The Epic World Cup is the fastest XC racing bike in the world on smooth to technical trails thanks to its unparalleled 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 victory experience.
To deliver maximum speed through unprecedented power transfer efficiency and very precise handling, our engineering team set and achieved new standards in torsional rigidity and bottom bracket stiffness. This goal required an integrated development approach that fused a structurally superior double diamond design with its shock cradled inside the top tube, and finished with the most sophisticated carbon layup in Specialized's history.
The Specialized Ride Dynamics team conceived and invented a revolutionary shock technology for the Epic World Cup that provides the rider with the efficiency and quick response of a hardtail PLUS the control, capability, and boost of full suspension, all with a simple setup.
Co-developed with RockShox, the SID Deluxe WCID shock uses independently adjustable positive and negative air chambers to deliver the sought-after "feel" of a hardtail combined with terrain-devouring damping, and the ability to easily customize the setup for a specific ride or adjust it to the rider's preferences and sensations.
Use the firm setting and it will roll 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 “open and closed,” the simple nature of its setup allows the rider to adjust it across the entire spectrum between firm and soft.
- OUTPERFORMING ITS OWN CATEGORY:
The 75mm rear travel of the Epic World Cup provides the control and capability of a bike with more travel. Because it is designed to work with a very reduced sag, it offers the same effective travel as a 100mm bike with a 25% sag. To further optimize suspension performance, the Specialized Ride Dynamics team has tuned the air chamber's rate to be relatively linear in the mid-stroke, thus absorbing big hits like a bike with more travel. Due to its large size, the Mega Jounce Bumper is an "industry-first" and plays a crucial role in absorption when bottoming out with hard impacts.
- HAVE WE “LOST OUR MINDS”? Something like that:
While the new and revolutionary SID Deluxe WCID shock provides the unique combination of suspension and stiffness at the rear, the BRAIN is still alive and kicking in the fork. Its Position-Sensitive technology makes the first 15mm of travel very soft to avoid losing traction on small bumps while the rest of the suspension behaves firmer to avoid pedaling contamination. All this without the need for a remote lockout or lever.
- WEIGHT IS ABOVE:
With a frame weight of just 1,765 grams (painted, with shock and all hardware), the Epic World Cup surpasses the lightest of its competitors. It accelerates faster, climbs efficiently, and handles better in any situation. All that translates to speed. We achieved the featherweight and monstrous stiffness of the Epic WC by applying what we learned from developing our Aethos, the lightest production road frame ever made, all thanks to carbon layup distribution and tube shapes.
> THE BEST FLEX IS NO FLEX <
The Epic World Cup frame features the 180-gram Roval Control SL seatpost, boasting unparalleled lightness, rigidity, and control at the World Cup level.
The components of the bicycles, as described on this page, are those specified by the manufacturer at the time of launch of a new product.
Please note that these components may be subject to change without notice by the manufacturer for other components of similar characteristics.
If you need to confirm the specifications of any component, we recommend you visit the manufacturer's official website or contact our customer service team.