Is the new Specialized S-Works Epic 8 the fastest MTB ever??
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- Опубликовано: 5 сен 2024
- Specialized are making some big 'fastest ever' claims for their new S-Works Epic 8 race bike. It's combination of outstanding superlight yet stiff frame, progressive geometry, punchy pedalling, perfect race spec and RockShox new Flight Attendant Ai suspension might mean they're right though!
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A few years ago I thought of XC bikes as a dead category because the geometry was so bad. Only XC racers wanted an XC bike. However, when you make the geometry more progressive the XC category opens up to non-racers. Now, I could reasonably recommend a 2024 Epic 8 or Epic 8 Evo to a Trail rider.
Absolutely, that Epic Evo is more than enough for me. TBH I'm probably going to down spec the front tyre and rotor to gain some speed and lose some weight
@@GuyKesTVI'm not a fan of Specialized 2.3 tires. I would install a 2.4 Rekon rear and a 2.6 Rekon front.
That's because the definition of XC keeps changing to make you fork out more cash. They are essentially lighter weight trail bikes now. For 14k I'd expect a full sus bike to be 9kg ish...not 10.5.
@@Bread_Garlichouseyou'll be waiting until your're 6 feet deep then...
What's the first bet? £14K. Cheers G.Kes - top review as usual.
Just got pricing, £12k for the S-Works but comp is 'only' £4250 and still gets SIDs
Guy, perhaps a goofy question with the FA on the 8. But how does the 8 compare to the previous epic EVO all things equal? Cheers mate👍
As an ex-XC racer of 34 years racing, this is the one for me i think. Not this expensive one though, i think the comp one which i can upgrade when needed.
The Comp looks great. Still SID both end 👍🏻
@@GuyKesTVcheers Guy 👏👍
Fernando’s channel is really nice. I’ve been following him, and you, for a long time now. Great contents in Portuguese and in English. I thank you both for your efforts. Let’s keep the riding on 🤘🏽🚵🏼
Pretty slick! What’s your take on comparing it to a Blur? They look close-ish in geometry. Albeit that super slacked ht angle on the epic…
Been riding the Blur with Flight Attendant on for the past week and it’s a lot nervier in the steering and not as stable either as the reach is a lot shorter. The suspension aspect is interesting too as the Epic has more anti squat so it feels more efficient even in Open. But the way they’ve tuned their shock with the big bottom out bumper collects drops really nicely too. Blur feels smoother when pedalling through chunk though as there’s less pedal kick back. It feels like it sits higher when locked too, but I actually think that’s the geometry feeling more nervy and a bit less settled
@@GuyKesTVwonder how it feel on a Cervelo ZFS5 120? That frame is lighter
As XC bikes become more and more capable it might not be long before a lot of trail bikes are confined to the history books
At 6’5” I was really interested in a Super Caliber for my next purpose built race bike, but this Epic 8 gives me pause to rethink that. Which would you choose for race day Epic 8 Pro or Trek Super Caliber 9.9?
Working in the bike industry I’ve seen a ton of cracked caliber’s. As someone who is as tall as you I would steer towards better quality like the santa cruz blur or a pivot mach4. Look into mondraker too since they’re known for longer reaches.
This superbike, with all the crazy electronic assistance on it, just kinda made me love my dead simple mechanical alu Chisel even more.
Good thing the new Epic frame itself is so high quality, seems like it would ride almost as well with coventional suspension on it. And that’s exactly how I would buy it if it were my money.
Its starting at 5K for the comp. Decent enough spec but were Specialized not struggling to clear the old Epic comp with 40% off? It seems they are very much paying the premium card with this bike.
I did buy a new Stumpjumper Expert for 3200Euro. Let that sink in for a moment 😉
The bar kills my hands, braking fingers go numb I end up just resting my hands on the grips. Really need new bars, I think its the backsweep and the negative drop.
They're stiff as hell too which is the biggest issue with numbness I reckon. Same problem with most of the all in one race bars, the pro's are too bloody hardcore!
We did Specialized ditch the crapstain suspension earlier
Love the reviews. Always interested in reviews or mentions of expert level bikes though. Epic WC and Epic 8 particularly. Maybe Comp, possibly Pro but S-Works means absolutely nothing to me. It's not on the average Joe's radar. It's most of a house deposit. The only time I'll afford this is when I'm past it and wouldn't justify it for racing :P Be interested to know about the Epic 8 as a bike. If you're able to get flight attendant, you're likely not in need of buying advice. Look after us poor folk, have you got experience with the epic 8 models without FA, what's your no-Bull Gen on them? :D
I've got the Epic Evo which is the same frame as Epic 8 Pro but with slightly different shock. Still pedals really well and it's only around 120g heavier compared to the heavier Flight Attendant shocks. If I can get a Comp to try that'll be interesting as that still looks a great spec and it's only 25% more than the frame only cost!
