Whilst some have tried to make their 'cross bikes more "road-capable" and others have made their road bikes more "adventure-ready", Specialized created one bike that makes no compromises between the two. The S-Works Diverge redefines the possibilities for adventure on a drop-bar bike.
The Diverge is more capable than ever. Striving to meet the needs of you, the rider, Specialized took your number one request into account - tyre clearance. The new frame will comfortably fit up to 700x42mm (or 650b x 47mm) tyres with plenty of room for mud, too. Weight was a large factor in the development of this machine, and taking some design cues from the Roubaix, a sub 900-gram FACT 11r carbon frame was developed that's one of the lightest in the category.
Specialized moved away from a traditional 'cross geometry, opting instead for something that hasn't been seen before - Open Road Geometry. This is a road version of modern trail bike geometry, providing playful handling and predictable steering for endless dirt skids and mid-corner drifts. The geo features a bottom bracket that's over a half-centimetre lower than the previous Diverge, a slacked-out head tube angle, short chainstays, and a short wheelbase. These changes make for a bike that's not only fun in the dirt, but also performs well on the road.
While riding gravel and dirt roads on a road bike may add to the adventure, there's only so much that wider tyres with lower pressures can absorb, in terms of bumps. With this in mind, a new version of Future Shock was implemented into the Diverge design. It soaks up bumps with ease and adds the benefit of extremely predictable handling. That's because the wheelbase isn't lengthening when you hit a bump, so the front end of the Diverge keeps the same effective head tube angle. So, when you dive hard into a turn, you won't be surprised by under-steer or sloppy handling. Unlike the original Future Shock (found on the Roubaix), the Diverge's version features a progressive spring that makes this technology more suitable for off-road applications, where stiffer suspension is often needed to soak-up larger bumps and obstacles.
The Diverge also features three water bottle mounts, mounts for racks and mudguards, and the superbly convenient, space saving Road SWAT™ kit that fits a tube, CO2, CO2 head, valve extender, and money clip. So while it's one of the most smile-inducing bikes you'll ever ride, it's equally adept at commuting or even bikepacking. The spec was handpicked for the lightest, most unique build on any adventure bike. An XTR Di2 derailleur was paired with R785 Di2 shifters and hydraulic-disc brakes. Specialized then added an Easton EC90 SL Carbon crankset, featherweight Roval CLX 32 Disc wheels, and topped it off with a carbon Command Post XCP that features 35mm of travel.
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The S-Works FACT 11r carbon frame features an adventure-bound Open Road Geometry, Future Shock Progressive suspension with 20mm of travel, and front/rear thru-axles, making it the ultimate tool for your next adventure.
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The lightweight S-Works FACT carbon fork is plenty stiff, aiding in handling, stiffness, and an overall light weight.
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The Roval CLX 32 wheelset has the perfect balance of light weight, durability, and aerodynamics. It's stiff enough for sprinting, strong enough for abuse, and its CeramicSpeed bearings keep things silky-smooth.