OldTryGuy

Cranks and pedals checking is a good idea. Might want to also check spokes for tightness.

Masque

Whoa whoa whoa. No. That's not how it should be. Future Shock cartridge should be aligned properly with one flat face toward the front, stem shim opening to the back, and check the steerer tube collar and compression ring (ring opening should be front or back, not to either side at all). The FS cartridge should be seated low enough that the rubber boot presses down gently on the headset cover.

It should NOT rattle.

ruppster

I'll double check, but thought I followed the instructions. With no shims I could fit a piece of paper or two in the gap, just enough to rattle on gravel roads.

Edit: Went home, disassembled it. It was orientated correctly. Removed the 5mm shim from below. Reassembled. I had to add the weight of my thumb on top of the future shock assembly when tightening the collar bolt to eliminate that tiny gap and subsequent looseness of the headset cover. It does seem to be possible to not rattle and have it completely "slammed". Thanks for the info.

benadrian

Howdy!

I recently got a new 2016 Roubaix SL4 on super deep closeout. I love the bike. However, I started getting mild creaking out of the bottom bracket and drivetrain area under heavy torque. My plan is to start with the pedals and go from there.

GCN has a lot of good creak-stopping video. Perhaps start here.

Cheers!

Masque

That's great news! I've seen a few of these headsets set up incorrectly; my LBS gave me a stern lecture on reading the manual every time I adjusted it until I had it all memorized because of how different it was... apparently it's not uncommon to tighten/loosen the headset clamping bits in the wrong order, and that can make things go really wrong, from rattles all the way to bearings-go-boom-too-soon.

I'm so glad you don't have to live with the rattle anymore.

And I'm still chuckling any time someone talks about a "slammed" stem on a bike with 30mm of mandatory spacing : roflmao2:

3949dxer

On Monday I ordered a Roubaix Sport (orange/red) for myself and a Ruby Sport for my wife. Since the 2018's are out now I had been thinking to look for discounted 2017's. But then I learned that on the 2017's, the Future Shock was only included on the Elite and above, but the 2018 Sports do have them. Consensus seems to be that that feature really makes a big difference, so we bit the bullet and ordered the 2018's with a small (too small but didn't want to push very hard) discount.

These will replace our Specialized Allez Sport and Dolce bikes, which were stolen a couple months ago. They look like fantastic bikes, and a significant improvement over our old ones. We get them next week, I can't wait. (Been riding my crappy old MTB around town since the rip off, which has been driving me nuts.)

Slick Madone

I bought the 2017 Roubaix Expert and the FS makes a very noticeable difference in ride. Really pleased with the purchase overall.

wheelhot

There's no 2017 Roubaix Sport, 2017 Roubaix starts with Elite > Comp > Expert > and so on

For 2018, apparently, it starts with Sport > Elite > Comp > Expert > and so on. The Sport comes at a lower price level than the 2017 Elite though it's specced without the CG-R seatpost and the frame is using Fact 9r instead of Fact10r found in Elite level and above (S-Works uses Fact11r, and Expert as well I think)

Sorry to hear about your previous bike

GeneO 

Expert has 10r. Only the S-Works is 11r.

wheelhot

Yeah, you're correct. The Expert has 10r, apparently, the other model that comes with 11r is the Roubaix Pro model.

Oh and the site has been updated with 2018 Roubaix
https://www.specialized.com/us/en/me...s/road/roubaix

It seems there are 2 entry level models now
1. Roubaix (Fact 9r)
2. Roubaix Sport (Fact 9r)

Mid Level
3. Roubaix Elite (Fact 10r)
4. Roubaix Comp (Fact 10r)
5. Roubaix Expert (Fact 10r)

High End
6. Roubaix Expert Ultegra Di2 (Fact 10r)
7. Roubaix Pro (Fact 11r)
8. S-Works Roubaix E-Tap (S-Works Fact 11r)
9. S-Works Roubaix Dura-Ace Di2 (S-Works Fact 11r)
10. S-Works Roubaix McLaren Dura-Ace Di2 (that's a mouthful )(S-Works Fact 11r)

There's a new S-Works frameset that has a very nice colourway, but overall I feel 2017 has nicer colourway across the ranges. Too many solid and black colours for 2018 in my opinion.

Curiously, 2018 Models are specced with 160mm rear rotors and they're regular 6 bolt rotors instead of Shimano Center Lock Ice Tech rotors, cost cutting perhaps?

GeneO 

I know, I have the 2018 Expert DI2 on order. Will be a while before they are available. Sure looks like center-lock brakes to me.

wheelhot

This is how the Expert looks like, you can see 6 bolts on the hub and rotor



This is the Pro, notice the rotor looks different. It seems for 2018 models, only Pro onwards will come with IceTech rotors

kevlar_heart 

I own a 2017 Roubaix SL4 Sport....SL = slightly less (expensive). No suspension, still has Zertz inserts. Lousy pic, the hi rez versions too big for Forum
DSC_1135.jpg

matt92037

The Expert for sure uses center lock rotors. What you see in the pic on the expert are rivets, not rotor bolts.

GeneO 

Exactly what I thought.

Looks to be a RT68 icetech centerlock rotor.

wheelhot

Hmm, isn't the 2017 Roubaix SL4 Sport is essentially the same specs as 2016 model?

wheelhot

Aaah, so it appears you're right. Those are Shimano RT68 , (thanks @GeneO), though looks like it's considered as SLX/105 level whereas 2017 models and 2018 Pro receives RT81 which is XT/Ultegra level. Seriously, why is it so hard for Specialized to do a full Ultegra level spec?

GeneO 

I wouldn't doubt these bikes don't ship with those rotors. The picture of this bike has been around for some time and they aren't even shipping for a couple of months.

kevlar_heart 

I don't think anything "really" changed. The 2017 was the last of the non-shock bikes....so I've been told anyway. Rides like a demon now that I swapped wheels/tires.

chong67

I want to get the Roubaix Pro at 6.5K. It got the Di2. But it will be 4.5 yrs from now. :-)

SWorksRoubaix

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/me...s/road/roubaix

Curious what explains the $1500 spread between the three S-Works models as well as the additional $500 for Di2 (vs eTap).

Also, all 3 bikes were "developed in partnership with McLaren Applied Technologies", so not sure what's special about "S-Works Roubaix McLaren Dura-Ace Di2"

wheelhot

Supposedly the "S-Works Roubaix McLaren Dura-Ace Di2" is a limited edition to commemorate McLaren, it has nothing to do with being extra special or anything.

And all the 2017 Roubaix w/ FutureShock is developed in partnership with McLaren, apparently, only certain models have the sticker tag. Haha

SWorksRoubaix

Yes ... only the 3 S-Works models have the McLaren sticker

GeneO 

Anybody know about the 2018 pro. The description says it is 10r but the spec further down says it is 11r. I am thinking it must be 10r.

wheelhot

2018 Roubaix Pro? the MSRP USD6,500 one? Then that model is the only non-SWorks model that uses 11r for its frame