The all-new Specialised Epic 8 debuted with two distinct iterations sharing the identical body. Each are extra succesful than their predecessors regardless of being lighter and extra absolutely featured, and the suspension is past spectacular.
I’ve put miles on each the top-of-the-line S-Works “race” model ($14,500) with the up to date Rockshox Flight Attendant and the EVO Professional mannequin ($8,500) with additional journey. Having gotten bonus miles on native trails with the EVO, and using each on the identical trails in Chile on the launch, listed below are my impressions and notes on their efficiency.
Epic 8 S-Works w/ Flight Attendant assessment
First up have been sizzling laps on the Epic 8 S-Works, on a course function constructed for XC coaching for native riders. It had lengthy climbs with loads of turns, punchy inclines, and techy bits. It additionally had flowing bermed descents with jumps and drops. In between have been a number of chunky, freshly reduce sections to mash by, burning the legs as we helped break in new tracks for the locals.
The Epic 8 dealt with all of it exceptionally properly. With a number of sponsored professionals ripping round to indicate us what it was actually able to, my very own efforts have been dwarfed, however the bike made probably the most of my comparatively low VO2 Max.
Using the Flight Attendant-equipped bike left lots to for the EVO mannequin to disclose concerning the new suspension, nevertheless it left nothing on the desk when it comes to efficiency.
Stand as much as climb and it simply launches ahead. Sit and hammer and it motors alongside, with the little electrical whir of the damping motors working their magic to make you quicker. These noises make it clear as day why the system is best at controlling your suspension than you or I ever might be. It occurs so typically, and so rapidly. There’s merely no approach any of us would use a distant change that usually, not to mention be capable to independently management fork and shock modes.
That mentioned, Flight Attendant is not any crutch. It’s not a Band-Support overlaying any weak spot. The Epic’s suspension works simply tremendous by itself. For racers who can afford it, Flight Attendant is wildly efficient and environment friendly, just like the sprinkles on the cake’s already scrumptious icing.
With XCO programs getting extra aggressive, that includes jumps and large drops, it made sense to extend the Epic’s journey to 120mm throughout. The additional squish within the again is welcome, smoothing the landings and serving to it by rock gardens (proven additional down).
The bike’s geo makes it simple to recover from the entrance to weight the tire. Which is nice as a result of the lighter XC tires on the non-EVO fashions benefited from being pushed somewhat tougher into the bottom.
In case you’re coming from a path bike, the Epic 8 will really feel nearly too mild. Relaxation assured, it’s prepared for something an XC race will throw at it, however there’s an adjustment interval the place you be taught to belief the bike and tires.
One experience is sufficient to realize it’s quick as hell, however not sufficient to grow to be one with it, so I skipped a number of of the bigger drops on this check circuit that I simply (and confidently) cleared the subsequent day on the EVO. Loads of different riders hit the whole lot, although, exhibiting the bike was greater than as much as it.
This rock backyard appeared function constructed for difficult each bike and suspension. So I made it my mission to see how rapidly I might smash by it.
The entry is simply previous that wood berm proven within the pic above this one, and it’s simple to keep up velocity and pedal straight into it. That effort would maintain the Flight Attendant agency till it hit the primary rock, after which it could open up sooner than I might inform, instantly providing full journey throughout the part.
So, the suspension labored, and the bike did a good job of holding its line by it, too. It additionally confirmed that the body is lots robust:
One one run, an enormous bump was sufficient to unclip my foot from the pedal, which triggered me to veer off my line, instantly into huge, square-edged rock. I went tumbling, and the bike tumbled onto the rocks proper behind me. There was a scratch within the rock, and I’d’ve had a pair scratches on me, however there wasn’t a single scratch on the bike.
In case you’re a racer, however available in the market for one thing with out Flight Attendant, maintain studying, as a result of my ideas on the EVO will reply extra questions on how good this suspension is…
2024 Specialised Epic 8 EVO assessment
Certainly, the Epic 8 EVO was extra enjoyable. The meatier tires and 10mm additional journey on the entrance finish had an outsized affect on my confidence. We hit larger, steeper, funner descents on it, but in addition needed to climb extra, longer, and steeper hills to earn these turns.
Regardless of having the identical body, the adjustments in element spec gave the Epic EVO a really totally different really feel. It’s price noting that the EVO switches to Fox suspension with a two-position rear shock reasonably than the three-position Rockshox SIDluxe on the race fashions.
