Which bike manufacturer actually builds the fastest race bike in the world? To answer this question, we invited the purchasable replica models of the top ten bikes from the first UCI MTB World Cup 2018 in Stellenbosch for a comparison test. Above all, the new Specialized S-Works Epic, Samuel Gaze's workhorse, has already shown in our test lab that the days of boredom are over. With the lightest frame weight including shock, Specialized shamelessly attacked the frames of the Scott Spark RC and Cannondale Scalpel Si - the two test winners from the previous year. The new Specialized also sets itself apart in terms of overall weight. Specialised S-Works Epic from the competition. It is the only bike in the test field that remains under the magic ten-kilo mark without pedals. Our pre-race test shows that no other bike can sprint through the steep climbs of the race course as easily as the Epic World Cup. But low weight is no longer a guarantee for a top position these days. Neither in the World Cup, nor in the BIKE test.
You can find these racefullys in the test:
- Cannondale Scalpel Si
- Canyon Lux CF SL Team Replica
- Focus O1E Max Team
- Scott Spark RC 900 World Cup
- Specialised S-Works Epic XX1
- Thömus Lightrider CF Trail XTR
- Trek Top Fuel 9.9 Race Shop Ltd.
You can download the detailed test of the fastest bikes in the world including laboratory measurement data, geometry data and test reports for € 1.99 below the article.
The race track and the bikes in the test
The race course in Nové Mesto is considered the most modern course on the World Cup calendar. Short climbs, extremely technical stone fields and daring jumps make the 3.7-kilometre circuit with its 180 metres of elevation gain extremely spectacular.
"The equipment of the bikes has become monotonous. With its Eagle groupsets, Sram took over sole dominance of premium bikes in 2018. Fortunately, the new XTR on the Canyon brings life back into the game. Cannondale is setting the tone for suspension forks with the new Lefty." (Stefan Loibl, BIKE test editor)
