The new Specialized Epic 9: 120 mm fully from 8.3 kg - the new super racer from California

The Specialized Epic 9 is set to continue a success story. On board its predecessor, the Specialized Factory Racing Team dominated the 2025 World Cup season in Cross Country. The Specialized racers took all three podium places at a World Cup event twice and Christopher Blevins won the overall standings with aplomb.

Epic rider Annika Langvad has held the record for the most wins at the legendary Cape Epic since this year and our BIKE tests also named the Specialized Epic 8 one of the best race fullys on the market.

The Epic has been winning medals at world level for over 24 years. Can you make a bike like this even better? You can - the developers were sure of it and just a few weeks after the press launch of the Epic 8, they began experimenting with the evolution to the Epic 9.

Specialised Epic 9 in detail

• Area of application: Cross Country / Marathon
• Suspension travel: 120 / 120 mm
• Wheel size: 29"
• Frame material: Carbon
• Weight of complete bike: from 8.39 kg
• Frame weight (incl. shock), size M: from 1589 g
• Complete bike price: from 6999 euros
• Special features: Flex pivot, size-specific chainstay lengths

Bye bye Epic World Cup & Epic Evo

Until now, Specialized has provided the Epic with an efficient lightweight specialist called the Epic World Cup and a lightweight trail bike under the Epic Evo label. This is over for the 2026 model year. Instead of three bikes, there is now just one: the Specialized Epic 9 is intended to combine the strengths of all its predecessors.

The development engineers asked a central question: "What brakes racers?" The answer was as clear as the problem. The new Epic simply had to be even lighter, more efficient and more capable. A team of up to 30 people worked together to achieve these goals. High goals. But they had all already been responsible for the Epic 8 and therefore knew the starting point very well. And perhaps they even knew what could still be achieved.

Lighter is better

"Mass is the enemy of performance" - under this motto, the aim was to remove every superfluous gram from the new Specialized Epic 9. Nevertheless, the radical diet should not have any negative effects on the riding characteristics.

For a frame including a size M shock and all screw hardware, etc., the Californians state a weight starting at 1589 grams. A total of 206 grams could be saved compared to the Epic 8 - a reduction of around 14 per cent. On the other hand, the race bike says goodbye to the storage compartment in the down tube. Instead, a new Swat box mounted on the bottle cage is used, which can be removed if required.

The carbon layup of the seat tube is now dependent on the frame size in order to offer every rider the optimum ratio of stiffness and weight. The upper suspension of the rocker link has been moved to the top tube, which shortens the linkage. As a result, the forged aluminium link weighs just 57 grams (minus 25 percent) and even the hardware has been reduced by a further 10 grams (minus 13 percent). Even the rear wheel axle has been designed ten per cent lighter.

Thanks to particularly high-quality carbon fibres, the frame of the S-Works version weighs around 120 grams less than the frame of the standard Epic. According to Specialized, the Epic 8 was "over-engineered" in parts. Compared to its predecessor, Specialized claims to have been able to reduce the weight of the Epic 9 in the following areas:

• Main frame: -110 g
• Main pivot point: -15 g
• Seat tube: -17 g
• Rear triangle: -37 g

The most capable Epic of all time

Modern cross-country courses are brutal, technical and fast. Mistakes happen, cautious racers don't make it onto the podium and crashes cost you victory. That's why it was the declared aim of the developers to make the Specialized Epic 9 even more superior.

The race bike retains 120 millimetres of travel at the front and rear, but comes with new kinematics. The Americans have chosen a lower gear ratio, slightly more anti-squat and claim to have reduced friction in the system by eleven per cent.

The result is a linear characteristic curve with a pronounced initial progression. This is expected to provide more efficient support when pedalling and improved traction. At the same time, the proven control in the mid-travel range and the end progression of the Epic 8 should be retained.

Unlike most manufacturers, Specialized does not rely on standard components when it comes to forks and shocks, but has employed its own suspension development team called Ride Dynamics for many years.

Like the Epic 8, the Specialized Epic 9 also relies on a three-stage damping platform, which has been adapted for the new model year. The company's own tune for the middle setting has been completely remodelled and, compared to the factory Rockshox setting, offers more damping for the rider input range when pedalling and less damping beyond that. The "Magic Middle Mode" is designed to offer the right setup for as many riding situations as possible.

Geometry fine-tuning

The Specialized Epic 8 already had a pretty radical geometry for a cross-country race fully. The new Epic 9 is based on proven dimensions, but has been given a few new features. For example, Specialized is saying goodbye to the XS frame size and now covers the previous size range with just four frame sizes.

The stack has been reduced in size S to fit smaller riders, while the value increases significantly in size XL to reduce the saddle rise and give the rider a slightly more energy-saving position. The reach is slightly longer in all sizes.

A flip chip is also back on board the Specialized Epic 9. In the slack setting, the head angle is still a progressive 65.9 degrees. The bottom bracket has been raised slightly for more ground clearance in this setup.

The seat angle is now also slightly steeper. However, the biggest geo-update concerns the chainstays. Their length is now designed for specific sizes and increases from 435 millimetres in size S to 442 millimetres in size XL.

The devil in the detail

Like its predecessor, the Specialized Epic 9 comes with a lifetime warranty and, as with all other Californian fullys, customers are entitled to a set of new bearings every year if required.

The new Epic is also approved for a 130 mm fork and shock with a larger air volume. However, the rear triangle can no longer be pimped for more travel, as was still possible with the Specialized Epic 8 Evo. The new rear triangle now offers more tyre clearance for muddy rides. The bottom bracket is bolted via the BSA standard. Naturally, two bottle cages fit into the frame triangle.

The frame of the Specialized Epic 9 only works with wireless drivetrains, as there is no longer any routing for shift cables. All bikes below S-Works level now also rely on cable routing through the headset.

Models and prices

At market launch, Specialized is offering the Epic 9 from Expert level upwards. Even more affordable options could follow later. The S-Works version comes with the super-lightweight Roval Control World Cup wheels (991 grams per set) and Rockshox Flight Attendant system.

A frameset will also be part of the portfolio - this will be offered exclusively as a set with Rockshox Flight Attendant suspension components.

The S-Works Ultralight option has a 110 millimetre stroke and is limited to 300 units worldwide. It achieves the dream weight of 8.39 kilos and thus weighs only around a third of some e-bikes.

For the dream weight, the bike relies on Trickstuff Piccola carbon brakes, a paint finish weighing just 20 grams and a special Rockshox SID suspension fork with unpainted magnesium casting, but has to make do without a power meter.

• Specialised S-Works Epic 9 - 14,999 euros
• Specialised S-Works Ultralight LTD - 13,999 euros
• Specialised S-Works Epic 9 frameset - 6999 euros
• Specialised Epic 9 Pro - 9499 Euro
• Specialised Epic 9 Expert - 6999 Euro

Conclusion on the new Specialized Epic 9

What could be better than a really light race bike? Specialized has put the Epic 9 on a diet and sharpened it up for racers. The result is an impressively light fully with the core competences of its high-performance predecessor. The further development is consistent and with this explosive mix, Specialized should once again be at the top of the list of World Cup favourites in 2026. - Jan Timmermann, BIKE editor