2022 Specialized
Epic Hardtail Comp
A 29″ carbon frame hardtail crosscountry bike with high-end components.
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Manufacturer Price
$3,200| Frame | Carbon |
|---|---|
| Suspension | Hardtail, 100mm |
| Fork | RockShox Reba |
| Wheels | 29″ Aluminum |
| Drivetrain | 1 × 12 |
| Groupset | GX Eagle, X1 |
| Brakes | Hydraulic Disc |
For This Bike
Based on build material and quality level of the frame, fork, wheelset, groupset, suspension system, and more.
Compare the full Epic model range
View Comparison5'2" – 5'8"
5'6" – 5'11"
5'10" – 6'3"
6'1" – 6'7"
🐐 Estimated
None yet.
Do you have this bike? Help other riders make a decision about which size will work for them by sharing your own size and fit notes.
Oct 2023 · Dave Rome
In believing that full suspension is always the faster choice in mountain biking, the Epic WC is Specialized’s replacement for its top-tier cross-country race hardtails.
Can be set to pedal like a hardtail
Is incredibly efficient on smooth surfaces
Dialled geometry
Lovely frame build quality
Good frame rigidity with no creaks or groans
No fiddly remote lockouts means an ultra-clean cockpit
Solid component spec choices with nice wheels and a powermeter.
Suspension can either feel choppy or have you wishing for a lockout
Poor headset sealing
Minimal weight advantage over a longer-travel full suspension
Brain-equipped fork still has a thunk
No dropper provided
SRAM Level brake lever feel and power.
Sep 2023 · Alan Muldoon
Who is the Epic hardtail for? That’s the question I posed to the product manager responsible for Specialized’s XC race bikes. His response was both honest and telling. “It’s for anyone that wants an XC bike, but can’t stretch their budget to get a full suspension bike.” Best cross country mountain bikes: reviewed and rated by experts And it makes perfect sense. At 10.68kg without pedals, the Epic Hardtail Comp is a really light 29er for the money. To get even close to that target weight with a full suspension bike you’d easily be looking at double that, which instantly rules out those bikes for a lot of riders. Need to know Lightweight 29er XC race hardtail designed of speed Fact 11m carbon frame with threaded BB and 148m dropout spacing RockShox Reba RL fork delivers 100mm travel SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain with full range 10-52t cassette The cockpit has a 60mm stem and 750mm bar to enhance control Four frame sizes: S – XL with entry-level bike for £3,300 And it makes perfect sense. At 10.68kg without pedals, the Epic Hardtail Comp is a really light 29er for the money. To get even close to that target weight with a full suspension bike you’d easily be looking at double that, which instantly rules out those bikes for a lot of riders. And weight is very important. XC racers are obsessed with it; their own, and that of the bike. And for good reason. Because for a given power output, lighter is always going to be faster when going uphill. In fact, that’s where I really noticed the benefits of the Epic HT over much heavier trail forced hardtails. The combination of the faster rolling tyres and reduced weight instantly lure you into a false sense of fitness, and before you know it you have your sights set on distant riders that you know you can easily pick off. Specialized S-Works Epic World Cup: first ride review That’s not to say the Epic HT is amazing on the climbs. Fast, yes, but you do need to stay focused, pick good lines and wrestle the front end quite a bit. And that’s primarily because the Epic HT has a short 425mm chainstay length and relatively slack 74.2º seat tube angle. Taken together, these dimensions give the bike a more rearward weight bias, which makes the front end on the Epic is pretty flighty when seated climbing, at least on steeper gradients. And if the climb is chunky, then the relatively skinny 2.35in Specialized Fast Trak/Renegade tyre combo means you need to be on your A game not to lose traction or get knocked off line. Power delivery is direct and purposeful though, and the 100mm travel RockShox Reba fork really limits how much of your energy gets lost in compressing the suspension with every downstroke of the pedals. Approach the top of the cassette and SRAM’s cable operated Eagle transmission has less even jumps than Shimano’s 12-speed cassettes, but shifting is …Continue reading »
Light, reactive ride. Nice damped feel to the carbon frame. SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain offers impressive performance
Shifter hits top tube. Cables rattle in frame. No dropper post. Geometry is dated
Apr 2023
An Epic blend of hardtail handling with control and capability of a full-suspension bike
Apr 2023 · Henry Quinney
In some ways the Epic World Cup isn't so much a full-suspension bike with a small dose of rear travel but rather a hardtail that happens to have 75mm of travel.
