Is the Specialized Epic 8 Evo the Perfect Blend of XC & Trail?

[@tinshield]

Great review

[@johnnnewmex]

There's only so much excitement you can have over a single pivot short travel bike.... Especially in a place with elevation like your terrain. The four bar and dual link designs in the 120-130mm are more appealing to me.

[@norcalchrismeister]

I'm glad you showed your height cause I'm also 6'2". I've been wondering if I should get a large or xl epic 8. I ride an epic evo 7 in xl and it's fine but was thinking of going down a size to have a more fun and nimble bike.

[@fmenigat]

Same here. 6'2" - 6'3". And looking to buy an Evo 8 or chisel Evo... Specialized says xl. What to do, what to do...

[@elgeffe503]

@@fmenigat what did you guys decide cause I'm in the same boat

[@fmenigat]

@@elgeffe503 haven't bought yet. Might try to do some test rides in January at the lbs beforehand but leaning towards XL...

[@Schnitzel-j3o]

Thank you very much for this presentation! I'm currently wavering between an Epic 8 evo expert and a SC Tallboy from 2023/2024. I would like to go on multi-day bike tours through alpine terrain, but also ride trails with coarse stones. Since I'm a little older😱😩😆, I expect the Tallboy to give me a little more safety reserves when riding downhill. With a heavy heart, I have already ruled out the Stumpjumper 15 (not a good seating position for me, too much of a downhill bike). What would you advise me to do if I also ride extensive uphills? Maybe other bikes as well. I hope I was able to explain it clearly. Greetings from Northern Germany, Tom

[@mkrj2576]

Wow, your reviews are great. Dig your style. My daily riding duties are split between a Spur and a more trail bike oriented rig. Really like the Spur for the same reasons you state but have been wondering if the Spec might be a whole lot better. Thanks for answering that question. Yeah, the flex stay thing, like you said, it has its own sort of overly damped feeling but if you know what you are getting into with that suspension design i find it not a negative. Sort of adds to the bikes spunky ride quality.

[@Intentsrig]

I've got a 23 stumpy (non evo). Fox 36 grip X and two wheelsets. Xc wheel set up its around 27llbs maybe less, I cant remember. The geo is great for when things catch me off guard but the bike is light enough for big back country adventures. The new Epic evo 8 evo has interested me but the stumpy is so good I can't justify it lol. No XC races in my future.

[@JeffreyJim09]

With no XC races in your future, you have a better bike. No question. Thx for checking out the review btw!

[@JustVolleyballHD]

Great Review - thanks alot. How did you build your lower pivot mudguard (as shown around 7:08,) so no rocks can get in?

[@JeffreyJim09]

Good eye. Watch www.ralibike.com - will be launching in a few weeks with those as well as some other fun stuff (not in video) that I think you'll dig.

[@YoshiV819]

I just picked up this bike on clearance at Hoback Sports in Jackson, WY for $3500. Upgrade from my M4 Stumpjumper hard tail! Awesome bike, definitely a step up for me lol! I bought the last indigo but they still had a M and L in blue if you know anyone that's looking...

[@scottkouns8578]

Great video!! Please try the new Scalpel 1st or 2nd level. I just bought the 4th and upgraded the bike to basically a 1 with parts from another bike and upgraded parts. It feels great on easy trails and very fast. I would be very interested in your opinion/review on this bike. I based my bike purchase on reviews. Thanks!

[@ts-rf7er]

Ever demo a rocky mountain element, preferably the outgoing model without flex stays ?

[@luclallement7241]

How does this compare to the old epic evo? Some pretty great used deals going on for that bike right now.

[@JeffreyJim09]

@@luclallement7241 a good iteration but not some revolutionary step forward

[@IIISentorIII]

I own an Upgraded carbon Stumpjumper Comp with an Elitewheels pro 36 set. 12.7 lbs. Absolutely love the 130/140 travel range. We here in Switzerland ride Scott Sparks. I’m curious if maybe a damper upgrade to Grip2 or X2 will transform the feel of your EVO. Cheers from Switzerland

[@JeffreyJim09]

Good question. I could do a whole video on the lesser-known history of the GRIP damper, whereby a lot of product testers and racers were quietly enjoying the OG GRIP damper more than the FIT damper of the time. This spurred Fox to develop the X2 (IFP based) damper. Big point here is the GRIP damper is no slouch, especially for a bike like the Epic8. Going to the upgraded damper might help a *little* bit but it won't transform the bike. If I really wanted to improve handling in the DH setting, I honestly thing some doubledown or even DH casing tires would be the best thing I could do for really getting the thing to rally. Obviously, huge weight penalty here, but it'd make a massive difference. Cheers!

