Great! I should get mine next week. I saw it and I agree that red fork is really bright! Already have a Phenom on my bike so I shouldn't have too much of a break-in

If you thought it was bright in the shop, just wait until you see the fork in the sun.

Also, the SWAT box came empty, I had to pay for all the items to complete the kit. I wasn't expecting that.

Best of luck!

The swat box should have came with the multi-tool.

It's like packages on a car, the dealer makes some extra money.

I checked the receipt and the SWAT box did come with the multi-tool. I bought the remainder of the items to fill it up. Thanks for the tip.

How about some pics in the field?

I've attached a photo as I do not have a long enough posting history to embed a URL.

This is a 61cm 2018 Specialized Roubaix Expert. It replaces my Specialized Secteur that I use on solo century rides in the mountains here. I'll also commute on it. Comfort on chip seal and ease of climbing are the goals.

1. Modified the rear cassette to a 40 tooth XTR with a Wolf Roadlink and etc.
2. Changed the 28mm stock tires to 32mm Gatorskins. 70/85psi F/R seems to work, I'm a big guy.
3. Added my Wahoo, lights, etc.
4. Tiny saddle bag for keys, cards, whatnot.
5. SPD pedals
6. ISM PR 3.0 Saddle
7. Pricey little bell

I'll be adding an XLabs rear bottle holder and maybe get the carbon bars with internal routing. I've been thinking of a bento box to hold food and my phone. Hate to add weight and clutter. I'm riding the Konocti challenge on Saturday and I'll know soon enough how well she goes.

Can you tell us how tall you are and how much you weigh?
Should be comfy with the bars up nice and high.

How about a comparison with your Secteur? I own both a Secteur and Roubaix SL3. Can you compare the relative ride comfort of new Roubaix with Future Shock to your Secteur? You mentioned you run 32mm tires on your new Roubaix. What size tires did you run on your Secteur?


Lastly, have you put both on a scale to determine what the weight diff is? Secteurs aren't light...somewhat dependent on components....but the new Roubaix with disc brakes isn't exactly light either. Was curious what the weight diff is?


Congrats on the new bike. Looks very nice.

Congrats

Here she is outdoors

Just got mine, haven't been able to ride it yet for various reasons. Will tomorrow. Got a EW-WU111 inline wireless e-tube installed. Works with the Garmin 520 fine - I get gear data fine, BT to an apple ipad works fine, but doesn't work with android phones I think it is the version on android - says it does not recognize some components.



One other thing, the swat-box is in the way of a chain catcher.

Just picked up a 2018 base model a few weeks ago and I love this bike. I set out to do a quick 10 mile ride today and it turned into 30 because it’s just so much fun to ride.

Put in 100km on mine Saturday.

The front tire managed to suck down a goathead through a Gatorskin, clipless were too tight, saddle a bit high. Had a great time.

LBS informed me my 2018 Expert (Di2 and disks) is in. I won't be able to pick it up for several weeks. I think the red/black looks awesome, but I got white because I'm going to put a teal wrap on it ( for OC ), and I have a Domane with black/lime green that looks similar to the Roubaix.

I have two bikes with Di2 already, and I did ride a demo Expert back in May.

All this talk of SWAT boxes and discs makes me want to comment. My SWAT box came fully loaded apart from a gas canister so I find it strange you'd have to buy the bits. Mind you, it was $170 AUD!!

I have a 2017 SWorks Roubaix which I've put Dura Ace R9170 disc brakes on and as much as I love the bike, the brake noise is driving me insane. Have any of you had issues in the wet with these (or the Ultegra equivalent) brakes? It looks like the front caliper has a faulty piston which is slow to return, and doesn't return all the way. As the bike picks up grit from the wet road, it catches on one side of the disc (the bad piston side) and rubs until it clears. I've tried all the tricks - space the pads when I re-center, clean everything thoroughly, massage the piston (yes, that's a thing!) and it's still bad. Considering a warranty return of the caliper. The rear caliper leaked from new and I had to return that, so i'm a little rattled by the 9170 stuff at the moment.

Here's my bike. Last ones was the SL3 version of the same.

The discs on my SL6 Domane (Ultegra Hyraulic) can get noisy in the wet too. Squealing under braking and also rubbing when riding along. Apparantly it is fairly normal and yes it is annoying.

I make the front disc brake squeal on purpose on my 2016 Diverge just to embarrass everyone on my rides

Geoff

What model year was your SL3 Roubaix and how does the new Roubaix ride compared to your SL3?

2011 SWorks SL3 was my older one. It developed a crack where the top tube meets the seat tube so was replaced with a 2017 model - lucky me.

The ride is completely different. I'm 6'5" and ride a 58cm (all my length is in my legs) so cornering on the SL3 wasn't a particularly smooth experience for me. I tended to sit up quite a bit and the bike was slow through the corners, possibly because of the wheelbase length as well as my height. They say the 2017 model has the Tarmac geometry and I'd believe it. I'm certainly quicker through corners because I feel like it pulls through them faster, but combine that with a suspended handlebar stem which removes any road surface uncertainty and you have a great handling bike.

