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Average Rating
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4.96/5
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# of Reviews
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47
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MSRP
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$ 2395.00
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Weight
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More Products from Ellsworth
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Description:The Epiphany replaces a longtime fixture in the Ellsworth family, the 5” travel Id. The Epiphany packs 5.25” of travel into a scant 5.75 pound package, made possible by the use of a beautifully machined magnesium rocker and US-produced, proprietary drawn, internally taper butted, externally shaped tubing.
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Submitted by
merdas
a Weekend Warrior
from Palos Heights, IL, USA
Date Reviewed: June 11, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | Palos woods | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$2100.00 | | Strengths: | Best bike out there, great climber, very good descender, superb customer service, after 3 years of riding my rocker arm cracked, Ellsworth replaced it at no charge, Technicians at RichardsBicycles.com store removed old one and put new one on at no charge. This is outstanding customer service. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | Trek fuel, Ellsworth ID, Trek Y | | Bike Setup: | Shimano drive train, Spinergy wheels, Thompson seat post, Formula brakes, Easton handlebar and steam, Fox vanilla fork | | Bottom Line: | This is why you pay big bucks for frames. When something goes wrong with the bike Ellsworth team takes care of it. In my case, bikes warranty already expired and they still fixed it at no charge. Awesome. Thanks to Ellsworth and to Richardsbicycles.com | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alister Sladen
a Cross Country Rider
from Christchurch New Zealand
Date Reviewed: May 18, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | Craigieburn | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1400.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Light Weight, fantastic workmanship, Climbing ability | | Weaknesses: | Small problem with Rear Cable routing and that's it. | | Similar Products Used: | Santa Cruz Blur, Heckler with floating rear brake mount, Intense Spider, Giant Reign | | Bike Setup: | XTR, Pace carbon fighter Fork, Stans Arc XTR wheels, RP23 | | Bottom Line: | Although I got mine cheaply on ebay these are on the expensive side, but after riding it for a week I was amazed how it rode. My first 4 bar bike and I don’t care what they say on Turner forums, 4 bar cannot be beat!! And either can Ellsworth craftsmanship.
This is really a fantastic bike, I’ve ridden it up the steepest climbs on slick rock Moab and our local trails in New Zealand. I own 4 mountain bikes and end up riding my Epiphany more than all the others put together. The Pace fork is a beauty by the way, smooooth as butter and makes ANY FOX feel like crunchy peanut.
The Epiphany is perfect on any trail I’ve been on so far, I even raced it to compare with my spider at a 12 hour and I’d have to say the spider was faster but not by much. The Epiphany was just a bit slow thru fast changing single track which surprised me. I fitted a FOX F120 fork for the weekend and there was only 1 pound difference when using the same wheels as the Spider by the way, still the Spider was just that bit crisper.
Still I love my Epiphany .
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James
a Cross Country Rider
from Saugus, Ca. USA
Date Reviewed: April 26, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | Mt Hillayer | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$3500.00 | | Purchased At: | Valley Bicycles | | Strengths: | Efficiency of Design - Craftsmanship & Beauty - Weight | | Weaknesses: | A Little Pricey, Magnesium rear can rub your legs if you have big calves. | | Similar Products Used: | specialized Enduro, Cake 1 Deluxe - Racer X Carbon | | Bike Setup: | 2007 Epiphany Smoke Anodized, Fox Talas 32 RL, Fox Float R, Juicy 7, Sram X9 | | Bottom Line: | This is the best bike I have ever owned. Mine weighs in at 27.5 which is 2lbs lighter than my Cake 1. It took 1 climb to get used to the ITC active rear. It felt funny at first but I find that I am climbing technical uphills that would easily spin out my rear on other bikes. The confidence on the downhills are great. There really was no adjustment time needed on this rig, just get on and ride it. That is killer. This thing corners really well which can be untrue for a lot of bikes with a high bottom bracket. (at least for me) To much fun to put into words.
Like it said on the Demo bike top tube:
Those that ride know....
Buy this bike and keep Americans working. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim
a Cross Country Rider
from Worcester
Date Reviewed: March 17, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | Wales | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Purchased At: | Freeborn | | Strengths: | It looks the business, rides like a dream, and makes me feel like the kiddy! | | Weaknesses: | It makes the wife feel inferior | | Similar Products Used: | Ellsworth Truth | | Bike Setup: | Fox Talas RL forks, Fox Float R shock, Easton finishing kit, Race Face crankset, Formula Oro K24 brakes(180/160), XT Shadow/LX gears, DT E540 rims on Hope XC hubs, Panaracer tyres, Odi grips, DMR V8 pedals | | Bottom Line: | It makes me wanna ride all the time. I can't wait to take on more challenges and hit more bumps. The ride is just so smooth, and climbs have never felt so good. Nuff said.
