The last three models of the ‘drop bar’ flavour are built from Specialized’s E5 alloy. - With a FACT 8r carbon frame, the Diverge Base frame is incredibly capable and race bike light. The Diverge Base Carbon got our Future Shock 1.5 and a FACT 8r carbon frame for a fast, confident and comfortable ride on road, in the dirt, and over thick gravel. THE ALL-NEW DIVERGE. I was disappointed as I know Specialized can nail a plush and comfortable rear end — the new Roubaix I tested last year proved this. SRAM's APEX 1x11 mechanical shifting and alloy Axis Elite wheels make the Diverge Base as capable as it is versatile. I enjoyed it even more once I got rid of a certain component …. That 80 mm retains Diverge’s claim as one of the lowest in the ‘gravel/adventure’ category, but at least now it won’t be ridiculously low if run with 650B wheels or slimmer road tyres. 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 2021 Specialized Diverge Base Carbon Road Bike. Gone is the old CBG seatpost (a name we will all miss, I’m sure) — now there’s a new, more normal-looking 27.2 mm carbon seatpost that flows from a road shape to a flattened setup near the saddle. The Diverge Base Carbon got our Future Shock 1.5 and a FACT 8r carbon frame for a fast, confident and comfortable ride on road, in the dirt, and over thick gravel. To compare, the previous generation Diverge offers quite different geometry. There’s 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. Matched with a rear triangle that feels tidily tucked underneath, it makes you want to attack the climbs. The post is available in both a 20 mm offset and zero-degree, and the bike is dropper-post compatible too (such a thing comes standard on the S-Works). Specialized has overhauled the Diverge for 2021. A 40T chainset spins along with a SunRace 11-42T cassette. The Diverge Base Carbon got our Future Shock 1.5 and a FACT 8r carbon frame for a fast, confident and comfortable ride on road, in the dirt, and over thick gravel. Stability added. It’s definitely got a race-orientated edge to it, and keeps you on your toes in trickier sections. Elite E5 price: US$1,600 / AU$N/A / £1,599 It's the ultimate getaway vehicle. - With a FACT 8r carbon frame, the Diverge Base frame is incredibly capable and race bike light. Both the Sport and Base models come in eight sizes and downgrade to the previous Future Shock 1.5. With a premium E5 alloy frame and a full-carbon FACT fork, the Diverge Base E5 delivers a fast, confident, and comfortable ride on road, in the dirt, and over thick gravel. The Tracer tyres are superb on rougher terrain — they sure helped get me to some places I wouldn’t have bothered on slightly narrower tyres. With a FACT 8r carbon frame, the Diverge Base frame is incredible capable and race bike light. The build is mostly Shimano’s Di2 GRX RX815, but with a Shimano XT 11-42T cassette matched with a 40T 1x chainset. The fact we were riding far more technical and challenging gravel sectors than the day before safely balanced things out. Wheels are again DT Swiss G540s like the two models above and this time they get wrapped in 38 mm Pathfinder Sport tyres. After all, Specialized has designed the carbon post in conjunction with the new frame for a reason. The SWAT box has enough room for a few essential tools or supplies. The Comp E5 comes with Shimano’s 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. It allows you to hit things faster than you think you actually can. 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 … 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. The New Specialized Diverge is now available at Mike's Bikes! Pin it for your local dirt climb KOM, or grind up a giant backcountry peak, the light and lively Diverge … The Diverge Base Carbon got our Future Shock 1.5 and a FACT 8r carbon frame for a fast, confident and comfortable ride on road, in the dirt, and over thick gravel. Base? 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. SRAM's APEX 1x11 mechanical shifting and alloy Axis Elite wheels make the Diverge Base as capable as it is versatile. Brand: Specialized, Product: Diverge Base Carbon 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 Diverge. The door of the SWAT compartment doubles as one of the bottle cage mounts, and it comes off completely when opened to reveal a large open space with a zippered storage … Zertz inserts were around for a few years and have since quietly disappeared from their Diverge and Roubaix bikes. SRAM's APEX 1x11 mechanical shifting and … Both EVO models also come with an X-Fusion Manic Dropper seatpost with 50 mm of travel. A 40T chainset spins along with a SunRace 11-42T cassette. Hidden away out back, on the underside of the seatstays, the bosses are practically undetectable. Check, check and check. SRAM's APEX 1x11 mechanical shifting and alloy Axis Elite wheels make the Diverge Base as capable as it is versatile. The top-of-the-line mish-mash of SRAM’s top MTB and road groupsets worked faultlessly for me. It’s hard to argue with the range of SRAM’s “Mullet” group, but on the road I was still hunting for smaller steps between each shift. Nerd Alert Podcast: It’s time for the 2020 CyclingTippy awards! The final carbon offering is the Base, kitted out with SRAM’s 1x 11-speed Apex groupset. I can’t see how the extra tech it offers is worth sacrificing an otherwise well-performing and comfortable ride. It’s more than stiff enough, and it’s predictable, nimble