There are nine standard models in total and two flat-bar offerings, but more on those later. . This, Specialized argues, is what ultimately makes you faster in the long run, and why Ian Boswell will be choosing the STR as his weapon of choice for the 200-mile Unbound next year. Speed, control and confidence - Future Shock technology is ideal for the gravel rider. The entry-level Diverges the Base E5 and Elite E5 alloy models feature boring rigid fork steerers. You also lose the new carbon seatpost in exchange for a pretty standard-looking single-bolt carbon post. Specialized Diverge FACT 9r carbon, SWAT Door integration, Future Shock suspension, threaded BB, internal routing, 12x142mm thru-axle, flat-mount disc: . Gravel continues to be a such fascinating category for bike manufacturers. 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. The frame post itself is said to have an infinite lifespan and the whole system in general is protected from the usual gravel grime and should last a long time. Ritchey. Yes, its almost as if flat bars make sense for improving off-road control. Refer to Specializeds listings for the most up-to-date geometry information. Specialized Diverge FACT 9r carbon, SWAT Door integration, Future Shock suspension, threaded BB, internal routing, 12x142mm thru-axle, flat-mount disc . . 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. . 20.10.2022. Whether you're looking to set new best times on the next climb or tackle the next mountain, the Diverge will deliver. Part of the reason larger tires can now be accommodated is the advent on hydraulic brakes with drop handlebars. As she competed at the elite level, her journalism career followed, and soon she became a full-time cycling journalist. Specialized has given its Diverge platform a solid shake-up. Billed as the most capable gravel bike Specialized has ever made, the Diverge STR sports a super 1100 gram FACT 11r carbon frameset, the existing Future Shock 2.0 in the front and the new rear Future Shock, and has clearance for 650b x 2.1 or 700c x 47mm tires. , so hats off to Specialized here its an addition that broadens the Diverges versatility even further. Yes, they add weight over the caliper brakes of traditional road brakes. 24.08.2022. I'll admit that I was skeptical of suspension on road and gravel bikes initially, and it took me a while to come around on the Future Shock being able to adjust and lockout the suspension on the fly made a big difference for me. 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. Heres how it works. The tires, which measured 40mm wide, just did fit. The two cheapest aluminium models the Diverge Elite E5 and Diverge Base E5 do not have either version of the Future Shock. Each bike frame size comes with two different frame posts and each post in turn has a stiffer and more flexible side, tunable to the riders preference. We deliver! The Diverge STR unveiled today now features both front and rear Future Shock suspension. Specialized Diverge FACT 9r carbon, SWAT Door integration, Future Shock suspension, threaded BB, internal routing, 12x142mm thru-axle, flat-mount disc . Bath Below are . You need to be logged in to use these features. Whether you're looking to set new best times on the next climb or tackle the next mountain, the Diverge will deliver. Specialized Diverge FACT 8r carbon, Future Shock suspension, threaded BB, internal routing, 12x142mm thru-axle, flat-mount disc Suspension . Specialized Sawtooth 2Bliss Gravel Tire. Rigid frame when you need it With a longer front centre, longer chainstays, slacker head tubes and increased fork rakes, the wheelbase lengths increase from 22 mm for a 49 cm frame up to a whopping extra 40 mm in a 61 cm. That's because it's fast like any competitive road tire, only it features a unique Endurant casing with bead-to-bead puncture . Click here to login, or start an account if youre not yet a member of the Bikepacking Collective. The fact we were riding far more technical and challenging gravel sectors than the day before safely balanced things out. The dampener piece will wear out over time, however, and like a chain or cassette will need to be replaced. All rights reserved. by jtoddgill. 42mm was the previous max tyre width on the last generation of the bike. This is just an old-school mountain bike! While the bike sizing remains consistent among the Diverge line, there are a few minor differences that separate the STR models from others: the BB Drop is slightly higher, the chainstays are minimally longer and the seat tube angle is ~0.5 degrees steeper to compensate for sag in the STR system. You can, of course, drop the range down a notch by swapping out the chainring for one thats 4-6 teeth smaller probably without even needing to adjust the length of the chain. And for this review, I had the rare pleasure of test-riding all three models of the STR line, so I could get a good feel of the frame and Future Shock, no matter the components. Theres provision for a rear rack mount and two water bottle cages. Turbo S-Works 2BR. But as much as this idea that smoother is faster makes sense to me, I didn't really feel very fast. 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. Base E5 price: US$1,100 / AU$N/A / 949. Skip to main content Skip to footer content. 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. The two Diverge Evo builds also use an alloy frameset, but feature Future Shock 2.0. 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 . This item is in the . The chainstay length has grown to a consistent 425mm across all sizes and models. insisted it still very much sits within the still evolving spectrum of gravel. A new name and one significant new face made the headlines as Ian Boswell took the . Many Specialized bikes are equipped with Roval tubeless . The E5 Aluminum frameset also features Specializeds proprietary OSBB, which is compatible with BB30 press fit bottom brackets. 