively. No need at all for lock-out or other tricks. <3
By the way... Shimano Saint's feel massive and give super control. Revelation with maxle also makes me :)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
cycoskier
a Cross Country Rider
from Hartland, VT Date Reviewed: April 24, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Those outside my door
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$2395.00
Purchased At:
Paradise Sports, Win
Strengths:
Lightness, performance, craftsmanship.
Weaknesses:
cable routing is funky.
Cost is high, but given the ride quality, craftsmanship and sheer joy of riding...well worth the cost.
Similar Products Used:
The Ellsworth Epiphany is in a class by itself.
Bike Setup:
Race Face Next Carbon Bar, FSA OS Stem, King HS, Hayes Disc, XT front der. & shifter Pods, XTR rear der., Race Face Deus XC cranks & X-Type BB, Thomson Elite Post, Spec. Saddle, King ISO disc hubs/Mavic 717 rims, crank bros. eggbeaters, Fox Float RLC 140. - 25lbs.
Bottom Line:
This bike is the best bike I've ever ridden. Awesome climber, incredible down hill. Awesome for the knobby, rooty, rocky trails of New England and great in the desert and slick rock of Moab.
Has made me a better rider. And thanks to Rich and Jim at Paradise Sport, I got a great deal for Elmo...the King of Bike Bling!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
joebreeze
a Cross Country Rider
from pelion, sc, us Date Reviewed: March 28, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Tsali left and right loop
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$4300.00
Purchased At:
bike shop
Strengths:
great climber, great tight single track at speed, great downhiller
Weaknesses:
price, XTR brakes and BB squeak when wet. That means alot of squeaking. also had a bushing on rear of bike fail. Ellsworth honored it and gave me a "new" rear-end at thier cost, shipping too. not bad. was only down for a month. just ran my ass off during that time for cardio.
Similar Products Used:
GT Idrive, Haro XC
Bike Setup:
Ells Eph, XTR all over
Bottom Line:
Best all around bike i have owned. I have owned 3 mt bikes. I would recommend this to any one wanting to purchase a new bike. just took me 2 years of saving to get it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
boediw
a Weekend Warrior
from Bandung, West Java, Indonesia Date Reviewed: September 13, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Dago Area
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$4500.00
Purchased At:
TRB Rider
Strengths:
Great Climber, climb like a hardtrail bikes, artiic frame
Weaknesses:
Expensive bikes
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Enduro SL
Bike Setup:
XTR Crankset, XT Front Derailleur, SRAM XO Rear Derailleur, Avid Juicy Disc Brake, Fox Talas 32 RLC
Bottom Line:
Actually it's a great bike, beautifully handcrafted bikes, climb like a hardtrail bikes without bobbing. The frame is more expensive if compared with other alloy MTB frames, but you'll get what you hope for.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
geardoc
a Weekend Warrior
from Burlington, Vermont Date Reviewed: September 7, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Saxon Hill
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$5300.00
Purchased At:
Skirack in Burlingto
Strengths:
Sweet ride, great climbing, neutral handling, no pedal feedback, even on rock gardens and stream beds. Looks nice with the smoke finish. Light weight for 5" travel. Did I say it was a great ride?
Weaknesses:
Mine came with aluminum rockers which I guess are slightly heavier than the originally priced/advertised mag rockers. The rest is nitpicking: slight squeaks like other multi-link full suspension bikes, cable routing along top tube - where I place my hand to lift the bike over stuff I don't ride, and finally, its a bit light for an all mountain bike.
Similar Products Used:
5-Spot, Yeti 575, Giant AC Air, various Specialized FSR and Enduro bikes.
Bike Setup:
XT shifting/braking/BB/cranks, Chris King headset, Thompson seatpost and stem, Talus fork, Crossmax ST wheels, and cheap pedals with XL Winwood toe clips.
Bottom Line:
The best bike I've ever ridden for Eastern singletrack. Excellent slow speed handling over roots and rocks. Great handling at moderate speeds. I haven't tried it at high speeds, and generally don't ever ride fast on these trails. The 70 degree head angle with the Talus is spot on for an all around great trail bike.
Its easy to compare the Epiphany with the horst link equipped 5-Spot. The Epiphany handles slow singletrack better than the 5-Spot, with less wheel flop.
I give this bike 5 chilis overall, but only 4 for value rating due to the high price.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
tomsharo
a Weekend Warrior
from Presque isle, me USA Date Reviewed: August 23, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Vacation Land at the NHC
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2100.00
Purchased At:
Rocky Mtn Sports
Strengths:
Very light, agile, fast and flowy. Built to be fast and technical. A great climber.
Weaknesses:
Nervous on the downhills and very quick.
Similar Products Used:
Turner RFX, Turner 5 spot, Jamis XLT 3.0, Rocky Mountain Flow Fs, cannondale jekel, haro sonic, kona stinky primo and kona coiler supreme
Bike Setup:
Fox van. 32 RLC 140mm travel, rock shox 3.3 with flood gate system air adjustable, XT derailleurs,shifters, disc brakes,thompson seatpost, stem, carbon monkey lite bars, crane creek s-8 headset, crane creek wheels, truvativ crank & bb, and flite ti saddle. 26.5 lbs on the fedex scale
Bottom Line:
This is a great bike one of the best I have owned and I have had several as I own a bike shop as well as being an IMBA trail crew supervisor. It is fast, light and very quick. I will add that I still feel my turner rfx is the best bike I have ever had but this bike is the very close second. Considering I still have both I feel very lucky. Certainly if you like a quick handling cross country trail bike that can take a beating this is the bike for you not considering all the bling it brings to the party. The finish is great.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
x_trailJunkie_x
a Weekend Warrior
from Chicago Date Reviewed: July 15, 2008
S-works Stumpy, Spec enduro, Trek Liquid and I demoed a CDale prophet1
Bike Setup:
Fox Vanilla RLC, Fox RP23, SRAM XO, Avid juices, Shimano XT crank mavic UST rims, Hadley hubs and king headset
Bottom Line:
This bike is so much fun to ride. It Feels so tight and balanced, very confidence inspiring. Go to RBIKES and have them build you one. You wont regret it. AND its MADE IN THE USA!!! Value rating 4 BC its the most expensive of the USA hand made bikes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
merdas
a Weekend Warrior
from Palos Heights, IL, USA Date Reviewed: June 11, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Palos woods
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$2100.00
Strengths:
Best bike out there, great climber, very good descender, superb customer service, after 3 years of riding my rocker arm cracked, Ellsworth replaced it at no charge, Technicians at RichardsBicycles.com store removed old one and put new one on at no charge. This is outstanding customer service.
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
Trek fuel, Ellsworth ID, Trek Y
Bike Setup:
Shimano drive train, Spinergy wheels, Thompson seat post, Formula brakes, Easton handlebar and steam, Fox vanilla fork
Bottom Line:
This is why you pay big bucks for frames. When something goes wrong with the bike Ellsworth team takes care of it. In my case, bikes warranty already expired and they still fixed it at no charge. Awesome. Thanks to Ellsworth and to Richardsbicycles.com
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Alister Sladen
a Cross Country Rider
from Christchurch New Zealand Date Reviewed: May 18, 2008
Small problem with Rear Cable routing and that's it.
Similar Products Used:
Santa Cruz Blur, Heckler with floating rear brake mount, Intense Spider, Giant Reign
Bike Setup:
XTR, Pace carbon fighter Fork, Stans Arc XTR wheels, RP23
Bottom Line:
Although I got mine cheaply on ebay these are on the expensive side, but after riding it for a week I was amazed how it rode. My first 4 bar bike and I don’t care what they say on Turner forums, 4 bar cannot be beat!! And either can Ellsworth craftsmanship. This is really a fantastic bike, I’ve ridden it up the steepest climbs on slick rock Moab and our local trails in New Zealand. I own 4 mountain bikes and end up riding my Epiphany more than all the others put together. The Pace fork is a beauty by the way, smooooth as butter and makes ANY FOX feel like crunchy peanut. The Epiphany is perfect on any trail I’ve been on so far, I even raced it to compare with my spider at a 12 hour and I’d have to say the spider was faster but not by much. The Epiphany was just a bit slow thru fast changing single track which surprised me. I fitted a FOX F120 fork for the weekend and there was only 1 pound difference when using the same wheels as the Spider by the way, still the Spider was just that bit crisper. Still I love my Epiphany .
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
James
a Cross Country Rider
from Saugus, Ca. USA Date Reviewed: April 26, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Mt Hillayer
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$3500.00
Purchased At:
Valley Bicycles
Strengths:
Efficiency of Design - Craftsmanship & Beauty - Weight
Weaknesses:
A Little Pricey, Magnesium rear can rub your legs if you have big calves.
Similar Products Used:
specialized Enduro, Cake 1 Deluxe - Racer X Carbon
Bike Setup:
2007 Epiphany Smoke Anodized, Fox Talas 32 RL, Fox Float R, Juicy 7, Sram X9
Bottom Line:
This is the best bike I have ever owned. Mine weighs in at 27.5 which is 2lbs lighter than my Cake 1. It took 1 climb to get used to the ITC active rear. It felt funny at first but I find that I am climbing technical uphills that would easily spin out my rear on other bikes. The confidence on the downhills are great. There really was no adjustment time needed on this rig, just get on and ride it. That is killer. This thing corners really well which can be untrue for a lot of bikes with a high bottom bracket. (at least for me) To much fun to put into words.
