Used Epiphany: Should I?

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by hav77, Oct 23, 2012.

  1. hav77

    hav77 Member

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    Sorry for another should I buy this bike post. Came upon an ad on CL for this '08 Epiphany. Seller has priced it at $1,700.

    Here are the following specs:

    • Front Fork- Rock Shox Revelation 426
    • Shifters- Sram X9
    • Derailleur's - Front XTR & Rear Sram X7 (new)
    • Bars - Control Tech Carbon
    • Brakes - Avid Seven
    • Shock -- Fox Float R (Ellsworth)
    • Wheels - Mavic 819 UST King Hubs (tubeless)
    • Stem - Thompson
    • Headset - Chris King
    • Cranks - Race Face
    • Seat post -- Gravity Dropper Turbo
    • Saddle - Specialized

    The problematic magnesium rocker bars were replaced 1.5 years ago with the aluminum version which I guess was a widespread issue. So should I even consider this bike? Please no flame ok? 8-[

    Thanks in advance for any input.
     

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  2. me and my bike

    me and my bike New Member

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    is it possible for you to see it in person to hceck for cracks in the frames and other issues? I wouldnt buy it unless you could see the bike unless the seller agrees to some sort of warranty
     
  3. hav77

    hav77 Member

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    Thanks for the reply. Got a bit more info. Both the rocker arms AND the front triangle were replaced 1.5 years ago as both cracked. The seat tube cracked at the mid-point between the TT and BB, which I believe is not uncommon, though not widespread. How would I get a seller (private) to agree to a warranty? The seller is local to me so it would be no problem to check it out in person and yeah, I would definitely check it out first.
     
  4. 7pt

    7pt New Member

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    save a few more hundred and get a brand new ex8 from last yrs inventory
     
  5. me and my bike

    me and my bike New Member

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    +1 other people will say im wrong , but anytime im on craiglist and looking at bikes greater that 1000 dollars, if the price difference isn't half of what it would cost to buy it from the shop or an older model, I dont go for it. Your paying more money, but are keeping the manufacturer warranty, in which you forfit when buying used
     
  6. Varaxis

    Varaxis Trail Ninja

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    Do you have some sort of lust for that particular bike?

    It just seems overpriced, especially for something 4 years old. Bikes have come a long way in the past few years. There are better deals to be had when shopping used too.

    The reviews may look good, except for the rocker issue, but check to see what the reviews are comparing it too. I suspect if it's compared to a modern design, it might pale in comparison, but then again, you probably wouldn't find any of those modern designs on sale used for that price.

    If you're really that interested, make sure you ask for mileage, rider weight, rider fitness and skill level, and trails ridden most. Alloy frames have limited fatigue life, 2-5 years for rough riding. Something 4 years old is likely to have a lot of things needing replacement, including the frame, so it could cost 1700 + cost of all the replacement parts. If all the guy did was ride the bike on smooth pavement, and left it sitting in his garage for months/years at a time, then that might just be a good deal.
     
  7. hav77

    hav77 Member

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    Agreed about the used price. I guess my problem is that I don't have a good gauge of the price of the Epi with it's specs when new. Anyone have a general idea? lol So @me and my bike, you mentioned about possibly haggling for a warranty, is this only possible if buying a demo or at a shop?

    @7pt, the suggestion of the ex8 looks like a great alternative. Any other alternatives?
     
  8. badgas

    badgas I like dirt

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    What he said

    That sounds like a lot of coin for a 4 year old bike.
     
  9. gooseaholic

    gooseaholic Active Member

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    I would not pay more than 1000
     
  10. 7pt

    7pt New Member

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    agree it's overpriced. disagree with comment about age. Ellsworth is a top notch mfg. and i haven't owned a bike less than 4years old. 2003 gary fish sugar, hammered for years and going strong. 2006 7pt, HAMMMERED for years, good as new when i sold it, 2006 uzzi vpx/2007 m3 let's call them "abused" and both solid in fact uzzi is still my daily masher, and let's not talk about my buddie's jamis hardtail from when vbrakes were sick and discs were ridiculously overkill. I would expect if the bike is visually ok and doesn't have any creaks/groans to it, it is good to go. not one penny more than 1200 for that bike for me tho. the internet was made to haggle the shit out of people selling stuff, ask Al Gore, he'll tell you.

    i just suggested the ex8 because it's one of the 5-6" bikes i'm looking at replacing my uzzi with. another beefier/bigger travel option i'm looking at is the enduro. look at some of the higher end shops around, i think most of them probably understand the time value of money and how to compute $rent/sq ft and so are willing to make deals to clear out last years models, probably especially at the "end of the riding season" and the beginning of xmas shopping season....
     