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. All changes are minor, but Specialized does recommend adjusting your static saddle position 5 to 10mm forward and slightly angled down from your normal position. The build is mostly Shimanos Di2 GRX RX815, but with a Shimano XT 11-42T cassette matched with a 40T 1x chainset. Find out more about how we test. We inspire and inform through original bikepacking routes, stories, and coverage of the gear, news, and events that make our community thrive. Id also put a lot of this down to the Future Shock 2.0 off-road. All in a relatively lightweight, road-inspired package. . *Note that only the newer version of the Alpinist and Rapide wheels are tubeless compatible. A 40T chainset spins along with a SunRace 11-42T cassette. Old school mountain bike? but, in brief, it is a lighter overall setup that does not significantly affect handling. 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. Weve written at length about why Specialized opted for this system rather than a conventional telescopic fork but, in brief, it is a lighter overall setup that does not significantly affect handling. $139.80. Wheels are DT Swiss G540. If you come from a road background, fine tuning your suspension will be a new concept. The Local Overnighters Project is a unified effort to document and map one-night bikepacking routes all over the worldby locals, in their own backyards. Making adjustments to the dampener is even easier. If you just want the frameset, then the S-Works is your only option. I will be using the stock Specialized rim liner or rim tape. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. And when traffic encroaches and the path less traveled calls, its stability emboldens extended forays away from pavement. Specialized Diverge Comp Carbon. - Nope. Wheelset: Roval C 38 Disc carbon tubeless-ready clincher Tyres: Specialized Turbo Pro 28mm stock, changed to Continental Grand Prix 5000 TL 32mm, then Schwalbe Pro One TLE 28mm Brakes: Shimano . Converting to tubeless is a hit and miss on these. Frame. Price: US$10,000 / AU$16,000 / 8,899. Once youve chosen your preferred frame post, switching between the soft and stiff side of a post can be done on the fly. The Diverge is like a road bike that coaxes you to hop off curbs and cut down trails, without any of the hesitation you might otherwise feel. Officially, the frame has clearance for 35mm tires with room to spare. 24mm internal width, tubeless ready, 24h: Wheelset - Hubs: Specialized full sealed bearing thru axle hub, centerlock disc: Front tyre: Pathfinder Pro, 2Bliss Ready, transparent sidewall . Planning on some more traditional style touring? A a complete 56cm S-Works Diverge STR has a claimed weight of 18.7lbs (8.5kg) set up tubeless out of the box. The one on the downtube even features three eyelets, so you can run an Anything Cage too. OE Wheelset fitted to a Specialized Diverge, Roubaix and Sirrus. . The geometry table below applies to versions of the bike equipped with Future Shock. Rear: 984 grams. Cycling Weekly's North American Editor, Anne-Marije Rook is old school. From the first gravel section we hit it instantly had me changing my view on the bike. Here in New Mexico, its introduced me to the potential of connecting quiet desert roads with the dirt and gravel tracks that meander between them. Jack thinks nothing of bikepacking after work to sleep in a ditch or taking on a daft challenge for the BikeRadar YouTube channel. These tweaks offer increased stability, lowering your centre of gravity on the bike. Light Fantastic: The Diverge S-Works is a racers dream at approx 8kg. 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. Wheels: Specialized Axis Elite Disc. Specialized reasons that when the rear wheel encounters a bump, the wheel moves up. Again wheels are from Roval: this time the Roval Terra CL in 32 mm wrapped in Specializeds 38 mm Pathfinder Pro in a very fetching transparent/tan sidewall. I've seen a Diverge set up with 38700 Specialized Trigger Pros. Check, check and check. The Pro and Expert models, also featuring Rear Future Shock, come in at 8.9kg and 9.5kg. On the first days gravel forays, the new Diverge took what was laid in front of us in its stride, feeling poised, well-balanced and sure-footed. Vibrations being dampened by both suspension without removing the sensation of fast road cycling. Jack Luke is the deputy editor at BikeRadar and has been fettling with bikes for his whole life. It adds not only comfort but also stability, traction and confidence to an already very capable bike. Our test bike is from the 2016 model year. A Pro model weighs 8.9kg (19.6lb), and an Expert model weighs 9.5kg (20.9lb). If you haven't tried a road bike with hydros, you're . The Diverge Evo a new category is born (maybe?). Look for Tubeless Ready on the tire sidewall: Turbo S-Works Rapidair. According to Specialized, this is a bike for pushing boundaries. With northern New Mexico as my testing ground, I subjected my 57cm test model to a broad spectrum of riding conditions; mixed terrain exploratory day rides, alpine style climbs and descents, evening spins along baby-bottom-smooth blacktop, fast commutes around town (fun! Die hard roadies will no doubt quibble over its weight, compared to a dedicated asphalt machine. 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. 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. Im often irritated when brands omit fender or rack mounts, especially as its an easy part to get right. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Across the six sizes available, its now a universal 425 mm, an increase of 4 to 6 mm depending on size. My first ride was spent on the Pro model and was meant to get an initial feel for the bike as a whole. Even more surprising, its had me pouring over my state Gazateer, planning fast, weekend road tours with new eyes, which in turn has broadened my horizons and knowledge of the area. 