Scott Spark vs Specialized Epic: Spark RC vs Epic 8/9, New and Used

Both are 120 mm XC race bikes. The Scott Spark RC hides its shock inside the down tube and controls fork and shock with the TwinLoc lever. The Specialized Epic keeps an open shock in the main frame, has had no Brain since 2024, and is usually lighter and easier to service at a similar spec level. Both got a new generation in 2026 (Epic 9 in April, Spark RC in June). Used, you pay far less: on buycycle a Spark RC from model years 2022 to 2025 typically sells for about €3,050 and an Epic 8 for about €3,700. That is below a new Spark RC Comp (€3,699) or a new Epic 9 Sport (€4,199).

As of 3 November 2026. Used prices: analysis of about 7,800 Spark and 8,000 Epic listings on buycycle (excluding e-bikes and hardtails).

Short answer: Spark or Epic?

What is the difference between the Scott Spark and the Specialized Epic?

The biggest difference is the shock: on the Spark RC it sits inside the frame, on the Epic it hangs openly in the main frame. The Epic is usually ahead on weight; the Spark has more variants and a more integrated look.

The current generations side by side (manufacturer figures from the BIKE and Velomotion launch reports, German list prices):

List prices. Spark RC: Comp €3,699, Team €4,699, Expert €5,699, Pro and Team Issue €7,299 each, World Cup €8,499, World Cup Evo €11,499, SL €12,999. Epic 9: Sport €4,199, Comp €4,999, Expert €6,999, Pro €9,499, S-Works Ultralight LTD €13,999, S-Works €14,499 to €14,999 (sources give both).

Suspension: TwinLoc or Magic Middle, and what happened to the Brain?

The Epic has had no Brain since the Epic 8 (March 2024). Current Epics use a standard RockShox SIDLuxe shock with a tuned middle mode ("Magic Middle") that behaves much like the old Brain. If an article still talks about "the Brain Epic", it describes a bike up to model year 2023.

The Epic story in short:

• Epic up to model year 2020: Brain at the rear end, 100 mm.
• Epic (launched June 2020, model years 2021 to 2023): still with Brain, 100 mm, much slacker (67.5° head angle). The Epic EVO of that era has a 120 mm fork and 110 mm at the rear.
• Epic World Cup (from 2023): 110 mm front, 75 mm rear, a pure race bike.
• Epic 8 (March 2024): no Brain, 120/120 mm, SWAT compartment in the down tube, threaded bottom bracket. The Epic 8 EVO gets a 130 mm fork.
• Epic 9 (April 2026): same concept, lighter frame, new kinematics. According to BIKE, the EVO and World Cup end with model year 2026.

The Spark has never had a Brain, but it has had TwinLoc for years: one lever on the bar switches fork and shock together. On the Spark RC (2022 to 2025) there are three steps: Descend (open), Traction Control (half closed, shorter travel) and Lockout. The top 2026 builds also come with RockShox Flight Attendant, which adjusts itself. The Epic 9 has Flight Attendant on the Pro and S-Works.

The old cliché "the Spark descends, the Epic climbs" dates from the Brain era. Both bikes have 120 mm and modern geometry now. The new Spark RC has a 65.9° head angle (size L, middle setting), 1.3° slacker than its predecessor (67.2°); the Epic 9 sits at 65.9° to 66.3°. Forum riders describe the Spark as a bit more active at the rear; real head-to-head tests of the two 2026 bikes do not exist yet.

Weight: how heavy is the Specialized Epic frame?

According to Specialized, the Epic 9 frame weighs from 1,589 g (size M, S-Works) including shock, seat clamp, axle and bolts. That is roughly 180 to 200 g less than the Epic 8 (1,795 g, S-Works), depending on the source. The Pro frame is about 80 to 120 g heavier.

Scott quotes 1,427 g for the new Spark RC SL (size M, painted), but without the shock. You cannot compare the two numbers directly. An XC shock weighs roughly 300 to 350 g (Flow weighed a Flight Attendant shock at 342 g), so with a shock the lightest Spark frame is closer to 1.75 kg. That is our own estimate. The standard HMX frames are about 140 g heavier than the SL, says Scott.

Complete-bike weights (manufacturer claims) are more reliable:

At the same trim level the Epic is almost always lighter, and also more expensive. That fits older comparisons (Epic 8 Expert 11.15 kg against Spark RC Team Issue 11.8 kg at Opticycles). At the same price the two are level: the Epic 9 Expert (€6,999) weighs 10.95 kg, the Spark RC Pro (€7,299) 10.9 kg.

Maintenance and daily use: shock, headset, bottles

Owners usually find the Epic easier to service; the Spark is the tidier bike. On the Spark, brake and shift lines run through the headset and the shock sits inside the frame. That applies to the 2022 to 2025 generation and to 2026. What changes is access:

• Spark RC 2022 to 2025: the shock is reached through a hatch on the underside of the down tube. It is a Scott-specific shock ("Nude").
• Spark RC 2026: access is from above, behind a magnetic cover. Scott says any standard XC shock fits. A second bottle cage needs an adapter plate.
• Epic 8: a normal shock, visible in the frame, and a SWAT compartment in the down tube for tube, tools and CO2.
• Epic 9: the down-tube compartment is gone (to save weight). There is an optional SWAT box on the bottle cage instead. Two bottles still fit in the front triangle, says MTB-News. The frame is built for wireless drivetrains only, and below S-Works level the lines run through the headset.

One owner on the MTB-News forum writes that the Spark shock comes out of the frame with three bolts. Others dislike the headset routing and the special shock. Both are owner experiences, not measurements.

What is the difference between the Epic and the Epic EVO?

