Specialized serves both ends with the featherweight and rigid Crux originally a pure cyclocross race breed that can now fit a 47mm tire and the capable Diverge. The rear Future Shock is effective. One thing I appreciated is that Specialized hasnt skimped on all the necessary mounts. As De La Soul sang, three is the magic number, and so the question arises: has this third-generation of the Diverge moved in tune with what seems to be a rapidly changing gravel scene? First ride review: new Specialized Diverge STR S-Works 2023 with Rear Future Shock. Plus detailed bike, kit and accessory reviews from the experts. Although this lightweight 1x drivetrain caused no complaints in terms of its slick, fast shifting and offers the promise of easier maintenance than a 2x setup its a gearing thats likely to be on the large side for bikepackers heading into more mountainous topography. The S-Works, Pro, Expert, and Comp Carbon models all get the updated Future Shock, while the Future Shock 1.5 an older version without hydraulic damping (or the ability to firm it up while riding) is found on the Comp E5, Sport, and Base Carbon offerings. It adds not only comfort but also stability, traction and confidence to an already very capable bike. Specialized Diverge FACT 8r carbon, Future Shock suspension, threaded BB, internal routing, 12x142mm thru-axle, flat-mount disc. On the second day, though, just like with the gearing, the bars came into their own and that extra width was appreciated. Pros. Click here to login, or start an account if youre not yet a member of the Bikepacking Collective. I will be using the stock Specialized rim liner or rim tape. With that said, I did price out the S-Works model spec by spec. This translates into a bicycle with a more stable stance than a dedicated road machine, clearances for markedly larger tires, the confidence of powerful disc brakes, and a penchant for blending for asphalt, dirt and gravel. Specialized Diverge E5 Premium Aluminum, Future Shock suspension, 1x specific EVO geometry, threaded BB, internal routing, 12x142mm thru-axle, flat-mount disc . Women's Diverge E5 Comp. From the first gravel section we hit it instantly had me changing my view on the bike. The new Diverge gains the SWAT down tube storage spot. . Its a similar story for Easton EC70 AX bars. If you intend to multi-day camp regularly, Id recommend picking a model with a 2x drivetrain, ideally a compact 48/32T chainset, to enjoy the best of both worlds. The frame also differs its made with Specialized E5 alloy, but the top tube is 30 mm longer than the standard Diverge geometry (size medium). When the dark clouds rolled in and the rain came pummeling down on that initial ride, the bikes responded well to the change in pace as we sped toward cover. The S-Works build includes a SRAM Red eTap AXS Eagle groupset and a Quarq power meter, Roval Terra CLX II wheels, Terra carbon bars, an S-Works carbon seatpost and the S-Works Power with Mirror saddle. This is easily the bikes main selling point, and is equally likely to be a drawcard or a turn-off for many, depending on how you feel about the need for a bit of bounce up front. Jack Luke is the deputy editor at BikeRadar and has been fettling with bikes for his whole life. 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. Nieuwe Specialized Comp Carbon in de kleur Satin Gun Metal in maat 58.Verwacht in week 11:Diverge Comp Carbon Satin Olive in maat 54 & 56.Diverge Expert Gloss Arctic Blue in maat 58.Diverge Spor. The Diverge Evo is no different. 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 . Both EVO models also come with an X-Fusion Manic Dropper seatpost with 50 mm of travel. A a complete 56cm S-Works Diverge STR has a claimed weight of 18.7lbs (8.5kg) set up tubeless out of the box. Once youve chosen your preferred frame post, switching between the soft and stiff side of a post can be done on the fly. Specialized Terra Pro 2Bliss Gravel Tire. The Comp E5 comes with Shimanos GRX 810 mechanical groupset, and would seem to be a great little option for those entering the world of gravel bikes for the first time. Specialized added a size 44 for the Diverge E5 that can't be found for the carbon version to help with smaller sizing of the bike. Unique, hydraulically dampened suspension, Great tire clearance - 700c and 650B compatible, The fit and ride feel takes some time to set up. The first day we took on a pretty sedate 75 km-ish gravel ride. Specialized Diverge FACT 9r carbon, SWAT Door integration, Future Shock suspension, threaded BB, internal routing, 12x142mm thru-axle, flat-mount disc . . Otherwise, the replacement 2017 Diverge Comp now features a carbon frame and fork