Specialized Roubaix SL8 2023 2024 first impressions opinions review defects and problems
As always, with much fanfare, Specialized presented the new Specialized Roubaix SL8 2023 2024, the lightest, most comfortable, fastest endurance bike Specialized Roubaix ever produced.
In reality, then, the frame has been lightened by 50 grams, certainly not a lot, while the complete bike does not go below 7kg, which is not a lot.
All at Specialized prices, that is, very high.
On the other hand, we cannot fail to note the excellent fork, it's a shame that the complete version only equips the two most expensive models.
The other versions adopt a simplified suspension fork, which would not be a bad thing except that the prices still remain high.
Furthermore, the new fork implies external cable routing and the absence of integrated handlebars.
Nothing to complain about from a technical point of view, but all this makes the new Specialized Roubaix SL8 "old", at least aesthetically.
The advantages in terms of performance are also limited, a maximum of 11 seconds over 100km... nothing for an endurance bike, even if in a Northern European race they make the difference between winning and finishing last.
An amateur, however, will hardly appreciate this advantage.
The upgrade in terms of ride comfort was decidedly better, it was high and remains high, at the top of the market.
In this the Specialized Roubaix SL8 remains an absolute point of reference, but better for ride comfort.
The high prices are ill-suited to entry level assemblies, well made but not light, with the Specialized Roubaix SL8 version reaching almost 10kg, for a price that is certainly not popular.
The general complexity has remained unchanged, the fork is functional, but complex, the cable routing is the same.
As always, in addition to the purchase cost, management costs must also be considered, which are never cheap with these bikes.
Overall, after years of waiting, more could have been done.
An endurance bike that is better than the competition, which is better than the previous Roubaix, but which seems "born old and with little desire to go out".
In the end it's a nice endurance bike, but it doesn't turn heads, it doesn't make you fall in love.
Among other things, the color range is really the "minimum wage", when you don't have to choose the only color available.
For a bike of this price we would have expected greater customization, also from a graphic point of view.
In short, beautiful, functional, high-performance and comfortable, but completely irrelevant for what it costs.
It is certainly acquired with reason, otherwise it is very difficult to fall in love.