Roubaix SL3 or SL4 ? Can anybody compare?

[Globalti]

My Roubaix is the 2006 model and getting a bit long in the tooth with a couple of witness cracks and some flaking paint. I'm beginning to come round to the idea that a 2013 Roubaix would be lighter, stiffer in the right areas and possibly even more comfortable thanks simply to six or seven years of frame development having gone by. This idea is confirmed by having just tried a friend's brand-new Orbea and been impressed by the acceleration and climbing.

I'm trying to get my head around the difference betwen SL3 and SL4. Has anybody ridden both and can they offer a comparison?

Presumably within the SL rating Specialized also offer different levels of equipment such as sport, elite etc?

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

The SL3 has a longer head tube as such its more relaxed, the SL4 features a shorter head tube and is more racey feeling. The SL4 is also stiffer than the SL3.
They feel very similar to ride on the road though imho, you only notice the difference if you really slam your stem and that the SL4 gives me a little better turn in.

Personally I would be happy with both, but would suggest that you try a tarmac as well that's a whole different world imho

 

[Globalti]

I have tried a Tarmac and I loved it; however at 57 I'm worried it will be too arse-in-the-air for me.

 

[Andrew_P]

My Roubaix is the 2006 model and getting a bit long in the tooth with a couple of witness cracks and some flaking paint. I'm beginning to come round to the idea that a 2013 Roubaix would be lighter, stiffer in the right areas and possibly even more comfortable thanks simply to six or seven years of frame development having gone by. This idea is confirmed by having just tried a friend's brand-new Orbea and been impressed by the acceleration and climbing.

I'm trying to get my head around the difference betwen SL3 and SL4. Has anybody ridden both and can they offer a comparison?

Presumably within the SL rating Specialized also offer different levels of equipment such as sport, elite etc?

You can only get the SL4 frames in the Roubaix at the Expert level bike with Di2 at £4k

I have been thinking the same, and have been coming down to looking at a S-Works frameset at £2600 and transferring my bits across and maybe upgrading the rest as I go along. Or you can pick up Ultegra Di2 for £1100 and just move your saddle, stem wheels and handle bars and still come under the Expert price.

 

[Andrew_P]

All the other Roubaix are last years frame with different colours and spec levels, I would guess the SL4 frame will filter down in the 2014 models.

 

[Globalti]

So what's the meaning of the S-Works label?

 

[Andrew_P]

So what's the meaning of the S-Works label?

S-Works are the ones used in the Races by the sponsored teams and "uses the top end carbon" Now how much different it is anybody's guess but a full S-Works bike with electronic groupset is £8500.. http://www.hargrovescycles.co.uk/pr...gclid=CITb0tq7_rYCFXMRtAodaXMAmg#.UYYNjYNwaM8 Frame only

I think bottom of the range will be Fact 8r Carbon vs Fact 11r on the S-works - I am still undecided by the way if there is a real world difference between all the frames. My 2010 Comp is Fact7r

 

[Cycleops]

So what's the meaning of the S-Works label?

The marketing men are probably trying to elude to the "Skunk Works", a specialist division of Lockheed which produced the SR 71 Blackbird, the highest flying fastest plane of all time.

 

[Andrew_P]

The marketing men are probably trying to elude to the "Skunk Works", a specialist division of Lockheed which produced the SR 71 Blackbird, the highest flying fastest plane of all time.

Spot on!!


http://mombat.org/MOMBAT/Bikes/1991_Stumpjumper_SWorks.html

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

I think bottom of the range will be Fact 8r Carbon vs Fact 11r on the S-works - I am still undecided by the way if there is a real world difference between all the frames. My 2010 Comp is Fact7r

Here is the Fact carbon micro site which might interest you so you know the difference
http://www.specialized.com/bc/microsite/fact/

 

[Andrew_P]

Here is the Fact carbon micro site which might interest you so you know the difference
http://www.specialized.com/bc/microsite/fact/

Thanks I am still umming and arring over it, not sure I have the legs to back up an S-Works bike, plus I have been considering going for something less mainstream. I would have to get up to Barnsley to see one in the flesh.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

The biggest consideration factor for me is the support you get for specialized and the life time frame warranty as such if you brought your roubaix new and its starting to show signs of cracks, I would talk to specialized. They have always been great at honouring the warranty from my experience.
I have also owned other premium brands like Pinerello, Look, Ridley, to name but a few and although the products they offer are great, the service I received was not of the same standard.

I'm also personally starting to see less of a need for the Roubaix as the SL4 Tarmac is also exceptionally compliant, if you combined this frame with the COBL GOBL-R seat post and bar phat tape you have an exceptionally versatile and comfortable bike.
The tarmac is an amazing all round bike, it is so competent IMHO that you never get anyone say anything really positive about it, but then again you never hear anything really bad about it. The tarmac is comfortable enough to ride for long distances, stiff enough to climb well, and capable of a blast with are hyper bikes like the Venge....... The tarmac is just so easy to live with imho and mine is personally not arse in the air


I like that bike you just posted a picture off though, its pretty cool looking

 

[Globalti]

Interesting advice, thanks. My 2006 Roubaix is a "stolen-recovered" that I got from the Police so I'm not the original owner. Specialized have indicated that they would have done something good for me if I had been the original owner.

I did test ride a Tarmac SL4 recently and thought the handling was stunning, absolutely incredible and not too harsh a ride either. However after only a couple of miles my hands were protesting at the head down - arse in the air position so at age 57 I think the Roubaix is more my cup of tea.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

Yea the warranty is only valid for the original owner so I guess your a little out of luck there.
The roubaix is most certainly an exceptional bike. Ensure though that if you get a 2013 SL4 model it comes with the COBL GOBL-R seat post on it, they can not get enough of these in the country and some Roubaix are having theirs removed and sold to other customers such is the demand.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

You can only get the SL4 frames in the Roubaix at the Expert level bike with Di2 at £4k

How's that? In November, I bought the Specialized Roubaix Expert SL4, and it has mechanical shifters, not Di2. But I'm no road bike expert, as that is my first (and so far, only) road bike.