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 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 has always been defined by obsessive commitment to speed. Well, that and over 100 World Cup wins and podiums too.A Smarter BRAINTrue 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-ChangerRedesigned with a focus on efficient power transfer and better handling performance, the S-Works Epic 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 XX1 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.
Frame: S-Works FACT 12m Carbon, Progressive XC Race Geometry, Rider-First Engineered™, threaded BB, 12x148mm rear spacing, internal cable routing, 100mm of travel
SWAT: SWAT Box, Bottle cage EMT Tool cradle, EMT Topcap Chain tool
Rear Shock: RockShox-Specialized BRAIN, Rx XC Tune, 5 Position Platform Adjust, Rebound Adjust, Integraded Extension, 265x52.5mm
Fork: RockShox SID SL ULTIMATE BRAIN, Top-Adjust Brain damper, Debon Air, 15x110mm, 44mm offset, 100mm Travel
Stem: S-Works SL, alloy, titanium bolts, 6-degree rise
Tape: Specialized Trail Grips
Handlebars: S-Works Carbon XC Mini Rise, 6-degree upsweep, 8-degree backsweep, 10mm rise, 760mm, 31.8mm
Saddle: Body Geometry S-Works Power, carbon fiber rails, carbon fiber base
Front Brake: SRAM Level Ultimate, 2-piston caliper, hydraulic disc
Rear Brake: SRAM Level Ultimate, 2-piston caliper, hydraulic disc
Shift Levers: SRAM Eagle AXS Rocker Paddle
Rear Derailleur: SRAM XX1 Eagle AXS
Cassette: Sram XG-1299, 12-Speed, 10-52t
Chain: SRAM XX1 Eagle
Crankset: Quarq XX1 Powermeter, DUB, 170/175mm, 34t
Chainrings: 34T
Bottom Bracket: SRAM DUB, BSA 73mm, Threaded
Rims: Roval Control SL, Carbon offset design, 29mm internal width, 4mm hook width, Tubeless ready, 24h
Front Wheel: WH-Control SL 29 6B 148 XX1 OS;FS
Rear Wheel: WH-Control SL 29 6B 148 XX1 OS;FS
Front Hub: Roval Control SL, DT Swiss Internals, Ceramic Bearings, 6-bolt, 15mm thru-axle, 110mm spacing, Torque caps, 24h straight pull
Rear Hub: Roval Control SL, DT Swiss 180 Internals, DT Swiss Ratchet EXP, Ceramic bearings, 12mm thru-axle, 148mm spacing, 24h straight-pull
Spokes: DT Swiss Aerolite T-head
Front Tire: Specialized S-Works Fast Trak, S-Works Casing, T5/T7 Compound, 29x2.35
Rear Tire: Specialized Renegade, Control Casing, T5 Compound, 29x2.35
Inner Tubes: Specialized Turbo Tube
SeatPost: RockShox Reverb AXS, 30.9mm, S/M: 125, L-XL:150,
Pedals: PEDAL, TEST RIDE PEDALS PROVIDED BY SPECIALIZED
Seat Binder: Specialized Alloy 34.9, Titanium Bolt