It's a cross country/all mountain bike and depending on rider weight probably could be thrown off all kinds of heights and would lap it all up, but I'm a big fella who doesn't want to risk breaking it doing something it probably isn't designed to take. It's light, but not stupidly so (although I'm sure with lighter components this could be achieved), yet I feel very sturdy and confident on it when hurtling down rocky descents.
Happy days!
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kenneth
a Weekend Warrior
from Atlanta, Georgia USA
Date Reviewed: March 1, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | Tsali, Dupont, Bull Mt. | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$7500.00 | | Purchased At: | Outspokin --Woodstock GA | | Strengths: | Amazing all purpose Mt. Bike-does it all well, climbing,technical,downhill,XC | | Weaknesses: | None realy | | Similar Products Used: | Motolite Exogrid, Stumpjumper S-Works Carbon, Cannondale Prophet | | Bike Setup: | Full XTR, FOX Talas, RP23, Thomson Stuff | | Bottom Line: | Well - all I can say is Dam I love this bike! I have been lucky enough to own some nice rides in my time(and will be paying for them for a few years) but I keep coming back to my Epiphany for an absolutely great ride. She is a treat on the uphills and handles technical terrain like a dream. My Motolite Exogrid may be slightly better craftmanship-but the Ellsworth can hang any day. Everything you read in these reviews is for real--an outstanding bike!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jamie Alackness
a Cross Country Rider
from Eagle Colorado
Date Reviewed: January 24, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | gooseberry mesa | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Purchased At: | Moontime Cyclery | | Strengths: | Light, Stiff, Great climber, Great descender, Amazing suspension. | | Weaknesses: | If you have wide calves you might have some contact with the Rockers. The Price? | | Similar Products Used: | 03 Foes FXR, Titus Moto-lite current bike, Yeti 575 another great ride, Intense Spider 29er and 5.5 FRO Just ok in My opinion I still don't like VPP suspensions quarks, Maverick Durance Hands down best climbing bike I have ever ridden Hardtails included. | | Bike Setup: | This was a Demo from Moontime Clclery in Edwards CO. So the build was nothing special. I can say I hate Avid brakes. Every bike I've tested last summer had Avids and I greatly missed the Formulas on my Moto. | | Bottom Line: | If your an experienced rider looking for the best money can buy this in my opinion is it. The suspension is perfect. I set it up with the same pressures that I use on my Moto and it was Pure perfection. Feel at the pedals was great yet bump compliance is better than anything I've experienced. This bike will make you a lazy climber it climbs so well, sit and spin or hammer away it doesn't care. On the downhill just point and let the bike do the rest. BUTTER!
The most significant thing that I noticed about this bike was that my lap times on my test loop were 3 minutes or more faster than the other bikes I test rode, and beleive me I tried for months to beat it's time on my Moto-Lite and still can't. The clock doesn't lie this bike was and is the clear winner. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Berenguer
a Cross Country Rider
from Manila, Philippines
Date Reviewed: January 2, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | Sta. rosa, Maarat | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Sabak Sports and Adventure | | Strengths: | Aesthetics - the only frame you can see a smoke paint job with.
Travel - 5.25" or rear travel. Very useful in rough terrain and decents where you can just roll over almost anything! Plush!
Lightweight!!
Climbs like a mountain goat
pedaling efficiency - you can notice that no pedaling energy is waisted on this bike. Minimum pedaling bob even if the rear shock is unlocked.
| | Weaknesses: | none so far. maybe just the price. | | Similar Products Used: | Giant NRS, Trek Liquid, Titus Motolite | | Bike Setup: | full XT 08 groupset (including wheelset), 08 fox talas rlc, kenda tires, fsa stem, handle bar, and seat post. Flite saddle | | Bottom Line: | I bought this bike because of the plushness and the suspension travel. It surprised me that this frame climbs like a mountain goat! I use less energy when i ride long and steep climbs thus, i get to the top faster, and still have the energy to climb another hill!
I rode this baby downhill on unfamiliar terrain, very technical and steep but i was confident that the bike could handle it. true enough i conquered that downhill trail.
the pedaling efficiency "advantage" of this bike is no hype. even when the rear shock is unlocked, you experience minimal "bobbing". but handles small and big bumps very well. too good to be true actually.
