Epic inertia valve not locking out my Brain Shock

[Brett A]

Hi all.

I just bought a used '03 Epic. I noticed that the rear shock is not locking out. I assume the inertia valve is stuck. Is this common with age? Is there something I can do myself to cure it of this brain freeze? If not me, how much do might I end up paying a shop to have it fixed? Any information would be most appreciated.

BTW, I got such a good deal on the bike, and it's in such good shape otherwise, I'm not really bumming too bad about this issue. However, I am looking forward to making it right.

Thanks

[Mongoose]

I had one and it stuck open after about a year. I had it rebuilt for around $200 I think? Then I sold the frame a bought a Blur XC with an RP23. The brain is nice when it works, especially right after servicing. It seems like most brain owners need to have it serviced every year though.

[Brett A]

Thanks. I found out I can send it out to Fox (via Gear Works) for a complete rebuild for $125-$175 which seems an agreeable price to me. In the mean time, It works just fine as a full-time suspension bike. After 22 years of pounding around the trails on a hard tail, it'll be a welcome experience.

[adrnalin69]

The brain has had some issues in the past. You should service it before every season. Other wise a Fox RP23 with the right shock eyes to eyes / Stroke will make that bike work great for the NE trails that we have 'round here. The Brain isn't the best for NE.

[Nomad]

The brain has had some issues in the past. You should service it before every season. Other wise a Fox RP23 with the right shock eyes to eyes / Stroke will make that bike work great for the NE trails that we have 'round here. The Brain isn't the best for NE.

I hear the RP23 needs an annual service as well, true? What's wrong w/ the inertia valve in NE? Not being a smart as, just curious.

[Mongoose]

I thought the same thing about the Brain in NE. A hardtail is nice for smooth single track and fire roads. I don't think it's good on the rooty, rocky bumpy trails we have in NE though. The Brain is either locked up like a hardtail or full open. With an RP23 I can adjust the propedal setting so the rear suspension is stiffer, but there is always some suspension movement.

[Brett A]

A hardtail is nice for smooth single track and fire roads. I don't think it's good on the rooty, rocky bumpy trails we have in NE though. (...)
I dunno, I've been doing OK riding a hard tail around the north-central mass trails for the last 22 years. That said, I think the Epic with a functioning brain is just what I need now that I am in my 40's. (I don't want to work that hard any more.)

[adrnalin69]

The brain isn't smart enough....or fast enough. The brain likes smooooooth then rough then smoooooth then rough. The constant rough jumpy tight trails we have and love in NE just don't treat the Brain well. It needs constant service and feels a bit choppy when using it. If you were to ride HP, the Fells, and Lynn and alike you would absolutley hate the Brain. But if you are racer that is looking for Hardtail pain with FSR love then the Brain is the Sled for you.

[Brett A]

The brain isn't smart enough....or fast enough. The brain likes smooooooth then rough then smoooooth then rough. The constant rough jumpy tight trails we have and love in NE just don't treat the Brain well. It needs constant service and feels a bit choppy when using it. If you were to ride HP, the Fells, and Lynn and alike you would absolutley hate the Brain. But if you are racer that is looking for Hardtail pain with FSR love then the Brain is the Sled for you.



Time will tell how the brain suits me around Petersham and Wendell. A friend who used to have an Epic of this vintage described the action similar to when a seatbelt engages when tugged. (Except in reverse, if you know what mean).

I spent about 6 hours on it as a fully active suspension bike before I sent it out for the rebuild. I really liked the bike and can honestly say I'm looking forward to having the rear locked out a percentage of the time.

Everyone I've met who owns one loves it.

We'll see...it won't be too hard to better the experience of bouncing around on a '00 Cannondale F-series hard tail as I have been for the last 9 years.

[Slappy]

Personally, I think a manually activiated lockout is about 10000 times better, specially when you have to dump 100 something bucks a year (are you shitting me!?!?!?) into a Brain to keep it running. That's insane. Most other Fox shocks can be serviced at home wiht a $12 kit.

[Brett A]

OK. I think I'll just leave the thread to the Epic-haters now. Thanks, Mongoose for the first-hand info. Much appreciated.

See you out there.

...

[Slappy]

Nothing wrong with Epics. I just think the Brain adds complication and expense without a worthwhile tradeoff in performance, based putting a good number of miles on FSRs. Personally I'd also go with an RP23. Can always try one out sometime down the road and see what you think. YMMV.

:D

[dmw010]

Call me lazy - I don't want to think about a manual lockout when I'm riding. I was excited about the Epic when it debuted in '03, but then I rode one at a NEMBA event and decided that the non-adjustable bump threshold on the Brain was just not set optimally for rocky-rooty New England trails -- it wasn't going active as often as I wanted it to. Specialized came out with an adjustable Brain in '04, and that convinced me to buy the Epic, which I've been happily riding since then with a bump threshold generally set significantly lower than the default '03 setting (meaning that smaller hits will activate the shock on my bike). Specialized continued to refine the Brain with Brain Fade or whatever it's called now that avoids that on-off feeling that bothers some people.