Is FutureShock the future? | Specialized Diverge Expert Carbon review

At over £5,000 the Specialized Diverge Expert Carbon is a high-end option for your gravel riding. With the new Crux Gravel an out-and-out racer, Specialized is pitching the Diverge more as a bike for adventures. So how does it stand up?
Read the full review on road.cc: road.cc/content/review/specia...
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⚫️ In this video
0:00 Intro
0:48 What's it like to ride?
2:25 Dial C for Comfort
2:50 The groupset
6:20 Outro
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[@chawley52]

Hey! I have that bike...in the same color way...and I LOVE it! I'm a casual (aging) gravel rider, riding mostly in the very dry American Southwest (California and Arizona). I have made incremental upgrades to suit my capabilities and increase comfort; 36T Wolftooth chainring for climbing, FSA K-wing carbon handlebars, Royal CL Terra carbon wheels and 42mm Pathfinder Pro 2Bliss tires (my old wheels have been refitted with 47mm Tracer Pro 2Bliss for the rare wet/mud/snow excursions). Thanks for your great review!

[@ultimatist]

Note the future shock is binary, not as adjustable as it seems. Regardless, I enjoy mine, especially over high-speed chatter. Will be interesting to see what the Specialized-sponsored athletes race at Gravel Unbound and big races next year with Crux in the lineup. Regardless, the Diverge is better for steep descents and fast sweepers on my local trails.

[@zero_cool817]

I have a 2021 Diverge Sport Carbon it was my first gravel bike and I love it.

[@pe3117]

I have a Specialized Turbo Creo SL and the future shock is amazing…those 20mm are very comfortable…works really well and is fully adjustable

[@jimbo4203]

Yes ! It's called future shock for a reason . I think we will see more integrated suspension technology like the new Scott 's in frame rear shock for example

[@chrisblanchard4938]

I have the original future shock on my 2018 S works Roubaix and I really like it. Soft, med or hard springs give you the option. My 2.0 on my Diverge seems like it's either on or off. There is no difference that I can feel when I turn the knob half way. When I am on the road i lock it out (but it doesn't completely lock out) and when I am on the trail or gravel I keep it open.

[@lauragatehouse7935]

Can you fit a future shock on the diverge aluminium frame ?

[@hannorasmusholtiegel6044]

Carbon seat posts already offer enough flex, suspension is better when it moves the wheels, because this offers a gain in traction on gravel. So i expect more carbon handelbars, but for real suspension systems, i expect things to develop more in to the direction of cannondales king pin suspension or lauf forks.

[@jonathanbartle8062]

Not a chance of getting one in 2022 probably. I've been waiting for a Tarmac to replace the Tarmac that didn't work and was taken back by Spesh for at least 6 months, that's after 15 months of absolute pain from a bike that clearly didn't work.

[@mrstanhope1516]

Someone should do a map of where all these gravel routes are as there's none where I live.

[@roadcc]

whereabouts are you?

[@Axsel85]

Is it just me or others also find that the Specialzied sizing chart is a bit off? I'm just over 6 1' (186cm) and I find size 56 fitting me better, 58 feels very big

[@roadcc]

big as in tall, or long? Dave's 189cm and finds the 58 in specialized road bikes generally long enough even though he should be riding a 61 based on the chart.

[@Axsel85]

@@roadcc the reach on 58 is a bit long with the stock 100mm stem for me. I currently have 56 with a 100mm stem and a couple future shock spacers and the fit/reach is comfortable. That said 58 with a shorter stem would fit me well too I think.

[@serpadu]

For their height chart I should use a 54, from the retül page, a 56, but I have a 52 and it's perfect. Modern 52 bikes have usually a 53~54 top tube, so they are almost the same as one size up in the past. I dont really know they they did this, but thats hot it works now...

[@AM-bl2cs]

how tall are you? I'm 178cm not sure if I will fit a 54 or should go 56@@serpadu

[@serpadu]

@@AM-bl2cs I’m 173cm. It really depends on your proportions, like inseam and arm length. If I had your height, I’d use a 54.

[@JibbaJabber]

@3:36 Liam. Not too impressed with the 'Mad Max' brake disc - is that legal??

