At first glance, the "Epic" design looks very traditional: A classic, front frame triangle including a continuous seat tube is combined with the tried and tested Leitner four-bar rear triangle. However, due to the impressive installation length, the "Brain" suspension strut is no longer located between the top tube and the rocker link, but between the latter and the dropout. As a result, the rear suspension is strikingly similar to the LSR system, which German engineers recently developed for Centurion and Merida. A new feature is the reservoir, which protrudes from the rear shock at a right angle close to the rear dropout. This contains the entire valve technology, which completely isolates the drive influences from the suspension.

The few American trade journalists who had the chance to test ride the new Specialized off-road were full of praise. For the first time, a manufacturer had presented a system that does not react in any way to drive influences and yet smooths out all bumps with great sensitivity. Mountain Bike Action editor Richard Cunningham's final conclusion on the Specialized Epic speaks volumes: "If it lives up to the performance of the prototypes, the cross-country hardtail will be reduced to a joke, and a lot of bike makers will be left scrambling for a response.