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Submitted by
Nik
a Cross Country Rider
from Scotland
Date Reviewed: July 24, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Dunno, still searching | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | Edinburgh Bike | | Strengths: | It does what it's supposed to and it's not made out of hairy scary carbon fibre like the newer ones. | | Weaknesses: | Difficulty sourcing a replacement shock (not that I need one, just that I can source pivots and bushing and not the shock). Chain suck. | | Similar Products Used: | Never riden any other full susser in anger before this. | | Bike Setup: | Thomson post and stem, X.O rear mech and shifters, Hope xc hubs + Mavic XM819s, Chris King headset, Race Face atlas cranks and bars, Rock Shox Revelations 426 U-turn, Formula Oro K24 xc brakes. | | Bottom Line: | I got the frame last november when my favourite bike shop discovered this hanging in a window, or in a box in the basement, or something like that. Untill that point I had been looking for a Carrerra LRS (a cheaper version of the Merida LRS but still made by Merida) frame having decided to bite the bullet and make the jump to F/S. Obvoiusly when I saw this I couldn't resist and everything's just been a fantastic love story since. I absolutly love this bike. I love the way I can only just tell the difference tanking up steep single track on the rare occasion I now get back on my hard-tail (and I'm 200+lbs). I love the fact it's lighter than all my mate's bikes (except the one's who've got nice hardtail's). I love the way it magically turns into a really nice Full Susser (not just cleverly turning into a poor bump absorber) when you need it. I love the confidence it's given me to push my riding. I just love this bike. It's stiff, it's light it's fast, and it's lovely over bumpy stuff.
Obviously you'll be hard pushed to find one of these new these days, but maybe you're an XC rider who enjoys the odd bit of fun pointing your bike downhill, likes riding their trusty hard-tail and you're considering buying the new Epic (now has the same M5 tubing this frame had) or looking at a 2nd hand one of these on eBay... who knows, but if you find yourself choosing between this and something else and can't make up your mind then... | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael Galinger
a Cross Country Rider
from Cincinnati, OH USA
Date Reviewed: November 17, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Cave Run, Eastfork, Westwood | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1400.00 | | Purchased At: | Mathews | | Strengths: | Light weight full-suspension racer
Brain shock is amazing
Fastastic climber | | Weaknesses: | Maybe price?
| | Similar Products Used: | First full-suspension | | Bike Setup: | X.0 Drivetrain, Crossmax wheelset, Thompson stem and post, Monkey Lite riser, Avid BB7's | | Bottom Line: | This is a follow-up post from earlier. I have been on this bike for almost 2 years and it continues to amaze me. I wish it had the technology of the new Brain Fade rear shock, but it is still a fantasic bike. I have never had a problem with the rear suspension/linkage that you read about with other full-suspension bikes. This is the real deal. Specialized is a quality company who make fansastic products. Only the best of the best ideas go into their S-Works line-up and it shows. If you are in the market for a new Epic, you will not be disapointed. You get what you pay for! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul
a Cross Country Rider
from Acworth, Ga
Date Reviewed: April 13, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Aska- Tsali | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | durable, responsive, efficient, Specialized warranty and a hell of alot of fun to ride. | | Weaknesses: | rear derailluer cable routing can make for some sticky shifting if not cleaned regularly and a little heavy. | | Similar Products Used: | I have tried several hardtail and FS bikes. | | Bike Setup: | XT Drive Chain/shifter, Avid SD7 brakes and levers, Valliant rims with XTR hubs, Thompson Elite seat post and stem, WTB Lazer seat, Hutch Pythons. Bike size is XL. | | Bottom Line: | I am 6-4, 210lbs and I would consider my riding type as cross mountain (mix between cross country and downhill). I bought this bike new in 2003 and have put over 2,500 all trail miles on it. With the exception of chain suck (caused by crappy Shimano Chain rings and can be fixed with a file) this bike has performed flawlessly. This is not a plush ride and Specialized never intended it to be. This is a cross country racing rig that is geared for explosive performance. It is truly a mix between a hardtail and a FS bike. If you are looking for a super squishy ride, do not buy. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lars Andersen
a Cross Country Rider
from Copenhagen, Denmark
Date Reviewed: January 3, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | "The Blue Trail" - Rude Forest | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Road Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Hardtail when you need it - softtail when you need it | | Weaknesses: | Chain Suck (big time) | | Similar Products Used: | None actually | | Bike Setup: | Manitou, XTR... | | Bottom Line: | Best bike I have ever tried - period. I felt at home on it instantly the first time I tried it. Great geometry, great suspension. Great bike.
The chain suck issue is a problem though. I solved it by removing the small chainring, and I now ride with just 30t and 40t in front. It works very well in danish conditions but probably not in the mountains.
I am not entirely happy with buying a costly high-end bike that has chain suck problems. I was just told that it is not included in the warranty. Hmmmm... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ettore Guarnaccia
a Cross Country Rider
from Padova, Italy
Date Reviewed: November 30, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | XC, marathon, excursions | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Look, automatic suspension, works great, good drive, it's a razor on singletracks. Very good frame. | | Weaknesses: | weak painting, a little heavy for XC, price!!! | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | XTR/XT, Marzocchi MX Comp ETA, Mavic X223, Specialized Strongarm II, Truvativ, Easton, Selle Italia SLR | | Bottom Line: | I really love this bike, as I can drive it and as I can look at it! I think I will buy the new model as soon I will have the cash!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kristin
a Cross Country Rider
from Eden, UT, Sedona, AZ, Lake Tahoe
Date Reviewed: November 6, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Slickrock, Moab | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$3200.00 | | Purchased At: | Bingham Cycles, Ogden, UT | | Strengths: | Light, agile, responsive, rides like a hard tail. Excellent climber. Handles all the rocks, ruts, roots. | | Weaknesses: | The occassional chain suck. The SID shock is weak, and had to be replaced by the more agressive riders I know. It has been replaced with a Fox in 04 & 05. | | Bike Setup: | Kenda tires | | Bottom Line: | I love this bike, it's worth every cent. I have never had a problem with the brain on climbs. I have owned it since August 03. My husband has one also, his is a bit heavier than mine, I ride the male (small) This bike is the best of both worlds - a full suspension hard tail. This is a great cross country, climber racer, not a big hit bike.
If you are used to riding a heavier full suspension it takes getting used to but you'll fall in love with it once you ride it for a while. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave McCrimmon
a Racer
from San Jose, CA
Date Reviewed: September 8, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Trail Head Cyclery | | Strengths: | Climbs like a goat, no bob, fast accelleration, excellent in technical switchbacks | | Weaknesses: | Heavy, super stiff on stutter bumps | | Bike Setup: | XTR/XT, V-Brakes, Fox F80X, Easton Carbon Bars & Post, WTB Saddle & Tires, RaceFace Stem | | Bottom Line: | This is an extremely heavy hardtail! My Diamond Back Axis TT is smoother than this thing in on fast stutter bump terrain and weighs 3 pounds less. Although I really love the way this bike climbs. The geometery allows the frontend to stick to the ground, whereas my old SC Superlight frontend wouldn't stay planted no matter what stem length I had on it. This was the main reason I decided to get the S-Works Epic over the Blur.
This bike is called the Epic, I have raced it at the Cascade Cream Puff 100 and had to get off a few times because my hands and feet were beat to death. I race this race a few years back on my Superlight and my body felt much better when I finished. I did finish 1.5 hours faster but actually trained this time and spent some good quality time in the gym.
If you are looking for a good XC race bike, this bike will meet your goal. In '04 they took out 0.5lbs but your still looking at a 25lb race bike unless you go nuts on the ultralight no durability parts. Stick to stuff that works and the bike is going to weigh 0.5lbs to 1lb more than any other racing FS. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Frederik
a Cross Country Rider
from Denmark
Date Reviewed: July 20, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$920.00 | | Purchased At: | Brixtoncycles UK | | Strengths: | Great handling, no bob, stiff, just follows the trail, rides like a full blood fully | | Weaknesses: | Little heavy, expensive retail price, chain suck | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale Jekyll, Blur, GT I-D | | Bike Setup: | XTR, XT, Hope, Fox, Ritchey | | Bottom Line: | The ultimate xc bike. Goes fast up and down. That best trail/xc bike for danish conditions (no mountains and little rocks), but if you live in the Rockys you might consider the Enduro. It dosn't get any better than this. The ratail price draws the value rating down a little. Buy the 03 on sale don't need to wait for the 04. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael
a Cross Country Rider
from Indianapolis, IN
Date Reviewed: March 12, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Cave Run, KY | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1400.00 | | Purchased At: | Matthews | | Strengths: | Light, Comfortable, Fast, Nimble | | Weaknesses: | Price | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Full XTR besides XT Cranks, Thompson Stem/Seatpost, MonkeyLite Carbon Riser, Egg Beaters, LaserV Stealth Saddle, X517 Rims, Stan's NoTubes | | Bottom Line: | Buy this bike. It is a great ride for almost any situation. Climbs fast, descends with confidence and makes up for your mistakes. I use to ride a Stumpjumper, but I wanted something a little more forgiving on the rear end. This is a great trail/cross country/race horse! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David
a Racer
from Littleton, CO
Date Reviewed: February 28, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2900.00 | | Strengths: | Works as advertised
More fun than hardtail
Perfect for epic rides | | Weaknesses: | Chainsuck
Some parts specs | | Bike Setup: | Mostly stock with some mods | | Bottom Line: | My perspective is that of an expert cross country racer owning his first full suspension bike in the Rocky Mountains.
Wow! This bike is a lot of fun on every ride. Climbing feels identical to my hardtail titanium bike. Descending is much more comfortable, and slightly faster. I don't notice any unlocking delay. Bumpy flats are the main advantage of this bike -- or any time you have some speed and want to pedal through stuff. The reduced beating makes a big difference on long rides. The 24 Hours of Moab course, for example, was like a different sport on this bike.
