It’s lighter and sharper, but the bigger story is how one bike replaces the brand’s XC lineup.
Specialized, Zac Williams
Specialized has enjoyed plenty of success in the two years since the Epic 8 launched. In that time, the bike has claimed nine World Cup XCO wins across the elite men’s and women’s fields, along with two XCC World Championships under Victor Koretzky.
In the ultra-competitive modern era of XC racing, the Epic 8 came as close to dominance as any bike can realistically expect. When it launched, it raised eyebrows with progressive geometry that pushed the limits of what was considered an XC bike. It also followed Scott’s Spark RC in moving to 120 mm of suspension front and rear, placing it beyond the previous generation Epic Evo in outright capability.
Even now, the Epic 8 remains one of the more rounded and capable XC bikes on the market. While some rival platforms are beginning to look a little dated, Specialized’s current race bike still feels highly relevant.
Given how XC bike releases typically revolve around Olympic cycles, as was the case with the Epic 8, it feels both too soon and out of sync for the Epic 9 to be making its debut perfectly in between the Paris and Los Angeles Olympic Games. But rather than replacing an outdated platform, Specialized has instead chosen to move early – consolidating its Epic range around a new, lighter, and more race-focused bike.
Did we do a good job with this story?