Submitted by
dkoebbe
a Weekend Warrior
from Ride in Angola Date Reviewed: November 4, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Single track, Tanke Dois, Vitrona loop
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$4000.00
Purchased At:
N/A
Strengths:
I brought this bike to Angola as a new rider and as my skill improves (ex-motocrosser) I have begun to appreciate the bike more and more. The bike is light and responsive and very easy to ride.
Weaknesses:
Seat causes pain on long rides (+50km/3hr), would prefer a set-up that allows it to turn sharper at moderate speeds, grips are worn out after 400km.
Similar Products Used:
none
Bottom Line:
Great bike, would recommend to anyone who likes riding a bike that has it all.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Drawblood
a Cross Country Rider
from Cotati, CA Date Reviewed: February 3, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Ridge, Annadel State Park
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$2800.00
Purchased At:
Bike Shop
Strengths:
2008: Light, fast and responsive. Everything you want from an XC full suspension bike. Excellent component match-up.
Weaknesses:
The front end is light (which really isn't a weakness) it took a little getting use to though. Specialized Customer Service, when asked a question about this bike, say's "take it to your local dealer". What kind of BS customer service is that? You dish out dough like this and they don't give you answers? Wow!
Similar Products Used:
Blur XC
Bike Setup:
Everything stock minus the seat which is a WTB Devo.
Bottom Line:
The first time I rode this bike was a demo day from Specialized. The next week I bought one. I'm amazed at how fast this bike is. I've been riding since 1989, and have ridden quite a few bikes in that time. This Carbon Marathon is at the top of the list. Specialized put all the right componenets on for 2008. I was a little worried about riding carbon off-road, but the market is trending that way. Specialized has a great crash replacement program (rumor has it).
I ride this bike six times a week and race it as well. Once you get the rear BRAIN shock dailed in (took me 5 rides), you can't beat it. I wouldn't suggest riding it in muddy conditions. But then again, I wouldn't suggest riding any full suspension in the mud, unless you like to overhaul your pivot bearings and seals once a month. To go more in to detail with the Specialized Customer Service claim...I contacted them via the internet. When I had about 400 miles on the bike, I aquired a ticking noise when I pedaled. It was coming from the lower pivot. Instead of offering suggestions like "remove the lower pivot axle and inspect and clean" they said take it to you local Specialized dealer." Santa Cruz has great customer service. They even have great online instructions for rebulding/overhauling your pivots. This is nowhere to be found on Specialized site. As a matter a fact, the user manual mentions contacting your dealer to have they special order parts for you.
I'll stop ranting about this now. The Bikes great!! The company, well let's just say the jury's still out...
If I knew the Blur XC was going Carbon for 2009, I might have held out.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
eknuds
a Cross Country Rider
from San Jose Date Reviewed: December 21, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Steven's Canyon
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Price Paid:
$3550.00
Purchased At:
Trail Head Cyclery
Strengths:
25lbs from the factory, which makes it very tossable
It's a miracle! A FS bike that doesn't waste all of your effort when you stand.
Love all of the machined aluminum. Beautiful.
Weaknesses:
I can't believe I just paid almost four grand for a bicycle.
Reddish/brown color gets middling ratings from me.
Similar Products Used:
2004 Specialized Enduro Comp
1999 Klein Attitude Comp
Bike Setup:
Stock, changed rear wheel to Mavic 823 with King hub.
Bottom Line:
This is a 2008 model I bought on closeout and got a pretty good deal on. I've been riding my 2004 Enduro XC for several years. This is like the change when I went from my old Mustang to a new Corvette :).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
h2oburnsslow
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego, CA USA Date Reviewed: July 1, 2008
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
It's a hardtail when you need a hardtail and a full suspension rig when you need it.
Weaknesses:
07 Brain rear shock went dead. No worries; fully replaced w/ no questions asked.
Similar Products Used:
2005 Santa Cruz Blur, 2007 Ellsworth Truth
Bike Setup:
I couldn't decide what category to put this bike in: Marathon frame but everything else is the S-works set up. Sram rocks...I am officially converted!
