Epic

You know what they say—when the grams go away, speed comes out to play. Benefitting from the lightest EVO frame we’ve ever created and the most aggressive iteration of our Progressive XC Geometry to date, the S-Works Epic EVO made a few calls and assembled a dream team supporting cast to offer a ‘capability-to-weight’ ratio that skips impressive and jumps straight to flat-out mindblowing.

While the Epic EVO sees a seemingly modest 20-millimeter increase in suspension travel up front over its Epic stablemate and just 10-millimeters out back, we’ve worked overtime to make sure it’s been implemented in a way that’ll have you saying ‘Whoa!’ as soon as you hit your first stretch of singletrack.

Meticulously engineered to retain as much of the Epic’s standard-setting efficiency as possible, the EVO’s new suspension kinematics work in concert with Rx XC Tune customized suspension front and rear to ensure you're able to make the absolute most out of every inch of travel on tap, while still offering increased anti-squat characteristics for improved pedaling efficiency.

With plenty of practice at staying ahead of the curve, the Epic EVO now lays claim to the most capable iteration of our Progressive XC Geometry ever to grace an Epic. It’s also more versatile than ever thanks to a new flip chip-equipped rear end that allows riders to adjust headtube angle and bottom bracket height to easily customize Epic EVO’s handling characteristics.

For the S-Works Epic EVO we also made sure that every last component to have the honor of gracing its FACT 12m carbon frame was just as dedicated to finding the ultimate balance of lightness, efficiency and hard-charging capability. For proof, just take a look at the seemingly logic-defying, stiffer-lighter-stronger masterpiece that is the new Roval Control SL wheelset, and SRAM’s XC-light yet trail-tough electronic XX1 Eagle AXS group and wireless electronically-actuated Reverb AXS dropper post.

• Flip It To Rip It: Tune the ride of the S-Works Epic EVO’s FACT 12m carbon frame to match your preferred handling characteristics with flip-chip simplicity that allows riders to reduce the EVO’s headtube angle by half a degree while lowering bottom bracket height by 10 millimeters.
• Pairing the stiff yet lightweight SID Ultimate chassis with RockShox's lightest-ever Charger Race Day damper makes for quite the package, impressively cutting weight while still managing to pack in truly impressive levels of performance, precsion, and control.
• The pinnacle of drivetrain performance, SRAM's XX1 Eagle AXS combines next-gen wireless technology, incredibly accurate shift performance and game-changing versatility to drastically redefine the riding experience.
• Created specifically to match both the weight savings and increased capability of the S-Works Epic and S-Works Epic EVO, the Roval Control SL rim introduces a completely new offset rim profile that features a 29-millimeter-wide internal width and not only increases strength and reduces weight, but also improves pinch-flat resistance by 22-percent.

THINK FASTEST: The Epic World Cup is the fastest XC race bike in the world on smooth to moderately technical courses thanks to its unmatched combination of efficiency, control, and light-weight. World Champ Christopher Blevins said it best, “This thing gives me everything I could want from a hardtail, plus the control and capability of full suspension.” All it took to create this speed machine was a totally integrated development approach, inventing a radical new shock, and four decades of off-road winning experience.

FRAME OF REFERENCE: To deliver maximum speed through ruthlessly efficient power transfer and precision handling, our engineering team set and achieved new standards in torsional rigidity and BB stiffness. This feat required an integrated development approach that merged a structurally superior double diamond layout with its shock cradled inside the top-tube, and finished off with the most sophisticated composite layup in Specialized history.

SHOCKINGLY FAST: The Specialized Ride Dynamics team conceived of and invented a revolutionary shock technology for the Epic World Cup that gives the rider the efficiency and snappy response of a hardtail PLUS the control, capability, and momentum-carrying of full suspension—all with a simple setup. Co-developed with RockShox, the SID Deluxe WCID shock utilizes a unique independently adjustable positive and negative air springs to deliver the sought-after hardtail “snap”, combined with terrain-devouring forgiveness, and the ability to easily personalize set-up for a specific course or tune for rider preference and feel. Set it firm and it rides like a hardtail or open it up and you have a chunk-squashing ripper. But you aren't just limited “open and closed,” the simple nature of its setup allows the rider to set on a spectrum of firm to soft.

