8/30/14 12:45 PM

Have not done that since 1998. Klein Mantra, every thing since been a frameset. Unless I am forgetting. ';(

<img src="http://coupekiss.host-ed.me/images/ttf/SL4-Disc.jpg" width=586 />

Was downtown on the Scott yesterday and went into the River City Cycles Outlet. So... went back this morning and I actually bought a new bike. Roubaix SL4 Disc Sora 2014 bike. 135mm spaced rear to my surprise.

So I'll put all the 10 speed Ultegra off my black Roubaix, pulling all the Sora shit off the new Roubaix. Swap the Carbon bars and Pave Roubaix seatpost over etc.

We tried a 37mm Conti comutter tire/wheel at the bike shop. It was pretty close, but actually fit. I did not put a caliper on the 37 Conti to see actual size. But I will put the Pave Vitt 27mm off the old Roubaix on it.

Plan on getting some eBay Disc Carbon wheels. Similar to Erik's procurement. Now that I don't have to be concerned with the carbon brake performance with the discs. This alone will shed 500 grams or so.

So will sell off the disc wheels, put the Sora Group on another frame and sell off to fund the wheel.

Going to make an ENO SS out of the old Roubaix as sell off to pay for 1.2 the new bike...

Fun, fun fun. ;)

Again, I blame Walter for this...

Last edited by Sparky on 9/1/14 5:43 PM; edited 3 times in total

8/30/14 1:09 PM

before you do all that, ride it. It may surprise you. My wife's Felt with Tiagra shifts great and the bike is fantastic as is.

My wheels aren't in yet. They are marked as shipped but like I said, slow boat.

Last edited by ErikS on 8/30/14 1:10 PM; edited 1 time in total

8/30/14 1:09 PM

What did it cost you? I assume a clearout?

8/30/14 1:14 PM

Agree with Erik, Sora and Tiagra shift perfectly and the only drawback is weight/finish/looks/prestige.

8/30/14 1:31 PM

$1475.00 out the door.

Stuck my 29er wheels on with 32C commuter tires.
With the 33mm wide tires on LX 32x wheels the bike is 22.5lb with the Nylon pedals it comes with..

These pedals weight a bit more than 3/4 lb.

Rode it up the hill here in the sub-div. It feels nothing like the 2005. And way way stiffer and no spongy feel when power pushed hard into the pedals.

I do like the Sora window indicators. But my 10 speed Ultegra group has like 1000 miles on it if I was to guess. So definitely going on this bike.

But I plan to get this bike around 18 lbs. So the Sora goes while it can be considered a new pull. The cassette on the orig wheels is 11-32, I stuck on a 12-27 on my 29er wheel for the test ride. And the 29er wheels still weighed .1 lb more than the originals with the 25C 60TPI Spesh tires and steel MTN pie plate.

Last edited by Sparky on 8/30/14 1:56 PM; edited 1 time in total

8/30/14 1:40 PM

I fully intend to take advantage of saving weight with the Ultegra Group, I have it after all. And going take further advantage as I said with not having to use the rim for braking ad go with carbon rims.

Also, this bike has the BB7 black road calipers, not the Shimano 317s speced on the website. I was happy about that.


The Sora SL4 is FACT 8R level carbon, the higher level ones SL4s are 10R. With my Scott HMX Addict, I was not looking to have the end all stiffest Roubaix. I knew it had to be stiffer than the 2005, and it is. Can't wait to get it on some sustained climbs.

All the SL4s have the OSBB, which is really BB30 but with a Specialized design difference. It has adapters pieces for the SORA compact Hollowtech II crankset. The 6703 Ultegra crank being HT-II also should be a quick fit I am hoping...

8/30/14 2:07 PM

Reasons I did this:

Pretty cheap I thought for a Carbon SL4 with hidden cables. Even has the holes/plugs for Di group.

BB7s, Exact Geom as the 2005, so dialing in on it not going to be any type of issue.

Really like the 2005 and the Roubaix fit and Geom for non-rocket riding, so hoping this will become a long range fave. IE longer WB, chain stays. STA is 1^ lax as compared to RR geom, only this I am not nuts about with the GEOM, but by hour 5+ probably a good thing. Problem for me was with the Roubaix if I rode hard for that long, I would be more tired than I liked. The Scott for example in 80 mile with many spirited efforts wastes me less then trying to push the 2005 Roubaix hard for 40-50 miles. Wrong tool for the job? If I weight 160 lb the 2005 would probably be fine in this regard. But then again the Scott would be too harsh probably if I weighed that much less... yada

Possible wheels: http://www.ebay.com/itm/221353594502?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

8/30/14 3:14 PM

Wait on wheels. Let me review the ones I ordered and such.

8/30/14 4:23 PM

Should not be too soon honestly.

I have not seen or had carbon wheels that used regular nipples like the ones you ordered and the ones I am spying.

