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2018 Men's Epic Expert

4.6

17 Reviews

Lightweight carbon frame? Check. Industry-leading suspension technology? Oh yeah.…

Product Details

Lightweight carbon frame? Check. Industry-leading suspension technology? Oh yeah. Race-ready build kit? You know it. The Epic Expert is not only ready to shine in races, but it's also ready to put your closest buddies in the pain cave on the weekends.

Race courses have evolved over the past few years. They’re more technical, steeper, and simply more challenging to ride. But instead of quivering in our boots, we saw this as an opportunity to make something special—something that both World Cup athletes and XC riders alike can instantly feel the benefit from. We looked at the sum of parts that make a bike handle well, like the head angle, reach, stack, chainstay length, fork offset, etc., and re-evaluated all of it. Increasing the reach made a bike that was more stable at speed and generally more comfortable to ride. Dropper posts? Yep, those fit, and not just a short-travel XC option, but full-length droppers that fit in the 30.9mm seat tube. Head angle? We slacked that out, but not without evaluating the overall handling package. It now lands on a custom offset, 42mm fork that works with the slacker head angle in order to behave itself in tight corners and through switchbacks.

Next comes the redesigned Brain technology, Brain 2.0. The Brain changed the way the bike world looked at suspension, both its inefficiencies and benefits alike. And oh was it good. It won races and put a flag in the ground for us as a true leader in innovation and suspension development, but we knew that we could make it better. Simple physics told us that, by moving the Brain closer to the rear axle, it would be in the most sensitive spot. And after countless hours with the RockShox team, the new Brain became more than just a slight upgrade. It's totally new. Now, it reacts seamlessly to bump forces, it has much more consistent damping performance, and finally, it integrates the hoses into the suspension links. This, in turn, improves oil paths, and it creates an incredibly sleek package that outperforms anything on the market.

The new Epic also gets a serious upgrade in the stiffness department. The Rider-First Engineered™ tubes place complex carbon pieces in all the right places, which greatly increases stiffness in the front end for a vast improvement in ride quality and control. To go along with this, each frame size has size-specific tubes that result in the stiffest, best riding XC bike we've ever developed—no matter the frame size.

And while stiffness, Brain technology, and geometry features are cool and all, we know what you’re thinking, ""What about the weight?” We’re glad you asked. With the goal of the new Epic to be the fastest XC mountain bike we’ve ever made, weight was at the top of our priorities list. We started with an efficient frame layout and tube shapes that feature clean cable routing, integrated channels through the shock extension, straight tubes with less curves, and optimized torsion profiles in every section. And if you’re curious, this weight savings is equivalent to shedding a chainstay and shock extension from the previous Epic—nearly 525 grams.

The build of the Epic Expert meshes performance with value, featuring a 12-speed SRAM GX Eagle groupset, SRAM Level TL brakes, and a hand-built Roval Control carbon fibre wheelset. Get ready, because this is going to be Epic.

Full fact 11m carbon fibre frame combines stiffness, strength, and light overall weight to deliver an off-the-hook race bike. Meanwhile, the new geometry, RockShox Brain shock, and 100mm of travel, make the Epic the best handling, fastest XC rig you've been on.
Our custom RockShox SID fork with Brain features a top-adjust Brain fade, and a custom offset to make it suitable for the new Epic.
The 12-speed SRAM GX Eagle groupset brings the performance of Eagle at a doable price point.

Technical Specifications

FRAMESET

FRAME

Specialized FACT 11m, full carbon frame, XC Geometry, threaded BB, 12x148mm rear spacing, internal cable routing, 100mm of travel

SEAT BINDER

Alloy, 34.9mm

WHEELS

RIMS

Roval Control Carbon, 22mm internal width, tubeless-ready

FRONT HUB

Specialized, sealed cartridge bearing, 15x110mm spacing, torque caps, 32h

REAR HUB

Specialized disc, sealed cartridge bearings, 12x148mm spacing, 32h

SPOKES

DT Swiss Industry, stainless, 2.0

FRONT TIRE

Fast Trak, GRIPTON compound, 2Bliss Ready, 29 x 2.3"

REAR TIRE

Fast Trak, GRIPTON compound, 2Bliss Ready, 29 x 2.1"

INNER TUBES

Standard, Presta valve

SUSPENSION

REAR SHOCK

RockShox/Specialized Micro Brain shock w/ Spike Valve, AUTOSAG, 51x257mm

FORK

RockShox SID 29 w/ Brain, tapered alloy steerer, bottom-adjust Brain Fade, Solo Air, 110x15mm Maxle® Stealth thru-axle, 100mm of travel, 42mm offset,

