Specialized’s new S-Works Epic Hardtail World Cup is lighter than a Tarmac

This carbon hardtail is the lightest frame the company has ever produced

Lookout, roadies: the S-Works Epic Hardtail is lighter than the S-Works Tarmac

Courtesy

Josh Patterson

Published: April 12, 2017 at 7:00 am
Courtesy
Courtesy

According to Specialized, the lightest frame the company has ever produced is destined for the dirt, not the pro peloton.

Last year Specialized launched a new race-focused family known as the Epic Hardtail. The company is upping the ante by using a new FACT 12m carbon layup that shaves a few more grams from this cross-country racer, bringing it in at a claimed weight of 800g for a bare frame, size medium. The claimed weight for a medium painted frame with hardware is still just 875g.

According to Specialized, this is lighter than the Pro Tour-tested S-Works Tarmac frame, which comes in at a bit over 900g.

Specialized increases the weight savings with a top shelf build that includes an SRAM Eagle XX1 drivetrain, RockShox SID World Cup fork with Specialized’s Brain-Fade lockout system and SRAM Level Ultimate disc brakes. The whole package rolls on carbon Roval Control SL wheels wrapped in Fast Trak tires.

The complete bike is said to be well under 20lbs, according to Specialized - Courtesy

With the Fast Trak tires set up tubeless, the complete bike tips the scales at just 18lb for a size medium.

As one might expect, this will come with a cost – $8,000 for the complete bike and $3,000 for the frame. (UK and Australian pricing was not immediately available.)

Josh Patterson

Contributor

Josh Patterson is a BikeRadar contributor and former technical editor. He has spent most of his career working in the cycling industry as an athlete, mechanic and journalist. He holds a master's degree in journalism and has more than 20 years of experience as a cyclist and 12 years of experience riding and writing for BikeRadar, Cyclingnews, Cycling Weekly, Dirt Rag, RoadBikeReview and Outside Magazine. A native of the Flint Hills of Kansas, Josh was a pioneer in the gravel cycling movement, having raced the first Unbound 200 and many other gravel events around the globe. He considers himself a cycling generalist and enjoys road, gravel and mountain biking in equal measure. When not traveling for work, he can be found exploring the singletrack and lonely gravel roads that surround his home in Fort Collins, Colorado. In addition to his love of cycling, Josh is an enthusiastic supporter of brunch, voting rights and the right to repair movement.
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