and positive when cornering. One thing I appreciated is that Specialized hasn’t skimped on all the necessary mounts. The new Diverge range is extensive. I know there’s plenty of people out there who may want a dropper post, but personally, I just don’t get it. Wheels are 32 mm deep Roval Terra CLXs. The Diverge Base Carbon got our Future Shock 1.5 and a FACT 8r carbon frame for a fast, confident and comfortable ride on road, in the dirt, and over thick gravel. It’s built with SRAM Force eTAP ASX matched to a SRAM X01 Eagle rear derailleur and SRAM XG-1295 Eagle 12-speed 10-50T cassette. SRAM's APEX 1x11 mechanical shifting and alloy Axis Elite wheels make the Diverge Base … SRAM's APEX 1x11 mechanical shifting and alloy Axis Elite wheels make the Diverge Base as capable as it is versatile. It’s quite simply the fastest, most capable - and just maybe the most fun - bike we’ve ever made, delivering a ride that’s quick and lively under power, but stable and confidence inspiring when the terrain gets rough. It’s a neat addition, but realistically it’s not a storage area you’d want to be delving into on every ride. Future Shock 2.0 has been brought over from the current Roubaix. But come the second day, the gearing came into its own. The new Diverge has the most progressive geometry we’ve ever created for a drop bar bike, giving riders a capable and stable bike in the dirt, that still feels responsive and nimble on the road. Future Shock 2.0 doesn’t actually lockout but firms up the rebound. Once you get to the Sport model you’ll drop down to the FACT 8r carbon frame and lose that SWAT box. Sticking with comfort, the Future Shock 2.0 really is ideally suited to gravel. 2021 Specialized Diverge Pro Carbon — bottom line The 2021 Specialized Diverge Pro Carbon is a lot of things: fast, comfortable, adjustable, nimble, and packed with cool features like a … The Specialized Diverge Comp Carbon is the only carbon diverge to come equipped with a double ring setup at the front, with it using a Shimano GRX RX810 groupset with 48/31 crankset. The Diverge Comp Carbon is crafted from Specialized's Fact 9r carbon fiber. Learn more. On day one we used the all-round 50/50 road/gravel rubber of the 38 mm Pathfinder Pro. The Diverge Comp delivers a full FACT 8r carbon fiber and also includes a carbon fiber fork … The question is: who’s this for and is there a market? 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. Once at speed, it held it without a problem. 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? Specialized Diverge Base Carbon - 2021. #2 Specialized Diverge. Brand: Specialized, Product: Diverge Base Carbon 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 Diverge. Their more recent innovation involves a suspension system positioned just above the head tube. With 20mm of axial compliance, Future Shock 1.5 is progressively tuned to keep you confident and in control, able to keep the power down and stay off the brakes over rough dirt roads and in thick loose gravel, all while keeping your hands, arms and neck fresh. From Future Shock 1.5 and all-new gravel geometry, to category leading tire clearance, the new Diverge represents everything we’ve learned over more than 40 years of riding road, gravel and dirt. The Diverge Base Carbon got our Future Shock 1.5 and a FACT 8r carbon frame for a fast, confident and comfortable ride on road, in the dirt, and over thick gravel. The top tubes are now noticeably longer, with reach figures increasing anywhere from 10 mm to 19 mm depending on frame size, and they’re matched with shorter stems, too. The new Diverge has certainly jumped high up the list as a possible replacement. This is easily the bike’s 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. Pin it for your local dirt climb KOM, or grind up a giant back country peak, the light and lively Diverge will get you there faster. The frame is lightweight and stiff and features a SWAT storage compartment in the downtube. Why do I bring this up? Pin it for your local dirt climb KOM, or grind up a giant backcountry peak, the light and lively Diverge … Gearing is obviously a personal preference, but I’ve never really been sold on 1x groupsets. The one item that stands out on the S-Works over every other model is that it’s the only one that comes equipped with a dropper post (controversial): the X-Fusion Manic Dropper, with 50 mm of travel. SRAM's APEX 1x11 mechanical shifting and alloy Axis Elite wheels make the Diverge Base as capable as it is versatile. It’s a neat and simple idea making for a cleaner and more traditional-looking rear triangle. It’s also the first in the range to have a sub-compact double chainset with an 11-34T cassette. Specialized is well known for their marketing prowess. Pin it for your local dirt climb KOM, or grind up a giant backcountry peak, the light and lively Diverge … Carbon models get a slight chainstay-length increase to 425mm (from 421mm), while … No dropped stays; instead, there’s a solid carbon section of the drive-side chainstay that allows for enough room to accommodate a 47 mm tyre. Base? The bottom bracket drop has been raised by 5 mm, going from an arguably-too-low 85 mm to a still-lower-than-most 80 mm. Specialized Diverge. ... Diverge Base Carbon. The Elite ships with a GR400 groupset where the Base is decked out with a Shimano Claris groupset. E5 Comp EVO price: US$1,600 / £1,599 / AU$2,500. 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