Is Specialized's New Alloy Allez A Rip Off?

[@brianstranyak1049]

This industry needs more high end aluminum bikes. I have a Cannondale CAAD 10, and CAAD X. Love both them them.

[@geetee4037]

99% of all bikes are a rip off. As a bike shop owner, we're trying to move away from sales as much as possible because it's complete nonsense.

[@geetee4037]

@@Bu-22 it's likely we don't. I mean we can't rely on sales so must find alternative income streams but it may not work. We rarely make any margin on bikes because of online sales.

[@the.communist]

W9rkshop

[@geetee4037]

@@the.communist when people Zwift all winter and can do a lot of the work themselves these days (because you can find info online to do everything), the workshop isn't as busy as once was. Zwift kills us in winter.

[@petersouthernboy6327]

@@geetee4037you are simply not believable

[@geetee4037]

@@petersouthernboy6327 ?

[@Quivivravelo]

Caad 12 is just one of the best alloy bike ,you can possess and it WAYYYYY cheaper.

[@co7013]

If I were racing more, aluminium would be my material of choice. Affordable, stiff, sturdy. I do races on an (affordable) titanium bike an cross races on an aluminium bike. I did some races on quite high end steel frames. They can be quite vulnerable, with their thin tube walls. Where I ride, the terrain is mostly flat, so weight is not really an issue.

[@chrisfoz1948]

Spec cracked the code a while back where they realised that if they charge premium prices, people will assume it's a premium product. Of course their bikes are good, but it's like I'm in crazy town with people valuing their bikes like they do and paying what they do for them.

[@LaurentiusTriarius]

Kisses from Cannondale headquarters 😂🎉

[@Demand68]

Agree. Back in the GCN app there were boat loads of people showing off their S-Works. So many people spending absurd amounts of money on their bikes

[@Chimy1423]

That was a short and excellent interview. I completely forgot about the Specialized Allez Sprint price scam. Once your guest started talking about the competitive years, he reminded me of all those seasons I spent racing at the cat3 level. The love for this sport is infinite, but at the same time I realized that I have other important things to attend to such as marriage, children, etc. Don't get me wrong, I still ride my bike. Now I do Grand Fondos, weekend rides, spinning classes, and occasional Crits... just for 😂fun. Speaking of the Allez Sprint. They should add some carbon wheels like the Roval C38 and Shimano 105 Di2.

[@cecilecorpuz5735]

One thing for sure, an ALLOY frame will surely out live a HIGH BUCK Carbon frame.

[@fernandocycling9662]

For sure.

[@owensnicholas]

Man. Less than three years ago I bought a Roubaix Sport for the same price. I know it’s not Di2, but it’s 105. And a pretty nice carbon frame. And it had the same 470 wheels on it.

[@Demand68]

Isn’t the big difference between this alloy bike and, for example, an Emonda this: Specialized is developing alloy further, while other brands position alloy as the affordable, lower tech alternative Not sure there is demand for it though. It will be for people that really don’t want a carbon bike for whatever reason

[@the.communist]

They arent developing alluminium. Thats what they want u to believe though

[@kennethcook3127]

Trek makes an emonda alr

[@Demand68]

@@kennethcook3127very true. What I think is different is that the Emonda ALR is the lower tier Emonda. Specialized seems to be marketing their Allez Sprint more as an alternative, not necessarily a lower tier.

[@mmurmurjohnson2368]

2009 Allez Triple, added 55mm carbon rims, and just smoked an SL8 last weekend....nuff said 🔥 🌶 🔥

[@twgq]

I bought a used Allez Sprint (2018) for 500€, needed some spareparts. Now I paid around 850€ and it´s a very good value (exkl. some good, expansive wheels)! Will I pay the full price for the newer version? No, it´s overpriced (but good).

[@yonglingng5640]

Are the headset bearings still OK?

[@twgq]

Now it´s ok. A replacement was necessarily. @@yonglingng5640

[@richiejames928]

Does it still have that criminally bad weld up the front end?

