Wheel Size

29"

Rear Travel

100 - 110 mm

Front Travel

110 - 120 mm

Frame Weight

1.320 g

Sizes

M / L

Climbing

Rolling Trails

Technical Trails

Fast Downhills

Jumps

The Evolve FS is our interpretation of an XC bike. We naturally wanted it to be light and fast on a race track. But most importantly, we wanted to bring that speed onto your trails.

We were riding what is now called Down Country bikes all our lives. Until now, they were just XC bikes upgraded with 120 mm travel forks, shorter stems, wider bars and a dropper seat post. We see this as the standard configuration of a modern XC bike, so we designed the Evolve FS for it from the beginning, with the option to go down to a 100 mm fork for racing.

We combined the lightest construction we could think of with a radical geometry and an extremely efficient suspension. It makes you fly up the climb before diving into the descent full of confidence. And where your ride would end on another bike, you go up the next mountain.

The ideal bike no matter whether you are at the starting line of a race, racking up KOMs and kilometers of single trail, or just on a short and intense evening ride.

Features

ARC8 EVOLVE FS XT Pure Black Performance 02

Dual Pivot Suspension

In our Dual Pivot Suspension System, a slider replaces the previous linkage. This slider simulates an almost infinitely long lever, resulting in a kinematics that provides an almost perfectly linear-progressive curve. The slider provides precise suspension control, with a very sensitive initial response and then evenly releases the travel. This ensures a controlled feeling throughout the entire travel.

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Layup

To achieve the optimal layup, a lot of work went into FEM calculations: we analyzed over 50 different layups for the first version of the Evolve FS. The new revised version has been additionally reinforced in specific areas, resulting in a stiffness gain of 4% compared to the previous model.

More Less

Weight

All the FEM calculations and simulations paid off: in the end, we held one of the lightest XC frames in our hands. With a frame weight of approximately 1.320 g, the Evolve FS is definitely one of the lightest in its class.

Geometry

The core of the Evolve FS, alongside the slider technology, is its geometry. With a long reach combined with a slack head angle, it provides downhill confidence like never before.

Bottle Cage

Whether it's long marathons or extended rides on hot summer days, the Evolve FS accommodates two water bottles and is now even Fidlock-ready.

Aero Down Tube

The down tube of the Evolve FS is aerodynamically shaped, not only giving it a sleek appearance but also making it faster. Additionally, the high bend provides less surface area for dirt to stick to.

FIDLOCK-Ready

Your Evolve FS is now Fidlock ready. This means the Fidlock base is already included in the delivery. All you need to do is clip in your Fidlock bottle and you're good to go.

Faserwerk Baslerstab

To make the Evolve FS even lighter, pair it with our Baslerstab carbon handlebar. With a standard width of 800mm, you can perfectly cut it to your preferred handlebar width.

Build specs & prices

24 ARC8 Evolve FS Pure Black SRAM XX FA 01

XX SL | RockShox Flight Attendant

€11,999

Colors

Frame ARC8, Evolve FS, full carbon

Fork RockShox SID SL Ultimate Flight Attendant; 120mm

Shock RockShox SIDLuxe Ultimate Flight Attendant; 100mm

Seat Post RockShox Reverb AXS; 125mm

Headset Acros AIF-531

Axle M12xP1.0; 148mm

Stem Faserwerk Baslerstab 35mm / 50mm

Handlebar Faserwerk Baslerstab 800mm

Grips Ergon GXR

Saddle Repente Quasar

Front Brake Shimano XTR 9200 2-Piston

Rear Brake Shimano XTR 9200 2-Piston

Front Rotor Shimano XTR CL900; 180mm

Rear Rotor Shimano XTR CL900; 160mm

Crank SRAM XX SL Eagle Transmission Powermeter; 34t; 170mm

Bottom Bracket SRAM DUB BSA 73 MTB Wide

Cassette SRAM XS 1299; 10-52

Chain SRAM XX SL T-Type

Shift Lever SRAM AXS POD Ultimate

Rear Derailleur SRAM XX SL Eagle Transmission

Front Wheel NEWMEN Phase XC 30 light VONOA

Rear Wheel NEWMEN Phase XC 30 light VONOA

Front Tire Wolfpack Speed 29x2,4

Rear Tire Wolfpack Speed 29x2,4

Tube Tubeless

XTR Di2 | Fox Factory Remote

€8,999

Colors

Frame ARC8 Evolve FS, full carbon

Fork Fox 34 SL Factory; 120mm; Remote

Shock Fox Float SL Factory; 110mm; Remote (picture shows w/o remote)

