Similar to the X-142 system originally developed by Syntace, 142 uses thru-axle rear dropouts and a wider 142mm outside-to-outside hub dimension for a stiffer rear end. Specialized may have downgraded to aluminum stays but the designers have thankfully retained the clever 142 Plus rear hub system. There are also extra guides to run a remote telescoping seatpost if so desired, too. In addition to the aforementioned tapered front end, Specialized also equips the Epic Comp Carbon 29 frame with a PressFit 30 bottom bracket shell - though in this case, it's filled with an adapter for threaded cups. Included features are well in keeping with the times so you can at least be reasonably confident that your purchase won't be outdated too quickly. As a result, the 2.63kg (5.80lb) frame weight is good but not great considering the short travel and US$4300 price tag - that the bike rides and pedals so well is further testament to the Brain's effectiveness and the refined suspension design. The Epic Carbon Comp 29 is Specialized's least expensive model in the family to come equipped with a composite frame but lesser fiber blends are used relative to the top-end versions to help keep costs down and there's also a welded aluminum rear triangle instead of a full-carbon setup but still with cartridge bearing pivots throughout. The bulbous carbon main triangle includes a tapered head tube and matching aluminum steerer while the conventional quick-release open dropouts couple with an old-yet-new trick: giant hub end caps (think back to aftermarket offerings in the early 90s) that offer better bracing against unwanted movement than conventional dimensions plus a thru-bolt skewer (the return of the Skraxle!) with a repositionable lever design borrowed from DT Swiss.Ĭarbon-plus-aluminum helps keep the weight down without breaking the bank Specialized doesn't equip the Epic Comp Carbon 29 with a thru-axle fork but front-end rigidity is still better than one might expect even when there are a lot of lateral loads on the front wheel, making those excellent handling figures quite predictable as well. This played out on one particularly tight uphill switchback on one of our regular test loops that's tricky on even longer-travel 26" bikes on account of its rocky ledge right at the apex but we consistently nailed it on the Epic Comp Carbon 29. It's a bit of a two-edged sword: the bigger wheels more easily claw their way up and over obstacles, especially at slower speeds, but you've got to be a little more aware of where everything is at the same time. While the wheelbase is only slightly longer than the 26" equivalent, the more substantial total end-to-end length can still make for tough going in especially tight situations where you need every bit of space to maneuver. The wheelbase is just 13mm longer than the smaller-wheeled Epic, too, so the bike is still appropriately eager to switch direction. Coupled with the reasonably wide 680mm flat bar you can confidently toss the Epic into dicey high-speed corners, lean on that outside pedal and firmly set your line with little chance of getting bounced off. Handling characteristics are well suited to the Epic Comp Carbon 29's all-day persona with a not-too-quick 70.5-degree head tube angle (remember, we're talking about 29" wheels here) and the same bottom bracket height as Specialized's 26" Epic. It sounds too good to be true but the Brain genuinely does work: dial in the bump threshold to your desired level of firmness and there's zero visible movement on smoother ground whether you're deftly spinning away in the saddle or mashing gears out of it. Unlike even the best standalone four-bar variants, though, the auto-lockout FlowControl Mini Brain rear shock only lets the suspension do its thing when needed so that supple performance is also paired with superb pedaling efficiency - and now that Fox Racing Shox handles the shock manufacturing, these latest units actually seem to be holding up as they should. On rougher terrain the Epic setup is fantastically adept at maintaining tire contact and has a gently progressive spring rate that makes good use of its modest 100mm of movement while still lending that characteristically smooth, pillowy ride that oftentimes can literally save your ass after a long day. As has been the case for years, one of the brightest points of Specialized's 'FSR' shorter-travel full-suspension designs is the true four-bar rear end's ultra-active personality that stands in contrast to some other short-travel configurations that can have a distinctly tauter feel, particularly on smaller features.
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