S-Works Diverge

The all new S-Works Diverge. What a beast!

To provide a smoother and more controlled ride on rough terrain, the new Diverge has borrowed the radical Future Shock from the Roubaix, providing 20mm of bump-absorbing suspension. The cartridge is cleverly located between the stem and head tube so there's no change to the geometry during the suspension travel. Specialized has also firmed up the spring compared to the Roubaix so it handles the big hits better.

Elsewhere, the carbon frame is lighter, now sub-900g for this, the range-topping S-Works model, while the newly dropped seatstays are designed to allow the seatpost to deflect more. Most of the Diverge range are equipped with the CG-R seatpost from the Roubaix, but the S-Works shown here gets a 35mm height adjustable height seatpost activated by a small lever on the handlebar so you can get the saddle out of the way when tackling technical and demanding descents. Like disc brakes, it's another technology borrowed from mountain bikes.

The pearlescent paint looks amazing, a big change to some of the previous more staid paint offering in the Diverge line.

With a 1x set up with XTR rear mech and Easton carbon crank, the S-Works Diverge is really on top of it's game. We're just not quite sure about that funky box...

Photographed by Bobby Whittaker for Bespoke Cycling.