The 2019 Specialized Epic Expert Carbon Evo is a super light carbon xc race mountain bike with trail elements like 120mm of travel, a dropper post & wide tyres. Ripping around between the tape is one way to worship at the altar of speed, but for all the other long, fast rides or marathon races on technical terrain, theres the all-new Epic Expert EVO. Consider it a more "epic" kind of Epic. The EVO ups the fork travel of the Epic from 100mm to 120mm. This gives you some relief up front while also slacking-out the front-end by one-degree to 68.5º. A zero-offset dropper post to gives you more control on descents, but keeps your saddle over the BB on steep climbs. There is also some more meat on the tires with a grippy 2.3" Ground Control at the front & a stiffer Fast Trak at the rear with GRID protection at the sidewalls. The Epic EVO also features the Brain 2.0. The OG Brain changed the way the bike world looked at suspension, & oh was it good. It won races & put a flag in the ground for Specialized as a true leader in innovation & suspension development. Simple physics showed that, by moving the Brain closer to the rear axle, it would be in the most sensitive spot. & after some lengthy R&D, its totally new. Now, it reacts seamlessly to bump forces, it has much more consistent damping performance, & finally, it integrates the hoses into the suspension links. This means that the oil paths are enhanced, & that creates an incredibly sleek package that outperforms anything on the market. This is also among what Specialized call their Rider-First Engineered™ MTB frames, where the tubes place complex carbon pieces in all the right places, regardless of the frame size. As a result, stiffness is increased in the front-end for a vast improvement in the ride & in control. & to go along with this, each frame size has size-specific tubes that result in the stiffest, best-riding XC bike they have ever developed. & while stiffness, Brain technology, & geometry features are cool & all, we know what you’re thinking, " What about the weight?” We’re glad you asked. The weight- savings on the frame is equivalent to shedding a chainstay & shock extension from the previous Epic—nearly 525 grams. & now, carbon models also feature additional tire clearance to accommodate wider, 2.3-inch tires. More traction, ultimately, equals more speed. The build of the Epic Expert EVO meshes shredability with dependability & value, featuring a 12-speed SRAM GX Eagle groupset, SRAM Level TL brakes, & a h&-built Roval Control Carbon wheelset. This Bike Is Perfect For The rider that wants more than just speed from a super light race bike. You want longer travel & a dropper post for downhill capability without sacrificing the XC race attitude that the Epic has. The 2019 Specialized Epic Expert Evo is perfect for riding fast over anything. Key Features A FOX Step-Cast 34 Performance Series fork handles suspension duties up front with 120mm of travel & a GRIP damper that has Open, Medium, & Firm modes for every kind of terrain. The h&-built Roval Control Carbon wheels feature a modern 25mm (internal width) hookless rim, so you get the low weight, low rolling resistance, & the best possible grip with the 2.3" tires. An X-Fusion Manic seatpost brings you some much-needed drop for tackling steep descents, but it also features a zero-offset design that keeps your weight over the bottom bracket for the climbs.