PUNCHING ABOVE ITS CATEGORY: The Epic World Cup’s 75mm of rear travel delivers control and capability of a much longer travel bike. Because it’s designed to be ridden at or close to topped-out, it yields the same positive travel as a 100mm travel bike set up with 25% sag. To further optimize suspension performance, the Specialized Ride Dynamics team tuned the spring-rate to be relatively flat through the mid-stroke to handle the majority of bump forces like a longer travel bike. Due to its large size, the custom Mega Jounce Bumper is an “industry first” and plays a crucial role in smoothly managing bottom-out on the biggest impacts.

HAVE WE LOST OUR MINDS? The groundbreaking SIDLuxe WCID shock provides a unique blend of support and compliance in the rear, while the RockShox SID SL with 3-Position Race Day 2 damper borrows the all-new Epic 8s “Magic Middle” tune, providing support under pedaling and 110mm of bump-muting, active suspension in the rough to provide ultimate efficiency.

THE WEIGHT IS OVER: With a frame weight of just 1,765 grams (painted with shock and all hardware), the Epic World Cup edges out the lightest of competitors. This translates to faster acceleration, more efficiently climbing, and more agile handling. And all of that adds up to speed. We achieved the featherweight and monster stiffness of the Epic WC by applying what we learned in the development of our Aethos, the lightest production road frame ever made, specifically the advanced composite layup and tube shapes.

THE BIGGEST FLEX IS NO FLEX: The Epic World Cup sports the full suite of Roval Control SL components: 1,240-gram wheelset, 180-gram seat post, and 250-gram integrated cockpit (70mm x 780mm). Each boasting peerless light-weight, stiffness, and control on the World Cup today.

• The all-new Epic World Cup frame features Ride Dynamics Developed suspension technology and 75mm of optimized rear wheel travel. Thanks to its shock technology, Epic World Cup delivers unmatched pedal efficiency and is ready for the roughest descents you can throw at it–no lockout switches required.
• SRAM XX SL transmission builds on what top riders need in shifting performance and robustness, making it perfectly matched for the brutal demands of off-road racing.
• A RockShox SID SL with 3-Position Race Day 2 damper provides support under pedaling and 110mm of active suspension to provide ultimate efficiency.
• Created specifically to match the increased capabilities of the Epic World Cup, the Roval Control SL rim introduces a completely new offset rim profile that features a 29mm internal width that not only increases strength and reduces weight, but also improves pinch-flat resistance by 22-percent.

The all-new Epic 8 evolves the formula of fastest through capability, efficiency, and lightweight integration. Modern XC tracks demand more and more capability by the day. Enter Epic 8. Its improved kinematics make it the most efficient pedaling bike we’ve ever tested, while custom valved (and tuned) shocks soak up every bump. It’s a wolf in wolf’s clothing.

If you’re an XC racer or prioritize all-out speed in your ride, the Epic 8 is the bike for you.

UNMATCHED CAPABILITY: The most capable 120mm bike on the planet. You’ll be blown away by how Epic 8’s progressive geometry delivers technical terrain capability alongside fast and efficient climbing and acceleration performance. The absurd lateral and torsional rigidity of the chassis translates to some seriously precision handling, too.

WHAT BUMP?: Compared to the previous generation, the new Epic 8 absorbs 12% more bump and vibration forces than the previous generation, leaving you less fatigued and more powerful over time so you can still push while they suffer.

RIDE DYNAMICS TUNED: The Specialized Ride Dynamics team developed custom valving for Epic 8’s new shock. Our unique Ride Dynamics-prescribed damping characteristics holistically elevate the riding experience. By tuning the dampers alongside the chassis’ leverage rates and new kinematics, we’re able to deliver a bike that rides beyond the sum of its parts.

BIOMECHANICAL EFFICIENCY: By optimizing the kinematics of the suspension, Specialized’s Ride Dynamics team reduced inefficient pedal-induced bobbing by 20%, while maintaining active suspension for effective bump force management, to ensure you remain in the most efficient pedaling position. It’s the most efficient pedaling suspension bike we’ve ever tested.

