Yesterday I hopped on my bike three times: for a sunrise singletrack session, a slow 30-mile spin on asphalt, and a quick trip听to the post office. Right now I鈥檓 planning a five-day bikepacking trip that鈥檒l happen later this month. For all of these rides, I听use听the same bike: the听听($1,200 and up).听
Fast on pavement and smooth on gravel, the third iteration of the Diverge fits听all of my needs. The revised , a small suspension system in the headset, levels bumps and rough roads. A slew of mounting points allow a seamless transition from adventure chariot to daily driver. The geometry hits the sweet spot between snappy and stable.听After test-riding the model ($4,800) for more than a thousand miles, I may never ride skinny road听tires again.
Background
The gravel market has听exploded in the past five years, with manufacturers racing听to keep up. Today听most brands sell at least one bike in the听emerging category. Gravel grinders, as one of the sport鈥檚 fastest growing segments, feed off aspirations of freedom and the allure of adventure, and they appeal听to experts and newbies alike. They鈥檒l keep up with roadies on an easy group ride, tackle mixed terrain with aplomb, and perform sufficiently on moderate trails, merging culture and components from the worlds of road riding and mountain biking.
After testing a half dozen听competitors, including the , , , and , over the course of the spring and summer, the Diverge is听my preferred steed. Here鈥檚 why.
What I Like
The newest model of the Diverge, released in May 2020,听has a longer reach听and听slacker front end, giving it a longer wheelbase, with the same responsive handling as previous models. This geometry makes the bike more grounded, providing confidence at high speeds and on challenging terrain. Overall, it鈥檚 a big advancement for on-trail performance, without compromising too much on smoother surfaces.
While some bikes have a learning curve for听handling, Specialized made听a bike that feels immediately intuitive to ride. This comes from the balanced center of gravity鈥攜ou鈥檙e not too far over the front axle, nor too high听or far back. Such positioning gives you added听stability on听bumpy sections and through loose gravel.
But Specialized鈥檚 system is what sets the Diverge apart from the competition. This internal spring is positioned above the headtube to听allow the handlebars to move in a vertical path, offering 20 millimeters of travel;听it absorbs听the energy from bobbing up and down over rough roads听and preserves forward momentum. I was amazed by how much it damped听chatter from rocks, rumble strips, roots, cracks, and bumps on pavement. A smoother ride creates more comfort and provides more contact with the ground, enabling you go faster and corner better. It also reduces听fatigue across your body.听
Lastly, the Diverge is ready to be transformed into an adventure听bike. It has options听for attachments听on the frame and fork. This makes it useful for both weeklong trips听and all-day rides. I鈥檝e done a few bikepacking tours with the Diverge and found that the slacker geometry听lends stability when loaded with the extra weight. Combined with single-chainring听compatibility and clearance for 700x47c听or 650bx2.1-inch听tires听(I currently run听WTB听Riddler 700×45鈥檚),听it checks all the boxes for the long haul.听
What Could Be Improved
For my style of riding (mostly on dirt and typically long enough to run out of snacks), I鈥檇 prefer听a few tweaks to any future听models.听I鈥檇 love for full two-inch mountain-bike tires to fit on a 700c wheel so I can tackle more serious singletrack without having to swap wheels.听(It鈥檚 worth noting that the 2021 iteration does have more听tire clearance than the previous year鈥檚 model, by about five millimeters.)
The Diverge is also听somewhat heavy when compared to top-end carbon competitors. My bike, a large听2021 Expert Carbon model, weighs听about 22 pounds with pedals, bottle cages, and a Garmin device. That鈥檚 a pound or two more than a few of the bikes listed above when weighed with the same add-ons:
- ($2,750 and up): 22 pounds
- ($1,850 and up): 18 pounds
- 听($5,299 and up):听18 pounds
- 听($2,599 and up): 22 pounds
- 听($3,499 and up):听18 pounds
- ($2,899 and up): 19 pounds
As a hobbyist rider, this isn鈥檛 a huge deal for听me, but it鈥檚 worth considering, depending on what type of riding you like to do.听Some of the added weight comes from the Future Shock, but in my opinion, it鈥檚 more than worth that听small penalty.
The Final Verdict
Frankly, I couldn鈥檛 be happier with this bike. With nine tiered models to choose from, ranging from $1,150 to $10,000, Specialized provides a buffet that almost anyone can agree to. The slacker geometry, improved Future Shock, and ample dropouts make it a gravel grinder for all types of riders.