Originally Posted by
N00b_Cyclist
EDIT: Looks like I was wrong. The Specialized Pro and S-WORKS Venge does come with FACT 11r carbon frame. So yea...weird indeed. Not sure how that fits into their marketing for upselling S-WORKS bikes...but huh.
I think limiting the top frame to just one top spec puts them at a disadvantage compared to brands like Trek, Cannondale and Cervelo, which offer their top frames with Force/Ultegra Di2 specs.
But by giving the top spec the S-Works brand name, they set that bike apart a little more from a Force/Ultegra version of the same bike.
So on one hand, yes. it does reduce the gap between the Pro and the S-Works model to more in line with what other brands offer. However, it also makes the top-end more unique, which sets their options apart a little better than other brands (which rely on just color to separate the top trim from a lesser trim).