Seat Post BikeYoke Divine SL; 125mm

Headset Acros AIF-531

Axle M12xP1.0; 148mm

Stem Faserwerk Baslerstab 35mm / 50mm

Handlebar Faserwerk Baslerstab 800mm

Grips Ergon GXR

Saddle Repente Quasar

Front Brake Shimano XTR 9200 2-Piston

Rear Brake Shimano XTR 9200 2-Piston

Front Rotor Shimano XTR CL900; 180mm

Rear Rotor Shimano XTR CL900; 160mm

Crank Shimano XTR M9200; 34t; 170mm

Bottom Bracket Shimano MT801 BSA

Cassette Shimano XTR M9250; 10-51

Chain Shimano XTR CNM9100

Shift Lever Shimano XTR Di2 M9250

Rear Derailleur Shimano XTR Di2 M9250

Front Wheel NEWMEN Phase 30 XC light

Rear Wheel NEWMEN Phase 30 XC light

Front Tire Wolfpack Cross 29x2,4

Rear Tire Wolfpack Speed 29x2,4

Tube Tubeless

ARC8 EVOLVE FS XT Pure Black Performance

GX AXS | Fox Performance

€6,699

Colors

Frame ARC8 Evolve FS, full carbon

Fork Fox 34 SC Performance; 120mm

Shock Fox Float DPD Performance; 110mm

Seat Post BikeYoke Divine SL; 125mm

Headset Acros AIF-531

Axle M12xP1.0; 148mm

Stem Faserwerk Baslerstab 35mm / 50mm

Handlebar Faserwerk Baslerstab 800mm

Grips Ergon GXR

Saddle Repente Quasar

Front Brake Shimano XT 8100 2-Piston

Rear Brake Shimano XT 8110 2-Piston

Front Rotor Shimano XT RTMT800; 180mm

Rear Rotor Shimano XT RTMT800; 180mm

Crank SRAM GX Eagle Transmission; 34t; 170mm

Bottom Bracket SRAM DUB BSA 73 MTB Wide

Cassette RAM XS 1275; 10-52

Chain SRAM GX T-Type

Shift Lever SRAM Pod

Rear Derailleur SRAM GX Eagle Transmission

Front Wheel DT SWISS XM 1700 SPLINE

Rear Wheel DT SWISS XM 1700 SPLINE

Front Tire Wolfpack Cross 29x2,4

Rear Tire Wolfpack Speed 29x2,4

Tube Tubeless

Weight (Size M) 10.9 kg

XT | Fox Performance

€5,499

Colors

Frame ARC8 Evolve FS, full carbon

Fork Fox 34 SC Performance; 120mm

Shock Fox Float DPD Performance; 110mm

Seat Post BikeYoke Divine SL 125mm

Headset Acros AIF-531

Axle M12xP1.0; 148mm

Stem Faserwerk Baslerstab 35mm / 50mm

Handlebar Faserwerk Baslerstab 800mm

Grips Ergon GXR

Saddle Repente Quasar

Front Brake Shimano SLX 7100 2-Piston

Rear Brake Shimano SLX 7100 2-Piston

Front Rotor Shimano CL700; 180mm

Rear Rotor Shimano CL700; 180mm

Crank Shimano XT FCM8120; 32T; 170mm; 55mm

Bottom Bracket Shimano MT800 BSA

Cassette Shimano XT CSM8100; 10-51T

Chain Shimano XT M8100

Shift Lever Shimano XT M8100

Rear Derailleur Shimano XT M8100

Front Wheel DT SWISS XM 1700 SPLINE

Rear Wheel DT SWISS XM 1700 SPLINE

Front Tire Wolfpack Cross 29x2,4

Rear Tire Wolfpack Speed 29x2,4

Tube Tubeless

Weight (Size M) 10.7 kg

Frame Kit

€2,999 →

Colors

Frame ARC8 Evolve FS, full carbon

Shock w/o shock

Headset Acros AIF-531

Axle M12xP1.0; 148mm

Weight (Size M) ca. 1.320 g (w/o shock)

You can’t find your desired specification? We can change that! ARC8 stands for custom builds—whether it’s the spec or the frame color. If you have specific requests, feel free to contact your dealer. They can arrange variations of the listed bikes or even complete custom builds for you.

Frequently asked questions

Fortunately, we were on-site and were able to take over the defective frame directly and provide the rider with a new one. From then everything ran at full speed for us because we wanted to know exactly what had happened here.
We tested frames until they failed, deliberately damaged frames, and tested them again, but we could not reproduce this scenario. The reliability of our products is extremely important to us, which is why we decided to revise the layup of the Evolve FS again to be on the safe side.
The Evolve FS was then tested in addition to the intensive tests at the manufacturer also at the EFBE Institute and passed the test bench tests for ASTM 3 and even exceeded them significantly.

All shocks we specify for our mountain bikes are tuned in close collaboration with the respective suspension manufacturer and tailored to the bike’s kinematics. Due to our custom suspension layout, standard shock tunes often don’t work optimally and may limit the bike’s performance. For example, the compression tune might be too firm, or the rebound too slow. That’s why we strongly recommend using a shock we’ve specified – to ensure you get the most out of your bike and enjoy every second on the trail.

Yes, the Evolve FS is UDH compatible.