Like it said on the Demo bike top tube: Those that ride know....
Buy this bike and keep Americans working.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tim
a Cross Country Rider
from Worcester Date Reviewed: March 17, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Wales
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2500.00
Purchased At:
Freeborn
Strengths:
It looks the business, rides like a dream, and makes me feel like the kiddy!
Weaknesses:
It makes the wife feel inferior
Similar Products Used:
Ellsworth Truth
Bike Setup:
Fox Talas RL forks, Fox Float R shock, Easton finishing kit, Race Face crankset, Formula Oro K24 brakes(180/160), XT Shadow/LX gears, DT E540 rims on Hope XC hubs, Panaracer tyres, Odi grips, DMR V8 pedals
Bottom Line:
It makes me wanna ride all the time. I can't wait to take on more challenges and hit more bumps. The ride is just so smooth, and climbs have never felt so good. Nuff said.
It's a cross country/all mountain bike and depending on rider weight probably could be thrown off all kinds of heights and would lap it all up, but I'm a big fella who doesn't want to risk breaking it doing something it probably isn't designed to take. It's light, but not stupidly so (although I'm sure with lighter components this could be achieved), yet I feel very sturdy and confident on it when hurtling down rocky descents.
Happy days!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kenneth
a Weekend Warrior
from Atlanta, Georgia USA Date Reviewed: March 1, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Tsali, Dupont, Bull Mt.
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$7500.00
Purchased At:
Outspokin --Woodstock GA
Strengths:
Amazing all purpose Mt. Bike-does it all well, climbing,technical,downhill,XC
Well - all I can say is Dam I love this bike! I have been lucky enough to own some nice rides in my time(and will be paying for them for a few years) but I keep coming back to my Epiphany for an absolutely great ride. She is a treat on the uphills and handles technical terrain like a dream. My Motolite Exogrid may be slightly better craftmanship-but the Ellsworth can hang any day. Everything you read in these reviews is for real--an outstanding bike!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jamie Alackness
a Cross Country Rider
from Eagle Colorado Date Reviewed: January 24, 2008
Favorite Trail:
gooseberry mesa
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Purchased At:
Moontime Cyclery
Strengths:
Light, Stiff, Great climber, Great descender, Amazing suspension.
Weaknesses:
If you have wide calves you might have some contact with the Rockers. The Price?
Similar Products Used:
03 Foes FXR, Titus Moto-lite current bike, Yeti 575 another great ride, Intense Spider 29er and 5.5 FRO Just ok in My opinion I still don't like VPP suspensions quarks, Maverick Durance Hands down best climbing bike I have ever ridden Hardtails included.
Bike Setup:
This was a Demo from Moontime Clclery in Edwards CO. So the build was nothing special. I can say I hate Avid brakes. Every bike I've tested last summer had Avids and I greatly missed the Formulas on my Moto.
Bottom Line:
If your an experienced rider looking for the best money can buy this in my opinion is it. The suspension is perfect. I set it up with the same pressures that I use on my Moto and it was Pure perfection. Feel at the pedals was great yet bump compliance is better than anything I've experienced. This bike will make you a lazy climber it climbs so well, sit and spin or hammer away it doesn't care. On the downhill just point and let the bike do the rest. BUTTER!
The most significant thing that I noticed about this bike was that my lap times on my test loop were 3 minutes or more faster than the other bikes I test rode, and beleive me I tried for months to beat it's time on my Moto-Lite and still can't. The clock doesn't lie this bike was and is the clear winner.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris Berenguer
a Cross Country Rider
from Manila, Philippines Date Reviewed: January 2, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Sta. rosa, Maarat
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Sabak Sports and Adventure
Strengths:
Aesthetics - the only frame you can see a smoke paint job with. Travel - 5.25" or rear travel. Very useful in rough terrain and decents where you can just roll over almost anything! Plush! Lightweight!! Climbs like a mountain goat pedaling efficiency - you can notice that no pedaling energy is waisted on this bike. Minimum pedaling bob even if the rear shock is unlocked.
Weaknesses:
none so far. maybe just the price.
Similar Products Used:
Giant NRS, Trek Liquid, Titus Motolite
Bike Setup:
full XT 08 groupset (including wheelset), 08 fox talas rlc, kenda tires, fsa stem, handle bar, and seat post. Flite saddle
Bottom Line:
I bought this bike because of the plushness and the suspension travel. It surprised me that this frame climbs like a mountain goat! I use less energy when i ride long and steep climbs thus, i get to the top faster, and still have the energy to climb another hill!
I rode this baby downhill on unfamiliar terrain, very technical and steep but i was confident that the bike could handle it. true enough i conquered that downhill trail.
the pedaling efficiency "advantage" of this bike is no hype. even when the rear shock is unlocked, you experience minimal "bobbing". but handles small and big bumps very well. too good to be true actually.
For those who are willing to spend a little extra for their frame, this is the frame to get. It's worth the investment coz this one is a "keeper".
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brooks
a Cross Country Rider
from Moab, UT, USA Date Reviewed: December 12, 2007
Favorite Trail:
On this bike, everything’s sweeter – it makes the Slickrock trail more fun and Sovereign easier
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Moab Cycelry
Strengths:
Excellent functioning suspension, beautifully made frame, light, balanced
Weaknesses:
Lateral flex of frame; in the 22 ring, shifting from 2 to 1 in the rear sometimes causes the chain to drop off the cassette
Similar Products Used:
Santa Cruz Blur LT (07), Santa Cruz Blur, Specialized Enduro (03), Specialized Stumpjumper (06), Cannondale Prophet (07), Santa Cruz Heckler (07)
Bike Setup:
Medium blue ano frame w/Fox RP23; Fox 32 Talus RLC; Crossmax SL wheels; Avid Juicy 7 brakes; XTR rear derailleur; XT shifters, cranks (22-32-44) & front derailleur; Shimano M760 11-34 cassette; Thompson Elite seatpost; WTB Pure V Team saddle, Thompson Elite X4 50 mm stem; Kenda small block 8 2.35 front & small block 8 2.1 tubeless rear, Time XS pedals (they perform exceptionally well in all conditions), Danger Boy bars (31.8), ODI lockon
Bottom Line:
This bike is a rocket! However, it is not just fast – it’s also one of the smoothest/surest bikes over rough terrain that I have ever ridden.
Let me start with the pedaling performance of the frame/shock. When seated & pedaling I can’t feel any movement in the shock (and I can’t see it move when my riding buddy is riding it ahead of me) – it feels like a hard tail, and that is with the shock set in the fully active mode. You turn the cranks – you shoot forward. The unbelievable part for me and my buddy was that when we stood up to pedal hard, the movement of the shock was minimal - normally any shock starts compressing a lot when you jump out of the saddle and thrash the pedals. Another pleasant surprise came while riding a super steep section of the Slickrock trail. When I reached the point where I used to have to stand up and perform a belly-button-to-the-handlebar maneuver to get the power I needed, I found that I could stay seated and complete the climb. It is frankly, the best pedaling bike I’ve ever owned, and I’ve owned some great ones.
Another cool feature is how active the shock is under hard pedaling forces. I was riding some slickrock and came to a wide crack in the rock. I wheelied over to keep my front tire from getting jammed, and when my back tire hit edge of the crack, instead of feeling a harsh impact, I felt the shock compress and absorb the bump (big smile & an “aah”). A VPP suspension causes the shock to stiffen noticeably in this hard pedaling situation and delivers a rougher impact.
With this build the bike weighs 28 lbs. It could easily be built to weigh a couple of pounds less using ultra light parts or you could go seriously burly and add 2 or 3 pounds to the weight. Though I used a few stout parts to help accommodate the rough terrain in Moab, it’s still fairly light and I was wondering if a bike this light and easy to pedal would handle the tough sections. No worries. Rolling over boulders, rock gardens, roots, etc. is amazingly plush, whether going uphill or down. The suspension flows over rough surfaces while conforming perfectly to the terrain – i.e. it eats up trails like Amasa Back. The RP23 and Talas work exceptionally well together to provide a balanced ride. I was concerned about whether the steepish head tube angle would cause me any problems going down steep, gnarly sections of trail. Not a problem. I’ve rolled sections that I’d endoed in the past on larger, slacker bikes (of course, choosing good lines helps). The short stem and the long cut of the steerer tube seem to make it simple to roll the steep downhills by allowing me to get my body rearward much easier. I’ll admit that the shorter stem makes the front wheel loft a little more easily on steep climbs (which I can solve by lowering the Talas and leaning forward a little) and that I had to learn to pull up more gently on wheelies and jumps since the wheel does come up more easily.
The small block 8’s are the bomb on slickrock – no big surprise that they stick like Velcro, but they are surprisingly good on loose trail, though they may break traction a bit faster on dusty/sandy rock. The 2.1 tubeless in the back is lightning fast and the 2.35 in front does a great job making rough trail a little softer and more stable.
I find that I tend to choose this bike (my “little bike”) over my “big” bike almost every time (and my big bike had been my favorite all time ride). My big VPP sits sadly in the storage room until I’m going to hammer something really gnarly like Porcupine Rim and even there, I could still ride the Epiphany if I’m selective about the amount of punishment I’m going to give it (i.e. no 5’ to flat drops off the diving board).
I can honestly say that at the end of long, physically and technically demanding rides, I feel more energetic than I ever have in the past. Being a mountain bike guide in Moab, I rotate my bikes every year, but this one is so sweet, I’m not sure I’ll be able to part with it. It’s so good that I sometimes feel like I’m cheating when I’m riding with my buddies.
