Do you remember that TV show where a famous chef worked to turn around a struggling restaurant? The first thing he often did was simplify a menu which offered too many dishes and, as a result, only ended up complicating the restaurateur's organization and leaving the customer lost in a choice that always left them dissatisfied… Evidently, that chef has now landed at Specialized.
MTB XC of the well-known Morgan Hill brand was lost in the dichotomy Epic 8 / Epic WC squaring the circle: a single bike, capable of satisfying those looking for a race cross country mountain bike, but also for those who want an effective and fun way to technical XC trail
In recent years, since the two Epics coexisted, having used both extensively, I have spent many words helping customers choose: for
understand what their needs and competitive goals might be or
simply playful and guide them in the best direction.
Let's be clear: the two "old" bikes were not a meager menu; on the contrary, they were both excellent vehicles. But now the New Specialized Epic 9 truly puts an end to this choice, enclosing in a single bike the best we had seen in previous versions.
True lightness, without sacrificing full
lightness comfort and true downhill skiing performance full suspended XC. The weight has dropped significantly compared to the Epic 8, and you can feel it right away. The engineers at Specialized have refined everything and eliminated the superfluous, such as the scomparto sul tubo obliquonice, useful, but not essential in race use. The tubes are now thinner, the material reduced to a minimum but still well-structured. And that's how a full frame weighing only 1,6 kg. Niente male.
120/120 mm that work better
Meravigliose. 120 mm of travel at the front and the same number at the rear, enhanced by a trolley kinematics definitely smoother than in the past and works better on small bumps. The Flight Attendant in collaboration with this new frame seems to be particularly efficient. The feeling is of sitting on aair cushionthat floats over all the obstacles the terrain presents without ever hindering our pedal stroke, in fact migliorandone il rendimento.
So we can say that on climbs we enjoy the lightness of the WC, on descents the speed of the 8, and on rough terrain an unprecedented level of comfort and speed.
Sul campo: trazione, precisione e “cattiveria” in uscita curva
I had the pleasure of testing it extensively on real trails XCDespite the difficult and slippery terrain (it had just stopped raining that day), a few too many spacers under the stem for me, and an air track on the rear, the bike always showed aexcellent traction, without ever lightening the front end. Every obstacle, whether small or large, was diligently replicated by the suspension that the Flight Attendant
On jumps, the bike never came apart: inspired confidence and fearlessly corrected even the short landings I occasionally messed up on those trails in the Astigiano region, wonderful but unfamiliar to me and often catching me off guard. Finally, on exiting curves and while pedaling, the combination electronics/chassis tanto forte!
Test S-Works: components that make the difference
Everything was seasoned with top-tier components: the test bike was, in fact, a spectacularly stunning Epic 9 S-Works, i.e. the top-of-the-range setupsaddle, assembled with the best the market has to offer today. Among the various components, I feel it is necessary to say a few words about some of them: the saddle S-Works Power with Mirror technology Roval Control World Cup RockShox.
The saddle really surprised me with its comfort: it is truly suitable for off-road use and long, bumpy rides. The wheels are so light, stiff, and well-constructed that the benefits are clearly noticeable both in terms of climbing speed that in terms of precision and rigidity in descent.
Regarding the suspension, I think the 120 mm hiking pre/post and the 35 mm with a stem diameter that has now become a valid and proven standard from which we will not go back. On the Flight Attendant
Conclusion
In conclusion, I can say that we no longer have a bike geared toward marathon racing and one toward technical XC, but a single machine capable of excelling in both fields. The engineers at Specialized have truly hit the mark: less offer but more valid, semplificando la vita di distributori e acquirenti. Certo il conto è da ristorante iper stellato… ma anche il piatto!
After the sensations in the saddle, it's worth listing the technical data that explain perché Epic 9 it manages to combine lightness, efficiency, and descending capability in the same "package." It is, in essence, the next evolution of speed in cross-country: the lightest, fastest, and most high-performance XC bike ever made by Specialized, the result of 24 years of innovation and World Cup victories.
Epic 9 offers:
- The lightest full-suspension XC frame in the world with a weight of 1.589 g*, 206 grams less compared to the Epic 8.
- Friction in the shock absorber reduced by 11%
- Refined kinematicsmore speed per watt thanks to optimized leverage and theanti-squat.
- Integrated Ride Dynamics damping system in three positions: Wide Open, Magic Middle and Sprint-On-Lock.
- Geometry fine-tuned with Body Geometry Fit data
*Size M, color Carbon/White, with shock absorber, collar, axle and all hardware.
La più leggera
Mass is the enemy of performance. With 1.589 gramsThe Epic 9 has the lightest full-suspension XC frame ever made. Every gram saved sharpens acceleration, improves handling, and increases watts per wattThis savings is felt everywhere: from the first pedal to the final sprint.
La più capace
When speeds increase and trajectories become chaotic, the Epic 9 stays composed: reduced friction and refined kinematics ensure control exactly when you need it most.
"The bike becomes an extension of myself. The experience becomes autopilot."
~ Christopher Blevins
The most efficient
Nelle gare XC ogni watt conta. Epic 9 è progettata per non sprecare nulla: la forza impressa sui pedali si traduce direttamente in movimento in avanti, anche sui terreni più accidentati.
“La cosa che ho notato di più è la sua ottima capacità di affrontare le salite. Questo si tradurrà in velocità in gara.”
Christopher Blevins
The result is simple: less mass. More control. More speed everywhere.
Epic 9 is not just lighter: it is a complete system designed for maximum racing performance, where the frame, suspension, kinematics, and geometry work in synergy to convert effort into forward motion with unparalleled efficiency.
Together We Win.
Available setups (price list)
- S-WORKS EPIC 9, with SRAM XX SL, RockShox Ultimate Flight Attendant, €14,499.00
- S-WORKS EPIC 9 LTD UL, with SRAM XX SL, RockShox SL Ultimate, price to be defined
- EPIC 9 PRO, with SRAM X0, RockShox SID Ultimate Flight Attendant, €9,499.00
- EPIC 9 EXPERT, with SRAM GX, RockShox SID Select+, €6,999.00
- S-WORKS EPIC 9 FRAME, with RockShox Ultimate Flight Attendant, €6,999.00
- EPIC 9 COMP, with SRAM S1000, RockShox SID Select, €4,999.00
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EPIC 9 SPORT, with SRAM S1000, RockShox Reba, €4,199.00
author: DIEGO NOVARA