That is a very nice looking bike but ouch that little tiny seat looks extremely uncomfortable.

The saddle is a Bontrager Paradigm RXXXL, my previous bike was a Madone 4.6c with a Paradigm RL saddle. It was very comfortable so I expect the new on to be the same... just lighter.

I mistakenly posted this in the older unimproved HotRNot thread earlier this week and did not receive much love. I got her tires matching now and she is ready to race this weekend. This is my (son's) newest bike. There are a few not so visual things to change yet, but this is how she looks.

That was the kinder/gentler HotRNot thread. Brace yourself.

A venge is a Love it or hate it kind of bike. I've only seen few Venges that have caught my eye and made me want to look twice. This one is a Not for me, but it doesn't change the fact that it is a very nice ride.

If I had to be specific:
-I dont like the extra spacers above the stem (regardless of dialing in a fit or not).
-No matter how awesome DA is, I just cant stand their cranks and would rather see an all black crankset on there.
-I'd take the logo's off those wheels.
-I'd go with all black cages. I find that colored cages to match accent colors on a bike is like a blue 1999 Honda civic having blue windshield wipers with glowing LED's.


This staging doesnt help either. The bars pointing away as it is makes the bars and stem angle look weird.

Still a great bike though.

I'll get my Nomex suit on.

I say the Venge is fairly hot now or at least getting warmer. Not much on the stem angle and loads of spacers. I'd also go for white or black cages. I'd say almost hot enough.

Staging is all wrong.

Just because the bike has red bits doesn't mean it gets red cages.

A Specialized will never get a hot from me. Not because of how they look, but because of how many lawyers they have to nitpick the **** out of people.

I'm certain it's fast.

Those bottle cages look terrible.

As mentioned, the staging leaves something to be desired, as does the hard light/strong shadows.

Beyond that, I'm not a fan of the paint scheme - the half-and-half 'S-Works' looks cheesy to me and the swoops of red/white on the stay/tt/st/fork look like an afterthought and don't do anything to make the lines of the frame any more pleasing.

Also, what happened to the third 'Mercury' sticker on the front wheel?

I heard an Allez in Cazenovistan cry out at this comment. It sounded betrayed.

There goes kinder and gentler.

Hot! Besides the spacers. And I usually am not a fan of Spesh. I can never get over the top tube.

Try this for a compliment. "Girl, mmmmmm, you've got all the right curves".

this can be used on all spec bikes.

+1

Reasonably hot, looks like you're missing a decal on the front wheel, may as well take them all off. I agree on with others that the cages are sort of ugly. I'd think matte black carbon cages would look way better. I never liked the way the steer tube looks on Venges, but getting rid of the spacers on top if you can, replace the cages, loose the wheel decals or replace the missing one and you got a hot bike.

^Agree with most that has been said. Debadge the wheels, cut the steerer, and change the crankset and I'd vote hot for that Venge. I'm not one that thinks all Venges are ugly, though.

I think it looks hot but (<constructive criticism>) needs more red bits to contrast the black, but don't go overboard. Maybe a 3T stem with the red stripe and maybe a saddle with some red highlights. Change the cranks to Ultegra dark grey. Perhaps loose the decals on the wheels too and replace with a dark grey/black version so it looks more stealthy but you can still see that they are brand name wheels and not cheap Chinese ones.

I haven't seen another Specialized with half the S-Works decal coloured red, is this factory? I like it.

I like the contrasting bottle cages.

AS mentioned from above posts, the DA cranks are not my fave, and I'm a die hard Shimano user. Don't like straight forks on a road bike. But most of all for me, the bars are what really makes it a Not. Otherwise, I am sure it is a fast bike!

No other hot bikes... this thread is languishing. It must be winter or something?

But it's not like people aren't buying fancy new bikes right now. Sunday, while I waited around on a repair, one guy got initial fitting for his new Infinito and a woman came in to get final fitting for her AR FRD, which everyone was drooling over and picking up....

Hot Torelli, deserves better outdoor daytime photos. No bottle cages?

Hot Torelli, just needs the camera angle changed so the bars don't look deformed, common mistake.

Very nice!
Your other photo showed the green color better, which I also really like.
Wondering about the rims, though. Does the lettering roll over to the other side, or is it chopped off the same on both sides? It's kind of gimmicky, but the overall impression is sharp and complements the rest of the bike, so I'll give it a pass.