MORE WITH LESS: With the Epic 8, we didn’t spend a single extra gram to get mega capability from the frame. All models now feature SWAT 4.0 to carry all your trail essentials, and an integrated steering stop to prevent the ubiquitous top tube scar the first time you crash and your bars spin. In fact, the new S-Works Epic 8 frameset has even lost weight (76 grams to be exact) while gaining these new additions.

• The most capable 120mm bike on the planet. 12% more bump absorption and 20% less pedal bob
• Ride Dynamics developed RockShox SIDLuxe ULTIMATE shock and SID ULTIMATE fork
• Custom tuned shock features 3 unique damper settings
• Roval Control carbon wheels excel everywhere from world cup xc races to your favorite weekend trail
• Data-ready with Quarq Spindle power meter
• SRAM Level Silver 4-Piston brakes bring trail bike stopping power in a light XC race weight class
• Ride in confidence with super rugged and dependable XO Eagle AXS Transmission
• SWAT 4.0 in down tube to carry trail essentials

Hey you, yeah, you...the one with the scale out seeing which of the six identical tires on the shelf is the lightest. Sure, some might call you a bit obsessive, but no worries, here, the S-Works Epic LTD is speaking exactly the same language. Countless design hours, endless test laps, terabytes of telemetry data—all of it to make sure not a single ounce of speed was left on the table.

Mixing hardtail efficiency and full-suspension capability to impressively quick results, the S-Works Epic LTD has always been defined by obsessive commitment to speed. Well, that and over 100 World Cup wins and podiums too.

A SMARTER BRAIN

True to form, the latest Epic continues the tradition, taking advantage of the most efficient BRAIN suspension we’ve ever created to ensure it’s always on a first-name-basis with fast.

Re-engineered hand-in-hand with the new Epic, the latest BRAIN design resets the expectation for efficiency, employing a new race-tuned pedaling platform to ensure every watt possible is translated into forward motion, while handily soaking up momentum-killing chatter and big hits alike—all more smoothly than ever.

FRAME-CHANGER

Redesigned with a focus on efficient power transfer and better handling performance, the S-Works Epic LTD frame features a 15-percent stiffer rear triangle in order to take full advantage of the BRAIN’s new race-tuned pedaling platform. A dedicated layup schedule and the use of our top-shelf FACT 12m Carbon takes weight savings yet a step further than it’s stablemates, while the pièce de résistance comes in the form of a carbon fiber shock link, combining to shave a total of over 100 grams from the previous generation S-works frame—no easy task, mind you.

Pairing perfectly with the Brain rear shock for the most balanced suspension perfomance on an Epic yet, the S-Works' Position-Sensitive Brain fork benefits from RockShox’s svelte-yet-stiff SID SL Ultimate chassis, improving front-end stiffness and handling precision while keeping the grams at bay.

SRAM’s flagship XX Eagle AXS group certainly fits the bill when only the best will do, dispatching shifts with electronic authority while we tasked Roval with creating an entirely new Control SL rim that wouldn’t just be able to go toe-to-toe with the Epic’s newfound speed and handling performance, but add a bit of its own into the mix as well.

• If speed could talk, it’d introduce itself as the all-new S-Works Epic frame. Offering 100-millimeters of brilliantly efficient Brain-controlled travel, the S-Work Epic increases rear-triangle stiffness for peerless power transfer, while the use of FACT 12m carbon, a dedicated layup and a full carbon shock link also make it the lightest full suspension frame we’ve ever created, all while offering the most capable handling in an Epic yet. Nice to meet you, speed.
• Pairing 100 millimeters of the most efficent travel on earth with RockShox's svelte-yet-stiff SID SL Ultimate chassis, the RockShox SID SL Ultimate BRAIN fork serves as the pinnacle of XC-race supsension perfection.
• SRAM's XX Eagle AXS isn't just the lightest electronic MTB groupset on the market, it's also designed to withstand World-Cup winning chain loads while instantaneously snapping of instantaneous shifts to ensure you're never caught on the back foot.
• Created specifically to match the increased capabilities of the Epic, the Roval Control SL rim introduces a completely new offset rim profile that features a 29-millimeter-wide internal width and not only increases strength and reduces weight, but also improves pinch-flat resistance by 22-percent.