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Specialised has at the moment unveiled its latest iteration of the model’s longstanding gravel stalwart, the Diverge STR, which showcases Specialised’s first foray into rear suspension outdoors mountain bikes.
The Diverge STR options the model new Rear Future Shock, which presents 30mm of journey accompanied by hydraulic damping – however at a complete weight value of lower than 100g for the general body.
The STR’s suspension system shall be placing to many, with its uncovered metallic damper and alloy tendon attaching it to the seatpost, however Specialised assures us that the uncovered elements couldn’t be extra sturdy.
“It might solely fail in fatigue,” explains Specialised’s Inventive Specialist, and the brains behind the mission, Chris D’Aluisio. “We have used the identical one in testing for thus lengthy, it has gone by means of thousands and thousands and thousands and thousands of cycles. It would not undergo sufficient flex to fatigue. That is why we have now a lot confidence in it.”
Whereas the suspension system might seem like it’s totally housed inside the prime tube, the suspension really works primarily based on seat tube flex from the underside bracket – the Rear Future Shock is basically simply the damper for the system.
Behind the scenes, the design has seen many iterations since its preliminary conception in 2018, however on this last model, the Diverge’s seat tube is basically free-floating from the underside bracket – a lot in order that Specialised has renamed it because the ‘body submit’.
That free-moving leaf-spring design might remind lots of the Trek Madone’s 9 collection, launched in 2015, which employed the rear IsoSpeed in a not-dissimilar method. Nevertheless, Specialised is eager to emphasize {that a} lack of pivots and a damper on the Rear Future Shock separate it significantly from Trek’s system, and Specialised argues it does so in a method that gives extra compliance throughout a wider vary of riders.
Trek has just lately stepped away from the IsoSpeed on the Madone, and certainly some would argue it’s higher deployed on a gravel-focussed bike.
As with the entrance Future Shock, Specialised presents a level of tuneability on the Rear Future Shock, with the Rear Future Shock adjustable from the seat collar, which may be twisted into one in every of three positions. Within the open place, it’s most energetic, whereas within the closed place it’s most inflexible. The damper can be adjusted however is usually solely set as soon as.
Related determine, totally different figures
Whereas the Diverge body has needed to bear appreciable adjustments to accommodate the Rear Future Shock, there’s a substantial amount of continuity between the final era Diverge and this one.
The ‘body submit’ has required appreciable redesigns across the backside bracket, however on the entrance of the body, the tube design is comparable, and the Reality 11r carbon grade is a continuation of the final era Diverge.
The introduction of rear flex has led to a couple obligatory geometry tweaks, with the BB drop growing from 80 to 85mm in comparison with the final era Diverge, whereas the chainstay size has elevated from 425mm to 429mm. The seat tube angle has additionally turn into 0.5° steeper to offset the meant sag of the body submit when beneath load.
All STR fashions will use carbon Roval Terra wheels accompanied by Specialised’s Tracer Professional 2BR tyres.
The Diverge STR shall be out there at three tiers – S-Works Diverge STR, Diverge STR Professional and Diverge STR Knowledgeable, whereas the earlier Diverge body will nonetheless exist throughout decrease tiers of the vary. The S-Works model comes with SRAM Crimson eTap AXS 1x shifters alongside a Sram XX1 Eagle rear derailleur and cassette in a ‘mullet’ 1x setup.
In the meantime, the Professional steps right down to SRAM Power eTap AXS 1x shifters and a Sram X01 Eagle derailleur. The Knowledgeable trades out Power shifters for Rival, and the X01 derailleur for a GX Eagle derailleur.
The Diverge STR has the identical 47c tyre clearance and progressive dealing with geometry because the earlier Diverge, alongside the SWAT downtube storage system.
Past that, as you journey down the vary there are minor downgrades when it comes to ending package, tyres and elements, however in precept, the three bikes appear to make use of very related frames – all emblazoned with Specialised Reality 11r carbon badges – and Terra wheels in CLX, CL and C spec from S-Works right down to Knowledgeable degree.
The Diverge STR is available in at a excessive worth level in comparison with Specialised’s 2022 vary, partly due to inflation strain however little doubt the additional tech performs a job. The S-Works tier is available in at £13,000.00 / €15,000.00 / $14,000.00, whereas Professional prices £9,000.00 / €9,500.00 / $9,500.00 and Knowledgeable is priced at £7,500.00 / €7,500.00 / $7,500.00. Whereas the S-Works tier is just not as costly as the highest tier S-Works Tarmac SL7, as a whole vary, that is the costliest bike Specialised has but produced.
Check out our S-Works Diverge STR first experience overview to see whether or not that expense measures as much as the efficiency.
