NEW 2023 Specialized Epic. Why You Shouldn’t Upgrade Just Yet…

Is the 2023 Specialized Epic World Cup the best new mountain bike of 2023? Is it just a Trek Supercaliber? If you have an old Epic, is it time to upgrade to the new Epic from a traditional full suspension Epic, Epic Evo or Epic hardtail?

I'll share my thoughts after getting a first look at Sea Otter, which had some of the best new bike tech of 2023.

Gear I’m Riding and Into ↓↓↓

Nutrition ↓↓↓

Camera Equipment ↓↓↓
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Instagram: @outdoorbros_

00:00 Introduction
00:25 Epic World Cup Aesthetics/Pricing
01:47 Old Epic? Time to Upgrade?
02:27 No Brain... Please.
03:01 My Plan: Keep the Epic Evo
03:41 A Bike for Everyone
04:00 The Trek Supercaliber Comparison
04:24 Pricing
04:50 Availability
05:01 Up Next

[outdoorbros_]

What do you think, worth the upgrade or sticking with your current mtb?

[krzysztofdynka]

So glad to have come across this movie, it is perfectly on spot on the doubts I am having on Epics. After 19 seasons on all generations of Epics FS, this year I have changed from Specialized to Wilier Urta with Fox factory setup. And you know what? A different world, but not sure if better yet, certainly different bikes with new riding experience, like learning to ride from scratch. I will wait to see what happens with near future development of Epic Brain or Sram Flight Attendant and Fox Live system. I still believe that auto system which you can also lock out manually is the way to go. But for now let's focus on getting stronger, the stronger we are, the less it seem to matter what we ride....

[B-ghmd]

Funny how you had to bring up the trek. Honestly other than having a similar look it’s completely different. The epic is just a normal full suspension design with a pivot arm and shock. All they did was wrap the top tube around everything to clean it up. It’s also lighter and stiffer doing it this way rather than hanging everything off the bottom of the top tube. The trek is just a modern version of a soft tail and it feels like a soft tail too. Two completely different bikes. The epic is still a normal full suspension bike with a little less travel which is possible since it’s designed to be setup with zero sag. Trust me these two bikes feel completely different to ride.

[taeekim]

More content on the epic evo! Also, thoughts on the new Epic 8?

So basically if I ride classic Epic with brain all the time on Firm, WC is a way to go! :)

[ryanmcmahan]

The supercalipar comment was funny lol. I have a 18 Epic Pro and am trying to decide EVO or Epic. I am like you and hope to see an Epic w/out brain. I don't need a new bike so I think the logical thing is to just buy a fox fork for it. 32 SC of course!

[clipsandstrapsjounal]

The new "Trepic" does look nice, but as you say if you own an Evo currently i think you'd want some more.

[B-ghmd]

So I bought the sworks version right when it came out. I previously owned a 2019 sworks ht and full suspension. I can honestly say this bike is pretty unique how it feels to ride. I have the rear shock set up pretty firm and it’s still extremely smooth over small bumps. It also soaks up the big stuff well too. Definitely feels like more than 75mm of travel. Climbs and sprints feel just like a hard tail. And the frame is incredibly stiff like a hard tail frame so you don’t get all that flex in the bottom bracket and chain stay area like you normally get with full suspension bikes. Has a very light snappy hard tail feel. Normally full suspension bikes feel a bit heavy and cumbersome. Not this bike.

[TheMirrorVision]

Would love to hear your thoughts on Reserve’s MTB wheels (the 28XC or 30SL) if you get an opportunity!

[addictcyclist]

I sold my 22 s works for a nice premium anticipating the new one. Plus I trashed the Brain fork. Changed to spark rc and not looking back!

[JZaalig]

Cleaning the shock will be a headache 😮

[cherylparrish]

what do you think of the 2023 Epic Evo? i can get one in a small ;)

[MG-ivoo]

apples oranges. the bikes are so "specialized" that it really isn't either/or. i think there is room for both ie the epic world cup and the evo. one is a pure contemporary closed course mtb race bike the other is more pliable and has more range beyond the track (can't say "downcountry" haha). agree this is the new platform and will evolve. i think specialize crushes it. expensive, sure, but they really deliver a focused, purpose built product.

[umah.]

They don't have to kill the epic s-works hardtail for that honestly.