Epic World Cup Expert

• THINK FASTER:

The Epic World Cup is the fastest XC race bike in the world on smooth to technical courses thanks to its unmatched combination of efficiency, control, and lightness. World champion Christopher Blevins put it this way: “This bike gives me everything I could want from a hardtail, plus the control and capability of full suspension.” All it took to create this competition machine was a fully integrated development approach, the creation of a new shock concept, and four decades of Cross-Country race-winning experience.

• A NEW BENCHMARK:

To deliver maximum speed through unprecedented power transfer efficiency and precise handling, our engineering team set and achieved new standards in torsional stiffness and bottom bracket stiffness. This goal required an integrated development approach that fused a structurally superior double diamond design with its shock nestled inside the top tube, topped off with the most sophisticated carbon layup in Specializeds history.

• A NEW FORM OF SUSPENSION IS BORN:

The Specialized Ride Dynamics team conceived and invented a revolutionary shock technology for the Epic World Cup that provides riders with the efficiency and responsiveness of a hardtail PLUS the control, capability, and momentum of full suspension, all with simple setup.

Co-developed with RockShox, the SID Deluxe WCID shock uses independently adjustable positive and negative air chambers to offer the much sought-after “hardtail” feel, combined with terrain-eating damping and the ability to easily customize the setup for a specific course or adjust it to the rider’s preferences and feel.

Use the firm setting, and it will ride like a hardtail, or use the more active setting, and it will absorb every bump without losing efficiency or acceleration. But you’re not limited to just “open and closed”; the simple nature of its setup allows the rider to dial it anywhere between firm and plush.

– SURPASSING ITS OWN CATEGORY:

The Epic World Cups 75mm of rear travel provides the control and capability of a longer-travel bike. Since its designed to run with very low sag, it offers the same effective travel as a 100mm bike with 25% sag. To further optimize suspension performance, the Specialized Ride Dynamics team tuned the air spring to be relatively linear in the mid-stroke to absorb big hits like a longer-travel bike. Due to its large size, the Mega Jounce Bumper is an “industry first” and plays a crucial role in absorbing bottom-outs during hard impacts.

– HAVE WE LOST OUR HEAD? Something like that:

While the new revolutionary SID Deluxe WCID shock provides the unique combination of suspension and stiffness at the rear, the BRAIN is still alive and kicking up front. Its Position-Sensitive technology makes the first 15mm of travel extremely supple, keeping traction over small bumps, while the rest of the travel is firmer to avoid pedaling contamination. All this without the need for a remote lockout or lever.

– THE WEIGHT IS ABOVE:

With a frame weight of just 1,765 grams (painted, with shock and all hardware), the Epic World Cup outperforms the lightest of its competitors. It accelerates faster, climbs more efficiently, and handles better in any condition. All that translates to speed. We achieved the featherweight and monstrous stiffness of the Epic WC by applying what we learned in developing our Aethos, the lightest production road frame ever made, thanks to carbon ply distribution and tube shapes.

• The new Epic World Cup frame incorporates Ride Dynamics Developed suspension technology and 75mm of optimized rear travel. Thanks to its damping system, the Epic World Cup delivers unmatched pedaling efficiency and is ready for the most demanding descents, without the need for a remote lever to open and lock the shock.

• The SRAM GX drivetrain is built on what top riders need in terms of shifting performance and robustness, perfectly suited to the brutal demands of modern Cross-Country racing.

• The all-new SID SL BRAIN fork provides 110mm of performance, cushioning bumps while distinguishing between those from the ground or the rider to provide maximum efficiency.

• Descended from a long lineage of World Cup victories, the handmade Roval Control carbon wheels feature a modern hookless rim with a 29mm internal width that maximizes strength, ride quality, and durability, while keeping weight to a minimum.