For those who are willing to spend a little extra for their frame, this is the frame to get. It's worth the investment coz this one is a "keeper". | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brooks
a Cross Country Rider
from Moab, UT, USA
Date Reviewed: December 12, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | On this bike, everything’s sweeter – it makes the Slickrock trail more fun and Sovereign easier | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Moab Cycelry | | Strengths: | Excellent functioning suspension, beautifully made frame, light, balanced | | Weaknesses: | Lateral flex of frame; in the 22 ring, shifting from 2 to 1 in the rear sometimes causes the chain to drop off the cassette | | Similar Products Used: | Santa Cruz Blur LT (07), Santa Cruz Blur, Specialized Enduro (03), Specialized Stumpjumper (06), Cannondale Prophet (07), Santa Cruz Heckler (07) | | Bike Setup: | Medium blue ano frame w/Fox RP23; Fox 32 Talus RLC; Crossmax SL wheels; Avid Juicy 7 brakes; XTR rear derailleur; XT shifters, cranks (22-32-44) & front derailleur; Shimano M760 11-34 cassette; Thompson Elite seatpost; WTB Pure V Team saddle, Thompson Elite X4 50 mm stem; Kenda small block 8 2.35 front & small block 8 2.1 tubeless rear, Time XS pedals (they perform exceptionally well in all conditions), Danger Boy bars (31.8), ODI lockon | | Bottom Line: | This bike is a rocket! However, it is not just fast – it’s also one of the smoothest/surest bikes over rough terrain that I have ever ridden.
Let me start with the pedaling performance of the frame/shock. When seated & pedaling I can’t feel any movement in the shock (and I can’t see it move when my riding buddy is riding it ahead of me) – it feels like a hard tail, and that is with the shock set in the fully active mode. You turn the cranks – you shoot forward. The unbelievable part for me and my buddy was that when we stood up to pedal hard, the movement of the shock was minimal - normally any shock starts compressing a lot when you jump out of the saddle and thrash the pedals. Another pleasant surprise came while riding a super steep section of the Slickrock trail. When I reached the point where I used to have to stand up and perform a belly-button-to-the-handlebar maneuver to get the power I needed, I found that I could stay seated and complete the climb. It is frankly, the best pedaling bike I’ve ever owned, and I’ve owned some great ones.
Another cool feature is how active the shock is under hard pedaling forces. I was riding some slickrock and came to a wide crack in the rock. I wheelied over to keep my front tire from getting jammed, and when my back tire hit edge of the crack, instead of feeling a harsh impact, I felt the shock compress and absorb the bump (big smile & an “aah”). A VPP suspension causes the shock to stiffen noticeably in this hard pedaling situation and delivers a rougher impact.
With this build the bike weighs 28 lbs. It could easily be built to weigh a couple of pounds less using ultra light parts or you could go seriously burly and add 2 or 3 pounds to the weight. Though I used a few stout parts to help accommodate the rough terrain in Moab, it’s still fairly light and I was wondering if a bike this light and easy to pedal would handle the tough sections. No worries. Rolling over boulders, rock gardens, roots, etc. is amazingly plush, whether going uphill or down. The suspension flows over rough surfaces while conforming perfectly to the terrain – i.e. it eats up trails like Amasa Back. The RP23 and Talas work exceptionally well together to provide a balanced ride. I was concerned about whether the steepish head tube angle would cause me any problems going down steep, gnarly sections of trail. Not a problem. I’ve rolled sections that I’d endoed in the past on larger, slacker bikes (of course, choosing good lines helps). The short stem and the long cut of the steerer tube seem to make it simple to roll the steep downhills by allowing me to get my body rearward much easier. I’ll admit that the shorter stem makes the front wheel loft a little more easily on steep climbs (which I can solve by lowering the Talas and leaning forward a little) and that I had to learn to pull up more gently on wheelies and jumps since the wheel does come up more easily.
The small block 8’s are the bomb on slickrock – no big surprise that they stick like Velcro, but they are surprisingly good on loose trail, though they may break traction a bit faster on dusty/sandy rock. The 2.1 tubeless in the back is lightning fast and the 2.35 in front does a great job making rough trail a little softer and more stable.
I find that I tend to choose this bike (my “little bike”) over my “big” bike almost every time (and my big bike had been my favorite all time ride). My big VPP sits sadly in the storage room until I’m going to hammer something really gnarly like Porcupine Rim and even there, I could still ride the Epiphany if I’m selective about the amount of punishment I’m going to give it (i.e. no 5’ to flat drops off the diving board).
I can honestly say that at the end of long, physically and technically demanding rides, I feel more energetic than I ever have in the past. Being a mountain bike guide in Moab, I rotate my bikes every year, but this one is so sweet, I’m not sure I’ll be able to part with it. It’s so good that I sometimes feel like I’m cheating when I’m riding with my buddies.