The EVO has more fork travel and slacker geometry; in practice it is an Epic for rougher terrain. On the Epic 8 the two share one frame. The EVO gets a 130 mm fork with 120 mm at the rear, the standard Epic 120 mm at the front. Older EVOs (model years 2019 to 2023) had a 120 mm fork and a 110 mm rear end.

The EVO ends with the Epic 9. The frame is approved for a 130 mm fork, but you cannot lengthen the rear travel. Used, an EVO typically sells for about €2,400 on buycycle (all generations, after around 21 days).

Which model year is which generation?

This is the most common trap when buying used, because listings mix model year and generation. The Epic 9 often appears as "2027" in listings, the Epic 8 up to "2026". The new Spark RC appears as "2026" or "2027".

A quick check for the Epic: a small round Brain unit near the rear axle means a bike up to 2023. A large hole in the down tube means an Epic 8. No hole means an Epic 9.

What do the Spark and Epic cost used?

A used Spark RC from model years 2022 to 2025 typically sells for about €3,050 on buycycle, an Epic 8 for about €3,700. The new 2026 generations still fetch about two thirds of their new price.

Typical sold price = median of bikes actually sold (as of 3 November 2026). New price = median RRP stated in the listings. Value after sale = median of sold price divided by new price. Rows mix trims (Comp to S-Works / SL), sizes and conditions. Generation and model come from listing title and model year and can be wrong in single cases. The "2026 on" and "Epic 9" rows rest on few sales (22 and 26).

Three things stand out:

1. Both hold value similarly. Spark RC 2022 to 2025 and Epic 8 fetch about 44 to 45 % of the new price. The Epic costs more in euros because it costs more new.
2. The new generations lose the least. Spark RC 2026 and Epic 9 still fetch about 66 % of new, but on few sales so far.
3. Good XC full-suspension bikes sell slower than road bikes. Newer generations go in two to three weeks, bikes up to 2021 often take a month or more. Road bikes like the Tarmac typically sell in 10 to 12 days. For you that means room to negotiate on older bikes.

Same budget: new Epic 9 or Spark RC, or a used previous generation?

For the price of a new entry-level full-suspension bike you almost always get an older but higher-spec generation used. If you want the newest, the first Spark RC 2026 and Epic 9 are already on the used market, about a third below the new price.

What to check when buying a used Spark or Epic

1. Check frame and rear end. Cracks at the rear triangle, rocker, head tube and shock mounts. Ask about crashes.
2. Spark: shock hatch and service. Have the hatch opened and ask when the shock was last serviced. On the 2022 to 2025 Spark you only reach it from underneath.
3. Spark: headset and lines. Brake and shift lines run through the headset. Check bearing play and routing.
4. Test TwinLoc. All three modes should switch and lock fork and shock together.
5. Epic up to 2023: Brain. Ask when the Brain shock was last serviced; unserviced, it gets sluggish.
6. Epic 8: SWAT hatch. Does it close properly? Are seals and mounts fine?
7. Flight Attendant: battery and pairing. Does the system talk to the drivetrain (AXS), and is the battery healthy?
8. Warranty. According to their terms, both brands cover the frame for the first buyer only. Ask for the proof of purchase and check the current terms on the brand sites.
9. Frame size. Compare reach and test-ride if you can: size L has a reach of about 480 mm on both bikes.

Verdict: which bike for whom?

More comparisons: Scott vs Cube, Trek vs Specialized and our guide to the best mountain bike brands. Wondering what your own bike is worth? See how much is my bike worth. Looking at road bikes too: Tarmac SL9 vs SL8.

FAQ

Does the Specialized Epic still have a Brain?

No, not since the Epic 8 (March 2024). Epics up to model year 2023 have a Brain.

Is there a review of the Epic 9?

Yes, first-ride impressions from BIKE and MTB-News. A direct comparison test with the new Spark RC is still missing. For the Spark, see the bike-test.com review.

Is the Scott Spark a good bike?

Yes. The Spark RC is a World Cup bike. On the 2022 to 2025 Spark the shock is serviced inside the frame; the Epic is simpler.

Which Scott Spark model is the best?

It depends on the budget. The Spark RC SL (€12,999) is the lightest (from 9.9 kg). For used buying, Pro and Team Issue from the 2022 to 2025 generation give the best mix of price and spec.

Spark RC or Spark (900)?

The Spark RC has 120/120 mm and is the race model. The Spark 900 has a 130 mm fork and is meant for rougher trails. For 2026, bike-test.com says no non-RC version has been announced.

What is the difference between the Epic and the Epic EVO?

On the Epic 8, the EVO has a 130 mm fork instead of 120 mm, with the same rear end. With the Epic 9 (2026), EVO and World Cup are dropped.

How heavy is the Specialized Epic frame?

The Epic 9 frame weighs from 1,589 g (size M, S-Works, with shock and hardware). The Epic 8 was 180 to 200 g heavier, depending on the source.

What does a used Spark or Epic cost?

Spark RC 2022 to 2025: typically €3,050. Epic 8: typically €3,700. As of November 2026, analysis of buycycle data.

Sources: Specialized (manufacturer figures, via the tests named); Scott (manufacturer figures, via the tests named); BIKE, "Specialized Epic 9 (2026)" (28 April 2026), "Scott Spark RC 2026" (10 June 2026) and "All models of the Scott Spark RC 2026" (15 June 2026); BikeRadar, Epic 9 (28 April 2026) and Scott Spark RC 2022 (9 June 2021); Velomotion, Epic 9 (April 2026); MTB-News, S-Works Epic 9 first test; bike-test.com, Scott Spark RC 2026; Flow Mountain Bike, Epic 8 (March 2024); BikeRadar, Epic 2021. Used prices: analysis of about 7,800 Spark and 8,000 Epic listings on buycycle, as of 3 November 2026.