After a couple of rides, I thought the riser bars and set back post were not good for climbing, so I switched those out. I also switched the levers to rapdifire because the braking leverage with Dual Control was very weak. I put on Eggbeater twin ti pedals, and the bike weighs about 24.25 pounds -- 0.25 pounds more than my ti hardtail did.
I had a lot of problems with chainsuck from day 1. Other premature problems included the fork seizing up (melted o-ring) and the rear hub squeaking (dry freehub). The stock LX chain was extremely stretched after only a few weeks of moderate riding, which damaged my cassette. I switched to an XTR chain with a new small ring, and the chainsuck seems to have gone away for now. Is the LX chain contributing to the chainsuck problems?
This is a great bike that works unbelievably well. It seems like it's only a matter of time before most cross country bike designs converge in this direction. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Charles Jenkins
a Racer
from San Diego CA USA
Date Reviewed: January 23, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | San Juan Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | Black Mt Bikes | | Bottom Line: | The bike rules. It rides like a full suspension but feels and climbs like a hard tail. It really feels lighter than it is. The 2004 is not that much better. The only real difference is the new rear shock which I was able to get on my 03. I can't feel claimed weight difference. Especially sence I was able to ride an 04 Demo S-Works for a little over a month. I put a lot of miles on it so I would know. Either way you won't regret forking out the bones for one of these bike after you have ridden it. Happy trails.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff Bean
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: December 12, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Black Mountain, Hodges, Bernardo Peak | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1400.00 | | Purchased At: | Private Party | | Strengths: | Versatility. Stiff on climbs. Plush at the right times on hairy downhills and flats. The brain knows -- seriously. Freaking wild. | | Weaknesses: | Folks complain about weight. Clydedales won't care. Mash the pedals and you'll go fast. A little twitchy on 20 percent super tight, single-track deeply rutted, rock-strewn ascents. Lack of bob, though, is worth it. Power transferred to rear wheel, not any springs, shocks and other energy-wasting bells and whistles. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | XTR, XT, 517, SID SL, Avid Ti, Monkeylite, Time ATAC, Fizik Pave | | Bottom Line: | I use the bike for xc riding and winter commuting day and night through a protected reserve with wonderful trails that provide plenty of moderate ups and downs, rocks galore, ruts, sand, mud and dust. The Epic handles all beautifully. Perfect for motoring on these types of terrain. Hills? Just lock out the front fork and turn the pedals over. You'll be to the top in no time. And surprise, loves to catch air (no cliff jumping for me) with great landings and excellent rebound to keep your speed (30 mph+). Be sure to set the rear Fox psi properly and clicks for correct rebound. No a big deal to roll on pavement in between the house and trail @ 20 mph). I'm a convert. Had all kinds of advice from "unbiased" sales dudes on other MTB like Ellsworth Truth. Well, truth is I trusted a friend who has Epic S-Works FSR. Not disappointed at all. A true pleasure that leverages every ounce of your leg strength, lung capacity and handling abilities. Two bottle cages perfect to use one for JETS super bright light battery. Just damn fun in the sun or under the starts. Amazing. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richard
a Racer
from Shaaakopee, USA
Date Reviewed: November 16, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Slickrock | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1335.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Great handling, no suspension bob when climbing, suspension is there when you need it, nice annodized black finish. | | Weaknesses: | A little heavy (1/2 pound lighter for '04). More race oriented - casual riders may want more plushness. $2000 retail for a welded in Taiwan frame????? | | Similar Products Used: | 2001 S-Works FSR (same bike but it bobs, not as fast feeling), 2004 Fuel 100 (demo-lack of suspension bob is impressive, but the suspension is not as good as Specialized's). | | Bike Setup: | 2003 S-works medium black, Fox F80x(awesome), '03 XTR cranks/bottom bracket, Crossmax UST, 2002 XTR shift/brakes. | | Bottom Line: | For a racer or performance-oriented XC rider, this is the best bike that I have ridden (haven't been on a Blur/Spider yet, though). Set up with the Fox fork with the same valve, I call this my "Doctor Jekyll/Mister Hyde" bike. When the trail is smooth, it is as responsive as a rigid hardtail. When the going gets rough, you have full suspension. And there is little noticable transition in between. Some complain about this transition, but the adjustable version of the "Brain" on '04 bikes should take care of this. And as far as some mag editors' complaints about bunnyhopping this bike: give me a break. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul
a
from Acworth, Ga. USA
Date Reviewed: November 11, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | well made, tracks great, very plush when needed, brain, great geometry | | Weaknesses: | a little heavy in rear, slight chain suck issues. price. | | Similar Products Used: | NRS, Sugar, Carve | | Bike Setup: | bike is an XL, XT drive and shifters, 929's, Cane Creek WAM's, SD7's, F80RL in the front. | | Bottom Line: | This is the best cross country bike I have ever been on. The bike improved my riding ability immediately. The bike reacts like a hard tail but once the brain kicks in, its smooth as butter. It takes a little getting used to but I think this is the way of the future. Fox and Specialized have broken the mold with this one. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nate
a Racer
from Reno
Date Reviewed: October 21, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | College Cyclery | | Strengths: | Does just what it says
-over sized pivots, built for abuse
-plush suspension (when it's engaged)
| | Weaknesses: | -maybe a little heavy, but if you're a bigger person the ratio evens out.
-Price, if you pay retail
-Bottom bracket height could be a little higher | | Similar Products Used: | Superlight, Blur, FSR, many hardtails | | Bike Setup: | -XTR
-Crossmax Tubeless
-C. King
-Fox Float 100 | | Bottom Line: | This was a warrantee return from Specialized. I broke last year's S-Works frame and they had me going again within two weeks. A full frame swap, a beautiful thing.
I was very skeptical at first and wanted to sell it to get a Spider or Blurr, but kept on. Now I'm glad I did. Not to take anything away from the Blurr of Spider, they're both great rides too.
I love this bike a lot. I works great! And it's very strong for its weight. I've even raced downhill on it at Angel Fire, NM because I couldn't fit my DH rig on da plane.
The first time I really noticed the Brain was riding over a very rough and faily wide creek bed, the plushness of the suspension made it very easy to keep my line at speed. When I got to the other side there was a very steep bank to go up, so I had to stand and hammer. There I was on a hardtail, and shot right up the other side. No Bob, and no questions!
Great Bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Case
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Gatos, Ca.
Date Reviewed: October 21, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Mt. Elden Flagstaff, Az. | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Light....Powerful...Efficient | | Weaknesses: | Ability to set the release point of the shock. | | Similar Products Used: | There is nothing like it. | | Bike Setup: | Everything but Shimano. | | Bottom Line: | If you want a bike that accelerates when you pedal and sucks up shock when you need it...this is it. People complain about the unpredictability of the shock. If you are going fast and there is compression it will release...if you are poking around it wont. I can not stand riding a pogo stick. This is the best technology on the market. Can't wait for the fork! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
L.A. P.
a Racer
from Fayetteville, NC
Date Reviewed: October 1, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Pisgah, Moab | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$4000.00 | | Purchased At: | Chapel Hill | | Strengths: | Descends well on rocks roots and gravel when at a moderate decline. | | Weaknesses: | Too Heavy. This bike is way too heavy in the tail end. The 2002 S-Works FSR had the shock below the seat, and the center of gravity of the bike was excellent. The 2003 has the brain shock and linkage and the weight is significantly more and farther back. I went from being very competitive on the 2002 to loosing several positions on the 2003 because of the weight.
Another significant difference is that the shock tube angle and the seatpost tube angle and position putting the rider 2-3 inches farther forward and thus decrease the angle of decent that you can safely traverse. I was going over the handlebar on descents I had easily raced on my hardtail SJ Pro just the year before on the same races.
I raced the bike twice, Wild 100 and Shenandoah 100, and then shelved the bike, built another one, my Trek 400 Soft Tail Pro. The 400 STP ended up being 5 lbs lighter and can descend a lot steeper angles. | | Similar Products Used: | 2002 S-Works FSR, Trek 400 STP | | Bike Setup: | M5 Frame, All XTR, Hugi Hubs, Mavic Rims, Panaracer Tires, Manitou Mars CL Shock. | | Bottom Line: | Do not believe the “descends like a Dual and climbs like a Hardtail.” Yes it climbs like a 30 lb Hardtail, but who has one that heavy. Yes it descends like a Dual, but only on moderate descents, nothing extremely steep. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John W.
a Cross Country Rider
from SLC, UT
Date Reviewed: September 23, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Trail 157 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2800.00 | | Strengths: | The bike is cool looking! | | Weaknesses: | The bike is heavy, the Brain is so-so technology, it rides too much like a hard tail. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 9.9, Gary Fisher Team Issue Carbon | | Bike Setup: | Completely custom to make as light as possible and still weighs almost 25 lbs. | | Bottom Line: | I wrote a review a while back when I first purchased this bike (see below). Nothing has changed regarding my opinion. I have even been contacted by Specialized reps telling me what I am doing wrong with the bike.
To make a long story short. Specialized has acknowledged the weight issue and the poor reactive Brain technology. For 2004 Specialized will add an adjustable valve to the Brain itself to change the damping on the shock from light to stiff. In effect, the Brain will gain a higher IQ. The second change will be the addition of a carbon fiber linkage arm and some shaving of the rear triangle to decrease the weight of the bike. Rumor has it that the decrease in rear triangle weight could be as much as 320 grams!
