New bikes for a new year. Anything can happen.

Every year, when new model-year bikes are introduced, there are a handful that stop us in our tracks. This year, it's a little more than two handfuls. We aren't promising that the eleven bikes featured here are revolutionary—they're too new to know for sure—but we've had the chance to take short rides on every one of them, and they're each worthy of your attention.

SPECIALIZED S-WORKS EPIC CARBON 29ER

PRICE: $9,400 WEIGHT: 22 lb. (M) INFO: specialized.com
If you need proof that Specialized is now fully behind large-diameter wheels, take a look at the new S-Works Epic Carbon 29er. The frame is all carbon, right down to the proprietary 142x12mm rear thru-axle dropouts. The Roval wheels have tubeless-ready molded carbon rims to add stiffness and shave weight. Up front, the custom Specialized/RockShox Reba 29 fork has Specialized's Brain inertia-valve lockout, as well as a carbon crown and steerer. A slightly altered rear link reduces pedal feedback, so the bike relies less on the Brain's lockout for efficiency. (The fork has reduced platform, as well.) » The changes create a more responsive ride, especially on low-amplitude bumps, without sacrificing speed on smoother trails. The frame is near perfect—stiff where it has to be and compliant where it should be—making this 29er a shoo-in as one of the best XC bikes ever.

 

Why: Cutting-edge technology and redesigned suspension make this bike a winner