Now available at Escapa: the Specialized S-Works Epic World Cup 23 frame from Specialized’s new 2023 Dual MTB collection
The Epic World Cup is the world’s fastest XC race bike on smooth to technical trails thanks to its unmatched 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 a full-suspension bike.” All it took to create this race machine was a fully integrated development approach, the creation of a new shock concept, and four decades of experience winning Cross-Country races.
FRAME SPECIFICATIONS:
To deliver maximum speed through unprecedented power transfer efficiency and highly precise handling, our engineering team set and achieved new standards in torsional stiffness and bottom-bracket stiffness. This goal required an integrated development approach that fused a structurally superior double-diamond design with a shock cradled inside the top tube, all topped off with the most sophisticated carbon layup in Specialized’s history.
A NEW FORM OF SUSPENSION IS BORN:
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 momentum of a full-suspension bike—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 much-sought-after “feel” of a hardtail, combined with terrain-devouring damping and the ability to easily customize the setup for a specific trail or adjust it to the rider’s preferences and feel. Use the firm setting and it’ll ride like a hardtail, or use the more active setting and it’ll absorb every bump without sacrificing efficiency or acceleration. But you’re not limited to just “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 Epic World Cup’s 75mm of rear travel provides the control and capability of a longer-travel bike. Because it’s designed to run with very little sag, it offers the same effective travel as a 100mm bike with 25% sag. To further optimize suspension performance, the Specialized Ride Dynamics team has tuned the air chamber to be relatively linear in the mid-travel range, allowing it to absorb large impacts like a longer-travel bike. Due to its large size, the Mega Jounce Bumper is an “industry first” and plays a crucial role in absorption when you hit hard impacts.
While the revolutionary new SID Deluxe WCID shock provides a unique combination of suspension and stiffness at the rear, Brain is still going strong in the fork. Its Position-Sensitive technology makes the first 15 mm of travel very smooth so you don’t lose traction on small bumps, while the rest of the suspension behaves more firmly to avoid compromising pedaling efficiency. All of this without the need for a remote lockout or lever.
THE WEIGHT IS ABOVE:
With a frame weight of just 1,765 grams (painted, with shock and all hardware included), the Epic World Cup outperforms even the lightest of its competitors. It accelerates faster, climbs more efficiently, and handles better in any situation. All of that translates to speed. We’ve achieved the Epic WC’s featherweight design and monstrous stiffness.
The new Epic World Cup frame features Ride Dynamics Developed suspension technology and 75 mm of optimized rear travel. Thanks to its suspension system, the Epic World Cup offers unmatched pedaling efficiency and is ready for the most demanding descents, without the need for any remote control to lock or unlock the shock.
The new Control SL seatpost is one of the lightest on the market, further reducing weight so riders can climb with less effort.
An all-new SID SL Brain fork delivers 110 mm of travel, automatically distinguishing between forces from the terrain and those from the rider to provide maximum efficiency.
