Specialized Allez 2013 Vs Allez Sport 2012

Demba1

First time poster and a bit of a beginer.

I've always useda hybrid in the past but decided it's time I get a decent road bike. I'm planning on using it to commute around 8 miles each way and for the odd weekend longer ride. My price range is about £500 - £600.

After doing a bit of research I've decided I like the Specialized Allez range and have tested the 2012 model. But these seem pretty hard to get hold of now (especially in the XXL 61cm frame that I need). However the 2013 model is available for £550.

I've also been looking online and I could buy the Specialized Allez Sport 2012 - which is a higher spec - second hand for around the same price. It would only be around a year old so I'm tempted by the oportunity to get a bike that would be out of my price range if bought new.

For a first time road bike user would i notice the difference between the Allez and Allez Sport? Or should I just opt for the lower spec, but brand new, bike.

Also, does anybody know if the 2013 allez is much different to the 2012? I could try and get a 2012 model in the end of season sales.

Thanks in advance for any help!

u05harrisb

With out beeing rude, you probably wouldnt notice much of a diffrence between the bikes. As its your first bike i would probably go new first time as you have warrenty and back up if you have a problem. you could go S/H and then have it serviced though. I was in a similar situation to you last year, new Allez base model or get a second hand sport or base model for cheaper. In the end i bought secondhand but serviced it myself and i had to change a few things early on as they were near wearing out aswell as rebuilding to grease bits and bobs too. but all of that could have been done for a fee at your LBS so you just need to way up how savvy your going to be at doing your own matennce if you need to or if you may need a helping hand. in the end though the only diffrence will be the cost. buy bike new thats it. buy it used you have the cost of bike postage service if it needs it then you will have to change chain and other parts earlier than normal as its used etc but it all depends upon milage

hope that helps, rambled a bit so sorry haha
Ben

snoopsmydogg

If you are used to cycle maintenance then there would be nothing wrong with second hand. You will get a better groupset and as long as it has been cared for then 12 months shouldnt be a major issue.

You only have to search the forums to see there are many who bought new and end up looking to upgrade their groupset after 6 months or so. Not sure there has been any frame changes this year so geometry will be the same.

allezlesbleus

Being a total noob I'm not sure if you'd notice the difference. I bought a 2013 Allez this week as my first "proper" road bike. I've been looking for ages and like you trying to decide whether to buy new or used.

As a noob my main problem with buying used was I wouldn't know if there was a problem or not (unless it was blindingly obvious), also though, living in London loads of the bikes on Gumtree are stolen. I looked at 3, 2 I suspected were stolen as they didn't fit the person who was selling them and they knew about as much as I did. the 3rd one had a bike register number on it and was actually flagged as stolen. I also wasn't sure on sizing or chainsets etc etc.

In the end I went up to my local bike shop and they really helped me out deciding on what I needed, they fitted me correctly to the bike, adjusted it all and went through how everything on the bike worked. I also get a free service and got a deal on the price. I bought a 2013 Allez 16 and it's fantastic.

sark716

The difference between the 2012 and the 2013 Allez appears to be the paint scheme.

I'm waiting for a black 58 cm 2013 Allez to arrive in the shop. Been told that it will be the end of August.

Rjp_leeds

I am about to buy my first. Caught between secteur and allez though. The forks on the 2013 models appear to be aluminium whereas from what I can see they are carbon for the 2012 models. Presumably that makes the 2012 a bit better?

allezlesbleus

The paint scheme is different and the forks on the 2013 are alluminium. Those are the only differences I can see.

snoopsmydogg

would go for carbon forks over aluminium and if thats the case i would most likely be on the lookout for a 2012 model.

EDIT: just had a quick google and allez has alloy fork and is £25 cheaper than last year the secteur is the same price as last years model and kept the carbon fork with zertz insert.

Kurvz

Hi just seen this Today I got myself a 2012 Allez Sport from cycle surgery for £599 , haven't ridden it yet but so far I'm happy with ithttp://www.cyclesurgery.com/pws/UniqueProductKey.ice?ProductID=CSBC1063WB they have 61cm also

Demba1

Thanks for your help guys. I've been put off buying 2nd hand as well now after seeing a few that I suspect where stolen.
I'm going to go for a new allez sport 2012 for £599. I've used the price match offer at evans as they seem to offer good service.

mattythemod

So £25 cheaper for the 2013 model and NO carbon fork ..now thats a deal-breaker for me ,,,Spesh UK have no stocks left of the 2012 models either as my local LBS checked Speshs own dealer stock ordering site this morning ....if any of you fine gents know who has a Red 54 cm 2012 instock then hola .

snoopsmydogg

mattythemod why not try for the Allez sport like Demba1? similar price to last years basic Allez but with a slightly better groupset iirc.

All 2012 models had the carbon fork and I think all 2013 Allez above basic still come with them too

mattythemod

This gonna sound tarty but i want a red frame and imho theres no better colour for a speciallized bike !

Kurvz

Just seen last week that the Sport 2012 is Bike Radars best sub $1000 road bike , went out yesterday on mine and did 75 miles and I'm happy to say its comfortable bike and a nice ride the gearing is ok to didn't feel I needed different ratios , did 41 miles the day before on my Hardtail with the same riva seat and it was nowhere as near comfortable go figure ? ..

crashmaster

i upgraded from a Giant hybrid anchor to the allez 2012 on a runout sale after much research - bike australia also rated this as head and shoulders above the field in the price range, and went on to say that it is as good as a $5000 bike ($1100 for this one). on my first ride, some of my bones got dislocated, a few of my organs fell out, and i felt like i'd had a successful night at a gay bar. i wanted back on my telescopic seat suspension lounge chair and off this uncontrollable speed thing with truck brakes. (the back wheel comes straight up off the road if you dig the brakes in). learning to love it after 200km, and SO happy i got the 105 gear set, now that i am getting used to them. powers up hills and drops like a stone when going down them. it's a pleasure to come home at night and spend a few minutes alone with it in the privacy of a softly lit garage. beware rubbing wet tar stones off the tyres during a ride and then gripping back onto the WHITE handlebars! can't compare this bike to others except that it felt sharper than similar priced cannondale on the test ride (personal opinion only, and not much to substantiate the claim). i bought this bike on the strength of reviews, and now i'm really glad i listened to the experts. i sense a long and wonderful romance coming on. and i agree - the white with a little red and black is just perfick

razorback71

I'm also looking at the Allez for my first good entry level roadbike.
I'm a weekend mtb rider. But i want a road bike
too. I can't get to the trail but once a week.
A roadbike will allow me to ride during week. I've
been looking at the Specialized Allez Apex. Tryn to
decide between 2012 or 2013. I like the color on the
2012 better. But some components are differant.
They have diferant cranks. A Sram on 2012 and
Fsa on the 2013. The 2012 has a tapered headtube
and the 2013 doesn't. I think they have differant
brakes too. And i've noticed on the cheapest
allez compact has an aluminum fork and the 2012
was carbon. But the sport,elite,mid compact,apex
and race still have a carbon fork. But i'm really
wanting the allez apex.

razorback71

From my other post i decided on the allez apex
But still deciding on the 2012 or 2013. That is if
the 2012 is still available when i get the money in sping.
Is there a differance in the quality level of
componits between the 2012 & 2013 Apex.
Does the cranks,brakes&tapered or not tapered
headtube make a real differance?

keaveyd

The 2013 does have carbon front forks. here's the spec; Specialized FACT carbon, Aluminium steerer and crown, 1-1/8 inch. The reviews are universally positive. Essentially the sport is a lot of bike for a little money.

ICycle2013

http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/2013- ... 1009516017