I’m not sure why 32” vs 29” would have anything to do with it, The old Epic 7 EVO was out of stock for a long time more than year before the Epic 8 was released, new colors should be coming soon, I think they still gonna roll with the Epic 8 this year and get a new one next year.
Its been pretty wildly known the epic 9 is coming out this year.
Just before the E8 came out, Specialized dumped EE7 Comps for $2400 each at places like incycle.
Seems like this time they’ve been too cautious and have very limited 2026 E8 stock. Mostly there’s nothing in my size or there’s limited stock at a shop 500 miles away.
I’d personally prefer the E9 to be another 29er generation and delay the shift to 32” for E10 and wider industry adoption. But I also resisted many other changes for a generation or two.
1 Like
On it’s 3rd year considering Specialized has a 3 year cycle making Epic 9 release in 2027. Any fact other than us keyboard warriors saying there is a new one coming?
Most likely a new Crux and SL9 this year, I don’t believe spec will have epic 9 out this year, but I could be wrong.
2 Likes
Unless E8 demand has completely tanked, I can’t imagine they would go all-in on a 32” bike in 2026. Unless 32” is unquestionably better/faster in pretty much every way (very doubtful IMO), it seems like 29” models would still have demand while 32 performance is being fully vetted.
3 Likes
No new Epics at Cape Epic even under one of their most prolific male riders.
5 Likes
I flip and flop between a 2027 (release in Spring 2026 for a 2027 model year) E9 and not. I see arguments for this (the lack of 2026 stock being one. As if there isn’t an E9 until 2028, then Specialized look to have so little stock in the US market, that their sales will be terrible).
So either a shipment of 2026 E8’s arrives soon, and that’d confirm E9 not until 2028, or an E9 releases before it’s too far into the Spring/Summer buying/riding season.
It’s a very interesting market, as I also don’t really see the E8 as being outdated or anything either.
The other thing is that compared to some of the other bikes and new releases the E8 actually looks reasonable value (if you can’t find one). I am quite tempted by an E8 pro. Here in the UK the equivalent priced Anthem with same drive train ships without flight attendant.
I still don’t see a better bike than the E8 which was the first of these new XC batch of new bikes to be released. Giant, Trek, Ibis, Pivot, all seem to be an Epic 8 2 years later, BC40, ASR all seem like more of a personal preference or riding style. Some people claim the Scalpel also rides very well but, is there a better bike than the Epic 8? Unlikely, they all seem to be on the same level right now, everyone is catching up.
On the other hand, Tarmac SL8 is a race worth a lot more money to specialized, and the Crux is really long in the tooth and should see a new one this year specially with all the investment they are doing in their Gravel team. I’m not a marketing person, but seems like there is very little reason to release 3 potential market leaders in their categories in the same year.
2 Likes
I take any excuse to get a new bike and I’m not even entertaining the idea right now…I’m so damn happy with the E8.
If a new BC40 gets a storage compartment that will tempt me but still would feel like a lateral move just to make a change.
I’d go as far as to say they all (including the Epic 8) are basically the 2021 Epic Evo “7” with minor tweaks here and there. So we have been here awhile and converged on what, for now, seems to be the lightest and most efficient design. And that’s ok… that’s what happens in industry. Look at all the jetliners, not like everyone out there has a different kind of jet. They are all the same with different paint.
5 Likes
Agreed, only thing stopping me buying an e8 today is 1) stock is almost non-existent near me, closest is a 2-3 hr drive each way. 2) if E9 comes, given the EE7 deals before the E8 came out, I’d like a better deal than they currently have (although with Specialized showing no inventory, they’d also have no driver to discount).
I just hope that Specialized don’t look at their main competition all starting higher than the E8 Comp, and move the 2027 E9 Comp up to starting at $6k or something.
That last bit is probably exactly what will happen. The E9 will be a high end race frame replacing the World Cup lineup, while the E8 Evo continues on with fresh paint. There’s already a big preference towards it at the comp level, then they also have the Chisel in that “low end” market.
Looking at macro trends targeting the high end just makes the most sense for bike brands. They’ll fill sales for months off of E8 with FA owners upgrading E9 to save a half pound of weight and have a new race bike for the season.
2 Likes
This sounds like a decent guess. New Epic9 bike that is a bit more like the EpicWC and Epic8 combined. The Epic Evo continues with the old E8 frame for another year. TBH the current E8 is a pretty great bike for many people.
1 Like
On the two sided Controls and I like them. Can’t say I’d go for the one sided
1 Like
The Epic 9 will be out sometime in June. My dealer went to the conference in Vegas with Specialized, along with many other shop owners around the States. That is the consensus.
1 Like
I doubt that. Last three gens of Epic have always been introduced during the olympic year (just E7 went 1 year before Tokyo, because it was postponed to 2021 because of Covid).
There is no significant innovation they could possibly introduce with Epic 9 if they release it this year. Epic 8 was basically an introduction of Flight Attendant, but the frame itself had only minor geometry tweaks and internal storage. What would be a selling point of Epic 9? Also I believe that we would’ve already seen pros riding prototypes.
If there is a new Epic this year, I believe it will be a hardtail or short travel replacement for Epic WC. And Epic 8 will stay as 120/120 model. Unless they release a 32 model, which would be that significant selling point.
2 Likes
We have t seen any testing versions on the race tracks: not at any early season XC races not Cape Epic where the 8’s won. I have no insight yet typically before launch Beers or Blevins would likely be riding one by now.
2 Likes
They could be testing behind the scenes. My source is a dealer that was at the show in Vegas and saw one. Most likely a prototype. He can’t disclose much info for obvious reasons. He said June release. I’m crossing my fingers because I have a 2022 S Works Evo that I’d like to replace with a newer bike.
Last year they raced an epic that had a different yoke.