Specialized Roubaix SL4 sport V's Focus Izalco ergoride
Pedro872
Posts: 67
Hi looking at upgrading my bike and as well as looking at an Orro I've also looked at these two bikes.
The Specialized is a 2016 model while the Focus is a 2014 model. For some reason I can't find out much information on either bike online so would really appreciate any user experiences from you guys.
Thanks,
Pete.
The Specialized is a 2016 model while the Focus is a 2014 model. For some reason I can't find out much information on either bike online so would really appreciate any user experiences from you guys.
Thanks,
Pete.
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Comments
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The Roubaix was my first road bike and has been flawless in 3 years of riding. Since it's been my only road bike I don't have a counter point for handling but it's never been anything other than rock solid and has never caused me any concern. It's been mechanically sound and I haven't felt the need to upgrade any of the standard parts with the quality and robustness of finish being high which has exceeded my expectations as the wear and tear being extremely light.
The only aspect that's a pain is if you're a bit of tart and like changing every few years, which I've always done with my mtb bikes, its extremely hard to justify a new bike because the Roubaix is so good.
Specialized do have their haters for various reasons but if some lowlife pinched my bike I wouldn't hesitate in buying another one which I suppose is the best accolade.
Enjoy choosing!“Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime. Teach a man to cycle and he will realize fishing is stupid and boring”
Desmond Tutu0 -
I've just purchased the 2016 Roubaix comp disc & I absolutely love it highly recommended & great on some of our ruff stuff here in Yorkshire.0
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I've just purchased the 2016 Roubaix comp disc & I absolutely love it highly recommended & great on some of our ruff stuff here in Yorkshire.
I've just ordered this bike. How does it cope with the expansion joints in roads (which basically feel like potholes when riding over them)? I encounter dozens of these on my regular route. Also, will it cope with slightly rougher bicycle paths (ones with a bit of loose gravel/sand every now and then)?0 -
Ive had a Focus Ergoride 2013 model and it was fantastic, however if its an endurance type bike you are after, I strongly suggest you have a look at the Trek Domane.
Ive just got a 5.2 and its without doubt the best bike I've ever had for what I need - so so smooth over the terrible roads and very comfortable for a full days riding, and to be honest, I'm not really any slower than I was on some very light aggressive racing bikes.
Some good deals to be had on 2015 stock as 2016 models have just been released.0 -
RoubaixI've just ordered this bike. How does it cope with the expansion joints in roads (which basically feel like potholes when riding over them)? I encounter dozens of these on my regular route. Also, will it cope with slightly rougher bicycle paths (ones with a bit of loose gravel/sand every now and then)?
It makes rough tarmac feel like smooth tarmac, and smooth tarmac feel like glass. It's spookily smooth.Specialized Roubaix Elite 2015
XM-057 rigid 29er0 -
I've just ordered this bike. How does it cope with the expansion joints in roads (which basically feel like potholes when riding over them)? I encounter dozens of these on my regular route. Also, will it cope with slightly rougher bicycle paths (ones with a bit of loose gravel/sand every now and then)?
Its so smooth compared to my other bike & we have alot of uneaven surface round here & its goes well too
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Cheers Jamie. Looking forward to picking mine up in a few days time.0
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What colour will it be? 8)Cheers Jamie. Looking forward to picking mine up in a few days time.
Here's mine 0 -
The 2016 model only comes in one colour: a matte black, same as yours I guess. It's at the shop and will be built this week whilst I sort out a rear cycle rack for my car to transport it home.0
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The 2016 model only comes in one colour: a matte black, same as yours I guess. It's at the shop and will be built this week whilst I sort out a rear cycle rack for my car to transport it home. 0
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Apologies for reviving a relatively older thread, but I'm interested in the SL4 disc, but have been told they come up slightly smaller than other frames. I did have a 52cm Scott CR1, but have been recommended a 54cm Roubaix - does this sound about right?
I'm between 5'7 and 5'8, with approx 29inch inside leg.0 -
Apologies for reviving a relatively older thread, but I'm interested in the SL4 disc, but have been told they come up slightly smaller than other frames. I did have a 52cm Scott CR1, but have been recommended a 54cm Roubaix - does this sound about right?
I'm between 5'7 and 5'8, with approx 29inch inside leg.
I'm vertically challenged like your good self and my specialised Roubaix 54cm frame is a perfect fit.“Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime. Teach a man to cycle and he will realize fishing is stupid and boring”
Desmond Tutu0 -
Apologies for reviving a relatively older thread, but I'm interested in the SL4 disc, but have been told they come up slightly smaller than other frames. I did have a 52cm Scott CR1, but have been recommended a 54cm Roubaix - does this sound about right?
I'm between 5'7 and 5'8, with approx 29inch inside leg.
