![]() ![]() In concert with the new layout, revised internals result in less turbulent oil flow for the more consistent performance hit after hit, while increasing durability race after race. Working together, the relocation of the Brain not only allows for the repositioning of the rear brake caliper to allow for more vertical flex in the chainstay but also increases the Brain inertia valve’s sensitivity to its location behind the rear axle. The suspension team also increases the anti-squat to give the best pedaling performance and trail traction possible.ĭesigned hand-in-hand with the updated Epic frame, it’s also the most seamlessly integrated Brain we’ve seen. For the updated Brain, Specialized ditched the Auto Sag feature, going with a stand air chart recommendation. This adjustability allows riders to meter out travel precisely to their liking from fully locked to 30mm sag with air-spring tunability. The new Brain also takes the nose off the threshold, making it seamless and fluid when going from locked out to open. What that means for the riders is a stiffer platform and get up and go of a hardtail. Specialized also bumped up the threshold of the Brain for 2021 – nearly double from 230 newtons to 400 newtons to pop – translating to two extra firmness modes on the Brain compared with the current Epic model. The 100mm shock is centered around a firmer race-tuned platform, the Brain’s new Rx XC Tune, developed with close input from Specialized Racing athletes, is said to be even more responsive to pedaling input while improving damper adjustability. It’s still the same IFP (Internal Floating Piston) design with 5 positions of adjustment but with extra emphasis placed on the position-sensitive features and not speed. ![]() Re-engineered, the new Brain suspension platform ensures every watt is translated into forward motion while soaking up chatter. Adding that altogether surpassed front-to-rear stiffness, lower bottom bracket, longer reach, slacker headtube and shorter chainstays (5mm shorter to be exact) this bike will make any cross country racer blush.īesides the frame, the Brain system itself received a massive update. The updated frame allows for wider tire offerings, accommodating a 2.3 rear and a 2.4 front comfortably. The Epic’s updated geometry also sees bottom bracket height lowered by 9 millimeters while reach is increased to allow for shorter stem lengths. The newest Epic blasts past the current model with an updated 67.5-degree headtube angle, more than a slight variation from the current models 69.5. While Specialized experimented with modernizing the geometry on prior Epics, none were as drastic as the updated 2021 model. This Brain compartment is the main shaping update and is visually and mechanically impressive. The Brain is housed inconspicuously in the non-drive side chainstay while the adjustments easily made near the rear brake. The new framesets sculpted tubes maximize power and house the Brain unit, keeping a fluid system that works seamlessly together. Gone is the triangle or “tube holder” near the seat post. The tube shaping is the most notable for those that are avid Epic fans. Specialized did this to optimize power transfer while keeping the ride platform stable and confident. The updated S-Works frameset is 100 grams lighter than the previous model and 15% stiffer. What came from nearly 1850 test hours of testing through alloy frames, carbon layups, and beyond – what they arrived at is a distilled version of the Epic, the fastest and most capable version to date.įirst off, the frame underwent some weight shaving and some sculpting to maximize efficiency. The Epic’s essence is speed, so the team at Specialized drilled down to see what could make it quicker and where they could shave weight and add robustness to the frame. The newest iteration of this race machine proves to be as fine-tuned as ever, and with the addition of the Epic EVO, this platform truly has a bike for every rider.įor the 2021 Epic Specialized went for a ground-up redesign, keeping the core ethos of race day fast but the ability to adapt to hyper skill-driven World Cup courses. Over the years, the Epic achieved Olympic gold, over 100 World Cup wins and podiums all over the world. The Brain allowed Specialized to blend the efficiency of a hardtail and the capability of a full-suspension bike, empowering the rider to think about one thing only going fast. ![]() The Brain can cycle between open and locked out in a fraction of a second, offering a firm pedaling platform when needed, and plush, capable travel when necessary, all without the distraction of a crowded cockpit. ![]() What separated the Epic from the pack is the unique Brain feature of the suspension system. ![]()
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