The All-New Epic 8
Evolution of the Fastest
The All-New Epic 8
Evolution of the Fastest
Evidence-Based Performance for Riders
Thank God Some Kids Stayed in Science Club
While you were cutting school to ride your bike, some kids stayed in science class. A few of those kids rode their bikes, too. They grew up to be members of Specialized Science Club, creating evidence-based performance for riders. The Ride Dynamics team is an elite part of Specialized Science Club that relentlessly focuses on holistically developing the chassis, geometry, kinematics, spring curves, and damping performance of our bikes to achieve a singular, elevated ride. Thank God, indeed.
Meet the team behind the creation of the all new Epic 8.
Evidence-Based Performance for Riders
Thank God Some Kids Stayed in Science Club
While you were cutting school to ride your bike, some kids stayed in science class. A few of those kids rode their bikes, too. They grew up to be members of Specialized Science Club, creating evidence-based performance for riders. The Ride Dynamics team is an elite part of Specialized Science Club that relentlessly focuses on holistically developing the chassis, geometry, kinematics, spring curves, and damping performance of our bikes to achieve a singular, elevated ride. Thank God, indeed.
Meet the team behind the creation of the all new Epic 8.
Capability
The Epic 8 punches way above its class, because as tracks get more technical, capability makes the difference between winning and crashing. On top of that, the more composed the bike in technical terrain, the more the rider can recover on the descents so they’re ready to attack on the next climb.
Capability
The Epic 8 punches way above its class, because as tracks get more technical, capability makes the difference between winning and crashing. On top of that, the more composed the bike in technical terrain, the more the rider can recover on the descents so they’re ready to attack on the next climb.
Progressive Geometry for Modern XC
Geometric Capability
The Epic 8’s progressive geometry delivers technical terrain capability alongside fast and efficient climbing and acceleration performance. The generous cockpit centers the rider on the bike for optimal traction and corner control. The low bottom bracket and slack headtube keep things composed in the rough.
Progressive Geometry for Modern XC
Geometric Capability
The Epic 8’s progressive geometry delivers technical terrain capability alongside fast and efficient climbing and acceleration performance. The generous cockpit centers the rider on the bike for optimal traction and corner control. The low bottom bracket and slack headtube keep things composed in the rough.
Specialized Ride Dynamics Tuned Dampers
Stay Tuned
Custom valving on the Epic 8 shocks and forks is developed together with the chassis, leverage rate, and kinematics, to elevate the ride of the bike beyond the sum of its parts.
Specialized Ride Dynamics Tuned Dampers
Stay Tuned
Custom valving on the Epic 8 shocks and forks is developed together with the chassis, leverage rate, and kinematics, to elevate the ride of the bike beyond the sum of its parts.
Set it and forget it, Goldilocks
The Magic Middle setting delivers support under pedaling and active suspension in the rough.
Under rider inputs, the dampers give more resistance, causing the shock to move less—providing more support for efficient pedaling.
When the trail gets rough, the suspension moves more freely to soak up bumps—delivering more control and a smoother ride.
It’s the best of both worlds for XC riders.
Specialized Ride Dynamics Tuned RockShox Flight Attendant
Free Your Mind. Focus On Fast.
The Specialized Ride Dynamics tuned RockShox Flight Attendant system frees your mind to focus on fast by simplifying decision making in the heat of the moment, instantaneously changing to the optimal Dynamic Trio setting. Flight Attendant leverages SRAM AXS Wireless technology to collect real-time data from you and the terrain to determine optimal compression settings to deliver an unmatched experience for the rider.
Specialized Ride Dynamics Tuned RockShox Flight Attendant
Free Your Mind. Focus On Fast.
The Specialized Ride Dynamics tuned RockShox Flight Attendant system frees your mind to focus on fast by simplifying decision making in the heat of the moment, instantaneously changing to the optimal Dynamic Trio setting. Flight Attendant leverages SRAM AXS Wireless technology to collect real-time data from you and the terrain to determine optimal compression settings to deliver an unmatched experience for the rider.