For the Evolve FS, you need a T-Type chain with 116 links. Setup is done on the 7th cog (21 teeth). Setup key position is A. This applies to 32 and 34T chainrings. More info: https://axs.sram.com/guides/fullmount/chain/calculator

We planned to do the Evolve FS in three sizes, S/M/L. But then something very confusing happened: we received the first sample in M size, and riders from 1.60 to 1.80 all seemed to fit perfectly on that bike. Trying to understand it gave us some sleepless nights. Lots of measurements were taken, photos and geometries analyzed. Finally we brought the bike to Andreas Gösele, doctor of the Swiss Olympic team and a well known bike fitting expert. As it turned out, we created a highly adaptable geometry, and an S size is simply not needed.

The Evolve FS is designed to be used with shorter stems than what usual is used in XC. We recommend stems that are 35 to 70 mm long.

Whether you classify the Evolve FS as a cross-country or a down-country bike is up to you. What's important to us is that it's just incredibly fun – both uphill and downhill.
Modern cross-country race courses demand a lot from riders and equipment. That's why the Evolve FS underwent rigorous testing by the EFBE Institute and was cleared for ASTM 3.

We recommend cleaning the rails after every ride and removing any dust or dirt from the wipers. In adverse conditions (mud or fine dust) or after a few days on the trail, it's helpful to apply a drop of suspension fork oil in front of and behind the Slider on the rails. Then compress the bike to work in the oil. Wipe off any remaining dirt once more. We've had good experience with R.S.P HyperWiper, for example. After that, your bike is ready for the next ride.

BIKE

"Selbst nach acht Monaten im Dauereinsatz begeistert mich das ARC8 Evolve FS wie am ersten Tag. Den Schweizern ist hier in meinen Augen das perfekte Racebike gelungen: schnell auf der Rennstrecke, spaßig im Alltag und vor allem langlebig."

Max Fehr

BIKE Magazin

(...) fast schon eine kleine Sensation. Während der Testfahrten auf Schehls Trainingsrunde fuhr sich das ARC8 direkt in die Herzen unserer Tester (...) Noch nie war ein Racefully so leicht, vortriebsstark und gleichzeitig souverän bergab. Kurzum: leichtestes Bike, schnellstes Bike, Testsieg!

Max Fuchs about the Evolve FS

Design & Innovation Award

No other bike currently available on the market offers such a good compromise between weight and trail performance.

Read full post

PinkBike

ARC8 (...) used some well-thought-out solutions and engineering to make a unique bike that may be more impressive than a lot of other XC and downcountry bikes on offer at the moment. And perhaps for a while to come.

Dan Roberts about the Evolve FS

Read full post

	Size	M (120 mm fork)	M (110 mm fork)	L (120 mm fork)	L (110 mm fork)
	Rider Height	160-178	160-178	178-190	178-190
A	Reach	465	469	495	499
B	Stack	588	585	597	594
C	TT	612	611	635	634
D	ST	440	440	480	480
E	SA (virtual)	76	76.4	76	76.4
	SA (real)	72.7	73.1	72.7	73.1
F	HA	65	65.4	65	65.4
G	HT	100	100	110	110
H	Fork Offset	44	44	44	44
I	Fork A-C	530	521	530	521
J	CS	430	430	430	430
K	Wheelbase	1200	1196	1234	1230
L	BB Drop	35	38	35	38
M	Standover	684	677	682	679

Component	Specification	Comment
Headset	IS52/42 \| IS52/42	Acros, cover customized for ARC8
Seatpost	ø30.9	maximum insertion 245 mm
Seatpost Clamp	ø34.9
Rear Brake	Flatmount 160 mm	max. 180 mm with adaptor
Rear Axle	148 x 12 mm	M12 x 1, length 178 mm
Rear Wheel	Boost (148 mm) rear hub
BB	BSA 73 mm
Max. Chainring Size	38 T with 55 mm chainline
Chainline	55 mm
Chainguide	77 Designz FREESOLO V2-05+BSA
Rear Derailleur Hanger	Sram UDH
Fork	120 mm travel max.
Shock Size	210 x 55 (110 mm travel), 210 x 50 (100 mm travel)	Remote lockout possible
Shock Hardware	20 x 8 on eyelet, no hardware on body
Tires	29 x 2.4 max	On 30 mm inner width rim.
Bottlecage	on seat tube and down tube

EVOLVE FS

Features

Dual Pivot Suspension

Layup

Weight

Geometry

Bottle Cage

Aero Down Tube

FIDLOCK-Ready

Faserwerk Baslerstab

Build specs & prices

Geometry

Technical details

Background stories

TESTS & AWARDS · Feb 26, 2025

Long term test Evolve FS

DEVELOPMENT · Mar 21, 2024

Evolve FS Update

BIKE NEWS · Mar 21, 2024

Evolve FS LTD Edition

Frequently asked questions

BIKE

Max Fehr

BIKE Magazin

Max Fuchs about the Evolve FS

Design & Innovation Award

PinkBike

Dan Roberts about the Evolve FS