Is This the BEST Performance BIKE You can BUY for the MONEY??

[@GCPerformance18]

What would be your all time crit machine build up??

[@Shadowboost]

CAAD10 every time

[@eddyaveti3047]

Would you rather have this or an SL7 Sport 105? Basically Aluminum 105 Di2 vs Carbon Mech 105.

[@SyLens1]

Lol if u want an alloy race bike with a 105 di2, trek got u covered with the emonda alr for 2.5k €. And those welds are way better looking

[@buster.keaton]

Totally agree. The welds on the Spec look like they used caulk to join the tubes.

[@diehardbikes]

Yes, absolutely agreed.

[@kobeverhaert5550]

Yes, but, the allez is an actual race bike. The Emonda does not compare ;)

[@SyLens1]

@@kobeverhaert5550 the emonda very much compares. riding an emonda SL myself and racing it, its plenty fast, having ridden the ALR it feels nearly identical as it also is in terms of tubes and shapes of the frame. if the latest ALR came out a year earlier i wouldve gotten it over the SL for sure

[@kobeverhaert5550]

@@SyLens1 have you tried the allez sprint (and sl7)?

[@cyclingchef3531]

The answer is NO. Aluminium bike with aluminium wheels and aluminium stem and handlebar shouldn't cost more than 2000-2500

[@NoahStephens]

How do you explain this bike selling for $3,500?

[@spartanbike2260]

exactly should be max 2500 wtf it is 2024 the consumer does not want to pay the Specialized TAX. canyon exists

[@JoseRodriguez-oo9nf]

I can get a super six evo carbon 3500 and do the same.

[@eddyaveti3047]

What year are you living in?

[@eddyaveti3047]

@@spartanbike2260 Alot of bike shops have this bike on sale for 2700-2900. It's Shimano Di2 105 on a Specialized bike.

[@E.T_rode_bikes_As_well]

That’s why there is a difference between a reviewer and a salesman. 3500 for a harsh but a flexy ride, oooh hell no.

[@savagepro9060]

GC Performance: Is This the BEST Performance BIKE You can BUY for the MONEY? The Village Dentist:

[@tackac7815]

Pre covid the whole bike was 1800. Now that buys just the frame? Buy used, so many bikes collecting dust out there.

[@diehardbikes]

I'm with him actually. A good bike that is carbon, has an electronic groupset, carbon wheels, still had aluminum bar and stem, cost my father $3,200 before Covid. Now, to get the EXACT SAME SETUP, would cost well over 5k. Its insane. These are LOW END performance supposedly, but low end is in the $1,600-$2,500 range in most people's minds. For a good performance level bike that you can really give it the beans and it respond like a race bike if you wanted it to. Its capable of that, but costs waaaayyyy more than it should. Using the SAME budget, I could build a carbon Felt AR disc with Force AXS 2x with hydraulic disc brakes, and DT Swiss 1400 Dicut carbon deep dish wheels. With the exact same budget, of $3,500 on Ebay. I should mention the frame is new, and many of the components are pretty close to new. Specialized fails us again.

[@kainlestad]

Yeah thats why i don’t buy new anymore, prefer to buy used, upgrade the groupset, seat, handlebars, maybe wheels and save a lot of money, and those upgrades i try to get them used in good condition too.

[@badenwheeler6890]

different frames, the more expensive one has integrated cables

[@marcinstyle85]

Not sure what you guys are smoking there in US but must be good...never was and never will....

[@GCPerformance18]

Shittttt I’ll show you some ;)

[@dayanalles]

Smart weld?? Those welds look simply awful! $3500 for a bike that looks like someone did a DIY weld on it 😂

[@SyLens1]

The top tube weld must be an aero disadvantage

[@jarhead4657]

@@SyLens1 LOL...

[@StepanKristof]

Exactly, my Allez E5 105 from 2020 looks better and is 70% cheaper 😃

[@badenwheeler6890]

The welds dont look bad at all, Ive seen plenty of these in real life, you mistake them for the carbon frames, not as noticeable in real life. Additionally, lots of frames have really inticate paint jobs that cover up the welds.

[@jarhead4657]

They made the welds look that way to show reinforcements? OK then....LOL.

[@bengt_axle]

What is that caulking on the top and downtube?

[@tonyvitiello9897]

Just checked Tarmac SL7 105Di2 $4k. What am I missing?

[@razorree]

well.... for similar price you can get carbon Giant TCR (and if you find discount, it'll come with carbon wheels)

[@StevenStephens-ql1yo]

Those welds looked slathered on. Smart welds can learn something from titanium welders.