Bottom line. I think Specialized could gain a lot of PR points if they would be willing to exchange the 2003 rear triangle and Fox shock for the new 2004 technology. I would certainly be willing to pay an upgrade price if this were available. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Wolf
a Cross Country Rider
from Bend, OR, USA
Date Reviewed: September 18, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$4900.00 | | Strengths: | Form, function. | | Weaknesses: | None that are noteworthy. | | Similar Products Used: | Fisher Sugars, Treks, tons of others | | Bike Setup: | Bone stock, as spec'ed. | | Bottom Line: | First bike I've had in years that has made me enjoy riding, again. This thing truly is Epic. The shapes, the welds, the anodization, the linkages, the forged dropouts... this is a work of art. The way it performs on trail is just stunning. I'm railing descents like never before. In one word, "BALANCED". It doesn't get all out of shape. If you're cornering so hard it starts to slide, it's like it's predictable and not unsettling. I can slide both wheels through corners at the same time and it just hooks up, very little drama. Every corner it asks to be ridden harder and harder. Climbing, it's roomy enough to stand up and just kill it - firm beneath you - and if you happen upon technical rocky climbs, pound into them and after the first "hit" you're not getting bounced around too bad, just soaking them up with traction and speed. It's f*@#ing amazing all around. The rear shock kicks in at 1g, so running a few extra psi results in a more active rear shock. In other words, you'll get a softer ride by running more pressure than less. Sometimes when I go in the garage to grab a beer, I have to look at this thing for a minute. Like I used to do when I was 14. That's saying something, folks.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a Racer
from Baltimore, MD
Date Reviewed: September 6, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Brush Mtn, Blacksburg, VA | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Light St. Cycles | | Strengths: | Reactive shock system - it REALLY does ride like a hardtail when it should. Awesome geometry. Great seatpost w/ frame. 2004 parts spec & design mods are outstanding!!! | | Weaknesses: | Price, MFR's parts spec for complete bike. Also I think my chainstay is too close to my big ring... | | Similar Products Used: | Trek Fuel 100, Specialized Stumpy Pro, Schwinn Moab series | | Bike Setup: | '01 XTR drivetrain ('03 XT crankset/BB), Avid rim brakes, Sid shock, Chris King headset | | Bottom Line: | Had been shopping for the Epic for some time, but very unhappy with the parts spec (thought it needed disc brakes + tubeless for the price point). Managed to get the S-Works frame as a Manufacturer's replacement & upgrade for a flawed Stumpjumper pro frame. Upgraded a few parts, and 2 days later raced the Epic in a 24hr race as a solo. WHAT a RIDE! - this bike is really amazing!!! I didn't want the plush ride of a Sugar or Fuel, love the hardtail feel, but the full suspension on the Epic translate into huge performance gains while still keeping the bike under 26lbs. I'm a bigger rider (200 lbs) w/ less than perfect racing technique, and my setup is just about right for me. Think I'll upgrade next year to disc brakes.
This is a great bike for a very specific rider group, and for them it is a 5 Chili. If you're a free-rider or have a sensitive A$$, get something else... 4 Chilis on value because it is friggin expensive.
If you haven't heard about the 2004 S-Works Epic, you'll be very happy - dropped almost a pound off the '03 bike, manual adjustability on the Brain shock, tubeless are standard. One note - frames for '04 are either rim or disc specific. Hope to see a small price drop... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
robbie robinette
a Racer
from austin, tx usa
Date Reviewed: September 1, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | kennebeck | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | bicycle sport shop | | Strengths: | brain shock. build quality | | Weaknesses: | it's a bit heavier than last years bike. | | Similar Products Used: | 01, 02 s-works fsr, schwinn hardtails | | Bike Setup: | xtr, sid, x-max sl's, pythons | | Bottom Line: | First, this is a great bike.
The rear is great and does what you want. coupled with the sid (and remote lockout) I can hammer out of the saddle any time I want, even if it is only for a few pedal strokes. On courses with lots of short steep climbing this is essential. The bike is dramatically more efficient than last years bike.
The drawback is that the rear is not as plush as last years bike, this will occaisionally cause problems on very rough steep climbs and bumpy corners. That's the price you pay for the efficiency though and it is well worth it.
I never notice any transition from locked out to unlocked, the bike always seems to soak up bumps and be locked out whenever I am on the gas. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chance Richie
a Racer
from Bainbridge Island, WA
Date Reviewed: August 10, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Daniel's Road, Saratoga NY | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$4000.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay & Universal Cycles | | Strengths: | Awesome climber, fast on the downhills, Excellent agility | | Weaknesses: | Heavier than a hardtail (Duh!) | | Similar Products Used: | Enduro, S-lized hardtail. Demoed Ellsworth Truth | | Bike Setup: | Crossmax SL UST, Fox F100X, Raceface Next Cranks, Raceface Sig Ti BB, Chris King Headset, Thomson Elite seatpost and stem, Magura Marta SL's, '02 XTR shifters and '03 XTR deraileurs, Easton carbon bar, Tubeless Pythons | | Bottom Line: | The bottom line is that the bike rocks. I wanted to wait and write this review until after I raced it once. I am alot faster on this bike. I race sport 30-39 (a very competitive division) and most of the guys ride hardtails. I noticed no ill-effects from the extra weight incurred from the brain. Whatever (if anything) I lost on the climbs in weight I know I made up for with the combination of the Brain and the Fox F100X fork with Terralogic. This combination is a match made in heaven. It is definitely how S-lized should spec the bike in the future. It feels like you are climbing with a slightly heavy roadbike because there is no front or rear bob.
I keep speaking of the weight of the bike, but mine comes in just a shade above 25lbs. That ain't bad. I can climb sooo much better than I ever have been able to in the past and don't get beat to hell on the downhills. If you're not a racer, this would make an excellent trailbike. There is more than enough travel to make it so. I might still ride my hardtail on courses where it is only about climbing fireroads but that is it. I'm an Epic convert.
One last thing, I didn't have an opportunity to ride an Intense Spyder prior to buying my Epic. I have ridden Specialized since 1993 and believe in their products. If you are deciding on an XC race bike do yourself a favor and ride the Intense also. I have heard great things about it and it looked silky smooth and efficient when I was watching one of the experts on his. You can't go wrong with either one though.
Also, I bought my build kit from Universal Cycles on the web at www.universalcycles.com and took the frame down to them in Portland to have them build it up. They were $800 cheaper than Jenson or Supergo (and about $1200 cheaper than my LBS), didn't charge me for the build up, and there was no sales tax. They rock.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Alameda, CA
Date Reviewed: July 28, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Redtail | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$3500.00 | | Purchased At: | Alameda Bicycle | | Strengths: | Amazing climbing capability, absolutely NO bob at all
Super smooth across rough terrain
Very agile in tight corners and technical moves
Great frame geometry for all around riding
Tremendous fun and FAST, FAST, FAST. | | Weaknesses: | After a dozen rides, none to be found.
(rider needs some work, though) | | Similar Products Used: | Canondale Jekyll, FS Giant, and my trusty ol' Trek 990 | | Bike Setup: | Custom. All '03 XTR, including discs, hubs and Shimano tubeless wheelset, SID team, 959 pedals, ChrisKing headset, MonkeyLite, Thomson post. | | Bottom Line: | Fabulous execution on the part of Specialized. Very quick and responsive when climbing and cornering, and just floats across washboard and rough descents. This bike is agile and well controlled... it's simply a thrill to ride fast. The new XTR is fantastic. Great feel and stopping ability, fluid shifting, and the new Shimano hubs/wheelset are silky smooth.
In a word: Thrilling | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul Haskell
a Cross Country Rider
from Kent
Date Reviewed: July 9, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Elmstead Woods | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Frame only from Bromley Bike Co | | Strengths: | Looks great, Corners well and is a dream on downhills. 2 waterbottle holders. Easy to throw around and it was a dream come true. | | Weaknesses: | Seems quite heavy from a frame of that price. The brain seems to be female....It really has its moments. | | Similar Products Used: | First ever FSR and the other bikes arent worth talking about! | | Bike Setup: | Deore setup because I had to mortgage my house to get the frame! Only joking but it will be a while before I can afford the xt groupset! | | Bottom Line: | I am an intermediate novice xc cyclist that has never really been on a good trail. I use this bike mostly for commuting and pleasure cycling. I have dreamed of this frame ever since I saw it on the back of MTB magazine. If you can afford it buy it. If you cant...tough ####! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan
a Racer
from Deerfield, FL
Date Reviewed: July 7, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Purchased At: | BicycleGeneration.com | | Strengths: | Stiff, BRAIN really does as promised. Sensitive to inputs (for the XC Racers). Doesn't feel heavy because of fast response handling. | | Weaknesses: | A little heavy. Too sensitive to inputs on downhills amd headangle is steep. BRAIN loves to activate on climbs and kills momentum. | | Similar Products Used: | Giant NRS, Trek Fuel 100, '02 Specialized M5 full-suspension, Superlight, STP. | | Bike Setup: | Bike 1.) XT/XTR with SRAM 9.0 v-brakes, Crossmax wheels, Manitou Comp Fork, Thomson components.
Bike 2.) XTR/SRAM X.O. drivtrain. Crossmax wheels, with SID Team fork. Thomson Accessories. | | Bottom Line: | This bike really suprised me. The first time I road it, I had my doubts. Once I road it again, I started to become accustom to the odd feel of the bike. Perhaps the most noticeable feature was the bike was stiff on all the technical decents. When power was applied, the bike felt ready to go.
On the climbs, I knew I'd get a good feel. I noticed when you stood and hammered, the rear would activate and sometimes kill momementum because it was unexpected. Even worse is when the front is locked out on a climb and the rear tries to "huck" you off the bike. I wish they had a full lockout feature for the rear BRAIN. It did stay locked for most of the climbs and didn't have any excessive pedal-bob.