Either they had AL rims carbon faired with a normal build basically. Or the ULDV Reynolds I had with the special Pillar nips. I wonder if they use nip washers on the CHN builds on eBay.

The Pro 10R level framset is $2700.00 discounted, but comes with the $200.00 CG-R Post. Specialized's answer to the Domane de-coupled seat tube.

So I figured with all the parts to re-cycle [knuck] starting at 1475.00 should not break that bank.
I am not feeling any remorse, nor additional drain settling for the 8R FACT Spec.

Again, it is way stiffer than the 05.

But the bright yellow strip on the chain stay under the chain does not seem well thought out. And the clear protective vinyl does not cover it except in the middle. ;)


EDIT: Them little indicator windows are rattly little suckers, eesh..

Put on the D/A 10 speed cranks, and the Axial Pro 25C which are like 29mm on the wide rims. Nice ride improvement. It feels most like the Madones I have ridden. More dead than lively.

LBS ran the cable housing all the way on the rear derailleur. Said Sora shifting issues precipitated this as a LBS rule. Only the housing is banging inside the tube on hard bump. Can;t feel the bumps, but you can hear the pop. ;) kidding... does absorb stuff well though as is expected...

Dorris gets some oats:
Weighed it before and after. With the D/A cranks set, the 4mm smaller non wire bead tires, the seatpost and Ti saddle including a saddle bag with two tubes, tire irons pack x3 and a rag it is 1/2 lb less. ;) And that is with the Keywin Pedals as well instead of no pedals. Headed in right direction...

Last edited by Sparky on 8/31/14 12:31 AM; edited 1 time in total

8/30/14 7:11 PM

Anyone else have a bike with a Matte finish?

Any tips/do/don't-s etc??

8/31/14 3:25 AM

I have an S-Works Roubaix SL4 11R and love it. It is as stiff as you could ever want and although i dont user the Cobl-Goblr post, it soaks up the vibrations beautifully (carbon wheels, bars and seat rails also help). It handles very well too, perhaps not quite as sharp as a Tarmac, but i love a good downhill technical descent and really couldnt ask much more from it. It is very stable and predictable in handling but also fast.

It also has a matt finish and I really dont do anything different to look after it. Just wash it with some hot soapy water now and then or wipe it over with a damp cloth. Doesn't leave fingerprints or anything on it.

8/31/14 10:30 AM

Bet the 11R is more on par with my HMX in the stout dept. I also bet that one cost a touch more than my acquisition. ;)

I like that paint scheme with the insides of the fork/stays with some color. The matte C-dale with the bright green is a fav of mine...

8/31/14 5:34 PM

Yes, I think it may have cost just a "little" bit more :)

Also running 11spd DA 9000 mechanical on it which is really quite a step up in shifting and braking performance over previous group sets. Couldn't justify Di2 though, that was ridiculous! I really like the colour scheme on this one too.

As for stiffness, think Specialized made an effort to really stiffen the Roubaix compared to earlier models, well, certainly on the 11r. Believe the stiffness is more in line with the Tarmac now and they then tried to reintroduce some compliance or "softness" by using the Cobl-Goblr post.
I remember reading an interview with Sylvain Chavanel who said his Roubaix was just as stiff/fast but more comfortable than his Tarmac. The interviewer asked him why he didn't ride it all the time then, he didn't really have an answer for that!

8/31/14 7:45 PM

25 miler with Elaine on her Madone.


Roubaix SL4=Like!

Oddly, set up exactly the same as the 05, both 'exact geometry.. It feels like it fits better. Not sure what that is about. It is a great out of the saddle climber.
Looking forward to tomorrow, going to do some long seated.

Sora shifters shift absolutely fine.

But will be pulling them and the Sora DRs off in the later to put 7800 stuff on to go with the 7800 cranks I put on last night. May not put the Ultegra Triple on it at all.

8/31/14 11:01 PM

Looking forward to photo(s) of your new bike!!!

The (now 9s) Sora levers have really moved up in the world, for those that don't know there are normal 2 shift levers now, so essentially they are last-gen Tiagra 9s levers with the indicator windows and pretty slick.

9/1/14 9:17 AM

Looking forward to photo(s) of your new bike!!!

There it is in front of the Scott in the OP in this thread.


Comment on the OSBB. Looking and thinking about this setup VS the outboard threaded Hollowtech II BB.

The actual bearings pressed into the OSBB are more inboard. In this case it is using an adapter to go from 30 bearing inner size to the 24mm spindle. All my HT-II cranks are 24mm. So instead of having the bearings in the BB to the outside of the shell, the spacer sitting in the OSBB bearing is where the bearing in the HT-II would be.

So, even with a OS crank that has the 30mm axle and no need for the adapters.. Does 'not' the more narrow stance of the BB bearings negate some benefit of the system. Or is the 30mm axle stiffer than the 24mm enough, that is a lot bigger. I seem to recall a tube with the same wall thickness double the size is 16 time stronger or something..

