Specialized 2014 Epic, Stumpjumper HT and Crave - First loo

[redplanet]

Specialized 2014 Epic, Stumpjumper HT and Crave - First loo

par redplanet » Lun Juil 15, 2013 9:22 am

Enduro racing may be the hot topic in mountain biking today but Specialized is continuing to push the cross-country envelope for 2014. Included in the range is a whole new collection of Epics, a wholly revamped Stumpjumper HT carbon 29er hardtail and the more refined Crave aluminum 29er hardtail for when going fast is your top priority.

Three new Epics

Ten years after launching the original Epic to a chorus of pundits criticizing it as too heavy and too slow to be successful on the XC stage, Specialized has now not only completely overhauled the design for 2014 but split it off into two variants. Marathon riders and general cross-country riders will get a lighter and snappier version of what they already know while more dedicated competitors will get an edgier World Cup edition with slightly shorter travel, sharper handling and even more efficiency.

Specialized says the new standard 100mm-travel S-Works Epic Carbon sheds about 50g from the previous version while also offering increased frame stiffness and overall efficiency, thanks to all-new frame tube shapes and the stiffer 'shock block' upper swing link borrowed from the Enduro and Camber range that rigidly bolts directly to the back of the shock eyelet. A new concentric pivot design on that link also piggybacks several pivots together around a single axis to further reduce weight and potential flex points.

[img:500:334]http://cdn.mos.bikeradar.com/images/news/2013/07/15/1373865163141-1rfsaag7bnily-500-70.jpg[/img]The S-Works Epic World Cup

Added to that is a smaller and lighter rear shock that ditches many of the softer settings of last year's bike. Just five clicks are left on the Brain Fade adjuster for easier setup and despite the firmer threshold, Specialized claims the transition before fully locked and active is yet again smoother than before for better performance on rough courses.

"We're trying to make it simple but still effective," says Specialized mountain bike PR man Sam Benedict. Should a buyer not like the stock settings, Benedict points out that the company still offers its 'S-Tune' program for a custom feel.

Other features for 2014 include thru-axles at the rear and front, internal routing that can be configured for up to four lines, chain stays that are 16mm narrower at the rear for improved heel clearance, in-molded headset bearing seats, post mount rear brake caliper tabs tucked inside the rear triangle, a high direct mount front derailleur tab, and a slightly revised rear shock position that's now tucked a little more tightly into the top tube than before.

[img:500:667]http://cdn.mos.bikeradar.com/images/news/2013/07/15/1373865289515-wux18fqdburs-500-70.jpg[/img]The Brain-equipped fork should provide a balanced feel with the Brain-equipped shock

That new shock position lends a slightly cleaner silhouette than before but it also provides one huge advantage over most other full-suspension cross-country bikes: the ability to mount two water bottles inside the main triangle. And not just any two water bottles - we're talking two big ones on sizes medium and higher. This may seem like a trivial point to trail riders accustomed to donning hydration packs, but for racers, it's a big deal.

Along those same lines, Specialized also introduces on the new Epic the SWAT (Storage, Water, Air, Tools) accessory suite, which will be included as standard equipment on S-Works, Expert Carbon, and Marathon-level bikes. The full SWAT suite includes three separate pieces: a small plastic box that secures to a third rivnut on the down tube to hold a spare inner tube, CO2 inflator, and tire lever; a mini-tool that snaps securely into a hidden socket just ahead of the forward shock mount; and a chain tool that stores inside the steerer tube and doubles as a headset preload cap.

In total, all of the SWAT bits add about half a kilogram to the bike weight but it's all tucked neatly out of the way and is always available without having to strap on a bunch of bags or resort to unsightly electrical tape. All Epics will be SWAT-compatible for 2014.

[img:500:375]http://cdn.mos.bikeradar.com/images/news/2013/07/15/1373866700820-n3xq8qhjsuzf-500-70.jpg[/img]The SWAT (Storage, Water, Air, Tools) accessory suite includes this frame-mounted flat pack

Critical geometry figures are mostly carried over on the standard Epic version, including the 70.5-degree head tube angle and 448mm-long chain stays so handling still falls on the quicker end of the spectrum.

If that's still too tame, consider the even edgier Epic World Cup, which is designed exclusively for use with single-ring drivetrains - there is no provision (or room) for a front derailleur whatsoever. While the front end is shared with the standard Epic (save for the omission of the front derailleur tab), the World Cup's dedicated rear end offers just 95mm of travel (with a fork to match), the chain stays are 9mm shorter, and the head tube angle is 0.5 degrees steeper.

Epic World Cups will also have firmer Brain Fade damper tunes and there is no SWAT kit included.

Actual weight for a large Epic World Cup is a stunning 8.90kg (19.6lb) without pedals and just a few minor upgrades (foam grips, a lighter S-Works Renegade front tire, and a 160mm front rotor) but there's a similarly stunning price tag of US$10,500 to match.

Thankfully, pricing on carbon Epics will start at a more reasonable US$4,250 and there will also be all-new aluminum Epics with similar frame upgrades and an even more dramatic weight loss of 200g relative to the previous version.

New carbon and aluminum hardtails, too

Stumpjumper HT carbon hardtails have undergone a similar transformation for 2014 with a lighter frame, quicker handling, more efficient rear ends, and a generally sleeker look that better fit the platform's racing intentions.

Also included is the same configurable internal cable routing as the new Epic, 142x12mm thru-axle rear dropouts, and post mount rear caliper tabs tucked inside the rear triangle. Three rivnuts on the down tube will make the new Stumpjumper HT compatible with Specialized's SWAT system, too, although in this case the multi-tool will be affixed to the bottom of the seat tube-mounted bottle cage.

[img:500:333]http://cdn.mos.bikeradar.com/images/news/2013/07/15/1373866544997-1oke3cqrqknh0-500-70.jpg[/img]The S-Works Stumpjumper Carbon 29er

Claimed frame weight for the top-end S-Works edition is down just slightly to 1,050g and Specialized will have about half a dozen new models for 2014, including World Cup editions with SRAM 1x11 drivetrains. The Stumpjumper Comp Carbon and the women's specific Fate models will use the same frame as last year, though, and alloy Stumpjumper frames will be carryover as well.

Specialized's mid-range aluminum 29er hardtails get a wholesale redesign, however, plus a new name - Crave - since there was apparently some sort of trademark dispute with the old Carve moniker. As compared to last year, the top-end Crave Pro's triple butted alloy chassis sheds more than 200g for a claimed 19" frame weight of 1,585g while also gaining a more comfortable rear end. There's also 6-9mm more standover depending on size, cleaner-looking dropouts, larger chain stays, and a broader top tube.

There will be five Crave models for 2014 with prices ranging from US$1,300 to US$2,000. UK pricing was not immediately available.

[img:500:333]http://cdn.mos.bikeradar.com/images/news/2013/07/15/1373866192063-vof16ejdmp9u-500-70.jpg[/img]Last year's Carve is a lighter bike with a new name - Crave
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