[Closed] Diverge or Gt Grade - please help me decide

I haven't seen the Grade but we bought some Diverge ESWs as our road/touring hire bikes this year and they are really, really, nice. If I didn't already have the Amazon I'd be getting dibs on one of them for when we sell them in the Autumn.

Slightly depends on the balance of what you do.

More focus on speed with a little gnarmac? Diverge. Mine feels as fast as a 'proper' road bike, but capable of smashing along tracks and trails.
More focus in the gnarmac with a little speed? Grade. Seems tougher than the Diverge, and might be heavier.

Two very capable bikes! I'd have the Diverge, mainly because I think the Grade is fuglywuglywoo! 🙂

However, go and try them for fit as well.

In true STW fashion.

I was mooching around in my LBS after work the other day and got chatting to a member of staff about a bike for all round messing, commuting and exploring. He showed me the Whyte Friston. Beautiful looking bikes. 😉

To answer your actual question though, I agree with this

Two very capable bikes! I'd have the Diverge, mainly because I think the Grade is fuglywuglywoo!

The Grade is just weird looking.

I've got a Diverge DSW with the Tiagra. Really like it, my only complaint with the Tiagra is the front shifter is sometimes hard to shift into the bigger ring and I changed the rear cassette to a more roadie gear spread.

I'm certainly leaning to the Diverge.

The next question then is, is there really any point in paying more for the DSW frame compared to the A1?

The DSW certainly looks cooler...

is there really any point in paying more for the DSW frame compared to the A1?

The DSW is a mighty clever bit of frame building. Puts cheaper carbon frames to shame. Very impressive for an aluminium frame. My BiL has one. It's awfully good.

Internal frame cable routing, zertz insert in the seat stays, carbon steerer and internal cable routing on the fork. Probably 500-750g lighter.

EDIT: Just looked at Specialized site, it's a shame they're only one DSW build now- I can't remember what they called the one I've got, but it has 105 with hydraulics, the fugly seat post and a very nice Praxis chainset- a build a bit more suited to the frame.

By the way, the frame is a bit of a mud magnet, not suited to the thick stuff at this time of year- far worse than the CX bike this replaced- there's not a huge amount of clearance either for tires (I've got 32 WTB CrossWolf's). Builds up on the fork/tyre gap, seat stay/tyre gap and bb/chainstay area.

The fork is nice on the DSW as it also the same fork they stick on the top carbon frame version. The DSW has the E5 tubing while the standard Diverge as A1. To me the DSW was worth getting as a frame to build on when things worn out.

I can't remember what they called the one I've got, but it has 105 with hydraulics, the fugly seat post and a very nice Praxis chainset- a build a bit more suited to the frame.

Comp. Spesh UK pick and choose from the range. They didn't bring the S Works version in when I got mine, for example.

The fork,is indeed the same as the spangly crabon fribe versions. Stiff, superb steering, but comfy too.

Thanks all. Interestingly, little support for the GT grade... I thought there would have been lots of love for that bike on here

Loving my Grade but never ridden a Diverge so can't compare the two!

little support for the GT grade...

Can't really comment, as I have ridden none of your choices, but after borrowing the demo carbon Grade for a couple of months from my LBS, I couldn't give it back. Have had one now for a year and a half, currently on 32c tubeless and 'guards, doing a daily backlane commute, foul weather training, and light singletrack duties.

As an off-roader, obviously a massive compromise - but I love linking two or three of my local trails by road or path even though I'm walking a bit on the technical sections (not as much as I'd imagined though tbh).

So in STW style, I'm heartily recommending a bike you didn't list 😉

Have had one now for a year and a half, currently on 32c tubeless and 'guards, doing a daily backlane commute, foul weather training, and light singletrack duties.

As an off-roader, obviously a massive compromise - but I love linking two or three of my local trails by road or path even though I'm walking a bit on the technical sections (not as much as I'd imagined though tbh).

So in STW style, I'm heartily recommending a bike you didn't list

Sounds a lot like my crabon fribe Diverge! 😉
Except, I think that this,
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Looks better than this
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FWIW, I've ridden a crabon Grade and it's a very capable bike. As Bob mentioned, perfect for that sort of mixed commute and/or track and trail playtime. As with a Diverge, makes simple trails really exciting.

When you fit 5800 105 onto an A1 you really limit the rear tyre clearance to no bigger than 28mm before the tyre rubs on the front mech.

I don't think this is a issue with the DSW and the Carbon models.