The Gravel Rider's Choice? Specialized Roubaix SL8 First Ride Review

[@artorepo2938]

Fender mounts is a HUGE improvement. Otherwise it is the same bike as the old one - which is good. New Roubaix works as a gravel bike on smooth gravel, because tire clearance allows narrow gravel tires. 10/10 👌

[@capretp]

The difference between 33mm and 40mm tire clearance is a huge win. This bike finally solves the problem of those of us who want to be able to [a] hang with a faster road crowd, [b] be able to swap tires for a more casual gravel ride, and [c] stick with Specialized without having to shell out for both a dedicated road and gravel bike. I know, the Diverge is great and plenty fun, but is not equipped to hang with roadies riding Tarmacs. There will be some complaining about a modest aero compromise on the additional tire clearance, but that crowd is better suited for a more aggressive racer anyway. Whoever made this design decision at Specialized deserves a raise for having common and listening to riders.

[@tombola4046]

The crux is already the perfect bike for gravel riding and easily keeps up with the road crowd with the correct gearing

[@capretp]

I’ve owned a Crux for 12 years, and was building them as a shop mechanic since they Specialized first introduced them. You’re right that they are great bikes, and are a better solution than the Diverge for those who want a do-it-all bike (hence why I purchased one for myself). But, respectfully, the Crux is not a fast enough ride to hang with a dedicated roadie crowd. Granted, I’m out of shape now, but even when I was in full on soccer conditioning shape, the Crux would quickly get dropped by friends on Tarmacs and Bianchi’s.

[@scottd.4144]

Bought a Roubaix SL8 about a month ago. I love it, the Future Shock works well and the AfterShock does a good job of minimizing bumps as well. I am very happy with this bike.

[@bendardania]

Clearance of 40 mm tires will make this bike the most popular bike by a landslide in the market. Roubaix is already a massively popular bike.

[@rcg9573]

Ruby was popular because it was still a road geometry bike. This thing is now a gravel bike that will ride like a tank on the road, with minimal proprietary suspension that will be pretty much meaningless on most actual gravel rides.

[@alextorresphoto]

I feel like you have a point.

[@bendardania]

@@rcg9573 this at best could be used for some light gravel. You need way longer chain-stay and more relaxed trail-rack to be able to enjoy gravel. Those who buy this bike don’t really want to ride gravel but they want to have that option. Roubaix used to be the most popular bike for years, since Tek Domane introduced 38mm clearance Domane is now the most popular bike. Roubaix coming second. Number don’t lie, pros closed publishes their resale data every year. I am confident Roubaix with this clearance will come on top again. This is now a one bike options that you can do it all. Not great at anything but capable of everything.

[@marcowalther7867]

Funnily, if you compare the Roubaix' geo to the geo of the 2019 Diverge, those numbers are very, very close. Does that mean, they made almost the same bike before already? Truth be told, I love this Diverge!

[@andras.89]

We are not racers out here, big tyre clearances are welcomed features on any endurance bike. I'd try 38mm, currently running on 32mm.

[@clew4349]

Get rid of the new, complicated and heavy future shock, and introduce an Aethos with Roubaix geometry please...

[@scottwatson7844]

I’m not keen on the aesthetics of the future shock or how high that front end is but smoother is often faster.

[@bikeradar]

What do you think of the Specialized Roubaix and its AfterShock tech?

[@PrzemyslawSliwinski]

I applaud everything that damps the road induced vibrations. If, in addition, it is maintenance-free, I couldn't ask for more.

[@Andy_ATB]

Better in real world riding than the Tarmac....

[@rcg9573]

Would have made sense had they left the geometry that of a road bike. Now it's a gravel bike with minimal proprietary suspension that means almost nothing offroad.

[@alextorresphoto]

Love it!

[@Sutlore007]

Is it difficult to service the headset on our own? how long is the damping system going to last before it needs a repalcement and will there be spare parts available in 10-20years later?

[@sbccbc7471]

The headset bearings are still just as easy to service as a generic road bike's. This is the advantage integrated internal routing doesn't get.

[@Quizmate1]

​@yonglingng5640, are there any handy video tutorials online showing how it's done?

[@sbccbc7471]

​@@Quizmate1 4:59 of this video from Cycle Exchange (kzbin.info/www/bejne/hpewmGyuhrh7a80si=a_0J1OJuoYzNlcbi) shows how the headset assembly of a Future Shock-equipped Specialized is done. Although this is a Diverge shown here, it applies to any Specialized with Future Shock. There are user manuals on Specialized Support showing you how it's put back together. The only not-so-easy part about this service is the additional work of working with the additional hardware associated with Future Shock. You'll need a slender long-reach 4 mm hex bit socket to undo and torque down the bolt of the Future Shock's collar clamp as generic ones can't reach deep enough. Mine is a PB Swiss Tools counterpart. Nonetheless, it's still so much easier to work on than a Tarmac SL7's.

