Video: Specialized Revamps the Roubaix

Even though it’s only mid-summer, bicycle manufacturers are already busy showing off brand new 2013 bikes for next year.This week, Specialized launched the latest iteration of the Roubaix, the SL4, a significant revamp of one of the most successful bikes in their line up.

Specialized’s engineers were tasked to remake the Roubaix with a racier feel without losing the comfort features that the model is known for, and consumers have come to expect.

The Roubaix SL4 borrows a number of design features from the Tarmac, Specialized’s no compromise racing bike.The frame of the SL4 was beefed up considerably compared to the Roubaix SL3, particularly the down tube, chain stays andbottom bracket. The latter two are also moulded into one piece.To avoid an overly harsh riding frame from the reinforcements, the tube size as well as the carbon lay up varies according to size.

No where is this more apparent than the head tube, where the lower diameter varies from 1 1/8” for sizes 49 and 52, to 1 ¼” for 54 and 56, and 1 3/8” for sizs 58 and up.Aside from the variation in size, the head tube also received considerable shaping where it joins to the top and down tube.

According to Specialized Engineer Luc Callahan, by carefully eliminating any flat surfaces in the head tube junction, they were able to achieve the necessary rigidity without resorting to stiffer fibers that would negatively affect vertical compliance.

In addition to the all-new Roubaix SL4, Specialized showed their commitment to the women’s segment by simultaneously launching the Ruby SL4, the equal of the Roubaix for female riders.

The Ruby shares much of the same technology as the Roubaix, including, the new revised Zertz inserts, Hyperbolic head tube, and complex carbon layup. But with a separate size run, geometry and contact points, all tailored to female riders’ needs.

We had the opportunity to test ride the new Roubaix SL4 over the last two days, from long steady climb, to gravel roads, to fast descents.First ride impression seems to bear out the design objectives of Specialized’s engineers.

Compared to the previous generation, the Roubaix SL4 offers a noticeably more solid feel when climbing out of the saddle and during hard cornering in descents.Doing a few sprints,the drive train was absolutely flex free, though with my meagre power output and at 140lbs, frame flex are rarely a problem for me.

The Zertz inserts in the seat stays, fork, and in the new Cobl Goblr seat post do a good job of dulling the bigger bumps, and smoothing the high frequency vibrations from less than pristine road surfaces.Unlike the previous Roubaix, the SL4 managed this task without leaving one feeling disconnected from the road, I always had a good sense of what the road surface was like, and what the tires were doing.

One thing that Specialized didn’t change was the geometry, it retains the same stable and assured manners as the previous Roubaix.We will report back once we get a long term tester into the office, and put the Roubaix SL4 through its paces on familiar test loops.In the mean time, check out our gallery of the new bike below.