Fox/Brain likes and dislikes.
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tilted wheel
The suspension is not in the middle of the bike, so the side on which is the suspension is STIFFER than the other side and therefore after some months of riding your rear wheel will be a little bit tilted to the side where the suspension is.
The suspension is not in the middle of the bike, so the side on which is the suspension is STIFFER than the other side and therefore after some months of riding your rear wheel will be a little bit tilted to the side where the suspension is.
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I used an Epic for about 2 and a half years and never seen the slightest hint of this behavior.... besides the linkage is just a strong/weak on one side as the other.... the shock doesn't handle any lateral loads because of the angular contact bearing it uses... so it doesn't really stiffen the side it is on....oliverr said:
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dont want to go through this Epic vs Stumpy line as this line of thought is already being burned in other posts but you seem to be one of the rare ones to have both bikes -- so I am just curious why you are faster on the Epic ... is it because of the handling? ... does the frame geometry have something to do with it? ...3xv said:All I know about the Epic with brain is, My ave. speed is noticeably faster on the same trail compared to the '07 Stumpjumper expert with brain. Just my opinion
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The brain is one SWEET piece of equipment. After riding one, and talking with McAndrews (the one that invented the specialized and fox brain design) I would not buy another xc style bike without one. It allows the shock to totally ignore rider input, and only react to trail input. Thus making a much more efficient riding mountain bike.
I was actually just on the phone last night with Mike for a good while, and the work and trials he put into making this shock is amazing. And how he got it all to work is even cooler. The inertia valve design has been around for a long time now, it started in the auto industry, then he made it work with bikes, its a technology i am glad to have on my bike!
Go with the fox brain, or the specialized brain, either one is great, and you WILL feel the difference. I personally like my new specialized brain on my epic, its sweet, it doesnt have the on/off feel that the fox shock has, its reacts super fast, and is really smooth. On the up hills, it feels just like a hard tail, and on the downhills it seems to be fully open, its great!
I was actually just on the phone last night with Mike for a good while, and the work and trials he put into making this shock is amazing. And how he got it all to work is even cooler. The inertia valve design has been around for a long time now, it started in the auto industry, then he made it work with bikes, its a technology i am glad to have on my bike!
Go with the fox brain, or the specialized brain, either one is great, and you WILL feel the difference. I personally like my new specialized brain on my epic, its sweet, it doesnt have the on/off feel that the fox shock has, its reacts super fast, and is really smooth. On the up hills, it feels just like a hard tail, and on the downhills it seems to be fully open, its great!
"is it because of the handling?"- Yes
" does the frame geometry have something to do with it?"- Yes
I own the '07 stumpy expert, and 2 of my siblings own '06 epics, and everytime we switch bikes, I ride faster through the exact same singletrack trail using the epic. Agility and efficiency are the words we use.
This is not a which is better thread, I just wanted to share my opinion with regards to the inquiry on the Epic with brain. :thumbsup:
I love my stumpy, and I've set it up to perform to my riding style, but my next "other" bike will be an epic just to mix it up .
Ride safe :thumbsup:
" does the frame geometry have something to do with it?"- Yes
I own the '07 stumpy expert, and 2 of my siblings own '06 epics, and everytime we switch bikes, I ride faster through the exact same singletrack trail using the epic. Agility and efficiency are the words we use.
This is not a which is better thread, I just wanted to share my opinion with regards to the inquiry on the Epic with brain. :thumbsup:
I love my stumpy, and I've set it up to perform to my riding style, but my next "other" bike will be an epic just to mix it up
.Ride safe :thumbsup:
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4,870 Posts
My test rides on a couple fo 2007 Epics were impressive. The geometry of the frames has evolved to what it ought to be - and more importantly - so has the Brain "system". That dang back wheel felt glued down, and the rear felt stiff, responsive, and nimble. No harsh initial bumps - just fluid, as promised operation.
$20 question is, (Black) Cabon frame or Pink Alum. frame!
$20 question is, (Black) Cabon frame or Pink Alum. frame!
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421 Posts
Jutt. You have a 06 S-works epic. How did you get the new Spec shock on the 06???
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Its a VERY long story, its in a post here on MTBR if you want to look for it, but i have both the 07 Specialized brain shock, and the 06 fox brain shock for it. Basically i had an 07 epic marathon, and i had some issues, they sent me an 06 S Works carbon frame as a replacement frame, and told me to keep both the shocks. But the story is much more complicated.
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I think it was bad move from specialized to manufacture their own shocks and forks. They should have left this job to FOX, which has 1000x more experience in this business. Specialized is best for frames, Fox is best for suspensions. But it all about money.
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Dude, the head guy from Fox moved to Specialized and designed the new forks/shocks... The experience came with McAndrews... Do your research before you make such a bold statement. And, in the end, yes it is all about the money. That is why McAndrews switched, but then again, what isnt controlled by money... Think about it...
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I spoke with McAndrews the other night.....he is "The Man" when it comes to suspension. He said he just got back from Asia where the shocks are made. They actually have 2 plants over there, one for forks, and one for shocks. He said from being over there so much, and working for fox and rokshox, he sort of knows the "A List" companies to deal with and get supplies from over there, and not surprisingly, most companies (like fox, specialized and marzocchi) get most of their parts (like seals and sanctions) or have them made from the same "a list" suppliers/manufactures. So believe it or not, the specialized forks and shocks will be the same quality.....if not better.
It seems to me that specialized tries not to release a product until they KNOW its better than anything else out there. My personal opinion is they sure as heck accomplished this with their new afr brain shocks on the epics...........I eagerly await the arrive of their new fork
It seems to me that specialized tries not to release a product until they KNOW its better than anything else out there. My personal opinion is they sure as heck accomplished this with their new afr brain shocks on the epics...........I eagerly await the arrive of their new fork
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