New Specialized Roubaix range

BigGeordie

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that. Those horrible plastic inserts put me off the previous Roubaix (I bought a Trek Domane, which I'm very happy with) but I would have one of these.

Giraffoto

On a related note, this supposed head-to-head test was terribly disappointing. It's pretty much an announcement that they'll have to do the comparison properly at some point, but for now "I like the Domane and I remember riding a Roubaix years ago."

darkhairedlord

I would never buy a bike that either looks like its been in an accident, or deserves to be in an accident.

deswahriff

Chrisrebbeck wrote:

A bit disappointed if i am honest. Purchased the di2 disc roubaix earlier this year, then a month later the discounted it by a £1000. That said, I loved the bike and didn't mind too much. I guessed a new roubiax would come and am pleased to say I prefer the look of mine. However, the big thing they are keeping a bit hushed in there release PR is the ditching of SCS. This is whats really got me down. When the CLX32s were released, I thought I would save up to buy them for next year. Then when I read the new roubaix didn't have SCS I rechecked and realised that the CLX32s are not SCS compatible. So now I am stuck with a bike that should have been a grand less than it was, with SCS rear end that already the wheel choices are limited and are only going to get worse as the years go by. Gutted that specialized sold the SCS innovation and then binned it off so quickly. I expect the diverge and crux will follow now.

...I can relate to this a bit - bought the 2016 Elite in the sale (so not so bad - £1800 down to £1350)..the Axis 2 stock wheels are horrible so enquired about upgrading only to discover the whole SCS issue!...must admit, felt mugged but hey, caveat emptor etc... Anyway, got a set of SCS Axis 4's on ebay which are much better wheels and I must admit I'm very pleased with the bike - the whole feel and handling is so much better than my 2012 Roubaix and I love the Sram..

I also found, after a bit of digging, that Specialized have now dropped the SCS spacing across the board ( I think it was the Roubaix, Diverge and Crux?) so I'm hoping there's a huge stock of (now redundant) nice Roval SCS wheels waiting to be off-loaded at bargain prices some time soon!
I agree Spec have shot themselves in the foot with the SCS thing- it was really ill thought out and they've lost a lot of friends.
Given the big discounts on the old models, I was also guessing there would be big changes for the 2017 model and it does indeed sound intriguing (an end to hand numbness?) but at what cost? ...£2k for a bike with mechanical discs?..no affordable Sram option ?.......nah....
....and I do wish they would sell regular (i.e. non S-Works) framesets....

deswahriff

Chrisrebbeck wrote:

..... Then when I read the new roubaix didn't have SCS I rechecked and realised that the CLX32s are not SCS compatible. So now I am stuck with a bike that should have been a grand less than it was, with SCS rear end that already the wheel choices are limited and are only going to get worse as the years go by......

...can't you change the rear mech hanger to make regular wheels compatible, or is that only an option for qr frames?..

apreading

Read this: http://nextdevo.com/blog/2016/6/2/scs-a ... ase-frames

and this: http://specialized.desk.com/customer/po ... s-spacing-

and this: http://forums.roadbikereview.com/specia ... 55177.html

offers hope but it seems as clear as mud...!

211dave112

I think the less ugly image of the bike on road.cc is the one belonging to Tom Boonen - may a different geo for the Pros?

fish156

philbar72 wrote:

had a look at these on the launch day. seems likely it will be incredibly popular and that headset is I reckon a game changer.

Can't say I was convinced. Sprung handlebars is the USP. The majority of Roubaix riders will be pretty upright so ~5%? of the rider weight on the bars. Not convinced it'll be a game-changer.
Haven't heard what it's like to ride when 'sprinting', putting more, variable force through the bars.
Bike also has a seatpost with a little fore & aft flex.

Giraffoto

fish156 wrote:

. . .
Sprung handlebars is the USP
. . .
Bike also has a seatpost with a little fore & aft flex.

Funny thing about that seatpost . . .
I have a full 15mm of spacers and the conical top washer of the headset under my stem, so the suspension boot up there doesn't look so odd to me. Where I thought the looks had suffered slightly was that seatpost junction - it looks like a built-in dropper, and it seems to be an admission that the CG-R seatpost isn't as good as they'd hoped at reducing bumps.

ben@31

Thanks for the link Giraffoto, I was wondering how the Roubaix compares to the Trek Domane SLR? As the Domane is likely to be my next bike, as I now want to ride in comfort on the shite road surface over here. It's interesting to see how similar this Roubaix and the Domane SLR is.
The only only problem I have is...
1. Why are all the frames a boring uninspiring paint scheme? Im not a fan of plain black.
2. I currently bought a good wheelset that I'm happy with, probably better than factory wheels. But they're for caliper brakes and not disc.

ben@31

... Following on from my above post.