@@GuyKesTVglad to know! Gutted they got rid of the brain. So good still after 8 years it clunks and takes roots on climbs but I feel zero feedback it just works unsupervised. I was looking at an evo of old or a new epic 8 but I have a HT Epic (slack geo) and epic WC 2017 (steep geo) and wish I’d got the last brain version epic full sus as a replacement for both. Enter the new epic WC and it’s looking the closest to my preference. Pretty sure the epic 8 is the most all round trail bike you could race just the same but I popped my epic brain 1-click back from full form on the rear and I hated it. I need to test more as I think it’s likely the sag it allows so moved my hips back compared to full firm so probs a move forward and up 10 mm and allow the bike to sag.
Your 7/10 (I think) was surprising of the epic WC. I’d be surprised if they didn’t bring out a similar locked-until-bumped rear shock but with 100 mm on that rear in the next 3 year cycle.
Is it my eyes or the big dude at the front was bobbing every pedal stroke?
thanks for the vid!
I am after a xc mtb mainly for easier forest trails without rocks and for ultracycling events where usually a hardtrail is the most efficient. Should I still pick the supercaliber (more space for bags in the triangle) or go for an EPIC 8?
If you have that much money, you should go titanium and never look back. ^^
I'm not a fan of the proprietary shocks on the Supercaliber or the Epic World Cup. Therefore, my choice would be an Epic 8 (or if you can still find one, a 2023 Epic Evo).
Nice one Guy! Where did you get those 661 knee pads from? I’ve been trying to get a reset helmet but they’ve been out of stock in the uk for 3 years
Hey Connor, Got them from Upgrade
@@GuyKesTV thanks
Reckon the FA will come to the Epic WC next year?
Do you feel anti squat is necessary with flight attendant? Current bike is scott spark and looking for more of a zippy pedal feel like the epic or cervelo has.
Newer spark? If you’re wanting something more snappy, going from 120mm travel to another 120mm bike is not going to be significantly different. Maybe lock out more or use the middle position (which uses 80mm travel) more on everything aside from descents. I find myself riding in the middle position majority of the time. Otherwise, depending on your trails, I bet the epic World Cup (80mm rear travel bike) is snappier and lighter but then you lose the option to open up to 120mm for bigger descents.
I think it's absolutely necessary to have a good amount of anti squat with FA. Otherwise it feels like you've ridden off the road and into a swamp as soon as the lockout opens. That's exactly the feel you get with the old Epic and the new Epic WC as they have very low anti squat. New Yeti also has a relatively high AS value but most bikes even in XC are trending to a more neutral feel with lower AS. I'm not a fan of that trend TBH as I hate that sucky, sit down don't stand up feel even if it might be more efficient overall
@@zerocool675 spot on, but then it's a really heavy 80mm travel bike for 99% of riding haha. I feel it relies on the lockout, but the system isn't very reliable and keeps losing adjustment.
It's hard to believe specialized, are still making XC bikes, and just got back on my XC hard tail. The bike is still up there apart from me 😅 f.. Mud and I feel dead after 90 minutes of hills and mud 😊 just waiting on sun like you have in Chile 😀 laters
Wish I was still in Chile, I was only there for 3 days
So, would you ditch the Cervelo ZFS-5 120 (100) for the new S-Works Epic 8?
@guykestv ? Good comparison.
one question mate how do you get invited or how do you know where these events (launch events) are hold? cheers
I started working for bike magazines in 1996 so I’m pretty well connected and I work hard to stay as relevant as I can. That doesn’t mean there isn’t room for fresh voices though so just start making content and see if you can catch a brands eye 👍🏻
@@GuyKesTV thanks! so you do have to get invited right?
how does it compare to th Santa Crux Blur?
Lighter, stiffer, much more trail like geo and internal storage. Blur has more naturally flowing suspension though.
still wrecking shocks with the yoke design i see. specialized don't care though.
Rode this the other day....WOW....but, seven batteries.....really? Seven batteries? And all of the chirps...my AXS chirps, the fork, rear shock, AXS...they all chirp!
That fork servo is noisy eh? I actually got subconsciously confused a few times and thought I'd downshifted for a climb but it was actually the suspension!
Isn’t it 4 batteries in total
you could ride a gravel bike on these trails...
What's the fastest mph can this bike go? Can it go as fast as an emtb?
Obviously it depends on how strong the rider is but for XC style riding at over 16mph it’s definitely faster
..and also introducing knee pads to XC.
I’d not thought of that! But yeah I regularly ride knee pads even on 100mm travel bikes now. Better geometry and suspension mean I fall off less but when I do I’m going a lot faster. Plus if I can’t ride I can’t work so I need to look after the essential tools of my trade!
Flight attendant is the Xfactor now. It will make any XC bike better.
😂. A fool and his money are soon parted
It actually goes from 66.4 to 65.9! HTA in the low position. STILL Much To slack for a XC bike.
Sorry is that not what I said?
you don't need suspension to ride on smooth dirt paths and bike park turns like in the video. get a hardtail and save some money, or start riding on some real mt. bike trails. good luck! or you could get a bmx bike for all the pre made bullshit trails.