2017 S-WORKS EPIC HARDTAIL WORLD CUP

Call it a healthy disrespect for the status quo, but we were getting bored with hardtail designs. So instead of playing along with a glued-on smile, we opted to turn the cross country world on its head with a bike that's not only the lightest mountain frame we've ever made. It's our lightest frame—period. Introducing the S-Works Epic Hardtail World Cup. To hit the 900g mark, we built the entyre frame from our highest-end carbon fibre, FACT 11m, and then we took some 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. We've also tweaked the geometry for more speed and stability by slacking-out the head tube angle, lengthening the top tube, and correcting the seat tube angle. This way, it feels more planted then ever, and frankly, it's stupid fast. We also widened the rear spacing to 12x148mm and included internal split-housing cable routing. For the build, the S-Works spares no expense, opting for a RockShox SID World Cup w/ Brain fork, SRAM XX1 Eagle, and hand-built Roval Control SL carbon wheels.

• To provide the optimal blend of stiffness, crazy light weight, and strength, we constructed the frame from our FACT 11m carbon fibre. And when combined with our XC 29 Geometry, the Epic is guaranteed to deliver uncompromising, blistering speed and agile handling come race day—no matter the course.

• The RockShox SID World Cup 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.

• The one-by drivetrain is controlled by SRAM's venerable XX1 Eagle components to form the ultimate in efficiency and intuitive feel, while also having the added benefit of significant weight savings and minimal required maintenance.