[@andresgizmos1271]

It is done on purpose by specialised to highlight the difference between the sl7 and this

[@travispyle2905]

For a true budget build you should do expectations for holiday sale? Tried and & true winspace T1550 gen2 frame? Or maybe a not yet reviewed Bigrock aero frame from Joe at Pandapodium... Or a tavelo attack(Jesse Coil's bike)... but definitely not an over priced aluminum frame.

[@Zzyyxx22]

It’s a lot of bike to be buying to strip and upgrade. Sounds like the parts coming off are worth sweeties. I think I’d go for a used frame and build on that.

[@tofadeisastart]

3500 bucks for aluminum and di2 105. Sheesh

[@nerigarcia7116]

I really hate those welds on the Allez Sprint. They should make more like a lug, like a Colnago C60. As is, it just looks sloppy. It looks like they crashed the bike, it broke, and they welded it back together. I wouldn't buy that bike just for that ugly fact.

[@michaelmechex]

People moan when high end carbon frames from china cost this much, but now aluminum is supposed to be an amazing deal just because it has 'Specialized' written on the down tube? Hell no. Also what's with those builds, I thought a full bike is supposed to be cheaper than getting all the components separately?

[@bubby372]

Those welds coming off the head tube are horrendous. What were they thinking? It looks like a repair.

[@Nehpets1701G]

Those "Smart" welds look downright medieval. For the price that is unacceptable given this will not be an expensive bike frame to manufacture. Look at the new Orbea metal frames for nice welds and see where Specialized should be with this 👌

[@diehardbikes]

Trek has the Emonda ALR that looks like it could be carbon if not for the rear axle area......

[@Lockeness86]

What happened to the Seka Spear? Are you doing a review vid

[@GCPerformance18]

yea I still have it!!

[@royanderson3478]

Tarmac SL7 carbon mechanical 105 ?😊. I wish the bike came with Roval carbon wheels.

[@MiamiCycling305]

I loved my Allez sprint when I had it. I used it for both racing a lots of long rides. Nice bike and great value.

[@sbccbc7471]

First-generation?

[@MiamiCycling305]

@@sbccbc7471 no. The 2022. Had 105 mech. Thew some zipp aero bars and Winspace Hyper 65mm on it. Enjoyed it.

[@travispyle2905]

You should now do another video showing a proper budget race build with 2024 trek alu frame, 105 11speed mechanical disc, $50 aliexpress 3d seat, Ican G25 wheels, tavelo bar for $300, Nice tires. All that for under $3K. Then compare the budget build to this build.

[@hmcdonnell23]

The intro to your videos are always pretty funny.

[@mmfong297]

A lot of ya said it's too much $ for aluminum. The frame itself is only $1700, the SL8 Pro is $3500 (2x) and $5500 if it says S-work on the frame. Here's the catch.. the SL7/SL8 Pro frame is only 400g lighter (1.71kg vs 2.18). Also, other than crit racing being close to crash-proof, if you do a lot of flight travel or use it for transportation at times like I do in Asia and Europe, you would want an aluminum or Ti bike. I have gotten plenty of KOM with this thing and there are countless guys with S-works 7 or 8 who I dropped on a regularly basis in both flats/hills. This is a machine best value for your buck! If SL7/SL8 is the Porsche 911, this thing is the Porsche Cayman S

[@jarhead4657]

$1700 for a made in china aluminum frame? GTFO....

[@mmfong297]

@@jarhead4657 That’s a myth.. there’s no evidence that said so. Label says hand made in Taiwan. The frame that is from China is Winspace $1800 for T1500. So to your point, you opt for a Chinese carbon over a Taiwanese aluminum that is backed by a top American brand

[@johnstamopolis5257]

Specialized Smart Chinese welds right there...... B

[@ESR66]

Do videos on the older bikes.

[@bengt_axle]

Grant, what do you think about the following alternative way of selling bikes at shops? Instead of shipping whole bikes in huge boxes with wheels that inevitably get upgraded, why not sell only the frame and its associated components, with the fork supplied (hoses connected) but not installed. In this scheme, Big Bike manufacturers would ship the frame, all of the components (including brake rotors and cassette), but would leave out the saddle and the wheels. Selling a bike this way would reduce transportation and storage (inventory) costs because two (or more) bikes could be shipped in the space of one. The LBS could hold more stock, and it could be more easily be customized, all at lower shipping costs. I recently saw a video of a completely assembled Trek coming in a box (both wheels in the dropouts) and it was probably as voluminous as a refrigerator. That's nuts. Wheels would be packaged and shipped separately, with the freehub and thru axle taken out so that the wheel could be flat packed. It would provide greater customer value, since the bike shop could stock all different kinds of wheels and sell the one the customer really wants. It would also encourage buyers to shop at their LBS to get this level of customization and proper assembly.