Props to Johnny at Moab Cyclery who took such stellar care to build such a great bike for me. He went over the parts selection with me carefully, made the extra effort to obtain hard to get parts, built the bike exquisitely (also thanks to Joel), and gave me a great price.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
William Brewer
a Cross Country Rider
from South Jersey Date Reviewed: November 22, 2007
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$4500.00
Purchased At:
Wrenchscience
Strengths:
It goes up and down with precision,anodized finish,plush ride,very quiet bike,American made,27 lbs
Weaknesses:
the name?
Similar Products Used:
other similar bikes
Bike Setup:
XO grip, Thompson, Avid mech, tubless,King hubs and headset, WTB saddle, Stans sealant
Bottom Line:
It is a sweet ride.The frame finish is very durable. No paint chipping. I can pedal up to the top, then bomb down. The bike fits me for my riding style.I will not grow out of this bike. I suffer from back problems and this bike lets me ride for hours and not pay later.Best bike I ever had.Yes the price was steep, but in 2 tears of very hard riding, it still looks and rides like new.I will be on this for a long time.If your looking for a plush bike that can do anything short of hucking, get one.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bernie white
a Cross Country Rider
from cushing me. Date Reviewed: November 13, 2007
Favorite Trail:
all
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2400.00
Purchased At:
beyound bike.com
Strengths:
great everything climbing ,desending ,handling ,ect.
Weaknesses:
Not enough dealers on the east coast.
Similar Products Used:
own but selling santacruz heckler, tried a intense spyder fro, 5.5, 6.6 a couple of kona's klien palimino
Bike Setup:
xt, crank, derailer's, brakes, shifters, fox rp23 and talas shocks, thompson post, stem, rolf wheels,cris king head set
Bottom Line:
I love it!!! Everyone says the Ellsworth is exspensive however if you only have to buy one bike to do it all instead of three or four it is cheaper in the long run. This bike does it all and does it great! Buy one bike and one bike only. Buy an Ellsworth EPIPANY!!!. You will not regret it. Instells confidence,Fast bike,Very plush. Nice ride!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Michael
a Cross Country Rider
from Ooltewah, TN, USA Date Reviewed: November 6, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Whitetop Mountain
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
East Ridge Bicycles
Strengths:
Simply the finest rear suspension design...period. I have ridden practically every design and been fortunate to own many of them. The Ellsworth ICT design has the best pedaling efficiency, combined with plushness, I have ever ridden. I love it. Very light for a 5" travel bike. Tough ano finish. Finally, an XL size!
Weaknesses:
Torsional/lateral rigidity. Typically, manufacturers don't do enough to maintain the front-to-back stiffness of bikes in the larger sizes. Ellsworth is no exception. The Ellsworth XL Epiphany wanders and 'drifts' a little bit on the trail during cornering on quick stutter-type bumps like the front wheel is out of the same plane as the rear.
Also, on the XL size, the head tube angle is a little too slack when used with a Fox TALAS RLC 140, resulting a slight loping character. Dial down the travel to 120 or 100, and it is all good again. They should shallow up the HT angle a half to full degree for the longer travel fork (within their recommended travel range).
Price. Man these are getting ridiculous, but I still think they are the best.
Similar Products Used:
Trek 9.0 EX Carbon, Turner 5-spot, Yeti 5?5, Orbea Occam (very good single pivot design), Titus Moto-Lite, Titus Racer X aluminum, Ellsworth Truth, Trek Fuel 98 Carbon, Gaint Anthem 0, Giant Trance, Cannondale F-1000, Fisher Sugar, Klein Adept, Specialized Stumpjumper, Giant NRS.
Bike Setup:
Fox Talas RLC 32, SRAM XO & X9, Avid Juicy 7 Carbon, Bontra nger carbon bar and stem, Thomson post, WTB Laser V Stealth, Mavic Crossmax XL, Kenda Nevegal 2.1's
Bottom Line:
Again, simply the best performing rear suspension design in the world. Everybody compares to Ellsworth, and there is a reason. Other companies license the design, or make their imitations fall just outside of patent restrictions.
I believe this is the best all-purpose, all-mountain design available.
Too expensive. Tony keeps the price high...it is aluminum, not titanium. This aspect makes me want to dock it an overall chili for the crazy high price. But I'll dock the value 2 chilis instead.
Performance is a five, but needs some tweaks in the torsional/lateral stiffness area and in the handling with recommended fork travels.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Phuc Phat
a Cross Country Rider
from Aliso Viejo Date Reviewed: October 22, 2007
Favorite Trail:
aliso woods
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2500.00
Purchased At:
Path Bikes
Strengths:
Hydro formed tubes, great workmanship, welds, ano finish, attention to detail. Makes technical climbs easy. Nice plush rear end/ICT works well even with or without propedal. Light frameset/"laser" etched WOW
Weaknesses:
Price sucks, the bike does everything well but weak on cornering - wheelbase is great for climbing but no great on the cornering - I guess you can't have both.?
Similar Products Used:
Santa Cruz blur, Turner 5 spot, foes fxr, ibis mojo
Bike Setup:
pike 454 air u-turn, mavic crossmax xl, magura louise, thompson stem-post, crank bros candySL, xtr cranks, xo shifters-der, RaceFace os carbon bar. In the 27-8 lb range.
Bottom Line:
Price sucks, first Ellsworth ever bought/first horst link* ever owned. Bottom line: if you have the money to buy this expensive toy then do it. Fun bike, climbs great, you'll get a great workout from riding it or else the guilt will set in. In a serious note, my epi is here to stay - no buyer’s remorse - (I will update my review after 6 months) just to be fair.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Doug Taylor
a Cross Country Rider
from Southington, CT, USA Date Reviewed: October 14, 2007
I've been craving this bike ever since the rave reviews began (Outside Magazine Bike of the year, etc.) but cost and availability on the East coast were always an obstacle.
This summer when my old rig was damaged in a car accident, I became in need of a new ride. Timing could not have been better. I found a great "end of summer" deal that was too good to pass up. My initial trepidation about spending 3K on a mountain bike (that I hadn't even demoed) quickly vanished when I took my first ride! Every time I get on this bike, I have a sh#t-eating grin from ear-to-ear.
My confidence on the trail has never been so high, especially on technical climbs. It bombs the descents almost as well as my supple Giant AC (further dialing in the suspenson should make it even better). If you like to bomb downhills and climbing efficiency is not a big deal, the Moment might be a better choice. For me, the weight advantages, climbing and handling of the Epiphany were a strong selling point.
My only complaints are:
1) The lack of dealers on the East Coast. Unable to demo the bike locally and get repair / advice / etc.
2)A bolt on the back of the frame was not properly torqued at the factory and loosened up during my second ride. Had I not noticed this in time, it could have been catastrophic. After some "back & forth" dialog with Mr. Ellsworth himself, they finally sent a replacement bolt with torque instructions.
3)I would have expected a service manual (with information on torque tables, pivot maintenance, etc.) to come with this frame instead of a glossy sales pamphlet.
In summary, despite some minor issues, I love this bike and can't wait until my next ride. And the next one. And the next. And.. you get the idea!
Lastly, Hats off to Greenfish Adventure Sports for their excellent customer support and build-kit. I've been trying for several months to have this bike shop added to the MTBR.com reviews but the system won't let me.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tad DeLaney
a Cross Country Rider
from Fredericksburg, Virginia, USA Date Reviewed: October 11, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Quantico
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2395.00
Purchased At:
Cobblestone Bicycles in Ashland, VA
Strengths:
Smooth, solid, plush, so energy efficient, climbs like a goat.
Weaknesses:
Kinda' wish the chainstay and seatstay sported the same cool paint job as the rest of the frame. :)
Similar Products Used:
FSR, MountainCycle, Intense Tracer
Bike Setup:
Med frame w/Fox RP23 shock, Fox Vanilla RLC Fork, '08 XTR cranks, front & rear derailleurs and shifter pods, Thomson seatpost and stem, CK headset, Hayes Mag Plus Carbon brakes, Easton Monkeylite SL riserbars, Spinergy Xyclone Disc wheels, CrankBros Candy SL pedals, Ergon Mag grips, Selle Italia Yutaak saddle, WTB Wierwolf tires
Bottom Line:
This bike is worth every penny. When it comes to MTB, you get what you pay for. If you want great, you pay for it, and the Epiphany delivers. I love riding it so much that I no longer use my road bike for training for MTB. I just put "urban" tires on the "'piph" and have a blast. It is so much fun to ride. I thought my Tracer was fun until I got the Ellsworth. I simply can't say enough about how much fun it is to ride this bike. The BB clearance is a little less than what I had on my Tracer (12.5" vs. 13.5+" on the Tracer), so I've had to change my riding style a bit over technical sections, but the lower BB has made cornering much better with the lower center of gravity. It also CLIMBS so much better than the Tracer. Hard to believe. I'm not into locking out suspension, though I have it, and this bike really doesn't need to be locked out for climbs. ALSO, I've noticed that I push larger gears now with the Ells than I did with the Intense. I find myself actually going faster with the Ells than I did with the Tracer, and I attribute that to the ICT technology. It has to be, and it makes sense. If it's that much more efficient to pedal, than it stands to reason you'd be more apt to push larger gears and go faster. I cut over 2 minutes off my best time doing the local 8.5-mile race loop course on the Ellsworth over my Tracer, and that was even with a little rotor drag for brand new pads and rotors that had yet to be broken in! Whatever you do, make the sacrifice and get yourself one of these bikes. You won't regret it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Neeraj
a
from Boise, Idaho Date Reviewed: August 28, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
rbikes.com
Strengths:
Very lightweight for its class; comfortable geometry, well-suited for climbing and descending
Weaknesses:
Once you commit to buying a bike in this price range, there are no significant weaknesses to this bike.
