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Specialized Epic Hardtail Expert

Specialized Epic Hardtail Expert
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Details

Go ahead, try and find something that'll put a bigger smile on your face than absolutely smashing the perfect line on a fast, capable hardtail. The Epic Hardtail Expert exists to make that smile even bigger, and to make sure your face gets just as hard of a workout as your legs. Working towards the lightest bike possible has long been the race within the race, but at what cost? The battle of the grams certainly hasn't been without its casualties, with hardtail XC race bikes coming to stand for a harsh, twitchy ride at the expense of capability and versatility. But who said fatigue from fighting against your own bike makes you any faster? Instead, recognizing that the fastest bike is more than simply the lightest bike, we said out with the "jarred-to-death tail", the "measure-your-posterior's-sorrows-by-the-yard tail" and in with the "avant-garde tail". The ridiculously capable, mystifyingly comfortable, head-shakingly light and all-around fast, Epic Hardtail. Sure, we optimized every inch of the Epic Hardtail frame to achieve the lightest production hardtail frame in the world anyway, but we also prioritized our commitment to creating an Epic Hardtail that's as capable as it is comfortable with aggressive singletrack-inspired geometry, increased tire clearance and a frame obsessively engineered for increased vertical compliance, all while creating a bike that lives and breathes the fundamentals of fast. The Epic Hardtail Expert's RockShox SID SL BRAIN fork offers 100 millimeters of incredibly efficient travel in a lightweight package while Roval's lightweight yet tough Control Carbon wheelset and a wide-range SRAM 12-speed group round out the lightweight build.

- Descending from a long World Cup lineage, hand-built Roval Control Carbon wheels feature a modern 25-millimeter internal-width hookless rim, and maximize strength, ride quality, and durability while keeping weight to a minimum.
- Ridiculously capable, incredibly light, and refreshingly comfortable, the Epic Hardtail's dropper-post friendly FACT 11m carbon frame rewrites the hardtail playbook with game-changing success.
- The 100mm-travel RockShox SID SL BRAIN fork is firm when you want it firm and plush when you want it plush, no levers required.

Specs

Frame Specialized FACT 11m, XC Geometry, Rider-First Engineered, threaded BB, 12x148mm rear spacing, internal cable routing
Fork RockShox SID SL BRAIN, Bottom-Adjust Brain damper, Debon Air, 15x110mm, 44mm offset, 100mm Travel (XS-80mm Travel)
Axles Front: 110 x 15mm
Rear: 148 x 12mm
Rims/Wheels Roval Control Carbon, 25mm internal width, Zero bead hook, Tubeless ready, 28h
Hubs Front: DT Swiss 350, 15x110mm spacing, Torque caps, 6-bolt, 28h
Rear: DT Swiss 350, Star Ratchet, SRAM XD driver body, 12mm thru-axle, 148mm spacing, 28h
Spokes DT Swiss Competition Race
Tires Front: Fast Trak, Control Casing, 29x2.3
Rear: Fast Trak, Control casing, GRIPTON® compound, 60 TPI, 2Bliss Ready, 29x2.3"
Crankset SRAM X1 Eagle, DUB, 32t, XS: 165mm, SM: 170mm, M-XL: 175mm
Chainrings Steel, 30T
Chain SRAM GX Eagle, 12-speed
Rear Derailleur Sram X01 Eagle, 12-speed
Shifters SRAM X01, trigger, 12-speed
Handlebars Specialized Alloy Minirise, 10mm rise, 750mm, 31.8mm clamp
Tape/Grips Specialized Trail Grips
Stem Specialized XC, 3D-forged alloy, 4-bolt, 6-degree rise
Brake Levers SRAM Level TL
Brakes SRAM Level TL, 2-piston caliper, hydraulic disc
Saddle Body Geometry Power Sport, steel rails
Seat Post Specialized Alloy, Single Bolt, 30.9mm

* Subject to change without notice.

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