Custom Specialized Epic 9: Titanium, Flight Attendant 

There are stock bikes, and then there are bikes that give you a reason to start pulling parts out of boxes.

This custom Specialized Epic 9 falls firmly into the second category.

Built at Cadence Cyclery Encinitas, this Epic takes Specialized's latest XC race platform and adds a carefully selected mix of components aimed at making an already very fast mountain bike a little more personal—and a little more ridiculous.

5DEV titanium cranks. Power meter. Short cockpit. RockShox Flight Attendant. Wireless drivetrain.

Not much was left on the table.

Starting With the Epic 9

The new Epic 9 is Specialized's latest interpretation of what a modern cross-country race bike should be.

The platform uses 120mm of rear travel paired with a 120mm fork, progressive XC race geometry and a lightweight carbon chassis designed around efficiency without sacrificing control when things get technical. On the S-Works chassis, Specialized uses its FACT 12m carbon construction along with a threaded bottom bracket, UDH-compatible rear dropout, internal routing and SWAT 2.0 storage.

The geometry also reflects how much XC has changed. A 65.9-degree head angle in the low setting, 76-degree seat angle and substantially longer reach numbers give the Epic room to move when descending without losing the position and response needed when it's time to put power down.

In other words, it's a pretty good place to start getting carried away with a custom build.

5DEV Titanium Cranks

The cranks are probably the first thing you'll notice.

This build uses 5DEV titanium cranks, bringing a little locally manufactured San Diego hardware to the Epic.

5DEV's RGXC titanium crank is designed specifically around road, gravel and XC applications. The cranks are CNC machined from titanium, use an 8-bolt SRAM interface and are compatible with Quarq 8-bolt power-meter spiders. They're available down to 155mm crank lengths, giving riders another way to fine-tune fit, ground clearance and pedaling position.

And on this bike, the raw titanium against the understated black Epic frame just works.

No argument needed.

Data Included

Tucked behind those titanium crank arms is a power meter, because if you're going to build an XC bike around efficiency, you might as well know exactly how many watts you're putting into it.

For racing and structured training, power provides a consistent metric that isn't as dependent on terrain, gradient or conditions as speed. On a bike like the Epic, it also fits the overall theme of the build: remove the guesswork and make everything serve a purpose.

Even if that purpose occasionally involves discovering exactly how hard you blew yourself up five minutes ago.

Let Flight Attendant Handle the Suspension

The Epic 9's RockShox Flight Attendant system takes care of another variable.

Specialized pairs the platform with a RockShox SID Ultimate Flight Attendant fork and SIDLuxe Ultimate Flight Attendant rear shock, both using three suspension positions. The electronic system is designed to dynamically manage suspension behavior rather than requiring the rider to constantly reach for a manual lockout.

For XC riding, where you're repeatedly transitioning between hard efforts, technical climbing and fast descents, that's a particularly compelling application.

You concentrate on riding.

The suspension gets on with its job.

Short, Aggressive and Built Around the Rider

Up front, this build gets a short cockpit, complementing the Epic 9's modern, longer-reach chassis.

It's a good example of why we like custom builds at Cadence. Component selection isn't only about putting expensive parts on an expensive frame. Cockpit dimensions, crank length, suspension setup, saddle position and controls all influence how the bike fits and how confidently the rider can use it.

Specialized itself equips the production S-Works Epic 9 with relatively short 60mm or 70mm integrated stems depending on frame size, paired with a 760mm bar.

The goal isn't a particular number on a spec sheet.

It's getting the rider's position right.

Built to Be Ridden

For all the titanium, electronics, carbon and very nice parts hanging from it, this isn't meant to be a showpiece.

The Epic 9 was designed to go very fast across terrain that increasingly blurs the line between traditional XC and trail riding. This build simply takes that foundation and tunes it further around the rider.

It's light. It's efficient. It's technologically excessive in all the right ways.

And yes, the 5DEV titanium cranks look pretty damn good.

Build Your Own at Cadence Cyclery Encinitas

One of our favorite parts of working with high-end bikes is that the complete bike doesn't have to be the end of the conversation.

At Cadence Cyclery Encinitas, we can help build a bike around how you actually ride—from the frame and suspension platform down to drivetrain, cockpit, crank length, power meter, wheels and finishing components.

Sometimes that means making a few thoughtful changes to an already great bike.

Sometimes it turns into something like this.

We're fine with either.

Stop by Cadence Cyclery Encinitas to check out the latest Specialized Epic 9, talk custom builds, or start putting together one of your own.