{"id":40243,"date":"2022-08-02T20:00:10","date_gmt":"2022-08-02T18:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/?p=691516"},"modified":"2022-08-02T20:21:21","modified_gmt":"2022-08-02T18:21:21","slug":"new-evil-epocolypse-gets-big-wheels-longer-travel-and-electrical-assistance","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/new-evil-epocolypse-gets-big-wheels-longer-travel-and-electrical-assistance\/","title":{"rendered":"New Evil Epocolypse gets big wheels, longer travel and electrical assistance"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Luke Marshall\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 02 August 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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After two years in development, Evil has released its first electric mountain bike<\/a>, the Epocolypse \u2013 a gravity-biased bike designed for fun and adventure wherever you wish to pilot it. <\/span><\/p>\n

With the brand\u2019s DELTA system suspension, stealth colourway, twin-triangle frame and chunky main pivot, it\u2019s clearly an Evil with its distinctive silhouette. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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With its DELTA Link suspension, the Epocolypse is clearly an Evil.<\/span><\/figcaption> Evil Bikes<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

It\u2019s not only the looks that Evil has tried to bring over to the Epocolypse, with the ride character also recognisable. <\/span><\/p>\n

Evil designed the Epocolypse to have the playful and hard-charging ride feel the brand is well known for. To do this, Evil created a 29in-wheel<\/a> ebike with one of the shortest carbon chainstays available at an impressively snappy 442mm.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The rest of the bike has been based around Evil\u2019s enduro bike<\/a>, the Wreckoning<\/a>. It\u2019s built from carbon fibre, rolls on 29in wheels, and pumps out a bump-swallowing 166mm rear travel<\/a> with a 170mm fork. A flip chip enables you to choose between low and extra-low settings. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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With its short 442mm chainstays, 166mm rear-wheel travel and 630Wh battery, the Evil Epocolypse has the potential for some serious fun.<\/span><\/figcaption> Evil Bikes<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

This looks to be set for squaring up against our 2022 Bike of the Year<\/a> winner, the Nukeproof Megawatt<\/a>. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Evil has employed Shimano\u2019s EP8 motor for the drive unit and a fully-integrated 630Wh battery. It has also produced a new handlebar, The Energy Bar, to keep everything around the cockpit neat and tidy. <\/span><\/p>\n

Two models are available in the UK and EU \u2013 the Evil Epocolypse RockShox XT I9 Hydra for \u00a310,899.99 \/ <\/span>\u00a0\u20ac11,999.99 <\/span>and the Evil Epocolypse Fox XT Loopholes Hydra, costing \u00a312,699.99<\/span> \/ \u20ac13,999.99.<\/span><\/p>\n

Only the Evil Epocolypse Rockshox XT I9 Hydra is available in the US, priced at $11,999.<\/span><\/p>\n

