Hi All
First off I like the new board, very cool. Been away a while...
Just got my new ride, a new 04 epic Sworks frame to replace the old Sworks HT. Ridden it a couple of times and am very impressed by the new brain adjustment. HT firm to FS instantaneously. I rode the 03 one and it was a struggle to make it move, anyone put off then should ride an 04 one with the adjuster. Such an improvement! Here are some pics...

nice ride....I think the S works is heavy for the money....my son rides one.
do not get me wrong...very sweet ride ...

My K2 razorback RS at $2,000 is lighter... only mentioned this cuz it ISS the weight forum

True, there are lighter frames but 2 things - 1, my old HT was soo light it skipped off every little rock and was getting to be a bit of a pain, plus the suspension system on the bike is just incredible.

Hi All
First off I like the new board, very cool. Been away a while...
Just got my new ride, a new 04 epic Sworks frame to replace the old Sworks HT. Ridden it a couple of times and am very impressed by the new brain adjustment. HT firm to FS instantaneously. I rode the 03 one and it was a struggle to make it move, anyone put off then should ride an 04 one with the adjuster. Such an improvement! Here are some pics...

Is it an upgraded shock from the base Epic? I also notice Specialized says the base Epic has "New, more sensitive tuning absorbs the smallest bumps."

I'm curious to hear who has driven the new Epic vs. last years to see what and improvement it was and if Specialized offers an upgrade for previous customers.

Well I know the Epic is heavier than some of the "ultralight boutique" FS frames out there - but NOT by much...If you take everything off your K2, and then everything off the Epic - and weigh those frames on a digital scale....then I might believe that the K2 is lighter...by some miracle if it is lighter -it won't be enough to make up for the superior geometry of an Epic...those bikes are fast, and "torquey"..my epic weighed in at 27 lbs stock - which is exactly what a stock fuel was that I was looking at - If mountain bike magazine can build a 21-22 lb Epic without even going super nuts then the bike is NOT heavy bro. I wonder if the World Champion thinks the bike is heavy...??? Sorry to rant, but someone, somewhere started some crap about the bike being heavy, and everyone thinks its a tank now which just isn't true....it may be a few ounces heavier than some FS bikes - but you have to go to the TOP of THE HEAP to prove it....

nice ride....I think the S works is heavy for the money....my son rides one.
do not get me wrong...very sweet ride ...

My K2 razorback RS at $2,000 is lighter... only mentioned this cuz it ISS the weight forum

Is it an upgraded shock from the base Epic? I also notice Specialized says the base Epic has "New, more sensitive tuning absorbs the smallest bumps."

I'm curious to hear who has driven the new Epic vs. last years to see what and improvement it was and if Specialized offers an upgrade for previous customers.



i would like to hear the difference in ride characteristics between the '03 and '04 as well. i have an '03 epic s-works and was talking to a specialized rep at my lbs who said the shock will be made available as an upgrade soon, but for $500! price sounds a bit steep and doesn't even include the carbon fiber link, as it does not fit. anyone know if it is worth the money???
in answer to your first question, i believe a few of the higher model epics have the same shock as the s-works, but not the carbon fiber link or m5 tubing......coudln't be sure if anyone could even tell the difference between the two. i hear the weight is almost identical.

suspension on my 03 Epic, it responds great. I hit a bump, the rear shock smooths it. I've never had any trouble with it failing to activate. The only time I really feel the inertia valve is on the very small bumps, like poorly maintained roads, but not any worse there than a hardtail and really not much worse than an FS with higher pressures in the rear shock. More adjustability would only make it better though. I'd like to have the upgrade, but i'm not willing to shell out another $500 for it though. I love the heck out of my bike.

..reacts to single bumps. Goes like this: 1: kicks your ass 2. the brain reacts and opens the oil flow 3 :You are meters away from the non-absorved bump and full bobing becouse the brain hasn´t closed the oil flow yet.
(I was told that 04 Epics are fitted with more sensitive shocks, but I never tried a 03 so I can´t compare on the trail.However I could activate the shock by lifting and kicking to ground the rear end at the shop, and I think that was not possible before).Besides this single bump handycapp I liked the ride very much.If the new adjustable brain takes better care of this I will love that bike.
About the weight? Well, that was heavy for the money.That´s supposed to be an XC ride , right?

Hei! You know what would be great for solving the first-bump-kick-ass problem? Rear shock´s brain located at the front fork. But that would need a hell of a long tube across the frame...mmm....S´Works Enduro owners, take note and go to get some longer hoses.Specialized: wanna hire me?