I’m looking at doing a few long distance MTB races next year - including a 12-hour solo and 100mile race and want to get a new full suspension bike. I’ve been looking at a few different ones but wondered if anyone had endurance MTB experience with the following bikes:
Specialized Epic
Santa-Cruz Blur
Trek EX 8 or 9
I don’t need a carbon bike or a $5000+ mountain bike, but do want something that I can ride XC all day long and be comfortable, stable and most important faaaaaaaaaaast on.
I did TransRockies 2006 on an XT equipped Epic… which is essentially the Marathon. I was happy with handling and performance. The bike rides like a race-tuned HT. The rear end only wakes up when you’d want it to.
I’ve ridden the SantaCruz Superlight too… different feeling rear suspension for sure. All of the bikes you listed were at TR in numbers.
The really hot bikes there were the new Cannondale’s: essentially an all carbon superlight with terralogic lefty forks and 110mm travel-which is really nice for a bike weighing in at 23.5lbs.
Winners rode Felt/Rocky Mountains.
have you ever had any trouble with the brain shock?
i’ve heard from some people that it’s a bit late to respond but I like the idea of no having to lock it out on big - long climbs. how about the weight? You are right the marathon is bascially an XT Epic - and that’s what i’m looking at.
have you ever had any trouble with the brain shock?
i’ve heard from some people that it’s a bit late to respond but I like the idea of no having to lock it out on big - long climbs. how about the weight? You are right the marathon is bascially an XT Epic - and that’s what i’m looking at.
That was a complaint with earlier models, but I understand it’s better now. It gets bashed around here (because everyone is an expert on mountain bikes here 
) but I’d take a look at Mountain Bike Action because they’ve had some reviews lately on that bike. I’ll see if I have the issues and scan it and email it if you wish.
I had an 03 frame which used the original brain shock. The only adjustment on that one is the rebound dampening. It’s true that there is a ‘delay’ in waking it up: essentially the first hit is the one that knocks the valve open, so it feels like a HT on the first bump, but then its active from there until it gets a second of smooth riding. I’m no MTB expert, and I had no issues with the rear suspension set-up, I really liked it this way.
Of course, with bike manufacturers being bike manufacturers, new generations were made. The next one was a brain shock that you could adjust the bump threshold- essentially you set the size of the bump to wake up the shock. Now we’re into third generation Brain Fade, still made by Fox. I have no idea what the difference is between third and second generation systems, seems like they have the same adjustments, maybe its just more refined. Apparently Specialized will be moving shock manufacturing ‘in-house’ and will no longer be using Fox-branded stuff in the future.
As I understand it, the internals are all very similar to the terralogic systems in their forks. Fox uses them in the RP23 rear shocks to control pedal bob, so it is supposed to no longer matter what style of rear suspension frame design you have, if you have an RP23 rear shock, you will have a locked-out rear when you would want it locked out and active when you want it active.
I chose the Epic to race because of the ability to carry two water bottles. You’d be amazed how many MTB designs can only hold one small bottle these days due to shock placement. In long distance races it was important to me to carry as much fluid as possible and I didn’t want it all on my back.
On a side note, I had the Terralogic fork- F80X - and loved it. I highly recommend the FX series, get the 100mm version if you can, but the no hands never needs adjustment, just set it and forget it factor was really nice. The weight penalty is minimal. Apparently the R7 platinum from Manitou rides the same and is about a half pound lighter - and $500 cheaper too.
My build up was about 26 lbs. The newer frames shave 200g from the one I had. I’m guessing stock Marathon is about 25.5… wheels make the biggest difference with weight. UST is obviously heavier. I ran tubes throughout TransRockies and did not have a single flat, nor did I pump my tires after the first day. Every morning in the peloton at the start there was a gunshot as someone’s tubeless system exploded their tire off their rim.
I work at a bike shop and I raced the 2006 Epic Marathon in Xterra last year. The 2007 shocks are now made by Specialized and are improved even over last year. The biggest improvement is the quickness the shock activates from lock out to fully compliant. Specialized hired the design guru away from Fox.
If you have the funds, consider the S-works Epic. It is just about 20lbs stock without pedals. Noticeably lighter than my bike, and has the new XTR and Mavic SLR.
The bike is amazing. It is definitely a race bike and is not as forgiving as a Stumpjumper (or the like) but it climbs incredibly well, handles single track like a dream, and is more forgiving on descents than your average hardtail. Personally, I think the brain is a huge benefit on climbs as well as descents because I find my rear wheel stays much better glued to the trail rather than ‘spinning’ over small rocks when there is heavy torque on the pedals (if you know what I mean).
I don’t know about your area, but where I work we rent Epics for people to try before they buy. If you do that, just make sure you have someone who knows what they are doing set up the suspension. It rides MUCH better when it is dialed correctly. This matters even more so than other bikes I’ve ridden…
The other posts nail the other nice features, like two bottles, etc. Overall this is the best bike I’ve ever ridden- road, track, tri, or MTB. I love my Epic.
Just got back from my 3 hour ride on my '03 epic built up with XT/XTR. Since everyone already answered the technical questions, all I can say is that I love the bike. It’s worked like a gem ever since I got it. Fast, quick and tough.
I can’t afford the Epic Carbon - as much as I’d like the XTR / Carbon - I think the Epic Marathon (with XT) will stetch my budget a bit. I want to use it primarily for enudrance events - which is why I looked at this - some of the races I’ll do are part fire-road so I wanted a lock-out or the Brain type shock.
I’ll probably race an Xterra on it as well - but primarily I want something I can ride 9 to 12 hours on without getting beat to hell and sounds like this is a good option. The other main bike I was looking at was Trek EX-9 and they seem pretty similar in components and weight.
I can’t afford the Epic Carbon - as much as I’d like the XTR / Carbon - I think the Epic Marathon (with XT) will stetch my budget a bit. I want to use it primarily for enudrance events - which is why I looked at this - some of the races I’ll do are part fire-road so I wanted a lock-out or the Brain type shock.
I’ll probably race an Xterra on it as well - but primarily I want something I can ride 9 to 12 hours on without getting beat to hell and sounds like this is a good option. The other main bike I was looking at was Trek EX-9 and they seem pretty similar in components and weight.
forget about the carbon, the weight diference of the frame is minimal, get the marathon and upgrade components when you can
wow, yeah those cannondales, did a photo shoot and cannondale dropped off 5 decked, and I mean decked, full XTR and X.10, Avid Ultimate brakes, all carbon Rush’s and god they felt like, well like the 23.5 lbs you are mentioning. Amazing bikes, lots of plush travel, quick acceleration, just wow…