Next Level Racebike
Specialized Epic 2024 Review

The new 2024 Specialized Epic delivers the upgrade to 120mm of travel and a dropper post without any weight penalty. At a total weight of 10.4 kilograms, Specialized proves that cross-country race rigs can retain a featherweight profile despite modern geometry.

The trend among race bikes is unmistakable: increased suspension travel, dropper posts, and wide tires are transforming the once spartan sports machines into trail marauders. Nino Schurter and the Scott Spark RC kicked off this trend back in 2020. Bikes such as the Orbea Oiz, Mondraker F-Podium, and even the Rose PDQ have since cemented it.

And Specialized is also laying to rest its classic 100mm race full-suspension with the new 2024 Epic. If you want to keep it absolutely sporty, Specialized still gives you the option of the Epic Worldcup. However, aside from this cross between a fully and a hardtail, there is no longer a classic 100mm race full-suspension in the lineup. The new Epic features 120mm of suspension travel front and rear. The Epic Evo, which used to have 120mm of travel, now rolls on the trails with a 130mm fork.

The trend is undeniable: More and more brands are exclusively opting for 120mm of travel on their race bikes and are letting the purist 100mm class die out. These bikes are pushing the trend forward:

Modern race bikes with 120mm of travel and dropper posts offer a significantly wider range of uses compared to the spartan racers of the past. This is also evident in our Race Bike System Comparison.

There has been one pill to swallow if you wanted to follow the trend: the weight of such modern race bikes has increased significantly. Even top-specced modern full-suspension race bikes often weigh over 11 kilograms.

The table clearly shows that Specialized does not accept this fact and is declaring war on weight. Even with the additional weight of an electronic suspension system, the total weight remains well under 11 kilograms, setting a benchmark especially in frame weight.

These figures are manufacturer specifications. All other weights have been determined by us during our magazine testing.

For all those reluctant to adjust to the added heft of race rigs, Specialized delivers more than just a glimmer of hope with the new Epic. The bike packs all the modern features without tipping the scales into zones racers find unacceptable. The foundation of its feathery weight is, of course, the frame.

We stripped the bike down to its bones and weighed the frame without the shock, but with rubber protectors, at just over 1680 grams. And that weight is even more astonishing considering that the frame possesses all the features that, according to the competition, are supposed to add a significant amount of weight.

The threaded bottom bracket, steering stop limiter, and the storage compartment access are notorious for not being the lightest options in frame construction. Yet, despite these features, the new Epic frame is the lightest full-suspension frame we’ve ever weighed.

For comparison: Canyon’s Lux Trail also incorporates all these features and with 115mm of travel, but tips the scales well over 2000 grams. Mondraker’s F-Podium also exceeds 2000 grams. Cervelo’s ZFS-5 frame weighed only 20 grams more in our test but lacked a storage compartment, steering stop limiter, came with just 100mm of travel, and was coated with just a whisper of clear coat. It’s clear: When it comes to frame weight, Specialized is playing with fire.

Details such as the titanium damper hardware or the carbon shock extension illustrate the commitment to save weight at every possible turn. Specialized has never simply outsourced their carbon manufacturing to a Far Eastern supplier. An unusual move in the industry, which is now paying dividends.

Continuous involvement in the development of carbon manufacturing has afforded the Americans access to manufacturing technologies offering a critical competitive edge in the relentless quest to shave off the last gram. This was already evident in our test of the Turbo Levo SL and it becomes evident once more here.

For instance, the front shock mount is not, as is typically the case, bonded to the top tube, but rather laminated with it. This results in minimal weight savings, yet we’re talking about a battle for technological supremacy. With the Epic, Specialized aims to make a resounding statement about which R&D department is currently swinging the biggest hammer.

The second component in achieving the insanely great total weight lies in the tires and wheels. The complete wheelset with tires, brake rotors, and cassette weighs just 3500 grams. Even with narrower rims and tires, most other manufacturers can’t touch this number.

The Specialized tires are developed by a German team and roll like hell. However, they also feature a paper-thin sidewall that’s not known for its puncture resistance. At air pressures below 1.5 bar, other tires also stand a bit more firmly on the rim. But during our test, we didn’t experience a single flat. If you do get a pinch flat, there’s at least a lifetime warranty on the wheelset. This shows a confidence in their product.

As you take a closer look at the full bike, an astonishing fact becomes evident. Apart from the suspension, drivetrain, and brakes, Specialized creates all other components in-house. SRAM and Rock Shox are the sole third-party providers on the bike. Due to Specialized’s extensive development in every aspect, the American company can make more consistent choices than other brands.

