You've seen the look. The, "are-they-really-about-to-ride-that-on-a-hardtail" look. Well, get ready to get it a lot more aboard the Epic Hardtail. Fast and light meets confident and capable in a bike that's been bred to redefine what's possible on a cross-country speed demon. Working towards the lightest bike possible has long been the race within the race, but at what cost? The battle of the grams certainly hasn't been without its casualties, with hardtail XC race bikes coming to stand for a harsh, twitchy ride at the expense of capability and versatility. But who said fatigue from fighting against your own bike makes you any faster? Instead, recognizing that the fastest bike is more than simply the lightest bike, we said out with the "jarred-to-death tail", the "measure-your-posterior's-sorrows-by-the-yard tail" and in with the "avant-garde tail". The ridiculously capable, mystifyingly comfortable, head-shakingly light and all-around fast, Epic Hardtail. Sure, we optimized every inch of the Epic Hardtail frame to achieve the lightest production hardtail frame in the world anyway, but we also prioritized our commitment to creating an Epic Hardtail that's as capable as it is comfortable with aggressive singletrack-inspired geometry, increased tire clearance and a frame obsessively engineered for increased vertical compliance, all while creating a bike that lives and breathes the fundamentals of fast. A RockShox Judy Gold fork and Shimano drivetrain highlight the build, effortlessly balancing both value and performance to impressive results. - Don't judge this Judy without being prepared to come away impressed. RockShox's capable Motion Control Damper and Solo Air spring combine for composed, predictable travel and effortless setup and adjustment. - Ridiculously capable, incredibly light, and refreshingly comfortable, the Epic Hardtail's dropper-post friendly FACT 11m carbon frame rewrites the hardtail playbook with game-changing success. - Shimano's M6100 hydraulic disc brakes pack a punch, offering serious bite and backing it up with a refined, intuitive feel to make for a package that squeezes heavyweight performance out of a scale-friendly setup.

Gone are the days where a date with a hardtail race bike meant paying for it for days to come. Now, the Epic Hardtail Comp's reality-altering combination of comfort and capability in a lighter-than-life package means counting down the hours until you meet again. Working towards the lightest bike possible has long been the race within the race, but at what cost? The battle of the grams certainly hasn't been without its casualties, with hardtail XC race bikes coming to stand for a harsh, twitchy ride at the expense of capability and versatility. But who said fatigue from fighting against your own bike makes you any faster? Instead, recognizing that the fastest bike is more than simply the lightest bike, we said out with the "jarred-to-death tail", the "measure-your-posterior's-sorrows-by-the-yard tail" and in with the "avant-garde tail". The ridiculously capable, mystifyingly comfortable, head-shakingly light and all-around fast, Epic Hardtail. Sure, we optimized every inch of the Epic Hardtail frame to achieve the lightest production hardtail frame in the world anyway, but we also prioritized our commitment to creating an Epic Hardtail that's as capable as it is comfortable with aggressive singletrack-inspired geometry, increased tire clearance and a frame obsessively engineered for increased vertical compliance, all while creating a bike that lives and breathes the fundamentals of fast. On the Epic Hardtail Comp, RockShox's long-beloved Reba RL fork is tasked with handling suspension duties while a full Shimano SLX groupset leaves no doubts why it sets the benchmark for acessible performance. - Ridiculously capable, incredibly light, and refreshingly comfortable, the Epic Hardtail's dropper-post friendly FACT 11m carbon frame rewrites the hardtail playbook with game-changing success. - Shimano's SLX shifting has always been the benchmark for affordable high performance, and the latest M7100 series simply raises it even further. - The Reba RL doles out travel with a steady hand courtesy of RockShox's Motion Control damper, while SoloAir adjustability makes dialing in suspension performance a breeze.

The Fuse Comp 29 punches way above its weight class thanks to a light-yet-burly M4 aluminum chassis, frame geometry that lends the bike both playfulness and capability, and parts that withstand a serious flogging. - 130-millimeters of plush suspension courtesy of a RockShox Recon RL fork. - Highlights include powerful SRAM Level TRL disc brakes and a TranzX dropper post. - SRAM NX Eagle drivetrain gives you single-ring simplicity and gearing to spare.

The Fuse Comp 29 punches way above its weight class thanks to a light-yet-burly M4 aluminum chassis, frame geometry that lends the bike both playfulness and capability, and parts that withstand a serious flogging. ROWDY BY DESIGN The Fuse is loaded with smart touches. The wide-diameter down tube boosts stiffness. The low-slung top tube improves maneuverability. And while this Fuse's 29x2.6 tires give it a precise, nimble feel, the M4 aluminum frame is also compatible with 27.5+ wheels and tires. PERFECTLY DIALED If you fail to nail the geometry, advanced materials and innovative designs still amount to nothing on the trail. Fuse gets it right. The long reach gives you even weight distribution. The slack head angle lends confidence on sketchy descents. The steep seat angle makes quick work of steep climbs. BUILT TO SHRED - 130-millimeters of plush suspension courtesy of a RockShox Recon RL fork. - Highlights include powerful Shimano M4100 disc brakes and a TranzX dropper post. - Shimano Deore M6100 12-speed drivetrain gives you single-ring simplicity and gearing to spare.