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 . Even the entry-point of $7,000 is pretty preventative, and many will have to wait for the technology to trickle down a bit further before being able to experience the dual Future Shock. Future Shock aside, the Diverge STR is spec'd with Specialized's and SRAM's best and proven offerings. Speed, control and confidence - Future Shock 2.0 technology is ideal for the gravel rider. The headline news from this launch sees top-tier versions of the new Diverge adopt the same hydraulically-damped version of the Future Shock as used on the newest Roubaix. Specialized Diverge FACT 9r carbon, SWAT Door integration, Future Shock suspension, threaded BB, internal routing, 12x142mm thru-axle, flat-mount disc . The Specialized Aethos Expert all-road bike in review. Even on the uneven, wet terrain, the wheels stayed safely planted, allowing me to push the speed and corner with confidence. 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 . Frame: Specialized Diverge FACT 9r carbon, SWAT Door integration, Future Shock suspension, threaded BB, internal routing, 12x142mm thru-axle, flat-mount disc . Sign in to manage your newsletter preferences. It ticks plenty of the boxes Im looking for in a well-rounded gravel bike. At the end of the day, its just a damn fun bike to ride. New bike day: 2019 S-Works Tarmac Disc SL6. Handlebars are Specializeds Adventure Gear Hover with a pleasing 12-degree flare. Frameset price: US$4,200 / AU$6,000 / 3,499. 12 X 100 (front) and 12 X 142 (rear) thru-axle only can't be convert to anything else. Firstly the blindingly obvious: it comes with flat bars. Plus detailed bike, kit and accessory reviews from the experts. As for protecting both your friends and your clothes from the elements, Specializeds Plug and Play Fenders are designed to work. 2017 models will be available shortly, meaning bargains from last year are sure to be found. Roubaix Pro. thus killing a number of birds with one stone. Elite E5 price: US$1,600 / AU$N/A / 1,599 Your bike will come fully built and 100% ready to ride, . Prior to the world going into lockdown, Dave Shoddy Everett attended an exclusive launch of the new Diverge to learn what it was all about and how it rides. 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. Not sure how this might affect changing a flat in the field. Tyre clearance has also been beefed up, now offering room for up to 700 x 47 mm or 650B x 2.1 (approx 53 mm) rubber. Personally, . Start at our worldwide routes map to dig into our detailed guides with GPS maps and inspiring photography. The top-of-the-line mish-mash of SRAMs top MTB and road groupsets worked faultlessly for me. 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. Pro and Expert models come in at 19.6 lbs (8.9kg) and 20.9lbs (9.5kg), respectively. Specs. The generous clearances also mean the bike is able to run tyres up to 42mm wide with mudguards. Finally got myself into the gravel world with a 2021 Specialized Diverge Elite E5 and have had a blast on it so far. 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. The posher Specialized Diverge came with their own SCS standard wheels .By buying an A1 Sport I got the ordinary wheel standard,a carbon fork and a threaded bottom bracket (no BB30 yay!) Alloy DT Swiss G540 wheels keep you rolling efficiently, while Kanza winning Pathfinder Pro 42mm tyres deliver performance across smooth . 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. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, It's not recommended that you mess with the rebound speed too much, but it can be adjusted with a hex key through a hole in the base of the top tube. Issue #021 Review The Sarto Seta Disc all-road bike in review. And theres room to go even bigger. I guess that comes down to the individual. Cycling Weekly is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. That is to say, I miss a bit of the snappiness and liveliness of a pure race breed like the Crux or even a previous Diverge. The EVOs also been designed to be 1x specific, where the rest of the range can be chopped-and-changed depending on your preference. Next to Specializeds Tarmac, the chainstays are longer and the bottom bracket drop deeper. A flat bar gravel bike with chunky tyres (a hybrid by any other name) is hardly as innovative as the hover bar, but its still going to be a totally divisive and intriguing bike, sure to make a splash. you'll be looking at about an 8kg build for the Diverge S-Works, set up tubeless. In fact, I was surprised to see what speeds we actually hit out on the roads when I was back at the hotel and checking out my ride data. North American Editor Anne-Marije Rook test riding the all-new Specialized Diverge STR. In our experience to date, the system does live up to the hype it has been shown to be impressively effective in testing on both the Roubaix and previous-generation Diverge, and is universally liked here at BikeRadar. This Diverge STR is still rigid climbing hills without any pumping effect of either the front or rear suspension. FRONT WHEEL 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 . 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. (tubeless ready) for Comp and above. Published 2 March 23. Compared to a traditional road bike, its the width of the Diverges tires well, in roadie terms at least that stands out most initially, in keeping with a growing trend of running roomier, lower pressure rubber on wider rims. The slight motion isn't off-putting per se, it's just new and takes some getting used to. . propos de ce deal. I'm not a big fan of the Hover riser bars, but that's a personal preference.