The all-new Specialized Epic 9: The evolution of the fastest cross-country bike

Specialized has just unveiled the Epic 9 — the ninth generation of its legendary cross-country bike, first launched in 2002. And this time, the brand is making a radical choice: a single platform to replace the Epic 8, Epic World Cup, and Epic EVO. One bike, designed for everything modern XC entails — from flowing climbs to the most technical trails. 

Lighter, faster, more capable. At 1,589 grams for the frame in size medium, the Epic 9 becomes the lightest full-suspension mountain bike ever built. 206 grams lighter than the Epic 8, 129 grams lighter than the closest direct competitor. Here's what that means for you, and how the new range is positioned at Bicycles Quilicot.

The Epic 9 was designed for modern XC — where speed rhymes with capability.

One Epic for everything modern XC entails

The Epic 8 lived in a complicated ecosystem. Three bikes coexisted — the classic Epic 8, the Epic World Cup for pure racing, and the Epic EVO for rougher terrain. Three platforms, three geometries, three audiences.

The Epic 9 merges all of that. Specialized killed three bikes at once to launch a single one, capable of covering the entire spectrum of modern cross-country: UCI racing in the morning, technical trails in the afternoon, marathon races the following weekend. 120mm of front and rear travel, progressive geometry, suspension calibrated to stay fast even when the terrain gets chaotic.

It's a clear bet: today's XC is no longer what it was ten years ago. Courses are more technical, riders are going faster, and the line between cross-country and trail has blurred. One Epic is enough to cover it all — provided it's light enough to climb and capable enough to descend.

1,589 grams: how Specialized achieved it

The Epic 9 frame — 1,589g in medium, including shock and hardware.

The Epic 9 frame weighs 1,589 grams in size medium, including shock and hardware. This is an absolute benchmark in the category — 129 grams lighter than the previous title holder, the Cervélo ZFS-5.

Specialized achieved this reduction through a comprehensive FEA optimization of the frame, tackling every tube down to the gram. The front triangle alone lost 110 grams, the rear triangle 37 grams, the seat tube 17 grams, and the main pivot 15 grams. No area was spared.

The compromise: the integrated SWAT storage in the downtube — an Epic signature since the Epic 8 — disappears. Specialized calculated that the weight saved was worth more than the integrated compartment, and instead offers an external SWAT Box 2.0 for those who want to carry a repair kit. For racing, SWAT was no longer used in competition anyway.

Suspension with 11% less friction

Weight is only part of the equation. The other part is friction. Suspension that creates friction consumes the rider's energy instead of converting it into motion.

Specialized reduced the system's friction by 11% compared to the Epic 8 — by reworking the pivots, linkage, and kinematics. The leverage ratio at sag has been lowered to improve pedaling efficiency without sacrificing bump absorption. In concrete terms: the Epic 9 remains more settled when pedaling uphill, and more glued to the ground downhill.

Anti-squat has been refined to limit pedal bob, and anti-rise adjusted to maintain neutral behavior when braking hard. These are the kinds of refinements you rarely notice on a single ride — but you feel at the end of a three-hour race, in legs that remain fresh.

Dynamic Trio: three modes for three race moments

Three suspension modes, one lever — to adapt to every section of the course.

The Epic 9 abandons the Epic 8's Brain system — an inertia damper that automatically opened and closed — to return to a manual three-position control, named Dynamic Trio Ride Dynamics.

Mode	Usage
Wide Open	Suspension fully open, for technical descents and rough sections where you want full traction.
Magic Middle	The default mode — balance between pedaling efficiency and comfort, for the majority of a ride.
Sprint-On-Lock	Almost locked out, for sprints, rolling transitions, and gravel sections where every watt counts.

The return to a manual, simpler, and more reliable system is consistent with the Epic 9's overall philosophy: remove what hinders, keep what propels.

Geometry designed for modern XC

The Epic 9's geometry is progressive without being aggressive. In size medium, the head tube angle is at 65.9° (or 66.3° with the flip-chip in the high position), the reach is 450mm, and the chainstays are 435mm. The bottom bracket has been raised by 4mm compared to the Epic 8 to maintain ground clearance in rocky sections.

Specialized based these figures on Body Geometry data, accumulated over years in stores from thousands of riders. It's a race geometry — efficient for staying in power on climbs — but with enough stability to remain confident on descents. Five sizes available, from XS to XL.

