Few biking disciplines location as a whole lot significance on weight pretty like cross-united states mountain motorcycle racing. With extremely steep gradients, forestall-and-start accelerations, and technical capabilities to maneuver the motorcycle around and over, the grams can virtually impact the outcome. For this, Specialized has laid a stake inside the floor, claiming its new Epic HT 29er hardtail is the lightest complete-production hardtail frame inside the world.
Specialized claims a medium 2020 S-Works Epic HT frame weighs just 790g – with paint. That’s about 75g lighter than the preceding Epic HT, which was already taken into consideration as one of the lightest options. And greater applicable to the loads, the second one-tier Epic HT FACT 11r body, as used on all non-S-Works complete motorcycles, is still very light with a quoted weight of 915g. That 790g discern is magnificent but is bested by the Unno Aora hardtail, which weighs 730g in a medium. However, the Unno is only made in fairly small numbers and just single body size. Because of that, Specialized’s declare for having the lightest complete-production frame appears to stand real.
Weight is simply important. However, the California bike enterprise has also stated it’s performed this parent simultaneously as making the bike extra capable for an increasing number of technical guides. The journey is smoother, there is more tire clearance, and the geometry is longer and slacker for higher balance at high speed and on steep descents. With dropper posts turning into a more common sight in pass-USA racing, the brand new Epic HT movements from a smaller and extra flexible 27.2mm Seatpost to a bigger 30.9mm size. Slim 27.2mm dropper posts do exist; however, options are confined, while almost every dropper in the marketplace is to be had in 30.9mm. Despite the loss of this consolation feature, Specialized states the brand new frame is greater comfortable than earlier than due to the brand new curved seat tube design and more compliant seat stays.
Increasingly wider tires are trending in move-country, and the new Epic HT offers room for as much as 29×2.4in rubber. That might also sound like overkill, but given that Nino Schurter has been racing on 2.4in rubber this season, it likely won’t be lengthy earlier than such widths become not unusual. All Epic HT fashions will come fitted with Specialized Fast Trak 29×2.3in tires as inventory. Much like that tire width, the geometry borrows some hints from extra successful path motorcycles, too. From extra-small to greater-massive, the top attitude has been slackened from sixty-nine .8 to 68.5 tiers. Reach figures have increased with 10-18mm aid across the sizes, while stem lengths are fairly shorter at 60-75mm. The 430mm chainstay lengths and 74-degree seat tube angles continue to be unchanged.
All fashions feature a reduced 42mm fork offset to increase the path determine (101mm). The Epic HT sticks with a 100mm suspension journey up the front; simultaneously, the greater-small body size receives a reduced 90mm of travel. Finally, long gone is the click-match backside bracket, with Specialized shifting returned to a standard English threaded sleeve. Specialized even is going as far as to mention that the rear derailleur hanger is the only proprietary and bolt-on piece to be located in this frame. Nice one.
Specialized USA will provide the brand new Epic HT in seven models starting from US$2, one hundred ten to US$nine,510, with an S-Works frame-handiest choice (US$2,000 / AU$three, seven-hundred), too. Specialized Australia will provide a single motorbike version, the Epic HT Comp (AU$three,900). The greater-small length will handiest be offered in the Epic Expert and S-Works frameset. Ecuador’s panorama carries a mixture of deep ravines and dashing rivers inside the mountains, volcanic craters that seem like something on an alien globe, and lush green forests. A guide can bring you via this particular land, revealing to you the secret spots hidden from the various breathtaking points of interest. Discover the homes of lovely wild animals, and hot springs bubble up from the earth! There are many other journey sports you can participate in in your excursion of Ecuador, inclusive of skydiving and rafting on the numerous thrilling stretches of white-water. After you’ve got exhausted yourself, you can continually head to the seaside for an extra enjoyable stop to your holiday, surrounded via warms sands and the nonviolent Pacific waters.
