When I make my yearly trip to Denver, I always bring my road bike.
Specialized calls it “the ultimate getaway vehicle,” designed with input from off-road adventure riders, scientists, and racers.
Priced at $8,249, the Diverge 4 Pro is designed for rough trails and technical descents, both of which unfolded below me at the summit of an is-it-gravel-or-is-it-single-track climb in Douglas County, Colorado.
Future Shock 3.3 is Specialized’s suspension system, and it’s an upgrade over the earlier versions used on the Turbo Creo 2 and Diverge 3 Pro.
A spring by itself will just compress and return the stored energy, which can lead to a pogo-stick-like experience on bumpy roads and gravel. 20 mm doesn’t sound like much, especially to anyone accustomed to mountain bikes with 100 mm or more of suspension travel.
Specialized says laboratory testing showed up to a 53 percent reduction in peak impact at the bars versus competing setups.
The Diverge 4 Pro sports the bike maker’s mid-range FACT 9r carbon frame with reworked geometry that offers longer reach for better weight centering. All told, the Diverge 4 Pro weighs in at 8.72 kg.
The Diverge 4 Pro’s drivetrain is the SRAM Force XPLR E1, which comes with a single 40t chainring; a 13-speed, 10–46 cassette; and programmable bonus buttons on the brake hoods.
The Diverge 4 Pro keeps the downtube storage area from the 3, and it’s larger.
The Diverge 4 Pro is a gravel bike that is ideal for those who love rough gravel, long rides, or bikepacking through the wilderness.