As with Giantâs Defy, the disc brake chassis of the latest generation SL4 Roubaix isnât just an adaptation but a reworking from the ground up. The rear disc is mounted inboard between the chain and seatstays, and up front the all-new fork has a carbon pillar mount for the caliper. While the full internal routing for the rear hydraulic hose is neatly done, the forkâs buzz-reducing Zertz elastomer insert means the front hose has to be externally routed to bypass it. Itâs a compromise in looks only, and doesnât affect front end plushness.
- Highs: Compelling comfort and fun handling
- Lows: Sluggish front shifts and middleweight wheels
- Buy if⦠You want a bike with commanding handling, ultra-smooth riding and the potential to get off the beaten track
On our test loop, which includes a couple of miles of gravel military roads, we got a real sense of what the SL4 is all about. On tarmac the Roubaix, with more aggressive geometry than the previous version, has an impressive turn of speed, with the stiffness in the frame rewarding hard-pedal efforts, yet the plushness of the chassis and the brilliant CGR (Cobl-Goblr) seatpost keep things comfortable.
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It looks strange, but the Cobl-Goblr seatpost adds bags of comfort
Intrigued by this smooth ride, we took the SL4 out again, this time for 60 miles of almost all unmetalled roads, and it shone even more brightly. Specialized doesnât claim the Roubaix as a âgravelâ or adventure bike (it has the Diverge for that), but itâs one very capable machine on rougher surfaces.
Climbing on the Roubaix is a joy. On tarmac it feels light, even though the overall weight would suggest otherwise, and you can stay seated and grind up steep slopes with little traction, gravel even, with the wide cassette giving a light low-torque gear to avoid slips.
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