Bike Setup:
All mountain package from Rbikes.com
Bottom Line:
This site is filled with great reviews for the Epiphany, and I don't have much more to add to those. I love it. I'm not quite sure what to name it, yet. There's a Ganesh (Elephant-headed guy..."Remover of obstacles"...every bike should have one) attached. It's better for climbing than the Giant XTC that I had (hold your laughter) and so much more reassuring on descents. I want to also spend some time talking about Rbikes.com. I had been a devotee of the Local Bike Shop idea and had planned on getting the bike from our only authorized dealer here in Boise. When I found their price to be 25% higher and some of there info and advice a bit questionable, I looked -- a little fearfully -- at on-line sites. I picked Rbikes because of a combination of good reviews and good prices. I couldn't be happier with that decision. Toni and Adam have been great from product selection to delivery and with advice afterwards. I was nervous, of course, about shipping, but the bike was packaged perfectly. They respond quickly to emails and are available by phone, too. I haven't had any problems come up yet, so I don't know if they are just fair-weather friends...but if things are done right from the beginning, you can spend less time wondering about how to handle a crisis. I recommend the bike to anyone who feels they've maximized their riding potential on their entry-level dual suspension, and I recommend Rbikes.com to anyone.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jérôme Tordo
a Cross Country Rider
from cassis,France Date Reviewed: August 15, 2007
Favorite Trail:
jerome.tordo@mac.com
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$6500.00
Purchased At:
WrenchScience, Berkeley,CA
Strengths:
Great bike overall, excellent climber, good downhiller, great on technical climbs.
Weaknesses:
nothing relevant. a so great downhiller will need a more open headtube angle, but it won't climb as well.
Similar Products Used:
5 Spot, Seven DUO, Seven DUO LUX, Intense 5.5, GT
Bike Setup:
XO, XTR, HOPE,Chris King, Easton, Mavic UST
Bottom Line:
The perfect overhall bike for marathon and rocky trails, light, strong, nothing to complain.
It is for me a second bike I am still riding a seven Sola and a Serotta Ottrott XC better climber.
MADE IN USA, that is really important. really well built you can ride it with confidence you know that the people who have made it know what riding MTB means.
Great service from WrenchScience in Berkeley too.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Greg Mahan
a Cross Country Rider
from Ben Lomond Date Reviewed: August 13, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$4300.00
Purchased At:
Richards Bikes
Strengths:
The bike is awesome. Quick going uphill, the rp23 is well worth the extra money-- firm lockout-- feels like a hardtail when climbing. Handles nicely over a variety of technical ups and downs-- feels solid and stable-- easy to keep a line despite what gets in the way. I am just starting to push it to see where it starts to flail, and haven't found this point yet. It has got to be the fastest bike I have ridden-- Mike at R.Bikes.com was very helpful in the whole process. His recommended upgrades were appreciated-- rp23, king headset, and I wish I upgraded the seat-- which I did after the first ride.
Weaknesses:
FIZIK seat, Juicy 7's make noise although they work well other than that.
Similar Products Used:
Santa Cruz blur Marin Hardtail Tomac 6 shooter
Bike Setup:
TruVativXR bar,stem, cranks, bottom bracket; King headset; XT front, XTR rear derailer; rp23, Fox Talas 140mm, Avid Juicy 7 160mm
Bottom Line:
Although there are a lot of nice bikes out there, the Epiphany is worth it if you have the money to spend. It is a bike you are going to want to ride every day. Plus, it is just a great looking bike that rides like a dream.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ron
a Downhiller
from Sunnyvale CA. Date Reviewed: July 27, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Stevens Creek Canyon, China Camp, Demo Forest
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$4500.00
Purchased At:
Sumit Bikes Los Gatos
Strengths:
Climbs like no other sweet plush ride that just goes over everything it's a very easy ride comfortable and efficient
Weaknesses:
I rode a Fisher hard tail prior to the Epi that was very quick handling but once I took a 1/2" off each side of the bars it made the handling quicker other than that I havn't found anything weak about the bike
Similar Products Used:
Blur LT, Heckler, Nomad, Trek 9.5, Kona Coilair Supreme
Bike Setup:
large frame Fox Talas RLC fork, Fox tp32 rear SRAM x-9 avid juicy 7's. mavic wheel set on XT hubs (soon to be changed to Chris Kings)King Headset, XT Crank, Monkey lite Carbon bars, Crank Bros. candy pedals
Bottom Line:
Test the rest and then buy the BEST. I rode a lot of bikes leaving the Epi for last and I'm glad I did because I was able to buy it with no reservations or second thoughts
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jamie Alackness
a Cross Country Rider
from Eagle Colorado Date Reviewed: July 24, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Anything here
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Purchased At:
Moon Time Cyclery
Strengths:
Best suspension I've have the pleasure of riding. Super smooth. Best out of saddle climbing I've experienced on a full suspension bike. Fast stable handling. Great fit and finish.
Weaknesses:
The price is high but a S-Works Stumpjumper similarly speced is still more. The steering might be a little quick for some but I got used to it after the first ride. It will make you a lazy climber it climbs so well if you can consider that a bad thing.
Similar Products Used:
Titus Moto-Lite, Foes Fxr O3, Yeti 575, Intense 5.5 and Spider, Turner 5spot, and many more
Bike Setup:
This was a demo bike and definatly not speced to my liking The X9 drivetrain although new didn't even come close to the XO XTR mix on my Moto. Shifting was slow and clunky, and the Truvantiv Crank came apart. I've heard about this with Raceface cranks as well. The Avid brakes are weak at best a bad set of rim brakes would have been better. The Easton EA30 Bar and Stem did their job nothing more but, the bar made me realize how much comfort a carbon bar really adds. The Sun Ringle wheels and Nevegal tire worked without complaint. The THE race saddle was ok but not very comfy on the long haul. The Thompson post, Fox Talas fork were the standouts of the build. After one ride I swaped most of the parts from my Moto onto the Epi.
Bottom Line:
I put a few hundred miles on this bike during my testing and can safely say it rocks. This bike is slightly better than my Titus at pretty much everything and alot better at climbing. The suspension works so well it's amazing. Firm at the pedals yet super supple over everything. I bashed the crap out of the Epi intentionaly taking really bad lines and landing in rock gardens it just flows right along without missing a beat. 2-4 foot drops felt like nothing. Silky smooth, I'm pretty much sold. I still have a few bikes on the must ride before I buy list, but the Epiphany is going to be really, really hard to beat.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jesse Levine
a Downhiller
from Chicago IL USA Date Reviewed: July 11, 2007
Favorite Trail:
mah dah hey North Dakota
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$4000.00
Purchased At:
Rbikes.com
Strengths:
light and fast,
Weaknesses:
the XL frame is big and harder to turn quickly, but all XL's are.
Similar Products Used:
specalized fsr,,, also a great bike
Bike Setup:
fox float X, rp23, xt crank, xo triggers, x9 derailers,
Bottom Line:
Epiphanys frames are expensive but feel much better than blur LT's. Specialized fsr frames are light and less expensive. Who knows which suspension design is most efficient. The epiphany is deffinatley one of the best ones. Rbikes.com shop in palos IL has many of these designs, go ride them and find out what feels the best.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brian
a Cross Country Rider
from Willard ,Utah USA Date Reviewed: July 5, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Snow Basin
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$5500.00
Purchased At:
The Bike Shoppe, Ogden Utah.
Strengths:
Great climber! comfortable. smooth ride.
Weaknesses:
Fox RP23 shock "stuckdown" from the factory. Rear triangle came loose at one of the bearing pivots and had to be replaced.
Similar Products Used:
Giant VT. Specialized Epic.
Bike Setup:
Fox Talas.Crossmax ST wheels. XT crankset.Avid Juicy carbons.XT shifters.XTR R.der.Chris King headset Thompson stem and seatpost
Bottom Line:
I am 40yr.old 5ft. 10in. 160lbs. rider on a medium frame.I have six months and 480 miles on the bike at the time of this review.The Epiphany is a great all around bike.It is a great climber and a very good descender. The bike rides smooth across the bumps but feels very solid with no bobbing on the climbs.I compete in an occasional beginner class cross country race and I feel that the Epiphany lets me be as competitive as I would be on any other bike.The Epiphany is a very versatile bike. It works great if you want to blitz down your favorite singletrack, and it works equally well as a comfortable bike for that all day epic ride. On the trail the only complaint I have is that the cranks seem to have less clearance than most bikes I have ridden. I had a couple of problems with the bike in the first 100 miles(listed in the weakness area of the review.)The problems were dealt with directly from my bike shop without ever dealing with Ellsworth directly.Matt and his crew at The Bike Shoppe in Ogden, Utah are the greatest! My early problem with the frame makes me wonder about future reliability.That combined with the high cost lead me to give a rating of four chilis for value and a five overall because the bike works so well at so many things.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Al
a Weekend Warrior
from North Yorks, england Date Reviewed: June 20, 2007
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$7500.00
Strengths:
See earlier review last year, Oct 06
Weaknesses:
Magnesium alloy rocker - cracked then snapped on right hand side, shock side of pivot. Replaced under warranty, however known problem by Ellsworth on earlier models. Would have been nice to had item replaced on spec rather than rocker arm failing half way round Marin Trail. I'm not a pie eater either. Also rocker arm prone to corrosion, been meticulous with cleaning but pitting obvious after 6 months.
