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, keeping us up at night. Well, now our problems are over. Having tried it personally, I can say that we have the squaring the circle: a single bike, capable of satisfying those looking for a racing 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've 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 weren't a meager offering—in fact, both were excellent machines. But now the New Specialized Epic 9 it truly puts an end to this choice, encompassing in a single bike the best of what we had seen in previous versions.
True lightness, without sacrificing full
Now we have a wonderful feeling of leggerezza comfort and downhill skiing performance worthy of a true 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 1.6 kgNot bad at all.
120/120 mm that work better
Wonderful. 120 mm of travel at the front and as many at the rear, enhanced by a cart 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 cushion"that 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, unprecedented comfort and speed.
On the field: traction, precision, and "aggressiveness" coming out of the curve
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 my liking, 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 opened instantly.
On jumps, the bike never came apart: dava fiducia and he would unhesitatingly correct even the short landings I occasionally messed up on those wonderful but unfamiliar trails in the Astigiano region, which often caught me off guard. Finally, when exiting corners and on the pedaling, the combination electronics/chassis tanto forte!
S-Works Test: components that make the difference
The whole thing was seasoned with top-tier components: the test bike was indeed a spectacularly Epic 9 S-Works, i.e. the top-of-the-range setup, 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, the wheels 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 concretely noticeable both in terms of uphill speed in terms of precision and rigidity in descent.
Regarding the suspension, I think the 120 mm of the ant/post excursion and the 35 mm of stem diameter are now a valid and proven standard that we will not be going back from. On the Flight Attendant
Conclusion
In conclusion, I can say that we no longer have one bike geared toward marathon racing and another toward technical XC, but a single machine capable of excelling in both fields. The engineers at Specialized have truly hit the mark: less supply 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 why the 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
- Friction in the shock absorber reduced by 11% For greater control, traction, and stability at high speeds.
- Refined kinematicsmore speed per watt thanks to optimized leverage and theanti-squat.
- Integrated Ride Dynamics damping system three-position: Wide Open, Magic Middle and Sprint-On-Lock.
- Geometry fine-tuned with Body Geometry Fit data for a balanced mix of efficiency and control on modern XC trails.
*Size M, color Carbon/White, with shock absorber, collar, axle, and all hardware.
The lightest
Mass is the enemy of performance. With 1.589 gramsThe Epic 9 features the lightest full-suspension XC frame ever made. Every gram saved sharpens acceleration, improves handling, and boosts overall performance. watts per wattThis savings is noticeable everywhere: from the first pedal stroke 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.
"The thing I noticed most is its excellent ability to handle climbs. This will translate into speed in the race."
~ Christopher Blevins
The result is simple: less mass. More control. More speed everywhere.
Epic 9 is not just lighter: it's a complete system designed for maximum racing performance, where 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
- EPIC 9 SPORT, with SRAM S1000, RockShox Reba, €4,199.00