New Specialized Roubaix SL8 - what’s changed?

[@Markhypnosis1]

I bought a used 2017 Roubaix Elite a couple of years ago. Love it Done a few century rides and a double century on it, very comfortable. I've even attached clip on TT bars for different positions, and aero gains.

[@evdb7246]

A whole 11sec faster over 100km? Wow, that's A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!

[@owensnicholas]

Even better, they don’t claim WHAT it’s 11 seconds faster than.

[@tonyg3091]

@@owensnicholas 😂😂 It is really nice bike but the marketing is dumb, they should realize that for endurance riders 11 seconds over 100 km means absolutely nothing as normally people are not in a hurry

[@flipper2gv]

@@owensnicholas The previous gen roubaix

[@DrivenDynamicsTV]

@@owensnicholas didn't watch the video? check 11:33. its being compared against the previous generation Roubaix

[@davidbristow9045]

Still riding my SL4 Expert Roubaix and love it

[@clew4349]

I wish they came out with an Aethos with Roubaix geometry, and 35mm tire clearance. That would be appealing. Instead they create another Future Shock with more weight and complexity.

[@onlycoolnameleft]

Isn't the Crux basically an Aethos with a bit more forgiving geo and large tire clearance?

[@industryrule-4080]

@@onlycoolnameleftbigger tires, yes. But geometry still pretty aggressive compared to a Roubaix.

[@mmurmurjohnson2368]

Tarmac SL8 is pretty much an Aethos in terms of weight with some Roubaix geometry and a Venge front end, only 32mm tire clearance though. I ride an 32mm tire all road with similar geometry on all road conditions and 32mm is a sweet spot of comfy and fast for me over most road conditions.

[@owensnicholas]

I’m with you on this one. I want an Aethos with Roubaix geometry.

[@noze02]

I really enjoyed the review of the Future Shock, great video David!

[@davidarthur]

Thanks! 👍

[@luisgarcia22]

I would love a Roubaix with no future shock. It has much more forgiving geometry than the tarmac, aethos, and the rest.

[@clew4349]

I think there is a product called Future Shock Delete that would eliminate the FS, and is 400g lighter than the FS 2.0

[@JustinBenson]

Aethos seems to be loved by endurance riders?

[@mmurmurjohnson2368]

Yep, I think the lower models come without it. I'd get this bike, lengthen the stem when you want to get more racy aero, or shorten it when you want a more casual ride, add deep dish wheels, all road bikes are monsters downhill.

[@nokia6800]

​@@JustinBensonaethos has geometry very similar to a tarmac so it's not exactly an Endurance bike

[@jimthebikeguy]

Totally. Delete the shock and put some flat bars on and you have a great bike.

[@davidderrico9534]

For all this technology my old rim brake Giant Defy Advanced Ultegra from 2013 was somewhere between 17-18 pounds all these 5k plus bikes in 2023 seem to be 19-20 lbs.

[@patrickrenschler]

nice! I hope they add in-frame storage to the next iteration!

[@mariovr8416]

Finally a bike were the designers are logical. I am impressed and like what they have done. Thank you 😊

[@sbccbc7471]

The aesthetics-obsessed whine about the routing configuration being regular internal, I see that as a plus as this means headset-related work remains fast and easy.

[@Ivan-ny4qi]

Great video and interview David!

[@davidarthur]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Kittyjesus503]

I like the roubaix line. I am one of those individuals that run 40mm file treads on my gravel bike. Lol

[@Wanderer25]

Nice. I enjoy the frame on my Roubaix. I'd just upgrade to the future shock 3.0 and maybe turn it into a light grave bike.

[@10tealeaf]

Over the 5 years I've years of owning a 2017 Roubaix Comp I've enjoyed the fs at its hardest spring option . Can't remember what happened to the other 2. It would be cool if the now backward compatibility was free😅

[@Vinch22]

Cool! Thanks David I enjoy watching videos about new stuff especially road bikes regardless of the brand.

[@davidarthur]

Glad you like them!

