I dont think i ever changed my headset bearings
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Based solely on the way my Occam rides this could be my new XCM race bike. However, some early reviews reveal it might be pretty uncompromising and not for the faint hearted / comfort seekers amongst us.
I saw the bike at the Allied booth at SBT GRVL. I remember thinking the bike looked like the real deal, and an impressive first MTB model from Allied. Seems like it rides really well also based on the Pinkbike guys.
Ive been considering one of these but hard to get over a 11k+ price tag on it when I get a very similar bike with the Scott Spark or Spec Evo.
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Decided I am quitting gravel and racing xc for 2022. Located on the west coast of BC, so looking at a more aggressive XC bike…sigh ok I am looking for a downcountry bike. Hoping to buy in winter 2023. I’ve narrowed it down to Specialized Epic Evo, Rocky Element, or Transition Spur. Ideally used, hope to do a mix of small XC races and longer XCM races.
Anyone have any thoughts or other bikes I should be looking at? Any interesting bikes in the pipeline for 2023 that I should be looking at?
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Blur TR. Great deals right now but you’ll need to be the right size and buy now.
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I didn’t get the live valve, but I, too, have the 4SL and I think it is worth every penny. Love this bike so much. it is faster than my hardtail.
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Orbea Oiz. They used to have a TR version that was their down country bike and I believe the new version coming out only comes in 120mm of travel.
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The newest Anthem (2022 and 2023 at least) looks fantastic. Only 110/100mn travel but great geo and they have always been absolutely excellent riding bikes.
Don’t know for certain obviously, but there’s a chance you could get a killer deal right now. A friend of mine just purchased the Pro 1 with LiveValve, carbon wheels, and XT build for $7000NZD down from $10500. Crazy good pricing and very hard to get more bike for your money!
It’s so fast! It’s the heaviest XC bike I’ve ever owned (210mm dropper and burlier kit than the flyweight XCO speed machines I’ve had before) but it is rapid.
I have a single speed Les for winter too that feels super quick as well, Pivot do good bikes!
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I love my Spur and race it similarly (longer XCM primarily with some small XC races, but it’s also my 1 bike quiver here in CO), but it is a very difficult bike to come by at this point. Wait times for most people seem to be pushing a year from what I’ve heard, so unless you know of one in your size at a local shop, I’d look elsewhere as much as a love the bike and have great things to say about it.
Interesting timing… A friend (and shop owner) has been trying to source a second Epic Evo Pro for me. I prefer the Fox suspension and Shimano groups. For 2023 the Evo looks like an all SRAM build. Which would be fine, but I’d like to unify across different bikes for simplicity of stocking consumables.
Anywho… My friend has suggested I take a look at the Anthem with Fox 34, dropper, XT build.
Anyone of you guys who ride a lot of bikes had a chance to try both? I’m hesitant to move away from the Epic Evo because I enjoy that bike so much.
A single speed LES sounds so cool! Did you do the conversion yourself? Sounds so fun for around here, too. I really want to upgrade my hardtail to the LES but will have to save up for that. I have a Ibis DV9 right now, which is fine, but I agree 100% with you that “Pivot do good bikes”. A stable of Pivots is my dream!
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I rode my mates one, but it’s way, way too small for me to make a fair comparison. It felt snappy.
He’s been absolutely raving about it and taking a lot of downhill KoM top 10’s amongst some absolute hitters.
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I did, yep. I’m an ex World Cup mechanic so bought the frame and built it up myself. It’s single speed for winter and geared for summer.
I’d love to trade in my Transition PBJ for a Pivot Point just for continuity but that’d be a big cost for no real gain! 
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I think that you are on the money with those 3 bikes. IMO the giant anthem won’t be progressive enough for BC or as enjoyable to ride as those 3 with less travel and 2 piston brakes as well at a 67.5 head angle. I would put the Blur in the same camp unless you buy the frame and build it up as the components are pretty XC orientated.
I have the Evo and 2 mates have the Spur and Element. The more racey one is the Epic Evo and it is close between the Element and the Spur but the Element probably takes the more trail orientated bike due to its increased travel and slighly slacker head angle.
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How did you end up dealing with this? I have a medium Epic Evo and just mounted an 80mm Sworks 6deg stem (flipped up) and an Sworks Carbon Minirise bar. I really like the position, and would prefer to run the stem in the lower position, but my XT shifter would hit the top tube unless I run the brake levers uncomfortably high.
I’ve asked around and basically everyone has a similar response - it scares us and most are running some form of frame protection vinyl to protect against small hits but a big hit that damages the frame is still a risk. This is an unfortunate position they put us in, because this is my first MTB in a very long time, but I really like the bike.
I don’t have any clearance issues on My 2022 Evo Pro. It cam with Race Face NEXT Carbon, 20mm rise, 8-degree backsweep, 760mm wide, 35mm. Although I do have a couple of spacers.
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That 20mm rise on the bars must get you out of trouble. The mini rise bars I bought don’t have much rise. I wonder how all the regular Epic owners are dealing with this, or not? With the positions they run there must be interference for most people.
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I had the same debate in the spring. Decided to go for the Element and been riding it this year. Awesome bike on trails and very capable for occasional racing.
I have it build with 120mm SID fork (10mm headset extender to keep the geo the same) and it’s 10,3kg race ready with pedals/garmin mount/single bottle cage etc.
That being said, I’m sure you won’t be disappointed with Spur or Evo either.