1X Checks All The Boxes | 2021 Specialized Diverge E5 Comp Aluminum Gravel Bike Review of Features

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

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[@ChipZilla69]

Hi thanks for the review. I've ordered the 2022 modern which comes with sram gears. What are your thoughts in the change?

[@johntucker9782]

Thank you for this review. There are dozens of reviews of the $3000+ models. A lot of us are quite fine with aluminum.

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Glad you liked it! Be sure to subscribe for more!

[@bigflat1238]

John Tucker also fine with a price that is ok

[@bobbob9364]

Is this the 1000 £ version

[@RyanWBL]

Exactly, also a lot of us have multiple bikes for different rides. So < $3k is great if you ride mtb, road. Hell, I even have an enduro motorcycle to maintain so its safe to say my car is a piece of crap.

[@RyanWBL]

@@bobbob9364 This is the $2K version

[@flooooooo0686]

shame that nobody ever reviews this version, props to you for filming it. the E5 isn't much heavier than the carbon version and the Comp has an excellent component list. throw a carbon seat post and some diffferent wheels on there and you got the perfect gravel! glossy black also looks classy. might actually be tempted to pick this up...

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

It is a nice bike and your right, its too bad no one better reviews these bikes.

[@federicolancini3135]

I get this one 2 month ago, never ride a drop bar before: I'm in love.

[@bigflat1238]

Federico Lancini is there any point just for bumpy ish roads

[@CrysCox]

I own this bike in the light blue and I am thrilled with its performance. Nice quiet ride and climbs great.

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Great to hear!

[@dmytbmx1379]

picking mine up tomorrow and watching this makes me so hyped

[@sanjayapte]

Where did you order it? I have been looking for this bike in size 49 for last two months. Not available anywhere? I am in CA

[@pepeg.luthier566]

@@sanjayapte I am in Southern CA, and ordered at Mission Viejo by end of August, it will come in Mid-November. So, they are out of stock everywhere. With the pandemic, everyone has to do something, and many have chosen to ride a bike.

[@terrygrech1480]

I've got one in a 56. This bike is great. has the good stuff where it needs to be without completely destroying your bank balance. so glad i made the purchase

[@TylerDog86]

Terry Grech how does it feel with the longer tt orizontal and shorter stem? How tall are you?

[@terrygrech1480]

Tyler Dog I’m 183cm / 5’11” It’s a nice comfortable position and the seat isn’t to far up in the air so you still have lots and f control.

[@pennycarlson1943]

I'm a 61 year old woman who rides mostly hilly pot holed roads with some railroad beds and dirt roads. I'm happier with the 2019 model I have that has the double crank and more road oriented geometry. I want a less stretched out more upright position and shorted the stem on the 2019 model. It still had the 1.5 future shock. That shock is easy to maintain if you are only a little mechanically inclined. Adding oil to it makes it more complicated. The 1.5 is tunable by changing the springs. To me, the single crank is not a good thing. Of course, I'm old now so I need low gears to get up the hills around me. I'm also more interested in having fun than I am in going fast. Compared to my road bike, the Diverge is more comfortable and I don't get flat tires!

[@perandersdahlstrom2846]

I weighed my Base Carbon size 52. It was 10.0 kg including pedals and a very light weight bottle holder. The pedals are Shimano PD AH500 and they’re specified at 383gr ( I haven’t weighed them) So that makes it 9.62kg for the bike. ( 21.2lb or 21lb 3.3oz)

[@aaronbehindbars]

This is the bike I was going to buy. When I decided to get back on a drop-bar bike, I wanted something similar to my old Specialized Secteur which I think is somewhat of the forefather of the Diverge line (big tire clearance, endurance geometry, disc brakes). In recent years, have become smitten with 1x drivetrains and all of my bikes were setup 1x, so initially I thought I should follow that trend with my new road bike. After some back and forth on how much I wanted to spend, carbon vs aluminum, 1x vs 2x, I landed on a Diverge Comp Carbon. No regrets there, but I know that I would have been perfectly happy with an alloy frame bike. The decision to go 2x was based on me noticing the jumps between gears on my 1x10 hybrid being a little excessive. One extra cog helps a little there, but the wider range of an 11-42T would have negated much of that. So, 2x it was for me.