[@hms350]

Nice to see Specialized catching up to my Trek Domane purchased a few years ago with capabilities for wider wheels. I have 2 sets of wheels on my Domane 28 and 35 for gravel which has been most excellent. My Domane is a bit not light but super comfortable and ride straight over small pot holes. Do not notice the weight when in fast group rides. Perhaps there is a weight penalty if the ride has frequent stop lights getting out of the city. Funny that I do also have a 2013 Roubaix with Ultegra and rim brakes.

[@vongdong10]

Nice minor update. Definitely a do it all bike now with the room for 40mm tyres. I've got the last gen but don't think I'll ever upgrade anymore as it's a road only bike.

[@ChrisandEsmeRyan]

It would be nice to know if Future Shock 2.0 bikes could be retrofitted with Future Shock 3.3.

[@davidarthur]

Yes they can

[@ianandrews1877]

Recently discovered (and very much enjoying) the channel David. Great content and slick production. Been searching for a doitall option and this roubaix looks interesting

[@davidarthur]

Welcome aboard!

[@pratikjain7523]

Hello. I am in mumbai and the roads here are horrible with potholes and stuff. I am looking for a fast bicycle which is versatile and can last at least for 5-7 years or more, and is safe in the rains, bad roads and the occasional mountain trips on the road. I deciding between this pinarello grevil and the specialised roubaix sport considering it is at a similar price (lower spec components) and can upgrade components in time if needed. Any suggestions which is better?

[@jimthebikeguy]

It might be hard for the average consumer, and the shopper, to understand the lineup now (this isn't unique to specialized btw). Effectively, the diverge, and the crux, and the roubaix, all do much the same job because Gravel is everything now.

[@SergioCristancho]

did we just take the tyre clearence again as the main topic for calling a bike a posible gravel bike... I guess is just a versatile beautiful bike nice good looks on the Roubaix SL8

[@kippen64]

This bike is on my wishlist. Am thinking a bike like this and a more hardcore gravel bike with 650b wheels. My current bike is very stiff. It'd be nice to have a bit more comfort. The Roubaix would be for commuting, general riding and light gravel. The bike with 650b wheels would be for more hardcore gravel and even a bit of lower level single track.

[@jakesullivan3017]

The Pro model has new Terra CL II rims. Can’t find any details on them

[@WordupG]

I read the Terra rims haven’t changed at all, only the hubs on the II version.

[@panzer2181]

We would really need to know the overall reliability of future shock... if this thing breaks - because it has, and it will - it's an expensive part to replace and it prevents you from riding. I'm saying this out of my own experience from Trek Domane and their IsoSpeed (which is basically the direct competitor of Specialized and their dampening tech), and it was really not reliable... the techs I spoke to sas they had a high return rate and apparently Trek was very well aware of their reliability issues...

[@10tealeaf]

Had my 2017 Roubaix comp for 5 years. I've used the hardest spring option and never had problems.

[@sbccbc7471]

Never heard of Future Shock-related issues, but I've worked on a Domane SL with a loose front IsoSpeed decoupler assembly. Those who don't know will keep preloading the headset to no avail (can't eliminate freeplay). It took me some time to figure out its inner workings, but in the end, I managed to solve the problem and the customer was satisfied.

[@panzer2181]

@@sbccbc7471 one of the shops I go to mentioned that they had a few issues with Future Shock. It's an easy fix but expensive... As for IsoSpeed, it was for the seatpost as the Domane SL6 that I had didn't have the front IsoSpeed anymore.

[@FL_Gator]

Was hoping you would cover this today on release day, David.. so thanks! Would love to know your opinion on the Roubaix vs Endurace. Very few head to head comparisons out there and your reviews are the most thorough 🚴‍♂️

[@comedyman112]

Roubaix is more comfy, but heavier Endurace is a bit racier and lighter

[@charlesblithfield6182]

Nice touch displaying the bike on a cobblestone surface. I bet it’s extremely comfortable.

[@sbccbc7471]

It is comfy indeed.

[@stephenking2218]

David, did you receive a price for the replacement future shock 2. thanks steve.

[@davidarthur]

I didn't at the launch but I have asked, will update as soon as I get it

[@Motorep146]

I'm just not a fan of the dropped seatstays on modern bikes. It makes them look like they all popped out of the same mold in Asia. Even Bianchi has chased the ugly train and trashed their lineup. I'm thinking Time, Look, or C-68 for my next build. The new Orbea Orca is on the short list too.

