It may be packed with all the same technologies as its pricier cousins but the Diverge Sport features a spec that places an emphasis on reliable performance, not flashy components yet it will still tackle anything from smooth tarmac to the most chewed-up tracks out there.
The Diverge is more capable than ever. With the constant goal to best meet your needs, 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. Along with tyre clearance, weight was a large factor in the development, and taking some design cues from the development of the Roubaix, a FACT 9r carbon frame was developed that’s one of the lightest in its category.
Next up, Specialized moved away from a traditional ‘cross geometry, instead opting for something that hasn’t been seen before - Open Road Geometry. You can think of it as a road version of modern trail bike geometry. It provides 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 not only soaks up bumps with ease, but also 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. In other words, 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 Sport is topped off with three water bottle mounts, plus mounts for racks and mudgards. For the spec, Specialized wanted to make sure that it shifted crisply and braked smoothly for years to come, so you'll find a Shimano 105 groupset, hydraulic disc brakes, and an DT R470 Disc wheelset. Every touchpoint of the bike is also tailored specifically for women, from the handlebar width to the crankarm length to the renowned Myth Sport saddle.
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The FACT 9r 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 FACT carbon fork is plenty stiff, aiding in handling, stiffness, and an overall light weight.
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700x38mm Sawtooth Sport tyres, with their sharp-edged tread pattern, hook up in the loose dirt, but keep rolling resistance as low as possible for on-road riding.