Dec 2022 · Sarah Bedford
Refined Specialized aesthetics are paired with a firm ride that converts leg power efficiently into speed
Lightweight build with a quality finish
Snappy acceleration
Fast-rolling tyres
Basic fork damper
Brakes can lack bite and power during urgent braking
Mar 2022 · Peter Walker
In our 2022 downcountry group test, we pitted the Specialized Epic EVO Expert against 5 of the hottest bikes of the season. Read the full review to find out what Specialized’s carbon rocket is capable of and where it stacks up against the competition. Hit the link for the full review and a list with all other bikes.
Super agile and playful downhill
Very composed
Intuitive handling
Rear suspension bobs in open mode and cannot be locked from the handlebars
Dropper remote requires strong fingers
May 2021
The 2021 Specialized Epic Comp delivers a fast, reliable ride that feels at home on the racecourse and the trails. The BRAIN suspension works brilliantly, and the updated geometry makes it extremely capable. However, despite the Comp being the cheapest Epic model in the range, it's still at a price point that makes it unaffordable to some, despite the more basic componentry.
Oct 2020 · Benjamin Topf
What happens when you take one of the lightest hardtail mountain bikes, add drop bars and send it off on a bikepacking trip? We did exactly that with the Specialized S-Works EPIC HT AXS Custom and tell you whether the concept works.
Acceleration
Best of the best components
Confidence-inspiring handling
Amazing concept for racers
Frame requires delicate treatment
Fork sags when you pedal standing up
| Frame | Specialized FACT 11m, Progressive XC Geometry, Rider-First Engineered™, threaded BB, 12x148mm rear spacing, internal cable routing BB Standard: BSA, 73mm, Threaded Colors: Satin Carbon / Oil / Flake Silver; Gloss Maroon / Ice Papaya |
|---|---|
| Fork | RockShox Reba RL, Motion Control damper, Solo Air, 42mm offset, 15x110mm thru-axle, 100mm of travel Travel: 100mm Spring Type: Air |
| Bottom Bracket | SRAM DUB, BSA 73mm, Threaded |
| Stem | 3D-forged alloy, 31.8mm, 7-degree |
| Handlebar | Specialized Alloy Minirise, 10mm rise, 750mm, 31.8mm clamp |
| Saddle | Body Geometry Power Sport, steel rails |
| Seatpost | Specialized Alloy, Single Bolt, 30.9mm Type: Rigid |
| Rear Derailleur | SRAM GX Eagle, 12-speed |
|---|---|
| Crank | SRAM X1 1000 Eagle, DUB, 170/175mm 34T, 34T |
| Shifters | SRAM GX, trigger, 12-speed |
| Cassette | SRAM XG-1275, 12-speed, 10-52t |
| Chain | SRAM NX Eagle, 12-speed |
| Brakes | Front: SRAM Level TL, 2-piston caliper, hydraulic disc, Rear: SRAM Level TL, 2-piston caliper, hydraulic disc Type: Hydraulic Disc |
| Rims | Specialized Alloy, Tubeless Ready, 25mm internal width, 28h |
|---|---|
| Spokes | DT Swiss Industry |
| Front Hub | Alloy, sealed cartridge bearings, 15x110mm thru-axle, 28h |
| Rear Hub | Alloy, sealed cartridge bearings, 148mmx12mm thru-axle, 28h |
| Tires | Front: Specialized Fast Trak, Control Casing, T5 Compound, 29x2.35, Rear: Specialized Renegade, Control Casing, T5 Compound, 29x2.35 |
Last updated April 29