DRIVETRAIN

REAR DERAILLEUR

SRAM GX Eagle, 12-speed

SHIFT LEVERS

SRAM GX Eagle, trigger, 12-speed

CASSETTE

SRAM GX Eagle, 12-speed, 10-50t

CHAIN

SRAM GX Eagle, 12-speed w/ PowerLink

CRANKSET

Truvativ Stylo, 6K alloy, Boost™ 148, 24mm spindle

CHAINRINGS

Alloy Eagle 32T

BOTTOM BRACKET

SRAM GXP

COCKPIT

STEM

Specialized XC, 3D-forged alloy, 4-bolt, 6-degree rise

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

SADDLE

Body Geometry Phenom Comp, Adaptive Edge design, Hollow Cr-Mo rails, 143mm

SEATPOST

Specialized, alloy, single bolt, 21mm offset, 30.9mm

BRAKES

FRONT BRAKE

SRAM Level TL, hydraulic disc, organic pads, 160/180mm rotor

REAR BRAKE

SRAM Level TL, hydraulic disc, organic pads, 160 rotor

ACCESSORIES

PEDALS

Specialized Platform, 9/16" spindle

* Weights based on production painted frames as pictured. Actual weights will vary based on colourway, frame size, and component variation. Specifications are subject to change without notice.

Geometry

	S	M	L	XL
Crank Length	170mm	175mm	175mm	175mm
Handlebar Width	720mm	720mm	720mm	720mm
Stem Length	60mm	80mm	90mm	100mm
Saddle Width	143mm	143mm	143mm	143mm
Seatpost Length	350mm	400mm	400mm	400mm
Stack	588mm	597mm	611mm	630mm
Reach	408mm	433mm	456mm	475mm
Head Tube Length	95mm	105mm	120mm	140mm
Head Tube Angle	69.5°	69.5°	69.5°	69.5°
BB Height	332.6mm	332.6mm	332.6mm	332.6mm
BB Drop	38.9mm	38.9mm	38.9mm	38.9mm
Trail	94mm	94mm	94mm	94mm
Fork Length, Full	506mm	506mm	506mm	506mm
Fork Rake/Offset	42mm	42mm	42mm	42mm
Front Center	659mm	688mm	716mm	742mm
Chainstay Length	438mm	438mm	438mm	438mm
Wheelbase	1095mm	1123mm	1152mm	1178mm
Top Tube Length, Horizontal	568mm	595mm	623mm	649mm
Bike Standover Height	764mm	770mm	776mm	799mm
Seat Tube Length	400mm	434mm	470mm	520mm
Seat Tube Angle	74.75°	74.75°	74.75°	74.75°

Manual Downloads

Epic User Manual

Specialized Bicycle Owner's Manual (All Languages)

Command Post IRcc Instruction Guide

Specialized Bicycle Owner's Manual Addendum: Riding With Kids

Specialized Mission Control App (Android)

2018 Rider/Bike Weight Limits and Terrain Conditions

Specialized Bicycle Owner's Manual (English)

Trainer Usage Addendum to the Bicycle Owner's Manual

Specialized Mission Control App (iOS)

Specialized Ride App (Android)

Specialized Ride App (iOS)

Rider Reviews

4.6

17 Reviews

10/24/2024

Awesome

Awesome fast beautiful bike

Name:: Paulo

Helpful?

06/18/2023

Best xc race bike to ever exist

This bike has everything! 😃 Super light, amazing suspension, great shifting, and so fast. 💯% worth it!!! I recommend this bike to everyone. Who wouldn’t want it?

Would Recommend?: Yes!

Name:: Hayden

Helpful?

10/11/2020

No vuelvo a comprar a esta marca

Compro una epic expert del 2018. El nuevo brain lo he mandado a revisar varias veces. NO FUNCIONA. El tendero dice que es fallo puntual, pero veo que le pasa lo mismo a todos los brain del 2018 y 19. Es vergonzoso. NO VUELVO A COMPRAR MÁS A SPECIALIZED PUES NO ME DAN SOLUCIÓN. Se han escondido y no lo arreglan.Nunca más.

Verified Buyer

Name:: Suso

Helpful?

03/14/2019

Excelente!

Essa bike superou minhas expectativas. O novo Brain e a nova geometria, realmente estão fantásticos, evoluiram muito. É minha segunda Epic.

Verified Buyer

Name:: Léo

Helpful?

03/14/2019

Excelente!

Essa bike superou minhas expectativas. O novo Brain e a nova geometria, realmente estão fantásticos, evoluiram muito. É minha segunda Epic.

Name:: Léo

Helpful?

02/04/2019

Love the bike and yes my rear shock did go out.