[@rkgr2]

I saw that and immediately got concerned. The fan boys will pay it then other brands will realize they can get away with it.

[@LaurentiusTriarius]

Exactly.

[@jevgeniardassov]

Already TREK took notice, they offer Emonda AL for 2 k frameset.

[@nb9797]

Let them sell you their 2nd hand bikes that at 3 years old have past expiry in their eyes

[@daytch9485]

Exactly, marketing fan boys towing the line

[@idea1511]

I had one in 2022. It was OK, not worth the retail price. For $600 I simultaenously had a 2008 Cervelo Soloist (aluminum w/carbon fork) SRAM Force 10-sp. For the same power, it was way more responsive than the Sprint. However, I have a rim-brake 2017 Allez Sprint and it is also more responsive, stiff, and moves through the wind. The stiffness is not there anymore with the disc version. Disc brakes (if tuned correctly) were not horrible. Just my experience.

[@ronradmer3573]

It is not a rip off. I just built a brand new 2024 with SRAM RIVAL wrap for under $4000 and I absolutely love it.

[@indiebikes]

It’s the price of 105 Di2 that causes the price bump. £1400-1600 for a groupset doesn’t leave much for everything else. And dealer margin, shipping, VAT etc, there is too much being added on at source. As an owner of an Allez S-Works 2015, and a Tarmac S-Works 2015 both with mechanical Dura Ace, there isn’t much of a difference in performance. They both ride great with 28mm tyres. Good alloy is an equal to bad carbon, but also on a par with good carbon.

[@SM-yh7rs]

Nothing wrong with alloy frames. They serve a purpose. Oddly, my allez is almost as compliant as my full steel All City, which is super comfy. But the allez puts down ginormous amounts of power compared to the AC.

[@barryherron5351]

Rip off definitely, Trek Emonda ALR with 105 for less than 2k.

[@bernardo9202]

It is crazy. Specialized sell the allez with last 11 speed 105 generation for more than trek sells the emonda alr with 105 di2

[@andrewchanner463]

Sorry if you crash your alloy frame and write it off, you got bigger issues to think about than your bike.

[@johnpsyclex147]

When I raced on alloy frames, you had to get rid of them practically every season because they went soft or wooden. It was also super easy to crack a chain stays as manufacturers attempted to make the lighter. Carbon has far more durability so long as you don't crash badly or buy rubbish frames.

[@a1white]

I have a Genesis steel bike, not top level but my 12 year old Reynolds 725 Equilibrium is a lovely bike to ride

[@tornagawn]

Wow! I know times and prices change, but I got an Allez Elite with 105 in 2009 for $1500 NZ…..

[@WillStewart2012]

You can buy a Trek Domane alr 105 di2 for less than £2k right now, or a carbon TCR with 105 di2 for just over £2k, plenty of change to upgrade the wheels before you've hit the allez sprint price point. Typical Specialized over pricing

[@zhoujustin1954]

I own the exact same spec ltd allez that i got for just 3400 euros as a sale and throw em on with a pair of dura ace c60s that cost just 999 euros (which also is a sale price and that is just good as fxxk😂) and damn this thing is a spaceship! Great speed, hill climbing, extremely responsive and no quirky noise at all. People need something just like this

[@waklerma]

Paid 2300 swiss francs for a Specialized Secteur with full 105. Alloy version of the roubaix at the time. Pretty good value at the time, you can buy the same from other brands at the same price point today. Specialized is marketing itself as high quality by charging high prices. Needless to say thst I didn‘t buy Specialized when I upgraded last year.

[@ariffau]

No, it is not a ripoff. We are mainly paying for brand name (goodwill). If an individual’s salary increases over time, why can’t Mark Sinyard also increases the price of the bikes he sells? 😅

[@bebopman5]

I managed to pick up one of these Allez Sprint frames used for about $600 (~£473), and it’s a rocket ship. I transferred the parts off my CAAD12 to it, and it’s been fantastic. That being said, it’s for sure overpriced to high heavens at $3K for a full build and $1700 for the frameset. If it was the same price as the new Emonda ALR ($2300/$1200), I’d say it would be “reasonable”.