[@brettcameron1]

Other then a few aesthetic gripes, it looks great from a feature, technical standpoint. Would be nice to see the weight of each model.

[@tonyg3091]

It is on the website

[@Robke250]

I have a 2.5yr old Roubaix Comp model (paid 3k Eur, the new prices are bonkers…) Also expect to pay high maintenance bills for the FS feature, it broke down twice on me already, no warranty…. I ride 99% road with very little cobbles. The bike is very comfortable though, but I start to hate the spaghetti look of the cables. Lease ends soon, looking into other brands now.

[@dsemianczuk151]

Anyone know if it has a UDH?

[@davidarthur]

It does not

[@dsemianczuk151]

​@@davidarthurthank you very much for the reply I couldn't find the answer anywhere else!

[@admiralmachine]

David, if I may, how tall are you?

[@db613]

Why is their Futureshock more effective than the simpler and less delicate stem based suspension like redshift? 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@LeConcerto]

The differences are obvious, aren't they? FS can be locked out and doesn't affect the angle of the bars/hoods. It's also hydraulically dampened.

[@db613]

@@LeConcerto not really, not sure the stem angle concerns me if relative to the hands there is the upwards travel of 15-20mm to absorb bumps whether it's from the stem or at the top of the steerer tube? 🤷🏻‍♂️ Are you saying the travel of the stem motion is not just up/down with slight change in depth as the angle changes vs pure steerer tube up down? Not sure that's significant enough to make any difference, I want to see that tested!

[@LeConcerto]

​@@db613full disclosure, I don't own any Specialized or Red Shift products. But focusing on the tilt aspect specifically: everyone who rides (and recommend) RS also suggest tilting your bars up to compensate -- so it's "significant." 20mm of travel translates to ~11.47 degrees of tilt. If you flip your 6 degree stem, you'll experience a change of 12 degrees -- that's a lot. It's also not about your hands; it's about your wrists. Also the tilt with RS should be more noticeable on the hoods since the effective lever is longer. Hoods & drops are probably compromised since you're likely to put more weight on your hands in those positions. That's not even going in-depth about the other benefits of FutureShock, like the ability to tune the suspension on the go. Obvs if you are already riding a bike, your only choice is RS. But if you're in the market for a bike, and cockpit suspension is an important feature, IMO FS is superior to RS. Personally, I can deal with handlebar drop but I *cannot* deal with handlebar tilt.

[@db613]

@@LeConcerto all good points. I actually have an old Ridley Cyclocross with an aluminum 150mm stem that absorbs most of the low frequency chatter with 40c tires (probably not recommended for most), but doesn't help big bumps. For the rear I bought a canyon endurance carbon suspension post, and together the ride is very fun

[@WordupG]

I own both. FutureShock is significantly better for a couple reasons, but the primary reason is that the RedShift only works when on the hoods or tops. When you go to the drops, the geometry makes it so the stem doesn’t travel one bit. FutureShock works perfectly from any position. Also the linear travel is much nicer than the diving front end.

[@STEOKEO]

Durian rider won't be happy.

[@daviddawn9043]

Hahaha true

[@PolyglotBikepacker]

I hope he can go without the word garbage

[@benaantje9365]

That's because happiness comes from meat

[@daviddawn9043]

@@benaantje9365 lol

[@daviddawn9043]

@@Lenser he's on KZbin and old school

[@tonyg3091]

Exposed cables, future shock 3.3 only for SWorks…what is that hole in the downtube for?

[@sbccbc7471]

What hole? The one close to the head tube inside the main frame triangle?

[@tonyg3091]

@@sbccbc7471 that’s the one yes. There used to be the charging port of 11sp Di2 on the old frame but what do they use it for now?

[@prasad530]

3.3 comes on the Pro model as well, but I do wish the entire lineup had it.

[@tonyg3091]

@@prasad530 Yes, true

[@sbccbc7471]

@@tonyg3091 That's for the shift lines of mechanical groupsets (shift housing stop needed to swap with the port cover). The Roubaix remains compatible with mechanical groupsets, but this time, only four front derailleurs: 105 FD-R7000, Ultegra FD-R8000, Dura-Ace FD-R9100 and 105 FD-R7100.

