Evil has arrived fashionably late to the e-MTB party with its new Epocalypse bike. The US company has taken the frame from its gravity sled, the Wreckoning, and electrified the recipe.
Evil say by taking the Wreckoning chassis with the proven pedaling prowess offered by its Dave Weagle designed DELTA suspension system, the Epocalypse offers playful, gravity suited geometry combined with a Shimano EP8 motor. Evil has created a tool for more laps in a day, longer rides with your mates and faster lunch laps when your work schedule overflows. It's been a long time coming, but the Epocalypse looks to be an e-MTB worthy of the Evil headtube badge, boasting a spec sheet that hints at a place at the table amongst the best electric mountain bikes.
The Epocalypse will come in one of two options – a 170mm RockShox Zeb fork paired to a 166mm Super Deluxe coil rear shock, with Industry Nine rims and hubs, or a 170mm Fox 38 fork and 166mm Float X2 air shock, with Evil LoopHole rims laced to Industry Nine hubs. Both builds are covered by Shimano XT for their braking and drive systems.
Interestingly for a US company, while both the Fox and RockShox versions will be available in the EU and UK, only the RockShox build will go on sale in the States.
The Epocalypse aesthetics are consistent and its familiar design fits perfectly alongside the rest of the Evil catalog. As mentioned above, the geometry is lifted from the Wreckoning model with a pair of 29-inch wheels slotted into a frame with 166mm of rear travel and 170mm tucked under the bars. Just like the rest of the Evil range, this first foray into e-MTBs shares the same choice of geometry settings via a flip-chip. The Low setting gives the rider a 65.3-degree head angle while the X-Low setting will push the head angle out to 64.6 degrees. This allows you to tune the ride characteristics to suit your style and terrain and drop the 350mm bottom bracket height by 9mm.
Evil reckons that the 442mm chainstay length on the Epocalypse is one of the shortest carbon stays for a 29-inch e-MTB. The rear end also runs the latest Super Boost+ 157mm hub spacing. This design allows clearance to run up to 29 x 2.6-inch rubber in the frame and also gives a broader and stiffer spoke pattern so the wheel can withstand the 'Epocalyptic' trail abuse that the bike aims taunts riders into.
At the heart of the UD carbon fiber constructed chassis is the latest Shimano EP8 motor, producing up to 85Nm of torque, which is wired to a 630Wh integrated battery. Evil have wrapped the EP8 motor in a pair of carbon triangles that encase the unit to offer protection from front tire projectiles.
The Shimano BT-E8036 battery hasn't been forgotten either. The Epocalypse has an integrated protection slab that shields the downtube from tail gate bashing. The protection is designed so that if you decide to shuttle with the bike rather than spin up the climbs at the bike park. The fully integrated battery design keeps the electric bits protected inside the downtube. Quick-release access makes for a claimed ten second battery swap through a covert slot in the downtube door.
The streamlined interface with a full color clear display and the covert mode switch nestled conveniently next to the handlebar grip allow the rider to focus on the trail ahead rather than the bike beneath them. The Shimano motor has three power modes and the cockpit display gives you critical information such as how much juice remains in the battery.
Evil has preloaded the power system with two preset profiles. Profile one gives maximum wattage to the pedals, while profile two is more suited to the rider with range anxiety and so churns out a more conservative power output to ensure that you always get home. Of course, the settings can be tweaked further via the neat Shimano E-Tube app where you can dial in the torque settings and support modes handily via your mobile device.
It's taken Evil a considerable time to jump on the e-MTB bandwagon, but a look at the finer details shows a very well thought out design and finish. The frame allows for a bottle cage for easy access thirst quenching after inhaling roost while shredding, or hefty climbs back up to the trailhead.
The Epocalypse has a 30.9mm seat tube diameter and the frame design allows for a 125mm dropper post on the Small frame size through to a lengthy 185mm on the X-Large. The frame also has tidy internal guide tubes that give a clean look, a quiet ride and easier hose/cable setup and maintenance. Drivetrain noises are kept to a minimum too with rubber sections integrated into both the chainstay and the chain guide, so that the bike performs as stealthy as it looks.
Talking of maintenance, the huge main pivot bearings comfortably carry the additional mass of the motor and battery. With Evil Bikes originating from the notoriously wet Pacific North West, riders can take confidence that they should last all season long – whatever the trail conditions.