[@milkbunnies]

There’s an argument to say that all speshulies bikes are a rip off…

[@sallyviewville8944]

Tarmac sl7 is £3,300 at sigma this week.

[@thomaseser8359]

A frame like tje TCR advanced is the best choice for crits. Because you van repair it. Or a 500 Euro alloy frame.

[@sylvainbernaers]

van rysel alu bike: everything 105---1200 euros. weight 8.8 kg. upgraded to 8.1 kg

[@SM-yh7rs]

To sum up, I’m special and go way back… just got an allez sport on sale. Upgraded the wheels and a few other things with sanely priced goods. Excellent bike. Probably as good as any non pro will ever need. But…. The Sprint is a $$$ joke.

[@christianholmstedt8770]

So they claim it is even faster than their 2002 S-Works E5 ridden by Cipollini? I have that frame and it's a work of art and there is no way the new Allez is a better frame. Btw, that frame (yes just the frame) was $1695 back in 2002.

[@hockysa]

Price tag sounds like ok value for today's inflated prices. I used to have an Allez Sprint, loved the bike up until the day it got stolen =[

[@willhopewell]

Looked at Specialized to upgrade from my entry level decathlon... only difference seemed to be the price and logo on the side... ended up going with Cube.

[@ZenGarage]

Just recently bought an Allez Sprint, can confirm, the wheels it comes with are absolute junk.

[@ysarn]

You could buy the £1500 overpriced, but hopefully very good frame (but a bit weighty, 2.38kg claimed by Specialized, guess this is for the frame, fork and seatpost), 105Di2 full groupset for £1006 and a set of Scribe 42mm deep carbon wheels for £799 and apart from bars, stem and saddle you have a Specialized Allez with carbon wheels for £3305. The Allez 105 Di2 packeage that Specialized sell seems poor value in comparison, with the savings on a full bike that they can make. 2019 I bought a Cannondale Synapse Carbon with tiagra on it, RRP £1750, but £1250 in the sale. The frame and forks are the only part of the bike I still have (I have Hunt carbon wheels and Ultegra Di2 now) and it is a great frame for so little money compared to current prices. Mapdec cycles on KZbin was recently saying that it is not worth buying full bikes at the moment, unless discounted, as the maths don't stack up; it's better to source frame, wheels and groupset separately.

[@syedzgaming]

same price as endurace cf7 di2 carbon

[@simonirvine1628]

I would rather purchase the Giant Advanced Disc if I was given £3000 to spend on a Road Bike. And just for the record I have never owned a Giant Road Frame.

[@___Bebo___]

Aluminum road bike frame is worth about 40 bucks IMO, unless it has paint instead of powder coat.

[@BikeLife154]

I’m all for cheap bikes, but $40? 😂

[@___Bebo___]

@@BikeLife154 That is the value of a Kinesis factory Alu road bike yes. They make Specialized I believe, they 100% make Giant. If you pay more than this you're kind of a Fred in my book.

[@ultimobici.]

@@___Bebo___Giant outsource their production? LMAO!! Clueless.

[@___Bebo___]

@@ultimobici. lol you think there is a Giant factory that only makes Giant bikes out there, haha cute.

[@___Bebo___]

@@ultimobici. Thank you for keeping the bike industry in business buying your ridiculous Aluminum advertising label bikes.

[@karelvandervelden8819]

Allez Sora 2011 with curved toptube 700 euro. Nice rain bike....... (to get home fast)

[@l.d.t.6327]

the nonsense about aluminium for racing could can stop. The only thing that makes sense is you race what you cannot replace. I cannot (endlessly) replace overpriced Speci marketing alloy bikes. I crashed a couple of times in racing on my carbon bike and the only damage done was wheels, saddles, bars, bartape, shifters, pedals, QR, derailleurs. I never even scratched a frame.

