The Specialized Epic 8 dominated both the Men’s Elite UCI Short Track and Cross Country calendar last year under Christopher Blevins, and if we follow the trends, this new Specialized Epic 9 should be quite a bit faster, and it looks to be blending the Epic 8 and Epic World Cup frames into one thoroughbred race machine. Epic 9 reflects 24 years of XC innovation, with a legacy of victories at the World Cup, World Championships, and Olympics.
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The Specialized Science Club aimed to identify riders’ hindrances by asking, “What slows riders down?” rather than “What should the next Epic be?” They found unnecessary weight, wasted movements, and small errors on rough terrain that break flow and waste seconds.
Epic 8 Meets Epic World Cup
The Epic 9 shares the same 120mm of front and rear travel as the Epic 8 and pairs it with the aesthetics and frame design of the Epic World Cup to create the holy trinity of modern XC: plush, supple, and sharp. But how the heck is that even possible? “Epic 9 retains the proven 120mm travel front and rear, but it’s more plush and supple thanks to a robust link, pivot, and frame design that reduces suspension friction by 11%,” Says Jason McDonald, the Lead Engineer behind the Epic 9. “We also lowered leverage at sag to improve pedaling efficiency, while matching Epic 8’s proven leverage curve through the bump zone and end stroke to maintain control and manage big impacts. The result is more support when you pedal and more composed speed when it gets rough.”
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Specialized Bicycles
Tech & Weight
Specialized says that the Epic 9 is the lightest full-suspension race bike ever made. A lofty claim, but at 1,589 grams, Specialized says that the Epic 9 frame is 129 grams lighter than the nearest competitor. However, Canyon says the Lux World Cup CFR is 1,535 grams, but they dont specify if that includes anything.
The Epic 9 frameset (medium) is 1,589 grams with shock, seat collar, axle, and all hardware, including water bottle bolts. Which is pretty damn light. The production S-Works Epic 9 Ultralight LTD model barely tips the scale at 8.5 kg (18 lb 14 oz) in size medium.
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Blending the suspension layout of the Epic WC and Epic 8 reduces leverage rate at sag, increasing support and improving pedaling efficiency and traction. This matches the Epic 8’s curve through the bump zone (mid-stroke) and bottom-out (end-stroke), maintaining control as the terrain gets rough, and in big impacts, resisting bottom-out.
The Epic 9 retains the Epic 8’s three-position rear-shock damping (Wide Open, Magic Middle, Sprint‑On‑Lock), now with lower-friction pivots and updated kinematics. The Magic is in the Middle. This middle setting provides a stable pedaling platform by using tuning that requires more force than typical pedaling to activate suspension movement. It also offers active suspension under bump forces because, after overcoming the initial “knee,” the Magic Middle setting features digressive damping. This allows more suspension travel on similar bump magnitudes, greatly enhancing comfort and control under pressure.
Some schools of thought think that stiffness and lightness alone are the key ingredients for speed. Specialized challenged that with the Epic 8, and it seems they were onto something. The Epic 9 chassis indeed has stiffness to convert every watt into forward momentum, but efficiency involves more than just stiffness – especially on modern XC courses. It includes keeping the rider in the ideal pedaling position, minimizing pedal bobbing, and active suspension to absorb bumps, which reduces fatigue.
The efficiency of Epic 9 isn’t based on a single feature; it’s a system. Kinematics, leverage, chassis behavior, and damper performance all work together because the fastest bike isn’t the one that feels rigid in a parking lot. It’s the one that lets you keep putting power down and navigate the tech stuff.
Geometry
The bottom bracket is marginally higher than on the Epic 8 but stays lower than most others. Paired with the slack head tube, it offers stability on rough terrain while allowing you to aggressively corner, glide through turns, or select the inside line.