The nitty gritty<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
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With its burly construction and impressive travel stats, we doubt there\u2019s much terrain that will hold the Epocolypse back.<\/span><\/figcaption> Evil Bikes<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Aimed to take you deep into the back of beyond and seek out the most thrilling trails, there is no doubt the Epocolypse is going to see some abuse, so just what is going on with Evil\u2019s first electric bike<\/a>?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The carbon fibre frame is built up from two sturdy and chunky triangles. The unified one-piece rear triangle uses a split-yoke design to help keep the chainstays to a short 442mm. This design helps boost stiffness for direct handling.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The rear stays also use SuperBoost+ rear-<\/span>hub spacing (12x157mm), which allows for a stronger-built wheel due to the broader, stiffer spoke pattern. Evil claims this increased stiffness means the extra weight of the ebike doesn\u2019t turn the rear end into a flexy mess. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The stays are connected to the front triangle by \u2018massive\u2019 bearings, although we weren\u2019t told how massive. The front triangle integrates Shimano\u2019s EP8 motor with its 85Nm torque. Evil has two power profiles, one for maximum power and one for more range-focused rides. You can customise the profiles within the Shimano E-Tube Project app. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The rest of the electronic system uses Shimano\u2019s E8000 display and Assist Switch. These are bolted onto a custom-made handlebar, Evil\u2019s Energy Bar. The carbon bar has internal cable routing, a 35mm clamp diameter, 35mm rise, 8-degree backsweep and 5-degree upsweep. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The frame\u2019s battery cover features a Shuttle Shield to protect the down tube when the bike hangs over the back of a pickup. The down tube also features a skid plate reinforced with rubber pads to fend off rock strikes and any poor line choice\/rider error mishaps. Drainage holes are designed to keep water where it should be on the trails.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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The Shuttle Shield keeps the battery and down tube safe when hooked over a pickup tailgate.<\/span><\/figcaption> Evil Bikes<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The rear stays also get plenty of protection to quieten chain slap and help keep the Epocolypse as close to silent as possible. They can take a maximum 220mm rotor for those who want to get optimum braking performance, and stretch to accommodate a 29\u00d72.6in tyre. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The frame uses internal cable tubes for simple maintenance and a SRAM universal derailleur hanger<\/a> for easily findable replacements. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There are four sizes available, from small to extra-large. All use 29in wheels front and back. No information was provided about the suspension, apart from the travel.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Your ideal Epocolypse<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

The Epocolyopse is designed around Evil\u2019s Wreckoning and features very similar geometry. There are two geo charts with the Epocolypse, thanks to the bike\u2019s low\/extra-low flip chip. These change the geometry, but keep the leverage curve of the DELTA System suspension\u2019s 166mm of travel the same.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the standard low setting, there\u2019s a more trail-friendly 65.3-degree head tube angle and 77-degree seat tube angle. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Reach values start at 445mm on the size small and increase to 462mm, 482mm and 502mm on the medium to extra-large frames, respectively. Seat tube lengths for the same size order are 390mm, 425mm, 465mm and 495mm. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Chainstay lengths are a snappy (for an ebike) 442mm, and there\u2019s a decent 23mm bottom bracket drop that helps keep the weight low.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re looking for a rowdier setup, the extra-low setting slackens the head tube angle to 64.6 degrees and the effective seat tube angle to 76.4 degrees.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This setting shortens the reach numbers by 7mm, lengthens the chainstays by 2mm and drops the bottom bracket by 9mm. <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/colgroup>
Evil Epocolypse \u2013 low<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Size<\/b>\u00a0<\/td>Small<\/td>Medium<\/td>Large<\/td>Extra-large<\/td> <\/tr>
Reach<\/b> (mm)\u00a0<\/td>445<\/td>462<\/td>482<\/td>502<\/td> <\/tr>
Stack<\/b> (mm)<\/td>620<\/td>630<\/td>643<\/td>655<\/td> <\/tr>
Head tube angle<\/b> (degrees)<\/td>65.3<\/td>65.3<\/td>65.5<\/td>65.3<\/td> <\/tr>
Seat tube angle <\/b>(degrees)<\/td>77<\/td>77<\/td>77<\/td>77<\/td> <\/tr>
Seat tube length<\/b> (mm)\u00a0<\/td>390<\/td>425<\/td>460<\/td>495<\/td> <\/tr>
BB height <\/b>(mm)\u00a0<\/td>350<\/td>350<\/td>350<\/td>350<\/td> <\/tr>
Wheelbase<\/b> (mm)\u00a0<\/td>1,210<\/td>2,131<\/td>1,257<\/td>1,282<\/td> <\/tr>
Chainstay<\/b> (mm)\u00a0<\/td>442<\/td>442<\/td>442<\/td>442<\/td> <\/tr>
Top tube <\/b>(mm)\u00a0<\/td>596<\/td>613<\/td>635<\/td>656<\/td> <\/tr>
Standover<\/b> (mm)<\/td>719<\/td>719<\/td>719<\/td>727<\/td> <\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>