[@lubosvetrik4423]

thank you, you helped me with the frame geometry..now i know why my standover height is shorter than on every pictures on internet ;) now i love my bike more than ever :D

[@johneric3886]

Great review. Very articulate plus you covered the whole bike.

[@Max-dj5qj]

Got the same E5 comp Model in 61(186cm). My first road /Gravel bike. I coming from MTB, mainly Enduro. I'm super happy, rode nearly 400km in 2 weeks. This Bike is so damn comfortable and fast on tarmac and even rougher gravel or light trails, its just awesome. Sadly specialized always puts less components on their bikes, if the aren't s works one. The Axis rims weight 920g front and 1050g back. And that's the same like the G540 rims drom the carbon comp Modell, which is still my favorite with the swat box etc. But here in Germany available in March 2021....and the bike packing stuff etc isn't cheap anymore... So enough money to spend for. But that bike concept is a beast, as long you buy the future shock version. Made my first 100km route on this one last weekend:).sadly the tires aren't tubeless ready, but the rims are. 61 weights around 10.5kg.

[@donbrabants3509]

Great review! I just picked up the exact bike same color. I'll give some feedback once I get a few long rides in.

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Awesome. Have fun!

[@feluacc]

@don brabants how do you rate the bike, two months in?

[@dalesteenbergen]

Thanks for reviewing this bike, I have one coming October/November. I will be upgrading it to a 2x later down the track

[@michaelfleming4015]

There’s advantages to the one by. Don’t think of two chain rings as an upgrade. Ride it like it is for a while and feel the difference.

[@ChrisCapoccia]

The big surprise deal breaker is that you have to go pretty high up the selections to get tubeless ready wheels. E5 comp wheels are not tubeless ready

[@tristandesade8635]

Not bad. I wish there were more reviews and tests of bikes in exactly this price range. Most of us cannot afford AXS this, ENVE that, etc. On the other hand, the very fact we are watching these videos, means also that most of us are above and beyond “no-level” big box sub 500$ bikes.

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Hopefully you have browsed the channel, many of my videos are sub dream bike prices. The challenge is the meat of buyers are in mid prices, but dream bikes win reviews so the brands are encouraged to send out dream machines to maintstream reviewers.

[@michaelfleming4015]

Picking one up on Sunday.WooHoo! Replacing my Fuji Cross that was stolen right off the front of the bus a week ago. ( On the way into work.)

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Have fun on the new bike

[@michaelfleming4015]

@Jim I've been riding it especially commuting, and the shock in the stem is surprisingly effective (jumping off curbs). It handles beautifully even in the rain. The mech disc breaks are every bit as good as hydraulic. I have a Conondale Topstone with full on hydraulic and the break control and response is totally comparable. My Fuji came with mech disc breaks and I swapped the calipers to hydraulic because I needed to improve it, but not so on the Diverge. The tires provide excellent cornering grip but without rolling resistance when rolling ahead. Shifting once adjusted for cable stretch is dead on. I'm riding it with Crankbrothers Stamp pedals and it's all good! Oh the saddle is absolutely the best saddle I've ever ridden to come stock with the bike. The shape and short design with no slip surface is primo.

[@JuanLopez-de7yw]

I bought the same bike, put a wellgo touring pedals and I can tell you. Best ride ever.

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Right on!

[@Rico_M]

I just got this bike. Freaking awesome bike. Thanks for this video.