These SIDluxe shocks get a customized tune known as “Magic Center”, the place the center “Pedal” mode makes use of broad open high-speed compression damping, identical because the “Open” mode, however with firmer low-speed compression damping to create a little bit of a platform. Mixed with bigger air quantity contained in the shock, this provides it effectivity whereas additionally with the ability to deal with huge hits.
Even with out that Magic Center setting, I used to be in a position to depart the Fox shock in “open” on a regular basis. It’s nonetheless customized tuned for this bike, and Epic 8’s kinematics are excellent. By no means as soon as whereas spinning (or grinding, or standing) up climbs did I really feel something misplaced to pedal bob. The bike simply climbs actually, rather well.
My assumption is that you just’d additionally spend most if not your entire time in “open” mode as a result of there’s little purpose to not, barring paved transfers between trails.
With the non-Flight Attendant-equipped “race” Epic fashions, I’d guess that Magic Center setting can be the place I’d spend all of my time. Perhaps put it into full “open” for lengthy descents, however with barely any penalty for forgetting to take action earlier than dropping in. Even Rockshox and Specialised each say the Magic Center is the place most riders will spend most of their time.
Which is a great distance of claiming, don’t sweat it for those who can’t afford Flight Attendant. It’s cool, however on no account does this bike depend on that expertise to ship extremely good suspension.
I had a number of additional rides on the EVO on native trails in Greensboro (XC) and Roanoke (huge trails at Carvens Cove). On my native XC stuff, the additional tire tread made its weight recognized, however these are additionally the paths the place I’d have most popular the race mannequin.
At Carvens Cove, the EVO was excellent. I normally experience 160/150 bikes right here with even larger tires, but I nonetheless logged my second quickest time on a preferred descent on the EVO. Sure, it felt a bit rougher than a much bigger path bike, nevertheless it proved the bike is up for some very quick, chunky trails, too. In case you experience huge stuff and like underbiking, right here ya go.
I like that Specialised stored the identical body between the 2 fashions. It primarily offers me two bikes in a single, assuming I’m keen to swap forks and tires as circumstances warrant.
The one difficulty I seen was somewhat build-up on the chainstay yoke. It by no means clogged up the tire, however I wasn’t using by extreme mud. You possibly can’t see it on this picture as a result of it’s coated with crust, however there’s a small rubber flap that retains sticks and issues from being thrown into the house between the entrance and rear triangles.
The draw back is {that a} small hole varieties when the suspension compresses, which permits small issues like grass or pine wants get pinched in there. They by no means triggered an issue, nevertheless it’s one thing to regulate and filter between rides.
The non S-Works frames are somewhat heavier, however including burlier spec for the EVO fashions rapidly will get the bike above “race weight”. My dimension XL EVO Professional with SRAM XO Transmission (w/ non-series cassette), Code brakes, Fox 34 Manufacturing facility fork, Float shock & Switch dropper, Roval carbon wheels with I9 hubs, Purgatory/Floor Management tires, the SWAT pouch contained in the downtube, and two bottle cages got here in at 28lb 3oz (12.69kg).
Claimed weight for a medium dimension w/o bottle cages is 26lb 11.5oz (12.12kg), probably additionally weighed w/o the SWAT pouch put in.
General, the brand new Epic 8 is a heckuva good bike. It’s a transparent and particular enchancment over the prior mannequin, which was additionally fairly good. The deletion of the BRAIN shock is an effective factor. The addition of a SWAT compartment is a superb factor.
That you may get the identical common suspension efficiency throughout the complete value vary can be an enormous profit. Get the mannequin you possibly can afford now, improve later realizing that you just’re not burning money on one thing that’ll by no means measure up.
In case you’re a racer, or a path rider that likes to go quick and get rowdy, the brand new Epic 8 is totally price a glance. Take a look at the complete line at Specialised.com.
A be aware on Specialised’s advocacy
This isn’t the primary time we’ve ridden recent trails at a Specialised Launch. As a part of their Soil Looking initiative, they steadily enhance native trails to showcase new fashions. Or, on this case, construct utterly new trails to assist create using alternatives in areas that want them.
That was the case right here, as they constructed and expanded singletrack in Matanzas, Chile. Just some ft from the ocean, these trails provide an intense loop that’s simple to lap then retreat to the seashore. Or head inland a bit to Maitén Bike Park (the place we examined the EVO) for larger trails and plenty of soar traces.
The world can be vastly standard for windsurfing and kiteboarding, with leases and classes out there. Meals and wine are nice, as are the Pisco Sours, which use a regional model of Pisco that’s scrumptious.