Props to Johnny at Moab Cyclery who took such stellar care to build such a great bike for me. He went over the parts selection with me carefully, made the extra effort to obtain hard to get parts, built the bike exquisitely (also thanks to Joel), and gave me a great price.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
William Brewer
a Cross Country Rider
from South Jersey
Date Reviewed: November 22, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$4500.00 | | Purchased At: | Wrenchscience | | Strengths: | It goes up and down with precision,anodized finish,plush ride,very quiet bike,American made,27 lbs | | Weaknesses: | the name? | | Similar Products Used: | other similar bikes | | Bike Setup: | XO grip, Thompson, Avid mech, tubless,King hubs and headset, WTB saddle, Stans sealant | | Bottom Line: | It is a sweet ride.The frame finish is very durable. No paint chipping. I can pedal up to the top, then bomb down. The bike fits me for my riding style.I will not grow out of this bike. I suffer from back problems and this bike lets me ride for hours and not pay later.Best bike I ever had.Yes the price was steep, but in 2 tears of very hard riding, it still looks and rides like new.I will be on this for a long time.If your looking for a plush bike that can do anything short of hucking, get one. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
bernie white
a Cross Country Rider
from cushing me.
Date Reviewed: November 13, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | all | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2400.00 | | Purchased At: | beyound bike.com | | Strengths: | great everything climbing ,desending ,handling ,ect. | | Weaknesses: | Not enough dealers on the east coast. | | Similar Products Used: | own but selling santacruz heckler, tried a intense spyder fro, 5.5, 6.6 a couple of kona's klien palimino | | Bike Setup: | xt, crank, derailer's, brakes, shifters, fox rp23 and talas shocks, thompson post, stem, rolf wheels,cris king head set | | Bottom Line: | I love it!!! Everyone says the Ellsworth is exspensive however if you only have to buy one bike to do it all instead of three or four it is cheaper in the long run. This bike does it all and does it great! Buy one bike and one bike only. Buy an Ellsworth EPIPANY!!!. You will not regret it. Instells confidence,Fast bike,Very plush. Nice ride!!!
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael
a Cross Country Rider
from Ooltewah, TN, USA
Date Reviewed: November 6, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Whitetop Mountain | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | East Ridge Bicycles | | Strengths: | Simply the finest rear suspension design...period. I have ridden practically every design and been fortunate to own many of them. The Ellsworth ICT design has the best pedaling efficiency, combined with plushness, I have ever ridden. I love it. Very light for a 5" travel bike. Tough ano finish. Finally, an XL size! | | Weaknesses: | Torsional/lateral rigidity. Typically, manufacturers don't do enough to maintain the front-to-back stiffness of bikes in the larger sizes. Ellsworth is no exception. The Ellsworth XL Epiphany wanders and 'drifts' a little bit on the trail during cornering on quick stutter-type bumps like the front wheel is out of the same plane as the rear.
Also, on the XL size, the head tube angle is a little too slack when used with a Fox TALAS RLC 140, resulting a slight loping character. Dial down the travel to 120 or 100, and it is all good again. They should shallow up the HT angle a half to full degree for the longer travel fork (within their recommended travel range).
Price. Man these are getting ridiculous, but I still think they are the best. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 9.0 EX Carbon, Turner 5-spot, Yeti 5?5, Orbea Occam (very good single pivot design), Titus Moto-Lite, Titus Racer X aluminum, Ellsworth Truth, Trek Fuel 98 Carbon, Gaint Anthem 0, Giant Trance, Cannondale F-1000, Fisher Sugar, Klein Adept, Specialized Stumpjumper, Giant NRS. | | Bike Setup: | Fox Talas RLC 32, SRAM XO & X9, Avid Juicy 7 Carbon, Bontra
nger carbon bar and stem, Thomson post, WTB Laser V Stealth, Mavic Crossmax XL, Kenda Nevegal 2.1's | | Bottom Line: | Again, simply the best performing rear suspension design in the world. Everybody compares to Ellsworth, and there is a reason. Other companies license the design, or make their imitations fall just outside of patent restrictions.
I believe this is the best all-purpose, all-mountain design available.
Too expensive. Tony keeps the price high...it is aluminum, not titanium. This aspect makes me want to dock it an overall chili for the crazy high price. But I'll dock the value 2 chilis instead.