[@driver_18]

Nice review! Planning on getting an Epic 8 or Epic 8 Evo for a particular marathon xc/gravel race. With the trail you went thru, I think the Stumpjumper 15 be perfect for your descent trails?

[@anha8915]

Would you say you had the same muted/dead feeling on the Spur since it also has a flex stay?

[@JeffreyJim09]

100%. The Spur has the added benefit of a little more compliance, too whereas the Epic8 did not.

[@RilxVideo]

8:20ish you said I had to focus more on not crashing and less on having fun. Can you recommend a bike that is less nervous and easier to ride that would be more fun? Easier to not crash? Less focus on not crashing? (Newbie) what type of bike would fit that description?

[@JeffreyJim09]

@@RilxVideo as a beginner I do feel you’d be happier with a bike that is more forgiving and more versatile - Look for something that has 140-160mm of travel, with tires that have a lot of grip and good brakes. Don’t worry about carbon or aluminum or it being extremely light. Find a bike shop that’ll help you figure out what makes most sense for you and your terrain!

[@pacoperez2780]

Great review! I got the same bike with the blue paintwork. How much rise on this handlebar?

[@JeffreyJim09]

30mm if memory serves. If I'm honest, I'd go with a 31.8mm bar/stem to give a little more forgiveness to the bike. I just had this larger diameter bar kicking around, so went with that. If I were to go 31.8... My favorite carbon bar is the Enve M9. Alloy Deity Blacklabel.

[@pacoperez2780]

@@JeffreyJim09 I’ve done some research :) I can see that this is an enve m7. These come either in 10, 20 or 40 mm. I guess yours is 40 mm. I think that a 31,8 mm would fit better, too. I’m currently riding the Renthal Fatbar Lite with 30 mm rise, but I’m thinking of going up to 40 mm just to get a more relaxed position when pedaling on pavement. It’s still a very racy attack position even with 40 mm I think.

[@JeffreyJim09]

@@pacoperez2780 yes - you are right. I agree with going higher.

[@pacoperez2780]

… and by the way, your riding skills are amazing 👍

[@jono4106]

Great review, thanks! I currently own a Spur and am using it for Marathon XC races. I am thinking about getting the Epic 8. Did you notice a difference while climbing between the Spur and the Epic 8 Evo? Any recommendations? Thanks

[@Coors1974]

What about the top fuel?

[@JeffreyJim09]

The new (G4) is a formidable contender against any bike in the category. The one I had was good, but a touch off in the geometry category compared to the Spur/E8Evo. I'd wager the new one, combined with a very good suspension platform, could be "the one" but alas, I have not ridden it.

[@didzy9349]

Hey great review - what rise are your enve m7 bars? Cant tell if they are 25mm or 40mm?

[@pacoperez2780]

I am pretty sure that this is the M7 with 40 mm rise. It looks exactly like mine, also on an Epic 8 Evo. In fact, this video inspired me to buy this handlebar :) I also put on the Enve alloy stem 35 mm.

[@51249ca]

no-name hubs

[@Rawkus919]

Its not as XC as previous Epoc Evo, amd its no Stumpy. Im biased, i have a 23 Epic Evo, now ith a 130 fork, and 42.5 shock. All for half the price of the Epic8.

[@senallttam]

Great review as always! Having also owned the Spur and Enduro a couple years ago, and now the new Epic Evo, everything you're saying is exactly how I feel. Specifically with the Spur, I had never raved about and been that blown away by any other bike, and while I absolutely love riding the Epic (hardly touch my Stumpy Evo and Levo anymore), I just don't have the same feeling. Given all the money I just spent on it, I want to be totally head over heels for it and say it's my favorite bike ever, but just as you mentioned, maybe it's just to do with the Spur being an eye-opening experience for short travel bikes at the time, and now I'm just used to it. I feel like the Spur's rear end was a bit more sensitive on the descents at the expense of pedal bob, whereas the Epic Evo feels like a noticeably better (less bobby) climber at the expense of being a bit more harsh going down. I also still think the Spur was the best cornering bike I've ever had, which is what really made me fall in love with it - F/R balance felt perfect in size M, and my body position felt like I was on a mini enduro bike, but with the snappiness of the steeper HTA, shorter wheelbase, and lighter weight. I think the EE also corners very well, but even after trying every different combination with 42/50/55m stems, 20/35mm rise bars, and spacer stacks, I just couldn't replicate the same body position and weight distribution on the descents, so I ended up committing to a more climbing-biased cockpit setup (55mm stem slammed down with 20mm rise bars) and just getting used to the lower front end going downhill. EE to me feels more like a beefy XC / mini trail bike and is definitely my top pick for big days (did my biggest one last month at 67mi/12,800ft), especially with the SWAT box and two bottles inside the triangle, whereas I'd pick the Spur if I just wanted to go out and rip the descents on a really snappy bike.