Bought an Epic Evo 7 last summer and been loving it. So much so, I’ve barely touched my enduro bike. The Epic is never going to be as capable, but tbh I have never exactly pushed the boundaries of what the bigger bike was capable of. Space is an issue with the arrival of a new motorbike and I’ve been considering splitting the big bike. The Epic is the bike I actually need 90% of my riding and I can live with the compromise the other 10%. I thought about keeping the wheels and using them on rides I know will be rough, but will this tempt me into riding stuff that will stress the frame or forks? What have you ridden on your Evo that’s made you wince?
I would see wheels as the main weak point. Particularly mine as they're very light Nexties. Otherwise the frame feel gives me no reason for concern. There hasn't really been much in the way of public frame failures for the Epic 7. Given the number of them around you can expect many would have been abused and ridden well beyond their intended use by now. It's a short travel bike with linear suspension, so may well start hitting the bottom. The pivots seem to be holding up better than other xc bikes I've had. They're probably rough, but not seized and no play.
That’s what I was thinking as well. Original wheels are carbon Roval with Specialized tyres. Been great but not sure how they’d handle rocky terrain. Enduro bike has DT Swiss M1900 with Assegai/DHR plus Rimpact inserts, but will probably remove those.
I’m nearly 100kg at the moment and run high pressure. I’ve had to remove the rear tokens to stop excess ramp up, so I’d always have the option of popping them back in if necessary if going somewhere for a weekend.
20 years ago I had an early epic and then an fsr120. Both had super light builds, the epic was 80mm iirc. And of course 2.2 tyres
I used them both all over local classic highland routes, torridon etc, laggan black etc. I'm only 75kg but they were basically fine. The fsr wheels were a bit too light and occasionally a spoke would go. When you think back they were spindly bikes!
So I think you have no worries, although I think it's probably easier to go harder on modern bikes so wheels are always going to be the components taking the burnt. Beefing up that department can't be a bad thing
I've ridden Dai Hard at BPW on an epic 8 in xc spec - they're pretty tough things, even the tyres and wheels if you get your pressures right (tho I weigh 83kg).
But... YMMV!
Specialized lifetime frame warranty........I was just riding along when.....
My Epic8 quite often finds itself on trails it has no business on, usually when I’m out for a big pedal & I’m tempted riding past a trail head.
The weakest point for me is tyres. I’m running a light set of WA1 carbon wheels but they are still strong, but a Fast Track/Renegade combo which are paper thin. They are great for XC miles, flat single track & easy trail riding, but take them down something rough, steep & rocky, I’m definitely rolling the dice with the puncture fairy.
I never run it with any more tyre, as I have a trail bike as well, but I’m sure with a decent set of trail tyres it would be very capable.
I always remind myself I’ve raced EWS’s (to some not bad results) on bikes with sh*tter geometry than my (now) XC bike, so just crack on.
When you consider what the Specialized World Cup XC riders chuck the normal Epic 8 down week in week out, I very much doubt you have anything to worry about at all.
I would have thought that tougher (and grippier) tyres and wheels will mean that it will handle a lot of the stuff you ride.
With the burlier wheels I know it'll handle and ride fine, I just wondered whether I'd then stress the next weakest link instead. The WC courses are pretty rough, but then there's a team of mechanics maintaining and changing bearing etc as needed and a raft of spare parts.
I'm going to try it out for a few weeks anyway before making any decisions about axing the enduro bike. Fitted the wheels yesterday and clearance is all good with the 2.5/2.4" tyres. Just need a chance to get further afield from my usual loops to put it to the test.