Bottom tube seems thin, very prone to dings if stones get flicked up, top tip, put some protection on .
Bottom bracket and cranks clout obstructions (previously had an Isis so not used to scraping rocks etc)
Similar Products Used:
Ellsworth Isis
Bike Setup:
Fox TALAS RLC forks, SRAM XO gears, X-O carbon shifters, FSA K-force carbon cranks, Hope M4 with braided hoses & floating disks, Chris King headset, Mavic Crossmax XL wheels, Thompson X4 stem, Thompson seat post, FSA K-force carbon riser bars, SDG Bell Air saddle, Crank Bro's Candy SL pedals, ODI lock on grips, Panaracer Trailraker, Trailblaster tyres, titanium bolt kit.
Bottom Line:
Goes well, but amazed the rocker arm banged out and the corrosion problem. Thankfully the warranty has worked, will see how the new one performs. Sorry Ellsworth - for the price, the frame & its componants should last more than 9 months - and 4 months of that was with cronic sciatica.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
spinmonkey
a Cross Country Rider
from Bend, Oregon Date Reviewed: June 13, 2007
Favorite Trail:
too many to list
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
web cyclery
Strengths:
It does it all, and really well. This bike completely rocks!
Weaknesses:
BB height (not necessarily a weakness, but not really expected for a bike with this much travel - and I ride it with more than recommneded pressure in the back), cost, color selection. Also, I have to give the new XTR some credit here too - it works soooo good.
Similar Products Used:
Truth, Enduro
Bike Setup:
XTR, Thomson, DT Swiss. Went for whatever the best was for me, at close to 200 pounds. Some things could be lighter, but not worth the durability penalty.
Bottom Line:
There are so many things to write about, it is hard to know where to start, so I tried to boil it down into some simple things, some of which I expected, and some which I did not. I do have to say that if the Truth came in an XL, that is probably would be the best choice for me. BUt since I have a rigid SS, this is a much better complimentary ride to that bike, and since I live in a place that is pretty flat - I ride with more than recommneded pressures most of the time, and with the travel settings not max'ed out (making it more like the truth). At the same time, when I do find that steady DH section, then you "turn on" the travel and WOW! GO GO GO GO! Here is the breakdown:
Positive things I did expect:
* climbs great * super stable, yet still an XC style bike * ICT works, but I am biased, since I am used to the Truth * the RP23 fox shock is great - position 3 is basically a lock out, but will take the big stuff when you hit it. * I HIGHLY recommned the talas fork. This bike was designed around a 130 mm travel fork, so 140 is a bit DH / chopper-esque, and 120 is where I think it works the best for me and where I live. Maybe the 130 would be the sweet spot? Who knows, but I am really glad I did not get the float with 140mm only. * I feel so balanced on this thing it's amazing! Trials like stuff is actually pretty easy (relative to me - which is not saying much) * very stiff back end. they have thought this thing through very well. * again, ICT works - always active, climbs remarkably well. Turn the RP23 on or off - it just works, you just dial it in to the terrain to maximize the effects. * freakin' sexy bike. like to think it doesn't matter, but it does when you spend this much.
Positive things I did not expect:
* did I mention that it climbs really good? * I did XTR components - wow - that stuff is really amazing! Specifically the brakes and shifters. * light. I paid a lot for it, but I built up this XL, with some "heavier" parts for the sake of durability, and it's barely over 26 pounds! Fully built with pedals! * XTR shifters and brakes. I know this stuff is great, but these specific components blew me away in how they perform.
Negative things I did expect:
* a bit slower in response because of such a long frame (the price of stability) * Price. ouch. * the XL has a 69 degree head angle (all oterh sizes have a 70), which is one of the reasons that I like the middle travel setting on the fork better.
Negative things I did not expect:
* LOW bottom bracket. this may be a factor of my XL frame, since the wheelbase is soooo long, but I hit my chainrings / crank arms regularly. * this low bottom bracket does make it handle really well though! * this is pretty minor - but I am used to years of shift indicators, and the new XTR shifters (thumbs) do not have them - and that has been a hard habit to break
All in all, the best bike I have ever owned, by a large margin. If I was to race, this probably would not work that good - although it would work. The Truth is much better for that - or of course a hardtail. This is a do everything bike for a person who likes to ride up (as opposed to shuttling), cover a lot of distance, and then go rippin' down , this is da bomb! The fact that they have managed to prduce a bike that acts like a 30 pounder in regards to performance, but has the breeding of a XC race bike is pretty amazing. I know there are other companies doing the same thing out there, and my hat goes off to all of 'em. This is the way things are going on the indurstry, and it is all good! I do have a SS that I love, and it is faster handling and like driving a race car - so that is the machine for the short, sprinty rides, otherwise this ride is the one for most everything else. Get one. Now.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Howard Smith
a Cross Country Rider
from Fort Knox, KY USA Date Reviewed: May 30, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Otter Creek Trail
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$4000.00
Purchased At:
Greenfish
Strengths:
Forgiving on off line areas, ICT system works, great paint, bearings area still tight
Weaknesses:
Rear wheel is hard to remove after a long ride, changing cranksets (brands) takes time to adjust your chain line.
I started with the entire anti Shamano bit will all SRAM XO, Race Face and Cane Creek, but have been going back to a Shamano set up with more XT due to parts and better wear. (Besides every shop has Shimano parts in stock)
Bottom Line:
I am just past the 1 year mark on the Ellsworth Epiphany, and have had a great season that isn't over yet. I ride a few times a week, race, and even pull my son on trails with a trail a bike, and have not had any major problems. (All problems were componate related) I have a little over 1k miles and the paint and bearings are still like new. I like to take rough chalenging lines that are hard on a bike, I don't hit drops any higher than 1-2 feet, at least not on purpose, ha-ha, and this bike is great at everything I like to hit. I used to have 4 bikes, (have 2 now) but have been selling them because they only collect dust. I have a pump track in my back yard, and I hit higher speeds with the Epiphany than on my C-dale Chase! Guess the C-dale may be next to go. If your thinking about getting one, and you ride like I do, you will be happy. The only down side is the cost, but don't be cheap, and make sure you get the rear shock upgrade for the RP3, or you'll wish you did later. This is the best bike I have owned, I have ridden many but do not like to write anything good or bad about them since they were not mine and may not be set up for my style of riding. My advise, ride every bike you can, talk to owners of each bike you like, there is not one bike that will please everyone, you just have to find that right one for you. As for me, the Epiphany is the one.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Roland
a Downhiller
from Switzerland Date Reviewed: April 10, 2007
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
The epiphany is a great all-mountain bike. It's climbing god and fast. On step uphills I use to move my Talas down then the bike climbs perfectly! It's the perfect bike if you love to go offroad in every situation and you are looking for a light bike for long distances.
Weaknesses:
hydr. cable for rear break is dancing and druming on top tube during downhill. The frame could have a litle more space for rear tire. frame tubes are thin and buckling near "BB" can happen...
Similar Products Used:
Turner 5Spot
Bike Setup:
17" frame in black, Avid jucy carbon, Fox Talas, XTR, Thomson steam and seatpost, Chris King hubs with Mavic rims...
Bottom Line:
The Bike works perfect and every ride is just a pleasure. I was smiling for one summer and couldn't wait for the next ride. The Epi. is going very fast, too fast for tubles tires or tires smaler than 2.4".
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
daniel chiaravalle
a Weekend Warrior
from bronxville,ny,usa Date Reviewed: April 6, 2007
Favorite Trail:
stewart airport
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$2300.00
Purchased At:
sierra cycles
Strengths:
very quick and nimble with 5+ travel
Weaknesses:
cost
Similar Products Used:
merlin,cannondale jeckle
Bike Setup:
crossmax sl,xtr,fox float,thompson,easton
Bottom Line:
i got the bike thinking it would help me on the down hill. i have learned it helps more on the up. cool as hell
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Doug
a Cross Country Rider
from Lafayette, CA USA Date Reviewed: March 25, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Wilder, UC Santa Cruz, Downieville, Anadal, Fairfax Boy Scouts Single Track, etc
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$4300.00
Purchased At:
Sharp Bicycle, Lafayette
Strengths:
Handling, Comfort, Speed, Ease through tech stuff, fast, fun
Weaknesses:
A little flex in the Fox X Trail Tune shock. But love this shock no less
Similar Products Used:
06 Blur XC, 2000 Bullit, Moots YBB, Heckler
Bike Setup:
The bike came with XT cranks, XT Front Derailer, X9 Rear Derailer, X9 shifters, Juicy 7 brakes 8", Fox 130mm X fork (Trail Tuned), Fox Float R (Ellsworth Tuned), Some heavy wheels, WTB Weirwolf tires, Some FSR bars and stem. I took the 07 XTR crank off my Blur XC and added it and ordered a RP23 shock plus bought the Gravity Dropper Seat Post with 1 and 3 inch drops Turbo model. Also added my Crossmax SLR wheel set and Small Block 8's
Bottom Line:
Well I came into this not wanting anything to do with Ellsworth bikes. I have riden a Truth and did not like it. My Blur XC kicked its butt. I loved my Blur XC. I had one complaint about it, the shock PUSH did for me bobed too much. So since I loved it I had PUSH redo the shock this year (Jan 07). The Blur just rocked. I wanted to replace the Bullit with something new. I found an article in MDR mag on the Cove Hustler, it got a 10 and it looked good. The guys at Cove were cool too. The Epiphany in that article and the Spot both got 8's. I rode a Spot in the parking lot and on some streets. Felt nice. Sorta like a full suspension cruiser. Didn't rock my boat. Tried a Flux too. That was nice. My style. The Flux was a tad quicker than my Blur XC. I do like the Flux.
