The Speed Proven by 24 Years of Victories Evolves Further. Introducing the New Epic 9
Specialized unveils the new Epic 9 XC race bike, embodying 24 years of victories and innovation. With enhanced lightweight design and improved suspension performance, it maximizes rider propulsion and further evolves existing speed.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 30, 2026 at 21:15
- 🔍 Collected: April 30, 2026 at 13:01
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 30, 2026 at 13:07 (5 min after Collected)
Beyond the Fastest
The Epic 9 is the culmination of 24 years of XC innovation, victorious in World Cups, World Championships, and the Olympics. In the 2025 season alone, the Specialized Factory XC Team dominated the World Cup podium twice. Christopher Blevins secured overall titles in XCO and XCC, and ranked 1st in the UCI XC points standings. All achieved with the Epic 8. In other words, it was already fast enough. Yet, Specialized was confident they could create an even faster Epic.
To find that answer, the Specialized Science Club didn't ask, "What should the next Epic be?" Instead, they confronted the question, "What slows riders down?" It's the extra grams, wasted movement, disruptions on rough terrain, and subtle mistakes that cost seconds on the way to the finish line.
Product Manager Bryan Gordon explains: "The Epic 9 builds on 24 years of World Cup winning experience across eight generations, pushing for even greater performance. The reason the Epic 9 is the fastest XC race bike ever is its ability to convert rider energy into propulsion more effectively than ever before. At 1,589 grams*, it's the lightest full-suspension XC frame ever made. While maintaining the proven standards of the Epic 8, we've reduced suspension friction by 11% and refined the kinematics. We've enhanced efficiency, rideability, and sustained speed. Internal tests have demonstrated actual speed improvements on XC trails."
Who is "we," as Bryan refers to? It's the Specialized Science Club. An unparalleled development team comprising engineers, racers, and experts deeply knowledgeable in ride dynamics. Armed with cutting-edge science, objective empirical data, and relentlessly repeated testing, they integrate material science, geometry, kinematics, spring curves, and damping to elevate the ride to the next level. The Epic 9 is the fastest XC bike imaginable, born from the world's top talent seriously confronting "speed" and pushing the boundaries of performance.
*Weight includes M-size, carbon/white color, shock, seat collar, axle, and all hardware (down to water bottle bolts).
Weight is the Enemy of Performance
Front Triangle: -110 g, Main Pivot: -15 g, Seat Tube: -17 g, Rear Triangle: -37 g
The Epic 9 is the lightest full-suspension race bike ever made. The frame weighs 1,589 grams. It's 129 grams lighter than its closest competitor. The S-Works Epic 9 (M-size) has a complete bike weight of just 9.66 kg.
However, this story isn't just about "achieving the lightest weight." Lightweighting must simultaneously enhance efficiency, ride quality, and capability. Because a bike that is light but flexes, breaks, or behaves unstably is never fast. Under a strategy of uncompromising lightweighting, every frame shape was precisely modeled with FEA (Finite Element Analysis), every unnecessary thick area was minimized, and every joint was designed with a clear purpose. As a result, the Epic 9 sheds grams without losing a single watt of power transfer performance or sacrificing control.
Unrivaled Capability
Supple, smooth, and sharp. All at the same time.
Is such a thing truly possible? Lead Engineer Jason MacDonald answers: "The Epic 9 maintains its proven 120mm front and rear travel while achieving a more supple and smoother motion than ever before, thanks to an 11% reduction in suspension friction through a highly rigid link, pivot, and frame design. Furthermore, by lowering the leverage at sag, pedaling efficiency is improved, while the proven leverage curve from the Epic 8 is maintained from the bump zone to the end stroke. This ensures reliable shock absorption for large impacts while maintaining control. The result is stronger support during pedaling and a calmer, more consistent speed on rough terrain."
The flip-chip BB height adjustment mechanism allows tuning for either stability or clearance. The overall setting is slightly higher than the Epic 8, with the Low setting
The Epic 9 is the culmination of 24 years of XC innovation, victorious in World Cups, World Championships, and the Olympics. In the 2025 season alone, the Specialized Factory XC Team dominated the World Cup podium twice. Christopher Blevins secured overall titles in XCO and XCC, and ranked 1st in the UCI XC points standings. All achieved with the Epic 8. In other words, it was already fast enough. Yet, Specialized was confident they could create an even faster Epic.
To find that answer, the Specialized Science Club didn't ask, "What should the next Epic be?" Instead, they confronted the question, "What slows riders down?" It's the extra grams, wasted movement, disruptions on rough terrain, and subtle mistakes that cost seconds on the way to the finish line.
Product Manager Bryan Gordon explains: "The Epic 9 builds on 24 years of World Cup winning experience across eight generations, pushing for even greater performance. The reason the Epic 9 is the fastest XC race bike ever is its ability to convert rider energy into propulsion more effectively than ever before. At 1,589 grams*, it's the lightest full-suspension XC frame ever made. While maintaining the proven standards of the Epic 8, we've reduced suspension friction by 11% and refined the kinematics. We've enhanced efficiency, rideability, and sustained speed. Internal tests have demonstrated actual speed improvements on XC trails."
Who is "we," as Bryan refers to? It's the Specialized Science Club. An unparalleled development team comprising engineers, racers, and experts deeply knowledgeable in ride dynamics. Armed with cutting-edge science, objective empirical data, and relentlessly repeated testing, they integrate material science, geometry, kinematics, spring curves, and damping to elevate the ride to the next level. The Epic 9 is the fastest XC bike imaginable, born from the world's top talent seriously confronting "speed" and pushing the boundaries of performance.
*Weight includes M-size, carbon/white color, shock, seat collar, axle, and all hardware (down to water bottle bolts).
Weight is the Enemy of Performance
Front Triangle: -110 g, Main Pivot: -15 g, Seat Tube: -17 g, Rear Triangle: -37 g
The Epic 9 is the lightest full-suspension race bike ever made. The frame weighs 1,589 grams. It's 129 grams lighter than its closest competitor. The S-Works Epic 9 (M-size) has a complete bike weight of just 9.66 kg.
However, this story isn't just about "achieving the lightest weight." Lightweighting must simultaneously enhance efficiency, ride quality, and capability. Because a bike that is light but flexes, breaks, or behaves unstably is never fast. Under a strategy of uncompromising lightweighting, every frame shape was precisely modeled with FEA (Finite Element Analysis), every unnecessary thick area was minimized, and every joint was designed with a clear purpose. As a result, the Epic 9 sheds grams without losing a single watt of power transfer performance or sacrificing control.
Unrivaled Capability
Supple, smooth, and sharp. All at the same time.
Is such a thing truly possible? Lead Engineer Jason MacDonald answers: "The Epic 9 maintains its proven 120mm front and rear travel while achieving a more supple and smoother motion than ever before, thanks to an 11% reduction in suspension friction through a highly rigid link, pivot, and frame design. Furthermore, by lowering the leverage at sag, pedaling efficiency is improved, while the proven leverage curve from the Epic 8 is maintained from the bump zone to the end stroke. This ensures reliable shock absorption for large impacts while maintaining control. The result is stronger support during pedaling and a calmer, more consistent speed on rough terrain."
The flip-chip BB height adjustment mechanism allows tuning for either stability or clearance. The overall setting is slightly higher than the Epic 8, with the Low setting