Specialized's new Epic 9 is the lightest full-suspension XC frame at 1,589g, offering enhanced efficiency, revised suspension, and a simplified model range, while pricing starts at $7,500.
Boo! to headset cable routing on bikes.
I don't particularly mind the idea in principle as long as it's done well and doesn't wear on the cables/steerer or anything stupid like that. Upper headset bearings of reasonable quality last forever anyway.
But it seems pointless when you've not got the hoses integrated from the lever to the stem like a road bike. It's only a couple of extra inches of exposed hose to run it into the headtube rather than through the headset. If they came out and said they'd teamed up with SRAM and had brakes with the hose exiting from near the bar and Zipp were going to make concave surfaces in the bars to hide it, then it would make more sense. This just seems like all the pain, however debatable for no benefit.
Boo! to headset cable routing on bikes.
If they came out and said they'd teamed up with SRAM and had brakes with the hose exiting from near the bar
Thats exactly how the new generation SRAM MTB brakes are designed, the hose is routed very tight to the underside of the bars.
not going to lie - actually really want that magura system now.
agree that half arsing it as TINAS say is a bit pointless.
only worry is you get a bike that looks like it can do barspins - but can't.
I can't do a bar spin deliberately while riding but crashes or even putting the bike in a car could mean accidently twisting those hoses round. Is there a knockblock-like-thing that could prevent this?
In frame storage is great - cleaner and much less noisy/flappy than being in a saddle bag or some sort of tool bottle.
Thats exactly how the new generation SRAM MTB brakes are designed, the hose is routed very tight to the underside of the bars.
it's closer, but still not particularly close
Shimano seem to have done it better:
Just seems like a missed opportunity to run the hose through the bars, it would still offer no benefit, but at least it would look cool.
In frame storage is great - cleaner and much less noisy/flappy than being in a saddle bag or some sort of tool bottle.
If you need in-frame storage on a bike specifically designed for XC racing then you might be riding the wrong bike. 😀
If you need in-frame storage on a bike specifically designed for XC racing then you might be riding the wrong bike.
and what percentage of people who buy this bike do you think ever race it? I’d imagine the majority will use it for long days out, you know, where frame storage would be useful. The frame storage was one of the reasons I fancied the previous gen.
Not sure tbh mate, I'd have thought most people who buy this probably do race? If you are marketing it as the lightest and bestest ever it's going to be stripped back to the minimum.
You'd want something else for long days out or at least I would.
Not sure tbh mate, I'd have thought most people who buy this probably do race? If you are marketing it as the lightest and bestest ever it's going to be stripped back to the minimum.
You'd want something else for long days out or at least I would.
I think it will do both tbh - like the Epic 8 did. Same frame, 2 slightly different setups. It is not long ago a bike with 120/120 and seat and head tube angles like these would be a down country bike, if not a light trail bike.
Hmmmm, I assume there's a new Evo coming as it seems they've dropped the more trail version along with the cheaper options? Far few options compared to the 8.
Not sure tbh mate, I'd have thought most people who buy this probably do race? If you are marketing it as the lightest and bestest ever it's going to be stripped back to the minimum.
You'd want something else for long days out or at least I would.
Right...next you'll be saying everyone on a Specialized Tarmac SL8 does road races and definitely doesn't just do 30-50km coffee rides...
It’s got two bottle mounts - so it’s definitely intended for marathon racing too.
I guess a frame storage would be nice but there are other ways to carry tools.
Right...next you'll be saying everyone on a Specialized Tarmac SL8 does road races and definitely doesn't just do 30-50km coffee rides...
Oi, I don't *just* do 30-50km coffee rides on my SL8! Sometimes I do a 25km coffee ride... 😉
That Magura system is very smart - all they have to do now is work out a way of integrating the hose down the suspension fork.
I always liked the Epic, I had a couple of them in my MTB race days including the original one with the shock next to the rear wheel:
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Weren't they the shocks that were more often sat on a workbench waiting for parts/service rather than next to the rear wheel?
Mine was fine although I remember the bike needing a complete new set of pivot bearings after a muddy Mountain Mayhem once. They were actually on the way out anyway, MM just finished them off but that was an expensive bike shop visit!
If Specialized decided they'd compromise a bit by on the design of this for people who didn't race , then they'd need to make another bike which didn't compromise for the people who do race.
Oi, I don't *just* do 30-50km coffee rides on my SL8! Sometimes I do a 25km coffee ride...
Ask me how I know... although mine is the SL7.
Hmmmm, I assume there's a new Evo coming as it seems they've dropped the more trail version along with the cheaper options? Far few options compared to the 8.
specialized leaning into the k economy, or they are proceeding cautiously after the post Covid bust.
Not sure tbh mate, I'd have thought most people who buy this probably do race? If you are marketing it as the lightest and bestest ever it's going to be stripped back to the minimum.
You'd want something else for long days out or at least I would.
Right...next you'll be saying everyone on a Specialized Tarmac SL8 does road races and definitely doesn't just do 30-50km coffee rides...
No, you're probably right. You should contact Specialized and let them know where they've gone wrong. 👍
No, you're probably right. You should contact Specialized and let them know where they've gone wrong. 👍
Not sure where I said they got anything wrong? I just said the average punter who buys this probably wouldn't race and would likely find inframe storage useful...
It's not that deep bro.
Do average punters - no intention to race type folks - drop £6k on a base model XC race bike nowadays?
Weren't they the shocks that were more often sat on a workbench waiting for parts/service rather than next to the rear wheel?
The original epics were pretty reliable, mine still in the shed.
The 2020ish epic evos had real problems with their integrated shock, yoke, brain set up. Mine had a new rear shock under warranty. Service is a pain as it requires the whole rear dismantling to get the shock off.
The new 9 looks great, but the price is scary. It kinda looks like a hybrid of the previous world cup and 8, and purely for speed and not sure something quite so lightweight will lend itself to downcountry.
My epic Evo is great for coffee rides and long days, hasn't seen a race.
The original epics were pretty reliable, mine still in the shed.It was the early 00's that i used to see them in our local spec dealers, shocks off. Waiting on spares/replacements for the brain shock. (Wasn't there a remote/hose version and a normal sort of right angled piggy back as well?)
If I had the money (come on lottery win....) I'd definitely buy the full blingy bling version and use it for mincing around the Peak. It would never see a race, but it would see some beer gardens.
