The Epic has more than earned its name. Now with a lightweight carbon frame and industry-leading suspension technology, the Epic Expert is glittering with race-ready kit and ready to rip up the trails with your mates.

In line with changes in race routes in recent years, we have made the Epic Expert more capable of dealing with steeper, technical trails. The new packaged Epic is ideal for anyone from World Cup athletes, Cape Epic competitors or amateur XC riders. In order to create a bike which handles brilliantly, a whole host of features were addressed, including head angle, reach, stack, chainstays, fork offset, etc. The Epic Expert is more stable at speed thanks to its increased reach and it's significantly more comfortable to ride. It also benefits from a dropper post, both short travel XC options and full-length droppers for a 30.9mm seat tube. Finally, a slackened out head tube enables more controlled handling in technical sections.

The most exciting thing about our 2018 Epic Expert is the Brain 2.0, our completely redesigned Brain technology which redefined the efficiency of suspension and put Specialized firmly on the map in terms of suspension innovation. Far form settling with our epic new tech, we were even more motivated to make it better. We did just that by moving the Brain closer to the rear axle and through collaboration with the guys at RockShox, Brain 2.0 reacts intuitively to changes in terrain, almost as if it were thinking for itself. It also integrates the hoses into the suspension, improving oil paths and resulting in a refined package that races right to the front of the pack.

The excitement doesn't stop with the Brain technology. The Epic's frame is Rider-First Engineered, meaning that every size features size-specific tubing, so there is no compromise on stiffness and handling throughout the size range. What's more, the frame is designed with complex carbon pieces in all the places where you might expect flexing to occur, dramatically increasing stiffness and improving control.

As for weight, our goal with the new Epic was to make it the fastest XC bike ever to wear the big red 'S'. This meant stiffness, handling and above all, a lightweight frame. You'll notice that we've gone for straighter tubes with fewer curves which serves to optimise torsion profiles through the bike, in a layout which incorporates clean cable routing and integrated channels through the shock. The sum of all these alterations is nearly 525 grams, a huge saving, we're sure you'll agree!

To maximise the Epic Expert's awesomeness, the lightweight carbon frame is equipped with a performance-oriented selection of components including a 12-speed SRAM GX Eagle groupset, SRAM TL brakes and fast-rolling, hand-built Roval Control carbon fibre wheels. What are you waiting for Your next ride is going to be Epic.

• Full fact 11m carbon fiber 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.