[@mjor6406]

This specialized bike costs $2500 Canadian . Or £1400. That's pretty cheap.

[@two-eyedRoy]

£3+k for Alloy, that *ISN'T* upper spec'd kit, strikes me as 'ripoff' because that *IS* what you got 10-15yrs ago (inflation adjusted) for less. 2009 Cervelo S1 full Ultegra R6700 spec (incl wheels) £2,300 Mine was $2,600 AUD, Ultegra groupset but to hit that price point there were cost cuts via; - FSA cranks - woeful Tektro "Cervelo" brakes - servicable OEM wheels - throwaway saddle 2015 Cannondale CAAD '3' full Ultegra R6800 spec $3k AUD (£2k) 2019 Allez Sprint DB, 105 R7000 spec $3k AUD (£1,900) [same wheels as complained about model above] ... so where's that £1200/$1520USD/$2250AUD going from between the the 2019 Allez model and 2024? Di2 alone isn't enough, not by a long shot. For £3,100 that bike *should* be Ultegra (Di2) and R 1400 series wheels.

[@l.d.t.6327]

you don't even have to go back this far in time. Giant TCR advanced has 105 DI2 and SLR2 wheels for around 2900. That's cheaper than the Specialized offering, with a carbon frame and carbon wheels.

[@two-eyedRoy]

@@l.d.t.6327 I get what you're saying but "carbon" can be any format. Shit CF frames are in this price bracket. Decent CF frames are in this price bracket. This price bracket is your tipping point of excellent AL framesets to moderately good, compromised, CF framesets. (by compromised I just mean it's very unlikely be designed around the level of CF utilised. Cheaper option CF to higher level frames mould. Hell, even the lay-up can change frame character). But the convo wasn't about carbon frames, it was about AL. Hence my last comparison choice, the same bike from 3-4 years ago. At the same spec. With the same wheels. A basically unchanged frame. Unchanged construction material and methods. Suddenly +50% monies.

[@a1white]

Specialized have always been a bit overpriced. That Allez would be ok for that price if it was Ultegra specced rather than 105

[@two-eyedRoy]

@@a1white There was an odd 'premium' bump to mid spec bikes. Not that the prices changed, but the running gear did. 105 went Di2, added 50% $'s (basically Ultegra redundant) and went on bikes with Ultegra pricing. Similarly for Tiagra as it covered the mech 105 hole. The 105 level pricing stayed whilst there was no adjustment in spec to level out the difference, just revenue. Up spec the 1.9kg OEM wheels??? Nah, just pocket $500

[@syedzgaming]

canyon endurace cf7 di2 2499

[@MrJasonodonnell]

Nothing wrong with Overpriced alloy if it has high end aesthetics or some Unique twist, I had a look over a Alloy Nicolai mtb on a workstand last week...every crazy little feature on the frame Impressed me, Squared machined out Pace like tubing or a rebirth of M2 matrix? IDK....I honesty feel like specialized and their wanky culture are taking the piss even on a good day.

[@lezivanerrol3697]

I bought a new Roubaix Sport which came with those DT470 disc Wheelset. Took them off straight away. Specialized should be ashamed of themselves for charging such huge prices with these less than ordinary wheels. Put my set on the auction sites - couldn't get rid of them for less than half discount retail price. My first roadie was Allez. Fantastic bike with a decent group set and wheels. Unfortunately a car ran into the rear deraileur and put the drive side stays out by a centimeter. Non fixable.

[@nicklasjanowitz8469]

I race that bike as a ~4K build, I prefer it over my 2020 venge

[@andreemurray7039]

What a ripoff cycle brands are ripping us off big time cycle design has platod and shop's close sorry nord with all this R and D crap

[@jonathanchung7209]

Overpriced