On the technical it felt like it was made to thrive. You could easily throw the bike around and know what to expect from it. The rear sometimes had a tendency to travel threw the shocks stroke too much and not have enough time for it to rebound and take another impact (even with full rebound). The bike was stiff and held its ground firm. With strong component choices you can throw pretty much anything at it and know it will stay in one piece. The chainline did seem to be an issue. When riding the big ring, anything other then 7-9th gear seemed to really stretch the chain (most full suspension can go up to 4th in the rear cog).
Riding the bike on the downhill to the finish seemed what it was best at. I think between flat, climbing, and decents, decents were where the bike showed its full potiental. When you got in a good rythem, the BRAIN seemed to stay open for extended periods allowing you to ride any line. Sometimes, however, it felt like the BRAIN closed up and doesn't open up fast enough for the rear FOX to travel smoothly.
I rated this bike only one from the highest because I believe there still is no "In-between Bike." I loved a hardtail on wide-open climbing courses and my full-suspension on technical downhill trails.
With a great riding Full-Suspension and rear lock-out, you can probably equalize or even surpase that of the EPIC. The EPIC will never be a "true" full-suspension or "true" hardtail. But it will always be the bike to have when you can't choose what bike to ride. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Val Atkinson
a Weekend Warrior
from Roseburg, Oregon
Date Reviewed: July 3, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Gooseberry Mesa | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Purchased At: | demo | | Strengths: | Standing climbing,sprinting | | Weaknesses: | too much like a hardtail,not good for slow technical riding. | | Similar Products Used: | 96 Ground Control,98 FSR Elite, 2000 Jekyll, 2001 Enduro Pro, 2002 NRS-2, 2002 FSR Disc, 2002 Enduro, 2003 Rockhopper FSR, 2003 VT-2, KHS Soft-tail. | | Bike Setup: | XTR everything | | Bottom Line: | Not my cup of tea! I have owned all the bikes listed above so am familiar with different suspension designs. This is a good California bike, for those that like to ride dirt roads uphill, then come back down the trail. I like my KHS soft-tail better. At least it always has a little bit of give to soak up the chop. The Epic is choppy like a hardtail, then only moves on a larger hit. One minute it beats you up, then the next it soaks up a decent sized bump. The soft-tail is smoother on the little chop, and climbs better as well, as it moves just enough to smooth your cadence. If you like the Epic, try a soft-tail, and you may just switch. The soft-tail gets better traction as well. I also like the standard FSR better as well. Just set the rear up fairly firm, and they climb smoother then the Epic, and decend way better. I thank my Specialized rep for loaning me an S-Works Epic for 3 days to demo for myself and my friends. I will stick with the standard FSR Stumpjumper, or Rockhopper FSR. The Epic is very twitchey on the downhills as well. My friend was going to sell his VT-2 to get an Epic, and changed his mind. This bike is a good race only bike. I would not get it for technical trail riding. The standard FSR climbs gnarly rough hills much better. If you ride up smooth fire roads, then go down fairly smooth trails with the ocassional mid size bump(like a Norba course) then you may like the Epic. If you like to go up nasty northwest singletrack, then back down, stick to a design like the FSR Stumpjumper, or Enduro, or the Giant VT-2 which climbs fairly well. Fox will have stable platform shocks for Enduros, and FSR's soon. That may be the ideal setup. For now it,s the tried and true FSR for me. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Blacksburg, Virginia
Date Reviewed: June 13, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Mountain Goat(Fraser ValleyCO) | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay, frame only | | Strengths: | stiff, fast, looks cool, climbs like a hyper monkey at the zoo, corners great, descends great, sprints great...did I forget anything? | | Weaknesses: | a little on the chunky side (but it is worth it!), price (but if you don't want to throw down big bucks, buy a lower-end version) | | Similar Products Used: | '01 FSR S-works (owned), '00 Rocky Mountain Element, T.O. (owned), Trek Fuel (demoed) | | Bike Setup: | Full '03 XTR, King hubs on Valiant and Mustang rims, Easton Carbon flat bar, Specialguys Team Master and Team Control tires, '03 Marzocchi Marathon SL...both front and rear shocks set up with low end of recommended air pressure. | | Bottom Line: | Best "stable platform" bike I have ridden. I love this bike! There is nothing new I have to say about it...the rear suspension works as advertised and reviewed...locks out until you experience upward force (ie: rock, root, drop). It flies on the flats, it corners just as a hardtail does, climbs better than a hardtail (bc it sucks up any bumps and remains locked out when there are none), and when you hit anything big: nice smooth, plush travel in the rear.
Here's the deal: if you want to free ride or a bike to drop off your garage with, do not buy this bike. However, if you want a cross country bike that goes fast and has the split personality of a hardtail and a full suspension (and knows when and which personality to exhibit), this is the bike for you.
It weighs only slightly more than my '01 FSR. And yeah, it will set you back some serious clams, but no one can complain about how much it costs when there are many cheaper viable options with the Epic Pro, Comp, etc.
This bike will race well, but will also perform just as well just to ride and ride and ride.
I have always prided myself on my climbing ability. When I switched from a hardtail to full suspension in 2000, I instantly handicapped myself among hartailers. I am excited to report that I no longer need my handicap parking tag! This bike ROCKS!
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike the man
a Racer
from Randleman,NC,27317
Date Reviewed: June 7, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | owls roost | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Strengths: | Stiff, reliable, no more bobbing, front triangle gives better spots for water bottles. The fastest bike available, period. | | Weaknesses: | The brain doesn't read your mind. A little heavy, but the weight can easily be fixed with good parts. | | Similar Products Used: | '00 S-Works FSRxc | | Bike Setup: | Cane Creek ZONOS Team Ti wheels, Stan's NO TUBES, Marzocchi Marathon, Chris King headset, TruVativ Stylo Team Crankset, '02 XTR(better than '03). | | Bottom Line: | The best cross country racer ever. The price is a little setback, because everone won't be able to experience this joy. The ONLY problem that I have noticed is that when approaching a rooty section, the first root will kick the rear end up in the air like a hardtail. But, when coming down, you have four inches of suspension under you. That takes a little getting used to.
If you are a racer, then save up and go for it. You won't regret it, I promise.
P.S. The price above was for the frame only, so stop getting your hopes up, pal.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pat Lemieu
a Racer
from Fargo, ND
Date Reviewed: May 22, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Maplelag | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$4880.00 | | Purchased At: | Island Park Cycles | | Strengths: | Everything, I used to think that Hardtail was the only way to go the Epic changed that. All my problems that I had with my Hardtail are gone. I love all the new XTR stuff everything on the bike works great. I am really pleased. | | Weaknesses: | The XTR V-Brakes I really dislike them. I am going to upgrade to disc for sure. | | Similar Products Used: | 2001 Specialized StumpJumper and StumpJumper Comp | | Bike Setup: | Completely Stock except for seat clamp. Hated the Quick Release got a Salsa Lip-Lock. | | Bottom Line: | This is the best racer out there. People need to throw out there hardtail and dual sus and buy themselves a Epic. The best bike I have ever ridden. The Epic climbs like a Hardtail and descends like a Dual Sus. Buy it if you are a racer. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jacksonn
a Cross Country Rider
from Apex, NC
Date Reviewed: May 22, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Newlight | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | All-Star Bike Shop, Cary | | Strengths: | Hardtail Handling, High Quality Frame Construction, Great color and paint, Strong cold-forged dropouts...not CNC. | | Weaknesses: | Frame is almost 1-pound heavier than my FSRxc, however makes up for the weight in improved handling. | | Similar Products Used: | 2002 FSRxc Pro... has some similarities. | | Bike Setup: | Mostly XTR, 517 rims, SID, Terry Butterfly Saddle...comfy! | | Bottom Line: | I have been riding full-suspension on and off since 1991, and never looked back after 1998 when I purchased my first Specialized FSR. Since then, I have owned a 1999, 2000, 2001, and a 2002 FSRxc. My latest purchase is a 2003 Epic. At first I really noticed that the bike felt and handled exactly like a hardtail. This took a little getting used to since I was used to some bobbing on the FSRxc. I really didn't realize that my FSR bobbed...thought my pedal stroke was so smooth. After getting used to the hardtail feeling, I am now more pleased with the Epic than I ever was with the FSRxc. I stay seated in the rough stuff just like I did on the FSRxc and the ride is just as comfortable, only without the bobbing.
As far as the weight goes, the Epic frame is approximately 1-pound heavier than the FSRxc. That being said, my Epic weighs 23.5 lbs with a durable parts pick and a SID up front.
If you are coming from a hardtail, the Epic would be a great choice since it would take very little time to get used to. If you are coming from a full-time full-suspension, it takes a few rides to get used to the hardtail feeling and to build confidence in staying seated for the bumps when you feel like you are on a hardtail.
Ride-em all before you buy...it's free!
Jacksonn
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John W.
a Cross Country Rider
from SLC, UT
Date Reviewed: May 17, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Trail 157 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2800.00 | | Purchased At: | Bingham's Cyclery | | Strengths: | Hardtail "feel", frame geometry, good looks. | | Weaknesses: | Hardtail "feel", weight, massive cost. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 9.9, Gary Fisher Team Issue Carbon (Both Hardtails) | | Bike Setup: | S-Works Frame (Lg), 2003 XTR Cranks (180mm), 2002 XTR Shifter/Brakes, 2003 Mavic Crossmax SL w/Panracer Trail Blaster UST tires, Easton EC90 handlebars, Thomson 120mm stem, Selle Italia SLR Ti seat, Shimano 959 pedals. | | Bottom Line: | Coming off of a carbon hardtail, I was looking for a full suspension ride. The truth is, this bike rides very much like a hardtail. In fact, I had to lower my tire pressure to 32mmhg in the rear and 40mmhg in the front to make the bike feel as plush as my Trek 9.9 hardtail. Thank G*d for tubeless tires! Having the need to run lower tire pressure to equal the comfort and performance of my carbon fiber hardtail frame makes me wonder what real benefit I am getting out of a very expensive full suspension bike that "feels" like a hardtail. The truth is; the bike rides like an aluminum hardtail, it descends like an aluminum hardtail, it absorbs BBBIIIGGG (emphasis = BIG!) bumps like a full suspension bike, it doesn't react to stutter bumps, and it weighs 3.5 lbs. more than my Trek!
