MRT2

Except that you can count on Specialized introducing second, third, and fourth generation versions of the future shock. Most likely every 3 or 4 years, which is about the time a lot of owners of the previous generation FS will need to replace theirs. I hope Specialized makes the future versions of this part backwards compatible, but I suspect it will not be.

f4rrest

IDK, maybe death wobble?

datlas 

I have a pre-Future Shock Roubaix.

Should I have my Zertz inserts replaced? They clearly have well over 500 hours on them.

MRT2

Precisely my point. What happens when the inserts need to be replaced? Will Specialized support the previous gen technology?

datlas 

Well, I was half joking. The Zertz should last a lifetime.

If it turns out the Future Shock needs to be replaced every year (for "serious cyclists") or every few years for casual ones, I don't see that this is a huge problem. More like a nuisance. Specialized is a big enough entity that I expect they will support this technology for quite some time. I can understand that some people who jumped in on the new tech may feel bothered, but this is not unusual for any "first generation" new tech and probably mostly a tempest in a teapot.

MRT2

I would hope so, but I wouldn't count on it. Didn't Cannondale make something like the Future Shock for road bikes years ago? My understanding is, replacements for those shocks are no longer supported by Cannondale, so if you own one of those bikes, the alternatives are finding someone to repair it, or buying a NOS one on Ebay.

Hunterdog

I purchased a 2018 Roubaix last fall. Not sure I'm really worried about getting the cartridge when it wears out(not sure how to keep track of the hours though). I am a little annoyed that I didn't know about the need to replace the cartridge before I purchased the bike; I was on the fence between the Roubaix and a Domane and it would have been one more thing to think about. After reading about the issue here I did contact my LBS who sold me the bike and they had no idea about the need to replace. Just to be safe I ordered a replacement cartridge.

vtje

May be not quite a fair comparison, but my experience with Specialized Dropper Seatpost (for a mountain bike), which similarly requires maintenance. Specialized makes some minor changes to the part each year, most of the time local dealers do not have the part (which is tear and wear) in stock. To replace, you need a tools, basically a simple plastic washer, which you cannot obtain anywhere, so you have to pay the dealer $65 for work and $40 for the part, for what is a 10 minutes work to do the maintenance. Every time it takes between 1 and 2 weeks to do the maintenance.
I was lucky (or so I thought) to buy several of those for my mtb stable at a very discounted price, but I paid several times over it's price in maintenance now.

Slick Madone

I agree with this!

I see lots of naysayers that are negative about it, but don't actually own a bike with FS....Specialized has quite a few bikes designed around the FS, I doubt they'll go away any time soon.

500hrs with what other factors.....I weigh 155lb, maybe I'll get 800hrs?

I ride much more because of it specifically. It's added hours to my riding and I'll consider it a wearable item, like chains. No biggie, it's worth it to me. If its not to you, don't buy it, but why complain about it?

stockae92

still cheaper than Canonodale lefty shock on slate?

dddd

The comparisons with current and past off-road suspensions provide all of the answers.
Suspension components typically require some degree of maintenance, and this is expected.
As with suspension forks, a neglected suspension initially becomes sticky and harsh more than dangerous.
And as with old Headshocks, the aftermarket provides reducer "cups" that allow one to fit a conventional headset and suspended or rigid fork of the customer's choosing, just as future owners of these well-aged Future Shok bikes may likely be able to choose to more economically fit their stem rigidly to the steerer.


This Future Shok was designed I believe to compensate for the extreme rigidity in the fork legs that is mandated by the use of a disc caliper mounted to the left leg. I was curious as to how well that this bike's ride remains well-controlled versus having the bars tugging at your hands in response to the Future Shok topping-out of it's travel, but the picture clearly shows the use of a dual-rate spring on the rebound side of the piston to better cushion the upper limit of it's travel.


I was told by a guy working in their "destructive" endurance testing department that all of the testing of earlier Roubaix frames was done without the Zertz fittings present, so their removal shouldn't prevent the bike's use if the elastomers were to fall out or were perhaps removed due to rattling.


It is expected that support for a sporting product becomes more limited as the product's features become dated, just as the owner of a pro-level 10s Dura-Ace bike can no longer buy a Dura-Ace level chain for it because no more CN-HG7800 chains have been made for a long time now. Those are like $900 bikes now, so the Ultegra level chain is fully expected to satisfy the owner of such a bike after so many years have gone by.
A big part of the cost that a US customer pays for bicycles and parts pays for the liability that these still-in-circulation products impose for years to come on the company that sells them, and there is thus no great motivation for the maker to encourage their use beyond a duration that satisfies a certain majority of buyers, the sort of buyers that might buy from the same company again and not so much the buyer of the bike used or the buyer who rides the same bike for a near-lifetime.

vinuneuro

Fwiw, my plan is still to buy a Diverge or Roubaix with the Future Shock. Imo, it is a watershed design that has lead to the bikes being simultaneously faster and much less fatiguing over long rides, particularly gravel. I'm more annoyed that they didn't even bother to tell dealers about the service interval and details, which is typical of them.

gif4445

Bottom line for me? If the bike is much better than anything I've ridden, then the hell with worrying about the maintenance cost. Buy the damn thing.

