Specialised-Diverge-E5-Gravel-Review: A flexible gravel bike that does not fee a fortune.
The Diverge E5 proves that you do not want a carbon body or digital transfer to deal with your subsequent adventure.
The Diverge E5
Takeaway: Entry-level, aluminium-framed gravel bike, specialised Diverge E5 may be set to deal with any sort of ride.
The body can manage tires as much as 700c x 47mm or 650b x 2.1 “.
There are lots of body and fork mounting factors that permit riders to put in countless bags, fenders and accessories.
Any integration, proprietary parts and BSA Threaded Bottom Bracket Diverge E5 make it easy to work with both home and professional mechanics.
Diverz E5 Build Details
Price: $ 1,300
Weight: 21.7 lbs (54cm)
Style: gravel bike
Wheel size: 700c or 650b
Frame: Exclusive Diverge E5 Aluminium, BSA Thread BB, Internal Cable Routing, 12x142mm Thru Axle, Flat-Mount Disk
Fork: FACT Carbon Fork, Full Carbon Steer, 12x100mm Thru Axle, Flat Mount Disc
Drivetrain: Shimano Claris, 8-speed
Crank: Shimano Claris R200
Chainrings: 46 / 34T
Cassette: Sunrace, 8-speed, 11-34T
Brakes: Tektro Mira, Mechanical Disc, Flat Mount, 160mm Rotors
Wheels: Axis Elite Disc
Tires: Exclusive Pathfinder Sport, 700c x 38c
Saddle: body geometry bridge saddle, steel rails
Seatpost: alloy, 2-bolt clamp, 12mm offset, 27.2mm diameter
Handlebar: Special Shallow Drop, 6061, 70mm Reach, 125mm Drop, 31.8mm Clamp
Stem: Future Stem Comp, 80mm/6ยบ rise
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By most conventional metrics, the E5 is not the most exciting bike in the special Diverz range. It is made of aluminium, does not have a Future Shock suspension system and uses eight-speed Shimano Claris groups. It doesn’t even have the bling-factor of writing S-Works in the down tube. But once I rode the Diverz E5, I realised that these are some of the things that make the bike better.
After spending a lot of time on this version of the Diverz, I thought it might be one of the best, most versatile bikes I’ve tested or made special. Stock 38mm-wide (mostly) slick tires are probably a little off-road, but they are a perfect starting point for many riders who buy this bike. They rolled fast enough on the sidewalk that we could continue the office lunch ride but given enough volume and grip to handle smooth mud and gravel roads.
After a few rides, the verdict became clear. Made a expert good-looking, all-road / gravel-ish motormotorcycle that rides with a piece of exhilaration and does now no longer include a awesome rate tag. But I was really excited about it just after I started tinkering with the bike. The Diverz E5 can be set to do almost anything.
Diverz Bike Family
Diverz offers special offers in nine different complete builds, starting with the $ 1,300 Diverz E5 we tested and up to $ 12,250 S-Works Diverz. Eight models feature drop bars and a flat bar EVO for those who enjoy that kind of thing for $ 2,600. You can scroll through all the samples in the gallery below.
Diverge E5 $ 1,300
Diverz Elite E5 $ 2,000
Diverz Comp E5 $ 2,500
Diverge Expert E5 EVO
Diverz Sport Carbon $ 3,500
Diverge Comp Carbon $ 4,200
Diverge Expert Carbon $ 6,200
Diverz Pro Carbon $ 8,200
S-Works Diverge $ 12,250
9 in 1 Diverge E5 $ 1,300 courtesy of Shimano Claris 2×8
For riders interested in building a custom diverge, there are three available framesets. The alloy E5 Evo Frameset ($ 1,700) is the specific E5 model we tested, though it is only available as a frame. It is longer than the E5 and has a future shock with slacker geometry. Two carbon frameset options are available, the Diverz 9r ($ 2,700) and the S-Works frameset ($ 5,000).