It seems theres a huge difference in price between the Roubaix and Domane, with the same Ultegra Di2 with disc brake specification !?!?

Domane SLR 7 £4800 ( or upto £6000 with a Project One paint scheme)
Roubaix Expert UDi2 £3800

Unless theres a typo error on the Specialized website, I cant even see any difference in specification between the Roubaix Expert Di2 and the Roubaix Pro Di2 (£5500) ?

msaegert

Wheels (DT R460 Disc vs CL 32 Disc), Carbon layup (Fact 10 vs Fact 11), Crankset (Ultegra vs Specialized Pro), handlebars (alloy vs carbon), stem (regular vs s works). Seems like plenty of differences to me?

There will always be differences in prices across brands, but I would be comparing the Roubaix Pro with the SLR 7. The Roubaix Expert has a number of "cheaper" components but especially the frame.

ben@31

msaegert wrote:

Wheels (DT R460 Disc vs CL 32 Disc), Carbon layup (Fact 10 vs Fact 11), Crankset (Ultegra vs Specialized Pro), handlebars (alloy vs carbon), stem (regular vs s works). Seems like plenty of differences to me?

There will always be differences in prices across brands, but I would be comparing the Roubaix Pro with the SLR 7. The Roubaix Expert has a number of "cheaper" components but especially the frame.

It looks like the Roubaix Expert does have a Ultegra chainset. But you're right about the handle bars and wheels.
To phrase it another way... "Is there any noticeable difference" I cant see how the stem or the slightly different carbon used in the frame will make £1700 worth of noticeable difference while riding?

Carbon layup (Fact 10 vs Fact 11)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOO5S4vxi0o

I get the difference between a heavy aluminium frame versus a light carbon frame where theres significant weight saving in Kg. Or a Ultegra Di2 groupset versus a Sora groupset. Or all Shimano components versus ownbrand cranks and brakes. But Fact 10 vs 11, or aluminium stem vs carbon stem ???

apreading

http://specialized.desk.com/customer/portal/articles/198351-what-is-the-difference-between-11r-10r-8r-etc-carbon-used-on-different-specialized-bikes-

What is the difference between 11r, 10r, 8r, etc. carbon used on different Specialized bikes?

The "R" value is an indication of the level of modulus of the carbon fibers used in frame construction. The higher the value, the higher the modulus.

Modulus simply refers to the stiffness of the individual fibers in the carbon matrix, which will dictate the overall stiffness and efficiency of the material. As the modulus increases, we are able to change the production process to produce a frame of equal or greater stiffness than that of a frame utilizing lower-modulus fibers.

As a general rule, each higher level of carbon will decrease frame weight on average 150-200 grams, and provide a stiffer, more nimble ride.

Its an interesting question for the Roubaix where stiffness is not the main objective - more compliance is, which could actually mean less stiff being better???

msaegert

ben@31 wrote:

msaegert wrote:

Wheels (DT R460 Disc vs CL 32 Disc), Carbon layup (Fact 10 vs Fact 11), Crankset (Ultegra vs Specialized Pro), handlebars (alloy vs carbon), stem (regular vs s works). Seems like plenty of differences to me?

There will always be differences in prices across brands, but I would be comparing the Roubaix Pro with the SLR 7. The Roubaix Expert has a number of "cheaper" components but especially the frame.

It looks like the Roubaix Expert does have a Ultegra chainset. But you're right about the handle bars and wheels.
To phrase it another way... "Is there any noticeable difference" I cant see how the stem or the slightly different carbon used in the frame will make £1700 worth of noticeable difference while riding?

Carbon layup (Fact 10 vs Fact 11)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOO5S4vxi0o

I get the difference between a heavy aluminium frame versus a light carbon frame where theres significant weight saving in Kg. Or a Ultegra Di2 groupset versus a Sora groupset. Or all Shimano components versus ownbrand cranks and brakes. But Fact 10 vs 11, or aluminium stem vs carbon stem ???

Cranks not chainset, the Specialized crank will be a fairly pricey upgrade from the Ultegra crank.

Of course there is no difference but you asked why they are priced differently, which is that the Pro has significantly more expensive components.

apreading wrote:

http://specialized.desk.com/customer/portal/articles/198351-what-is-the-difference-between-11r-10r-8r-etc-carbon-used-on-different-specialized-bikes-

Its an interesting question for the Roubaix where stiffness is not the main objective - more compliance is, which could actually mean less stiff being better???

HM carbon allows for the same stiffness for less weight, you won't get a stiffer bike, just a lighter one.