\ufeffSize<\/th>	XS<\/th>	S<\/th>	M<\/th>	L<\/th>	XL<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Reach (mm)<\/td>	390<\/td>	420<\/td>	450<\/td>	475<\/td>	500<\/td> <\/tr>
Stack (mm)<\/td>	603<\/td>	597<\/td>	598<\/td>	610<\/td>	628<\/td> <\/tr>
Head tube angle (degrees)<\/td>	66.4<\/td>	66.4<\/td>	66.4<\/td>	66.4<\/td>	66.4<\/td> <\/tr>
Seat tube angle (degrees)<\/td>	76.5<\/td>	76<\/td>	75.5<\/td>	75.5<\/td>	75.5<\/td> <\/tr>
Seat tube length (mm)<\/td>	370<\/td>	390<\/td>	410<\/td>	450<\/td>	500<\/td> <\/tr>
BB height (mm)<\/td>	323<\/td>	329<\/td>	331<\/td>	333<\/td>	333<\/td> <\/tr>
Wheelbase (mm)<\/td>	1,117<\/td>	1,147<\/td>	1,179<\/td>	1,210<\/td>	1,243<\/td> <\/tr>
Chainstay (mm)<\/td>	435<\/td>	435<\/td>	435<\/td>	435<\/td>	435<\/td> <\/tr>
Top tube (mm)<\/td>	535<\/td>	569<\/td>	605<\/td>	633<\/td>	662<\/td> <\/tr>
Standover (mm)<\/td>	376<\/td>	383<\/td>	388<\/td>	397<\/td>	402<\/td> <\/tr> <\/tbody> <\/table>

<\/div>

Fresh for 2024, the 120mm-travel Specialized Epic 8 Pro is the second-tier racer in the line-up, with only the super-exclusive S-Works version sitting above it.<\/p>

The Epic\u2019s name had always been seen hand in hand with Specialzied\u2019s custom Brain shocks and forks, whereby inertia valves automatically locked or opened the suspension when you hit a bump.<\/p>

The Brain has now gone, and while the S-Works Epic 8 features RockShox Flight Attendant<\/a>, electronically doing the same job, lower-spec bikes rely on the \u2018Magic Middle\u2019 custom shock tune to filter out pedal bob.<\/p>

In addition, the new Epic 8 sports marginally revised geometry, ensuring it’s still a class-leader.<\/p>

This all plays out well on the trail. The Epic 8 is amongst the best cross-country bikes<\/a> I\u2019ve ever ridden.<\/p>

Uphill, the bike is fast, and it doesn\u2019t flinch at anything on the way back down, ensuring there are no excuses for anything other than a podium-topping performance.<\/p><\/div><\/div>

Specialized Epic 8 Pro frame and suspension<\/h2>
Head-tube, rather than headset-routed cables will appeal to privateers. – Andy Lloyd \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Specialized\u2019s 11M carbon is used on this version of the Epic, one step down from the 12M found on the S-Works bike<\/a>.<\/p>
Specialized recognises that with cables running in and out of the frame, for the shock lockout and the dropper, that headset-routed cables might not appeal to the privateer racer. Instead, it has opted to route them internally, via the head tube.<\/p>
There\u2019s also down tube storage, via the SWAT 4.0 door. This features a smooth locking lever, and the ability to attach CO2 canisters and tyre repair plugs to the underside of the door for quick access in race situations.<\/p>
$\"Specialized$
The flex-stay suspension linkage doles out 120mm of travel. – Andy Lloyd \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
There\u2019s space for two bottles within the frame.<\/p>
The 120mm of rear-wheel travel<\/a> is provided by a flex-stay single-pivot design, as is the case on most modern XC race rigs.<\/p><\/div><\/div>
Specialized Epic 8 Pro geometry<\/h2>
$\"Specialized$
The Specialized Epic 8 is one of the fastest XC bikes on the market today. – Andy Lloyd \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Specialized hasn’t been shy with the shape of the Epic 8 \u2013 when it comes to race bikes, it’s definitely at the longer, lower and slacker end<\/a> of things.<\/p>
For starters, there\u2019s a geometry flip chip that, in the low setting, gives a sub-66 degree head angle \u2013 almost unheard of in XC territory.<\/p>
The Large bike has a reach of 475mm. There are slightly longer-reached XC bikes out there, but the slack head angle ensures the wheelbase length of 1,210mm is at the longer end of the scale.<\/p>
I measured the seat angle at 76.5 degrees on my Large, with a saddle height of 750mm, in the low setting. This is where the bike spent the bulk of its time during testing.<\/p>
To pick holes in the geometry, the chainstay length is constant across all four sizes. This means the front-to-rear balance changes with bike size.<\/p>
Some brands \u2013 Yeti and Cannondale, for example \u2013 offer longer chainstays on their larger bikes.<\/p>
<\/colgroup>

\ufeffSize<\/th> XS<\/th> S<\/th> M<\/th> L<\/th> XL<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>

Reach (mm)<\/td> 390<\/td> 420<\/td> 450<\/td> 475<\/td> 500<\/td> <\/tr>
Stack (mm)<\/td> 603<\/td> 597<\/td> 598<\/td> 610<\/td> 628<\/td> <\/tr>
Head tube angle (degrees)<\/td> 66.4<\/td> 66.4<\/td> 66.4<\/td> 66.4<\/td> 66.4<\/td> <\/tr>
Seat tube angle (degrees)<\/td> 76.5<\/td> 76<\/td> 75.5<\/td> 75.5<\/td> 75.5<\/td> <\/tr>
Seat tube length (mm)<\/td> 370<\/td> 390<\/td> 410<\/td> 450<\/td> 500<\/td> <\/tr>
BB height (mm)<\/td> 323<\/td> 329<\/td> 331<\/td> 333<\/td> 333<\/td> <\/tr>
Wheelbase (mm)<\/td> 1,117<\/td> 1,147<\/td> 1,179<\/td> 1,210<\/td> 1,243<\/td> <\/tr>
Chainstay (mm)<\/td> 435<\/td> 435<\/td> 435<\/td> 435<\/td> 435<\/td> <\/tr>
Top tube (mm)<\/td> 535<\/td> 569<\/td> 605<\/td> 633<\/td> 662<\/td> <\/tr>
Standover (mm)<\/td> 376<\/td> 383<\/td> 388<\/td> 397<\/td> 402<\/td> <\/tr> <\/tbody> <\/table>