20% Less Pedal Bob"
The new Epic 8 is the most efficient pedaling suspension bike we’ve ever tested, while maintaining traction and absorbing bumps. By optimizing the kinematics of the suspension, Specialized Ride Dynamics was able to create a bike that reduces inefficient pedal-induced bobbing by 20%, maintains active suspension for effective bump force management, and ensures the rider remains in the most efficient pedaling position.
Push While the Field Suffers"
By instrumenting our bikes with accelerometers, we compare the forces coming into the bike at the wheels with the forces experienced by the rider. The new Epic 8 absorbs 12% more bump and vibration forces than the previous generation, leaving the rider less fatigued and more powerful over time. Additionally, because the bike soaks up the bump and vibration forces, the rider can recover from the last climb or stay in the saddle to power down.
Lightweight
Of course the new Epic 8’s are lighter than their predecessors. In fact, we shaved 76 grams off of the new S-Works while boosting efficiency and capability. On top of that, we added features like SWAT and steering stops. How’d we do it? Simple, obsessive attention to detail, engineering, and composites wizardry.
Lightweight
Of course the new Epic 8’s are lighter than their predecessors. In fact, we shaved 76 grams off of the new S-Works while boosting efficiency and capability. On top of that, we added features like SWAT and steering stops. How’d we do it? Simple, obsessive attention to detail, engineering, and composites wizardry.
Our Premium FACT 12M Carbon Fiber
Every Fiber of Our Being
Like parents, we’re quite proud of the bikes we’ve brought to life. And while it’s generally frowned upon to play favorites, we’d be lying if we said we weren’t most proud of the all-new S-Works Epic 8. One reason is the FACT 12M chassis, with its unrivaled composite materials laid up by hand in a painstaking and meticulous schedule to deliver unmatched stiffness and strength-to-weight stats.
Our Premium FACT 12M Carbon Fiber
Every Fiber of Our Being
Like parents, we’re quite proud of the bikes we’ve brought to life. And while it’s generally frowned upon to play favorites, we’d be lying if we said we weren’t most proud of the all-new S-Works Epic 8. One reason is the FACT 12M chassis, with its unrivaled composite materials laid up by hand in a painstaking and meticulous schedule to deliver unmatched stiffness and strength-to-weight stats.
Making every gram count means counting every gram.
Be Gone, Lazy Grams
While weight alone does not make a fast bike, it is true that mass is the enemy of performance. So we made sure to achieve our unreasonable weight targets, while wringing the maximum velocity from every gram.
Making every gram count means counting every gram.
Be Gone, Lazy Grams
While weight alone does not make a fast bike, it is true that mass is the enemy of performance. So we made sure to achieve our unreasonable weight targets, while wringing the maximum velocity from every gram.
Rider-First Engineered
Each Epic 8 frame size is optimized to the size riders who ride it. This isn’t just scaling tube sizes, it’s a ground-up engineering process that ensures every size rider gets the same excellent performance, all while eliminating any and all extraneous mass.
Rider-First Engineered
Each Epic 8 frame size is optimized to the size riders who ride it. This isn’t just scaling tube sizes, it’s a ground-up engineering process that ensures every size rider gets the same excellent performance, all while eliminating any and all extraneous mass.
Saves 24 grams
More Killer. No Filler.
Compression molding forward shock tabs is inefficient because it requires two individual compression molded tabs to be bonded onto the top tube. In our quest for optimization, we invented a way to bladder-mold and post-machine forward shock tabs as part of the Epic 8's top tube. This maintains a continuous fiber structure throughout and saves 24 grams out of the top tube alone.
Saves 24 grams
More Killer. No Filler.
Compression molding forward shock tabs is inefficient because it requires two individual compression molded tabs to be bonded onto the top tube. In our quest for optimization, we invented a way to bladder-mold and post-machine forward shock tabs as part of the Epic 8's top tube. This maintains a continuous fiber structure throughout and saves 24 grams out of the top tube alone.
Saves 11 grams
Ti Hardware
While we’re bragging about the S-Works, let us point out the titanium shock and linkage hardware that saves 11 grams. Told you we were obsessive.
Saves 11 grams
Ti Hardware
While we’re bragging about the S-Works, let us point out the titanium shock and linkage hardware that saves 11 grams. Told you we were obsessive.