Evil Epocalypse specs, pricing and availability
With four size options available from Small through to X-large. The carbon fiber frame of the Epocalypse only comes in one super stealthy colorway that Evil names 'Wasabi Shadow'.
The Evil Epocalypse is available to buy now, but initial availability will be limited to sizes Medium and Large for the launch in limited quantities. Then, later in August you can expect more Large frames alongside sizes Small and X-Large, with a bolstering of the size Medium stock in Sept 2022. For more info or to order a bike, head to Evil Bikes.
Evil Epocalypse with Rockshox Zeb/Super Deluxe coil package and Industry Nine wheels
Frame: 166mm of travel, UD carbon, Full internal cable routing, SB+ 157mm rear spacing
Drive unit: Shimano DU-EP800
Battery: Shimano BT-E8036, 630Wh
Shock: Rockshox Super Deluxe Coil Ultimate, Trunnion 205x65,
Headset: Cane Creek 40 Series ZS Integrated Tapered Headset
Fork: Rockshox ZEB Ultimate, Charger 2.1 RC2, 170mm Travel
Handlebar: Evil Energy Bar, UD Carbon, Rise: 35mm, Clamp: 35mm, Width: 780-810mm, Backsweep: 8 ̊, Upsweep: 5 ̊
Stem: Evil 12 Gauge Stem, Length: 45mm
Display: Shimano SC-EM800
Assist switch: Shimano SW-EM800-L
Grips: Evil Palmela Handerson lock-on
Brakes: Shimano XT BR-M8120, 4-piston
Rotors: Shimano XT RT-MT800, 203mm, Center Lock
Shifter: Shimano XT SL-M8100-R, I-Spec
Rear Derailleur: Shimano XT RD-M8100
Cassette: Shimano XT CS-M8100-12, 10-51T
Chain: Shimano XT CN-M8100, 118 Links
Cranks: Shimano XT FC-M8150, 170mm
Wheelset: Industry Nine Enduro S Hydra
Tyres: Maxxis Minion DHF EXO TR, 29x2.5 WT
Sealant: Stan’s No Tube Tubeless Sealant
Seat post: Bike Yoke Revive, S:125mm, M: 160mm, L:185mm XL: 185mm
Saddle: WTB Volt Medium, Width: 142mm, Chromoly Saddle
Charger: Shimano Charger EC-8004-1 / EC-8004-2
Price: $11999.00 / £10899.99 / €11999.99
Evil Epocalypse with Fox 38/Float X2 air shock package and Evil Loophole rims Industry Nine hubs
Frame: 166mm of travel, UD carbon, Full internal cable routing, SB+ 157mm rear spacing
Drive unit: Shimano DU-EP800
Battery: Shimano BT-E8036, 630Wh
Shock: Fox Float X2, Trunnion 205x65,
Headset: Cane Creek 40 Series ZS Integrated Tapered Headset
Fork: Fox 38 Float Factory 29, Grip 2, 170mm Travel
Handlebar: Evil Energy Bar, UD Carbon, Rise: 35mm, Clamp: 35mm, Width: 780-810mm, Backsweep: 8 ̊, Upsweep: 5 ̊
Stem: Evil 12 Gauge Stem, Length: 45mm
Display: Shimano SC-EM800
Assist switch: Shimano SW-EM800-L
Grips: Evil Palmela Handerson lock-on
Brakes: Shimano XT BR-M8120, 4-piston
Rotors: Shimano XT RT-MT800, 203mm, Center Lock
Shifter: Shimano XT SL-M8100-R, I-Spec
Rear Derailleur: Shimano XT RD-M8100
Cassette: Shimano XT CS-M8100-12, 10-51T
Chain: Shimano XT CN-M8100, 118 Links
Cranks: Shimano XT FC-M8150, 170mm
Wheelset: Evil Loop Hole rims 29 with Industry Nine Hydra hubs
Tyres: Maxxis Minion DHF EXO TR, 29x2.5 WT
Sealant: Stan’s No Tube Tubeless Sealant
Seat post: Bike Yoke Revive, S:125mm, M: 160mm, L:185mm XL: 185mm
Saddle: WTB Volt Medium, Width: 142mm, Chromoly Saddle
Charger: Shimano Charger EC-8004-1 / EC-8004-2
Price: £12699.99 / €13999.99