Performance is a five, but needs some tweaks in the torsional/lateral stiffness area and in the handling with recommended fork travels. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Phuc Phat
a Cross Country Rider
from Aliso Viejo
Date Reviewed: October 22, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | aliso woods | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Purchased At: | Path Bikes | | Strengths: | Hydro formed tubes, great workmanship, welds, ano finish, attention to detail. Makes technical climbs easy. Nice plush rear end/ICT works well even with or without propedal. Light frameset/"laser" etched WOW | | Weaknesses: | Price sucks, the bike does everything well but weak on cornering - wheelbase is great for climbing but no great on the cornering - I guess you can't have both.? | | Similar Products Used: | Santa Cruz blur, Turner 5 spot, foes fxr, ibis mojo | | Bike Setup: | pike 454 air u-turn, mavic crossmax xl, magura louise, thompson stem-post, crank bros candySL, xtr cranks, xo shifters-der, RaceFace os carbon bar. In the 27-8 lb range. | | Bottom Line: | Price sucks, first Ellsworth ever bought/first horst link* ever owned. Bottom line: if you have the money to buy this expensive toy then do it. Fun bike, climbs great, you'll get a great workout from riding it or else the guilt will set in. In a serious note, my epi is here to stay - no buyer’s remorse - (I will update my review after 6 months) just to be fair. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Doug Taylor
a Cross Country Rider
from Southington, CT, USA
Date Reviewed: October 14, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Grayville | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$3000.00 | | Purchased At: | Greenfish Adventure Sports | | Strengths: | Great-looking, tough-as-nails anodized frame. Smooth, supple ride. Excellent climbing efficiency. | | Weaknesses: | Hard to find on East Coast - product support could be better. Weak service manual. | | Similar Products Used: | Giant AC Air | | Bike Setup: | XT components, Shimano Hydraulic Brakes, Mavic Crossride wheelset, FSA headset, Crank Brothers pedals | | Bottom Line: | I've been craving this bike ever since the rave reviews began (Outside Magazine Bike of the year, etc.) but cost and availability on the East coast were always an obstacle.
This summer when my old rig was damaged in a car accident, I became in need of a new ride. Timing could not have been better. I found a great "end of summer" deal that was too good to pass up. My initial trepidation about spending 3K on a mountain bike (that I hadn't even demoed) quickly vanished when I took my first ride! Every time I get on this bike, I have a sh#t-eating grin from ear-to-ear.
My confidence on the trail has never been so high, especially on technical climbs. It bombs the descents almost as well as my supple Giant AC (further dialing in the suspenson should make it even better). If you like to bomb downhills and climbing efficiency is not a big deal, the Moment might be a better choice. For me, the weight advantages, climbing and handling of the Epiphany were a strong selling point.
My only complaints are:
1) The lack of dealers on the East Coast. Unable to demo the bike locally and get repair / advice / etc.
2)A bolt on the back of the frame was not properly torqued at the factory and loosened up during my second ride. Had I not noticed this in time, it could have been catastrophic. After some "back & forth" dialog with Mr. Ellsworth himself, they finally sent a replacement bolt with torque instructions.
3)I would have expected a service manual (with information on torque tables, pivot maintenance, etc.) to come with this frame instead of a glossy sales pamphlet.
In summary, despite some minor issues, I love this bike and can't wait until my next ride. And the next one. And the next. And.. you get the idea!
Lastly, Hats off to Greenfish Adventure Sports for their excellent customer support and build-kit. I've been trying for several months to have this bike shop added to the MTBR.com reviews but the system won't let me. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tad DeLaney
a Cross Country Rider
from Fredericksburg, Virginia, USA
Date Reviewed: October 11, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Quantico | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2395.00 | | Purchased At: | Cobblestone Bicycles in Ashland, VA | | Strengths: | Smooth, solid, plush, so energy efficient, climbs like a goat. | | Weaknesses: | Kinda' wish the chainstay and seatstay sported the same cool paint job as the rest of the frame. :) | | Similar Products Used: | FSR, MountainCycle, Intense Tracer | | Bike Setup: | Med frame w/Fox RP23 shock, Fox Vanilla RLC Fork, '08 XTR cranks, front & rear derailleurs and shifter pods, Thomson seatpost and stem, CK headset, Hayes Mag Plus Carbon brakes, Easton Monkeylite SL riserbars, Spinergy Xyclone Disc wheels, CrankBros Candy SL pedals, Ergon Mag grips, Selle Italia Yutaak saddle, WTB Wierwolf tires | | Bottom Line: | This bike is worth every penny. When it comes to MTB, you get what you pay for. If you want great, you pay for it, and the Epiphany delivers. I love riding it so much that I no longer use my road bike for training for MTB. I just put "urban" tires on the "'piph" and have a blast. It is so much fun to ride. I thought my Tracer was fun until I got the Ellsworth. I simply can't say enough about how much fun it is to ride this bike. The BB clearance is a little less than what I had