When the decision is made in Morgan Hill to focus on weight reduction, they go all-in on lightweight construction, from the rims and handlebars to the frame, without compromise.

When it comes to weight, Specialized leaves no stone unturned. But the Americans are also setting new standards in another area. The new Epic with 120mm is the first production bike to feature Rock Shox’s new Flight Attendant suspension system.

With the latest Epic, they’re saying goodbye to the Brain Technology on the fork and shock, instead relying on electronic assistance to breathe maximum efficiency into the suspension system. At least for the top-end model. All other Epic versions come with a traditional handlebar lockout operated by a Bowden cable.

How the suspension works in detail, its weight, and its range of adjustment settings, we’ll delve into in a separate article. It would indeed be too much to cover here. But what became apparent during our test is that the electronic version outperforms the Brain forks and shocks, which always struggled with a certain amount of stiction.

The Flight Attendant suspension is a self-learning system. It doesn’t just lockout, but also adds a mid-stroke platform, should it recognize you’re looking to efficiently progress through the terrain. It’s not just electronic for the sake of electronics, but also superior in function to a mechanical Brain.

And after the setup, it performs its job really quite unobtrusively and reliably. You do have to charge a few more batteries, and it weighs about 140 grams more than a mechanical lockout system. However, you essentially get a Quarq power meter included at no extra cost and you don’t have to spare a thought for your suspension setup during a race or on the trail. More information can be found in our detailed Flight Attendant article.

Even in terms of geometry, Specialized scores points for its in-depth development. Each of the 5 offered frame sizes features a different bottom bracket height. This demonstrates that sizes are not simply scaled up or down from an average value on a computer, but are independently developed. The 65.9-degree head angle in the low setting of the Flip Chips is noticeably slacker than on the previous Epic Evo.

On the trail, the bike indeed shows a very stable ride. Even when the pace picks up, it oozes confidence. On tight, twisty XC courses, many racers will opt for the “High” geometry setting to navigate through tight chicanes more nimbly. In this case, the head angle is half a degree slacker and the wheelbase is slightly shorter overall. It’s great to have this option.

The top tube measures at 633 millimeters in size L, which is a tad longer than other race bikes, but it’s well offset by the short stem. Even with the handlebars mounted all the way down, the seating position remains a bit more upright because of the 120mm fork, as opposed to what you’d expect from 100mm race bikes.

After extensive field-testing on a variety of terrains and tracks, it’s evident: This bike is a single, cohesive unit. Both handlebars and saddle offer excellent ergonomics. The electronic SRAM shifting and seatpost perform flawlessly. With the knowledge that SRAM’s 2-piston brakes aren’t screamers, they equipped the Epic with a factory-installed 4-piston braking system. The automatic suspension and spirited acceleration truly evoke an ‘aha’ moment on the trails.

When climbing with the Specialized, you get transported back to the days when race full-suspension bikes tipped the scales below 11 kg. And that feeling is awesome! Descending, the bike sets a new benchmark for an Epic, one that even the old Epic Evo didn’t reach. Especially noteworthy is that both front and rear offer 120 mm of travel—undoubtedly a factor in the bike’s more balanced feel compared to other race bikes with less rear travel. No matter how long and hard you scour for flaws in the new Epic S-Works, you simply won’t find any.

Innovative breakthroughs come at a price. The S-Works iteration of the new Epic will set you back well over 14,500 €. It’s far from a steal, but it not only showcases the cutting edge of lightweight construction but also elevates trail and race course performance to a new echelon with its electronic suspension system. The more affordable versions primarily cut corners on the suspension setup.

The Epic is available in 5 different builds ranging from €5,200 to €14,500. We’ve looked into all the options. Using the arrow icon , you can pull each model into comparison with any other bike from our comprehensive market overview.

We’ll share insights on what matters in race bikes and how to properly assess the weight of a race bike in our race bike buying guide.

The Epic Evo will continue to be part of the lineup, now boasting a 130 mm of travel. It’s being relaunched alongside the new Epic and features some exciting updates. As for a classic 100 mm full-suspension, Specialized no longer offers one. For those who find the new Epic too downhill-oriented, Specialized has developed the Epic Worldcup.

This model is conceived with a shock with high lock-out force, straddling the line between full-suspension and hardtail. It targets racers with its mere 75 mm of rear travel, for those willing to forego all comforts. Equipped with a rigid seatpost, a 110 mm fork including the Brain system, it achieves a total weight of 9.5 kg.