The Specialized Epic has rocketed more World Champions, Olympians, and mere-mortal-racers to the podium than any bike in its class. And with the introduction of their Epic EVO’s dropper post, longer-travel fork, wider handlebars, and meatier tyres, Specialized are making the world’s fastest XC race bike even more versatile.
Can you race this thing? Hell, yes. Specialized Epic EVO models use the same frame and Brain 2.0 rear shock as our current Epics. The Epic EVO’s more aggressive component spec, however, also makes it the perfect choice for long rides and marathon races. Think BC Bike Race, the Cape Epic, or any local death march that your inner sadist dreams of churning through at soul-crushing speeds.
HERE’S WHAT’S NEW
- MORE FORK, MORE CONTROL: Day after day of marathon racing hammers your upper body. Remote singletrack is never groomed. The EVOs get longer-travel forks with 120mm of travel.
- WIDER BARS: Specialized didn’t go “full enduro” here, but stretching the bar width from 720 to 750 millimetres adds confidence.
- DROPPER POSTS: There are a ton of things that you can do. Sure, you can high-post it on technical trails, but why would you? Specialized is with you, and that’s why dropper posts come stock.
- GREATER GRIP & DURABILITY: There’s no such thing as “too much grip.” Durable, traction-boosting, 2.3-inch Ground Control and Fast Trak tyres get the nod with the EVOs.
- SAME EPIC CHASSIS & BRAIN 2.0 REAR SHOCK: The Specialized Epic EVO is a more capable Epic, yes, but it’s still an Epic. This means that there’s no bobbing and no energy-sucking suspension squat. Just pure fast
Spec Sheet:
Specialized Epic Expert EVO
Ripping around between the tape is one way to worship at the altar of speed, but for all the other long, fast rides or marathon races on technical terrain, there’s Specialized’s all-new Epic Expert EVO. Consider it a more “epic” kind of Epic.
• A FOX Step-Cast 34 Performance Series fork handles suspension duties up front with 120mm of travel and a GRIP damper that has Open, Medium, and Firm modes for every kind of terrain.
• The hand-built Roval Control Carbon wheels feature a modern 25mm (internal width) hookless rim, so you get the low weight, low rolling resistance, and the best possible grip with the 2.3″ tires.
• An X-Fusion Manic seatpost brings you some much-needed drop for tackling steep descents, but it also features a zero-offset design that keeps your weight over the bottom bracket for the climbs.
SPECS:
FRAME – Specialized FACT 11m, full carbon frame, XC Geometry, threaded BB,
12x148mm rear spacing, internal cable routing, 100mm of travel
FORK FOX – Stepcast 34 Performance series, GRIP damper, 44mm offset,
15x110mm Kabolt thru-axle, 120mm of travel
REAR SHOCK – Custom RockShox Micro Brain shock w/ Spike Valve, AUTOSAG,
51x257mm
HANDLEBARS – Specialized Alloy Minirise, 10mm rise, 750mm, 31.8mm clamp
STEM – Specialized XC, 3D-forged alloy, 4-bolt, 6-degree rise
GRIPS – Specialized Sip Grip, half-waffle, S/M: regular thickness, L/XL: XL
thickness
SADDLE – Body Geometry Phenom Comp, Adaptive Edge design, hollow Cr-Mo
rails, 143mm
SEATPOST – X-Fusion manic, 30.9mm, (S: 100mm, M-XL: 125mm)
FRONT BRAKE – SRAM Level TL, hydraulic disc
REAR BRAKE – SRAM Level TL, hydraulic disc
SHIFT LEVERS – SRAM GX Eagle, trigger, 12-speed
REAR DERAILLEUR – SRAM GX Eagle, 12-speed
CASSETTE – SRAM GX Eagle, 12-speed, 10-50t
CRANKSET – Truvativ STYLO, DUB
CHAINRINGS – SRAM Eagle, 32T
BOTTOM BRACKET – SRAM, DUB, BSA
CHAIN – SRAM GX Eagle, 12-speed
RIMS – Roval Control Carbon, 25mm internal width, tubeless-ready
FRONT HUB – Specialized, sealed cartridge bearings, 15x110mm spacing, 28h
REAR HUB – Specialized, sealed cartridge bearings, 12x148mm thru-axle, 28h
SPOKES – DT Swiss Industry
FRONT TIRE – Ground Control, GRIPTON® compound, 60 TPI, 2Bliss Ready, 29×2.3″
REAR TIRE – Fast Trak, GRID casing, GRIPTON® compound, 60 TPI, 2Bliss Ready,
29×2.3″
Specialized Epic Comp EVO
If Specialized was being honest with themselves, alloy has always been at the heart of the Specialized EVO family. It’s tough, it’s stiff, and at least with Specialized’s bikes, it’s pretty damn light. Basically, it embodies everything that’s good about mountain bikes, and that’s what EVO is all about. But an Epic Comp EVO made out of aluminum? We say, “yeah, it’s a perfect fit.” And that’s because this bike brings all the uphill racing, singletrack-ripping fun you want, and puts it in a durable, on-budget package. So get excited, because this is the most “epic” Epic yet.
• A RockShox Reba RL fork, with 120mm of travel, soaks up rocks, roots, and bumps, and it also features both compression and rebound adjustments.
• The 12-speed SRAM NX Eagle groupset brings the performance of Eagle at a value anyone can appreciate.
• An X-Fusion Manic seatpost brings you some much-needed drop for tackling steep descents, but it also features a zero-offset design that keeps your weight over the bottom bracket for the climbs.
SPECS:
FRAME Specialized M5 Aluminum w/ D’Aluisio Smartweld Technology,
threaded BB, 12x148mm rear spacing, internal cable routing, flex pivot,
100mm of travel
FORK RockShox Reba RL 29, Motion Control damper, 42mm offset,
15x110mm thru-axle, 120mm of travel
REAR SHOCK Custom RockShox Micro Brain shock w/ Spike Valve, AUTOSAG,
51x257mm
HANDLEBARS Specialized Alloy Minirise, 10mm rise, 750mm, 31.8mm clamp
STEM Specialized XC, 3D-forged alloy, 4-bolt, 6-degree rise
GRIPS Specialized Sip Grip, half-waffle, S/M: regular thickness, L/XL: XL
thickness
SADDLE Body Geometry Phenom Comp, Adaptive Edge design, hollow Cr-Mo
rails, 143mm
SEATPOST X-Fusion manic, 30.9mm, (S: 100mm, M-XL: 125mm)
FRONT BRAKE SRAM Level TL, hydraulic disc
REAR BRAKE SRAM Level TL, hydraulic disc
SHIFT LEVERS SRAM NX Eagle, trigger, 12-speed
REAR DERAILLEUR SRAM NX Eagle, 12-speed
CASSETTE SRAM NX Eagle, 12-speed, 11-50t
CRANKSET Truvativ STYLO, DUB
CHAINRINGS SRAM Eagle, 32T
BOTTOM BRACKET SRAM, DUB, BSA
CHAIN SRAM NX Eagle, 12-speed
RIMS Roval Control Alloy 29″, 25mm internal wdith, 28h
FRONT HUB Specialized, sealed cartridge bearings, 15x110mm spacing, 28h
REAR HUB Specialized, sealed cartridge bearings, 12x148mm thru-axle, 28h
SPOKES DT Swiss Industry
FRONT TIRE Ground Control, GRIPTON® compound, 60 TPI, 2Bliss Ready, 29×2.3″
REAR TIRE Fast Trak, GRID casing, GRIPTON® compound, 60 TPI, 2Bliss Ready,
29×2.3″
Source: Specialized Bicycles
