We present multifrequency radio observations of two well-known episodic Fanaroff–Railey type II (FR II) radio galaxies (J0116−4722 and J1158+2621) and a detailed investigation of the life cycle of episodic radio galaxies from their spectral and radiative properties. Combining our previous work with the present results, we either constrain or place very good limits on the active and quiescent phases of a small sample of episodic FR II radio galaxies. The duration of the quiescent phase can be as small as the hotspot fading time of the previous episode, and as high as a few tens of Myr; however, for none of the sources in our sample is it close to the duration of the active phase of the previous episode. We also find that for many episodic radio galaxies, the nucleus is variable at radio wavelengths. For our small sample of seven episodic radio galaxies, we find four to have strongly variable cores, a much larger proportion than is generally found in samples of normal FR II radio galaxies. Studies with larger samples will be required to establish a statistical association between core variability and episodic radio activity.