I suffer a lot from back and neck injuries and this bike has helped that out too I feel. I've forgotten that my head stem is suspended even though I'm using a "service center only" spring which is 60 Lbs/In. I think that's double the firmest spring you usually get with the bike. You just don't feel so beat up anymore after a long ride.

The down side to all this tech is for the people behind you. Imagine riding over every bump you see because it doesn't hurt your hands, braking later into corners because of the discs and taking tighter lines through the corners. No wonder everyone is worried about differing brake systems in the pro peloton.

Thanks for your review. I saw your new Future Shock Roubaix and how much seat post you are showing and wanted to ask your impressions. FWIW I am 6'1" and ride a Roubaix SL3 Pro size 58 I built frameset up in Dec, 2011. I am also more legs than torso...probably a scaled down version of you.

That said, I have done my share of casual racing through curvy courses with good club riders riding hard. I really like the handling of a SL3 but yes, it doesn't handle like a Tarmac which btw, I don't mind. I like how easy the SL3 is to ride.

As to frame size, please don't take this wrong but at 6'5", you should be on a 61. You could even ride a 64 but would be a hint too big...but no doubt there are 6'5" guys opting for the biggest 64cm Future Shock Roubaix.
You mention bad back and neck, the amount of drop you ride because your saddle is so high is a key contributor.
A myth of bike fit is...you would be too stretched out on a 61. No. As the bars come up you need more horizontal reach. Anyway, you made your choice and what matters.

A further myth is about your reference to Tarmac geometry. The word geometry at is turns out has different meanings. There is the three point rider contact on the Roubaix which is virtually identical between the new future shock Roubaix versus the SL3 for example we have both owned...and there is the angles of the frame including head tube angle and trail of the bike which affect handling. As it turns out, Specialized was able to achieve the fit of the old Roubaix which average bike riders prefer and make the bike handle closer to the Tarmac by choice of frame member angles. So, the term geometry really doesn't do justice to the new bike. Geometry in the context of rider fit is preserved. But yes, the geometry of the frame that affects handling is clearly different. Riding position is almost identical to the old Roubaix but agreed, the new bike handles more spritely as you say.

As to the disk brake comments you make, forgive me again, but pros aren't that plussed about different brake systems...disk versus caliper in the peloton. Rather the vast majority, probably 98% of the pro peloton still ride caliper brakes even though disk brakes are allowed. That is a separate conversation. Suffice to say, one of the things that will likely keep me off the new Future Shock Roubaix is the bike isn't offered with caliper brakes which would also make it lighter. I don't want a road bike with disk brakes and the vast majority of pro riders don't as well.

Congrats on the new steed and thanks for sharing your observations with us!

Where else but in cycling could a sentence with three 'issues' lead to a great time.

I am new here. I road a lot when I was in college and much younger. I'll be 50 next month and as a birthday present to myself, I'm picking up a bike. I have more time now that my kids are in school and I need to get back into shape. My LBS has mid-week rides to get me started and weekend rides to extend my range.

Looking to pick up a 2017 SL4 Comp UDi2. LBS has it significantly discounted and has one in my size (49). I'm 5'4" with a 27" inseam.

I am trying to keep myself from getting a 2018 Expert UDi2 at a much higher price. My GF is pushing me to stick to my original decision with the SL4 and in a year or two, decide on an upgrade.

Most of my riding will be on paved roads with the occasional gravel. My LBS has a few 40/50 something year old riders and they all ride Roubaixs. Mostly from a comfort perspective which is the reason I am leaning towards this bike.

With that said, the 2018 Expert UDi2 does have a lot going for it, but at this point, I'm looking at a $2400 premium over the cost of the 2017 SL4 Comp UDi2 (LBS has them priced at $2200).

Is this a worthy upgrade? Or stick with the 2017 SL4?

Hello there!

I have a 2015 SL4 Roubaix Expert, which I love very much, but if it weren't for my wife watching my every moves, I'd be owning a new Roubaix right now, likely one with UDI2 to boot. The only bad reviews about it seem to be from people who've never ridden one

Of course, $2400 is nothing to sneeze at, but if you can swing it, I'd say "it's only money"


Geoff

Yeah, I say go for it. The 2018 Roubaix Expert will be my third bike with UDi2, and the first with disks. I'm just under 5'11" and went with the 58. The Roubaix frame is a bit taller and a shorter wheelbase than my Domane, so a little twitchier in the turns. And dang, even with carbon fiber, it's a heavy bike.

Any bike that makes you want to ride is worth the extra $$$, IMO. And all of my bikes make me feel that way.

Why did you go with a 58? I was worried about reach but the reach on the 56 vs 58 was a couple of mm. The stack is a lot more though. Just wondering.

I am 5'11" but with a longer torso. A 58 would be pushing stand over for me, and my saddle height over bar would be too little. I got the 56 and I feel a bit too upright, my saddle height is near my bar height, so will probably need to adjust that. I have had o set he saddle back about 1.5 cm.

What is the $400 difference between the Roubaix Expert Ultegra Di2 and Roubaix Expert UDi2 ?