Photo: Fairwheel Bikes
This Specialized S-Works Epic Single Speed Might Be the Lightest Full-Suspension Mountain Bike in the U.S.
There are a select few riders who fall into the overlapped Venn diagram of mountain bikers and weight weenies. For those riders (and anyone else who enjoys an ultralight build), we may have found the ultimate build.
Fairwheel Bikes is a highly specialized shop in Tucson, Arizona, that is well known for its appreciation of the lightweight and bespoke details that make up the lightest road, gravel, and mountain bike builds. Poking around their blog, I stumbled across this uber-light Specialized Bicycles Epic build that tips the scales at just over 17.5 lbs (8.02kg). The bike is packed with details and covered in bespoke carbon components. From an engineering perspective, this is a testament to the design and functionality of modern carbon mtb components.
Boone Technologies Ti Crankset
Photo: Fairwheel Bikes
With high-end and superlight components, this bike isn't built just to sit in a garage; it is intended to be ridden. While there are ways to make things lighter, the team at Fairwheel did not want to compromise the function in a way that would detract from the pure experience of shredding a single-speed. The core of this build is a Specialized S-Works Epic frameset, but things get pretty custom as you look at the finishing kit used on this build.
Photo: Fairwheel Bikes
Clad in the lightest components from MCFK, Yep, Hope, and Extralite and equipped with a minimalist, single-speed drivetrain utilizing a titanium cog and cranks from Boone and Paul Components Melvin chain tensioner that has been customized with carbon parts.
Photo: Fairwheel Bikes
Custom MTB Wheelset with Extralite hubs and Berd Spokes
Photo: Fairwheel Bikes
The wheelset alone weighs under 1,000 grams without tires, rotors, or cogs, an impressive accomplishment made possible with Porte Rathenberg UL rims connected to Extralite Hyperboost 3 hubs with Berd spokes. It is not the most durable wheelset, but it is exceptionally light and can probably take a decent beating.
Extralite hubs, Berd spokes, and Porte Rathe Carbon Rims - Almost sub 900g!
Photo: Fairwheel Bikes
While there are likely some further weight-saving opportunities, this is an impressive build that even Dangerholm would appreciate. It balances function and form, and a sub-18-pound full-suspension mountain bike that can still be ridden is unique, to say the least.