[@moonlight5050]

Been looking for a gravel bike and this ticks a lot of boxes....then I found this review which has practically sealed the deal..!! Looking like early 2021 with stock availability though. Any other bikes with similar spec and under 2k I should also seriously consider...? Great review....really useful and interesting 👍

[@dinahplacido5786]

Way better than my old one. Perfect height

[@whichdoctor4858]

Nice review JAMES. I wanted a cheap but reliable winter bike to commute and mix it up on roads and trails - scenic home route! Went for the base model as it will get wrecked or moved at work. Crashed my road bike on 25mm too many times on black ice. Maybe I’ll upgrade the group set or just keep it for commutes and trails in winter.

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Awesome, have fun on your Diverge

[@skironna]

Thanks for the review! This is gonna be my new bike.

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@derDKP]

Just picked up the blue one in 61mm for $2000 new! Been great so far

[@eugeneramos2979]

Hi. What do you think would be the largest single chainring you can fit in on that frame? Thanks.

[@marcelcycling8055]

I have This one in the same colour and size (54). I swapped the tyres, because the specialized ones, are to sketchy on loose terrain.

[@danielsepulveda912]

Schwalbe?

[@danielsepulveda912]

I just bought a Sirrus X 3.0 and this jewel seems to be the next in the path to gravel adventures

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

I bet you are right.

[@gm08351]

@@Jamesthebikeguy how would you compare the sirrus x and the diverge? I'm considering both right now

[@Hintonbro.]

Keep in mind - these wheels are **not** advertised as “tubeless ready” (and you will want to go tubeless eventually). I tried to make these ‘elite’ wheels work tubeless on a Gen2 model Diverge and they were not nearly as good as a real tubeless rim. That’s a big miss for a 2021 gravel bike on Specialized’s part IMO.

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Agreed on the lack of tubeless. Not sure why they chose not to do it, but they should be doing tubeless wheels. I totally understand saving cost on non-tubeless tires because likely if you are going tubeless you might want a more specific tire. Good news is a non "sanctioned" fix is running Bontrager TLR plastic strips. The one for the Paradigm wheels fits here and just like the Bontrager wheels, the strip converts the wheel to work tubeless.

[@stevenmoralesrivera9974]

@@Jamesthebikeguy I’m not sure about the not tubeless ready. I converted mine tubeless at my LBS, the LBS told me the wheels were tubeless ready. I haven’t had a problem running tubeless on those wheels.

[@riverthecat]

Nice..l am being quoted €3000 in Dublin for this bike...l really love thd bike but seems more expensive than other countried

[@RaztechPowersports]

I’m pumped about the evo version. Do you think the future shock is here to stay?

[@Not_Sure_]

I would prefer a 2X

[@Stuey001]

What do you think in this versus the elite E5 model. I’m not convinced on the future shock. I feel like the elite version with 2x and no future shock is a more versatile option and the pick of the range. What do you think?

[@jmounce50]

James - Diverge vs Checkpoint.....to ride Kanza and hang with road bikers can the 1x hang or do you need a 2x’s GRX?

[@ericmcduffie5444]

I would rather have 2x drivetrain if I go roading more often like 50 percent of roads and other 50 of gravel roads. if I go full time gravel grinding daily, I would get a 1x drivetrain. I have 2x drivetrain and I love it. its worth to have for my need especially speed on the roads.

[@mikergeorge]

Question! What is this like for road riding? I am looking for a new bike primarily for commuting to work.. 13 mile commute to work ... not the best of tarmac. Im curious how this would feel compared to my giant defy aluminium with 23 mm tyres... would it feel slow like people say?

[@Ed-lz4jv]

Currently selling for $2500 here in AZ, Just missed out on a Trek version, little choice of gravel bikes anywhere...This economy sucks for Bikes!

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Unfortunately, everything's expensive these days

[@bgwhite3]

Thanks for weighing it. I'm trying to decide between this and the carbon base model. Do you happen to have an idea what the carbon base weighs in at?

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

I don't but I do have a video on the Sport Carbon you could see that weight.

[@fardinkarim]

Damn man this bike is nice

[@brody5211]

Excellent review , do you know if both rotors are 160 ?