“Capability provides control. Control fosters confidence. Confidence unleashes speed.” — Specialized

The Epic 9 range at Bicycles Quilicot

The Epic 9 in its highest-end version — a common frame across the range, with components increasing in level.

Four versions available, from the accessible model to the Flight Attendant equipped model. All share the same Epic 9 platform — differences lie in the frame (FACT 11m), components, suspension, and wheels.

Model	Groupset	Suspension	Wheels	CAD Price
Epic 9 Sport	SRAM S1000 Eagle 12 sp.	RockShox Reba / SidLuxe Select+	Alloy 29" wheels	$5,699.99
Epic 9 Comp	SRAM S1000 Eagle AXS wireless	RockShox SID Select / SidLuxe Select	Specialized Alloy 29" aluminum	$6,999.99
Epic 9 Expert	SRAM GX Eagle AXS	RockShox SID Select+ / SidLuxe Select+	Roval Control SL VI carbon	$9,999.99
Epic 9 S-Level	SRAM X0 Eagle AXS wireless	RockShox SID Ultimate Flight Attendant / SidLuxe Ultimate Flight Attendant	Roval Control SL VI carbon	$13,499.99

Available for order — the Epic 9 has just been launched. All versions are available for order at Bicycles Quilicot. Lead times vary depending on model, size, and color. Visit our store or write to us to confirm actual availability for your profile.

The Epic 9 S-Level — equipped with SRAM X0 Eagle AXS and RockShox Flight Attendant, an automatic suspension that adapts to the terrain.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to choose between Sport, Comp, Expert, and S-Level?

The Epic 9 platform is the same for all four — same geometry, same kinematics, same 120mm of travel. The difference lies in the components. The Sport ($5,699.99) is the entry point, with a SRAM S1000 Eagle 12-speed groupset and a RockShox Reba fork — perfect for XC riding without aiming for racing. The Comp ($6,999.99) upgrades to wireless SRAM S1000 Eagle AXS and a RockShox SID Select fork, on Specialized 29" alloy wheels. The Expert ($9,999.99) adds SRAM GX AXS and Roval Control SL VI carbon wheels. The S-Level ($13,499.99) tops the range with SRAM X0 AXS and Flight Attendant suspension, which automatically adjusts to the terrain.

Does the Epic 9 also replace the Epic World Cup and Epic EVO?

Yes. Specialized has unified all three platforms into one. The Epic 9 covers the entire spectrum of modern cross-country — from short UCI races to endurance marathons, as well as technical trails. A single geometry, a single kinematic, available in four equipment levels.

Why was the SWAT storage removed?

To save weight. Specialized estimated that the majority of competitive XC riders no longer used the integrated SWAT, and that the grams saved (on the frame and hatch) better served the bike's racing vocation. An external SWAT Box 2.0 is available separately for those who want to carry an onboard repair kit.

Is the Epic 9 for me if I don't race?

Yes — especially the Sport, Comp, and Expert versions. The progressive geometry (65.9° head tube angle, generous reach) makes the bike stable and confident, even off-competition. If you ride technical XC, marathons, or long rides on varied trails, the Epic 9 remains an excellent choice. For more aggressive trail riding, look to the Stumpjumper or Stumpjumper EVO — which are designed for that.

What is the Flight Attendant suspension on the S-Level?

Flight Attendant is an electronic suspension system developed by RockShox. It automatically adjusts the suspension position (open, semi-open, closed) based on the terrain and your pedaling cadence, several times per second. In concrete terms: you no longer need to touch the lever — the suspension makes the right choice on its own. Only available on the Epic 9 S-Level at Bicycles Quilicot.

The Epic 9 Expert — the wireless SRAM GX AXS version at $9,999.99 CAD, equipped with Roval Control SL VI carbon wheels.

Conclusion

The Epic 9 is not a cosmetic update of the Epic 8. It's a complete redesign — unified platform, 206 grams lighter frame, 11% less friction in the suspension, geometry adjusted for modern XC. Specialized removed everything that hinders and refined everything that propels.

For you, that means a cross-country bike that's faster uphill, more stable downhill, and above all more versatile: a single Epic for racing, for marathons, for long rides. And for Bicycles Quilicot, it means we can finally recommend a single model to the majority of XC riders, instead of juggling between Epic, Epic World Cup, and Epic EVO.