on my Tracer (12.5" vs. 13.5+" on the Tracer), so I've had to change my riding style a bit over technical sections, but the lower BB has made cornering much better with the lower center of gravity. It also CLIMBS so much better than the Tracer. Hard to believe. I'm not into locking out suspension, though I have it, and this bike really doesn't need to be locked out for climbs. ALSO, I've noticed that I push larger gears now with the Ells than I did with the Intense. I find myself actually going faster with the Ells than I did with the Tracer, and I attribute that to the ICT technology. It has to be, and it makes sense. If it's that much more efficient to pedal, than it stands to reason you'd be more apt to push larger gears and go faster. I cut over 2 minutes off my best time doing the local 8.5-mile race loop course on the Ellsworth over my Tracer, and that was even with a little rotor drag for brand new pads and rotors that had yet to be broken in! Whatever you do, make the sacrifice and get yourself one of these bikes. You won't regret it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Neeraj
a
from Boise, Idaho
Date Reviewed: August 28, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | rbikes.com | | Strengths: | Very lightweight for its class; comfortable geometry, well-suited for climbing and descending | | Weaknesses: | Once you commit to buying a bike in this price range, there are no significant weaknesses to this bike. | | Bike Setup: | All mountain package from Rbikes.com | | Bottom Line: | This site is filled with great reviews for the Epiphany, and I don't have much more to add to those. I love it. I'm not quite sure what to name it, yet. There's a Ganesh (Elephant-headed guy..."Remover of obstacles"...every bike should have one) attached. It's better for climbing than the Giant XTC that I had (hold your laughter) and so much more reassuring on descents. I want to also spend some time talking about Rbikes.com. I had been a devotee of the Local Bike Shop idea and had planned on getting the bike from our only authorized dealer here in Boise. When I found their price to be 25% higher and some of there info and advice a bit questionable, I looked -- a little fearfully -- at on-line sites. I picked Rbikes because of a combination of good reviews and good prices. I couldn't be happier with that decision. Toni and Adam have been great from product selection to delivery and with advice afterwards. I was nervous, of course, about shipping, but the bike was packaged perfectly. They respond quickly to emails and are available by phone, too. I haven't had any problems come up yet, so I don't know if they are just fair-weather friends...but if things are done right from the beginning, you can spend less time wondering about how to handle a crisis. I recommend the bike to anyone who feels they've maximized their riding potential on their entry-level dual suspension, and I recommend Rbikes.com to anyone. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jérôme Tordo
a Cross Country Rider
from cassis,France
Date Reviewed: August 15, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | jerome.tordo@mac.com | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$6500.00 | | Purchased At: | WrenchScience, Berkeley,CA | | Strengths: | Great bike overall, excellent climber, good downhiller, great on technical climbs.
| | Weaknesses: |
nothing relevant.
a so great downhiller will need a more open headtube angle, but it won't climb as well.
| | Similar Products Used: | 5 Spot, Seven DUO, Seven DUO LUX, Intense 5.5, GT | | Bike Setup: | XO, XTR, HOPE,Chris King, Easton, Mavic UST | | Bottom Line: | The perfect overhall bike for marathon and rocky trails, light, strong, nothing to complain.
It is for me a second bike I am still riding a seven Sola and a Serotta Ottrott XC better climber.
MADE IN USA, that is really important. really well built you can ride it with confidence you know that the people who have made it know what riding MTB means.
Great service from WrenchScience in Berkeley too. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Greg Mahan
a Cross Country Rider
from Ben Lomond
Date Reviewed: August 13, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$4300.00 | | Purchased At: | Richards Bikes | | Strengths: | The bike is awesome. Quick going uphill, the rp23 is well worth the extra money-- firm lockout-- feels like a hardtail when climbing. Handles nicely over a variety of technical ups and downs-- feels solid and stable-- easy to keep a line despite what gets in the way. I am just starting to push it to see where it starts to flail, and haven't found this point yet. It has got to be the fastest bike I have ridden-- Mike at R.Bikes.com was very helpful in the whole process. His recommended upgrades were appreciated-- rp23, king headset, and I wish I upgraded the seat-- which I did after the first ride. | | Weaknesses: | FIZIK seat, Juicy 7's make noise although they work well other than that.
| | Similar Products Used: | Santa Cruz blur
Marin Hardtail
Tomac 6 shooter | | Bike Setup: | TruVativXR bar,stem, cranks, bottom bracket; King headset; XT front, XTR rear derailer; rp23, Fox Talas 140mm, Avid Juicy 7 160mm | | Bottom Line: | Although there are a lot of nice bikes out there, the Epiphany is worth it if you have the money to spend. It is a bike you are going to want to ride every day. Plus, it is just a great looking bike that rides like a dream. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ron
a Downhiller
from Sunnyvale CA.
