Cheapest way to upgrade from Roubaix SL3 to SL4?

[Globalti]

You can spend £2600 on a Roubaix SL4 S-Works frameset...

Or for probably very little difference in the feel and ride of the frame, you can spend £1300 on a Roubaix SL4 with Sora and get the same Fact 8r carbon frame as if you spent £2200 on a Comp with Ultegra. Then take all the Ultegra bits off your old Roubaix Comp SL3 frame and fit them on your new SL4 frame, right?

Then build up the old SL3 frame with the new Sora kit and flog it on Ebay. Total net cost: about £500?

Here: http://www.specializedconceptstore.co.uk/road-bikes/overview/roubaix/14Roubaix

 

[Kies]

are you trying to convince yourself? :-)

 

[Archie_tect]

Why not just keep the SL3 Globalti?

 

[PaulSecteur]

Im not so sure all SL4 frames are created equal.

All the rave reviews of the frames were of the 2013 SL4 S-works, which uses FACT 11r, the higher spec but non s-works frames have 10r (also include the Cobl-gobl-r seatpost) and the Sora one has 8r.

How much difference it makes... I do not know... But I expect someone that does will be along to let us know... @Mr Haematocrit

 

[Andrew_P]

If you have the patience and the nerve the SL4 2013 S-Works frames that are left will be dropping below 2k, it will be easier to get a deal if you are tall or short!

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

Not all bikes in the Tarmac and Roubaix range were SL4 in 2012 / 2013.. The SL4 bikes differ in as much that different frame sizes feature different lay ups, the reason for this is that someone of 9 stone riding a 52 frame would not have the same demands regarding stiffness of someone vastly heavier on a larger frame.
In 2014 the SL4 has been released across the range however the S-Works remains the only bike at FACT11r rated lay up while the other bikes go down to FACT8r

The Roubaix SL3 comp was Fact 8r and the SL4 Roubaix remains FACT 8r so the question is what does it give you? - The SL4 has a shorter head tube than the SL3 so unless your stem is slammed you are going to have to use a lot of spacers. The SL4 is stiffer and turns in better, but this is a mute point on the Roubaix as if you wanted a stiff bike which turns in well, the Tarmac is what you should be looking at.
Both are great bikes IMHO.

 

[Andrew_P]

Why not just keep the SL3 Globalti?

Good question, he has only just bought it as well?!

 

[Globalti]

You're gonna laugh..... the reason why I bought the SL3 Comp was because I disliked the colour scheme just a little less than I disliked the SL4, which is pearl white. Red and white at least matched my kit but I still find it garish and ostentatious. I really like the naughty and much more subtle matt black and red colour scheme of the current SL4s.

The SL3 is fast, smooth and handles superbly and the geometry suits my 57 year-old body so perhaps the SL4 might be pushing things a bit far, as MH suggests.

 

[Andrew_P]

You're gonna laugh..... the reason why I bought the SL3 Comp was because I disliked the colour scheme just a little less than I disliked the SL4, which is pearl white. Red and white at least matched my kit but I still find it garish and ostentatious. I really like the naughty and much more subtle matt black and red colour scheme of the current SL4s.

The SL3 is fast, smooth and handles superbly and the geometry suits my 57 year-old body so perhaps the SL4 might be pushing things a bit far, as MH suggests.

wouldn't laugh my next bike has to be the right colour!! The SL4 2013 S-Works I like both the white & black and the Black & Red. Just not sure I want another Specialized, and if I did I think I would prefer the Tarmac.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

The SL3 is fast, smooth and handles superbly and the geometry suits my 57 year-old body so perhaps the SL4 might be pushing things a bit far, as MH suggests.

I personally like the SL3 Roubaix as its a great all round bike, it has decent pace but is comfortable enough to ride all day long. The issue I have with the SL4 is they have tried to give it the razor sharp handling of the Tarmac SL4 which impacts the all day comfort.
With items such as the COBL GOBL-R seat post and Bar Phat tape much of the comfort associated with the Roubaix SL4 can be had on the Tarmac SL4 with a shorter wheel base and razor sharp handling.
The Roubaix SL3 to me seems less conflicted, its a bike designed to soak up rough roads and be a joy to ride, with a longer head tube its a bit more relaxed and forgiving, but it still handles remarkably well, for all your experiences on the SL3 can you honestly say you feel it needs to have a stiffer and more aggressive front end?

 

[Globalti]

Not really. As you may remember my previous bike is a 2006 Roubaix, which following on from a 1990 steel frame was a revelation in comfort. In 2006 carbon frames were simply an assembly of carbon tubes modelled on the traditional metal frame tubes but since then carbon manufacturers have learned how to lay up the weave and build up the diameter of the frame around the head tube and the BB. The result is that the 2013 frame shares the same comfortable, compliant, shock-absorbing ride but with a huge increase in torsional stiffness, meaning that the wheels are always in the same line giving far superior handling. Simple tests like pressing the BB sideways with a toe or rocking the bike against the front brake show a noticeable increase in stiffness yet the bike remains as comfortable as ever.

It's just the shouty red and white colour I dislike.

 

[BSRU]

You're gonna laugh..... the reason why I bought the SL3 Comp was because I disliked the colour scheme just a little less than I disliked the SL4, which is pearl white. Red and white at least matched my kit but I still find it garish and ostentatious. I really like the naughty and much more subtle matt black and red colour scheme of the current SL4s.

The SL3 is fast, smooth and handles superbly and the geometry suits my 57 year-old body so perhaps the SL4 might be pushing things a bit far, as MH suggests.

I understand where your coming from on the looks.
I am going to replace my 2010 Secteur Comp soon with an SL4 of some sort but I would like a similar colour, the matt black with Specialized lettering in black with white border looks really good to me.

 

[Andrew_P]

Must admit I do not like the Specialized Red & White bikes, and strangely I love the Two S-works frames both in the Roubaix and the Tarmac but the bold S-Works puts me off, mainly because I would feel some sort of internal pressure to ride the thing flat out all the time and still not be good enough to warrant the S-Works logo, a kind of anti marketing for me.

As an aside I wouldn't write off a lower head tube on the Roubaix SL4, it surprise you how comfortable it is, why not give it a try on the SL3 and remove all the spacers and just run with the cone top?

 

[Globalti]

I think I'll take the bike along to the Harrogate Concept store one weekday when they're quiet and do a side-by-side comparison of the SL4 vs. my SL3 and test ride one.

 

[PaulSecteur]

[Globalti, post: 2630683, member: 357"]I think I'll take the bike along to the Harrogate Concept store one weekday when they're quiet and do a side-by-side comparison of the SL4 vs. my SL3 and test ride one.[/quote]


Would be interested to hear what you think after your ride.

Personally, I don't think a red bike with white logos is "shouty" at all, but each to their own.

But this does look good though...