and a double crankset too. Notably, the new Diverge is also the first non-electric bike from Specialized to ship with Shimanos gravel-specific GRX groupset. The top-of-the-line mish-mash of SRAMs top MTB and road groupsets worked faultlessly for me. Fit fussing aside, the bike's first impression was one of smoothness. The fact we were riding far more technical and challenging gravel sectors than the day before safely balanced things out. Because I thoroughly enjoyed the bike. Stealing the show of the fourth-generation Diverge gravel bike is the all-new rear Future Shock meant to further isolate the rider from rough roads and balance out the bike. Taking full advantage of the bikes voluminous down tube, the SWAT box offers a lidded storage area near the bottom bracket. So large is the gravel market that Specialized now expects it to be larger than any other category in the very near future. The new Diverge has plenty of options for racks and bottle cage mounts. 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. 24h, Tubeless ready: Front Hub: DT for Roval 350 hub, Centerlock disc: Rear Hub: NEW DT 370 Star Ratchet hub, 24h, DT Swiss Comp Race spokes: Spokes: DT Swiss Competition Race spokes . It takes a shed load of the sting out of the front, and when climbing, especially seated, you dont feel the bob that youd expect from a device you cant fully lock out. 20.10.2022. BA1 1UA. On mountain bikes, ever longer reach, slacker head tubes and lower overall geometry has been shown to significantly improve stability and speed off-road. These offer, in Specializeds words, aggressive tread for aggressive riding on aggressive trails, and that matches the suggested ethos of the EVO nicely. Originally from The Netherlands, she grew up a bike commuter and didn't find bike racing until her early twenties when living in Seattle, Washington. The Base Carbon is fitted out with some pretty basic Axis tubeless-ready Elite Disc rims, and Specialized sealed bearing thru-axle hubs. While its certainly not as glamorous as the satin black carbon tubeset of the Diverge Pro priced at a cool $5500 for 2017 its considerably more refined than the entry level A1, which rings in at a very inclusive $900. Or more precisely, the pairing of this and the Tarmac which has become versatile in its own right by allowing up to 30 mm tyres. And MSRP prices being what they are, I discovered that if you were to buy the Diverge STR frameset and build it up yourself with the same components as offered in the S-Works model, you'd still spend around $13,100. Which, incidentally, is where it differs from the Sequoia. But while this will certainly boost the Diverges climbing credentials, it will likely see you spinning out on fast day rides. But let me delve into the finer details first. Specialized S-Works Tracer 2Bliss Ready Tire. Whether you're looking to set new best times on the next climb or tackle the next mountain, the Diverge will deliver. The Specialized Diverge STR is a capable, comfortable steed that's ready to go long, be it at a race or simply to explore. Weve used this on other Specialized bikes and it really is one of those things youll wish more bikes had as soon as youve used it. At $2600, our test bike the 2016 Diverge Comp DSW X1 Comp sits somewhere in the middle of the pack. On climbs, this meant less slipping of the tires. 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. When pressed on what category the Diverge Evo lives in, Specialized a brand that, by its own admission, likes to name everything insisted it still very much sits within the still evolving spectrum of gravel. Indeed Specialized hardly touched upon it in the launch event presentation. The generous clearances also mean the bike is able to run tyres up to 42mm wide with mudguards. 700 x 40 Tubeless Ready, up to 45 : Great Value gravel bike . The stack height combined with the front-end Future Shock is already a tad high for my liking, so the rider bars make for too upright of a position for me. Personally, . Das Specialized Diverge Comp Carbon Gravel Bike ist ausgestattet mit einer Future Shock 2.0 Starrgabel, . Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access, Enjoy your first month for just 1 / $1 / 1, *Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription. Theres space for up to six cages: two inside the front triangle, one on the underside of the downtube, two on the fork legs and a set of bosses on the top tube. The Roubaix Pro 2Bliss Ready is an endurance road tire that's well suited for smooth and rough roads alike. It ticks plenty of the boxes Im looking for in a well-rounded gravel bike. Starting with its road capabilities, the bike felt as road-orientated as a gravel bike can with 38 mm tyres. Its built with SRAM Force eTAP ASX matched to a SRAM X01 Eagle rear derailleur and SRAM XG-1295 Eagle 12-speed 10-50T cassette. Specialized have released details, images and pricing for their all-new Diverge, the 2021 incarnation of the company's specialist gravel platform. The tire offers riders a higher volume option for long days on gravel roads, and early prototypes of the Trigger 38c tires helped former Masters Cyclocross National Champion James Alan Coats power through the 100-mile event. But as much as this idea that smoother is faster makes sense to me, I didn't really feel very fast. I REALLY want to convert to a tubeless set-up but have gotten mixed reviews online and from my LBS. Yes, they add weight over the caliper brakes of traditional road brakes. 2017 models will be available shortly, meaning bargains from last year are sure to be found. The Diverge Evo is a rowdier version of the new bike designed for more aggressive riding, with a longer and lower geometry, and flat bars rather than drops. Over the years the Diverge has developed somewhat of a cult status and rightly so. 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. It was converted to 1x11 with carbon force 1 crank 42T ring, 11-40 sunrace cassette and Shimano GRX derailleur. Gearing is obviously a personal preference, but Ive never really been sold on 1x groupsets. You need to be logged in to use these features. The Comp Carbon has all the same finishing kit as the Expert but forgoes the Di2 GRX groupset for the mechanical offering in the form of Shimanos GRX 810. As for gear range, my Diverge Comp came fitted with a 46T outer ring, mated to a 10-42 cassette. Wheels are 32 mm deep Roval Terra CLXs. The crossover between the two disciplines is increasingly clear just look at the Diverge Evo below and the Lauf Anywhere is another example of a gravel bike with contemporary geometry. 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. 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. 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. My first ride was spent on the Pro model and was meant to get an initial feel for the bike as a whole. When it comes to weight, the top dog S-Works model with Specializeds FACT 11r carbon, in a 56 cm size fully painted, is claimed to sit under 1,000 g. Drop down a level to the Comp, Expert, and Pro models that use FACT 9r carbon and the weight increases by 100 g. For the Base and Sport models that use the FACT 8r carbon, youre adding another 200 g but also losing the addition of the hidden SWAT box. Despite the new wider downtube it remains faster than the previous Diverge, but its certainly not an aero bike, either. Specialized is also launching the Diverge Evo a stretched out, even slacker and generally more radical version of the Diverge designed for rowdier riding oh, and it ditches drop bars in favour of flat bars. insisted it still very much sits within the still evolving spectrum of gravel. It is also only designed to smooth out rough roads and trails, reducing upper body fatigue, rather than taking big hits on rocky descents, like a mountain bike suspension fork. With the dropper installed on the first day, the rear end felt almost harsh, or at least not as smooth as Id expected. DT Swiss G540 rim, 24mm internal width, tubeless ready, 24h, Specialized full sealed bearing thru axle hub . Nothing too crazy: a mix of mainly loose gravel over a dusty, hardpacked surface, and a nice amount of tarmac to get a feel for the bike out on the road. It might feel gimmicky but weve found this to actually be really useful in testing. She can even be seen bringing a pen and notepad to the press conference. In layman terms, the hero of the rear Future Shock is a composite frame post that sits inside the seat tube. $52.49 $69.99. Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. Dven with Specializeds enormous clout, the Diverge Evo is a weird bike that straddles niches and that could be a hard sell for many shops. How did it ride? Please keep the conversation civil, constructive, and inclusive, or your comment will be removed. Im often irritated when brands omit fender or rack mounts, especially as its an easy part to get right. In which category would you place the bike? . Id also put a lot of this down to the Future Shock 2.0 off-road. Specialized reasons that when the rear wheel encounters a bump, the wheel moves up. The final carbon offering is the Base, kitted out with SRAMs 1x 11-speed Apex groupset. Specialized's Diverge Pro Carbon is an adventure-ready bike, hungry for road, gravel, single track, and more. !Op voorraad:Superstrakke bike! If you havent tried a road bike with hydros, youre in for a treat. The inaugural UEC Gravel European Championships, which will take place on October 1, 2023, By Anne-Marije Rook Published 3 March 23, Newly formed Denver Disruptors and Miami Nights NCL teams will make their debut at Tucson Bicycle Classic and tackle a full season of NCL and domestic racing, By Anne-Marije Rook When pressed on what category the Diverge Evo lives in, Specialized a brand that. 