Is it it worth the cost??? Well, if you are a techno geak with a lot of cash the bike is a lot of fun, if you are weight weanie with a lot of cash.. go carbon fiber hardtail, if you want performance and don't have a lot of cash... get a job!!!!
Last word... I wouldn't race this bike. It's too heavy and it feels like an aluminum hardtail. I would use this bike for fun and it's unique setup. For serious XC racing I would always resort to the carbon fiber hardtail Trek 9.9/9.8.
IMO... John
John | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pat Hamilton
a Cross Country Rider
from Highlands Ranch, Co
Date Reviewed: May 8, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | The Fraiser valley trails | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Bike Source | | Strengths: | Very good quality! All the pivots are tight and the four-bar linkage system is the best I have ridden. TWO STANDARD WATER BOTTLE MOUNTS. That seems minor but when you have not had two bottle mounts for a while you appreciate having two again. | | Weaknesses: | On very rocky and rough terrain the "brain" works to well. I know this bike would benefit from an adjustable blow-off valve. | | Similar Products Used: | 2001 Trek Fuel 100, 2002 Klein Adept Pro, 2003 Yeti AS-R SL | | Bike Setup: | Custom. Almost the same as the project bike built by Mountain Bike Magazine. Lots of carbon and Ti parts with a Marathon SL 105mm up front. I am still waiting for a TALAS for the front. | | Bottom Line: | This is an update of a review posted I in February. Between the last review and this one I have dicovered some quirks about the bike. First I love the Marathon SL on the front. The 105mm relaxes the head angle of the bike so it is not as twitchy as it was with the 80mm fork. I was going to ride the bike in tight single track I would keep the 80mm fork on the front.
If you have been riding a FS XC bike for a while you may not like this bike at first or ever. You need to ride this bike more like a hardtail. I was not used to getting out of the saddle while climbing after riding FS bikes for the past few years. I am now getting used to it and I appreciate quickness gained by the locked out rear end.
Going downhill the bike performs better than any bike I have ridden to date. I attribute this to the lower shock pressures I am able to run in the rear because the "brain" keeps the bike from bobbing. I am 160lbs and I am running 80psi in the rear shock. Also, I don't get the brake-jack feel when on the brakes that I used to get on my previous bikes.
Now to the bad thing. On very rocky and rough climbs I would like the suspension to be "on" more often. Don't get me wrong the bike works exactly as it is supposed to. However, during steep technical climbs the bike will remained locked out most of the time. This issue is truley an issue of rider preference. The bike is not malfunctioning or working improperly it's just my preference.
I did find out and I have confirmed with Manitou that they are making a retro fit shock kit for the EPIC that will be available in August this year. The shock is based on their SPV technology and I will try it on bike and post another review.
Overall I think this is a very fast and fun bike and I am going to keep it. (thought about selling, can't find anything I like better) But then again I have never had a bike I did not think was fun. They're all fun!!! It is truely a fast rig and very well built. If you live somewhere where most of your trails are on the smooth side with the occasional bumpy section this bike is a know brainer I would ride nothing else. But if you live where the trails are rough and rocky and you want an active bike you may want to consider something else. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Greg
a Racer
from Sandy, Utah USA
Date Reviewed: April 27, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$4000.00 | | Purchased At: | Binhams | | Strengths: | Does everything well | | Weaknesses: | none so far, well maybe the price | | Similar Products Used: | 2002 FSR XC | | Bike Setup: | Stock.. Changed seat and went notube | | Bottom Line: | OK.. No bs. This bike does everything well. The shock works great. Bike climbs better than a hardtail and descends much better than my 2002 FSR XC. As for weight-mine is just over 23lbs. But on a climb it feels like my 16 lb. road bike. This bike is a great bike for xc racing or just riding around. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jon Wolfe
a Racer
from Brevard, NC
Date Reviewed: April 21, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | All of Pisgah and Dupont | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Frame Geometry is beautiful. Power transfer to the wheels is very good. It climbs as good as any bike I've ever ridden. There is a significant difference between this bike and any other FS bike on the market. This bike is extremely effecient. For a racer this is highly important, and for anybody else that does't want to waste energy in the climbs by bob or ineffecient pedal stroke.
The rear shock works very well. (Period) On the downhill it lets go and feels just like a free floating FS bike. | | Weaknesses: | On uphill terrain, the shock is locked and doesn't suck up roots or rocks very well. On the uphill the shock doesn't seem to respond to any minor bumps. So it is essentially a hardtail on the uphill, but in some respects that is very good, unless it is extremely technical. In that case, a free floating suspension would be better because it would hold the trail instead of bounce around. | | Bottom Line: | I think this is the next generation of XC FS mountain bikes. Compared to this bike, everything else seems boring. Specialized did their homework, and have presented the mountain bike community with a real jewel of a product. The next generation needs the ability to adjust the inertia valve so that each rider can fine tune the bike to fit their particular riding style.
Good job Specialized! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Billy
a Cross Country Rider
from Richmond, Virginia
Date Reviewed: April 4, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | Extreme Sports | | Strengths: | This is an update. Light at 24.5 pounds. Fantastic suspension that works as advertized. Nice long top tube. | | Weaknesses: | Quick handling (only bad if that's not your cup of tea) | | Similar Products Used: | '02 S-works FSR, GT LTS, Zaskar, Blur | | Bike Setup: | XTR, Mavic cross Max UST, SID Carbon, Egg Beaters | | Bottom Line: | This bike is fantastic. Built up the frame back in August. I have spent some time on a Blur and am so glad I bought the Epic. The Epic is much faster in most situations and certainly better for racing. Make sure you follow the recommended air pressure for the shock because it makes all the difference in the world. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve Marshall
a Weekend Warrior
from Steamboat Springs, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: March 24, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | All of them | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | 4400 | | Strengths: | Everything! I cannot find anything wrong with this bike. And, if you scratch the matte black finish, all you need to repair it is a permanent ink Magic Marker! | | Weaknesses: | None. | | Similar Products Used: | Moots YBB, Specialized M4 HT, GT LTS-1, GT Xizang | | Bike Setup: | Nicely set up by my local bike shop, Sore Saddle Cyclery, this is a stock FSR Epic with full XTR except for Fox F80X fork swap, Mavic CrossMax XL's, Maxim MX-6 680 mm bars, 959's spd's and Terry Fly Tri-Gel seat. | | Bottom Line: | I like this bike! It is like driving a Ferrari (I have done that, too) - quick handling and acceleration, paired with the new inertia valve Fox F80X, this bike is perfect for climbing and descending' -- climbs like my road bike out of the saddle and descends like a full suspension mtb bike.
I like the new XTR shifters; very similar to my Dura Ace STI shifters on my road bike; very intuitive to use and I have not missed a shift yet.
Took the suggestion from one of the posters below and set up rear shock with 130 lbs. of air vs. the 145-155 recommended for a 195 lb. rider and it was spot on.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rob Harrison
a Cross Country Rider
from Auckland, New Zealand
Date Reviewed: March 21, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Python @ Woodhill | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Cyco in Ponsonby | | Strengths: | Awesome climber, only bob on the bike is me. Brain works a treat and has constantly amazed me.
| | Weaknesses: | None found yet. | | Similar Products Used: | GT IDrive Team. Just about to sell as I like the epic heaps more! | | Bike Setup: | XTR, Race Face Next LP, Cross Max SLs. | | Bottom Line: | If you want a fast rig down and up this is it. Although you only get 100mm of travel, the brain means you get to use all of it! Other factor that has amazed me is how you keep your speed out of corners! Fab ride well worth every penny! Believe the hype, they are correct this does work. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Clay Pittman
a Racer
from Canyon Texas
Date Reviewed: March 17, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | anything fast | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Warante(Hills Sport shop in amarillo tx) | | Strengths: | Dose every thing it is saposed to plus more. | | Weaknesses: | a little heavyer than the old m5 | | Similar Products Used: | m5,GT Hardtails, haro x3 big hit comp | | Bike Setup: | Duke sl 100mm, bontrager race mod. disk wheels. avid mech disk, xt,xtr raceface, answer bars odi grips | | Bottom Line: | the only thing to say about this bike is it rocks. it is definatly every thing that it is built up to be plus more. it climbs and sprints better than a hardtail. the brain shock engages and dis-engages so quickly that it is almost un-noticable. the bottom line is if you have a chance, i got this frame as a warrante for an 2002 M5. when the frame came in specialized had forgoten the rear shock but the lbs called them up and they sent it next day air. i give it 5 chillies overall but only 4 for value becaus they are 2g's | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Justin Sapp
a Racer
from Gainesville
Date Reviewed: March 13, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Bike Works, Orlando | | Strengths: | Frame geometry, Brain shock, suspension. | | Weaknesses: | non-tubeless wheels, maybe the bars | | Similar Products Used: | Klein Adept Pro, Titus Racer-X, Jamis Dragon, Klein Adroit and Attitude hardtails | | Bike Setup: | basically stock with Eggbeaters and Rocket V seat | | Bottom Line: | As an expert cross-country racer on a break from training, I have not experienced this much fun on a bike in a long time. Geometry is spot on for cross country racing. The bike is both stable and quick. The SID race is a bit stiffer than the SL from last year. The Brain seems to work exactly as advertised, without any complications or quirks. Coming from a semi-active design, the 4-bar, when activated, seems like a guilty pleasure. I no longer have to raise the pressure in my shock 5-10 psi on the night before race day. New XTR is precise and surprisingly intuitive. My last two bikes were a sub-24 pound Klein Adept and a 23+ pound Titus RacerX. I did not expect to be this surprised by the performance of this bike.