[@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?

[@porterbwithers]

I feel like specialized now has 3 gravel bikes now.

[@rcg9573]

Exactly. This is now no longer a road bike. Might as well get a Diverge.

[@keinpietz7697]

Talking about sustainability, how many hours do they claim between service on the FS 3.0? And how many years will they offer replacements for?

[@ChopperChad]

Jeez. Seriously?

[@keinpietz7697]

@@ChopperChad what's that, hun?

[@youling1997]

@@ChopperChad Of course. the most valid concern

[@Quizmate1]

A perfectly sensible concern if you ask me. Well done for pointing it out 👍

[@stpaisar03]

I have a FS 2.0 on an SW Diverge. Over 2 years of gravel and it feels like day one. Zero service done so far. Ridden with plenty riders that have standard headsets and/or stems come loose riding gravel and single track. The concern over constant servicing on the 2.0 is overrated. Yes, they can break, or someone can get a bad FS (QC) just like anything else. Not saying the FS is the holy grail but it does what its intended to do…that’s coming from riding a late model (2019) CruX as a gravel bike for 2 years prior to the Diverge…and some of that with a Redshift Sports Shockstop stem. East central Iowa rider…TONS of gravel in these parts.

[@amfromch]

The 2020 S-Works Roubaix with the 50mm Roval CLX Aero-Rims is still the best Roubaix ever for me! 40mm Tires and Mudgards? for this i have my Gravel-Bike and don't want to use a +10K USD Bike for that. "Endurance" means for me mostly on Tarmac, Comfortable for rides above 6-8 hours, good Aerodynamics on straight Roads above 30km/h and lightweight as possible. At the moment i wouldn't buy the newer Roubaixs, thinking about the new Canyon Endurace CFR Di2...... or Specialized comes with a new Modell soon!

[@artemisxo6734]

this feels like an attempt at the suspension on the cannondale topstone, and that works pretty well but it's a gravel bike

[@Rambleon444]

Roubaix SL8 Sport 105 $3,500 Weight 9.07kg (19 lb, 15.9 oz) Weight Size 56

[@RobertSchuster68]

The road at Cascais is one of my favorite

[@harlansilva8935]

Specially if you climb to Cabo da Roca, Sintra and get back to Cascais. Very beautiful 60km ride

[@benoittheminerandgamer]

Can we put RIM break and mecanical shifter on this bike? Can we put 52-36 front and 10-36 back?

[@moucheachevreil]

Missing down tube storages

[@Rambleon444]

The $2800 Specialized Roubaix SL8 ... Weight 9.46kg (20 lb, 13.7 oz Weight Size 56

[@Zzyyxx22]

Isn’t the canyon endurance closer to a Tarmac if you look at the numbers. It’s about the most aggressive of all the bikes in its class

[@mistersmith158]

Left out the prices LOL that is one big detail you left out shilling this bike

[@eo1830]

They should ditch the futureshock or offer a normal fork option also.

[@JordanHMay]

Just buy a crux.

[@timdixo]

The Future Shock works a treat and suits the bike perfectly.

[@rcg9573]

@@timdixo Futureshock made sense when it was an actual road bike. Now it's basically a gravel bike with minimal almost meaningless suspension in real offroad gravel rides.

[@scottwatson7844]

They should of made the Aethos a bike to suit more riders instead of having the same geo as the Tarmac.

[@timdixo]

@@rcg9573 The FS is really just to reduce road chatter and fatigue which it does tremendously. It allows running significantly narrower tyres for same level of cush= more aero and less rolling resistance.

[@mattdavis855]

I just can't get over how bad it looks. Surely the point of an endurance bike is that the higher head tube lets you slam the stem so you can look cool, right?

[@erich8258]

I don't get the point of the micro-suspension. Complicated proprietary parts, massive cost -- how can it be worth it? I ride a fully rigid Giant Revolt on the road with 40 mm tires, and it's plenty comfortable on rough roads. And if you really want a little suspension, you could a quality suspension stem and/or seatpost for a fraction of the cost and complication.

[@scottwatson7844]

Totally agree I also have a Revolt and a Defy for road use and the former is barely any slower than the road bike ( 1.5 mph ish ) and much more comfortable on the rougher roads so don’t really see the need for a complicated suspension system that adds complexity as well as weight when a 40 mm tyre is more than enough.

