In which category would you place the bike? Future Shock 2.0 is no different to the Future Shock that is found on the Roubaix, however, the 20 mm of adjustable hydraulically dampened suspension travel seems more at home on a gravel bike than it does on a road bike. Longer and slacker it may be, but Specialized has balanced that with a long 55 mm fork offset across all frame sizes, meaning the rather quick trail figure (61 mm for a 54 cm) is much the same as before. The Evo name is used by Specialized across all categories to define more left-field or for the lack of a better description rad options in its line-up. Not that the Diverge isnt comfortable and capable when dirt calls, thanks in part to its 32mm tires, the padded handlebar tape and its carbon seat post. The tubeless-ready tyres were . . Brakes are flat mount with the fork designed around larger 160/180 mm rotors instead of the more commonly found 140/160 mm. 0% Finance; Cycle To Work; . While $14K remains a hard-to-justify amount to spend on any bicycle, doing this bit of research does provide some perspective on how the price tag got to be so high. On mountain bikes, ever longer reach, slacker head tubes and lower overall geometry has been shown to significantly improve stability and speed off-road. . However, for a bike that I feel sits more at the faster, race-orientated end of the gravel spectrum as opposed to the more endurance-based, multi-day-exploring end these additions have me wanting to know how it really performs when loaded up and out in the wilds for days on end. The new 2021 Specialized Diverge gravel bike gets a comprehensive refresh, including Future Shock 2.0 suspension on select models. Price: US$10,000 / AU$16,000 / 8,899. This item is in the . The first day I probably used fewer than half the gears available and wished I had one or two other options slotted in the middle on a few occasions. Thanks! While on the other end of the spectrum you've got the the outrageously slack Evil Hagar or the likes of Lauf, Niner and Cannondale who've gone all in on suspension. Yes, they add weight over the caliper brakes of traditional road brakes. We deliver! For the really rowdy riders, the Diverge STR is also dropper post compatible and sports a standard 27.2mm seatpost diameter. More here. It's not spec'd as a tubeless ready wheelset. The Specialized Allez Elite Aluminium Road Bike redefines what it means to be "entry-level." Allez is classing leading in weight, refinement and reliability. The Specialized Diverge is the perfect blend of speed and comfort to ride anywhere, any time. The flexible rear with its dropped seat post clamp and seat post deflection does achieve a good amount of rear-end compliance, but it reached its limits with the increasingly rough terrain common in today's events. Pdalier 40d GXP et cassette Sunrace 11-42. trends in contemporary mountain bike geometry. It offers 20mm of travel, allowing the cockpit to move up and down relative to the frame and fork. This bike was released in 2022 and its price was 4300 AUD (3048 $). Indeed Specialized hardly touched upon it in the launch event presentation. Below are . At the same time, the head angle is also a little slacker, with more fork offset, which actually serves to conjure up a similar trail figure to the Tarmac 64mm to 53mm, depending on the frame size suggesting the bike will steer more like a road bike than a touring bike. Travis | Specialized USA Rider Care" I interpret that as if the stock tape has their 2bliss branding it should be ready to go, but if it doesn't, the rims are compatible but need to be retaped with tubeless tape. Oh, and the engineers have had enough time on their hands to put together a version of the bike that some would say is creeping in to jumping the shark territory. 4 interest-free payments of $9.24 with Klarna. Elite E5 price: US$1,600 / AU$N/A / 1,599 She's now been a cycling journalist for 11 years. E5 Comp EVO price: US$1,600 / 1,599 / AU$2,500. Subscribe from just 13.50 and get a Lezyne Pocket Drive Pump, worth 29! To a certain extend, suspension removes that need or at the least, it allows you to stay seated more often and over more terrain, which in turn means you get more traction. The bike is available in sizes 44cm through to 61cm on cheaper models, narrowing down to 49cm to 61cm on higher-tier models. . Both the Sport and Base models come in eight sizes and downgrade to the previous Future Shock 1.5. Handlebars are Specializeds Adventure Gear Hover with a pleasing 12-degree flare. Once youve chosen your preferred frame post, switching between the soft and stiff side of a post can be done on the fly. This is is a pure pleasure to ride. On the descends, this translated to confidence on the at-times loose terrain and new-to-me roads. Then there are two additional models which bear the name Diverge EVO. As for its aero credentials, well yes, there are a few subtle aero advantage design tweaks but nothing to really write home about. Is the suspension going to bob on an out-of-saddle climb? DT Swiss G540 rim, 24mm internal width, tubeless ready, 24h, Specialized full sealed bearing thru axle hub, centerlock disc, DT Swiss Champion 14G stainless steel spokes, DT Swiss brass nipples . So, yeah, I was ready for a different style of