[@GCPerformance18]

its a sale for every consumer, some consumers do not want the hassle of putting anything together, they just want to get it and go and this is a result to direct to consuemr sales, but we handle frame boxes all the time and groupo boxes as well

[@immikemx]

I’ve always been a specialized fan but the ugly welds and high price tags are very disappointing:(

[@byciggle]

Overpriced piece of ugly crap. Look at those welds near the headtube! Stiffness has nothing to do with welds, it is purely a geometry of tubes. My Alu CAAD is two times cheaper with the 105 gs.

[@eddyaveti3047]

CAAD is poopy that's why you don't get invited to the group rides

[@andresgizmos1271]

Yea specialised are doing bad welds on purpose to highlight the difference between the sl7 and the allez

[@huggcycles1545]

8.6kg in 2024, I've just built from a parts bin, 2009 Allez Elite 2x10 tiagra 4600, with 11-30 heavy aliexpress cassette, fsa omega heavy crank, with loads of other parts that could be swapped for lighter, with pedals coming in at 9kg on the nose! Costing me £188 in total Inc. buying the frame! How much........😮

[@Shadowboost]

Bone stock CAAD10 Force this year cost me 200 dollars. 8.3 kg with pedals

[@n22pdf]

A nice bike but those welds err 😢 good overview of the bike dude.. Pete 🚴🏻👍

[@evildrmagee]

Shame the video doesn't do the color justice. In the right light, you can see deep greens, teals, and even purple. Awesome as the color is, and as someone who owns one of these, $3.5k is a really tough sell for someone shopping for a race bike at that price point that isn't carbon.

[@GCPerformance18]

I did another video of the final product and the frame is shown off way more, it is my second most recent video where we shave off 3lbs off this bike

[@Shadowboost]

Nope, my CAAD10 with C24 wheels was 700 dollars TEN YEARS AGO with 105 and weighs 18.3 lbs with pedals and stock aluminum finishing kit. I bought my second CAAD10 with SRAM Force for 200 dollars this year. Same weight with alloy wheels. This is crazy money to spend on an inferior aluminum bike to my CAADs

[@Raymond-Farts]

You weighed that bike without pedals, bottle cages, Garmin mount and it weighs more than my titanium bike by 10 ounces. I also have a titanium stem and handlebar and seatpost. Just saying.

[@Shadowboost]

Just saying, a bone stock CAAD10 with 105 weighed less than this ten years ago

[@jarhead4657]

Limited edition color, shiny black....

[@Wonkee792]

those welds...

[@SystemParanoia]

those welds are not pretty... yikes The Orbea Avant is Alu Endurance but looks carbon, super smooth

[@lamontdouglas8695]

I love the gen 1 Venge all it needs is Zipp wheels

[@jamesmckenzie3532]

This is way too much for an alloy bicycle. I bought a Diverge at $2500. If i were to upgrade, i would put carbon wheels on it.

[@taxi9554]

Excited to see this bike after you made the changes. But why did he not buy the frame only? Only because of the colour….the colour is not very special.

[@BrianAndTheBike]

Wtf with the price Tag

[@tombola4046]

3.5k for that 😂😂😂 and they wonder why the industry is in decline 🤦‍♂️

[@mmurmurjohnson2368]

Every cyclist should own at least one Allez to keep these carbon "super bikes" honest

[@ViktorNavotny]

I personally opt for a emonda alr 5

[@GCPerformance18]

I still want to get my hands on that bike

[@EddyCat1234]

In comparison to my SW SL7 the Allez is still competitive it just lets its self down when the road pitches up (>8%) due to weight. Personally I like the welds, gives it a unique industrial look. Got my Allez on discount. I think the recommend retail price is $500 - $800 to high

[@GCPerformance18]

It's a solid bike I ride the same one!

[@Baddeal]

Hell no lmao.

[@Philatlondon1]

Get the cheapest one and spend the money on a pair of carbon wheels and rubber. Surely not fully integrated is far more sensible if you're intending to travel with the bike.

[@fabianmolyneux2308]

Not a fan of alloy and especially at that price. Personally, I think it’s a bad buy, as you’d quickly realise to make it optimal you’d need to upgrade the wheels, the handlebars, the group-set, the saddle etc. After all that you’d still end up with a sub-optimal frame.