[@WordupG]

The Future Shock really is a nice feature. It’s the only thing that sets this bike apart from its competition, and I believe it’s worthwhile. A 40mm tire does smooth roads but not as much as the FS. You really should test ride one before formulating an opinion.

[@SofiaLöf]

You don't get it becasue you haven' experienced it - w hich could be said of virtually all comments about the Future Shock. Get informed mate, hire one for a day and give your opinions a bit of validity going forward. 🤭

[@db613]

I have a Cyclocross bike, and essentially I can buy a Canyon flexible seatpost, and get a redshift stem based suspension and get the same performance

[@WordupG]

Almost the same. I can assure you though, as someone who owns both, the RedShift stem doesn’t hold a candle to how well the FS works.

[@alanc2039]

11 seconds over 60 miles seems a bit ridiculous. Sooner or later there must be no watts to save. Marketing rubbish!

[@einundsiebenziger5488]

Let's assume, that thing indeed makes you save 11 seconds on a 60-mile tour. What do you use these seconds for as a hobbyist who has no price money to win? Even if you were able to down a second post-ride drink in 11 seconds, you couldn't afford that drink anymore since the bike was so effin' expensive.

[@danielbenjamin2454]

Seems like a good bike for normal people who want to ride but not race. Still don’t like the way it looks though.

[@ShootingOutside]

So....................how much??

[@liantechtube7921]

$2800. Which I have mixed feelings on because it's does not have a full 105.

[@paulappleyard5832]

Proprietary parts that you can't get hold of after a few years. Seems a sensible investment for a lot of money. Seriously people STOP buying the cycling gimmicks if you want suspension by a hardtail.

[@einundsiebenziger5488]

... if you want suspension,* buy* a hardtail.

[@rcg9573]

Problem with this bike is it is now no longer a true road use bike, nor is it a full blown gravel bike. The geometry is almost that of an XC bike, which lessens its appeal for the road, and yet the suspension in the front and back is so minimal that it's hard to see it making any serious difference on even moderate gravel road rides. Should have kept the max tire size less and tightened up the geometry and left it as is - an allroad type bike for really bad pavement and cobbles. Instead, you now have a pseudo light gravel bike that will ride like a tank on the road with proprietary suspension that is pretty much meaningless in real offroad type rides. The chainstays are almost the same now as a Diverge, and why would I buy this bike over a Diverge if I'm truly riding most rides offroad?

[@hail_sagan2830]

Have you ridden one?

[@WordupG]

The geometry is nothing like an XC bike, come on man.

[@matthewshultz8762]

Proprietary seatpost, check. Proprietary headset, check. No rack mounts on the frame, check. Gravel riders or gravel racers with thick pocketbooks? This machine is unserviceable once Specialized discontinue parts.

[@ArteUltra1195]

Dreambike if it had internal cable routing

[@db613]

Take your internal cable bike with wide tire clearance and add a stem based suspension like Redshift, and a seatpost suspension like the Canyon Seatpost and all the same

[@einundsiebenziger5488]

All internal cable routing is a nightmare, not a dream!

[@timdixo]

No thanks, I'll pass on the internal cable bike fitting horror show as well.

[@sabo7808]

would be the perfect bike without future shock und aftershock

[@photoren]

Specialized, you can have my money when you create a Roubaix Aethos.

[@lilfinesse]

this has the potential for being the most underwhelming new iteration of a bike ever

[@chrisblanchard4938]

It all comes down to whom can market their bikes better.

[@darrinschwarz7446]

when that 'suspension' breaks, good luck.

[@EvilestGem]

...and the price? Umm no thanks.

[@amitkumar-wj8gn]

Make a frame wayyy too stiff and then add proprietary parts to add "comfort". Genius stuff indeed.

[@ChopperChad]

Then don’t buy it

[@donjohnson487]

Snake oil

[@PolyglotBikepacker]

This is a gravelbike, not a road bike

[@keinpietz7697]

This absolutely is a 2017-2020 Diverge, with some tweaks.

[@tonyg3091]

Future shock 3.0 only for the SWorks, exposed cables, basically same frame as previous version….no, I don’t think I will

[@tamasvarga67]

Yeah cables through headset is much better...

[@keinpietz7697]

I'd like my cables to run through tyres, I hope one day we can achieve that.

[@WordupG]

3.3 model is on the S-Works. All other models are 3.0 or better.

[@NewPolishScientist]

I prefer onion 🧅