Date Reviewed: July 27, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Stevens Creek Canyon, China Camp, Demo Forest | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$4500.00 | | Purchased At: | Sumit Bikes Los Gatos | | Strengths: | Climbs like no other sweet plush ride that just goes over everything it's a very easy ride comfortable and efficient | | Weaknesses: | I rode a Fisher hard tail prior to the Epi that was very quick
handling but once I took a 1/2" off each side of the bars it made the handling quicker other than that I havn't found anything weak about the bike | | Similar Products Used: | Blur LT, Heckler, Nomad, Trek 9.5, Kona Coilair Supreme | | Bike Setup: | large frame Fox Talas RLC fork, Fox tp32 rear SRAM x-9 avid juicy 7's. mavic wheel set on XT hubs (soon to be changed to Chris Kings)King Headset, XT Crank, Monkey lite Carbon bars, Crank Bros. candy pedals | | Bottom Line: | Test the rest and then buy the BEST. I rode a lot of bikes leaving the Epi for last and I'm glad I did because I was able to buy it with no reservations or second thoughts | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jamie Alackness
a Cross Country Rider
from Eagle Colorado
Date Reviewed: July 24, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Anything here | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Purchased At: | Moon Time Cyclery | | Strengths: | Best suspension I've have the pleasure of riding. Super smooth. Best out of saddle climbing I've experienced on a full suspension bike. Fast stable handling. Great fit and finish. | | Weaknesses: | The price is high but a S-Works Stumpjumper similarly speced is still more. The steering might be a little quick for some but I got used to it after the first ride. It will make you a lazy climber it climbs so well if you can consider that a bad thing. | | Similar Products Used: | Titus Moto-Lite, Foes Fxr O3, Yeti 575, Intense 5.5 and Spider, Turner 5spot, and many more | | Bike Setup: | This was a demo bike and definatly not speced to my liking The X9 drivetrain although new didn't even come close to the XO XTR mix on my Moto. Shifting was slow and clunky, and the Truvantiv Crank came apart. I've heard about this with Raceface cranks as well. The Avid brakes are weak at best a bad set of rim brakes would have been better. The Easton EA30 Bar and Stem did their job nothing more but, the bar made me realize how much comfort a carbon bar really adds. The Sun Ringle wheels and Nevegal tire worked without complaint. The THE race saddle was ok but not very comfy on the long haul. The Thompson post, Fox Talas fork
were the standouts of the build. After one ride I swaped most of the parts from my Moto onto the Epi. | | Bottom Line: | I put a few hundred miles on this bike during my testing and can safely say it rocks. This bike is slightly better than my Titus at pretty much everything and alot better at climbing. The suspension works so well it's amazing. Firm at the pedals yet super supple over everything. I bashed the crap out of the Epi intentionaly taking really bad lines and landing in rock gardens it just flows right along without missing a beat. 2-4 foot drops felt like nothing. Silky smooth, I'm pretty much sold. I still have a few bikes on the must ride before I buy list, but the Epiphany is going to be really, really hard to beat. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jesse Levine
a Downhiller
from Chicago IL USA
Date Reviewed: July 11, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | mah dah hey North Dakota | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$4000.00 | | Purchased At: | Rbikes.com | | Strengths: | light and fast, | | Weaknesses: | the XL frame is big and harder to turn quickly, but all XL's are. | | Similar Products Used: | specalized fsr,,, also a great bike | | Bike Setup: | fox float X, rp23, xt crank, xo triggers, x9 derailers, | | Bottom Line: | Epiphanys frames are expensive but feel much better than blur LT's. Specialized fsr frames are light and less expensive. Who knows which suspension design is most efficient. The epiphany is deffinatley one of the best ones. Rbikes.com shop in palos IL has many of these designs, go ride them and find out what feels the best. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a Cross Country Rider
from Willard ,Utah USA
Date Reviewed: July 5, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Snow Basin | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$5500.00 | | Purchased At: | The Bike Shoppe, Ogden Utah. | | Strengths: | Great climber! comfortable. smooth ride. | | Weaknesses: | Fox RP23 shock "stuckdown" from the factory. Rear triangle came loose at one of the bearing pivots and had to be replaced. | | Similar Products Used: | Giant VT. Specialized Epic. | | Bike Setup: | Fox Talas.Crossmax ST wheels. XT crankset.Avid Juicy carbons.XT shifters.XTR R.der.Chris King headset Thompson stem and seatpost | | Bottom Line: | I am 40yr.old 5ft. 10in. 160lbs. rider on a medium frame.I have six months and 480 miles on the bike at the time of this review.The Epiphany is a great all around bike.It is a great climber and a very good descender. The bike rides smooth across the bumps but feels very solid with no bobbing on the climbs.I compete in an occasional beginner class cross country race and I feel that the Epiphany lets me be as competitive as I would be on any other bike.The Epiphany is a very versatile bike. It works great if you want to blitz down your favorite singletrack, and it works equally well as a comfortable bike for that all day epic ride. On the trail the only complaint I have is that the cranks seem to have less clearance than most bikes I have ridden.