The Epic is a blazing fast and efficient race bike that is also very fun to ride. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Christopher Paris
a Cross Country Rider
from Boise, Idaho
Date Reviewed: March 9, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Hard Guy | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1700.00 | | Purchased At: | Wyoming | | Strengths: | Climbs like a hardtail, floats all the way down. looks great. Stiff | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | None, there is nothing similar to this. | | Bike Setup: | Purchased the frame only and moved the components from my hardtail over along with a few upgrades. Mavic crossroc wheels, Avid SD 5 brakes, XTR 960 crank, Fox F100RLC fork, XT derailleurs, XT pods, Specialized carbon riser bar. | | Bottom Line: | I'm a dedicated hardtail rider and can say that when it comes to climibing and the beauty of this frame I still am. It's the greatest thing that I have ridden. Thank you engineers. If you are a hardtail disciple and can give up a little weight, and I say little, this is the bike for you. It will make your ride better, it did for me. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Martyn Nash
a Cross Country Rider
from Wales Uk
Date Reviewed: February 23, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Llanddowror | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Purchased At: | Leisure Lakes Cheltenham | | Strengths: | Looks, Weight (yes, IMHO) Raced by Pros this year. Powers up hills. Titanium parts. People talk about this bike, people stop you to stare. | | Weaknesses: | None yet | | Similar Products Used: | 1990 HT Stumpjumper Comp
2001 Stumpjumper M4 HT
2001 Stumpjumper FSRXC
2003 S-Works HT | | Bike Setup: | 2003 SID race fork
Full XT.
Thompson stem and post.
Selle Italia SLR saddle.
Easton Monkeylite carbon bar.
Mavic 517.
S-Works Tyres.
Continental lite tubes.
Old XT pedals but will look at others soon. | | Bottom Line: | Well I had a hardtail for 3 months then upgraded the frame to this, The S-works hardtail was awsome, on climbs no-one could catch me on hills unless they were superfit (I wasnt), I possibly would have gone for the S-works FSRXC of last year if I could have found one in the UK, (even considered a Marin and Blur but I had so much support from specialized and would have looked stupid with spesh clothes on another bike) So went for the Red small frame, its amazing i remember my hardtail weighed 20.5 lbs and this one weighs 23.25 lbs it I dont notice the 2.8lbs difference at all stiil when you stand to motor it goes in an instance, Its faster than me still but my brain will get better, of course I will one day upgrade to XT discs but for now will stay with rim brakes until my three year old rims say enough. Had the chance to get the Epic disk with mostly XT bits for about your $400.00 more but I'm glad I went with the M5 frame upgrade, even though I'm sticking with my SID forks although I havent really set them up the way I want. I am looking forward to see what the pros do with this bike I have heard they have had great success already, including the Xterra championships. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Phil
a Racer
from Hereford, AZ
Date Reviewed: February 20, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$3800.00 | | Strengths: | Stiff, light, super fast, smooth over the rough. The Brain works as advertised...very fast trans between active and locked. Like having 2 bikes in one. Great geo! Love the black finish! S-Works Roll X tires rock in AZ. | | Weaknesses: | None so far. | | Similar Products Used: | Gary Fisher Sugar2-XTR Cranks/Rings/Cas-Easton carbon post and bars/Cane Creek bar-ends/Specialized S-Works saddle. | | Bike Setup: | Stock-full XTR | | Bottom Line: | Awesome bike......if you are for real....then buy it! Ride to win! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ian Goodwin
a Cross Country Rider
from Brisbane, Qld, Australia
Date Reviewed: February 17, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Mt Coot-tha/Gap Creek | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Nerang Mountain Bike Centre | | Strengths: | Design, technology - the Brain, handling, ride, frame geometry, stiffness when suspension locked-out | | Weaknesses: | None to date | | Similar Products Used: | Santa Cruz Superlight | | Bike Setup: | S-Works frame, SID Team forks, King headset, XTR cranks, gears with Rapidfire, XTR disc callipers/Deore levers, CrossMax disc wheels, Thomson stem, Easton carbon bars, Eggbeater pedals | | Bottom Line: | This bike rocks! If you enjoy going technical cross country riding, this is about as good as it gets!
I did a heap of research before purchasing and to be honest, it all seemed too good to be true. But having put it through its paces, I've gotta say the reviews don't lie - the brain works just like it's supposed to, the rear's locked out on the flats and active when you need it. It rides a little different to a normal full suspension in that you can't pre-load the rear, but the overall ride is sensational.
The geometry is nice & stretched, the standover height is great. The bike is beautifully balanced.
I've seen some reviews saying that the Epic is overweight - I haven't weighed mine, but it's no heavier than my Yeti ARC hardtail.
Finally, I've got a give a plug to Mark at Nerang Mountain Bike Centre. If you live in SE Qld, give Mark a call. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richard
a Cross Country Rider
from Salinas,Ca
Date Reviewed: February 17, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Toro Park / Old Fort Ord | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Specialized | | Strengths: | Hardtail that takes the Hits | | Weaknesses: | None Yet Except I might have to sell my Hardtail | | Similar Products Used: | No bike is similar " EPIC " | | Bike Setup: | Large Red S-Works FSR frame. Full XTR except cranks XT, Python Lights,Marzocchi,Monkeylite,King,WTB,Thompson | | Bottom Line: | I built the bike up a couple of days ago and wanted to do a shake down run to test everything. The bike was so spot on that I ended up riding for 4 hours. Hardtail purist ride that took all the big hits out. No loss of energy climbing and no kindney punches when hitting big bumps,what else could you ask for in a XC bike. Specialized has hit the XC bike on the button. Thank You | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason
a Cross Country Rider
from Phoenix, AZ
Date Reviewed: February 14, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$4600.00 | | Purchased At: | South Mountain Cycles | | Strengths: | Everything!; The Brain, SID World Cup | | Weaknesses: | Expensive | | Similar Products Used: | Base Model Epic | | Bike Setup: | Red S-works Frame; 2003 XTR Drive Train, shifte/brakes, v-brake; SID World Cup; Hugi/517/dt wheels;King Headset; Tompson post and stem; Specialized grips and Carbon bars; Salsa collar and binderbolt; Zebra striped Flite TT; 959 pedals | | Bottom Line: | Damn!! I have been riding a hard tail for 12 years occasionally checking out a FS bike but unhappy with previous incarnations b/c of inefficeincy, bob, etc. Then Specialized comes out with the Epic. I was skeptical at first but people I am here to testify!!! I was sold after demoing the base model epic! Climbs stiff and Descends smooth as a babies bottom. This bike is a huge leap forward for Mountain Bike Kind. I can't think of a better way to spend nearly $5k | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Mallow
a Racer
from Grand Junction, Colorado, USA
Date Reviewed: February 4, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Lunch Loop + Ribbon +Gunny/ 401/Porc. Rim | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Ruby Canyon Cycles, GJ, CO. Doug, Chad, Brock and Ryan ROCK!!!! Best shop in CO. or UT. | | Strengths: | Spot on geometry, light (24 lbs. XL), Climbs like a cat whose ass was dipped in turpentine! Brain works as advertised, STIFF frame! Buttery XTR shifts, SID World Cup is actually stiff, finally. Sweet XTR cranks and Sexy Black Anodized frame. Plus a traditional front triangle with two bottle mounts inside the frame!!! | | Weaknesses: | XTR V_Brakes are light and work well, but they are not great. I have purchased a set of Avid Mechanicals to allieviate the situation. Mavic 517's are light and beautifully mated to the DT Hugi hubs (very smooth) However, not stiff enough for a big guy (190 lbs)So they will be replaced with Mavic SL's (if they ever show up!) | | Similar Products Used: | None really, this bike is much different than my Specialized Enduro and my Stumpy HT. | | Bike Setup: | M5 black ano XL frame, Mavic Crossmax SL Disk (soon) avid mech. disks (soon) '03 XTR shifters, cranks, front derailer, and '02 rear derailer. WTB Stealth Pedals. Fizik Aliante w/ti rails, Thomson set back post, Race Face Deus stem, Specialized carbon flat bars, SIngle-track solutions Bar-ends, King Headset... Roll X Tires (for now)Cinelli Stainless bottle cages.... | | Bottom Line: | This IS a phenomenal bike! I'm into the ultra distance races; Leaville Trail 100, 24 hour solo efforts etc... So I needed a bike that was efficient, stiff, and could carry a couple of water bottles (inside) the front triangle. Being a big rider I wanted an FS bike, not a soft-tail or anything like that. Knowing that the four-bar is the best design by far I wanted something that would actually soak up the rough stuff and could climb with exceptional efficiency, I demo'ed an Epic in Moab in October of '02 and was very impressed, blown away actually. I tried everything I could think of to get the bike to do what it wasn't supposed to and I couldn't get it to act negatively; sprint and thre's no bob, slam into a ledge and you have an active four-bar design. I'm surprised that the bike is so light, not that I am terribly concerned with weight, but it is a pleasant bonus. To all of you out there that are riding the fence because of that Mountain Bike Magazine review or because of rumors, I say go to your local Specialized dealer and think for yourselves! This bike is not for everyone, but no bike is... that's why there are dozens of companys and anywhere from zero to twelve inches of travel on bikes these days. If you are into short/fast XC rides, Epic (no pun inteded)backcountry rides that last for hours or days or anything in-between that doesn't involve hucks or sick drops this bike is a perfect choice. If you are a big guy or gal, you will appreciate the stiffness of the frame. The geometry is nice and stretched out even for me (6'3") If you live in the eastern Utah or western Colorado area I strongly reccomend you check out Ruby Canyon Cycles, all the guys that work there ride and they have extensive knowlege on both the products they sell and the way your bike should fit and feel. Five plus Flamin' Chilis for coustomer service!!! AND they have the full Epic line, including the currently hard to find Marathon! Plus they have a sweet lounge area with couches, a dvd player, and (coming soon!!!) an espresso bar. So come on down and ride, lounge, and get your caffine fix at western Colorado's premeire cycle shop!!! P.S. I will edit my review when I have a little more riding time in to let you know what still works and if anything that shouldn't happen does- Can't wait for those Crossmax SL's to get here!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pat
