Released March 12
Photo Credit: Specialized
Builds
6
Price Range
($4,884)–$14,500
Wheels
29″
Suspension
Full, 120 / 120mm
Frame Material
Carbon
Introducing the new Epic 8, the fastest XC race bike on the planet. We redefined the formula of fastest with double the capability, extra efficiency, and less mass.
The highs and lows of this model family
MSRP | ($4,884) | $7,000 | $9,000 | $14,500 | $5,000 | $8,500 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Spec Level | ||||||
Weight | 25.8 lbs | 24.5 lbs | 24.0 lbs | 22.6 lbs | 27.8 lbs | 26.7 lbs |
Fork | RockShox SID Select | RockShox SID Select+ | RockShox SID Ultimate | RockShox SID Ultimate | Fox Performance Float 34 | Fox Factory Float 34 |
Wheels | Aluminum | Carbon | Carbon | Carbon | Aluminum | Carbon |
Groupset | GX Eagle, SRAM | GX Eagle Transmission, X01 Eagle AXS | X0 Eagle Transmission, X01 Eagle AXS | XX1 Eagle AXS, X01 Eagle AXS | GX Eagle, SRAM | X0 Eagle Transmission, X01 Eagle AXS |
Drivetrain | 1 × 12 | 1 × 12 Electronic | 1 × 12 Electronic | Electronic | 1 × 12 | 1 × 12 Electronic |
Power Meter | None | None | Integrated | Integrated | None | None |
Suspension | Full | Full | Full | Full, Electronic | Full | Full |
Travel | 120mm rear, 120mm front | 120mm rear, 120mm front | 120mm rear, 120mm front | 120mm rear, 120mm front | 120mm rear, 130mm front | 120mm rear, 130mm front |
Where to Buy | $7,000 At Specialized | $9,000 At Specialized | $14,500 At Specialized | $5,000 At Specialized | $8,500 At Specialized |
Based on build material and quality level of the frame, fork, wheelset, groupset, suspension system, and more.
Wheels | 29″ | 29″ | 29″ | 29″ | 29″ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 603 | 597 | 598 | 610 | 628 | |
| 390 | 420 | 450 | 475 | 500 | |
| 1.55 | 1.42 | 1.33 | 1.28 | 1.26 | |
| 535 | 569 | 605 | 633 | 662 | |
| 370 | 390 | 410 | 450 | 500 | |
| 76.5 | 76.0 | 75.5 | 75.5 | 75.5 | |
| 92 | 92 | 95 | 110 | 130 | |
| 66.4 | 66.4 | 66.4 | 66.4 | 66.4 | |
| 52 | 46 | 44 | 42 | 42 | |
| 318 | 324 | 326 | 328 | 328 | |
| 687 | 716 | 747 | 778 | 811 | |
| 435 | 435 | 435 | 435 | 435 | |
| 1,117 | 1,147 | 1,179 | 1,210 | 1,243 | |
| 44 | 44 | 44 | 44 | 44 | |
| 117 | 117 | 117 | 117 | 117 | |
| 748 | 755 | 760 | 769 | 774 | |
Stem Length | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 |
Crank Length | 165 | 170 | 170 | 175 | 175 |
Handlebar Width | 750 | 750 | 750 | 750 | 750 |
🐐 Measurements listed in mm and degrees
Mar 12, 2024
Goodbye Brain, hello SWAT and Flight Attendant
Mar 12, 2024 · Guy Kesteven
Specialized’s cult favorite rowdy XC winner jumps up a whole weight category to burly downcountry, but does it still have the race speed our expert tester loved before?
Excellent tech taming longer, lower mainframe geometry
XC weight frame with punchy pedaling leaves trail competitors standing
Fox Factory Grip2 fork, Float shock and Transfer dropper
Puncture reducing rims and grippy T9/T7 Grid tires
Generous internal storage, SWAT stem and two bottle cage mounts
Nearly a kilo heavier than the previous Epic Evo Comp
Shock feels too firm at times
Limited rear tire space
Mar 12, 2024 · Tyler Benedict
The new Specialized Epic 8 gets lighter, faster & way more capable with tricky suspension tuning, more travel & clever carbon construction.
Mar 12, 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 12, 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 12, 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 12, 2024 · Dario DiGiulio
The Epic EVO gets a longer travel fork and a burlier build kit compared to its more XC race oriented sibling.
