S-Works Epic 8
A 29″ carbon frame electronic full suspension trail bike with ultra high-end components.
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Manufacturer Price
$14,500Weight | 22.6 lbs |
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Frame | Carbon |
Suspension | Full, Electronic, 120 / 120mm |
Fork | RockShox SID Ultimate |
Shock | RockShox SIDLuxe Ultimate |
Wheels | 29″ Carbon |
Drivetrain | Electronic |
Groupset | XX1 Eagle AXS, X01 Eagle AXS |
Power Meter | Integrated |
Brakes | Hydraulic Disc |
Seatpost | Dropper |
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.
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Mar 2024
Goodbye Brain, hello SWAT and Flight Attendant
Mar 2024 · Guy Kesteven
With an Olympics to win 2024 is going to be a big year for XC bikes. Specialized has thrown down a serious challenge to the rest of the pack with its ultra-tech, ultra-fast, and freaky fun S-Works Epic 8
Superlight sub-1,800g frame with awesome geometry
Stiff, tough and practical enough to ride really hard
New kick-ass pedaling kinematics
Up to 1.7 liters of internal storage
Ultimate SRAM/RockShox AXS XC equipment
Excellent Specialized/Roval wheels, tires, and finishing kit
High tech is high-cost
Flight Attendant means more batteries, whirring, and weight
Mar 2024 · Tyler Benedict
The new Specialized Epic 8 gets lighter, faster & way more capable with tricky suspension tuning, more travel & clever carbon construction.
Mar 2024 · Simon Kohler, Robin Schmitt
We tested the 2024 Specialized Epic 8 EVO. But what is the big brother of the XC race bike capable of? Read on to find out.
More confidence inspiring than the Epic 8
Short-travel bike with an integrated storage compartment
Shock tune
Lack of comfort on rough gravel roads
Mar 2024 · Guy Kesteven
Specialized’s new S-Works Epic 8 is possibly the fastest XC MTB ever made and definitely the most high tech. It’s not just the latest RockShox Flight Attendant Ai suspension that makes it radically rapid. This rad new superlight but steezy racer is also fully loaded with the ultimate race spec. It joins the Epic 8 Evo as one of two new Epics launched by Specialized; we’ve got all the details on both new Specialized Epics right here if you want to check out the details, prices and spec. I’ve also had the chance to ride the Epic 8 Evo, and witness first hand the bike’s transition from XC race machine to down-country weapon, check it out right here. Specialized S-Works Epic 8 Need to know Sub 1,800g yet impressively stiff 120mm travel XC frame RockShox SID Ultimate Flight Attendant Ai suspension technology Progressive XC race/downcountry geometry Top line SRAM AXS SL transmission with power meter Superlight Specialized/Roval wheels and kit High volume internal storage and titanium bolts Epic is in it’s eighth generation as Specialized’s flat out full suspension race bike. Epic 7 had already been overtaken by the slacker, longer travel but lighter Epic 7 Evo as the World Cup winning weapon of choice for the Specialized pro team. No surprise then that Epic 8 is effectively a progressive evolution of the Evo then, with a 66.4º or 65.9º head angle, 75.5º seat angle, 15mm longer reach (475/480mm in large) and 120mm of rear wheel travel to match the fork. The S-Works frame also uses top spec 12M carbon fibre, a carbon shock linkage and titanium bolts to keep it one of the lightest race frames available, at 1,795g for frame and conventional SIDLuxe shock. That’s 150g more than the previous ultra light Evo but the bigger, stiffer down tube now has full SWAT internal storage. You also get chainstay and belly armour, a removable steering stop and fully plumbed head tube routed controls. Suspension The S-Works is the first production bike to debut with the latest version of RockShox’s Flight Attendant Ai suspension. This uses sensors in the SID Ultimate fork, SIDLuxe Ultimate shock, Quarq XX SL power crank, XX SL rear mech and XX shifters to build a comprehensive ride ‘picture’. It then automatically switch the fork and shock between open, pedal and lock modes depending on incoming impacts, bike orientation, pre-emptive shift signals and rider referencing ‘effort states’. You also get a RockShox Reverb AXS seat post to complete the wireless kit out. With the hoses of the Level Ultimate Stealth 4 pot brakes hidden by the bars, the one piece Roval SL down swept ‘stem’ carbon bars look super clean as well as being very light and stiff. That also describes the sub 1,300g Roval Control SL rims, but the Specialized FastTrack and Renegade tyres use a tougher Control carcass than the ultralight S-Works options used on the Epic World Cup. You also get proper Trail grips and a comfortable Body Geometry S-Works Power saddle, …Continue reading »
• Superlight yet impressively controlled and practical frame
• Automatic Ai suspension
• Perfect race componentry
• Premium performance comes at a premium cost
• Flight Attendant is bound to be an opinion divider
Mar 2024 · Marco Toniolo
Specialized presents the new Epic 8, and with it the Evo version, i.e., the one with more travel. The number can only bring to mind the Tarmac 8, unveiled last year, effectively aligning two of the California brand’s most beloved models. Once again, the race version of the Epic differs greatly from the “downcountry” version, but, contrary to what happened in 2020, the Epic 8 Evo is unlikely to be used in competition instead of the Epic 8, which you see in the photo below. In fact, the latter already has 120/120mm of travel, forgoes the Brain in favor of
Mar 2024 · Dario DiGiulio
The Epic EVO gets a longer travel fork and a burlier build kit compared to its more XC race oriented sibling.