a Cross Country Rider
from Highlands Ranch
Date Reviewed: February 3, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | the one that has cold beer at the end. | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | BikeSource | | Strengths: | Good all around bike. Goes up and down hills with vigor. Oh' yeah....it's a bike, a kids toy! It's supposed to be fun. | | Weaknesses: | Adjustable blow-off on the brain would be great. '04 models maybe??? | | Similar Products Used: | Litespeed hardtails, 2001 Fuel 100, 2002 Klein Adept Pro | | Bike Setup: | It's almost all the same color. Black and Stealthy!! | | Bottom Line: | I wanted to put an end to the "heavy bike" rumors. I just built an '03 S-Works Epic and it weighs 24.4 lbs. That's with an older SID. I will be putting a Fox Talas fork on it if it ever comes in. That should push the weight up to 25.4 lbs. That's not bad for a bike with 5 inches of travel available up front. I think the bike will ride better with a fork that raises the front end a little and can match the performance of the rear shock. I am not a "freerider" or a "racer" I just like to ride with friends. Sometimes we ride for an hour sometimes it's all day and it's always fast! I think the Epic will serve this purpose well. I will submit another review later if I feel I need too. Have fun!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan Beck
a Cross Country Rider
from Salt Lake City, Utah
Date Reviewed: January 31, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Wasatch Crest | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$4800.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycle Center | | Strengths: | Very fast, very efficent. Great component Spec. Incredible attention to detail. Great customer service. | | Weaknesses: | NONE! | | Similar Products Used: | StumpJumper FSR, Trek Fuel, Cannondale Scalpel. | | Bike Setup: | Stock with Shimano 959 pedals. | | Bottom Line: | This is the best bike I have ridden to date. The craftsmanship is imaculate. Very efficent. Suspension when you need it, none when you do not. Coss country riders who want a fast bike, should buy this bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matthew Muirhead
a Cross Country Rider
from Chico, CA
Date Reviewed: January 28, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Guardians Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Chico Sports LTD | | Strengths: | This bike is truly unique in the fact that it climbs as well and and hardtail I have ridden, but soaks up even the smallest of bumps when needed. The Brain technology is truly the real-deal. I was somewhat skeptical when first seeing the tech videos, but quickly came around when I first was able to hop on one at the Specialized release weekend in Morgan Hill. These guys really hit the nail on the head. | | Weaknesses: | None that I can find. | | Similar Products Used: | 02 S-Works, 02 Enduro, Sanata Cruz Superlight, Santa Cruz Blur, Older Ventata Marble peak, Fisher Sugar, Trek Fuel, etc, etc.... | | Bike Setup: | XTR drivetrain, King Wheelset, Ritchey WTS stem and headset, Thompson seatpost, MonkeyLight Bars.... | | Bottom Line: | The best all-around suspension bike I have ever ridden. I have worked in the industry going on 8 years now, 5 as a mechanic, and I have yet to see another bike like this one. If you have the duckets and want a screaming machine, look no further. If you are a hucker-type rider who is looking for 8 inches of big-hit travel, this isn't the bike for you. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark Skowronski
a Cross Country Rider
from Valencia, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: January 8, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Just Being on the Bike | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$4200.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance Cyclery, Valencia CA | | Strengths: | Brain Technology is the Coolest thing on earth right now. | | Weaknesses: | None that I've found. | | Similar Products Used: | None. Beat the crap out of Specialized Rockhopper for a full year and this is my 1st FS bike. Still Love that Rockhopper. | | Bike Setup: | XTR Hydraulic Disc Break and Shifter compo, Marzocchi Marathon Bomber fork, Mavic Tubeless wheels, XT Crank with Egg Beaters, Thompson Stem & Seat Post, blah, blah, blah... | | Bottom Line: | Maybe it's just me, this being my 1st FS bike, but I love every minute that I'm on this bike. I had 14 days off for Christmas & New Years and I was on it 13 of those days. I love climbing on this bike, I just lock out the front fork and power up anything I can dig my wheels into. I weigh 195 and I have found that the air pressure in the back shock is best for me at around 125 - 130 PSI. 120 was a little to active and 135 was a little stiff. As soon as you hit a little rough stuff you are on a FS bike. I love just blasting over things now. I was a little more cautious on the Hardtail, but now I just plow down whatever I want and something's I shouldn't. It's a brave new world out there and I am very happy with this S-Works Epic.
Ps. Egg Beaters are cool and I love that Marzocchi Fork.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ernesto freyre
a Weekend Warrior
from miami, florida, usa
Date Reviewed: January 2, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Oleta Park | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1900.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Tech | | Strengths: | Excellent for climbing with FSR. Unbelievble speed in climbing without tilt. | | Weaknesses: | The FSR shocks on rear with brain are heavy! | | Similar Products Used: | Rockhopper 2001 | | Bike Setup: | All XT parts, Monkey Bar, Thompson seat post and stem. Chris king headset. Phyclo Fork 4.28 lbs | | Bottom Line: | Works great, gives the best in performance, more speech when you are climbing and on flats trials. It is like riding from FRS and hardtail. That's exactly what I am looking for.
Will return in 6 months on my next review on my S works frame and give you more results to help you make better decision. So far no regrets with my new frame. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stephen Sandoval
a Racer
from San Diego, CA
Date Reviewed: January 2, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Blow Hard in Brianhead | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$3500.00 | | Purchased At: | From a friend | | Strengths: | It is truly beautiful... What they promised is what you get..climbs great, corners great and downhills great.. perfect so far. | | Weaknesses: | None so far.. I've had it for a week, it hasnt leaked air , got flat, broke, popped gears. It also hasnt been stolen :) | | Similar Products Used: | A bike that is alround good.. climber, decender ..blah,blah | | Bike Setup: | Stocked, with 2 specialized bottle cages and egg beaters:) | | Bottom Line: | I had no idea i was going to get such a good bike. The oppurtunity came for a good deal when my coach called me and his friend had purchased a extra brand new epic and was looking to sell it. I took that deal started riding it the next day and loved it from the begining. I've Been riding it for 3 days and it rides awesome. I dont think it heavy considering my bike was 27 lbs. I have a race coming up this weekend and i cant wait to see what me and my new beauty can do ! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Roy Edwards
a Racer
from Apache Junction, Arizona, USA
Date Reviewed: December 31, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Trail #13 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$5000.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo, Chandler Az | | Strengths: | Great climber, there's lots of mountains here in Az an for every up you get a down..you can feel the Overend connection to this machine, i bought a Schwinn "Ned Overend" Signatue Model in 1987 because it would climb, this new S-Works with the World Cup SID Lockout CLIMBS! And desends quickly with its snappy geometry you can carve the turns especially if ya got Specialized Roll X tires. | | Weaknesses: | the small frame's water bottle bosses on top of the down tube are located to far up on the down tube making it difficult to get even the smallest bottle out efficently they should be lower on the down tube to accomodate a larger bottle an ease of removal, an the small frame doesnt have a bottle on the seat tube like its 2 big brothers, we get the second bottle holder the BACK of our seat, an 4GET the bottle holder under the down tube, if anything its a spare holder | | Similar Products Used: | NOTHING IS SIMILAR | | Bike Setup: | Full 2003 XTR Drive Train, Lizards Skin Lock On Grips on a Azonic 2-1/2" Bar Mounted On A Thompson Stem & Flite Ti Saddle On Thompson Seat Post, Specialized Roll X Tires on Mavic's, XTR Brakes, Shimano 959 Pedals | | Bottom Line: | Great Machine for XC with superb handling the new Shimano Shifter/Brake Lever Combo i s sluggish on the rear cog down shifting, the upshift from the lower button is snappy, the front shifter is sluggish on the swing from small gear to middle & middle to top but the down shift is fast, the bike itself is as advertised and this time the so-called mouth of the mountain magazine sucks mud! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lou
a Racer
from Plainfield, NJ, USA
Date Reviewed: December 10, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | South Mountain | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1400.00 | | Purchased At: | Park City, UT | | Strengths: | Excellent power transfer, roomy cockpit, geometry, great descender, old school Specialized logos of course the Fox Brain shock | | Weaknesses: | Weight, Chain line, poor manufacturer support via literature or on the phones!Oh yeah did I mention weight? | | Similar Products Used: | Trek Fuel, Sugar 1, Trek STP, C-Dale Scalpel | | Bike Setup: | Chris King Headset, XT Shifter/levers, Easton Carbon Handlebar, Thomson Stem & Seatpost, XTR read der, '03 XTR fr der, Dura-ace chain, XT 11-34 cassette, XTR V-Brakes, Rolf Propel Wheels, PANARACER TRAILBLASTER TYRES or PANARACER FIRE XC TYRES (Either of these tyre choices ROCK!)
