Roubaix Expert Ultegra Di2
 

Had a little time to kill today before an appointment, so I made a 20 mile ride out to my nearest Specialized LBS just to browse around. Ended up taking a Roubaix Expert Ultegra Di2 for a test ride. One word: WOW! This bike was super S M O O T H! On initial inspection of the new "Future Shock" I was a bit skeptical. I really thought I wouldn't like the movement in the headtube. But once out on the road, I couldn't even tell. It felt just a rigid as any bike without it. But, what was vastly different was all the vibrations from the various potholes, bumps and uneven surfaces that was NOT there! This Future Shock really does the job.

Also, I would be remiss if I didn't mention how smooth the Di2 electronic shifting was. Just a big difference from what I'm used to with my 2016 Roubaix SL4.

Overall, I was super impressed. I spent about 20 minutes on it in less than ideal weather, but could have spent 20 hours easily. I was having that much fun.

Not sure how I'm gonna come up with 5 grand :foo:, but I'll definitely be working on it!

Was that your first time on a Di2 bike? Sounds like you're going to buy it. (Hint, banks don't carry much cash on hand anymore.)

Yes, it was. Is it showing? :)

I wish the budget would allow for it. I'd be riding it all day this coming Saturday!

Everybody says if you ride a Di2 (or any electronic group) bike, you'll never go back. I figured I wouldn't even test ride one because I didn't want to spend the $$. Then I wound up test riding a Di2 bike because it was the only one they had in my size and I didn't even like Di2 at first. I came to love it but it took a few rides. Apparently I'm the only one. You took to it right off the bat, everybody seems to.

As to the $5K, have you tried Photoshop and a color printer? ;)

Well I think it was well worth the extra $800 for the DI2.

When I have to go, will they let me take my bike with me? :rolleyes:

You are not the only one. It took me some time to get used to Di2.
Also even though it works very well, I am still just as happy to ride my other bikes with mechanical groups.
I have a number of Di2 and mechanical bikes (N+1 :)) and when deciding which I feel like riding the Di2 isn't usually a factor in the decision at all.

I have a pair of 2018 Roubaix Di2 's and the future shock just makes such a remarkable difference in smoothing out the bumps and vibrations.

I was lucky my LBS did a full 30day refund to upgrade the mechanical Expert to Di2. That took a quick test ride see how much smoother the Di2 is.

What are the advantages of Di2?

It seems disadvantageous to have to charge the batteries and move the entire bike to an outlet. What if the system becomes inoperable mid ride and you are stuck in 50x12 after a descent or 34x30 after a climb? Aren't the buttons too small for correct ergonomics (avoiding misshifts)?

Shimano's mechanical groups shift so well with so little effort already, how much easier does shifting need to be?

It seems like a solution to a nonexistent problem.

I can see how a wireless system would be advantageous by eliminating all of the clutter of wiring and cables, reducing rather than increasing complexity. Also, I think the batteries should be chargeable off the bike.

You do not have to charge it often at all
Anything can break mid ride
Electric shifting is fast and precise and also allows for shifting under power. Auto trimming is a pretty nice feature also.

Automatic Trim. Smoother shifting with this.

Ability to program shifting sequences.

Extra buttons on top that can be programed to, say, scroll through your Garmin pages.

Integration with cycling computer to view gears, shifting mode, battery level etc.

Ability to fine tune derailleurs on the fly while riding via cycling computer. No shifting cable stretch.

I don't need or want any of those things which is probably why I am not bothered if the bike has it or not.
I am also sure it is easier and safer to tune a derailleur while riding with a barrel adjuster rather than on the cycling computer. Not that Di2 hardly ever needs to be tuned.
Anyway lets not turn this into a Di2 thread. It has already been beaten to death in the past.
Congrats on the Roubaix for when you do get one :). Great bike.

OK, that is fine you don't want or need it. So why did you feel the need to post that if it has been beaten to death? :foo: The OP did make it about Di2 after all. :)

It is threads like this that make me want to figure out how to come up with the difference between what I am getting and the 2018 Expert.

Time.

I believe this will be my next bike. I did a 20 mile test ride on one, intentionally swerving to hit every pothole, crack, or manhole cover I could find. It was amazing.

Me too! Every one I spotted, I hit hoping to feel a jolt. It never happened.

Ya'll some Specialized shills? Maybe Shimano shills too?

Would like to try Di2.

Future Shock, its just that good.

Super-shill. :lol:

I'll wear that hat. Tomorrow I pickup a Cannondale Slate. Wanted a gravel ride and wanted to see how the front end on that handles the road.

Future shock, hydraulic discs and Di2 sound pretty sweet indeed. But personally, if I already had a 2016 Roubaix, I’d just upgrade the groupset.

I have both 6870 and 6800 and am another one of those guys who would definitely opt for an electronic groupset for his next bike. I mainly like the speed, auto-trim and not having to adjust it as the cables stretch/wear. But I’ve also experienced a couple of times where I mis-shifted due to the buttons not having enough of a tactile response.

Okay . . . it's already been threadjacked into a Di2 thread. But just yesterday I seriously considered having a cable actuated bike as my primary bike for the first time in 8 years. The thought didn't last long. Most of the reasons I wouldn't consider a non-Di2 primary bike have already been listed above. Add to those the fact that you can't use a remote/climbing shifter in a cable actuated system. And that, once adjusted, unless you change components, you never ever have to adjust your derailleurs again. (Di2 cables don't stretch.)


But the biggest one for me? I hated how shift quality diminished over time with cable shifters. And this led to lubing/replacing shift cables (and bar tape) every six months (sometimes a year). Di2 is set and forget. Got no barrel adjusters. Needs no barrel adjusters. It's a beautiful thing.

How does it allow for shifting under power? Mechanically Di2 shifts the same way as a cable actuated system.

They don’t shift the same way actually. Di2 uses a worm gear powered by a motor to move the derailleur, mech uses a spring under tension and a cable pull. Di2 can move much much faster with more precision and more force. For the rear it does not make much of a difference and even good mechanical can shift the rear under load. But the front is where it makes a big difference and the speed, precision and force allow it to move the chain under tension. It is also this ability that has allowed them to do synchro shifting since if they did not you would have to know to soft pedal on every shift since you would not know if the front shift would happen or not, but you don’t since the system can make those shifts with you needing to soft pedal.