Specialized S-Works Epic 9 Review: The Ultimate XC Bike?

The S-Works Epic 9 is extremely light, weighing about 26 lb with pedals on an XL, and is built to race fast in modern XC terrain. It uses 120mm/120mm suspension travel and is designed and tested for high-level XC performance, with handling that can feel close to short-travel trail capability. The bike remains clearly an XC machine despite similarities to trail bikes. Initial rides can feel intimidating due to weight, geometry, and sub-1,000g wheels with minimal tires, but confidence grows after adapting. RockShox Flight Attendant automated suspension and careful attention to tires and wheels help the bike feel more relatable, though wind and loose trail conditions can still make it feel nervous.

"Out of the box, the S-Works Epic 9 is noticeably very light, almost unbelievably so. I'm on an XL, and at just 26 lbs with pedals, this is clearly a bike made for going fast. The weight isn't the only factor that stood out, though. It's a modern XC bike, but it's still designed and tested to compete at the sport's sharpest level. That means fast up and down. The new 120mm/120mm World Cup-level XC race bike is now getting dangerously close to being a super-capable short-travel trail bike."

"Well, one thing is for sure: the Epic 9 is very much an XC bike. It's a statement that XC is still its own category of mountain bike, despite the similarities they can often share with short-travel trail bikes. I was nervous at first. The S-Works Epic 9 is a $15,249.99 example of bicycle engineering, and draped in some bling components that are a little beyond my current fitness levels, but damn, was I feeling fast."

"I originally planned a 10-15-mile loop as the first ride on the Epic 9, but as I kept climbing and felt faster and faster, that 15 miles quickly turned into 25+ miles of chomping at the bit. The bike just made me want to be better. While riding such a light bike can be a little scary at first, I definitely got more comfortable with it over time. To be fair, the geo isn't what I'm used to, nor are the sub-1,000g wheels and super-minimal tires."

"After getting accustomed to the geometry and automated suspension system that is RockShox Flight Attendant, the bike began to feel a little more relatable, albeit a little nervous on sections of trail that normally feel mundane. I'll attribute this feeling in large part to the 25+ mph gusts of wind and loose conditions, but also a little bit to how careful I was being about the wheels and tires I was rolling on."

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