I'm vertically challenged like your good self and my specialised Roubaix 54cm frame is a perfect fit.
Cheers Slowmart, thats very helpful.0 -
I am 5'9" & my Roubaix is 54cm & its a great fit.0
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Apologies for reviving a relatively older thread, but I'm interested in the SL4 disc, but have been told they come up slightly smaller than other frames. I did have a 52cm Scott CR1, but have been recommended a 54cm Roubaix - does this sound about right?
I'm between 5'7 and 5'8, with approx 29inch inside leg.
That sounds about right. I'm 5'6" and I got the 52cm frame and it's nice and comfortable for me. So the 54cm frame should fit you nicely as I suspect the 52cm one might be a tad too small for you. Definitely try all the riding positions out if you can before you buy.
There is one other thing to consider: the brakes levers are quite far out if you've got small hands. I've been omto the workshop at my local Spacialized Concept Store and they contacted Shimano. Apparently Shimano said the brake levers could not be adjusted for people with small hands. I find this hard to believe as one of the manuals that was in the documentation set for the bike said there was 10mm of adjustment available. I'm going to raise this again with the shop when I get my first service done in the next few weeks.
I got my Roubaix SL4 Comp Disc a few weeks and ago and it's a really, really good bike. It's really enjoyable to ride and copes well with bad road surfaces.0 -
The online Shimano installation, setup and adjustment pdf file DM-BR0008-04-ENG.pdf pages 60-61 states that there is 2.5mm of lever free stroke adjustment for the ST-RS685, via the free stroke adjustment screw, and also adjustment for reach, (2 separate screws). PDF files can be accessed from this link http://si.shimano.com/#categories/151
Interestingly the stroke and reach adjustment screws are not listed in the exploded view EV-ST-RS685-3675.pdf0 -
Yeah, I've been through many of the Shimano manuals and the tech at the Specialized store actually contacted Shimano to try and figure things out. That 2.5mm free play adjustment is the lateral play for gear changes before the gear changing mechanism starts to move, I believe. There is supposed to be a different 10mm of fore and aft adjustment to allow you to pull the brake lever closer the handlebar so that those with small hands can reach the brake lever more easily.
I'll chase up the Specialized store before I get the bike booked in for the first service to get to the bottom of this mystery.
What further complicates things is that the manuals don't quite show what's actually fitted to the bike.0 -
If there is no reach adjustment screw fitted to the STI's on your bike, and Shimano are saying to your Specialized Tech. that the lever reach cannot be adjusted, then that would suggest to me that Shimano have made a modification to the unit, since the original documentation was produced.0
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There is one other thing to consider: the brakes levers are quite far out if you've got small hands. I've been omto the workshop at my local Spacialized Concept Store and they contacted Shimano. Apparently Shimano said the brake levers could not be adjusted for people with small hands. I find this hard to believe as one of the manuals that was in the documentation set for the bike said there was 10mm of adjustment available. I'm going to raise this again with the shop when I get my first service done in the next few weeks.
I got my Roubaix SL4 Comp Disc a few weeks and ago and it's a really, really good bike. It's really enjoyable to ride and copes well with bad road surfaces.
My previous bike had 5700 levers where you adjusted the reach by putting a tiny plastic wedge (two sizes available) in the gap between the lever body and the lever. Could it be something like this on the newer disc models?Specialized Roubaix Elite 2015
XM-057 rigid 29er0 -
If there is no reach adjustment screw fitted to the STI's on your bike, and Shimano are saying to your Specialized Tech. that the lever reach cannot be adjusted, then that would suggest to me that Shimano have made a modification to the unit, since the original documentation was produced.
Yes, this is the most likely scenario. In fact the manuals also show the wrong rubber boot on the levers.0 -
Apologies for reviving a relatively older thread, but I'm interested in the SL4 disc, but have been told they come up slightly smaller than other frames. I did have a 52cm Scott CR1, but have been recommended a 54cm Roubaix - does this sound about right?
I'm between 5'7 and 5'8, with approx 29inch inside leg.
That sounds about right. I'm 5'6" and I got the 52cm frame and it's nice and comfortable for me. So the 54cm frame should fit you nicely as I suspect the 52cm one might be a tad too small for you. Definitely try all the riding positions out if you can before you buy.
There is one other thing to consider: the brakes levers are quite far out if you've got small hands. I've been omto the workshop at my local Spacialized Concept Store and they contacted Shimano. Apparently Shimano said the brake levers could not be adjusted for people with small hands. I find this hard to believe as one of the manuals that was in the documentation set for the bike said there was 10mm of adjustment available. I'm going to raise this again with the shop when I get my first service done in the next few weeks.
I got my Roubaix SL4 Comp Disc a few weeks and ago and it's a really, really good bike. It's really enjoyable to ride and copes well with bad road surfaces.