DoYouDiverge

Is it even legal for Specialized to withhold that information until after the sale of a Future Shock bike?

I'm curious what will the total labor/cost will be on replacing the cartridge. It also seems silly that the replacement period is a measure of hours rather than miles.

vinuneuro

@DoYouDiverge I'm not sure, that thought struck me as well. I'm sure a company like Spec has probably already thought that through before taking such a decision.

Back tracking on my previous post, I've decided to not pursue a new bike with Future Shock for a couple reasons. Expensive bikes for me are long term purchases and it would be foolish to get into the first generation of this without having a clue how this will mature. 2. Call me retrogrouch, but maybe it's faster and more comfortable BUT there is a purity and connection with bike that's removed by adding any sort suspension to a road bike. I'm sure I'll be muttering differently next time I'm getting beat up by a washboarded road.

hagak

Unless it separates I would suspect little hazard would be involved. It only moves 2cm up and down. I suspect it stops performing its job via either being overly stiff or bottoming out, nether of which would be much of a hazard. Now if it were to physically break and become 2 parts that would be an issue. Its job is more about comfort and less about traction like in your car.

robbyville

I'm no lawyer and I'm just pontificating but I would doubt that there is any legal liability here. Nobody lists that chains should be replaced every x upon sale of a bike, brake pads, etc. Same for cars, motorcycles yada yada. In the owners manual perhaps they list service needs and requirements but again probably just to reduce liability.

Could you imagine someone in a bike shop saying "yup, this is a great bike, fits you perfectly and rides like a dream, but be forewarned, you need to change out this piece every 500 hours (which may be a year, or 5 who knows), your brake pads when they pass this line, your chain and cassette every 2000 miles..." you get the point

I hear you on your reason for not getting the bike. Rational enough but on the retro grouch thing, purity of feel can only go so far. If I'm more comfortable on a bike I'm riding longer with less fatigue, that makes me a happier camper and I ride more!

I can't remember from the beginning of the thread... Had you already tried the bike and was it incrementally better than anything else you've ridden?

Good luck on your purchase either way!

FlashBazbo

I wonder if the 500 hour recommendation is something that they've only come up with as they gained history with bikes in the field passing that point. In other words, they didn't intentionally deceive anyone or withhold information early on. They just didn't know any better until bikes started coming in a little dodgy after 500 hours of use.


I wonder if the problem isn't the spring (which doesn't make sense to me) but is rather the bearings. If grit can get to the needle bearings, it seems you could end up with some resistance / grinding / binding issues with turning the bar from side to side. If that's the problem, I could see why they might prescribe a preventative replacement every so often. The CPSC might even mandate it.

popeye

I think you're spot on. We have seen the posts about these things making noise and now they claim it is normal. I would not be happy to find this out after the fact.

CliffordK

According to Strava, I tipped just over 500 hours on the bike last year. Whew!!!
Distributed between several bikes, of course.

I wonder if Specialized will warranty that part. Just bring in the old one once a year for a replacement (and to restart the warranty clock).

It would be fun to try the Future Shock, but I'm still leaning towards the rigid bars Roubaix if I ever was to buy one.

ColonelSanders

So not only does Specialized reduce the recommended weight for riding a future shock equipped Roubaix(does this weight recommendation apply to all future shock equipped bikes?), but they then after the fact state that there is now a 500hr replacement cycle to follow.


Have they been getting real life data that they didn't anticipate and pick up in their own testing?


This sounds disastrous for Specialized.


I'm a prime contender for a Sirrus in the future, but not anymore, at least until things become a lot clearer on the future of future shock.

CliffordK

I have heard that Silk Road Headshoks are a wonderful design, but almost impossible to find good parts for.

Oh, wait, that was Cannondale, not Specialized.

I hope Specialized does better with long-term product support.

uwsrider

This just happened with the Specialized proprietary SCS Wheelset that they added to certain disc brake bikes (Roubaix, Diverge). They phased it out and its really difficult to find SCS wheels. Specialized is really forward thinking with their engineering, but they only engineer for proprietary replacement..

Campag4life

a good reason NOT to buy a Roubaix or Diverge. A 500 hour service interval for replacement is ABSURD.


This from a guy who owns and rides a Specialized RoubaixSL3 Pro almost everyday. Best bike I have ever owned. No FS for me. I was on the bubble a bit about the FS being an actual benefit it not riding pot hole strewn roads. This confirms it for me. No FS. Didn't want the disc brakes anyway...another head wind for me...I don't do high speed descents.


PS: there have been reported issues with the FS with untoward noises that some owners have complained about.


Thanks for the public service OP of letting us know. I had no idea.

coolkat

Just look at some of the unsupported proprietary shocks on their mountain bikes, like the Epic. That's your future with one of these things.