All New 2021 Specialized Epic! My Thoughts and Favorite Things

[@wvjeepguy8178]

Hey man, did you ever do an update on this bike after more ride time?

[@cove.4]

Great review! What height dropper did you go with? Going to put one on mine

[@robertdewar1752]

I know this is first and foremost intended as a race bike, but any thoughts on double duty as a bikepacking rig?

[@TK-oq2qx]

what size of AXS dropper were you able to fit (travel length)? what is the size of the bike in your review?

[@thekidkaiser]

I ride a Large and I could fit a 150mm drop. I am running a 125 here

[@Whitewater11]

This must have been filmed a while ago because there isn't any green grass on Tong for a month! Nice review!

[@ankitkbd]

Great review. Thanks! I totally agree that looking at numbers before riding the bike would give someone the wrong expectations about it handles. I did still feel the "thump" in the brain but that was just fooling around in the parking lot. Ended up ordering an evo for myself and gonna put a remote lockout on it.

[@jaymueller2418]

If you got the ego with fox on it, you can put a Scott three position lockout.

[@psychospexss]

Just got the s works version. Even on the firmest setting the brain doesn’t work until about 30% sag. Is yours the same way?

[@BrianMaynardLetsDoThisThing]

I have the 2019 model and it works the same. This is to absorb small bumps and was introduced on the 2019 fork. kzbin.info/www/bejne/i4rGdqSspdaiY9U

[@psychospexss]

Thanks good video. Also my rear brain is very noticeable when engaging and disengaging (firmest setting)

[@BaschtiM]

Can you tell me weight of 2021 Epic modells?

[@thekidkaiser]

I don't know all of the weights for each model but I do know that the pro model is roughly 23lbs

[@timwang44]

Do you need remote lock out with the brain ?

[@stevenpeyton7476]

Thanks for the good review. I'm looking to replace my Stumpy for a better climbing rig, looks like this could be the ticket.

[@nl3712]

@stevenpeyton get the Evo then

[@kentao4]

debating this too but the evo is the move

[@foxhound143]

can you still feel the "clunk" coming from the rear brain shock?

[@mattiasandersson3444]

I have had 6 different Epic´s and S-works Epics from a MY2005 to the new 2021 and regardless of MY and how the "brain fade" are adjusted i had never felt that "clunk" everybody is talking about . Probably it´s in their own heads the "clunk" sits.

[@MrUberboss]

@@mattiasandersson3444 Have you ever had a non Specialized full suspension XC bike? Because maybe you don't feel it because you only know the brain suspension from Specialized? I mean, I never felt that "clunck" either that quite some people talk about, but then again I've only had a Specialized Epic, so I am curious now whether this is really a thing related to the Specialized brain in general or rather a "clunck" in some peoples heads. ;)

[@thekidkaiser]

The newest brain rear shock has a significantly larger oil volume which really helps eliminate that feeling. Occasionally you might feel it but I would says it’s not there

[@mattiasandersson3444]

@@MrUberboss Yes i have had a Gary Fisher Sugar 3, Giant Trance , Trek fuel 100, Scott Spark 900, Santa Cruz Juliana, Cannondale Scalpel, so yes i have own at least 5-6-7 other fs xc bikes + 6 different Epic´s and none off all has any fucking "clunk" sound.

[@MrUberboss]

@@mattiasandersson3444 Great! And yeah IF there would be a "clunk" feeling it should not be much of a big deal actually because it would only appear once the valve opens and it is still better to have a brain and not losing all your power/energy on a flat surface with a regular fs bike. I also guess that quite a lot of people with a real lockout system sometimes forget to lock/unlock it, which is not ideal either. So to me the brain Epic is still the king xc bike.

[@thrust_fpv]

How many times has the brain failed?

[@thekidkaiser]

0 times. New bike also includes complimentary service for 2 years 👌

[@thrust_fpv]

@@thekidkaiser That's really good to hear cos I just ordered one, hey what size dropper are you running on yours?

[@NH61975]

If you don't need a trail bike, this is not an upgrade it´s only marketing..............XCM bikes don't need this enduro/trail capable mods...........but rhe industry tell you need.........so, its pure marketing.

[@Velodictorian]

I'm not so sure. The easier a bike (even downhill) is to ride especially long distance the better. The less you're crushed the faster you can go for longer

[@robvega4650]

I've been riding mountain bike since 1994, I've always been a Specialized fan. I've had many Specialized bikes during my life Rockhopper, Sworks Epic, Camber, Stumpjumper without any issues until now. This Saturday 7/11/2021 I bought an Sworks Epic and an Epic Pro 2021 for and me and my son, I set up the suspension air pressure and rebound according to Specialized suspension calculator and on the very first ride the Epic Pro rear Brain suspension completely fail. Firstly, the suspension everytime it activates the shock makes strangest sounds, not the regular sounds that the Sworks makes. Secondly, all the time even on soft setting you feels the clunk on the rear shock continuously. After that ride the Brain stays on soft setting even if it's on the firm setting. After spending Thousands of dollars on Specialized bikes now I have a new out of the shop bike that doesn't work. That's why I am so infuriated and deceptionated, because after all promotion and marketing THAT YOU GUYS presented of the new Brain that is "SO MUCH BETTER, MORE DURABLE". How it's possible that after one ride it's already broken? After so much wait for the bicycles now I have a broken bicycle that I can't use and have to wait you guys decide when to fixed and when you guys do it I will have TWO bicycles with a suspension flaw design and with no warranty that it will survive your claim life duration of the brain. If this happen after ONE ride, how am I going to be sure that it's going to last for years. I'm regretfully of wasting my money on this bike on false marketing with a flaw suspension system, this will be my last Specialized products. And yes there is a clunk sounds continuously.

[@Hawlkeye-e9p]

That bike is junk. Specialized will go bankrupt soon.

[@thekidkaiser]

Spot on observation. Thank You

[@sneakerjoe23]

Lol