But I was looking for the perfect bike. I tried a S works Stumpjumper in the dirt in Marin. The bike was nice. Felt good, but no personality.
I was about to just order the Cove Hustler for my all mountain bike and Downieville Classic Race bike and maybe the Lemurian. I went into Sharp and saw the Epiphany. They said it was a good bike. I said no. It got a 8 in MDR and was Flexy. I left. I thought. Before I say yes to the Cove why not try the Epiphany. So I did.
There is a little steep single track behind the shop near a church. The bike went up no problem. The only other bike that I can ride up this thing is my Blur XC. However I have to get off the Blur at the top because of the obstical and my speed. The Epiphany just blasted through the top and kept going. Fast on the street too.
Well I have bought lots of bikes from Sharp. (Calfee Luna Pro (road), Moots YBB, Blur Classic (sons), Blur XC. So I said let me take for a day to Santa Cruz. So they said yes. I really wanted to try this bike. I like to move fast in my purchases.
So I went last week to Hwy 9 and did the U Con Trail to all the good no no single track stuff behind UCSC. At the top I dropped into Wilder and did some dirt roads and gravel roads, and Old Cabin Trail (single track). Then climbed back up. Then down some technical single track back to 9 and the car. I then tested both bikes (Blur XC and Epiphany) with same wheels and tires. I have several Sets of Crossmax SL rims and Small Block 8 tires (sons and mine) plus spares of other tires. I stuck on the Crossmaxes (did the earlier long ride on the Weirwolfs to see how they were). I did a short test of .55 miles up a single track and 8% dirt road combo. I rode the Blur first (more fresh) and then the Epiphany. The Epiphany was .7mph faster on the average up the trail with a 144 bpm heart rate vs the 149 bpm heart rate on the Blur. Then I did the same on Hwy 9 paved. Again the Epiphany beat the Blur by 1.2mph average with less of a average heart rate. Same tires and wheels.
Well replacing the Bullit turned into replacing the Bullit and Blur. Everyone loves my Bullit, they are ok with my Blur. But I like XC and all mountain riding. I had just spent about 2k buying new Crossmax SLR rims, the new XLR cassette for rear (stiffer), XTR components for the Blur to upgrade from XT, bars, tires. Bummer. Well now I will sell both Blur and Bullit on Craigslist and take off what I can and put onto Epiphany. Both Blur and Bullit suspension were done by PUSH. I'd love to keep the 140mm fork but the Trail tuned X is great.
I will be XC racing this bike at Sea Otter, and other events and all mountain riding. I can now do some very tricky stuff I couldn't do on either the Blur or Bullit with ease and speed. The Epiphany just ROCKS. If I just All Mountain it I might upgrade to a 36mm fork. I do like the Trail Tuned X though.
The Epiphany will be great for anyone wanting a fast (XC racing fast) bike that can do all mountain rides and races. It will really improve your riding. This bike rips!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Vaughn
a Weekend Warrior
from Oroville, CA Date Reviewed: November 24, 2006
Top tube needs an additional midtube hydraulic line attachment. Magnesium rocker does not allow upright fitment of RP23, so that adjustment knobs on RP23 are down at the bottom bracket. Makes quick switches in uneven terrain a challenge. OEM component choice of Truvativ Carbon cranks is poor. Kore saddle is on the too firm side of comfortable
Similar Products Used:
Truth, 5 Spot, Blur, Blur LT, Nomad
Bike Setup:
Large Epiphany, Rockshox Revelation, RP23, XO trigger shifters, XGen front drlr, XO rear drlr, Magura Marta SL disc brakes, Truvativ Stylo Carbon cranks, Shimano 959 pedals, Hadley hubs/Syncros rims, Easton carbon riser hbar, ODI lockon grips, Raceface 100mm stem, Kore I-beam seatpost/saddle combo
Bottom Line:
I'm 5'10" 185 and have had the pleasure of owning a med, then a large 5Spot, then a med, now a large Epiphany. I kept wanting to like the smaller frame, but found myself preferring the more stretchy xc cockpit.
You cannot miss with either bike. My 5 Spot was setup with Marzocchi AM SL 2005, Fox RP3, and XTR Dual Control, and DTSwiss 240/4.1 wheelset.
The Epiphany frame is a little less weight, has more tubing manipulation, and has an anodized finish. The Epi head angle is a little steeper, a little better tracker with steep singletrack climbing, and more flickable on similar downhill efforts. The Revelation does not feel as burly as the AM SL. I liked that the Revelation had a shorter axle to crown height than the AM SL, but then realized it was a moot point when I was using spacers below the stem to bring the handlebar height up to the same height I had on the 5 Spot and AM SL anyway. I have found myself using the Poploc quite a bit on the Revelation. The rear suspension is much more supple on the Epiphany. It accomodates smaller bumps with a little more complaince than the Turner. The big hits are well handled too.
I can only think of a few complaints with the Epi. I wish the rear disc hydraulic line had an additional fastening tab in the center of the undersurface of the top tube so the line doesn't dance around and make a racket while descending. My solution involves a stick on tab that is less than pleasing. Second complaint is the magnesium rocker arm does not accomodate a right side up RP23. This makes the lockout switch sit all the way down by the bottom bracket. I'm a pretty much set it and forget it guy, but have found with long sustained climbs, I do like to take advantage of the lockout, but it is not convenient to just reach a hand under the top tube and flip the switch. Instead, I have to lean my torso down to reach it with my outstretched arm. Depending on the terrain that may involve throwing me out of balance while reaching down there. Third, and most important for me is the Truvativ Carbon cranks. They do not weight any less than the aluminum version, they wear badly, and they keep coming loose. The install directions have torque setting recommendations that were followed. Truvativ is sending to me a spare aluminum crank arm, but I have already bought a replacement crankset if it continues to be a problem. I have several friends who have had the same problem with Truvativ, not just carbon, cranks. It is very frustrating.
While I had the 5 Spot I still had a 2001 Ellsworth Truth around. It was a fine bike for me for 3-4 years, but when I went back to ride it after spending time on the Spot, I did not enjoy it nearly as much. You quickly realize how much that extra inch of travel on the 5 inch bike makes life good on the trail.
When moving to the Epiphany from the Spot, I do feel the Epiphany is a better suited bike for my riding style, but the Epi is not that step up in performance that I felt with the Spot over the shorter travel Truth. It feels more like a lateral move. Both are sweet bikes. I would love to have both bikes and I'm sure I would ride them equally, but only have so much room in the garage and the pocketbook.
As another point of reference, I have gotten to build a couple Blur XC and LTs for a few friends. Of those two, I would not even bother with the XC, but the LTs are pretty sweet. Definitely burlier and ready to handle a pounding. The large Blur LT fit me best. It still has a slightly shorter and more upright riding position than the similarly outfitted Epiphany. The all mountain component X.9 setup was a little heavier than my Epiphany X0 stuff. In order of preference, I would choose the Epiphany, then Spot, the LT: but it is really splitting hairs. They are all sweet bikes and I have found that my riding style and position gets used to the slight differences very quickly without problem. I think this would be the case for most who shop these bikes. They all give you lots of smiles per mile.
I know this is a very expensive frame, but the quality look of the tubing, welds, and anodizing have me convinced it is not an inexpensive bike to produce. The proof, though, is the ride. I could not be more pleased with the ride. It has definitely been worth my money.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Vince Noce
a Weekend Warrior
from Ridgeland, Mississippi, Madison Date Reviewed: November 4, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Clear springs
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$3850.00
Purchased At:
RBikes.com
Strengths:
I'm not sure wher to begin - the Epiphany does so everything so much better (and differently) than any other bike I've owned. The craftmanship is flawless - did you ever hear of a maker that finishes the INSIDE of the tubes? Smooth, fast, stable, predictable and forgiving. ICT rules.
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Fisher, Jamis, Fuji
Bike Setup:
Large, Smoke frame with Manitou Minute 3 SPV fork, Rock Shox MC3 Rear Shock (killer) SRAM XO gears, X-O trigger shifters, TruVativ Stylo Team GXP cranks, Juicy Sevens, Chris King headset, TruVativ Team stem, seat post and bars, Mavic wheels with Chris King hubs and GEAX tires.
Bottom Line:
I think the Epiphany is what everybody thinks of when they picture the perfect bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Justin
a Cross Country Rider
from UK Date Reviewed: November 4, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Afan Argoed
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1268.00
Purchased At:
Freeborn
Strengths:
Build Quality, attention to detail, Ride quality, Climbing ability, Descending ability, Great fun, Great design - what more can you say?