I had a couple of problems with the bike in the first 100 miles(listed in the weakness area of the review.)The problems were dealt with directly from my bike shop without ever dealing with Ellsworth directly.Matt and his crew at The Bike Shoppe in Ogden, Utah are the greatest!
My early problem with the frame makes me wonder about future reliability.That combined with the high cost lead me to give a rating of four chilis for value and a five overall because the bike works so well at so many things.
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Submitted by
Al
a Weekend Warrior
from North Yorks, england
Date Reviewed: June 20, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$7500.00 | | Strengths: | See earlier review last year, Oct 06 | | Weaknesses: | Magnesium alloy rocker - cracked then snapped on right hand side, shock side of pivot. Replaced under warranty, however known problem by Ellsworth on earlier models. Would have been nice to had item replaced on spec rather than rocker arm failing half way round Marin Trail. I'm not a pie eater either. Also rocker arm prone to corrosion, been meticulous with cleaning but pitting obvious after 6 months.
Bottom tube seems thin, very prone to dings if stones get flicked up, top tip, put some protection on .
Bottom bracket and cranks clout obstructions (previously had an Isis so not used to scraping rocks etc) | | Similar Products Used: | Ellsworth Isis | | Bike Setup: | Fox TALAS RLC forks, SRAM XO gears, X-O carbon shifters, FSA K-force carbon cranks, Hope M4 with braided hoses & floating disks, Chris King headset, Mavic Crossmax XL wheels, Thompson X4 stem, Thompson seat post, FSA K-force carbon riser bars, SDG Bell Air saddle, Crank Bro's Candy SL pedals, ODI lock on grips, Panaracer Trailraker, Trailblaster tyres, titanium bolt kit. | | Bottom Line: | Goes well, but amazed the rocker arm banged out and the corrosion problem. Thankfully the warranty has worked, will see how the new one performs. Sorry Ellsworth - for the price, the frame & its componants should last more than 9 months - and 4 months of that was with cronic sciatica. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
spinmonkey
a Cross Country Rider
from Bend, Oregon
Date Reviewed: June 13, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | too many to list | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | web cyclery | | Strengths: | It does it all, and really well. This bike completely rocks! | | Weaknesses: | BB height (not necessarily a weakness, but not really expected for a bike with this much travel - and I ride it with more than recommneded pressure in the back), cost, color selection. Also, I have to give the new XTR some credit here too - it works soooo good. | | Similar Products Used: | Truth, Enduro | | Bike Setup: | XTR, Thomson, DT Swiss. Went for whatever the best was for me, at close to 200 pounds. Some things could be lighter, but not worth the durability penalty. | | Bottom Line: | There are so many things to write about, it is hard to know where to start, so I tried to boil it down into some simple things, some of which I expected, and some which I did not. I do have to say that if the Truth came in an XL, that is probably would be the best choice for me. BUt since I have a rigid SS, this is a much better complimentary ride to that bike, and since I live in a place that is pretty flat - I ride with more than recommneded pressures most of the time, and with the travel settings not max'ed out (making it more like the truth). At the same time, when I do find that steady DH section, then you "turn on" the travel and WOW! GO GO GO GO! Here is the breakdown:
Positive things I did expect:
* climbs great
* super stable, yet still an XC style bike
* ICT works, but I am biased, since I am used to the Truth
* the RP23 fox shock is great - position 3 is basically a lock out, but will take the big stuff when you hit it.
* I HIGHLY recommned the talas fork. This bike was designed around a 130 mm travel fork, so 140 is a bit DH / chopper-esque, and 120 is where I think it works the best for me and where I live. Maybe the 130 would be the sweet spot? Who knows, but I am really glad I did not get the float with 140mm only.
* I feel so balanced on this thing it's amazing! Trials like stuff is actually pretty easy (relative to me - which is not saying much)
* very stiff back end. they have thought this thing through very well.
* again, ICT works - always active, climbs remarkably well. Turn the RP23 on or off - it just works, you just dial it in to the terrain to maximize the effects.
* freakin' sexy bike. like to think it doesn't matter, but it does when you spend this much.
Positive things I did not expect:
* did I mention that it climbs really good?
* I did XTR components - wow - that stuff is really amazing! Specifically the brakes and shifters.
* light. I paid a lot for it, but I built up this XL, with some "heavier" parts for the sake of durability, and it's barely over 26 pounds! Fully built with pedals!
* XTR shifters and brakes. I know this stuff is great, but these specific components blew me away in how they perform.
Negative things I did expect:
* a bit slower in response because of such a long frame (the price of stability)
* Price. ouch.
* the XL has a 69 degree head angle (all oterh sizes have a 70), which is one of the reasons that I like the middle travel setting on the fork better.
Negative things I did not expect:
* LOW bottom bracket. this may be a factor of my XL frame, since the wheelbase is soooo long, but I |
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