The new Specialized S-Works Epic 2023 has been spotted. Goodbye to the BRAIN system?

Mountain bike 24/02/23 17:00 Migue A.

We knew there was an Epic 2023 in the works because Specialized leaked a picture of it a few weeks ago. But we just confirmed it at the Super Cup Massi de Banyoles, where some Specialized Factory Racing riders are riding a prototype that hides the shock.

First image of the Specialized S-Works Epic 2023: new internal cable routing from the headset, rear shock system remains concealed

First images of the new Specialized Epic 2023

The pictures were taken at the Specialized box in Banyoles, it is Haley Batten's bike and there is no doubt that it is a new model. In addition to the casing that hides the rear shock, it has new internal cable routing from the headset. You can also see that it has the new SRAM Level brakes, in black.

The rear shock system seems to be closer to the top tube and there is no trace of the previous BRAIN reservoir, which until now was located on the left chainstay and was responsible for controlling the rear suspension automatically.

Since last season, some Specialized Factory Racing riders were opting to ride their Epic without the brand's exclusive BRAIN system on either the fork or the shock. But precisely on this prototype being tested by Haley Batten we can see that the American does indeed ride the 100mm BRAIN fork, although there is no trace of the former rear reservoir.

BRAIN reservoir on current Specialized Epic.

This could mean that under the canvas there is an evolution of the BRAIN that doesn't need the left chainstay reservoir until now, or that Specialized is dropping this system on the rear shock of its next Epic, or that we're just looking at the BRAIN-less version of the Epic 2023.