Love my 2019 Scott Spark RC but a good HT was missing from the stable. The cheap SRAM NX drivetrain and heavy Roval wheels had to go. Inbound were an M8100 XT drivetrain, Roval Control Carbon wheelset, Ground control front tyre and S-works carbon seatpost. Pros 1) Out of the box, super stable front end. I put this down to more mechanical trail (44mm offset). It's more stable than my 2019 Scott Spark RC with the same HA but 51mm offset SID but no slower to turn. The 760mm wide bars help too (compared with 720mm on my Spark). 2) Frame is light and seems pretty stiff under pedaling. 3) Finish of the frame is very nice both externally and internally, backed up by a lifetime warranty. 4) It's a small thing, but Specialized provide torque settings for every joint in their owners manual, unlike my Scott or Cannondale bikes; the latter I struggle to get torque settings for. Very handy! 5) Hex hardware fitted throughout. No Torx - yeah! Cons 1) Frame is brutally stiff vertically, very harsh over square edges. It doesn't seem to be any more responsive under pedaling than my Scott bikes but is far less comfortable. This may in fact be down to the wheels. However I run the same size and profile wheels (EIE) on my Scott and they're very comfortable. After the first ride at 30 PSI the pressures were dropped to 25 PSI, which helped but the ride is still extremely stiff. 2) Reach. Bikes just seem to get longer and longer with every release, but I'm not growing any taller! At 181cm I'm in between a M & L but closer to a L. 3) Frame protection. The downtube has film applied, but some on the seat tube and around the inside of the chainstays would be good. 4) Shimano XT is sooo much better than SRAM NX/GX to shift with - would like to see it specced as standard by more companies. FInally a big shout out to my LBS - Dynamite Cycles.

I've owed dozens and dozens of Specialized bikes over the years and I have never been disappointed! (Except for my first one, a 1982 Stumpjumper Sport I rode off the showroom in the winter of '83. The forks threaded steerer locknut kept loosening, arrguh!) But that was then, and this is now. I ride my Epic Hardtail on twisty, rollercoaster single track, which is rocky and loose over hard pack, with gravelly sandy sections, tight hairpin turns, long climbs and bumpy descents. I can only comment on the frame, fork and wheel set here, because right out of the box I put the Epic Comp on a diet. To get to the proper riding position the stem was change to a 100mm 0 rise. The bars were trimmed to 680mm and the tires were swapped with a The Captain Control 2.0 in front and an S-Works Ground Control 1.9 on rear, running both tubeless at 26psi. An 11 speed drive train with a 11-40 CS9001 cassette was installed which offered a tighter ratio and paired with the 32 in front, a perfect combination. Now the bike is lightning fast and super comfortable (yes I install a suspension post too). The torque box is stiff which promotes acceleration but the stays are vertically compliant and they smooth out the rough stuff. I set the fork with compression completely unlocked and with a slower rebound. It's stiff and offers precision steering. The wheels are laterally stiff but have some vertical compliance as well. The ride is super smooth (for a hardtail), fast, and handling is superior. I like it! After threes seasons of riding various versions of the Stumpjumper FSR on the same trails, the light and nimble Epic is just the ticket for fast, point and shoot, all day fun.