Specialized have completely redesigned the Diverge frame making it more capable than ever.The new frame will comfortably fit up to 700x42mm tires with plenty of room for mud, too. Along with tire clearance, weight was a large factor in the development, and taking some design cues from the development of the Roubaix, we developed a FACT 9r carbon frame that’s one of the lightest in the category.
Specialized have developed what they call Open Road Geometry. We know what you’re thinking, “it’s just another marketing term,” as to be honest we thought that too but for the Diverge, Spesh truly did develop an entirely new geometry. With a touch less hyperbole, 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.
And while riding gravel and dirt roads on a road bike may add to the adventure, there’s only so much that wider tires with lower pressures can absorb, in terms of bumps. With this in mind, Specialized implemented a new version of their Future Shock 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. The Future Shock employed by the Diverge is fitted with a progressive spring that makes this technology more suitable for off-road applications compared to the version used in the Roubaix range.
Adding to its multifaceted talents, we topped it off with three water bottle mounts, plus mounts for racks and mudguards. So while it’s one of the most smile-inducing bikes you’ll ever shred fire roads on, it’s equally adept at bike packing, commuting, or even a spin to your local brewery.
The Diverge Sport spec hits right on the money with a sturdy Shimano Sora groupset, hassle-free mechanical disc brakes, and a strong Axis Sport wheelset.
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The FACT 9r carbon frame features our adventure-bound Open Road Geometry, Future Shock 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, rigidity, and an overall light weight.
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The Praxis Alba 2D is an incredibly stiff crankset with supreme ramping for precise shifts between the rings.