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Yes they are

[@jdoconnor8883]

Not sure if you mentioned it, but what kind of brake system is it? Mechanical or hydraulic? Good review by the way.

[@pedronetomoreira]

Hydraulic.

[@bobbob9364]

Was going to spend 2300 but no going for this one,just looking for versatility

[@Havardr_Ash_Kenaz]

What hubs are on this the crappy Hilo or the roval with dt internals?

[@prof_writer]

James I'm completely torn. I'd love to get this E5 version because of the new grx shifter system. But really hate to downgrade to aluminum however the base carbon diverge comes with the low-end SRAM apex system. Which would you choose?

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

I choose the carbon. You can't upgrade the frame like you can a drivetrain, and the carbon is a significant ride quality upgrade

[@prof_writer]

@@Jamesthebikeguy thank you. I got hung up on a 1 X. Really wish the base carbon would come with the GRX components on the E5. Had a 2019 Carbon Comp but sold it, think I'll try to get another one of those...would like to step up to the Expert, but it's $1000 more to get the GRX 1 X and I'm not sold on Di2 for a gravel bike. So maybe, more of what I had only new frame geometry and 2.0 future shock. You are right on the ride...going backwards to aluminum would be noticeable.

[@jawjuh1005]

I was torn too but went with this bike. I’ve never had carbon and don’t think I’ll notice or care. I ride aluminum now and feel it’s fine. The weight is so close as to not matter to me. I wanted the components. Good luck in your decision.

[@pizzacrusty]

@@Jamesthebikeguy Do you think there's a significant improvement with ride quality with carbon over aluminum when on the trails/gravel roads? I'm deciding between models myself. I'm leaning towards the aluminum as I'll be able to play with tire pressure for some comfort. Also with the occasional wipe out and hits from rocks and roots I'm thinking the aluminum will take the beating better. Is that a fair assumption?

[@Proteeps]

@@pizzacrusty get a carbon on a road bike. On gravel, a bit of heft will help damp those unpaved roads especially with this fork's new system. Ofc carbon would be superior in both quality and price.

[@CRAIGNV]

Can you go a 50t or 51t cassette

[@josefrancisco5966]

Im 8 foot tall would this fit me?

[@rudyelizondo1935]

Double Ck the weight, I have the carbon model 2018 and it weighs 21 lbs with size 28 mm Roubaix tires size 54

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

And why would you think the weight is off? Newer frame, 1x and all the upgrades that come with that, very reasonable the new one is as light as a previous gen carbon bike. not to mention that on the diverge there is only a 200g frame weight difference carbon to alloy.

[@markakin3742]

I just bought this and my scale reads 23.5 pounds... no dog in the fight here..

[@anem2434]

@@markakin3742 what size frame?

[@markakin3742]

@@anem2434 56

[@Ed-lz4jv]

Looking at the diverge Elite E5, I like how this comp has the front dampener and 1x gears look cool and simple, is 400 more for this......is this enough gears for mostly road and then gravel when I can?

[@terrygrech1480]

Ed yes.the gears are a good spread. Although I am going to add 2 teeth to the front chainring as I am doing lots of commuting and wouldn’t mind a higher top gear. But that’s more of a personal preference rather than something wrong with the bike

[@derDKP]

I have the Comp, wife has the elite... I wouldn't mind having the 2by with 36 teeth on the cassette. It does offer a great range. On my 1by, I have not hit anything undoable yet, but there are after market parts to extend climbing gears. I did run out of gears going flat out, but I can only keep that up for a minute or two, so not really a concern

[@conborzzzz]

Hi James do you know why Specialized do not produce a size 44 on this bike? The smallest you can get is size 49.

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Not sure why

[@blakeherrick]

Hey James! Does this wheelset have the loud hub? I'm in the market to upgrade my wheelset and am looking for a budget friendly option that fits 42mm tires and has a loud hub in case you have any suggestions!