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Large and XL sizes have increased stack heights, based on Body Geometry fit data and rider feedback, to provide proportional reach adjustments for a balanced riding posture. The flip‑chip BB‑height adjustment lets you customize for greater stability or clearance. The default setting is slightly higher than the Epic 8, enhancing pedal clearance and making the low position more practical. Frame size influences chainstay length for better handling: 435mm for S/M, 438mm for L, and 442mm for XL.
| S | M | L | XL | |
| Stack | 594 mm | 604 mm | 618 mm | 645 mm |
| Reach (Low) | 420 mm | 450 mm | 480 mm | 505 mm |
| Reach (High) | 425 mm | 455 mm | 485 mm | 510 mm |
| Head Tube Length | 92 mm | 105 mm | 120 mm | 150 mm |
| Head Tube Angle (Low) | 65.9º | 65.9º | 65.9º | 65.9º |
| Head Tube Angle (High) | 66.3º | 66.3º | 66.3º | 66.3º |
| BB Height | 333 mm | 335 mm | 335 mm | 335 mm |
| BB Drop (Low) | 42 mm | 40 mm | 40 mm | 40 mm |
| BB Drop (High) | 37 mm | 35 mm | 35 mm | 35 mm |
| Trail | 120 mm | 120 mm | 120 mm | 120 mm |
| Fork Length (Full) | 531 mm | 531 mm | 531 mm | 531 mm |
| Fork Offset | 44 mm | 44 mm | 44 mm | 44 mm |
| Front Center | 716 mm | 752 mm | 788 mm | 823 mm |
| Chainstay Length | 435 mm | 435 mm | 438 mm | 442 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1,148 mm | 1,184 mm | 1,223 mm | 1,264 mm |
| Top Tube Length, Horizontal | 568 mm | 601 mm | 634 mm | 666 mm |
| Standover Height | 749 mm | 755 mm | 757 mm | 764 mm |
| Seat Tube Length | 390 mm | 410 mm | 455 mm | 505 mm |
| Seat Tube Angle | 76.0º | 76.0º | 76.0º | 76.0º |
| Seat Post Max Insertion | 190 mm | 220 mm | 260 mm | 315 mm |
| Seat Post Min Insertion | 80 mm | 80 mm | 80 mm | 80 mm |
| Saddle Height (Target) | 690 mm | 735 mm | 780 mm | 825 mm |
Builds and Pricing
| Pricing | USD | EUR | AUD |
| S-Works Epic 9 | $15,250 | €14,499 | $22,500 |
| S-Works Epic 9 Ultralight LTD | $14,500 | €13,999 | $20,900 |
| S-Works Epic 9 Frameset | $7,000 | €6,999 | $9,800 |
| Epic 9 Pro | $12,000 | €9,499 | $15,500 |
| Epic 9 Expert | $7,500 | €6,999 | $11,000 |
S-Works Ultralight
Specialized Bicycles
Specialized Bicycles
- S-Works FACT 12m Carbon Frame, 110mm travel
- RockShox SID SL Ultimate, 110mm travel, Ride Dynamics tuned
- RockShox SIDLuxe Ultimate, Ride Dynamics tuned
- SRAM XX Eagle AXS Transmission
- Trickstuff Piccola, 2-piston, Carbon lever blade, Ti hardware
- Roval Control World Cup, ceramic bearings, carbon spokes
- Specialized Air Trak (F & R), Flex Lite Casing, 29×2.35
S-Works
Specialized Bicycles
- S-Works FACT 12m Carbon Frame, 120mm travel
- RockShox SID Ultimate w/ Flight Attendant, 120mm travel, Ride Dynamics tuned
- RockShox SIDLuxe Ultimate w/ Flight Attendant, Ride Dynamics tuned
- SRAM XX Eagle AXS Transmission
- SRAM Motive Ultimate, 180mm (F), 160mm (R)
- Roval Control World Cup, ceramic bearings, carbon spokes
- Specialized Fast Trak (F) Air Trak (R), Flex Lite Casing, 29×2.35
Pro
Specialized Bicycles
- FACT 11m Carbon Frame, 120mm travel
- RockShox SID Ultimate w/ Flight Attendant, 120mm travel, Ride Dynamics tuned
- RockShox SIDLuxe w/ Flight Attendant, Ride Dynamics tuned
- SRAM X0 Eagle AXS Transmission
- SRAM Motive Silver, 180mm (F), 160mm (R)
- Roval Control SL VI carbon, DT Swiss 350 hub
- Specialized Fast Trak (F) Air Trak (R), 29×2.35
Expert
Specialized Bicycles
- FACT 11m Carbon Frame, 120mm travel
- RockShox SID Select+, 120mm travel, Ride Dynamics tuned
- RockShox SIDLuxe Select+, Ride Dynamics tuned
- SRAM GX Eagle AXS Transmission
- SRAM Motive Bronze, 180mm (F), 160mm (R)
- Roval Control SL V carbon, DT Swiss 370 hub
- Specialized Fast Trak (F) Air Trak (R), 29×2.35