Epic 2009 - A Beautiful Bike

[Gert Janse v Rensburg]

ok help out brain technology on the shock ?

 

It is prob built into the front shock....

[Slowbee]

how does it work ?

 

 

[Gert Janse v Rensburg]

how does it work ?

 

Jy kan my bad as ek weet......

 

Ek weet nie......

[TNT1]

 

 

how does it work ?

 

 

 

Suspension travel is a tad more than three inches. Rather than going

from the seat-tube to the linkage, the rear shock extends from a

seat-tube-mounted compression strut all the way down to another pivot

just forward of the rear axle. It is at this lower mounting point that

you'll find a large cylinder and the key behind the Brain Technology --

an inertial valve. According to Specialized, suspension packaging

needed to be revised since it is critical to place the inertial valve

componentry of the shock as close to the rear-wheel axle as possible.

 

 

 

- advertisement -

the Epic's suspension performs.

Bump forces from the ground activate the inertial valve inside the

Brain, which activates the air shock, giving you suspension compliance.

When the bike is rolling across flat ground, the air shock valving is

closed, essentially "locking out" the rear suspension.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://bikemag.com/news/specialized4.jpg

 

 

 

 

Think of it this way: Imagine there is

a spring-loaded BB inside the cylinder. When this BB is at rest, it

blocks the compression valving in the shock, locking out the

suspension. When the bike hits a bump, the BB bounces out of place,

opening up the compression valve and allowing suspension compliance.

Because the BB is spring loaded, it wants to return to its original

place; once the bike gets back on smooth ground, it does. It's

important for the Brain (or inertial valve) to be as close to the rear

axle as possible for the most sensitive reaction to the terrain, but

minimal sensitivity to pedaling forces.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://bikemag.com/news/specialized2.jpg

 

 

 

 

The Brain shock is mounted to the frame

with spherical bearings (or ball joints) so it is no longer a stressed

member of the frame -- isolating it from side loads on the shock,

usually transferred from frame flex or a crash. This should result in

increased durability. Also, all frame bearings are cartridge-type.

TNT12008-06-24 01:06:25

[TNT1]

On smooth

ground, Brain technology keeps your Epic hardtail-firm. And

hardtail-efficient. But when the going gets bumpy, Brain knows that

too. And instantly delivers the fully active/fully independent benefits

of FSR suspension.

 

 

 

http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/med/mpbpic33267.jpg

Epic

bikes have an FSR suspension system that's completely locked out until

bump forces are detected, but so sensitive it can "read" less than 1G

of input. Then the shock responds instantly. Once activated, the Epic's

FSR suspension is fully active and independent...and remains that way

until the terrain becomes smooth, the inertia valve closes, and the

shock is locked out again. It's that simple. And that effective.

 

 

FSR: The Next Generation

Specialized

engineers began working with suspension guru Horst Leitner more than a

decade ago to create the technological breakthrough that became the

patented FSR four-bar linkage suspension system. Since that time, FSR

has become the most successful system in bicycle suspension

history...so much so that more than a dozen of our competitors now

license it for use on their own bikes.

 

About the only

disadvantage to FSR was that the system sometimes responded when you

didn't want it to...specifically when pedaling out of the saddle on

smooth surfaces.

 

 

http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/med/mpbpic33266.jpg

An Epic Achievement

That's

where Brain technology comes in. On smooth terrain, Brain locks the

suspension out so the Epic is unaffected by rider input. But the same

system instantly becomes fully active/fully independent in response to

bumps and dips, delivering the full benefits of FSR suspension. Epic

bikes, FSR suspension, Brain technology. Mountain Bike Action calls it

"a very big moment in the history of the mountain bike." And they ought

to know.

 

 

 

Inside the Brain

How does the Epic

work? Very well, thank you. But the secret's in the Brain. Brain

technology consists of an inertia valve mounted inside a near-vertical

cylinder near the Epic's rear axle. The inertia valve controls the

shock's ability to compress; the result is a system that responds to

terrain input (bumps and dips), but not to rider input (you, pedaling

the bike) until the going gets bumpy.

 

 

http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/med/mpbpic33265.jpg

The

technology works because forces from the ground activate the inertia

valve inside the Brain, which opens and allows the shock to compress in

response to the bump. The rebound circuit is left open. With purely

negative input (a dip without an accompanying bump, like a pothole in

an otherwise smooth road), the shock moves in response to gravity,

taking up sag initially put into the system by the rider's weight and

allowing the rear wheel to track with the dip. Brain technology

literally ignores rider input but detects bumps, allowing the

suspension to engage whenever it's needed.

 

Still starving for more info?

Download the White Paper in PDF format.

 

Also head on over to the Specialized web site www.specialized.com and check out some VIDE

[Slowbee]

Thanks TNT - just read that website ...

 

 

 

[Slowbee]

Mampara, how does this differ from your SC, do you just lock you rear out ?

 

 

[AndreZA]

Mampara' date=' how does this differ from your SC, do you just lock you rear out ?

[/quote']

 

No bike has lock out. It's the shock that does. My current shock, Fox RP3 does not have lock-out but a "stiffening up" dial, but if I get a RP23 it does.

 

An no I hardly use it.

 

 

[Slowbee]

oo gats, better check mine .... thanks

 

 

[JasonW]

The fork technology is essentially the same as the Fox terralogic (i.e. the F 80/100 X).

[Gert Janse v Rensburg]

The fork technology is essentially the same as the Fox terralogic (i.e. the F 80/100 X).

 

Thought so......

[xak1]

Chain is KMC.

 

Cassette is new Superlight SL Titanium - 50g lighter than XTR at 290 USD.

 

Brakes are Magura Mart SL Magnesium - also 2009 - will be less than 600g for pair including rotor, bolts and levers.

 

Some more nice photos:

 

 

 

 

xak12008-06-24 02:10:59

[_BBi]

An interesting test on the "brain technology" in the lastest "What MTB UK" when they tested 7 bikes head-to-head in the 1500 pound bracket. The '08 Epic came out the worst of the lot, mainly due to the back shock on-off brain technology. They said it is the best Epic yet, but the re-active way the technology works is not on par with the latest shock technology from other manufacturers.

[Marius]

XTR Cassette = 220g = R1542 - 11-32

SuperLight SL Ti = 170g = R2320 - 11-32

KCNC Ti, Alu, Scan =160g = R? = 11-32

[Speedi]

and there is one for sale on the hub! not this years model though>>>

[Larry King]

I took a mates epic for a spin.. felt like the back wheel was flat, Im more a horst link man myself!