  11. Fewinhibitions

    Fewinhibitions Always be a moving target

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    As far as pricing goes for used stuff - for years I worked in the pawn shop biz and the general rule is that no one will buy an item that is priced at or near 50% of the new price. Folks wil just get it new and with warranties.m Hence, we never gave folks much for their items, and yet they would sell almost everytime.

    As a buyer for the shop, I never pawned or bought an item for more than 15% of it's real value. For me, I had to know that I could at the very least double, if not triple, what we paid for it.

    Watch Pawn Stars or more accurately, Hardcore Pawn, and you will see exactly how cheap they get folks to go on their items.
     
  12. mfoga

    mfoga Intense Whore

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    Demo bikes from a shop rarely include a warranty and are sold as used. I am not sure how manufactures handle this but finding them isnt easy either.
     
  13. Salespunk

    Salespunk New Member

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    That is a lot of money for that bike especially since he had a cracked main triangle at one point (shows it has been ridden fairly hard). The correct price for that bike is maybe $1200. For $1700 you can get a nice Tracer VP ready to go that is several years newer. Remember that bike has a 1 1/8 headtube, no through axle rear and fairly dated geometry.
     
  14. madridg

    madridg Ride Therapy Patient

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    I agree, technology has progressed over 4 years, target $1000, but $1200 max for me if it's in good condition on inspection

    it should have many more years of life to it if he's taken care of it, I had my Ellsworth Truth for 6 years of good riding before I sold it to upgrade.
     
  15. hav77

    hav77 Member

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    Thanks for the comment about the 1 1/8" headtube and the rear through axle. It'd be great to have these things, but I guess they're not that essential for me. Not looking to do much upgrading or changing anything out. Is everything just moving away to 1.5" now?
     
  16. Salespunk

    Salespunk New Member

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    Everything is tapered now. I was just using it as an example of how technology has moved on. It also has a 4 yo fork etc. If you are considering spending $1700 there are much better choices out there.
     
  17. hadoken

    hadoken New Member

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    I would agree with the other poster, $1K-$.2K. Sellers of high end used bikes generally have unrealistic pricing expectations. When you approach the $2K used price point, you can get a new bike with very good parts instead. For $1700 used, I would expect full blown XTR/X0 parts and higher end suspensions components.
     
  18. rojomas

    rojomas A.K.A The Oxx

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    That's an awful lot of coin for a bike with no warranty. The Ellsworth warranty only applies to the first owner.
     
  19. BDinOC

    BDinOC New Member

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    used Ellsworth Epiphany

    Guys, as the owner/rider of this Ellsworth Epiphany, the threads have been very interesting to read, with some solid valid points and others not so much. I do agree with hadokens point that as the seller of a high end used bike, I could potentially have unrealistic pricing expectations. But the Epiphany was the MTBR bike of the year, continues to be 5 stars rated all mountain bike and Ellsworth stands behind their products as they have replaced the front triangle and rockers arms at no cost. As an avid rider, who has had some great bikes, maintenance is everything in having a great riding experience and extending the life of the bike, especially in our trails where dust is a killer. I would not buy a bike sight unseen because of that. If anyone here has ponied up the coin for a high-end made in the USA bike and built it from the frame up, you might appreciate the bias in the original asking price. With that said, there were valid points in the threads and I have lowered the asking price to a more realistic amount. Thanks.Have a great safe ride,,,,,,,,
     
  20. BDinOC

    BDinOC New Member

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    used Ellsworth Epiphany

    Guys, as the owner and rider of this Ellsworth Epiphany, the threads have been very interesting to read, with some solid valid points and others not so much. I do agree with hadokens point that as the seller of a high end used bike, I could potentially have unrealistic pricing expectations. But the Epiphany was the MTBR bike of the year, continues to be 5 stars rated all mountain bike and Ellsworth stands behind their products as they have replaced the front triangle and rockers arms at no cost. As an avid rider, who has had some great bikes, maintenance is everything in having a great riding experience and extending the life of the bike, especially in our trails where dust is a killer. I would not buy a bike sight unseen because of that. If anyone here has ponied up the coin for a high-end made in the USA bike and built it from the frame up, you might appreciate the bias in the original asking price. With that said, there were valid points in the threads and I have lowered the asking price to a more realistic amount. Thanks.

    Have a great safe ride,,,,,,,,
     

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