Bunch of ignorant people commenting on here. I paid $5k for my '23 Diverge...took me 15 minutes to switch seat posts...best bike I've ever had...and I've had 14, including 2 Specialized Roubaix.
but it's not a suspension IMO like the Headshok was. The Headshok allowed the wheel to track the ground while keeping the rider stable. This system just "isolates" the rider, but doesn't meaningfully help the wheel track the ground as far as I can tell. Like shocks on your car vs some type of shock absorber on your steering wheel (only analogy I can think of). The Headshok was awesome though. Just was limited in terms of travel since it crammed all the gubbins between the crown and headset. Laterally stiff as heck thanks to those needle bearings.
Good review. But, $7500 is ridiculous IMO. Typical Specialized though. My '22 Trek Checkpoint SL6 has Rival XPLR 1x and a non-tunable ISO-speed rear (similar to the Specialized setup) and cost over $3k less. I put on a RedShift Shockstop pro stem for smoothing out the front and added the Bontrager Pro3v carbon wheels (way nicer than the wheels on the Diverge). Upgraded to a Rival powermeter and still came in over $1500 less than the Diverge while having a reputable power meter. IMO, Specialized are overpriced based on a reputation they've claimed.
I have a Checkpoint SL6 also and it makes me appreciate it even more when I compare it to this monstrosity. Checkpoint is a way better value, much better looking, and also much lighter weight. I'm sure more reliable too with the looks of this.
Whats ridiculous is that this isnt really suspending the wheels, coz the suspension is attached to the seat tube, while the rear triangle is still rigid, so it will improve comfort but not traction. All this complexity for something that can be achieved by a suspension seatpost.
I was a Seqoia guy myself, for its clean lines and modern steel constriction. That was my limit as far as gravel type bikes went. This is mind blowing, and comfy, yes... But it's not for me. I would just go to full suspension MTB at this point. Because even the "gravel world championship used roadies with fatter tires" ...go figure. Good review still!
Well, to be honest this is not even a semi-serious off road bike. The suspension is so minimal that pretty much all it is good for is taking away some of the buzz on nicely maintained fire roads and dirt paths. For anything serious the suspension here is not nearly enough and it’s not even real suspension that would help your tires track and grip on uneven surfaces. It just permits the rider to bob back and forth and a bit up and down, while the wheels re bouncing off every rock, stump, hole or other imperfection you encounter. This is a great example of “engineering” driven by the marketing dept. 😀
Yeah, because roads, park maintenance, police, fire depts, EMT’s public schools, and all the other services you take for granted every day should just magically pay for themselves. It’s always comical seeing the same libertarian types complain over and over about taxes, but very, very few of them actually walk the walk and truly live off the grid with no government related services supporting their lives at all. 😀
@@ivanboesky1520 no, they use the tax money to attack freedom or spread lies. Put 30 FBI agents in Twitter to attack the first amendment at our free speech and protect their criminals.
Quit complaining. This is a high end niche bike. It's not like it's your only option. Plus, this is how things advance. They start out overpriced and overly complicated and get refined.
it's not full mountain yet, still missing an electronic drivetrain, dropper, battery and canyon's spring tensioner to keep the handlebars straight. LOL
It's interesting, confusing, and complicated all at once. Thanks for the vid, but not for me. And to call any of that "suspension" is just a flat out lie.
Wowzers!!! Naw, I like my 2018 diverge better with my cobble gobbler seat post, best suspension ever! This is way too much weight n back n forward movement. Whole lot of shaking going on!! Ha
It’s like bringing the argument of “a hybrid bike is the worst of both worlds” up to a stupid price range. This thing ain’t gonna be as fast as a dedicated road bike, nor as capable as even a cross country hardtail at a cheaper price. If someone’s this rich they oughta just buy two bikes that satisfy on road and off road use. Your reviews, unlike this bike, always impress me though!
I'm a fan of keep it simple. I'll pass. Next they'll be putting batteries and electric motors on these. I'm old school. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Who is the target audience for this? If you pedal seated on gravel roads you don’t need rear suspension, you need a compliant carbon seatpost and cushy tires. If you’re into single track, this rear suspension setup is useless because it only works when you’re seated. Gimme a a dropper post over this any day.
