Specialized Epic 9 Sport

The Specialized Epic 9 Sport is a full-suspension XC race bike that brings the FACT 11m carbon Epic 9 frame, 120mm of travel at both ends, and wireless AXS shifting into the most accessible build in the lineup. Size medium weighs 11.91 kg (26 lbs 4.1 oz), and the Sport comes in two colorways for riders moving into cross-country racing or swapping out a hardtail for their first full-suspension platform.

The carbon chassis uses the same Progressive XC Race Geometry, Rider-First Engineered sizing, threaded bottom bracket, 12x148mm UDH rear dropout, internal cable routing, and wireless drivetrain layout as the rest of the Epic 9 range. A RockShox REBA fork (120mm travel, 15x110mm axle, 44mm offset, Motion Control damper) handles the front, while a RockShox SIDLuxe Select+ rear shock (190x45mm, Solo Air) runs Ride Dynamics 3-position damping with a lever adjust on the shock body.

Drivetrain is SRAM S1000 Eagle AXS Transmission with a 12-speed 10-52t cassette, a SRAM Eagle 70 crankset (32T, 165mm on SM, 170mm on M through XL, 55mm chainline), a SRAM AXS POD controller with Discrete Clamp, and a SRAM 70 Flattop chain. SRAM DB4 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes handle stopping duty. Specialized Alloy 29 wheels (27mm inner width, tubeless-ready, 28h front / 32h rear, stainless 14g spokes) wrap Specialized Fast Trak (front) and Air Trak (rear) 29x2.35 tires with Flex Lite casings and T5/T7 compound. Cockpit includes a Specialized 3D-forged alloy 4-bolt stem with 7-degree rise, Specialized Alloy XC Minirise double-butted handlebar (31.8mm clamp, 10mm rise), TranzX dropper seatpost (100mm on XS/SM, 125mm on M, 150mm on L/XL), Body Geometry Power Sport saddle with steel rails, and Supacaz 135mm closed-end foam grips. The Sport gives first-time XC racers a wireless shift-equipped carbon race platform to grow into without starting on a hardtail.