Riding impressions
Diverz with 650b x 2.1 tires
Versatility is the call of the sport with Diverge E5. A easy tire swap, for example, can alternate the complete individual of the bike. Want to make the E5 cross quicker and sense sportier at the road? Throw in some 30mm- or 32mm-wide rubber. Want more off-road capability? Diverz has clearance for 700 x 47mm or 650b x 2.1-inch tires. Is there a distant adventure in mind? There are more frame mounts than you can possibly use – plus fender mounts! The Diverz E5 can be a road bike, gravel bike, drop-bar mountain bike, touring bike or adventure bike – a concept I tested by setting Diverz with 650b wheels and Vittoria Barzo 2.1-inch mountain bike tires and hitting some locals. Trails. While it seems unrealistic to expect that a bike with a snappy feel on the road will handle well on the trail (after becoming essentially a mountain bike), Diverz surprised me.
Trevor Robb, Break apart, Diverge with 700 x 38 tires
The bike’s 71.25-degree head-tube angle is quite melodic due to the combination of a long wheelbase (1035mm at 54cm), a long top tube (554mm) and a short (80mm) trunk. This is not to say that Diverz suddenly transforms into a dedicated mountain bike. Despite the big tires, I quickly found the bike’s limits. The low bottom bracket height made the logs and rocks clear, and the larger 2.1-inch tires caused me a slight toe overlap, which somewhat defied quick steering.
Still, I had a full blast at Diverge. I did a little “Undertaking” on SingleTrack in the morning and then did some overbiking on the gravel service roads. If I was feeling ambitious, I could have gone home, switched wheels and then headed out for a road ride. That’s the beauty of Diverz. This is not a perfect tool for any one task; It is capable of doing everything.
The Diverz E5 Shimano is equipped with the entry-level Clarice Road Drivetrain. Although I have been out for some time on an eight-speed bike, I can confirm that Shimano has done an amazing job of downplaying its ergonomics and technology. The fit and feel of the dual control shifters is similar to the Shimano’s version of the 105 and Ultegra versions. They only move the chain in three lower back cogs. The gearing unfold may be very off-avenue-friendly (with an 11-34 enamel cassette) however paired with a 46 / 34T crankset, nonetheless affords adequate variety for avenue riding.
The most significant difference I noticed between the Claris and the more expensive 105 groups was the need for maintenance. It often had to be tuned to maintain a smooth transition. Shift quality is comparable to high-end groups, requiring you to keep it intact until you occasionally make small adjustments.
Another surprising highlight for me was the Mechanical Tektro Mira flat-mount disc brakes. Typically, low-cost mechanical disc brakes are a weak link for more affordable disc brake-equipped bikes, often suffering from a fuzzy bite point and modest braking power. However, these Tektro Mira units have a robust feel, predictable bite point and reasonably good stopping power (for mechanical disc brakes). Jaguar’s Kevlar-reinforced compressionless KEB-SL brake housing is specially acclaimed for equipping the Diverge, which helps improve brake feel and is what most brands want to do when building base-level models with mechanical disc brakes.
The only downside I have with the Diverge E5 is the internally routed cables. The way the specialist drove them through the down tube was annoying. Unfortunately, fixing involves re-cabling everything except the front brake to do it. A little foam inserted into the down tube during factory assembly can easily prevent this problem.
The Diverz E5’s ability to adapt to a wide range of riders is another win for the bike. You can buy it in seven different sizes, from 44cm to 61cm. Carbon Diverge models add 64 sizes to the mix. Riders also have a choice of three colours. Our test bike is depicted with the Gloss Blaze, but riders looking for something a little more low-key can opt for the Gloss Sage or Satin Smoke.
As a equipment editor, I am frequently asked, “What bike ought to I get?” This is especially difficult for riders who are involved in cycling and looking for the first bike. New riders do not have years of riding experience to guide and assist bike purchase. This makes the Diverz E5 one of the best bikes for them. Its versatility, trip excellent and rate make it an nearly ideal access factor for folks that need to strive all styles of rides. The Diverz E5 is a bike that does a lot of different things, but the ability to be a blank slate for any rider makes it great.