Weaknesses:
Errr - makes cup of coffee... comes back Errr - nope can't think of any
Similar Products Used:
5 Spot, Nomad, Whyte 46
Bike Setup:
07 Vanilla's, Hope Pro II's on 717's, XO mech/shifters, Juicy carbons, WTB Rocket V Stealth, Thomson pin/stem, OS Monkeylite XC's, XT cranks
Bottom Line:
I rode a few bikes before going for an Epiphany - 5 Spot was great, Nomad was awesome but the Epiphany impressed me the most. Its light, climbs brilliantly but descends well too. The frame is bult to a high standard, I love the metal head badge and the forward facing seat clamp - and the anodized finish is so tough...
Most of all though, the reason I love this bike so much is that its just so much fun too ride - thats what we do this for heh ?
If your hucking of 5ft drops than obviously this bike isn't for you - the frame weighs 5.4 lbs so it isn't built for that kind of caper...
Otherwise if you just want a great all round bike that can climb and descend and put a big grin on your face then you should really do yourself a favour and look at an Epiphany..
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
J.B. Yelverton
a Cross Country Rider
from Texarkana Date Reviewed: November 2, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Camp Preston Hunt - Texarkana
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$5000.00
Purchased At:
Bike Mart - Frisco, TX
Strengths:
Exceptional balance, handling, and climbing performance. Stunning good looks with a fit and finish second to none in the industry.
Fox Talas RLC, XTR Cranks, SRAM X.0 Shifters, Crossmax SL Disc wheelset, Avid Juicy Carbon brakes, SRAM X.0 Rear derailleur and XTR front derailleur, WTB Laser V Team Issue saddle, Thomson Layback seatpost and Thomson Stem, FSA K-Force 31.8 handlebar, Chris King headset, Maxxis Ignitor 2.1 UST Tires.
Bottom Line:
I have owned some of the best bikes out there and I have to put this one at the top of the list for overall performance. I enjoyed the CDale Prophet and it is a versatile bike. Also, I had a carbon S-Works that was a piece of art and performed very well. The EPIPHANY, however, has that special something that is so hard to find. That just right feel. The whole bike seems to mesh with the rider and you seem to float through the trail. Another thing is that it has a lot more soul than the S-Works. I can't believe how good this thing climbs and you never seem to use all the travel, because the suspension actually works. It is not as dependent on the shock as other designs are. The ICT does what it claims. My advice, if you are ready to buy the ultimate bike, look no further. The Ellsworth Epiphany may be the most versatile, capable and fun bike available.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ari Rapoport
a Cross Country Rider
from Mexico City Date Reviewed: October 30, 2006
Favorite Trail:
All
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$4300.00
Purchased At:
rbikes
Strengths:
Climming, I was able to climb a "wall" that was impossible for me! Downhill, Improve mine performance in a 100% (no kiding)
Weaknesses:
Not that I found
Similar Products Used:
Trek 9.8, Gary Fisher 2+
Bike Setup:
Nixon 145mm (incredible), front and back deliur xtr, fox float rp23 (incredible)
Bottom Line:
I go out tree times a Week for 2 hours at 2,500 meters (8,200 feet) high in verry difficult trails, this bike made me a better rider, I don´t now if is the bike better or it give you the security to try thinks that you where afraid!!! I´m glat that Mike Richard and his team at rbikes.com adviced me to go for this bike!!! This is a bike for riders that want to improve the fun factor, and all the other stuff!!! Worth every dolar
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andrew Eales
a Weekend Warrior
from New Zealand Date Reviewed: October 7, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Skyline Wellington
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$5000.00
Purchased At:
Bikesmith
Strengths:
Great build quality, Smooth lines, Overall handling on the trail and its responce is a cut above the rest.
Weaknesses:
None with the bike , but the rider needs more time in the saddle.
Similar Products Used:
Anthem & Epic
Bike Setup:
XO front and rear, magura sl carbon breaks, monkey sl bar,Thompson elite seat post,FAS headset,Hope 2 hubs, Raceface deus cranks, fox float rlc,Fizik gobi seat, hutchinson python tubeless, ZTR olympic rims with stans,lizard skins lock ons, time carbon pedals.
Bottom Line:
Get one and you will know.Its has taken everything that ive thrown at it and performed out of this world.Ive set mine up as more of a light weight XC but it has more than handled the all mountain country side that we get here in NZ.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Al
a Cross Country Rider
from North Yorkshire, England Date Reviewed: September 26, 2006
Favorite Trail:
North York Moors, Swaledale
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$5040.00
Strengths:
Build quality, marble blue anodised finish, frame geometry, you dont see many on the hills.
Weaknesses:
Rear brake hose clanks on bottom of top tube, saves getting a bell though.
Similar Products Used:
Ellsworth Isis for 5 years, Blur XC, Blur LT
Bike Setup:
Fox TALAS RLC forks, SRAM XO gears, X-O carbon shifters, FSA K-force carbon cranks, Hope M4 with braided hoses & floating disks, Chris King headset, Mavic Crossmax XL wheels, Thompson X4 stem, Thompson lay back seat post, FSA K-force carbon riser bars, SDG Bell Air saddle, Crank Bro's Candy SL pedals, ODI lock on grips, Panaracer Trailraker, Trailblaster tyres, titanium bolt kit.
Bottom Line:
The Isis was a superb bike but decided it was time for a change. Came across this brand new Epiphany and what a bike it is. Excellent geometry and it feels like a fast xc race bike to ride but far more bullet proof. A very fast and very responsive bike with positive feel. Climbing is rapid, getting the power down is rapid, downhill decents are soaked up by the 5" travel. The speed at which this gets you down is mind blowing, without being scarey. Slow technical riding is perfectly balanced. I tried the Blur XC, a fast bike, tried the Blur LT which seemed tall and a hand full, the Epiphany feels a bit like the XC but with a lot more hidden capability. This bike meets all my requirements of a mountain bike. The build of this bike makes it light and good for xc, enduro events or hardcore blasts of insanity. I wont be moving on from the Epiphany for a LONG time. It does it all, exceptionally well and looks mint.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
francisco sierra
a Cross Country Rider
from new york Date Reviewed: September 23, 2006
Favorite Trail:
carelesswhisper
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Sierra Cycles N.Y
Strengths:
All......
Weaknesses:
NOne!
Similar Products Used:
All.....
Bike Setup:
my epi is built with fox 140forntend king head industry wheels x-o'ed out .....
Bottom Line:
Smash the piggy and get tow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
merwin adenan
a Cross Country Rider
from jakarta, indonesia Date Reviewed: September 16, 2006
Favorite Trail:
cibubur, sentul
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2197.00
Purchased At:
lbs
Strengths:
Frame finish and quality, great handling, lighweight. It climbs like crazy, too many to mention
Submitted by
francisco martin
a Downhiller
from en y Date Reviewed: September 12, 2006
Favorite Trail:
careless whisper
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Sierra Cycles N.Y
Strengths:
strong.smooth on the gardens.stifffffffffffff.plushyy awsom ride..
Weaknesses:
none!
Similar Products Used:
just about all..store owner from tow generations
Bike Setup:
fox 40rc2 dhx coil rcs ti spring e13 guide rf crancks mokey dh bars hadley hubs mavic 823 rims rf stem rf s/poast freek seat durace short cage rd 12 25 sram sproker sram rocket shifters jucy black box brakes odi grips 3.0 front gozzy tire 2.7 rear gozzi......
Bottom Line:
(((((((((((((go to the bank and get one )))))))))))))))
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tetra
a Weekend Warrior
from London Date Reviewed: August 17, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
All Terrain Cycles
Strengths:
Very light, so agile and comfortable. Great looking. Took it up its first incline on single track and the bike just took off. Felt like I had a motor! Massive grin factor going uphill! Getting to steeper uphills and it was the same story. Downhill - well, I'm now looking for some more hardcore terrain. Munches through the big stuff and glides the rapids.
Weaknesses:
Seems like quite a high BB. Have to have my seat pretty high to get efficient riding position (but I have got long legs). Unfortunately, I don't have the skill to fully test this bike.
Similar Products Used:
Have been riding Trek Liquid 25 for 3 years and snapped 2 frames (just see the Trek Liquid reviews to find out how common this is) Would be inappropriate to compare these two bikes - completely different league.
Bike Setup:
R/S Revelations with poplock, standard ICT tuned Float R, FSA Afterburner EXO crankset. All Bonty stuff from my old Trek - until I can afford to gradually upgrade.
Bottom Line:
I am reluctant to give the same gushing praise that most of these reviewers offer. I wanted to give a considered opinion giving the full story from a critical standpoint. So, here goes... This bike is so agile and climbs better than any full sus I've ridden. Feels natural to ride and didn't take any 'bedding-in' to get used to it. Fit like a glove from the first minute. Smooth rear suspension without feeling like your in an old sofa. ICT works a treat. I'm so chuffed I took the plunge - metaphorically and physically! This bike will eat anything you throw at it...and more. Gushing praise is nothing more than this wheeled artwork deserves!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jason
a Weekend Warrior
from Orange County Date Reviewed: July 27, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Chiquito
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$2395.00
Purchased At:
The Path Bike Shop
Strengths:
Everything. What can I say that hasn't already been said? If you see someone on a trail with one, ask to try it out and see for your self. I've been trying to find a bike that rides close to it and haven't found one yet. Oh, and the black/blue ano looks AMAZING. Laser etching instead of stickers or paint + ano keeps the frame looking new and scratch free (maybe a few small ones, but nothing like powder coating or paint)
Weaknesses:
None. Even at 2395, it's worth every penny. I was worried when I 1st got it b/c no reviews were out yet, but after my first ride my worries were over. The craftsmanship alone surpasses everything else out there. Compare it to the 1895 you'll spend on a 5-spot or intense and you'll see where the extra 500 went just by looking at it.
