Evil bikes are known for having a bit of a cult following in the mountain bike community. They offer a range of gravity oriented bikes and have had some of the loosest freeride athletes in the world send them down the gnarliest terrain you can find. Their DELTA suspension system (Dave’s Extra Legitimate Travel Apparatus) is a well regarded linkage driven single pivot design and looks great in my opinion! On the Epocolypse it offers up 166m of rear wheel travel which can be paired with a 160mm or 170mm fork. The power comes from a new Shimano EP8 motor and 630wh battery. Overall the geometry errs on the side of playful and agile rather than point-and-plough though you’ll find 29er wheels front and rear, not a mullet. More detail on the bike and some words from Evil below.
Overview
The electrified Epocalypse is your tractor beam to the summit. This long travel overlander is prepped for the end of days, placing direct current between your heels to turn the steepest ascents into provocative dares.
Inspired by our beloved Wreckoning platform, the battery boosted Epocalypse rides above two 29” wheels with 166mm of rear travel and 170mm below the bars. Posture for this genre-fluid beast closely resembles that of the Wreckoning for a proper dance party deep in the trees. The geometry teeter totter is well balanced across the Evil family tree and the Epocalypse drops into a cozy branch alongside its gravity kin.
Epocalyptic lightning flows into a low-slung Shimano EP8 motor to kick out 85Nm of pedal assistance at full throttle, backed by the brand’s burly 630Wh battery for max laps. Spin it up and let the good times rip! The motor’s trail-hugging heft will dig those rubber lugs in deep for unshakable stability and traction.
Geometry
Design Philosophy
Between the juiced watts and the pedaling prowess of our DELTA System, few ascents will tilt too steep for the Epocalypse. Electrified bikes are a blast whether gravity’s helping or hindering, and the engineers at Evil worked closely with Shimano to achieve an ideal power balance. Good luck locating a slope that the Epocalypse can’t scale. After two years of rigorous testing and perfecting we’ve created the right machine for any rider’s version of fun.
A pair of sturdy carbon triangles surrounds the EP8 powerhouse, protected from front tire projectiles by a custom skid plate beneath the motor and a shuttle shield under the downtube. As ever, chain slap is silenced by a hefty sound mound strip on the chain stay, and there’s a second slab of “shut-up” inside the seat stay.
Our refined vascular system guides housing and hoses discretely through the frame, and some massive main-pivot bearings are ready to carry the powerful Epocalypse load all season long. A SRAM UDH derailleur hanger dangles from our SuperBoost+ rear end, keeping those precious drivetrain bits shifty, and hangers are available at most shops if you manage to clip a passing rock. In fact, each of the bike’s electric and analog components can be had at your local two-wheel Evil dealer, keeping the ride rolling and the maintenance time minimal.
We wreckon these 442mm chain stays are worth a shout. The Epocalypse boasts some of the shortest carbon stays of any 29″ ebike on the market, maintaining that Evil slap-happy, side-hit slashing, dumb-gap trying DNA we all know and love. If you’re searching for a lightning-powered unicorn that’s deft at stabilizing descents and lofting roots whenever it’s asked, you’ve found it. We’ll leave you to choose between Low and X-Low geometry settings, and to select the standard or angle-adjust headset that best suits your style.
The potential advantages of an electric Wreckoning run deep. More laps in a day, longer rides with friends, additional carrying capacity for dig days, and faster lunch laps when the schedule overflows. Adding battery power to your stable will morph rest days on the couch into trail parties with friends. We’re confident your sofa won’t mind.
Find out more about the Epocolypse here: https://www.evil-bikes.com/
