27.5 Epic in 2015??
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I would say 27.5 will go mostly on Enduro,Demo and Stumpy FSR. If they will ever do a 27.5 product…...
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Specialized did say they would not produce 27,5 bikes, then again who knows
Then again, they did start selling 27.5 tires recently...
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yeah that made me and my co-workers more than a little confused 
so maybe as an alternative to 29" maybe everyone isn´t comfy on a 29 er?
so maybe as an alternative to 29" maybe everyone isn´t comfy on a 29 er?
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I find it weird that they're pushing 29" wheels on the Enduro since it's supposed to be a climber and a DH bike all in one. I'd think it would be weird to tackle some serious downhill with a 29. I mean, all the DH specific bikes are 26, so going 29 would be a massive jump...
I also noticed Specialized released 650b tires, kinda wondering if they'll release a 650b Enduro for 2015?
I also noticed Specialized released 650b tires, kinda wondering if they'll release a 650b Enduro for 2015?
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Yes-- this is following the "we won't sell 29ers" line of thinking to a tee. Looking at the tires they've released, its quite a range of applications.
I personally don't see the Epic in a 27.5 format; to me, the Epic's about perfect with 29 wheels. Its very quick in the tight stuff, and holds speed all day on the fast stuff. Maybe it shows up in the smaller sizes, as some companies are going that way. At my frame size (XL) and my XCish style I see little reason for the 27.5 wheel.
I'd bet they show a 27.5 Enduro EVO and/or Demo in the next few years, and maybe the women's line goes that way as well? That would at least match the tires they've released.
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Rumor has it...Stumpjumper FSR 27.5 is on the way. I'd love a an Epic 27.5.... Just not sure they will make it. The only pure XC 27.5 that I've seen is the Giant Anthem.
Don't forget the Scott Spark 27.5 which is the bike I want...I will probably settle for a Fezzari or Anthem 27.5 though (price).
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Scott Spark looks like a hot bike. It has more relaxed geometry and more travel than the Anthem. Candidly, I'm interested in buying either the Spark or the Anthem shortly. I haven't been able to test either bike.
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JCL - I don't think this is true. While 29" may be faster for XC, many XC riders prefer 27.5 ... including the current word champ Nino Schurter who won his 12th World Cup this weekend on a Scott 27.5 race bike.
In fact, Scott and Giant both have 27.5 XC race bikes. Would love to a Specialized Epic or Trek Superfly as well..
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No 27.5 XC bikes for 2015.
I think this is a huge mistake and Specialized will be behind the curve again.
They are brining back the Era FS race bike though... in 29er. Perfect opportunity missed.
I think this is a huge mistake and Specialized will be behind the curve again.
They are brining back the Era FS race bike though... in 29er. Perfect opportunity missed.
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I'm loving my short travel 650b, and I'd be back on a Specialized if they had one when I bought this one last fall, does great in races as well.
120mm or less travel trail/XC bike with 27.5 wheels for $2,500 or less is a good spot to be in. I think a Camber 27.5 might be great for this. There are some of the older 26" wheel cambers that have been converted and the guys love them for a trail bike.
Don't think there would be too much of a market for a 27.5 Epic but I could be wrong.
120mm or less travel trail/XC bike with 27.5 wheels for $2,500 or less is a good spot to be in. I think a Camber 27.5 might be great for this. There are some of the older 26" wheel cambers that have been converted and the guys love them for a trail bike.
Don't think there would be too much of a market for a 27.5 Epic but I could be wrong.
As others have pointed out, in light of Schurter and Neff winning on 650B, this seems a pretty uninformed statement.
On Specialized and 650B:
If I recall correctly, Specialized has been a late adopter of 29ers, as well. When they had finally convinced themselves of the benefits (and market potential) and after they dialed the geometry, they went "all in" on 29ers. For some time, they have tried to sell a 29er to every customer, no matter what the person's height and riding style was (except for downhill). I think their strong position in 29ers is one of the reasons why they neglected the 650B trend for so long: With 650B being so close to 26", it offered little benefit for a company trying to sell (mostly) 29ers. As it turned out, marketing was successful in making customers perceive 650B as a middle "tweener" size, a goldilocks choice and a go-to size for those undecided between 26" and 29er.
With that much market share moving to 650B, Specialized was forced to react. For 2015, they are offering 650B in the downhill, enduro / all mountain and trail bike categories. They are also offering a 650B entry level hard tail.
I expect they will be offering 650B in XC soon. They might start with an Era or another women-specific model, but eventually, we might see 650B in mens' XC models, as well.
Neff and Schurter are great riders and would still win if they used 29er bikes from Specialized.
Specialized wants to be the best of the best. They will surely release 27,5" Epics when the 27,5" Epics are better than their competitors' bikes.
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