I was looking for a true XC bike and not a 'trail' bike as that is more my riding style. The bike is everything I wanted, quick handling on Midwest single track, stable at speeds over fast downhills - well, fast upper Midwest downhills, and hooks up beautifully on the climbs. The bike allows me to push as hard as I want, and seems to do better the harder I push. I did have my shock go out on me when I was in Bentonville, it worked but made squishy sounds and didn't lock out. My LBS had it out of my bike and back from Specialized within two weeks. No push back about it at all. Overall a great bike to ride, race, and enjoy on cross country single track.

Name:: Driftless

Helpful?

02/01/2019

Cada vez peor en comparación con otras marcas

Llevo años con Specialized,tanto en carretera como en MTB,y lamentó mucho decir q se están quedando muy atrás en montaje en comparación con otras marcas punteras. Compre una Specialized Epic Expert y a los 4 meses amortiguador trasero roto,tres semanas sin bici,sabiendo q están fallando y no corren con los gastos! Parece que comprar la bici en otra tienda es un CRIMEN aún siendo tienda oficial distribuidora Specialized.Cabberty en Málaga te cobran 50 euros por tramitar garantía,VERGONZOSO!Si la compré cuando estuve trabajando fiera,en teoría,tengo q viajar 800 km hasta la tienda q la compré! Y para encontrar los radios de la rueda de carretera tres semanas y sólo los suministran si la arreglas en tienda oficial!!!!!! Mucho tiene q cambiar la cosa para q vuelva a comprar Specialized! Decepcionado es poco!

Verified Buyer

Name:: Germanchi

Helpful?

07/17/2018

No words to say - TRY IT!

It's the best bike i ever had! I have had, Giant, Scott and a 2015 Epic Comp - but this new Epic Expert 2018 is the best bike i ever have droven.

Name:: Danish R.

Helpful?

06/03/2018

Canario

Vaya pepino!

Verified Buyer

Name:: Canario

Helpful?

04/20/2018

Excellent VTT

Je roule avec ce VTT depuis 1 mois, la position est parfaite , on s'y sent bien. Le rendement est fabuleux, surtout quand on va très vite, il ne pompe pas du tout, merci le Brain. Le groupe 12 vitesse apporte un vrai plus grâce à la très grande plage d'utilisation, le 50 dents pour les gros raidars et le 10 pour rouler comme une fusée. Il est aussi très stable en descente, il va exactement ou on veut, on peut lâcher les freins (qui freinent très bien aussi!), je ne sais pas si c'est la nouvelle géométrie ou les pneus de grosse section, surement les deux. Et en plus il est très beau!

Verified Buyer

Name:: Le C.

Helpful?

04/20/2018

Excellent VTT

Name:: Le C.

Helpful?

03/28/2018

6Monate gewartet und jeder Tag hat sich gelohnt!

Vorher schon ein Epic gefahren, aber das neue Epic ist um Klassen besser.Der Hammer , sowohl bergauf als auch bergab. Bergauf einfach herrlich ohne nachzudenken zum Gipfel stürmen. Bergab jederzeit das Gefühl der vollen Kontrolle zu haben.

Verified Buyer

Name:: Tom N.

Helpful?

02/14/2018

All I was looking for

This bike has got all the speed, climbing and race abilities as the previous version. AND it has got all that the previous version not had, like stable decending ability and better tracking as well as an overall better balanced geometry. This is my speed weapon for Cape Epic 2018.

Name:: Rosebuddy

Helpful?

01/09/2018

Love this bike

This bike is so nimble it feels like a Trailbike on the down hills and climbs like nothing I've ever ridden so if you're looking for a new xc race rig this is the bike for you

Name:: Settio

Helpful?

11/21/2017

mtb fantastica

ottima sia per divertirsi che per le gare

Verified Buyer

Name:: Davide N.

Helpful?

11/21/2017

mtb fantastica

ottima sia per divertirsi che per le gare

Name:: Davide N.

Helpful?

11/08/2017

Tequila Sunrise Bike

I had a 2011 Epic, the new Epic is faster, smoother, more comfortable, everyone that sees it complements the paint, but the real good stuff is a lot deeper then that, I'v only got 2, 20 mile rides on it, the first one was on soft suspension to break it in, I'm still experimenting with the set up, and there are so many thing to set up it may take awhile, it just keeps getting better, and better. This bike is a rocket ship. I have made quite a few upgrades, I moved a lot of things over from the old Epic, S-Works carbon bars, Crank Bros carbon seat post, X01 Eagle, cranks, gold chain, cassette, trigger shifter, ESI grips, Rocket Ron 2.25's, it now weight 24.3 pounds, with computer, and heart rate monitor on the bars. Its turning to winter here in Michigan, I may have to go on a trip south soon, I just want to ride, the Fat Boy, and Sequoia (my gravel bike) can wait, SNOW is coming GRRRR !!!

Name:: Dyno D.

Helpful?