[@nationsnumber1chump]

Same wheels came on my 2017 crux expert 1x 😂 probably rusty af cause they say no rim tape needed but pretty sure my nipples are rusty cause of the Stans sealant ammonia leaked inside somehow

[@reinholdachleitner2069]

Ammonia in sealant.😏

[@toyatoya1587]

8.6 kilos wtf, for me is totally unacceptable, put some pedals and you have a 9 kg bike, market is full of $3000 to $5000 bike at around that weight, I have a 35 year old Cinelli bike with Columbus sl tubing much lighter, Best Buy this year was Sava from china 7.2 kg with carbon wheels for $3200 inc shipping with ultegra DI2. Bike industry is ripping off customers. I can’t write my opinion of the welding reinforced (😅) tubes because I will get banned from KZbin 😮. That’s a great bike for Walmart

[@davemellor4697]

Got to say Grant thats poor value at 3500 you can buy a very good carbon bike for £2500-3000 with better spec etc etc and those welds look like a 6 year old has done them ...sorry mate.

[@GCPerformance18]

yea I hear you the customer wanted this frame specifically for crit races

[@eddyaveti3047]

Show me a carbon bike with 105 that's under $3500...

[@alien-bass]

If your swapping all the finish fit why not buy a frame set for a lot less.

[@Philatlondon1]

Far better finding a late model rim brake bike on eBay etc.

[@s23bho38]

Bro bike is Zeke for an Ali bike. 👌🏼

[@g.fortin3228]

very nice bike ! i like quieter (probably less wear with less spring pressure too) hubs.. just my pref, but it's a great option for bang for the buck light and fast but if you're going to change up everything just start w the Allez Sport and go to town on the upgrades.

[@jarhead4657]

Still overpriced by $500 to $1,000 Get a Canyon Ultimate with carbon frame and integrated bar/stem for $3299. Or an Aeroroad for $3999. Wheels are garbage on the Spesh too and you will want to replace them right away.

[@rougethestarking]

If this is value, the economy is beyond cooked...

[@mudbone59]

I have a 2019 Allez Sprint Disc and love it. Especially the welds! I weigh 100kg and it's stiff as hell! With the carbon fork, seatpost and a carbon saddle, it's comfortable too. So much so that i got the 2024 Allez Sprint frame and built it up. Both have Ultegra 12sp Di2 and carbon wheels. These bikes are fast, responsive and comfy. I've ridden carbon bikes and they are comfy, but all felt like wet noodles.

[@eddyaveti3047]

Bought my first bike this year and it's a base Allez. Next summer I'm pulling the trigger on this. Been seeing it on sale for 2700-3000.

[@mannymerc89]

No, the caad13 is.

[@andresgizmos1271]

No, get a used carbon bike, Merida, giant or polygon. carbon is way better I don’t care what anybody else says. Better vibration absorption and smoother, stiffer all round

[@ianusher2675]

Doesn’t look good anymore , seat tube is too narrow now, ruined the aesthetic

[@scotttarrence9252]

I'll stick with my older Allez sport. It may only be Sora but I'm old and fat.

[@matkrek]

Ugly welds, ugly price

[@kalilebron007]

Not paying 3500 for that weld job. What a waste.

[@boogieman6214]

best video ever

[@travispyle2905]

hahaha

[@MS-bw7yt]

Best value? Definitely not😂 Value and Specialized are not a very good match

[@downbad9066]

CAAD10 is better

[@ariffau]

This bike rides great! But at that price, they should throw in a free Roval C38

[@DipBuyer83]

Very nice 🎉

[@rawride]

yes it is because i have one :)

[@reinholdachleitner2069]

That's an excellent price and you're getting Shimano Di2 105 but did you mention what tires and width they are?

[@kainlestad]

Toooooo much money for that…. Maybe 2500, 2800 in a good day…. 3500 fak no!

[@petersouthernboy6327]

Dude, seriously, judging by the comments section in your videos - you attract viewers that are jobless, living in Mom' s basement, and don't have two nickels to rub together.

[@jarhead4657]

Or people who aren't idiots paying $3500 for this...

[@petersouthernboy6327]

@@jarhead4657 this is a cheap hobby for grown men with jobs.

[@andresgizmos1271]

GC is shilling a bit too much in this case, this bike is a ripoff

[@petersouthernboy6327]

Like I said ….

[@ricardorusso1462]

The real question is: How light can you make this bike with some carefully selected Chinese components?

[@GCPerformance18]

That’s what we’re doing. Exs bars no6 wheels a whole mess of studf

[@ricardorusso1462]

@@GCPerformance18 could you show the weight of frame alone? I am considering an Allez build but I can’t find the exact frame weight anywhere

[@66mikkim]

No... cause its a overpriced Specialized

[@salsalawyer]

The Alley Sport is the best value.

[@usernamefromhell]

I'd only change the wheels

[@RalphIvanDelaTonga]

Nice peace

[@GatorDevastator]

No