THIS BIKE IS FAST AND EFFICIENT! Previous cross-country bike was an aluminum hardtail Specialized Carve 29er. Was this upgrade worth the exorbitant cost? Here's the good. -Super light! The carbon wheels make a huge difference. Amazingly nimble and responsive. -Wireless shifting is FANTASTIC! A perfect shift every time. Mechanical shifting feels silly now! -The rear suspension is a butt/back saver! I had a habit of rising up out of my seat on every bump. Unnecessary with the SID with Brain. The rear shock comfortably absorbs all the bumps that the hard tail never could. I'm also saving leg muscle energy by staying in the seat more -Absolute minimal pedal bob gives me maximum efficiency. Climbing and riding into the wind is a dream on this thing! I cut 25-35% off my usual ride times. It's scary FAST. Now for the not-as-good. I'm being petty. -Take a very close look at the photos of this bike on the website! I thought the abnormalities with the paint job was just a lighting issue when they took the photos, or maybe the computer image reproduction was causing the strange patterns on the frame. Nope. The photos are what you get! The color is called Satin Carbon/Red-Gold Chameleon Tint/White. In my humble opinion, the 'Chameleon' part looks more like a bad paint job. I absolutely LOVE the color! I'm sad they added the 'chameleon' part. -While the SID w Brain is a butt saver, I notice it can be clunky when transitioning from bumps to smooth pavement. Saw this in a you-tube video on this particular shock. The brain valve prevents the shock from moving while pedaling but allows the shock to function when the ride is bumpy. Under certain conditions you pedal and feel the valve trying to stop the shock motion. It's a small but noticeable clunk. Initially, I though the shock was malfunctioning. The clunk goes away as you transition from smooth to bumpy or vice versa. I have two Stumpys with all Fox and they are smooth as silk. I'm willing to accept a little clunk because the butt-saving/no pedal bob efficiency is worth it. Some riders may not agree. In closing, this is a high dollar bike because of the carbon frame and rims, the fancy shocks, and the top-of-the-line drivetrain. For me, all three are game changers! If fun and fast is your passion, I'd say the additional cost is worth it! Event with a less than perfect paint job. Definitely recommend the Epic Pro!!

I love my Epic Pro! So much fun to ride. Flows on the descents, handles great on switchbacks (finally made a tight, rocky steep turn I’ve been trying to make for awhile - yay) and climbs smoothly. Typically, I ride 20-30 miles, 3,000-5,000 feet climbing, 2-3 times per week.

Got the bike in December, have absolutely loved it. it climbs fast and descends much more confidently than my 2015 epic expert. The geometry is just great. The only criticism I have is the rubber cable cover where the dropper cable and rear brake go into the frame on the right side of the frame is horrible. It falls out all of the time and is impossible to get back in. Poorly designed. Otherwise 5/5 bike and would totally recommend.