The Specialized Epic Hardtail Expert Mountain Bike is no longer available, although you may find similar or newer versions below.

With all of the growth in full-suspension XC bikes we found that hardtails were starting to become a little same old same old. So we thought to ourselves What better time then now to shake things up with a modern revolutionary design? Say hello to the Epic Hardtail Expert.

Its one of the lightest frames weve ever made tipping the scales around 1175g. And to do so we built the entire frame from our superlative FACT 11m carbon fibre and then we took some design cues from our road bikes.

We borrowed the Rider-First Engineered™ concept that originated with the Tarmac. Now the frame design applies specificity to every tube size and carbon layup for every frame size. This creates the optimal balance of rigidity weight and responsiveness so every frame regardless of size performs just as we intended. Weve also tweaked the geometry for more speed and stability by slacking-out the head tube lengthening the top tube and correcting the seat tube angle. This way it feels more planted then ever and frankly its stupid fast. We also widened the rear spacing to 12x148mm and included internal split-housing cable routing.

For the build this Epic Hardtail successfully balances value with performance with a custom-tuned RockShox SID fork with Brain SRAM GX Eagle™ 12-speed shifting and quick-to-accelerate Roval Control Carbon wheels.

By pairing a FACT 11m carbon fibre frame with our XC 29 Geometry this Epic places a focus on revolutionary tube angles and extremely light overall weight for explosive speed and nimble handling on the race circuit. For good measure we also gave it 148mm rear spacing and all-new triangulated post-mount brake mounts.

The Custom RockShox SID 29 w/ Brain fork provides 90/100mm of efficient travel. It features Brain technology that distinguishes between terrain and rider input in order to maximize your power while a Brain Fade adjusts the oil flow when not hitting bumps.

SRAMs 12-speed GX Eagle groupset with its 10-50t cassette provides a wide gear range that lets you spin up the climbs yet have plenty of top end for the descents. One-by setups also decrease weight and make it next to impossible to drop a chain.


FRAME
Specialized FACT 11m XC Geometry internal split-housing cable routing PF30 BB 12x148mm rear end triangulated post-mount 160mm brake

FORK
RockShox SID Brain 29 Solo Air 51mm offset 15x110mm thru-axle (S: 90mm of travel M/L/XL: 100mm of travel)

FRONT HUB
Specialized sealed cartridge bearing 15x110mm spacing torque caps 32h
REAR HUB
DT Swiss 350 Star Ratchet 36t engagement SRAM XD driver body 12mm thru-axle 148mm spacing 28h
SPOKES
DT Swiss Industry stainless 2.0
RIMS
Roval Control SL hookless carbon 25mm internal width tubeless-ready hand-built

INNER TUBES
Standard Presta valve
FRONT TYRE
Fast Trak GRIPTON compound 2Bliss Ready 29 x 2.3
REAR TYRE
Fast Trak GRIPTON compound 2Bliss Ready 29 x 2.1

CRANKSET
Truvativ Stylo 6K alloy Boost™ 148 175mm crankarm 30mm spindle
CHAINRINGS
SRAM Eagle™ alloy 32T
BOTTOM BRACKET
SRAM PF30
SHIFT LEVERS
SRAM GX Eagle trigger 12-speed
REAR DERAILLEUR
SRAM GX Eagle 12-speed
CASSETTE
SRAM GX Eagle 12-speed 10-50t
CHAIN
SRAM GX Eagle 12-speed w/ PowerLock®

FRONT BRAKE
SRAM Level TL
REAR BRAKE
SRAM Level TL

HANDLEBARS
Specialized Mini-Rise 7050 alloy 8-degree backsweep 6-degree upsweep 10mm rise 720mm width 31.8mm clamp
GRIPS
Specialized Sip Grip half-waffle S/M: regular thickness L/XL: XL thickness
STEM
Specialized XC 3D-forged alloy 4-bolt 6-degree rise

SADDLE
Body Geometry Phenom Comp Adaptive Edge design Hollow Cr-Mo rails 143mm
SEATPOST
Specialized alloy single bolt 21mm offset 27.2mm
SEAT BINDER
Specialized Alloy 30.0mm

PEDALS
Specialized Dirt

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