I'm all for progression of bike innovation. If you think about it, this bike has all the power transfer of a road bike but has a little kush. It's ugly AF and I would never ride it but it's tech is quit a leap
Only it doesn’t have the power transfer of a standard road bike. Not even close. Try climbing on one of these things with that front Futureshock in its most locked out position that still continually compresses and returns to its original position and tell me you are not losing power transfer. Climb seated in the saddle with your seatpost and saddle continually swaying back and forth on a 20-30 mm arc and tell me you are not losing power transfer there as well or that this is as efficient as a standard road bike because it isn’t. 😀
![Building a road bike from MTB convert to ROAD BIKE [Restoration]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/LOGhcD-msvc/mqdefault.jpg)
![Building a road bike from MTB convert to ROAD BIKE [Restoration]](/img/tr.png)
all the proprietary components makes this a no go for me.. you will not be able to service it
I've serviced mine...can't you do some mechanicin'? It took me 15 minutes to switch out seat tubes.
Good review of an interesting bike. I keep thinking of the Trek Supercalibre though.
Yep
Bunch of ignorant people commenting on here. I paid $5k for my '23 Diverge...took me 15 minutes to switch seat posts...best bike I've ever had...and I've had 14, including 2 Specialized Roubaix.
^^ This
Kinda feels like a full circle back to a ‘90’s cross country bike.
I enjoy all your videos.
Thank you
It does kind of. What is old becomes new again.
And thanks for watching!
Thanks for the review!
That front suspension reminded me of Cannondale's Headshok from ages ago. I don't see them on the road now but they were all the rage when I was a kid
but it's not a suspension IMO like the Headshok was. The Headshok allowed the wheel to track the ground while keeping the rider stable. This system just "isolates" the rider, but doesn't meaningfully help the wheel track the ground as far as I can tell. Like shocks on your car vs some type of shock absorber on your steering wheel (only analogy I can think of). The Headshok was awesome though. Just was limited in terms of travel since it crammed all the gubbins between the crown and headset. Laterally stiff as heck thanks to those needle bearings.
I'll stick to my PNW Dropper post with 40mm of travel built into it way more simple and easier to maintain
But that is too easy...
They are going to ditch this for the 2024 model.
looks like you're playing for *Time* *Streamer*
Good review. But, $7500 is ridiculous IMO. Typical Specialized though. My '22 Trek Checkpoint SL6 has Rival XPLR 1x and a non-tunable ISO-speed rear (similar to the Specialized setup) and cost over $3k less. I put on a RedShift Shockstop pro stem for smoothing out the front and added the Bontrager Pro3v carbon wheels (way nicer than the wheels on the Diverge). Upgraded to a Rival powermeter and still came in over $1500 less than the Diverge while having a reputable power meter. IMO, Specialized are overpriced based on a reputation they've claimed.
There are some reasonably priced specialized bikes. All the major manufacturers have gone a little crazy the last couple of years, though.
Kawasaki Ninja 400 money
That’s Sick.
Love my Checkpoint.
I have a Checkpoint SL6 also and it makes me appreciate it even more when I compare it to this monstrosity. Checkpoint is a way better value, much better looking, and also much lighter weight. I'm sure more reliable too with the looks of this.
Whats ridiculous is that this isnt really suspending the wheels, coz the suspension is attached to the seat tube, while the rear triangle is still rigid, so it will improve comfort but not traction. All this complexity for something that can be achieved by a suspension seatpost.
The marketing people in the bike industry are geniuses when it gets people to buy stuff. 9 different posts to purchase and try, sure sounds legit.
You don't have to buy them all. How much do you weigh, or is that too complicated for you?
Only 10.000 US, I was afraid it would be expensive
I paid $5k for mine.
I was a Seqoia guy myself, for its clean lines and modern steel constriction. That was my limit as far as gravel type bikes went. This is mind blowing, and comfy, yes... But it's not for me. I would just go to full suspension MTB at this point. Because even the "gravel world championship used roadies with fatter tires" ...go figure. Good review still!
What if you just add a high quality suspension seatpost to the Diverge Expert?
