dirtdiver

Help me find a size 52 or 54, 2017 Roubaix Expert UDi2!

I'm located in Metro Atlanta and have called around here...so now I'm expanding my search nationwide.

Thanks!!

BluFalconActual

Heres one at my local LBS in Palm Springs. It's a 2018 if that makes any difference.
Specialized Roubaix Expert UDi2 - Palm Springs Cyclery | Palm Springs, CA | Palm Desert Cyclery | Palm Desert CA

dirtdiver

Thanks, now the question is, better to get a 17 or 18?

BluFalconActual

I honestly don't think it matters as they haven't changed anything. I was looking into it, and they also have the same bike listed as a 2017 on the "sale" section of their website so it may be a 2017. You could call and find out if you wanted. They are a group of really down to earth guys over there.

GeneO 

Real 18s (come in red/black or white) have changed. They have upgraded components including hidden junction box, but are not shipping yet. I looked at them online at my LBS today. You may want to wait. I am trying to find out when they will be available.

It is more expensive though. $5000 vs. $4600.


You can find the specs here:

https://www.eriksbikeshop.com/specia...e12923/product

BluFalconActual

I stand corrected. Must be a '17 then.

wthensler 

GeneO is right. The 18's won't be out until November, thanks to Shimano changing the Drive Train components. I had a Pro on order, but they won't be making one in 2018, so I'm contemplating an Expert. Great bike btw, demo'd one (2017) for a few days in May.

OldTryGuy

I have a 2018 mechanical on order. Delivery is expected in October according to LBS owner who was on our ride this morning. 101 miles for me and some rough roads so REALLY-REALLY want that sucker to get here. He said most likely the electronic will be shipping first.

p.s.-that was a 2017 pictured with old Shimano group.

GeneO 

No, they are both listed as 18 by my LBS. Go figure.

British

What about the non Di2 version of the Expert? Does anyone know what are they changing from 2017 to 2018?

GeneO 

Mech Expert also upgraded components:

https://www.eriksbikeshop.com/specia...e12924/product

Also note all the expert is SWORK fact fork instead of 11r. I think that may be a downgrade?


.

OldTryGuy

https://www.sigmasport.co.uk/item/Sp...gid=null&pid=1

Same as the Expert I have ordered with the 8000 series Ultegra and the fork has been downgraded

High Fist Shin

2018 has Ultegra R8000 groupset. 2017 has Ultegra 6800 Groupset.

Shimano New ULTEGRA R8000 Road Components Deliver Industry?s Widest Range, Most Versatile Performance Road Group

ULTEGRA 6870

-Shin

GeneO 

Gee whiz.

Jofu

The fork downgrade thing, has it been confirmed by Specialized as not just being a name change, or is it just internet wisdom?

I ask, because S-Works is usually top of the line everything, so it would be 11r for Roubaix and 12r for the 2018 Tarmac, no?

Geoff

GeneO 

The S-Works Roubaix page just says FACT Carbon if that is what you mean. It doesn't say FACT 11r like the other 2017 Roubaix Expert pages do.

Jofu

Hello GeneO, I meant that I would expect something with the "S-Works" branding, which is what the latest is (right?) to be the top quality, which is 11r for Roubaix.

I texted a guy I know who now works at Specialized, hopefully he can comment


Geoff

Jofu

I got a reply back from my Specialized contact, and he said the fork for the 2018 S-Works Roubaix is indeed 11r and the fork for the 2018 S-Works Tarmac is 12r, which match the rest of the frame in both cases. Of course, he could have lied to me, but hey... I didn't ask why they changed the naming specifically for the fork though.

Hope this helps!

Geoff

GeneO 

I think we are interested in what grade the fork in the 2018 Expert is. Appreciate it id you could find out.

I think these may be named Expert 2018 SLX, to distinguish the ones with the 8000 series components (the 2018 red/black or white DI2 Experts)

Campag4life

To me, any fork carbon modulus change by 1 pt. is nebulous. It shouldn't be part of the buying equation. In fact, you guys maybe chasing a higher carbon modulus that is less preferred for this particular fork which is the most rigid fork that Specialized has ever released on a road bike. Paint color matters more. Nobody here knows the reason why Specialized changed. Most suspect cost but there is no evidence of that. Generally lower modulus components have more lay up to compensate for a reduction in flexure modulus which contributes to fractional weight gain. But...Specialized made the fork of the new Roubaix extremely rigid and a 1 pt reduction in stiffness which can easily btw be compensated in lay up to achieve the same stiffness may in fact been made to fractionally improve ride quality with an almost imperceptible weight penalty.


A complete non issue. Getting a 2018 bike is preferred for likely other subtle changes to the bike incorporated that you can't even see. All products by manufacturers are a continual learning curve and in particular carbon lay up in the mold. A work in progress. I would rather have the 2018 bike than the first year production. Certainly Shimano 8000 matters as well....a further refinement in groupset.

Masque

Sure. Okay. Now explain why it's a good thing that the Comp model is FACT 9r instead of 2017's FACT 10r.

Campag4life

You would have to ask the Specialized engineers. Nobody here can speculate.
In a blind test, likely there can be no difference felt. There maybe a handful of grams...but that isn't certain either.
Specialized may have opted to soften the flex of the frame a bit and reduce cost. Win/win. Differential stiffness can be changed with layup and differences in geometry.


So can't speculate. People can weigh the base frames however. Generally among Specialized frames there is no more than a 200g difference for each pt. of carbon modulus difference...extrapolating from history But this may not even be true with the new frame because it employs a complete paradigm shift in design. FWIW, the revised Roubaix frameset is reported to be quite light even with 9r carbon.


There is a complete design philosophy change with the new Roubaix. The frame itself can be made extremely light.
Future shock hardware isn't light however. But the frame no longer has to bear as much of a brunt for acting as suspension. That is how they made the front fork so light. It is uber stiff and straight. It no longer has to provide the engineered performance of previous forks which provided compliancy. Same with the frame to a degree...but to a lessor amount.

GeneO 

I am getting a 2018 diverge expert di2, black an red. It will be a few months at least before they are available in the US.