Saves 38.5 grams
Shock Extension
Another piece of functional jewelry is the extremely light carbon shock extension on the S-Works that cut 38.5 grams. Shaving all that mass isn’t easy to do, but neither is training and racing for the “W”, so we figured we owed it to you.
Saves 38.5 grams
Shock Extension
Another piece of functional jewelry is the extremely light carbon shock extension on the S-Works that cut 38.5 grams. Shaving all that mass isn’t easy to do, but neither is training and racing for the “W”, so we figured we owed it to you.
A Helping of Features, Hold the Weight
Who Says You Can’t Get Somethin’ For Nothin’?
Well whoever said it is wrong, because with the Epic 8 you don’t need to spend a single gram to get mega capability, SWAT 4.0 to carry all your essential “stuff” in your downtube, and an integrated steering stop to prevent the ubiquitous top tube scar the first time you crash and your bars spin.
A Helping of Features, Hold the Weight
Who Says You Can’t Get Somethin’ For Nothin’?
Well whoever said it is wrong, because with the Epic 8 you don’t need to spend a single gram to get mega capability, SWAT 4.0 to carry all your essential “stuff” in your downtube, and an integrated steering stop to prevent the ubiquitous top tube scar the first time you crash and your bars spin.
Fastest for Downcountry
Epic 8 EVO
Epic 8 EVO models are special builds for riders who hunt downhill KOMs on monster loops. Speccing the same Epic 8 chassis with 130mm forks, bigger brakes, aggressive tires, riser bars and shorter stems, EVO models are singletrack-devouring machines like the world has never seen.
Fastest for Downcountry
Epic 8 EVO
Epic 8 EVO models are special builds for riders who hunt downhill KOMs on monster loops. Speccing the same Epic 8 chassis with 130mm forks, bigger brakes, aggressive tires, riser bars and shorter stems, EVO models are singletrack-devouring machines like the world has never seen.
Progressive Geometry for Downcountry
Geometric Capability
The Epic 8 EVO’s slacker geometry delivers stable and confident descending with fast and efficient climbing. The more neutral cockpit places the rider in a position favoring long days on the bike, through rougher terrain.
Progressive Geometry for Downcountry
Geometric Capability
The Epic 8 EVO’s slacker geometry delivers stable and confident descending with fast and efficient climbing. The more neutral cockpit places the rider in a position favoring long days on the bike, through rougher terrain.
Two Positions, Pick Your Poison
Epic 8 EVO’s Dynamic Duo
Specialized Ride Dynamics provided a custom, dialed tune to awaken Epic 8 EVO models to slay downcountry terrain. There is no middle ground. And so, there is no Magic Middle on the EVO dampers, just Wide Open and Sprint-On-Lock settings.
Two Positions, Pick Your Poison
Epic 8 EVO’s Dynamic Duo
Specialized Ride Dynamics provided a custom, dialed tune to awaken Epic 8 EVO models to slay downcountry terrain. There is no middle ground. And so, there is no Magic Middle on the EVO dampers, just Wide Open and Sprint-On-Lock settings.
Specialized Ride Dynamics provided a custom, dialed tune to awaken Epic 8 EVO models to slay downcountry terrain. There is no middle ground. And so, there is no Magic Middle on the EVO dampers, just Wide Open and Sprint-On-Lock settings.
Specialized Ride Dynamics provided a custom, dialed tune to awaken Epic 8 EVO models to slay downcountry terrain. There is no middle ground. And so, there is no Magic Middle on the EVO dampers, just Wide Open and Sprint-On-Lock settings.
Which Epic Is Right For You?
Which Epic Is Right For You?
Tires Worthy of the Epic Name
Your Ride Depends On This
All the technology built into a bike isn’t worth a hill of beans if the contact of the tire to the ground is compromised. The first product to hear the Specialized brand was a tire, and since then Specialized tires have delivered an optimized combination of rolling resistance, flat protection, and grip.
Tires Worthy of the Epic Name
Your Ride Depends On This
All the technology built into a bike isn’t worth a hill of beans if the contact of the tire to the ground is compromised. The first product to hear the Specialized brand was a tire, and since then Specialized tires have delivered an optimized combination of rolling resistance, flat protection, and grip.