Specialized Diverge Sport 2018 Review
The 1 000 specialized diverge e5 sport brings the us company s latest adventure and gravel bike design down to an attractive price point and produces a package that works well in a multitude of uses.
Specialized diverge sport 2018 review. Best gravel tyres of 2018. Specialized makes just about everything for cycling that you can imagine and that includes about 10 different versions of their popular diverge gravel bike. Despite its low price it s still using the same praxis alba cranks featured on every diverge up to us 3000 this helps to achieve a 1 1 ratio that measures out to be 26 8 gear inches in the smallest gear. Against the opposition though it is a bit weighty and a fair chunk of money given the spec.
Specialized has updated the diverge for 2018 with a deeper commitment to the bike s off road capabilities. The new 2021 specialized diverge is here. The diverge s frameset is made from specialized s e5 aluminium alloy. We ll be using the entry level version of the diverge e5.
The crux sport the tarmac pro the roubaix elite and the allez sprint comp. Racing 200 miles of gravel on the new specialized diverge. The latest specialized diverge is very impressive to ride. The sport model we tested is a budget friendly carbon model that brings some unique features to the table and has an especially comfortable ride quality thanks to their unique future shock front suspension and a compliant composite seat.
The 2018 specialized diverge e5 sport the diverge e5 sport uses the same wheels and brakes as the elite however it s a bit cheaper due to the shimano sora 9 speed groupset. It s packed with all the same technologies as its pricier cousins only its spec places an emphasis on reliable performance not components so flashy you ll be eating nothing but top ramen for months. Its down tube is a rounded profile oversized section of frame designed to promote stiffness where you need it while the. There are a number of cheaper diverges with aluminium and carbon.
With a completely redesigned frame the new diverge is more capable than ever. The second generation diverge features a re designed frameset that eschews zertz. The specialized diverge comp is going to be the biggest marmite bike of the year. It s a racer that absolutely flies on the gravel whose quick handling and relatively short wheelbase makes it a flickable bike with loads of feedback when you ve got the bit between your teeth.
To get a feel for the diverge model rides compared to other bikes specialized offers we ll compare its geometry against other bikes around the same price point that are built for roughly the same purpose. There are other versions of this bike.