[@romanp2520]

This new Roubaix is compelling, but I had a carbon Diverge suffer a cracked seat stay (no crashes). Specialized warrantied the frame, but I still had pay for a rebuild at my LBS. I also suffered a snapped Fact carbon seat post (no warranty offered). Lastly, I bought a pair of Roubaix tires advertised as tubeless, and they leaked through their sidewalls. I sent Specialized customer service videos of the "tubeless" tires leaking and never heard back. Buyer beware.

[@chrisgriffin7156]

It save’s watts because now your wallet is thinner.

[@trekbiker5110]

I thought this model was discontinued after they announced "One bike to rule them all." (Tarmac SL7)

[@prasad530]

They weren't implying that the Tarmac was a do anything bike, they were implying that it was the "king of bikes."

[@sbccbc7471]

The Roubaix was never discontinued.

[@JRM2009videos]

Out of curiosity, where was tje presentation? I can confirm portuguese cobble are not comparable to French ones. More like Belgian cobbles.

[@davidarthur]

the launch was held in Cascais

[@niklaskristensson2231]

Nice bike!

[@gravelracer295]

❤gravel bude zase lepší pro normální lidi specialized to umí diverge budou 😁👍

[@Thestig805]

Amazing video

[@mattchappell2002]

Looks very dated on the front end with the exposed cables. Nice to see mudguard mounts finally added.

[@co7013]

11 seconds over 100 km. I can't imagine any performance rider care about that.

[@davidarthur]

True and that’s why they didn’t really lead with that but a small improvement is nice to have if no downsides and for those that might care

[@McLovin38FFs]

If they’re giving one away I ride an XL! 😂

[@RoadHardened]

This bike is completely obsolete in the specialized range IMO... Why would you buy this over a crux, tarmac, or diverge?? Seems to be only for someone that only rides road but wants the comfort of a gravel bike??

[@WordupG]

They’re killer bikes. Lots of people want this. Great geometry and comfort features. If you don’t like it, that’s OK

[@blueskiesnm5412]

Because they no longer make female bikes. Only the Roubaix offers the geometry many females need. Long legs and shorter torso than a guy. I am pretty much stuck with that geometry. When a female riding companion is lucky enough to fit the geometry of an aero bike it makes a huge difference. They are in the peloton not pedaling and I feel like the witch in wizard of Oz. So at my age I see 2 results. My friends get aero bikes and are definitely faster or they get ebikes and put it on low assist to keep up . If you aren't lucky enough to fit an aero geo I am stuck with Roubaix with cables outside and a shock system I don't want. Seems in 2024 we are going backwards for women in bike options.

[@evdb7246]

Yeah, give me one of these with no proprietary shock. I don't believe the Spec 'talking head' - no one that I've spoken to likes that thing and leave it locked out

[@jasonhowes6431]

Talk about destroying a great bike 😢 that’s me out of buying one.

[@daviddawn9043]

Yeah yeah talking to the bank, 10k

[@davidarthur]

prices start from £2,500...

[@jonnypoundland4118]

Too many new bikes. Brands need to move to biennial releases as a minimum.

[@WordupG]

This bike was last updated in 2021

[@chrisbinch800]

Nice bike...for gravel 🤣

[@walkerbikes8]

Another one for the 🗑️

[@christophertan3195]

This is a Gravel Bike 🤣

[@mikekelly1771]

I bet it's heavy as an anvil.

[@davidarthur]

7.3kg in top-end build

[@k.r.lionheart6460]

It’s not aero

[@davidarthur]

It's not really trying to be outright aero, they have the Tarmac for that

[@ashleybennallack5194]

Exposed cables in a 2024 road-bike at that price!! WTF….

[@PolyglotBikepacker]

Honestly, the sl4 was the very best. The rest is garbage.

[@mikekelly1771]

Truth!

[@kevinw3621]

Lol..

[@pawelodz8050]

Loose cables in 2023🤦🏼

[@daviddawn9043]

Lol