Mar 2024
Featuring an all-new carbon frame and an increase in travel, the latest Specialized Epic EVO has morphed into a lightweight trail ripper.
Plush & effective short travel suspension package
Compliant ride quality
Impeccable geometry
Highly competent build kit
New generation SWAT storage
Mechanic-friendly frame furnishings
Fox shock bottom-out issue
Dropper post needed rebuilding
Not available in alloy
Frame | S-Works FACT 12m Carbon, Progressive XC Race Geometry, Rider-First Engineered™, SWAT downtube storage, threaded BB, 12x148mm UDH compatible rear dropout, internal cable routing, 120mm of travel, Optimized for wireless drivetrain and seatpost BB Standard: BSA, 73mm, Threaded Hanger Standard: UDH Colors: Gloss Carbon / Metallic Vivid Pink/viavi Magenta Gold/metallic Midnight Shadow/white; Gloss Carbon / Astral Blue/electric Green/cyan Edge Fade/metallic White Silver |
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Fork | RockShox SID ULTIMATE Flight Attendant, Ride Dynamics developed 3 position, Debon Air, 15x110mm, 44mm offset, 120mm Travel Travel: 120mm Spring Type: Air |
Shock | RockShox SIDLuxe ULTIMATE Flight Attendant, Ride Dynamics developed 3 position, Solo Air, 190x45mm Travel: 120mm Spring Type: Air |
Bottom Bracket | SRAM DUB, BSA 73mm, Threaded |
Handlebar | Roval Control SL Integrated cockpit, 60mm X- 12 degree integrated stem, 8-degree backsweep, 1 degree upsweep, 760mm wide |
Saddle | Body Geometry S-Works Power, carbon fiber rails, carbon fiber base |
Seatpost | RockShox Reverb AXS, 30.9mm, S/M: 125, L:150, XL: 170mm Type: Dropper |
Grips | Specialized Trail Grips |
Rear Derailleur | SRAM XX SL Eagle AXS |
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Crank | SRAM XX SL Eagle Power Meter Crankset, 170mm/175mm, Alloy 34T |
Power Meter | SRAM XX SL Eagle Power Meter Crankset, 170mm/175mm, Alloy 34T |
Shifters | SRAM AXS POD Ultimate Controller |
Cassette | SRAM XX Eagle SL 10-52t |
Chain | SRAM XX SL Eagle |
Brakes | Front: SRAM Level Ultimate Stealth, 4-piston caliper, hydraulic disc, 180mm rotor, Rear: SRAM Level Ultimate Stealth, 4-piston caliper, hydraulic disc, 160mm rotor Type: Hydraulic Disc |
Rims | Roval Control SL, Carbon offset design, 29mm internal width, 4mm hook width, Tubeless ready, 24h, Quarq TyreWiz 2.0 |
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Spokes | DT Swiss Aerolite T-head |
Front Hub | Roval Control SL, DT Swiss Internals, Ceramic Bearings, 6-bolt, 15mm thru-axle, 110mm spacing, Torque caps, 24h straight pull |
Rear Hub | Roval Control SL, DT Swiss 180 Internals, DT Swiss Ratchet EXP, Ceramic bearings, 12mm thru-axle, 148mm spacing, 24h straight-pull |
Tires | Front: Specialized Fast Trak, Control Casing, T7 Compound, 29x2.35, Rear: Specialized Renegade, Control Casing, T5 Compound, 29x2.35 |
Last updated May 11