9/1/14 5:06 PM

I originally had the S-Works crankset on my SL4 but changed it over for the DA9000 for various reasons (incidentally, the front shifting is better with the Dura Ace setup over the S-Works one) but didnt really want to go down the path of using adaptors as have heard numerous stories of them creaking and "walking" out of the frame.

I ended up getting a Praxis Works bottom bracket for OSBB which works very well.
https://praxiscycles.com/conversion-bb/

9/1/14 5:34 PM

"There it is in front of the Scott in the OP in this thread. "

Ok, I've now seen the bike!

The picture does not appear in this thread though on my PC.

I had to take the url out of your text, and put it into the url address box to see it.

Specialized really does a good job of making their more-modest offerings look like their upper-tier models, it's all in the shapes and graphics.

9/1/14 5:56 PM

I had seen the Praxis. If my adapters and Hollow Tech II give me any trouble, that will be the direction I will go probably.
------------

Right @ 22 lb with the seat pack w/2 tubes and 3 plastic tire iron pack, Keywins, Axial Pros sitting at 28+mm, 7800 Dura Ace with Flight Deck.

The little yellow Pikachu prepubescent token icon/toy is something my kids gave me well over a decade ago. I had moved it over to the new cables when I upgraded the Strong to 10 Speed in 2012. These bars been waiting to go on something since the Strong is a SS now. I decide to keep it and the housing being it is epoxied to it and it was yellow.
But mostly because my kids gave it to me. ;)

<img src="http://coupekiss.host-ed.me/images/ttf/SL4-7800.jpg" width=576>

9/1/14 11:30 PM

I can see the following printed in your post, but again, no graphic appears:

"<img src="http://coupekiss.host-ed.me/images/ttf/SL4-7800.jpg" width=576>"

9/1/14 11:31 PM

And suddenly, the graphic appears, both in your post and in mine!

I even put your graphic line in quotes.

The graphic in your original post now appears as well...

9/1/14 11:55 PM

"The graphic in your original post now appears as well"

I tweaked the code... [may not have done it]

I see the 2015 Sora Disc Roubaix for $1950.00 comes with the $200.00 CG-R seatpost.

Folks/reviews complaining it is too stiff probably precipitated that. And competing with the Domane et al. I would not mind trying one, but I fear the bounce @ high cadence. ;O I fear the price more.

2015 brake change as well, Tektro Spyre, mechanical disc. Says dual pivot. Which = dual piston and could be a good thing. Although I have been using single piston floating disc caliper on car/trucks/MC for decades...

The one I got had the new black Road BB7 SLs and all Jagwire cables, I suspect a disturbance in the force with Specialized and suppliers. The 2014 had the 317 Shimano discs on the spec. The LBS mech that prepped it made a comment that they re-cabled it as well.

Tektro can make nice stuff for sure, but if low end, they can make cheap crap as well or bad as anyone.
At least I have had experience with the BB7s.

Also had the Shimano CX-55 disc brakes, not the 317s. I got nickle and dimed on the missing adapters Shimano does not include. Which Avid loads with the brakes to cover pretty much anything. CX-55 cost me 40.00 more than the BB7s past time I did that. I fully intended to go Avid the next time around if building. The CX-55 where pretty [in a non plastic looking] and worked well. But the Black BB7 look less like the toy/plastic looking ones I have used, early road versions. SL versions on my bike, look better. Seem to work the same, well.

The Road BB7 SL are price higher though I noticed. Even more than I paid for the CX-55 setup with adapters yada...

9/3/14 4:45 PM

Did a bigger group ride today, Roubaix with the 27mm Paves.

Some pace line and drafting going on. Me and another old fart got off the front when we hit 'the Marine drive TT I call' it on the return. A 5 mile TT along the river along the PDX runway with a strong head wind today!

So a SL3 Tarmac and the SL4 Roubaix into a headwind dusted off the Peloton to car park. ;)


The SL4 is more like the Scoot than the old Roubaix by a long shot.

If the 10R and 11R S-Works Roubaix are a lot stiffer than this 8R, I am sure glad I did not get one of them.

9/3/14 7:47 PM

I don't know how much stiffer the 11r is than the 8r, but the S-Works is the most comfortable bike I have ever had. (but like I said, carbon wheels, bars and seat rails help)
At times I have described it as like "riding on a cloud" I guess you notice the stiffness more laterally in out of the seat efforts sprinting up short hard hills etc, rather than through your backside which is exactly what you want.

9/3/14 8:28 PM

I guess I am wondering which bike, SL? and ##R etc .

I had ridden a SL2 9R Roubaix and found it felt about the same as my 05 Roubaix, closer to it than one might expect. This SL4/R8 is closer to the LTD Addict, but not as lively so far from what I think I am feeling.

But SL4 is all new shapes and iteration than the SL2 I rode. which is the run between my early Roubaix and this change.