Reply To: Short Travel 29er – Heavy XC/Light Trail Advice?

#599523

The EE is less progressive than the Spur, Ripley, but it’s a matter of a few small degrees. The bigger difference to me outside of front center is the lower front end. Many EE owners add riser bars or a shorter stem to effectively increase the stack, and shift away from the XC race feel that it can shift towards.

I have ridden mine hard for ~1500 miles on XC, trail, and some downhill park stuff. I’m not crazy aggressive but rock gardens, jumps, and the occasional drop are regular occurrences. I’m not concerned about it’s durability at all.

I do think the Ripley/Spur types will feel slightly more grounded on descents. But you can possibly find an Epic Evo in stock or used for 1-2K less than the others. The others will have less inventory and higher prices.

I would consider the trails that make up the bulk of your riding and go from there. If I lived in Moab, I would have steered towards more trail-y downcountry bikes. I don’t, and the Epic Evo is fast, efficient, capable, and awesome.