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. Always in search of the hippest new niche in cycling, Jack is a self-confessed gravel dork, fixie-botherer, tandem-evangelist and hill climb try hard. . The Diverge has done exactly that. Tubeless tires are the standard for off-road riding, but in . The Specialized Diverge has been completely reworked from the frame up, including neat new features and a huge variety in options. Heres how it works. Find out more about how we test. Strengthened by the many miles spent darting around Seattle's hilly streets on a steel single speed, Rook's progression in the sport was a quick one. Shop the Specialized Diverge Pro Disc Gravel Bike 2023 online at Sigma Sports. While this yoke adds a touch more weight, the brand says it developed this to avoid using a raised or dropped chainstay, which are commonly used on gravel bikes to improve clearances. Not sure how this might affect changing a flat in the field. You simply loosen the bolt below the seatpost clamp, turn your frame post 90 degrees, re-tighten the bolt, adjust your saddle and go. Starting with the Future Shock 2.0 and your new Gravel-optimized geometry, up to the greatest . Each year sees tweaks and changes. Instead, the extra storage option is now integrated into the downtube beneath the bottle cage yet another carryover from Specializeds mountain bike range. On day two we tackled more challenging terrain with the 47 mm Tracer, a bigger volume, knobblier and more off-road orientated tyre. to support us + get The Bikepacking Journal. And so the wheels in DAluisios head started turning, creating some rather wild looking prototypes. This means, as always, youll likely be able to squeeze in something a touch chunkier if youre feeling bold. It's not spec'd as a tubeless ready wheelset. Whether your goal is to escape on gravel back roads far from cars and crowds or drop the hammer at the front of your favorite gravel race no bike does it better than the new Diverge. Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Once you get to the Sport model youll drop down to the FACT 8r carbon frame and lose that SWAT box. The Specialized Allez Elite Aluminium Road Bike redefines what it means to be "entry-level." Allez is classing leading in weight, refinement and reliability. though it's a shame the wheelset that comes stock with this model isn't tubeless ready. - smoothly. Specialized customer support said the Axis are tubeless compatible, but when I spoke with . The Pathfinder . Shimano's gravel inspired GRX 400 group shifts 2x10 gears smoothly on any terrain and Axis Elite alloy wheels with Pathfinder 38mm tires . All of that can be slotted into a slim bag that slides into the opening of the frame. Thanks in advance for spreading the word! The Conti's mounted easily, without levers, but required >70 psi to fully seat on the tall rim shelf. On the first day I almost felt like 16 degrees of flare was too much and too wide for the road and tame gravel. Wheels: Specialized Axis Elite Disc. The one on the downtube even features three eyelets, so you can run an Anything Cage too. . Unbound gravel has had a rocky few years but, much to the relief to the gravel community, returned last weekend and featured a packed field for 2021. Hidden away out back, on the underside of the seatstays, the bosses are practically undetectable. Specs. Like the S-Works, the Pro gets Easton EC70 AX Carbon 16-degree flare bars. Find details on the three most recent issues below, join the Bikepacking Collective to get it in the mail (anywhere in the World), or click here to find a collection of selected stories in digital format. The one item that stands out on the S-Works over every other model is that its the only one that comes equipped with a dropper post (controversial): the X-Fusion Manic Dropper, with 50 mm of travel. Specialized is just marketing old ideas! I guess that comes down to the individual. There are nine standard models in total and two flat-bar offerings, but more on those later. But come the second day, the gearing came into its own. Skip to main content Skip to footer content. Sure the tyres had been swapped out for the fatter Tracers, but the fore and aft of the post was massively noticeable.
