DaveDaBrave

Hey folks thanks for inviting me to the forum. I'm a newb looking for my first real bike and need your help understanding which deal is a better deal. I'm debating between two bikes:

1) New 2017 Diverge Elite DSW for $1,150
or...
2) Slightly used 2016 Roubaix SL4 Sport for $1,195

1)The diverge is brand new, hydroformed aluminum, has tiagra group and takes wider tires.

2)The roubaix has maybe a couple hundred miles on it, full carbon and has 105 group.

I'll be doing mostly road but will take either of the two on hardpack on seldom occasion. Your thoughts would greatly help me understand which is the better buy for me at 61cm? Thanks!

10 Wheels

Which has a Warranty?

Wildwood 

Which fits better?

DaveDaBrave

Both will have a warranty from specialized. The diverge however will be straight from LBS so can assume easier/better service. The roubaix is from a bike rental shop and they are legit and will transfer the warranty.

DaveDaBrave

I've ridden both and I'd say they're pretty much the same on fit. Will likely need to switch to a slightly shorter stem on both but a good fitting is all I will need otherwise.

FullGas

I'd take what's behind Door No. 2...

DaveDaBrave

Thanks for your vote! Is that because of the value of getting carbon and 105 set out weighs the fact it's used?

Wildwood 

A couple of hundred miles, unless those were beach miles or rain&mud miles or cyclocross race miles, or newbie rental crash miles, is not used. Go for Spesh carbon over Al and 105 over tiagra.

You do know how to inspect a frame for any miniscule cracks. And photos of 'as received'.

edit: Welcome to BF!
1st real road bike is about riding and having fun. Get the one that 'floats your boat'. If you take to cycling, there will be a second one soon.

shafter

I agree with the 105/carbon. Like you said, the great attributes outweigh in my opinion the slight previous use. I have 930 miles on my new bike, and it still looks and works like it did the day i bought it.

FullGas

a bike's wear items (chains, cassettes, tires) generally provide multi-thousands of miles of use, so a few hundred off that isn't necessarily a big deal. being used is a concern if there's damage from abuse or crashing. normal wear, not so much...

for my tastes, the 105 group is much preferable to the Tiagra components, but I'm sure someone will say they're great...

have owned steel, alum, carbon, and Ti bikes...my experience with alum puts it at the bottom of those frame materials. again, someone will likely say that aluminum is fantastic.

the carbon 105 bike should be a nice ride. don't think the few dollars difference in price makes the other a better choice.

DaveDaBrave

It was a previous rental at a winery. Normally I'd be very wary about a rental but given the demographic who likely used it, and the fact that the terrain is just smooth road eases my mind. Also, I'm assuming they didn't rent out the 61cm ones constantly. I've seen it and it's pretty much prestine visually.

I do not know how to check to cracks but will make a trip to YouTube university before I go pick it up.

DaveDaBrave

Thank you for the welcome. My fiancé will be thrilled to know that the research will be ending soon. not sure how I'm going to tell her about the second one though LOL

Wildwood 

if the bike is painted, not clearcoat over carbon, and if the paint is a 'lighter' shade, then you are just looking for micro-cracks, or a series of tiny cracks. Harder to see on clearcoat or dark colors. The places to check are bottom bracket and especially every other location where 'tubes' join. Most times it IS just a paint crack and not any issue, but that's the reason for a pic.
Don't be afraid to turn the bike upside down, the worst to be seen is on the bottom. Best to have someone (patient) stand the bike upright on rear tire while holding handlebars, so you can readily check the bottomside thoroughly.

Wildwood 

First one for the road, then one for off-road or mountain riding.
From there, we call it N + 1. N = #of bikes currently possessed.
Tandem to take sweetie.
Inexpensive older bike with fenders, in case of a rain ride.
Friction shifter
city/urban bike
Fixie
Time trialer
Better road bike
Better mtn bike
Best new roadie
Classic bike with Columbus SLX tubing
Classic bike with Reynolds 531 tubing
.
.
.
so it goes.... n+1

DaveDaBrave

That's an epic list. Haha. I'll need to somehow break it to her that our house hunt has been postponed too. :-)

So am I just looking for cracks? Is there a sound test or something as well? I read something about a quarter test and then also to drop the bike from a few inches off the ground.

SquidPuppet

How important is that to you? What size do you want to run? Will the other bike accept your preferred size?

DaveDaBrave

It was quite important for the last couple months as I was researching. But if this Roubaix is a particularly good deal then I'll get that and later on a mountain or a steel touring bike for mashing the trails. If I was to get a road/gravel style the. Would like to run as fat as it can take. I love the soft feel of fat tires. I have a thing for the Specialized Sequoia but it's out of my $ range for a first real bike. I haven't clocked enough miles to deserve that yet.

willydstyle

If you really like the Specialized Sequoia, I think the Diverge would be the better bike for you, despite the Roubaix having slightly nicer equipment. The Diverge has rack mounts both front and rear, as well as the wide tires.

DaveDaBrave

I'm sorry, I didn't get what you meant about the "pic". Would you mind elaborating please?

Wildwood 

I don't worry about warranty issues in general, but if you do then take pics. It was mentioned in the second post and you said the Spesh might be covered too.

If you find cracks (now or in the future), take pictures of any affected areas. Show them to Specialized for warranty, they will instruct you to take it to a local dealer for inspection. It goes from there.....

DaveDaBrave

I purchased the Roubaix yesterday afternoon! Thank you greatly to everyone who helped me make my final decision! In particular, WildWood for his extensive guideance. I have been searching for a Diverge DSW in my size for 3 months and never found it. I went to pay for one to be delivered on back order earlier this week and something turned me around. The next day I found this seemingly good deal on the Roubaix and picked it up yesterday. Everything happens for a reason and I'm very happy with my choice. Cheers everyone, I'm due for a Palinka