Specialized Future Shok problems?
 

Having some impact-related noise coming from the shok cartridge area. Started suddenly after ~1300 silent miles and coincided with the shok somehow binding resulting in loss of 1/3 to 1/2 of its normal range of travel. LBS able to restore range of motion but not eliminate the noise. Modest impacts (which are frequent) result in a knock sound reminiscent of two metal surfaces contacting each other that presumably shouldn’t be, and weren’t before the binding occurred. LBS has tried retorquing etc and also swapping FS cartridges. Knock still present and now also present on the donor Roubaix. Both puzzling and troubling.
So I’m curious if other 2017-2018 Roubaix (or Diverge with FS) have had same/similar issues. And if so how was the problem resolved? Thanks

Sorry to hear you are having problems.

Been out for over a year. Think we would have seen reports here if it were a common problem.

I would ask Niki Terpstra. I understand he's had some problems with his.

I've only got a few hundred miles on either of mine, but nothing to speak of. Curious to see if it becomes more commonplace.

Thanks for the suggestion. How would I contact Niki?

Ok, now I get the reference.

Future Shock = Future Slop

have you ever ridden one?

My guess is not. Most folks who’ve actually ridden one, myself included, overwhelmingly have good things to say.

I've got 3,500 miles on mine and I have never experienced the issues some describe, like floating, modulating, etc. It's a slick solution that has worked perfectly for me.

Hey Big Wally -

If you have two bad units from the same shop it sounds like they aren't up to speed. Can you take it to another shop or ask to talk to a Specialized representative? I don't think that you should be suffering if no one else is.

Agreed. Fresh set of eyes.

Noise source remains unidentifiable. Present in all 3 Roubaix’s I’ve ridden. Might not be from the FS itself...internally routed cable? Spec rep in town soon, more later.

Two shops and multiple mechanics at each have confirmed the presence of the impact-related noise. Swapping booster springs has no effect nor does replacing the entire FS with a Diverge FS that has the progressive main spring. One internally routed cable has been “sleeved” but noise persists. More later, hopefully including a resolution.

Generally, the noise thing has always bothered me, not just in this Future Shock.

I would like for the bike mechanic tool box to have updated methods to track down any kind of noise while riding the bike and be able to record it. Why not sensors placed in strategic areas of the bike? That way it can measure movement and noise.

Update:
The Specialized rep confirmed presence of the noise but had no solution to offer. LBS stumped and frustrated, like me. Still not sure if its coming from the FS or internal cabling but suspect the FS. Love everything else about the bike but the ultra-frequent rattling sound with light-moderate impacts is driving me crazy...
Since I could hear the same sound on all 3 of the 2017 Roubaixs I've ridden (from 2 shops) and a total of 6 mechanics at 2 shops and a Spec rep confirmed the noise I wonder if other riders are overlooking it - it's masked by wind noise above ~10mph so out on the road it can be missed but not so easily in town. I did see a post on one other website where the rider mentioned this unidentified noise was also driving him crazy. Since the other Roubaixs I've ridden also rattled, swapping bikes doesn't offer a solution. I guess I'll have to try to tune it out and accept that a rattle in a $3000 bike is "normal" even though I'm sure Specialized engineers did not intend for it to rattle. I can only hope some Specialized tech or engineer will take this seriously and search for a solution. In the meantime I guess I'll have to accept the "smoother is noisier" reality.

My guess is it’s internal cabling. You have 2 long lengths of bare shifter cable and a hydraulic hose running unsupported down the down tube. Not to mention the front brake hose running through the fork. All of those are way more likely to rattle than the FS.

A mechanics diagnostic stethoscope is cheap. 10 bucks on amazon. I use one frequently. Go for a bumpy ride and scope the shock and frame. Should be able to isolate where your noise is coming from.

I have just under 1000 miles on my 2018 Roubaix Expert Di2, and so far it's silky smooth and quiet. I have noticed some noise, when the Di2 connector was being buffeted in the wind against the head tube.

Update us if you figure it out.

I am up to 4,815.2 mi miles on mine (thank strava for detailed mileage) and have not experienced anything similar. My shop did tighten the headset at ~2200 miles but nothing since then. Now as to a clicking bottom bracket...

I took my bike around the block at about 13MPH and hit every sharp lip that I could find.

There is a rattle that sounds like Wally is describing. If I hit a small, sharp edge at just the right speed it sounds like the Di2 cables are hitting the bottom of the stem or maybe rattling in the internal routing.

I never noticed it before because I am never in the that speed range except when climbing. And I am too busy cursing when I go upslope.

Wally, have you managed to close in on the sound? It doesn't bother me, but maybe you have better ears?

I have profound noise induced hearing loss in the upper frequencies. But this rattle is lower frequency so I readily hear it. So no, I don't have better hearing and its likely worse.
Yes its the 'moderate' impacts that rattle, not the slight ones. And if it happens with sharp impacts I can't discern it from other coincidental noise. And it happens a lot.
Haven't heard anything further from LBS or Spec. For now I'm just riding the hell outta the bike and trying to ignore the rattle.
I like the suggestion of trying out a $10 mechanics diagnostic stethoscope (which get very mixed reviews) but not sure how I'd ride the bike, hold the tip of the scope securely against the various bike parts, listen attentively, move the tip around, and operate the bike safely while doing all of the above. Perhaps in a rough parking lot with no cars around.

I hope you figure it out for your sanity's sake Wally. Let us know if you do.

Hi, I have had similar problems. Spec store replaced the FS twice with no effect, then found cables in bottom tube had no protective sleeve, that made it considerably quieter, but a few hundred miles more and I’m still bothered by the rattling on bumpier roads, which in the UK is most! I notice it most when I’m on group rides and nobody else has the same noise, except me on a brand new bike with suspension that’s supposed to take the ‘shock’ out of the roads!!! Not sure where I’ll go next but when the sun comes out and I get back outdoors more, I may drop it into my LBS who are infinitely more approachable than the Spec store who make me think I’m going mad and claim that rattling is part and parcel of a carbon bike.