I've had the bike for almost a year now (got it nov '05) and put over 1000 miles on it so far. This bike does everything, and it does it fast and smooth. I ride 2-3 times a week on all the local trails in SoCal. Stair Steps, Linx, Luge, T&A, Goat, etc and this bike takes them all with ease. It's amazing how stable and controllable this bike is. It makes you want to push it to it's limits, but you'll find that you'll reach your limits 1st! The light weight and ICT (& the custom tuned float r) makes it climb like a hard tail and descend like no other 5" travel bike. I tried everything in it's class and this one tops the cake. I spent months studying susp technology and asking people I met on the trails if I could try out there bike and it paid off. I'm an old bmx'r at heart and this thing just makes riding fun. Go ahead, let go of the brakes and let the bike do the work... just hold on and enjoy the ride! The bottom line is, buy this bike and you wont be sorry. Just make sure you spend the time to set the bike up for your weight and size, it makes a difference!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jason Ostrowski
a Weekend Warrior
from Tinley Park, IL Date Reviewed: June 21, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Three Ravines
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$3900.00
Purchased At:
Rbikes.com
Strengths:
First of all it's made in the USA so I am supporting my own economy and not someone else’s. Next I would have to say that the bike rides incredibly smooth. I found out that it was rated #1 in Buyer’s Guide and I can see why after one day of riding.
Weaknesses:
Wife gets mad because I spend to much time on the trail now.
Bike Setup:
My bike comes equiped with SRAM, Easton and Shimano Components, Mavic tubeless rims and a Manitou fork which I was surprisingly pleased with. I went with the Nebula Blue paint job which you have to see it in person to see how amazing it looks.
I did some research on the Internet about several bikes before I went into Richards or Rbikes.com (whichever). I got a great deal on the price and was really impressed at how knowledgeable the staff was, they gave me a lot of insight on what I was buying and also on other bikes it compares to. They told me about a couple of trails in the area that I didn't know existed and were just a great bunch of people - very down to earth. I am so glad to have a store like this right in my neighborhood.
Bottom Line:
Bottom line is that the bike rides with such efficiency it is mind-blowing. I glide over rocks and logs like its nothing. Going up hill is like I am riding on pavement – the technology advances in the mountain biking industry is becoming extremely advanced. The best price I found online was at RBikes and their customer service was definately something to talk about.
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Submitted by
Aaron Grant
a Weekend Warrior
from Hong Kong Date Reviewed: May 12, 2006
Favorite Trail:
tai lam country park - China
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2345.00
Purchased At:
Flying Ball Hong Kong
Strengths:
This thing motors....first dual suspension bike. So light and balanced, gives you alot more confidence on the heavier trails. Can also ride for so much longer without fatigue, though some adjustment to responsiveness of machine relative to a heavy hard tail. Extra cash paid - you get back real quick by ability to have longer rides and more fun.
Weaknesses:
addictiveness
Similar Products Used:
first Ellsworth.
Bike Setup:
Epiphany, Tala36 forks, with X.O Sram front shifter and levers, XTR front der, SRAM 9 back der, SRAM 9 cassette, Hope stems and brackets. Mavic XL's, & Avid Juicy 7's.
Bottom Line:
This things is soo good I had to buy one for my wife because I was spending too much time on the trail.... Used to ride for about 2-3 hours and need a kip afterwards, now about 4-5 hours on the trail and no kip required. Also was able to hit some of the down hill tracks, with the guys wearing full face helmets!!! Also if in Hong Kong and need to get set, and I mean realistic, not just walking in a shop and them pulling out the latest XTR or X.O gear, but more suited to what you are trying to do them I recommend Flying Ball, Hong Kong (that is if you are over this way).
Cheers Aaron
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Submitted by
Marek
a Cross Country Rider
from Palos Heights, IL. USA Date Reviewed: May 2, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Palos woods
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$2100.00
Purchased At:
Bio-wheels
Strengths:
Climbs very well, no pedal bob at all, light frame for 5" travel bike, got the bike to 27.5 lbs, quality of the frame and attention to detail, very well balanced, predictable handling, standover height.
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Liquid, Id,
Bike Setup:
Large 19" frame, Spinergy whelset, XT crank, XTR deruilers, FSA stem, Easton Monkey lite bars, Thomson post, Grimeca brakes, Fox Vanilla fork
Bottom Line:
Great bike, very plush, I am over 200 lbs, it took me a while to get used to since I was riding old Trek hardtail before Ells, but since it is just a joy ride.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
reg
a Cross Country Rider
from Brisbane Date Reviewed: April 29, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$3900.00
Purchased At:
direct
Strengths:
as an all mountain/xc bike the epiphany offers it all, climbs better than a hardtail/shorter travel bike, light (26lbs without going crazy on spec), decends confidently, every drop feels like you landed it perfectly, and theres no hint of pogo'ing, all the drop force seems to get translated into speed out of the drop.
Weaknesses:
for most people this will really only be the price.
Similar Products Used:
liquid, yeti 575, heckler,
Bike Setup:
full xtr, crossmax sl's, ea70 post,fizik gobi saddle, monkey lite bars, oury grips, talas fork.
Bottom Line:
its going to be hard to get a bike with as much USEABLE travel so light and confidence inspiring. There are alot of similar travel bikes out there that dont deliver the same feel.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tony Cancio
a Weekend Warrior
from Manila Date Reviewed: April 10, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2395.00
Purchased At:
Sabak Sports
Strengths:
THIS IS ONR GREAT BIKE.
Bottom Line:
Sorry about the mistype in the previous message. The price paid should read $ 2,395.00
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Scott
a Weekend Warrior
from Aliso Viejo Date Reviewed: March 17, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Stair Steps
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$5000.00
Purchased At:
The Path Bike Shop
Strengths:
Attention to detail, workmenship. Very light weight for a 5.25 inch travel bike. 70 degree head angle is spot on.
Weaknesses:
You might have to mortage your house to purchase.
Similar Products Used:
Intense Tracer, Turner XCE
Bike Setup:
Mavic CrossMax SL, X.0 throughout for shifting, Race Face Deus Cranks, Fox Talas RLC, Fox Float, King Headset, Thomson seat post and stem.
Bottom Line:
This bike rocks! I was very nervous, hesitant about throwing down my hard earned cash on this frame because I absolutely loved my XCE. However I was looking for a bike similar with respect to setup, geometry, but with a tad bit more suspension in the rear. Enter the Epiphany! My one and only complaint pertaining to the XCE was running the Fox Talas RLC in 5 inch mode where the bike was designed, speced to deal with a 4 inch travel fork. In terms of comparison I feel the Ellsworth is more pedal efficient, climbs better. I can't explain why, but it just feels like it's more responsive to pedaling forces pure and simple. In tight single track terrain this bike rocks. On the downhill front the jury is still out. Both bikes seemed more than able to handle what I dished out, however I will say the extra 1.25 inch in the rear without the extra weight penalty is sweet. I have experienced absolutely no flex whatsoever as previous reviewer describes. This bike is stiff and fast. After 3 months on the trails I have absolutely zero complaints whatsoever to report. If you happen to live in the SoCal area go see the boys at The Path Bike Shop. In my opinion there is no better shop in town!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tony Cancio
a Cross Country Rider
from Philippines Date Reviewed: March 1, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Santa Rosa Trails
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1395.00
Purchased At:
Sabak Sports and Adventure
Strengths:
Climbs really well. Feels like the Moment climbing only lighter and faster. The Epiphany takes to twisty trails like a duck to water. Going down technical single track or wide open fire roads you can let loose and trust the bike to be your friend!
Weaknesses:
The opinion from ths side of the world is that the previous anodized finish with the coarser finish was better than the fine powder coat like finish. Technically, the bike is a fine work of engineering. Multi bar linkage at its finest.
Similar Products Used:
Id, Truth, Moment
Bike Setup:
Marzocchi All Mountain SL, Avid Juicy 7, XTR shifters and derailleurs, Chris King hubs with Mavic F219 rims.
Bottom Line:
The Ellsworth Epiphany tag line "when you experience the truth in a moment you have an epiphany" is not an empty line. In fact, it is the exact phrase that comes to mind when you are properly set-up and you ride the Epipahny the first time. It just puts a smile on your face and at the end of your 4 hour ride that smile is still there.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
darryl
a Cross Country Rider
from kirkland Date Reviewed: February 24, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Whistle Lake
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$800.00
Purchased At:
Warranty upgrade
Strengths:
Geometry, climbs great like a 4" bike, plush, light weight, nice ano finsh
Weaknesses:
Frame flex
Similar Products Used:
Flux, ID, 5.5, Blur, Superlight, KHS 904r
Bike Setup:
Fox Talus 125mm, XT hollow crank, XT fr der,XTR RR rear der, Fox Rp3. Mavic 819/king hubs Panracers Cinder 2.1, Hayes brakes
Bottom Line:
This is a sweet ride, when I lower the forks it climbs almost as well as the Flux. With the forks out to 125mm it still will out climb most 3-4" bikes. I did note some frame flex under power. Enough that I had to angle the front Der. outward to keep the chain from rubbing when under moderate power or climbing. It turns well and is a nice step up from the ID I have only have a dozen rides on it now and will check later Yes keep an eye on the bolt at the top of the shock where it connects to the Mg rocker arm, it backed out and almost fell out on my first ride after 30 min.
$ 2395.00
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