[crazyal]

ok so i used to have an Sworks steel frame, it broke a few years back and specialized replaced it with an M2 sworks frame, very nice of them, but once I got that frame i pretty muched stopped riding, it was too big and the ride was way tooooooo harsh, it is the same bike i am riding today, its ok, only 24pounds, but its time for full suspension
I am not as obsessed with grams as i used to be i am more then happy to go to 27 pounds or so.

here is what i am looking at

Epic comp or marathon, coming from the age of counting grams and cool parts and limiting rotating weight makes me want to go with the marathon for the full xt package, more people i talk with tho say it doenst matter as much as it used to. ok i can accept that but, $2000 for a comp when one of the hubs dont even have sealed bearings is really hard to swallow if you know what i mean.

santa cruz blur, this bike is a bit lighter and there is an xt package where you can get this bike for about , $2600 (lbs said 2000 for comp and 2900 for marathon), i test road this bike and it was great but very very heavy, was really unhappy climbing with it, (ok so i am also 30 pounds heavier now then when i used to ride a lot, but that is why i am going to start biking again and plan to have that weight off by christmas)

my research has concluded that get the brain technology if you are going to race, get the float if you are just going to ride a lot. Obviously rotating weight is important still and that is a concern so most likely i will go with a full xt package and the comp is probably out but not yet.only reason i would go xt right now is for weight. back to the weight thing the blure is at least a pound to 2 pounds lighter so i am leaning towards the blur unless i get very interested in the brain quickly. everything i have read has been positive about both bikes everyone loves either one.so i dont think i can go wrong.

so i guess it comes down to this, brain or no brain? how important is it?
weight? how important is it?
the other thing to remember is i have a very good 15 year relationship with the lbs where i can get the specialized, but the santa cruz would be purchased elsewhere and i am trying not to piss my lbs off. but the blur is cheaper and lighter.

ah what to do what to do?

i think these are the 2 bikes i am down to, but if you have any other options let me know, i am open to all sorts of stuff, ellesworth, intense, whatever really, my price range is really 2500 or so but will do 3000 if i have too, thanks for the help

please blur and epic riders respond

 

[SDtrailblazer]

coming from a blur i have to say the blur rides plush and pedals good too. i also would like to add that there is an issue with bearing life. i had to change the lower pair 2 times in a year and a half. it has to be a design flaw with the vpp because there are alot of blur owners that i've met with similar problems. it's a good bike if you want a bike that can ride up the hill and scream down the rocky stuff. i've put a couple thousand miles on this bike and the anodized finish remained almost perfect. if you plan on racing this bike can be built up light 24-25 pounds or if you want a trail ready rig you can build it to about 28 pounds + with sturdy parts. this is my suggestion to you, test ride both and then make a choice.

 

[TheSherpa]

ok so i used to have an Sworks steel frame, it broke a few years back and specialized replaced it with an M2 sworks frame, very nice of them, but once I got that frame i pretty muched stopped riding, it was too big and the ride was way tooooooo harsh, it is the same bike i am riding today, its ok, only 24pounds, but its time for full suspension
I am not as obsessed with grams as i used to be i am more then happy to go to 27 pounds or so.

here is what i am looking at

Epic comp or marathon, coming from the age of counting grams and cool parts and limiting rotating weight makes me want to go with the marathon for the full xt package, more people i talk with tho say it doenst matter as much as it used to. ok i can accept that but, $2000 for a comp when one of the hubs dont even have sealed bearings is really hard to swallow if you know what i mean.

santa cruz blur, this bike is a bit lighter and there is an xt package where you can get this bike for about , $2600 (lbs said 2000 for comp and 2900 for marathon), i test road this bike and it was great but very very heavy, was really unhappy climbing with it, (ok so i am also 30 pounds heavier now then when i used to ride a lot, but that is why i am going to start biking again and plan to have that weight off by christmas)

my research has concluded that get the brain technology if you are going to race, get the float if you are just going to ride a lot. Obviously rotating weight is important still and that is a concern so most likely i will go with a full xt package and the comp is probably out but not yet.only reason i would go xt right now is for weight. back to the weight thing the blure is at least a pound to 2 pounds lighter so i am leaning towards the blur unless i get very interested in the brain quickly. everything i have read has been positive about both bikes everyone loves either one.so i dont think i can go wrong.

so i guess it comes down to this, brain or no brain? how important is it?
weight? how important is it?
the other thing to remember is i have a very good 15 year relationship with the lbs where i can get the specialized, but the santa cruz would be purchased elsewhere and i am trying not to piss my lbs off. but the blur is cheaper and lighter.

ah what to do what to do?

i think these are the 2 bikes i am down to, but if you have any other options let me know, i am open to all sorts of stuff, ellesworth, intense, whatever really, my price range is really 2500 or so but will do 3000 if i have too, thanks for the help

please blur and epic riders respond

First, work on your grammar. This is the first time i've ever complained about it on mtbr, but jesus your post is impossible to read and follow.

In the meantime, your going to have to test ride both bikes and see which one fits better. Some say the "Brain" is harsh and some love it. I guess what i'm trying to say is Blur riders will say go Blur and Epic riders will say go Epic.

-TS

 

[crazyal]

First, work on your grammar. This is the first time i've ever complained about it on mtbr, but jesus your post is impossible to read and follow.

In the meantime, your going to have to test ride both bikes and see which one fits better. Some say the "Brain" is harsh and some love it. I guess what i'm trying to say is Blur riders will say go Blur and Epic riders will say go Epic.

-TS

well considering i went to bed at 4 got up at 7 worked all day and then typed a 2 page letter without proof reading it, i am just happy i got words on the page, now i have to go get on my hardtail that i hate and try to brake it so i can go get a new bike, was hoping for some user feedback,i have tested the blur and hopefully testing the epic tomorrow.

