Specialized Epic
 

Think it will convert any of you hardtail lovers of to FS? I use to be a die-hard hardtail rider, but then I saw the light.

The epic will have all f/s critics scrambling.

i was thinking baout buying an epic, or a stump jumper the epic is 1600 with out disc and the stumpjumper is 1300 with disc.

I demo'd one a few weeks ago on familiar trails. I'm sold and now searching for a good deal on a leftover bike or frameset. I'm definately getting one!

It did get all the f/s critics going, and then 2months later came a certain Blur from Santa Cruz. The Blur took all the wind away from the epic.

I have the epic, and my beau has the Blur. He loves his, but I love mine. It was my compromise between hardtail and f/s. It was worth every penny and then some for me. I LOVE it, and it did convert me. It does everything it promises and more.

I'd be concerned about the lockout happening at wierd times. I haven't gotten the chance to ride one, and doubt I ever will unless the price comes down to something reasonable.

I got to use the S-Works Epic this summer for about a week or two and 200+ miles. The only time it did'nt work well was at low speeds (I was teaching a group, following beginners) and somtimes it would work, and somtimes not. However, when I was riding at normal speeds it never let me down. Sprinted like a HT and decended very well. I'd buy one, but I love my old litespeed too much. And my BigHit takes care of my squishy fix.

I wasn't all that impressed with ours when our shop had 'em for demo. I'll give the big S credit for innovation, but I had some issues with unpredictable/undesired lockout, weight, and cost. While the bike did respond like a hardtail, it responded like a hardtail that weight 6 pounds more than mine.
I also think some people have issues expecting it to perform like a more active FS bike when that clearly is not its intention.