[@mat16006]

super loud. i have the same bike in pink

[@mikechan1720]

I've got the 2021 Diverge Elite E5 and it's got a 2 by 10. It's a 46/30 out front and a 11-36 in the back. Do I lose any gears with that setup?

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Basically you will lose some low and some high range but simplicity and a quieter drivetrain you gain

[@mikechan1720]

@@Jamesthebikeguy ah I understand, thanks!

[@pepeg.luthier566]

I am not a pro, so be patient with my questions. How do I store that bike in my garage, do I need to get a kick stand? Will that damage the look of the bike? How do you store, a rack?

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

These really don't take kickstands. You can however do all sorts of parking options for at home. Stop by your local bike shop and bring a picture of where you want to store the bike and they can help with a good choice for doing it.

[@pepeg.luthier566]

@@Jamesthebikeguy Gracias

[@thewhitezulu3283]

Any advice on size Guiding? I’m 5 foot 9 was thinking the 54 size

[@derDKP]

Go to the dealer

[@michaelrabago5539]

James can the wheels be converted to tubeless tires and are the tires on the bike good tire for tubeless

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

technically no.

[@pepeg.luthier566]

What is the difference between the future shock 1.5 and the 2.0?

[@pizzacrusty]

I believe it's an oil damper spring and the ability to adjust the tension and maybe lock out on the 2.0. The 1.5 is not adjustable/tunable. However I test rode one yesterday and the 1.5 felt great. I was afraid there would be a "bobbing" effect from it but it's subtle and welcome overall. The early versions on the Roubaix were not as refined.

[@pepeg.luthier566]

@@pizzacrusty Thank you.

[@daveg7878]

@@pizzacrusty Spot on with the difference being spring vs oil shock. To add, the 1.5 adjusts by swapping out an internal spring. There are three strengths. Not an on-the-fly adjustment like the 2.0 gets with the dial but not difficult at all.

[@bigflat1238]

Is there any point buying this if just for roads,they r not all smooth

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Yup, thats a great reason to go with a gravel bike.

[@bigflat1238]

Cheers tbh they look cool ,coukd get one third off if company go with govt scheme,

[@jjhova]

looks like thats a 54 frame. mind sharing your height/inseam and thoughts on sizing?

[@wombatsauce]

I have the exact same bike in a 56, and am 185cm/6 feet w/ a 34 inseam if that helps.

[@jjhova]

@@wombatsauce Thanks for the feedback. I'm 6'2'' with a 34 inseam. Was stuck between the 56 and 58 but decided to go 56. I'm still fiddling with seat/bars for comfort, but I think 56 was the right pick.

[@norcalchrismeister]

@@jjhova Are you still glad you went with a 56? I'm also 6'2" and wondering if I should get a 56 or 58. The Specialized sizing guide recommends at least a 58 for someone 6'2".

[@jjhova]

@@norcalchrismeister I think it fits me well. I imagine I'd be more stretched out and leaned forward on a 58 but I cant imagine that it would be uncomfortable, just slightly different. The bike shop I bought it at had the seat and bars dialed in for me as well.

[@jjhova]

@@norcalchrismeister It fits me well. I imagine that on a 58 I'd be more leaned forward and stretched but still probably comfortable enough; if that makes sense. I think in our height range either would work, but the important thing is that you have someone at the shop swap the bar stem and dial in the seat.

[@BIKE-PLUS]

Nice bike

[@Havardr_Ash_Kenaz]

It's appalling that big bike companies use such cheap stock wheel sets. For $2300 they can afford to give you dt swiss 350 or 370 hubs. I expected these hubs to last about 2 years before I need to replace them. I guess it's still cheaper than spending $5000 plus for their carbon bikes with better wheels.

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

I'm not sure your right. Dt350s would increase the bike price by $150-$200 and for most riders not give a disernible upgrade.

