Mountain Biking - Anyone else ridden a Specialized Epic?

:DI got to test ride one this morning and boy was that a sweet bike. It accelerates like crazy and acts like a hardtail, but suddenly on rough terrain, it becomes a sweet full suspension bike. It was so light weight as well and you could really fly on it. I'm in the market for a good race bike, and I had tried out 2 or 3 other racing bikes (giant anthem for ex.) but this one stole the show. I've yet to try out Trek, Gary Fisher, or Cannondale though, but I think the epic will win. Great job Specialized Team!!!

I've ridden one a couple times at a Raleigh dealer and, was also impressed. I just liked the feel of the bike. It may seem a little heavy in some respects but, the thought of weight seemed to immediately fade away the moment I started pedaling. It strikes me an excellent all surface/condition type mountain bike. It's happy anywhere.

I ride an 06 comp, It works great for me and my style of riding. The bike feels heavier in the back end when you pick it up, but I never notice it when riding. I ride mine with a firmer setup than than recommended by Fox, and keep the brain fade set about half way through the dial. I have ridden it fully active with a very plush setup also, Still pretty efficient at the pedals and smooth.

I rode one for about a year. It's really stiff and accelerates well but I never got used to the extra weight it the back. The adjustable suspension was really nice. I'd set it stiff for racing and soft for trail riding. I lost interest in full suspension this spring though and built up a steel hardtail. My epic frame is up on ebay right now.

they look pretty cool, but the proprietary design kind of scares me off. 5 years down the line, could you be sure you'd be able to get parts for that rear shock? or is it assumed that nobody would ride a high end bike for that long anyway?

they look pretty cool, but the proprietary design kind of scares me off. 5 years down the line, could you be sure you'd be able to get parts for that rear shock? or is it assumed that nobody would ride a high end bike for that long anyway?

Honestly, Parts should be around until the next evolution of Specialized design renders them obsolete. Haven't heard of a lot of problems with the Brain unit. And the fox float shock (on mine) is rebuildable. The design has proven itself to specialized enough that they even use it on some of the Stumpy's. As for the new ones with "in house" suspension. they have contracted with a supplier that probably "borrows" technology from developments Fox and Rockshox have made through the years. No reason to think that another supplier can't duplicate known technology..........Or is there?

No reason to think that another supplier can't duplicate known technology..........Or is there?
Well if 5 years down the line nobody is manufacturing a proprietary shock that was used for one line of bikes from one manufacturer, it would be prohibitively expensive to custom build one. Proprietary parts are usually no longer manufactured after the product line they're used on is discontinued. And who knows that even if the line does continue that they won't tweak the design so it's incompatible with older frames? I mean, at that point it would be cheaper just to buy a new bike than to have a custom rear shock built...

I'm relatively new to mountain bikes, but I know that you can squeeze 10 or more years out of a well-maintained road bike. Maybe that's unrealistic here? One of my criteria in buying a Stumpjumper was how standardized all the parts were. I like things to be easy to service should the need arise.

Well if 5 years down the line nobody is manufacturing a proprietary shock that was used for one line of bikes from one manufacturer, it would be prohibitively expensive to custom build one. Proprietary parts are usually no longer manufactured after the product line they're used on is discontinued. And who knows that even if the line does continue that they won't tweak the design so it's incompatible with older frames? I mean, at that point it would be cheaper just to buy a new bike than to have a custom rear shock built...

I'm relatively new to mountain bikes, but I know that you can squeeze 10 or more years out of a well-maintained road bike. Maybe that's unrealistic here? One of my criteria in buying a Stumpjumper was how standardized all the parts were. I like things to be easy to service should the need arise.
I usually trade up bikes every couple years because technology advances, I don't buy a bike on the condition that all parts will be available for ten years! Hell most of the forum can break the frame in 5!