Selle Flite saddle... | | Bottom Line: | I took receipt of this frameset & had it built up by the first week in Septmeber. I thought I would be sorry when I got this bike so soon after it debuted--I bought it without test riding one first--SHAME ON ME!...I purchased it based on all the articles & word of mouth...I've tried numerous bike brands/models & found that I climb better on bikes with shorter stays...[The Fisher Sugar has been my benchmark] I must say though that this S-Works Epic works for me! I am a racer--Besides the weight issue (SHAME ON THE BIKE MAGAZINES & SPECIALIZED for not being a little more truthful in this area!! ) this bike climbs great & descends even better! The chainline is a little aggressive, so you need to keep a close watch on derailleur setup
...If you're a weight weenie, this bike isn't for you. But if you want a FS bike that really transfers the power, this is it! I don't do free ride type hucking, so this bike is great for trail riding & training...that is, come race day, I will turn up at the Start line on my FISHER SUGAR 1. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe Martin
a Cross Country Rider
from Sultan, WA
Date Reviewed: December 1, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Paradise Lake | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$5300.00 | | Purchased At: | Greggs Bellevue Cycle and www.universalcycles.com | | Strengths: | Extremely efficient climber and descends well. Brain shock works as advertised. Light - 24lbs built up. | | Weaknesses: | None on the bike, but I wish it came with more documentation. Specifics on maintenance of the frame, etc. would be nice. | | Similar Products Used: | Gary Fisher Mamba, 1998 Specialized FSR Comp and test riding just about everything else. | | Bike Setup: | Frame - 2003 Specialized S-Works FSR "Epic" with Fox Brain, Fork - 2003 RockShox SID Team with remote lockout, Headset - Chris King Aheadset, Stem - FSA Ahead XC120, Handlebar - Easton EC90, Brakes - 2003 Magura Marta SL with Carbon Levers, Front Derailleur - 2003 XTR, Rear Derailleur - 2002 XTR, Shift Levers – 2002 XTR, Cassette - 2003 XTR, Chain - 2002 XTR, Crankset - 2003 XTR, Bottom Bracket - 2003 XTR, Pedals - Frog Ti, Hubs - DT Swiss Hugi 240, Spokes - DT Swiss Double Butted 14/15, Rims - Mavic X317, Tires - Panaracer Fire XC Pro Comp 2.1/1.8, Tubes - Torelli X-lite, Skewers - Salsa Ti Flipoffs, Seat - Koobi Au Enduro, Seat Post - Thompson Elite Setback, Seat Binder - Specialized Alloy Quick Release, Climbing Bars - Serfas, Pads - Core Rat Shorty Stem Pad and Lizard Skin Chain Guard, Colors - Silver and Black, Size – Medium | | Bottom Line: | I purchased the frame kit from Greggs Bellevue Cycle and all the components from www.universalcycles.com and built it up myself. Both shops were great to work with!!! It came together like a dream. I've been riding it for about a month and it’s been flawless. It climbs like crazy, corners really well and descends with purpose. The shock really works well by acting like a hard tail when it should and being very supple when required. I'd recommend this bike/frame to anyone who is a serious rider who wants a cross country bike that is very efficient but isn't afraid to spend the cash to get there. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sean Katz
a
from Woodland Hills, CA USA
Date Reviewed: November 27, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Top of Reseda | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$4100.00 | | Purchased At: | Local Shop | | Strengths: | Hardtail and Full Suspension in one bike | | Weaknesses: | Weight, but its not major at 25.5lbs. they need other anodized colors. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | 2003 XTR cranks, fr derailer & casset, Sram X.0 shifters & rear derailer, C. King head set & hubs, mavic 317rims & Avid mec. disc breaks, Easton cardon seatpost, handlebars & stem, Manitou Air elite with lockout, and eggbeater pedals | | Bottom Line: | Great bike!!!! works great for technical single track. its so good my friend bought one also. I old bike is a curtlo hardtail and this is an awsome intagration of hardtail and full suspension | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
shane Nalley
a Cross Country Rider
from Boonville IN USA
Date Reviewed: November 24, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | LBL Kentucky | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | Gillis cycle | | Strengths: | as advertised a hardtail untill you need suspension. activates very quickly to terrain changes and right back to locked out. | | Weaknesses: | None yet | | Similar Products Used: | Trek Fuel 100 | | Bike Setup: | new XTR,crossmax UST disc, SID team | | Bottom Line: | very efficient bike,climbs great yet smooth on desents.extra weight worth how efficient the rear end works.
I was upset with Mountain bike magazines resent test,I have worked in the motorcycle industry for 15 years and know some of these editors personally.And from my experience the stories are as believable as a tabloid cover story.Bottom line this is an awsome bike, a little pricey,a little heavier than the litest crosscountry bike but more efficient. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mike
a Cross Country Rider
from tucson
Date Reviewed: November 22, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | supergo | | Strengths: | Stable,Fast,Efficeint and superior technology | | Weaknesses: | weight.......NAH! some chain suck and paint chips easily | | Similar Products Used: | 2000 fsr comp, 2000 fsr s-works and 2002 s-works | | Bike Setup: | Fox forx float 100 RL, XTR brakes,levers,cranks and derailers and crossmax ust wheels | | Bottom Line: | Cancelling Mountain Bike Magazine subscription. They said it was the Holy Grail and it is... When specialized quoted them in their ads, other manufacturers complained and threatened advertising dollars. Therefore, the mag started back pedalling(no pun)ie. the latest epic test and retoric blurbs in recent issues. Notice no specialized ads in latest issue. Mountain Bike's biggest compaint was the weight, ironic this coming from the ones who invented the term "X-country GEEK" when labelling a x-country rider who is concerned about bike and component weight.
The bike will make you faster and increases confidence climbing and on technical sections. It loves single track.
I gave it 5 chilis on value although it is very pricey, because there does not exist anything at this time that can switch from hardtail to full suspension automatically, while alowing the rider to concentrate on whats ahead on the trail.
Buy it if you are an avid x-country rider or racer who wants to go faster.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bill Woodley
a Cross Country Rider
from Richmond, VA
Date Reviewed: November 18, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Strengths: | Suspension, Brain, geometry, layout. | | Weaknesses: | Weight (no big deal). Price (technology & performance cost $) | | Similar Products Used: | FSRxc | | Bike Setup: | Current('02)generation XTR, Mavic UST wheels, SID World Cup | | Bottom Line: | I bought the frame and built it up. The bike is just what I expected. Very fast and efficiant on flats and climbs. Surprisingly capable on downhills. I love the longer top tube and standover clearance. Very little rear-end frame flex compared to '01 FSRxc. Did take a few rides to get used to the fact I didn't have full time comfort like my old FSR. Weight is only slightly disappointing at just under 25lbs. The bike is so fast, an extra 1/4lb. is no big deal. Have had absolutely no trouble with the shock and have really riden it hard. If you are a racer or speed freak and have the money, go for it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul Pratt
a Cross Country Rider
from Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Date Reviewed: November 17, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$3500.00 | | Purchased At: | www.evanscycles.com | | Strengths: | Looks - as soon as I saw it I HAD to have it...I bought the red one (just the frame). | | Weaknesses: | The Brain broke. | | Similar Products Used: | 1992 M2, 1996 M2, 2001 Enduro | | Bike Setup: | All XT, Hope Hubs, Chris King headset, Psylo XC, XT disc, Syncros stem and post. | | Bottom Line: | The brain on my bike broke, I don't know why and I am not really that bothered as Specialized replaced it without fuss. When you ride the bike it's amazing, it's as firm as my 1992 M2 in the smooth but so smooth in the rough.
It is not a cheap bike by any means but thats the trade-off for buying new technology. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David
a Cross Country Rider
from NY
Date Reviewed: November 10, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Rocky Point & Cathedral Pines | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1700.00 | | Purchased At: | Carl Hart Cycles | | Strengths: | Great Bike! Hard tail to Full Suspension in the blink of an eye. I didnt know wheather i should get a hardtail or a full suspension, This bike is just what i needed, BOTH! Wanted one since August issue of Mountain Bike Action Magezine when i first layed eyes it. | | Weaknesses: | None Yet. | | Similar Products Used: | Diamondback XSL Pro, Santo Cruz Superlight. | | Bike Setup: | Stock EPIC Disk | | Bottom Line: | An awsome XC machine! A bit pricy but it was all worth it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason Gregg
a Racer
from Ponte Vedra, FL, 32082
Date Reviewed: November 10, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1850.00 | | Purchased At: | Ajax Bike | | Strengths: | It's locked when you're in sand and sucks up bumps when you hit 'em. | | Weaknesses: | weight | | Similar Products Used: | 2002 S-Works FSR | | Bike Setup: | Marathon S100 fork, X.0 deraileur/shifters, and all the rest of the parts off of my '02 S-Works FSR. | | Bottom Line: | The thing works. I bought the frame just before going to Moab for the 24 hrs. and had the perfect ride for a course that alternates between long sandy straights and rocky bits. Hitting a wash full of rock at night at close to 30 mph the bike went from hard to full suspension and maybe saved my ass. A size large does weigh in at 6 lbs. so if you can ride your hardtail go for it, but if you're in rough stuff but still want to make miles this has got to be one of the first frames you look at. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
SonnyT
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Fe, NM
Date Reviewed: November 9, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | the same place I ride my horse | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$4000.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike n' Sport | | Strengths: | It does as advertised. A hard tail when it needs to be and a plush bump soaker when it is called for. | | Weaknesses: | Price. A little over 3 inches of travel might not suit all but it fits me fine. | | Similar Products Used: | Customized Trek carbon fiber. | | Bike Setup: | Standard per the factory | | Bottom Line: | I really enjoy the control that this bike gives me. Climbing without "bob" is a joy while zooming down hill over obstacles that would have me braking otherwise is a treat and a great sense of security. This set up really does give all the pluses of a hard tail and all the pluses of a dual suspension bike. And it only weighs 23.5 pounds.
The Epic FSR really lays down the challenge for other bike companies. The brain rear shock almost feels as if it is anticipating the bump rather than reacting to it. I don't know if it gets much better than this (but I'm sure it will). Just wish that it wasn't quite so pricy.
Bike n' Sport really goes all out to make the customer happy. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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