 

[ADDICT]

Got tu luve thows nit picers ay. Anyway if you plan on racing XC long term and be competitive you will want the Epic or better yet a hardtail, but if you want a great all around bike that will make a great trail bike with an occasional XC race the Blur would be the choice. Also its better to lose wieght on your body than to worry about 2-3 lbs difference in bikes,unless you plan on racing at a high level of comp.

 

[crazyal]

......................................................................................................................

hope that makes up for all the ones i missed

 

[crazyal]

Got tu luve thows nit picers ay. Anyway if you plan on racing XC long term and be competitive you will want the Epic or better yet a hardtail, but if you want a great all around bike that will make a great trail bike with an occasional XC race the Blur would be the choice. Also its better to lose wieght on your body than to worry about 2-3 lbs difference in bikes,unless you plan on racing at a high level of comp.

hey addict, that is exactly what everyone says, if you are going to race, epic all the way, if you are going to just ride do the blur. i do not plan on racing so i guess most would say get the blur, but dont i want to be as fast as i can? so if racing would use the epic why would a non race situation not call for an epic? thanks

 

[TheSherpa]

hey addict, that is exactly what everyone says, if you are going to race, epic all the way, if you are going to just ride do the blur. i do not plan on racing so i guess most would say get the blur, but dont i want to be as fast as i can? so if racing would use the epic why would a non race situation not call for an epic? thanks

Epic won't be as plush as a Blur and will tend to beat you up more on longer rides so i hear. But mostly just buy the bike you want because people do 100mile rides on rigid bikes. I bit the bullet and ordered an '05 Blur with an '05 Minute because i can race it and go on long epic rides. You just have to test ride both bikes extensively not just some parking lot BS test.

-TS

 

[E-Z11]

Rocky Road

Have you considered a Rocky mountain ETSX ? superb bikes though a bit pricey...

 

[scott.com]

I test road a Epic Comp then bought an Epic Marathon. The bike is awesome. It's worth it alone for the adjustable brain and the Fox F100x fork. I use it for racing and all day trail riding. I was planning to keep my Specialized Enduro for all day trail riding but I found that everything I could do on it I can also do on the Epic.

I look at the Blur but decided to pass after hearing about having to replace the bearings. The price difference was also not that much different between a Blur with XT and the Marathon.

 

[Broke-Biker]

Have you thought about the new Stumpjumper FSR Pro? Full xt/xtr package, relatively light, triad shock is awesome, and you can get it from your LBS (which seems to be important to you, as it was for me). It may not be anything that you would even consider, but I didn't want you to overlook it just in case. It is a great all-around bike IMO.

 

[crisillo]

go Epic!

Hi!

I have heard great things about the Blur, however I am in love with my Epic. I can tell you I do absolutely no racing and am trying to lose weight too. I tell you, I also came from a hardtail, and I think the Epic is a great bike overall. I know there are plusher bikes. But for me the Epic did it. I bough my frame used and build it up from scratch, getting from the LBS would be better though 'cause of the warranty.

But as everybody else has told you, go check both of them out and choose. Both are great bikes so there is not much margin to go wrong

My 2 cents.....

- Cris

 

[cmweldon]

MMMmmmm

I am a blur owner, I'll say that now. I have friends who are epic owners. I came from a hardtail. Don't think a pound is going to hold you back at all. I've ridden both, on trail, and I really feel happy about the decision I made, BUT that's for me.

I definitely think the Blur is an all mountain bike. It climbs well, descends very well and really absorbs bumps (and logs and rocks, etc...). It's made me a worse rider because I just ride through stuff now.

The epic is a cross country machine, and well oiled one at that. If you don't have gnarly downhills on a regular basis that go for miles, I'd go Epic, its suspension is set up for efficient riding that kicks in when you need it. Blur is the equivalent of a taught SUV, it can handle the rough really well but also cruises quite nicely, I abuse it regularly and it still shines. The epic is similar to one of these crossover SUV's. Sports car performance that can handle some nasty stuff well when thrown at it.

Blur=all mountain
Epic=cross country

I hope that helps some, you've had a lot of great input.

 

[ncj01]

I think you're doing yourself a serious dis-service by not considering a Titus Racer X. With your budget, you can get a muuuch nicer bike, faster, lighter, more durable, world class customer service, higher resale value. Of course you would opt to get the SPV style rear shock.

Or better yet, get a 29er, but I'll not push my luck. Most people who consider Cannondales, Trek's, Specialized, Santa Cruz's etc often don't like to stray too far from the flock.

 

[SANTACRUZrdr]

As previously stated, most Blur riders will say Blur and Epic riders will say Epic...I am very partial to Santa Cruz bikes, but I would never tell a person that one bike surpasses another simply due to the fact that its really all about how it feels to that person. I always tell people to try out their list of possibilities, and pick the one that feels the best to you, even is its not the one you originally wanted.

With that in mind...go with the Blur....hehehehe

 

[SprSonik]

I have a 2002 Specialized S-works FSR XC that is a true high performance XC bike, while my bro has a 2002 Giant AC Air Lite that is an all-mountain/almost freeride bike. That being said, my 24 lb bike is always chasing his 32 lb bike up the mountains, and his all-mountain bike is always chasing me down the mountains and over the technical stuff. The rider is the important part...

That being said, with the $$$$ you are looking to spend, you can get a better bike than you (or most of us that visit these forums) will ever need. Buy for ride quality, comfort, durability. Buy the best bike you can afford. Commit to becoming a good enough rider to justify the bike.

Being a golfer taught me one thing, equipment is a tool, and if you don't know how to use it, it won't help