Yeah, that's my seat height, it looks (and is) really long, but thats the bullit I had to bite. I am a xc/epic(marathon?)/trail rider and thus ride my seat at a higher extension. Also, Ellsworth designs (on the Moment & Epiphany) have silly long top tubes so I wasn't comftorable with the 19". I am 6' with an inseam of 34-35", and I have plenty of top tube on this bike, though if you are any bigger, i'd check out (test ride) the 19".
Having so much (vertical) room underneath me I have found to be an advantage for flicking the bike around and balancing over obstacles...also very easy to mount & dismount (I am getting lazier in my old age). I am researching a gravity dropper seat post for some of the more dicey stuff i'll be riding on, but i'll wait for the all black version.
There is no doubt in my mind this has to be one of the best 5" bikes you can buy, I haven't ridden the 5 Spot, but I really can't imagine any bike being ANY better than the EPI.
Relative to my Litespeed HT, the geometry of the EPI alows for much much sharper turning without my front wheel pushing out, I will have to push myself to find this bikes limits - its really scarey easy to ride. It climbs with such incredible ease that I was clearing steep steep loose gravely/rocky climbs that i've never managed before - and that was on my 1st "break in" ride on the bike! I can't imagine how much of a better biker i'll be after I get a few more rides in to fully adapt to riding full-suspension. I am still getting the feel of loading the fork & shock consecutively to "pounce" over and up onto objects. The braking will take some time, my Juicies are not working so hot yet, i've been told they need a few rides to "seat" - we'll see.
Descending is heaven, the bike has such trackability, it saved me a few times when my old HT would have slid out - increadible confidence inspiring. The bike is so efficient, I was kind of bummed when I 1st hopped on it because it didn't feel like it had 5" of travel, it feels super tight and reactive, which was very alarming - I want a bike that will be a fun trail bike - should I have gotten the Moment??? - But then I jumped on my wife's 4" bike to feel the difference and was shocked to feel myself bottoming out instantly...this is amazing b/c before I got the EPI I felt my wifes Dakar XC Comp was SOO PLUSH - now it feels like a xc racer set up compared to mine. Thats a relief, for now the 5" seems perfectly nimble yet plush.
The EPI loves to air, over lips and ledges, it sails with confidence, and lands soo buttery smoothe. Again, this was only the "break in" ride, I hope to have a more detailed ride report for you'all later.
-Pusher
I am sooooo jealous!!