All this off-road hi-tech R+D and......no dropper post?!!👨🎤
Well, to be honest this is not even a semi-serious off road bike. The suspension is so minimal that pretty much all it is good for is taking away some of the buzz on nicely maintained fire roads and dirt paths. For anything serious the suspension here is not nearly enough and it’s not even real suspension that would help your tires track and grip on uneven surfaces. It just permits the rider to bob back and forth and a bit up and down, while the wheels re bouncing off every rock, stump, hole or other imperfection you encounter. This is a great example of “engineering” driven by the marketing dept. 😀
Modern road bikes are already monster trucks with the overbuilt disc frames and forks and wide rims. Suspension isn't that crazy.
I just can't.. I can't.
Expensive version of the 90s flex stem and suspension seatpost. I know far more advanced but really do you need it or is it just for show offs
It works...love mine.
When it's ridden like one.
It exists because people will buy it not because its needed.
You mean some select fool types will buy it. 😀
Will have to wait a year or so until the proprietary suspension components are powered by batteries and cpu's.. Now it's just a dumb shock.. Waawaaaa
They’re just MTB with drop bars. When this bike first came out I let specialized know what I thought. This bike is a rolling gimmick.
$600 sales tax offends me more than the $7500 price.
Take it up with your local legislature
Yeah, because roads, park maintenance, police, fire depts, EMT’s public schools, and all the other services you take for granted every day should just magically pay for themselves. It’s always comical seeing the same libertarian types complain over and over about taxes, but very, very few of them actually walk the walk and truly live off the grid with no government related services supporting their lives at all. 😀
@@ivanboesky1520 no, they use the tax money to attack freedom or spread lies. Put 30 FBI agents in Twitter to attack the first amendment at our free speech and protect their criminals.
Quit complaining. This is a high end niche bike. It's not like it's your only option. Plus, this is how things advance. They start out overpriced and overly complicated and get refined.
Nothing advanced here. This is a perfect example of marketing dept driven “engineering”. 😀
at this point its a rocking chair on wheels
Sounds like heaven!
No...its not. Pay attention!
@@jasonwu9287 try pedalling on a rocking chair
it's not full mountain yet, still missing an electronic drivetrain, dropper, battery and canyon's spring tensioner to keep the handlebars straight. LOL
Get an Ergon split seatpost & Redshift ShockStop stem and you just saved $7,000!
I paid $5k for my '23 Diverge...what planet are you on??
It's interesting, confusing, and complicated all at once. Thanks for the vid, but not for me. And to call any of that "suspension" is just a flat out lie.
Wowzers!!! Naw, I like my 2018 diverge better with my cobble gobbler seat post, best suspension ever! This is way too much weight n back n forward movement. Whole lot of shaking going on!! Ha
😂 if there’s a market there gonna build them to sell
its a confused bike!!!
It’s like bringing the argument of “a hybrid bike is the worst of both worlds” up to a stupid price range. This thing ain’t gonna be as fast as a dedicated road bike, nor as capable as even a cross country hardtail at a cheaper price. If someone’s this rich they oughta just buy two bikes that satisfy on road and off road use. Your reviews, unlike this bike, always impress me though!
I'm a fan of keep it simple. I'll pass. Next they'll be putting batteries and electric motors on these. I'm old school. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Does specialized know they already build seatposts with suspension?
Not like this one.
The Niner MCR looks much better than this if you think you need full suspension.
Who is the target audience for this? If you pedal seated on gravel roads you don’t need rear suspension, you need a compliant carbon seatpost and cushy tires. If you’re into single track, this rear suspension setup is useless because it only works when you’re seated. Gimme a a dropper post over this any day.
I may well be extremely good for a very narrow section of cycling, then again maybe not, but it sure is ugly and expensive.
I'm all for progression of bike innovation. If you think about it, this bike has all the power transfer of a road bike but has a little kush.
It's ugly AF and I would never ride it but it's tech is quit a leap
Only it doesn’t have the power transfer of a standard road bike. Not even close. Try climbing on one of these things with that front Futureshock in its most locked out position that still continually compresses and returns to its original position and tell me you are not losing power transfer. Climb seated in the saddle with your seatpost and saddle continually swaying back and forth on a 20-30 mm arc and tell me you are not losing power transfer there as well or that this is as efficient as a standard road bike because it isn’t. 😀
All that money and only 30 mm of travel
That is overkill to sucker people to buy that is completely unnecessary. If your area requires this kind of suspension buy a mountain bike
I don't like it.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Rigid bike with 'suspension' 🤦♂️