If you don't have much luck from shimano its worth enquiring about different style/shaped handlebars.
Some handlebars, and even position of the levers on the handlebars, will bring the lever slightly closer.
I have 2 bikes and the levers on one bike are easier to access than the other due to different style of handlebar.0 -
Did it - bit the bullet and am now the owner of a Spesh SL4 Elite. Took it out for a 15 minute spin over some of the towns more chewed up thoroughfares and it felt really good. The 54 felt about right, definitely not too large in any case - I think I could have also gotten away with a 52.
The brake levers are about right for me, even though I have child's hands! They aren't Shimano though - the Elite comes with SRAM Rival and hydraulic brakes, and I think they are adjustable (my other bike has SRAM Force and the brakes are adjustable).
So, my next question - do any owners know which mudguards would fit best? The guy in the LBS did say that it might be tricky fitting any old guards as the Zertz in the seat stays makes it difficult. I know it's a bit of a sacrilege sticking mudguards on , but this bike will need to see me through the wetter months. I'll check the Specialized website to see if they have any recommendations, but if anyone has fitted guards, I'd be interested to hear about it.0 -
I'm on my third winter with the long version of SKS race blades
They keep the majority of crap off, easily removable, sturdy but your brakes get wet and I'd buy another pair without question.
Congratulations on your new bike.“Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime. Teach a man to cycle and he will realize fishing is stupid and boring”
Desmond Tutu0 -
Congratulations from me too on your new bike.
Out of interest, does anyone know the general difference between the Roubaix SL4 models?0 -
Congratulations from me too on your new bike.
Out of interest, does anyone know the general difference between the Roubaix SL4 models?
Cheers. I'll have a look at the new Raceblade longs, but with dedicated mudguard fittings it would be a shame not to fit proper guards. I've seen that Spesh do their 'plug and play' mudguards especially for the Roubaix and other models, but I've also heard they're not very good?
Regarding the difference between the SL4 models, I think it's just the group sets, wheels and finishing kit. I think the frame is the same (the disc frames will be different from the rim-brake models I guess, given the different forces on the frame).0 -
I'm on my third winter with the long version of SKS race blades
They keep the majority of crap off, easily removable, sturdy but your brakes get wet and I'd buy another pair without question.
Congratulations on your new bike.
Cheers. Out of interest, are your Raceblade Longs on a calpier or disc bike? I would go for these but I'm not sure they will be compatible with the Roubaix disc frame. I'm searching on the interweb to see if there are any recommendations for this model, but there's no real confirmation as to compatibility.
An LBS sold me a set of SKS chromoplastics full mudguards, (a Specialized retailer no less) assuring me they would be suitable, but after a couple of hours of loud swearing and tinkering I still couldn't get them to fit (and now can't take them back as I've taken all the packaging apart). I might ask them to fit them given they say they will fit.
The mudguards were a bit of a deal breaker for me, and as this frame was advertised as having 'guard fittings, I thought it would be simple to get them on, but obviously not. I'm seriously considering using Evans' Bike Exchange option and getting something more suitable - I really don't want to though as I really like the bike otherwise.0 -
I'm on my third winter with the long version of SKS race blades
They keep the majority of crap off, easily removable, sturdy but your brakes get wet and I'd buy another pair without question.
Congratulations on your new bike.
Cheers. Out of interest, are your Raceblade Longs on a calpier or disc bike? I would go for these but I'm not sure they will be compatible with the Roubaix disc frame. I'm searching on the interweb to see if there are any recommendations for this model, but there's no real confirmation as to compatibility.
An LBS sold me a set of SKS chromoplastics full mudguards, (a Specialized retailer no less) assuring me they would be suitable, but after a couple of hours of loud swearing and tinkering I still couldn't get them to fit (and now can't take them back as I've taken all the packaging apart). I might ask them to fit them given they say they will fit.
The mudguards were a bit of a deal breaker for me, and as this frame was advertised as having 'guard fittings, I thought it would be simple to get them on, but obviously not. I'm seriously considering using Evans' Bike Exchange option and getting something more suitable - I really don't want to though as I really like the bike otherwise.
Caliper brakes here. Sorry I can't help with confirming if my suggestion is suitable for use with discs!“Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime. Teach a man to cycle and he will realize fishing is stupid and boring”
Desmond Tutu0 -
. . .
Out of interest, does anyone know the general difference between the Roubaix SL4 models?
There are several frames. S-Works, everything from "Race Pro" down to "Expert", and then everything below that. Each is available as disc braked or caliper braked variants, so I make six in total. Each of the six frame variants is available in one or more builds.
So in short, quite a lot!Specialized Roubaix Elite 2015
XM-057 rigid 29er0