[@pepeg.luthier566]

I am waiting for my aluminum one in November, but I thought I was getting the future shock 2.0 and tubeless tires. I am a bit disappointed. I should have seen this review before buying it. All the reviews I saw were for the carbon bikes, and the reviewers were not as clear as James. I am not following those guys anymore. Just follow James.

[@feluacc]

So you buy a bike without reading the specs on the website first? Okay

[@pepeg.luthier566]

@@feluacc yeap. I just trusted the salesman.

[@pepeg.luthier566]

...it is my first bike

[@feluacc]

@@pepeg.luthier566 set of tubeless tyres won't cost much. Also I don't see any advantage of future shock 2.0 over 1.5.

[@pepeg.luthier566]

@@feluacc Do I have to buy the tire (the metal part) and the rubber part? or just the rubber part?

[@pepeg.luthier566]

I am waiting for mine, coming in November 2020. What is the difference between the aluminium and the carbon fiber?

[@feluacc]

The material

[@euprosus6996]

Hey James, awesome video again. Quicky question about the future shock, what is the difference between 1.0 and 1.5? Both use the 3 springs, is it just the outside?

[@alangovea8170]

if im not mistaken, it's the design of the shock. The 1.5 has a cleaner look.

[@bobbob9364]

How much is this ,seems to be a thread through reviews not giving price ,it’s the most relevant factor along with quality of bike,but what’s the bike like

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Oye

[@bobbob9364]

What does oye mean

[@brody5211]

@@bobbob9364 it’s pirate talk

[@pepeg.luthier566]

WHAT IS THE weight of this bike made of Aluminium?

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Its in the video

[@dvms2010]

Great rundown! Are the wheels tubeless ready?

[@Hintonbro.]

👎 Nope - neither are the tires. Reviews should hammer Specialized for cutting huge corners like this. Such a waste putting substandard parts on their top alloy model.

[@dand2334]

How is the ride and compliance between this aluminum bike and the next step up to a base level carbon bike?

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

The base level carbon should ride a little smoother.

[@dand2334]

Thank you.

[@junpimentel5624]

I will get a Poseidon.

[@sonsofmatriarchy5552]

700x47 I reckon you could fit 27.5x 2.2 easy

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Likely so, not sure though

[@JogBird]

im not sure about the gearing... gaps are too large for road use and the front ring is far too large for single track

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Have you run a 1x gravel bike yet? When I had Rival 1 on my Diverge it was not noticeable the gaps riding on your own. Only time it was noticeable was in a group ride with road bikes. Then again thats not what this bike is for so you know... A Jeep Cherokee isnt going to hang with a BMW M3 on a race track.

[@shirtlessGraveler305]

That’s what I wanted to know the gaps ..... I have not owned a gravel bike but just my Giant 1x MTB ... the gaps way too big to hang with Gravel bikes if there was an event to ride in. I love the gaps in my Road 2x so any feedback in a Gravel 1 x is appreciated. That’s a big decision maker for me cause I love the simplicity of the 1x and weight reduction

[@14moldyhamsandwich]

how about mentioning price ?

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

As I have answered to you many times, I do not intend on doing that.

[@EduardoSalas]

I got mine, this exact model in 56 cm, for $2,100.

[@Hintonbro.]

Any particular reason? Specialized doesn’t want the USD price in reviews?

[@robindegu7294]

836

[@Hintonbro.]

Specialized should be ashamed of the non-tubeless compatible wheels and tires... on a gravel bike 🤨

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

It is a miss. Too bad since the rest of the bike is A+. Personally a set of FSA NS wheels for $400 would make this an amazing choice.

[@Proteeps]

@@Jamesthebikeguy 52 frame same bike running tubeless. no problems yet. 3months of trail riding

[@Hintonbro.]

@@Jamesthebikeguy Specialized just increased the price a couple of hundred dollars - they could have rectified this oversight... 🤦‍♂️

[@rudyelizondo1935]

Still too damn heavy no thanks

[@AndresMUy-vd2fy]

Horrible, parece un injerto casero.