WrightJnr Posted December 30, 2014 Posted December 30, 2014 Hi all, sorry if this has been covered before but my search function is faulty. Ok, maybe I don't know how to use it properly. If existing topic please just point me in the right direction. Has anyone here gone from an Epic to a Camber? I've had a rock strike destroy my Epic frame and am now weighing up my options. Many seem to feel the Camber is the better bike for what most of us ride in SAF.
Jakkals77 Posted December 30, 2014 Posted December 30, 2014 I have never ridden an Epic for an extended period of time so I cant comment on the Epic. The Camber is a brilliant all rounder and loves the trails and single tracks. It does everything brilliantly except gravel roads. I don't think its made for extended gravel road riding at all. I love the Camber. Its fun and perfectly suited for the Van Gaalen, Red Barn, Heia Safari, Harkerville, and Garden Route Trail type of riding. It depends on your type of riding that you do. If you love more gravel road riding, buy the Epic. If you ride everything else, buy the Camber.
L.T.G Posted December 30, 2014 Posted December 30, 2014 HI WrightJnr this might help https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/140397-what-came-first-the-chickenamber-or-the-eggpic-a-long-probably-boring-read/
Vetseun Posted December 30, 2014 Posted December 30, 2014 I never have ridden Spez and I never will. I know plenty of people who do ride Spez. The Epic looks like a racing machine to me. The Camber much less so. People seem to sit very upright on the camber. Almost like a lekker cruising bike. But as I said I have and never will ridden a Spez so this is purely observation from a non Spez fan. People who ride Cambers say that it is a fantastic bike to ride. My choice however would be the Epic if my Wife was kidnapped and I was forced to ride a Spez to get her back.
BenReaper Posted December 30, 2014 Posted December 30, 2014 I never have ridden Spez and I never will. I know plenty of people who do ride Spez. The Epic looks like a racing machine to me. The Camber much less so. People seem to sit very upright on the camber. Almost like a lekker cruising bike. But as I said I have and never will ridden a Spez so this is purely observation from a non Spez fan. People who ride Cambers say that it is a fantastic bike to ride. My choice however would be the Epic if my Wife was kidnapped and I was forced to ride a Spez to get her back.I would be willing to pay someone with a Spez to kidnap my wife.[emoji48]
MuddyMike Posted December 30, 2014 Posted December 30, 2014 I have a camber after test riding lots of bikes including an Epic. I dont agree with the previuos comment about it not been suitable for Gravel Roads? Not sure how that comment is justified. I have done Trans Baviaans and Epic with no issues and it eats up gravel roads as fast as an Epic, ok maybe not quite as fast as the Epic has the brain, but I bet the Camber was way more comfortable, its sure as hell not a slow bike. In twist rocky decents the camber is WAY better then the Epic which is a bit more twitchy due to the steeper head angle. The Camber is slacker which gives far more control and confidence. The only reason I would recommend an Epic if is you're a serious podium contender and seconds matter. If not the Camber every day of the week. No contest. Again the SA obsession with the "fastest: bikes continues...... eish......... I just finished Sabie Experience in some hectic conditions and the Camber was awesome, the control and confidence is top notch. Where guys were crashing 4+ times a day I didn't come down once in 4 days, and that bike played a big part in that...... Remember, if a Epic and a Stumpy made whoopy and had baby they would name it Camber........
Johny Bravo Posted December 30, 2014 Posted December 30, 2014 Stumpjumper FSR ftw!This man is not wrong. I have a epic, Camber evo and Stumpjumper fsr. The Stumpy is by far the most fun, by a long way. Epic has evolved so much over time, that the 2014/15 models are so close to a camber. Camber is basicly a Epic without the brain, they are very similar these days.
Cat2forLife Posted December 30, 2014 Posted December 30, 2014 I think you should rather be asking "Anthem or Trance"
Showtime Posted December 30, 2014 Posted December 30, 2014 I grew tired of the sluggishness of my Anthem under acceleration so I got the Epic which has none of that sluggishness. As a bonus it is much more confidence inspiring on the downhills and general trail obstacles as well so I don't understand the claims of it being such a compromised ride. 4" of travel with the roll over confidence of 29" wheels is the perfect bike for my riding and I would buy the Epic again no matter how unfashionable it becomes. If I enjoyed jumping etc more than just trying to ride my bike fast (even if it's slow in absolute terms) I would choose a trail bike but not at this stage.
Jakkals77 Posted December 30, 2014 Posted December 30, 2014 The camber does fine on the gravel roads, and its comfortable, but its definitely not its strong point. The camber is more a trail bike.
Odinson Posted December 30, 2014 Posted December 30, 2014 MuddyMike hit the nail on the head. My 2c: The Epic is a brilliant bike, BUT you should keep the following in mind - the Epic is designed to be a no-compromise, premium XC racing bike. Nothing more, nothing less. In my mind, the Epic is suited to riders who value outright speed over comfort, descending capabilities, etc. So, if you're mixing it up in the pointy end of the field or competing for podiums, it's the right bike for you. I own a Camber and it truly is probably the most balanced bike on the (SA specific) market. It's brutally fast, efficient pedaller, has great descending capabilities and is super comfortable. It doesn't have that no-compromise feel of an Epic. It sacrifices, say, 5% pedalling efficiency for 15% more comfort, when compared to the Epic. I have a theory that Spez doesn't supply the Camber with Brain suspension, as doing so would cannibalise the sales of the Epic. A Camber with Brain suspension tech would be nearly unstoppable on the majority of SA's trails.
Odinson Posted December 30, 2014 Posted December 30, 2014 The camber does fine on the gravel roads, and its comfortable, but its definitely not its strong point. The camber is more a trail bike. I get where you're coming from, but I disagree. I was at Karkloof earlier this week and took that (gravel) Sappi service road down to the falls - when coming back on that gravel road, I went flat out and I flew up that road. I never once felt that the Camber was inefficient or suffering from the suspension action. If I had to ride that road on an Epic, I would guess that I would've only been marginally faster.
Beefy Posted December 30, 2014 Posted December 30, 2014 Should the question not be Stumpy vs Enduro? In response to the forum it is my understanding that the epic should mainly be ridden by pro's with other mortals wishing to take on stage races being better off on the camber.
Showtime Posted December 30, 2014 Posted December 30, 2014 Should the question not be Stumpy vs Enduro? In response to the forum it is my understanding that the epic should mainly be ridden by pro's with other mortals wishing to take on stage races being better off on the camber. If you want to be popular on thehub yes. First you needed a single speed to really mountain bike, then you needed a 26er for which you can't find tyres to be cool and for the XMas 2014 season you need a Pike just to pedal to the shop. Many mortals ride a hardtail because they prefer the responsiveness and many mortals prefer the feel of a 4" bike even though they are fun riders.
Bizkit031 Posted December 30, 2014 Posted December 30, 2014 Should the question not be Stumpy vs Enduro?In response to the forum it is my understanding that the epic should mainly be ridden by pro's with other mortals wishing to take on stage races being better off on the camber. You can't compare those 2 to each other,very different type of bikes especially the when it comes to the numbers of the frames.
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