We built up the EPO earlier this year as a “World’s Funnest Bike” project and loved it, but it’s already getting some fine tuning to give it stealth dropper routing and a new gloss black finish. Oh, and a new XL size option.
All of that’s paired with its already very short 16.3″ (414mm) chainstays, slack head angle (66.8º with a 140mm fork) and ISCG05 tabs to make it about as close to a “downhill” hardtail as you’re likely to find. Which was the point when the bike debuted in 2015, to offer a freeride style hardtail mountain bike that could descend as well as it could climb. And save weight over the alloy Yelli Screamy – the EPO’s frame comes in at a claimed 1,450g. More pics below…
The rear triangle stays the same from size to size, only the front end morphs. Image above shows medium compared to XL.
Other specs include a standard threaded bottom bracket, 142×12 rear axle, front derailleur direct mount, and integrated headset cups. Frame retails for $1,499 and a complete bike with housebrand C2 wheels, cranks and chainrings, Shimano XT brakes and shifting, Race Face SIXC cockpit and Turbine dropper seatpost for $3,899.
