MTB
WE'RE IN A GOLDEN AGE OF MOUNTAIN BIKING. THE GEOMETRY OF MODERN BIKES IS ABSOLUTELY DIALLED, AND SUSPENSION HAS NEVER BEEN BETTER. THE ONLY ISSUE IS OUR BELEAGUERED CURRENCY, WHICH OCCASIONALLY MAKES THE PRICE OF NEW BIKES EYE-WATERING. STILL, THERE'S VALUE TO BE FOUND IF YOU KNOW WHERE TO LOOK: HERE'S OUR PICK OF THE BEST BIKES FOR STAGE-RACE SMILES, TRAIL BIKES THAT RIP, AND HARDTAILS IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR UNCOMPLICATED FUN.
XC RACE
THE HARDTAIL KILLER
SPECIALIZED S-WORKS EPIC WORLD CUP
R230 000 SPECIALIZED.COM
DESIGN-WISE, THE EPIC WORLD CUP is a radical departure from its previous iteration; but philosophically the bike continues down the same path of active suspension when it's needed, and a rigid pedalling platform when it's not.
For the front suspension on this top-tier S-Works model, the Brain-equipped RockShox Sid Ultimate fork carries forward from previous versions of the Epic. It uses an inertiadriven valve to open and lock the suspension, and travel has been increased to 110mm. The rear shock is where things take a different turn. Specialized has abandoned its Brain system for an adjustable negative-air-chamber design, and instead of 100mm of travel, the new design provides 75mm of rear-wheel travel. Since Specialized intends the Epic WC to be ridden with little or no shock sag, the design has similar effective travel to most competitors’ 100mm bikes.
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