With World Cup cross country tracks becoming ever more technical, Specialized’s Epic 8 and Epic EVO 8 have been developed to meet that challenge.
The eighth generation Specialized Epic platform gets more travel, a slacker head angle and more room in the cockpit to help tackle the increasing technicality of World Cup cross country courses.
Travel jumps 10mm over the outgoing Epic 8 with rear wheel travel now at 120mm. Forks match this rear travel on the Epic but grow to 130mm on the Epic EVO 8. A new kinematic claims 12% more trail input will be absorbed, making the bike even faster across the ground.
On top of that the new frame is… Wait for it… 76 grams lighter than the previous model and now sports a SWAT box in the downtube. This is courtesy of the FACT 12M frame that has been compression moulded, Ti hardware and a shock extender.
The new Epic has a claimed 20% less pedal bob and 12% better bump absorption, making it even more efficient across the ground. On top of this, the Epic 8 will have three custom tuned options for the rear shock, Wide Open (WHEY!), Magic Middle and Sprint-On-Lock. The Epic EVO 8 drops the Magic Middle as you’ll either be on the up or on the down.
Both the Epic 8 and Epic EVO 8 are available in XS, S, M, L and XL sizes. Reach on the Medium Epic 8 is 450mm with a seat tube of 410mm. Head angle in Low is 65.9 degrees with a seta tube angle of 75.5 degrees. Chainstays are 435mm with a wheelbase of 1179mm.
The Epic EVO 8 gets a 5mm shorter reach at 445mm with the same 410mm seat tube length. Head angle is 0.4 degrees slacker at 65.4 degrees in Low with a seat tube angle of 75.1 degrees. Chainstays are the same 435mm with the wheelbase at 1183mm.
The Epic 8 range is four bikes strong, kicking off with the Epic 8 Comp at ยฃ4,250.00, rising to the S-Works Epic 8 at ยฃ12,000.00. The top tier S-Works Epic 8 features Rockshox’s new Flight attendant and Race Day 2 damper. There’s no S-Works or Expert Epic EVO, so you get the same Epic EVO Comp at ยฃ4,250.00, with the range topping at the Epic EVO 8 Pro at ยฃ8,000.00. An S-Works Epic 8 frame and an Epic EVO 8 Pro frame will be available at ยฃ5,500.00 and ยฃ3,500.00 respectively.
Specialized Epic 8 and Epic EVO 8 models
S-Works Specialized Epic 8
Key features:
- RockShox SID Ultimate Flight Attendant 120mm fork
- RockShox SIDLuxe Ultimate Flight Attendant shock
- SRAM XX AXS Eagle T-type 12-speed drive
- SRAM Level Ultimate Stealth brakes
- Roval Control SL carbon wheels
- RockShox Reverb AXS dropper
- ยฃ12,000.00 RRP
Specialized Epic 8 Pro
Key features:
- RockShox SID Ultimate 120mm fork
- RockShox SIDLuxe Ultimate shock
- SRAM XO AXS Eagle 12-speed drive
- SRAM Level Silver brakes
- Roval Control carbon rims on DT Swiss 350 hubs
- Bike Yoke Divine SL dropper
- ยฃ8,000.00 RRP
Specialized Epic 8 Expert
Key features:
- RockShox SID Select+ 120mm fork
- RockShox SIDLuxe Select+ shock
- SRAM GX AXS Eagle T-type 12-speed drive
- SRAM Level Bronze Stealth brakes
- Roval Control carbon rims on DT Swiss 350 hubs
- X-Fusion Manic dropper
- ยฃ6,000.00 RRP
Specialized Epic 8 Comp
Key features:
- RockShox SID Select 120mm fork
- RockShox SIDLuxe Select+ shock
- SRAM GX Eagle 12-speed drive
- SRAM Level Bronze Stealth brakes
- Specialized alloy wheels
- X-Fusion Manic dropper
- ยฃ4,250.00 RRP
Specialized Epic EVO 8 Pro
Key features:
- Fox 34 Factory 130mm fork
- Fox Float Factory shock
- SRAM XO AXS Eagle 12-speed drive
- SRAM Code Silver Stealth brakes
- Roval Control carbon rims on i9 1/1 hubs
- Fox Transfer Factory
- ยฃ8,000.00 RRP
Specialized Epic EVO 8 Comp
Key features:
- Fox 34 Performance 130mm fork
- Fox Float Performance shock
- SRAM GX Eagle 12-speed drive
- SRAM Code Bronze Stealth brakes
- Specialized alloy wheels
- X-Fusion Manic dropper
- ยฃ4,250.00 RRP