[@roadcc]

ha! Yeah he doesn't think the standard ones are slicy enough :-)

[@RoadGravelBike]

haha I love the Mad Max name for the discs. Yep, they're just a Shimano model.

[@JibbaJabber]

@@RoadGravelBike Ah, that's a shame. They'd seem useful in the Salisbury 'Badlands'. PS, I'm glad you've set the tash free;)

[@samrichardson2641]

E5 base without future shock does alright but not on the washboards

[@Alaskanxeotheze]

Can this bike ride up small hills?

[@bikepackingadventure7913]

Just buy a redshift ShockStop stem instead. 😊😊

[@Hintonbro.]

Have seen people say this for years.. finally had a chance to try the Redshift stem - folks need to know that they aren’t identical. FS motion is straight up and down whereas the Redshift is more of a tilt forward of the bars when activated. I prefer the FS feeling, but it’s a personal choice

[@adamossowski7627]

@@Hintonbro. I second that, also have both. Redshift was fine until I bought Diverge :) I ride fast ultra endurance races (around 500km) and not going into details, all other things being the same- my hands are numb and completely worn out after race like that on the Redshift equipped bike, and feel like nothing happened on Diverge. That's all said Diverge is not light, and I'm still choosing other bike for few selected races

[@garagesale5948]

The "FutureShock" is the $550 replacement cost for the 2.0 cartridge

[@bonzobanana1]

Yes never buy any proprietary tech for a bike it means they have you by the balls and if you refuse to pay these costs the bike is basically written off with regard the fork and possibly frame. Lots of non-proprietary solutions like bigger tyres, suspension seat post (if you have a conventional seat tube), spring saddle, double wrap bars etc. Most people have to work hard to earn their money, don't just throw it away on gimmicks that you will regret down the line.

[@Hintonbro.]

Constant whining about a very unlikely expense - if you don’t want new tech in your bike, don’t buy one. This is a $7500 CAD bike - if the risk of a $500 part failing keeps you up at night, get a Crux. I love the FS - been riding one (the original one) since 2017. Wouldn’t ride gravel without it.

[@bonzobanana1]

@@Hintonbro. Well there was a chap in the UK who had the earlier version of the future shock and had problems with it and couldn't get the spares and for some reason his youtube channel was taken down by Specialized. He was based in Dorset, mamil something it was called. I warned him about the proprietary nature of the bike. I just think its an un-necessary idea with many issues. I guess the reason I dislike it so much is its part of the throwaway society and also manipulative profiteering by the brand. It certainly doesn't keep me up at night because I simply never would consider it based on its design. I do have a Specialized bike from the 90s, a road bike, A Sirrus Triple. It's a chromoly steel road bike with triple chain rings. Nowadays Specialized use the Sirrus name for hybrids. The reason its still going is nothing is proprietary about its spec, everything is replaceable. It will likely still be on the road long after futureshock bikes have disappeared from the roads. I'm just informing people of the expense and possible writing off of the bike in the future. You can buy an expensive bike, something with an amazing frame and forks, amazing wheels but a more humble 105 groupset and no proprietary parts and have a bike with low maintenance costs despite its high initial purchase price. An expensive bike doesn't have to be an expensive bike to maintain and use and have reliability issues.

[@scottlstone]

It’s a comfortable road bike. That’s it

[@roadcc]

we know it's a sliding scale, but this is quite a long way past 'comfortable road bike' territory

[@alre1368]

Not a fan of the down tube compartment. I think it’s the worst idea ever. IMO. I have experience with the bicycle market. I see why they’re doing it though. Bikes are now tailored to weekend riders that like the idea of being adventurous. Whatever’s

[@roadcc]

worst idea *ever*? *cough* mountain bike brifters

[@alre1368]

@@roadcc ok

[@williamholland5429]

None to be had so a waste of time.

[@roadcc]

there will be at some point though, stay strong

[@ss_whole]

Suspension will keep getting more advanced on gravel bikes until someone finally says, "hey why not just ride a mountain bike on gravel"...which is what I've been saying since the gravel bike scam began