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From the Specialized news room:
Take a look around our office and you're going to see plenty Epics—most of them wearing dropper posts, wider tires and bars, and slightly longer forks. That's because the Epics that we're Frankensteining are not only fast off the start line, they're even better suited to masochistically long rides, multi-day stage races, and fast backcountry missions.
At some point, we looked around and said to ourselves, “We should offer this bike, right out of the box, right?”
So we did.
This isn't to disparage today’s "standard" Epic, which upped the XC ante with a truly progressive geometry and a smoother, more responsive Brain shock. The Epic EVO, however, features the same efficient and lightweight chassis, albeit with some features for, well, bigger features. You're going to find a fork with 120mm of travel, a dropper post, wider bars, and meatier tires, so you'll get some much-needed control when you’re redlining it, or for when the dreaded bonk is on the horizon and nothing but steep, chunky bits of trail loom before you.
Can you race this thing? Absolutely. The EVO still tears a race course to ribbons, but it’s also perfectly equipped for high-speed, backcountry missions. Think of it as a more “epic” Epic.
Better Traction & Manueverability
The trail suddenly takes a plunge. In a split second, every fiber of your being focuses on cleaning the kind of descent that keeps emergency rooms humming. The last thing you need to be wrestling with, right now, are tires that skimp on traction or a saddle that’s higher than Everest. That’s why we equipped all of our Epic EVO models with dropper posts, as well as a set of durable, traction-packed 2.3-inch Ground Control and Fast Trak tires.
More Control & Comfort
Suspension isn’t a one-size-fits-all proposition. A little longer fork goes a very long way when you're deep into a ride. You know, when your energy is flagging and the trail keeps throwing rocks and roots your way? That’s why we’ve equipped Epic EVO models with forks that have 120mm of travel. We also kept the handlebar height low and racey, while adding a bit of width to the bars (they now measure 750mm). So now, you get more comfort and control when and where you need it most.
A Smarter Brain
Brain-equipped shocks give you more control and more speed. They do that by knowing the difference between your pedaling forces and terrain forces. In other words, the Inertia Valve inside the Brain keeps the Epic’s suspension firm when you’re pedaling over smooth terrain, and then it allows the suspension to become active the moment that things go from smooth to rough. And since last year, the Epic family has had our smartest Brain shock to date.
The reinvented Brain has been moved closer to the axle, which makes for suspension that's even more responsive. Next, we reengineered the oil porting and flow paths to provide more consistent damping and performance. And finally, we switched over to a bladder system and made the Inertia and Spike Valves mainstays on the new Brain. End result? The smoothest suspension out there is even smoother, and its firm setting is even firmer.
This is also among our first Rider-First Engineered™ MTB frames, where the tubes place complex carbon pieces in all the right places, regardless of the frame size. As a result, stiffness is increased in the front-end for a vast improvement in the ride and in control. And to go along with this, each frame size has size-specific tubes that result in the stiffest, best-riding XC bike we've ever developed.
And while stiffness, Brain technology, and geometry features are cool and all, we know what you’re thinking, "What about the weight?” We’re glad you asked. The weight- savings on the frame is equivalent to shedding a chainstay and shock extension from the previous Epic—nearly 525 grams. And now, carbon models also feature additional tire clearance to accommodate wider, 2.3-inch tires. More traction, ultimately, equals more speed. The build of the Epic Expert EVO meshes shredability with dependability and value, featuring a 12-speed SRAM GX Eagle groupset, SRAM Level TL brakes, and a hand-built Roval Control Carbon wheelset.
Specifications
CHAINSRAM GX Eagle, 12-speed
BOTTOM BRACKETSRAM DUB, threaded BB
CRANKSETTruvativ STYLO, DUB
SHIFT LEVERSSRAM GX Eagle, trigger, 12-speed
CASSETTESRAM GX Eagle, 12-speed, 10-50t
CHAINRINGSSRAM Eagle, 32T
REAR DERAILLEURSRAM GX Eagle, 12-speed
FORKFOX Step-Cast 34 Performance series, GRIP damper, 44mm offset, 15x110mm Kabolt thru-axle, 120mm of travel
REAR SHOCKCustom RockShox Micro Brain shock w/ Spike Valve, AUTOSAG, 51x257mm
FRONT HUBSpecialized, sealed cartridge bearings, 15x110mm spacing, 28h
REAR HUBSpecialized, sealed cartridge bearings, 12x148mm thru-axle, 28h
INNER TUBESPresta, 60mm valve
SPOKESDT Swiss Industry
RIMSRoval Control Carbon, 25mm internal width, tubeless-ready
FRONT TIREGround Control, GRIPTON® compound, 60 TPI, 2Bliss Ready, 29x2.3"
REAR TIREFast Trak, GRID casing, GRIPTON® compound, 60 TPI, 2Bliss Ready, 29x2.3"
SADDLEBody Geometry Phenom Comp, hollow Cr-Mo rails, 143mm
SEATPOSTX-Fusion manic, 30.9mm, (S: 100mm, M-XL: 125mm)
STEMSpecialized XC, 3D-forged alloy, 4-bolt, 6-degree rise
HANDLEBARSSpecialized Alloy Minirise, 10mm rise, 750mm, 31.8mm clamp
GRIPSSpecialized Sip Grip, half-waffle, S/M: regular thickness, L/XL: XL thickness
FRONT BRAKESRAM Level TL, hydraulic disc
REAR BRAKESRAM Level TL, hydraulic disc
PEDALSSpecialized Dirt
SEAT BINDERAlloy, 34.9mm
FRAMESpecialized FACT 11m, XC Geometry, Rider-First Engineered™, threaded BB, 12x148mm rear spacing, internal cable routing, 100mm of travel
* Specifications are subject to change without notice
Look out for the new Specialized Epic EVO at a store near you. for more info visit: https://www.specialized.com/us/en/epic-expert-evo