Skip to main content
Specialized bicycles logo

THE NEW EPIC HARDTAIL

THE GAME CHANGER

Cross-country racing has always been a battle of grams—a contest to see who can build the lightest machine. The Epic Hardtail flips the bird at that hoary convention. Yes, you’re looking at the lightest production hardtail to date, but the new Epic Hardtail is a hell of a lot more than that. This is the most capable and comfortable XC race bike ever.

EXPLORE THE NEW SPECIALIZED EPIC HARDTAIL

AMAZINGLY LIGHT

The Epic Hardtail sets a new standard in capability and comfort, and it does all that while also being the lightest production frame on earth. We optimized every inch of this frame, fine tuning the fiber and resin mix as well as custom shaping every ply to eliminate unnecessary overwrap. We even ditched the aluminum inserts in the rear dropouts. End result? A remarkable frame that tips the scales at less than 800 grams (S-Works, Size Medium.)

RIDICULOUSLY CAPABLE

Cross-country courses have grown rougher, so Specialized made the Epic Hardtail more capable. It starts with all-new geometry. Taking a page from the trail bike playbook, Specialized slackened the head angle to 68.5 degrees, reduced the fork offset, increased reach and moved to shorter (60-75 millimeter) stems on all frame sizes. End result? The Epic Hardtail retains a short wheelbase for deft handling, yet it offers more predictable steering and a more centered rider position for increased control.

MORE VERSATILE THAN EVER BEFORE

The new Epic Hardtail has boosted tire clearance, letting you take full advantage of wider-volume tires on more challenging tracks. It's equipped with a 30.9-millimeter seatpost, which gives you the option to run longer-travel dropper posts for even more maneuverability and control on technical sections.

TUNED FOR COMFORT. TUNED FOR SPEED.

A fatigued you is not a fast you. That’s a simple fact, yet history is littered with ultra-light and ultra-harsh XC bikes. Specialized fine- tuned the composite lay-up and tube shaping to make the new Epic Hardtail more forgiving...and even faster. Smaller diameter seatstays, for example, increase vertical compliance. Ditto for the new arced seat tube design that offers as much vertical compliance as the previous, smaller-diameter seat tube, yet plays nice with all sorts of dropper posts.

SIMPLE, RELIABLE, AND UTTERLY BADASS.

The Epic Hardtail is a World-Cup-caliber race rocket that’s also hassle free. There are no proprietary, bolt-on bits and pieces to fret over. And yep, there’s a threaded bottom bracket here as well. Proven, reliable, and utterly badass.

TAKE A SPECIALIZED EPIC HARDTAIL FOR A TEST RIDE TODAY