Major refresh and adoption of Future Shock 2.0 brings the Specialized Diverge bang up to date.

Major refresh and adoption of Future Shock 2.0 brings the Specialized Diverge bang up to date.

The Specialized Diverge has received a comprehensive refresh for model year 2021, gaining the latest-generation Future Shock 2.0 suspension on select models, an update to more progressive long, slack and low geometry, and increased tyre clearances, bringing the bike bang up to date.

The new Diverge is available in nine different models, starting at £949 / $1,100 for the cheapest alloy version, and rising to a heady £8,899 / $10,000 for the top-flight S-Works model.

Specialized is also launching the Diverge Evo – a stretched out, even slacker and generally more radical version of the Diverge designed for rowdier riding… oh, and it ditches drop bars in favour of

flat bars.

The launch of the new Diverge comes off the back of the enormous and well-documented growth of gravel riding across the world.

So large is the gravel market that Specialized now expects it to be larger than any other category in the very near future.

Five things you need to know

• Future Shock 2.0 introduced on select models
• Revised geometry for improved off-road performance
• Tyre clearance increased to 42mm (700c) / 2.1in (650b)
• Flat bar Diverge Evo also launched
• 11 models in total from £949 / $1,100 to £8,899 / $10,000

Diverge gets Future Shock 2.0

The headline news from this launch sees top-tier versions of the new Diverge adopt the same hydraulically-damped version of the Future Shock as used on the newest Roubaix.

The Future Shock 2.0 is an adjustable coil suspension cartridge housed in the fork steerer. It offers 20mm of travel, allowing the cockpit to move up and down relative to the frame and fork.

The Future Shock 1.5 – which is used on cheaper versions of the bike – has swappable springs (soft, medium and firm), but does not feature the hydraulic damper or adjuster. 

We’ve written at length about why Specialized opted for this system rather than a conventional telescopic fork 

but, in brief, it is a lighter overall setup that does not significantly affect handling. 

It is also only designed to smooth out rough roads and trails, reducing upper body fatigue, rather than taking big hits on rocky descents, like a mountain bike suspension fork. 

In our experience to date, the system does live up to the hype – it has been shown to be impressively effective in testing on both the Roubaix and previous-generation Diverge, and is universally liked here at BikeRadar.

Every carbon model of the Diverge is equipped with Future Shock, though only the S-Works Diverge, Diverge Expert Carbon, Diverge Pro Carbon and Diverge Comp Carbon feature the latest version of the damper. 

All other models feature the Future Shock 1.5.

The two cheapest aluminium models – the Diverge Elite E5 and Diverge Base E5 – do not have either version of the Future Shock.

OK..time for jist another caffeine induced worthless opinion...

I know the Kool-Aide is sweet..
The color is pleasing
The variety's are many..
The first sip is soo refreshing..
and folks cant help but spending..and adding another horse to the stable...

And then reality sets in...

Why in the god dam hell did I pull the trigger on this...??

At first I thought,,Cuz ... it aint gonna be the hard on claimed by the the pharmaceutics claimed it to be..

but before we run out to KLM..Motorcity Bikes or any other local LBS to lay down the grip to be the first on social media to rave bout it...lets slow down a tad..and breathe..

Trust me on this suckas...I know a thinger two about a thinger two

Lets examine the high points of this make over..


Im gonna let...The Fonz take over for the review..and ill catch back up with ya later

Wheres the beef???
The redesigned tire clearance is a nice touch..

The old Diverge lacked the room for big meat cravers..
Now even those slobs that dont go anywhere near the rough stuff can shoe horn in those big ol fat set of meat on it

AYYYY
Hope the S company told Giant bicycles thank you for the new set post idea..Much better than the cock gobbler of yore

 redesign also claims ..to creates a claimed much more comfy ride and less like a rugged bike.. 

The Fonz is out on this one..
Not every Tom Dick, Alan or Jeremy or Harry..wants a bike that feels like 1970 C-10 cornering on a gravel pelted four way..The Old Bike was a nice step down from going full Roubaix..
But the Fonz is pretty sure this has some Now geometry and folks can stop pretending there Allez Sprint is fine for gravel KOM
let it go its ok..

enjoy the ride..

AYY Nerds..doesnt everyone need a cog this big to attack the next Nacho del clunkie ride..

if your not,

 then yer probably running a outdated short stack like............

ok...Nerds..

this is were The Fonz is itching to throw two thumbs up ..

The Wood chippers, 

The Beavers growler..

The Big Jennie gap..

Berthas Butt

not sure what sure Specialized is stirrin up

But The Fonz gets it..Wider..is more stable..

But with bars like this it seems to through the brake shifters off at a odd angle..

Not the Fonz slice of pie..but AYYY you aint never scene a 1/4 mile on dirt road did ya..??

Its about time some of those smart minded folks out in San Jose dropped the cheap Mylar stickers they through in with every plastic bike...
that rubber down tube plate makes much better sense..

This is probably three years two late..

but AYYYYYYY like those cheap gift cards at every Supermarket check out its da thought that counts right nerds..???

But this is better than any Apple or Ruby Tuesday gift card your money can buy..

Do they still call it the SWAT box?..

every bike cept those crit dogs should have this down tube trunk option..
a place for a rain jacket..and tool kit..
if you dont agree your probably still own a bike with rim brakes and a traditional headset

sick is only a brief description on this...

That chain stay on the drive side is a solid piece of plastic..

and super narrow..

in the Fonzes opinion much better lookin than the dropped chain stay that some of the frames are coming with..

OH! thank the lord above

Bye Bye press fit!! 

Quite possible the best part of this rig...

not since the Fonz enjoyed that savory cherry on top of the malt has felt soo sweet on something..

The Head-shock...

AYYYYYYYYY the Future shock gets a an upgrade..and borrows a top cap from the early Head-shock bikes..

Pros
A plush and adjustable ride
excellent handling;
lots of tire clearance;
 integrated storage

rubber bumpers

swat box

threaded BB

Cons

Price;  silly Kool-Aide expensive..

no axle levers to get the wheels off

too many models
Not a fan of the bars..i would of expected more thought put into them
the flat bar model is nice..but it wont last a season in the Fonzes opinion..

Well fools what do you think?

This is were I take our relationship to the next level..

Is it just romance?

your local gravel loop really that outrageous that you need a bike of this caliber

or are just wanting to add another bike to basement that gets riddin a half  a dozen times..

between jaunts to DTE, Gratten, Waterford worlds, and all the other places you frequent..

Or do you really tackle all the rough stuff on that beefed up X rig..and need to be more gravel game on..

I dont see this bike winning a three up field sprint at Lowell 50, 

or takin The scenes strongest through the orchard at Uncle Thoms dirty ride...

T personally likes it..

finds it innovative and new the S company had to step up there gravel game to compete with all the shit out on the market 

some folks call it..

Just a sweetened up Epic hardtail?

Or is it the next credit card debit you commit too...?