bike, for something to mix up the experience, and that definitely provides the context for how I viewed the Diverge. $41.24 $54.99. The question is: whos this for and is there a market? Our test bike is from the 2016 model year. The Diverge is the entry-level carbon model which retails for $2,500 and features the same frame as the model we tested, but comes with a lower-end spec that includes a 2 x 10-speed Shimano Tiagra drivetrain and Specialized Axis wheels. While all of this is potentially true, talking about the Diverge Evo is exactly what Specialized wants you to do. The Future Shock 1.5 which is used on cheaper versions of the bike has swappable springs (soft, medium and firm), but does not feature the hydraulic damper or adjuster. A complete 56cm S-Works Diverge STR weights 8.5kg (18.75lb) setup tubeless, out of the box. Look for Tubeless Ready on the tire sidewall: Turbo S-Works Rapidair. Cycling Weekly is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. At a staggering $14,000, the S-Works Diverge STR is $3,400 more expensive than its front-suspension-only predecessor and among the most expensive Specialized rollouts we've seen in the brand's road and gravel category yet. Thanks to FACT carbon, the frame is lightweight and makes it a suitable competition platform. Specialized Diverge FACT 9r carbon, SWAT Door integration, Future Shock suspension, threaded BB, internal routing, 12x142mm thru-axle, flat-mount disc . All in a relatively lightweight, road-inspired package. Taking full advantage of the bikes voluminous down tube, the SWAT box offers a lidded storage area near the bottom bracket. but, in brief, it is a lighter overall setup that does not significantly affect handling. A a complete 56cm S-Works Diverge STR has a claimed weight of 18.7lbs (8.5kg) set up tubeless out of the box. DT Swiss G540 rim, 24mm internal width, tubeless ready, 24h, Specialized full sealed bearing thru axle hub, centerlock disc . Pro and Expert models come in at 19.6 lbs (8.9kg) and 20.9lbs (9.5kg), respectively. But it was the tidy fender mounts that impressed me more than the number of other mounting options. Maybe theyll call it mountain biking? Good carbon frame . But come the second day, the gearing came into its own. Sticking with comfort, the Future Shock 2.0 really is ideally suited to gravel. To achieve this, Specialized has forgone the trendy dropped chainstay and has instead opted for a 15 mm section of a solid, flattened carbon beam on the drive side behind the chainrings. Every carbon model of the Diverge is equipped with Future Shock, though only the S-Works Diverge, Diverge Expert Carbon, Diverge Pro Carbon and Diverge Comp Carbon feature the latest version of the damper. you'll be looking at about an 8kg build for the Diverge S-Works, set up tubeless. Like the S-Works, the Pro gets Easton EC70 AX Carbon 16-degree flare bars. Gearing is obviously a personal preference, but Ive never really been sold on 1x groupsets. Find out more about how we test. I see the new Diverge as a bike perfectly aimed at those who want a bike that can do it all without thinking about the route too much. Frameset price: US$4,200 / AU$6,000 / 3,499. On paper, the Diverge isnt as performance-orientated as an all out road machine. . After a long day in the saddle, the rough terrain has less of an impact on the lower back and arms, which means fever aches and generally a more joyful ride. Specialized Diverge FACT 8r carbon, Future Shock suspension, threaded BB, internal routing, 12x142mm thru-axle, flat-mount disc. Given my love for mountain biking and backcountry touring, my ideal journey fuses the two, keeping to quiet dirt roads and singletrack where possible. Alloy DT Swiss G540 wheels keep you rolling efficiently, while Kanza winning Pathfinder Pro 42mm tyres deliver performance across smooth . This is just an old-school mountain bike! You also lose the new carbon seatpost in exchange for a pretty standard-looking single-bolt carbon post. . Its definitely got a race-orientated edge to it, and keeps you on your toes in trickier sections. Old school mountain bike? With a little bit of dampening to take the sting out of the rougher roads and help you stay in control, and room for 650b x 2.1 or 700c x 47mm tires, there are few trails this bike won't be able to handle. My subsequent rides were spent paying closer attention to what the bike, and the dual Future Shocks specifically, were doing. Front: 762 grams. I joked to my fellow bike journalists upon seeing the new Specialized Diverge STR. When pressed on what category the Diverge Evo lives in, Specialized a brand that. Capable, comfortable steed that's ready to go long, be it at a race or simply to explore. Please keep the conversation civil, constructive, and inclusive, or your comment will be removed. Its a rare treat to see a modern carbon drop-bar bike with mudguard eyelets, so hats off to Specialized here its an addition that broadens the Diverges versatility even further. to support us + get The Bikepacking Journal. Wheels. The Diverge has done exactly that. Change makes me angry!. Sure the new geometry adds a bunch of stability, but the Future Shock just adds an undeniable amount of confidence that you otherwise dont get from gravel bikes with similar modern geometry.