Bottom Line:
If you ride cross country then this bike should be on the top of a very short list. I have ridden all of the best bikes and this one is a true cross country rig. It can be both raced and taken out for the weekend ride and beer. Your choice; either way you win. Ride on, Ride on!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Alan
a
from Standish, Maine Date Reviewed: April 2, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Awsome all around XC bike. I came off of a Gary Fisher Sugar 1 to this bike. I wanted something with a little more travel in the rear for a softer ride, yet something that still was fast, climbed efficently, and had a lifetime frame warrenty. This bike is it! The new rear shock that came out in 07 works flawlessly, I can adjust the brain to be firm when I'm hammering out of the saddle, but the rear will still absorb any hits it gets. Adjust the brain to the softer side, and this bike is super plush and cushy feeling. (firm for racing, soft for trail bike, it's like 2 or 3 bikes in 1) Parts spec is also good.
Weaknesses:
The wheels are probably the only thing laking, while they seems to be good and strong, they are on the heavier side of what I'm used to. It's a trade off for what should be a long lasting wheelset. Stock tires aren't good for in NewEngland
Similar Products Used:
none really, went from hardtail, to GF Sugar, to this
Bike Setup:
stock
Bottom Line:
Awsome bike, so glad I chose it. I dont think I would have paid full price for it, but I bought it used with only 10 rides on it, so it became a super deal for me. Best and probably last bike I'll own. If you want an all day XC-bike that if you wanted you could race, this is it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Spencer Arnold
a Weekend Warrior
from Mission Viejo, Ca Date Reviewed: October 9, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Old Camp/Peter's Canyon
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$3600.00
Purchased At:
Incycle / San Dimas
Strengths:
Brain Shock! The brain is the real deal! Works as advertised. Magura Marta brakes are very good. Progressive, with a 'motocross' feel to them. Frame has great stiffness without bumps being transmitted to the rider. The F100RLC is plusher than I would have imagined and works in a variety of situations. I have hit 1 to 1 1/2 foot drops (only when I had to) and the fork didn't bottom harshly and remained progressive. Again with the shock...it really is that good. I have it set about 26 clicks up from the 'soft' setting and this works well with about 160 lbs of air. I weigh about 200 lbs and so far, so good. The shock is actually softer feeling than my old Fox RL. I love the fact that the Brain takes over and you never have to reach down to flip something to get that Pro Pedal feeling, but forget to unlock it during an up/down transition etc. Fire and forget is the best way to describe it.
Weaknesses:
A few minor issues. The front end deflects off of square-edged bumps at lower speeds, but not much of an issue becasue lines are easy to pick. I put on my own bars and stem because I don't really believe in 'in house' components like bars, stems or seatposts. I will leave it to the companies like Thomson and Easton to work out the cockpit for me. I have an EA90 (105 mm) stem and EA90 Carbon Monkey lite bars with about a 1 1/2 rise. I didn't like the stock tires that the bike came with (Specialized Fast Rollers 2.1). They were fairly fast in rolling single track terrain but are pretty bad just about everywhere else. I have really tried to get the rear tire to work but it just doesn't. They are tubeless, with is nice because of the good rims, but I have already dumnped the front tire for a Kenda Bluegroove and will dump the rear for a Kenda Nevegal.
Similar Products Used:
None-went from a Specialized Enduro Pro to this bike
Bike Setup:
95 lbs air front fork (F100RLC) / 160 or so in the rear brain (26 clicks up from soft). EA90 cockpit and that is about it.
Bottom Line:
This bike really has done well so far. I have about 15 rides on it, from the Whiting Ranch area to Peter's Canyon to Old Camp trail (for those familiar with Orange County, CA riding). I am still playing with bike set up now that my sag is set. Add air, take out air, playing with compression v. rebound and all of that. Regardless of all that, this bike climbs so well due to the brain shock. The Epic Marathon Carbon is super efficient, and can handle more situations than I would have thought and simply rips in the single track. I rode it last week (out and back Old Camp then down the Luge) against a 2007 S-Works Enduro (we took turns trading off) and the Epic was able to hang pretty well during the rough stuff. Very happy with the bike and the guys at InCycle are awesome. I got a great price because my riding partners are sister/brother-in-law of the owner, but they still treat you right!
I think this bike would best suit the person who has progressed into the novice racer and above ranks and is willing to spend a more money for better performance. This bike ain't on the cheap, but hey, well all know that you get what you pay for. This is the kind of bike that makes you a better rider than you really are, and I need every advantage I can get!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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