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Specialized has added rear suspension to its Diverge gravel bike, creating the 2023 Diverge STR.
The new bike doubles down on the brand’s ‘suspend the rider’ (STR) approach to gravel comfort, mounting the seatpost in a so-called frame post that flexes backwards dramatically, its movement controlled by a hydraulic damper mounted at the rear of the top tube.
The cockpit, meanwhile, gets the same Future Shock 2.0 suspension as the previous Diverge, which uses a small cartridge containing a spring and damper concealed at the top of the fork steerer.
Developed over a period of about five years, the Specialized Diverge STR claims to offer ‘compliance without compromise’, taking advantage of clever suspension tech without losing the benefits of a rigid frame.
It’s available now priced from £7,500 / $7,500 / €7,500, with the flagship S-Works model costing £13,000 / $14,000 / €15,000.
The front Future Shock-only Diverge will remain in the range as the entry level bike, but the STR takes over the high-end, replacing the key models in the range.
Read on for full details on the new bike and don’t miss our Specialized Diverge STR first ride review, as well as a deep dive on the development of Future Shock Rear.
Specialized Diverge STR 2023 key features
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Photo: Matthew Loveridge
- Full carbon gravel bike
- Near-identical geometry to existing Diverge
- Future Shock 2.0 cockpit suspension (20mm travel)
- Future Shock Rear ‘frame post’ suspension (approx 30mm travel)
- Compatible with 1× and electronic groupsets only
- SWAT in-frame storage
- 700×45mm or 650×2.1in tyre clearance
- Mounts for front rack, front mudguard (fender), bottles, bento box
- Bike weights from 8.5kg claimed
Suspend the rider: ‘Isolating you from the chaos below’
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Photo: Matthew Loveridge
Specialized says the Diverge STR’s ‘Future Shock Rear’ suspension adds around 400g to the Diverge frameset’s weight, while the frame itself weighs a claimed 1,100g for a 56 with paint but no hardware.
There’s no missing the new bike’s extraordinary new tech, as it’s fully on display.
The damper’s shiny steel shaft is completely exposed and the frame post is anchored to the damper by a near-flat aluminium bridge Specialized calls the ‘tendon’.
Clik here to view.
Photo: Matthew Loveridge
The frame post is fixed at its lower end only, secured low down in the seat tube via a built-in clamp with a vertical slot in the side of the frame. It accepts a 27.2mm seatpost and is designed to be dropper-compatible.
The frame post is designed to flex, allowing the seatpost and saddle to move in the opposite direction to the rear wheel (down and back) as you ride over bumps.
The idea is your effective saddle height stays more or less constant, so the movement of the suspension doesn’t overly impact on pedalling.
A rubber boot over the opening in the frame allows this movement but aims to prevent the ingress of dirt and water.
It’s important to realise that the suspension element of this design is entirely down to the frame post. While the system as a whole is dubbed Future Shock Rear, the unit nestled in the top tube is a damper only, it’s not a shock.
Adjustable and adaptable suspension
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Photo: Matthew Loveridge
Specialized says its new Future Shock Rear system offers roughly 30mm of travel but the precise figure varies according to the rider and their setup.
The spring rate of the system depends on the choice of frame post. There are nine variants in total, and each can be installed in two positions to tailor the amount of flex to the rider – the switch is a case of rotating the frame post in its clamp by 90 degrees.
Bikes will ship with two frame posts as standard, but dealers should be able to supply further alternatives for riders who feel the need.
The Future Shock Rear damper can be tuned too. The compression damping adjustment can be altered while riding using a three-position lever.
Note that ‘compression’ refers here to the whole system, so you’re adjusting the extension of the damper that happens every time you hit a bump.
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Photo: Matthew Loveridge
Rebound can be tweaked as well, using a hex key inserted through an open hole in the underside of the top tube.
Unlike the front suspension, the Future Shock Rear system only comes into play when the rider is seated, standing takes it out of the equation entirely.
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That should mean the Diverge STR feels like a conventional road or gravel bike out of the saddle, and a squishy suspended one when you sit.
Diverge STR engineer Chris D’Aluisio explored the possibility of maintaining a fixed relationship between the saddle and the bottom bracket using linkages and even a moving eccentric bottom bracket, but ultimately concluded this approach was impractical and overly compromised.
Like the existing front Future Shock, the Future Shock Rear damper is not designed to be serviceable and is treated as a wear item. It carries a two year warranty and replacements will be available from dealers.
The frame post meanwhile should last the lifetime of the bike.
Future Shock 2.0 lives on and fit stays the same
The rest of the Diverge STR has undergone minimal changes compared to the previous generation and the front Future Shock 2.0 suspension unit carries over.
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There are tiny tweaks to the Diverge’s geometry – partly a consequence of the new rear suspension layout – but in fit terms the STR is designed to be identical to the outgoing model and like other bikes from the brand it’s considered unisex.
The Diverge STR has many of the practical features we expect of gravel bikes these days.
There are mounts on the fork to accept cargo, a low-rider front rack and/or a front mudguard (fender), plus the usual bottle cage and bento box bosses.
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Photo: Matthew Loveridge
You also get a very handy SWAT storage compartment in the down tube underneath the front bottle cage, which is large enough to hold an assortment of tools, snacks and even packable rain gear.
The frame is intended to accept bikepacking luggage too, with the caveat that you shouldn’t wrap straps around the front Future Shock.
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Photo: Matthew Loveridge
The Diverge STR is designed to give at least 6mm of clearance all round with 700c×47mm or 650b×2.1in tyres front and rear.
What you don’t get it is rear mudguard mounts, and it’s important to note that the frame is compatible with 1× groupsets only – you can’t mount a front derailleur.
Proprietary suspension aside, the Diverge STR’s frameset more or less adheres to the prevailing standards for its tech.
The bottom bracket is threaded and the thru-axles are standard 12mm ones, while the brakes default to a beefy 180/160mm rotor combo rather than the more common 160/140mm pairing.
Specialized Diverge STR 2023 range
Specialized S-Works Diverge STR
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- Frameset: Diverge FACT 11r carbon
- Groupset: SRAM Red/XX1 Eagle eTap AXS mullet
- Wheels: Roval Terra CLX
- Price:£13,000 / $14,000 / €15,000
Specialized Diverge STR Pro
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- Frameset: Diverge FACT 11r carbon
- Groupset: SRAM Force/X01 Eagle eTap AXS mullet
- Wheels: Roval Terra CL
- Price:£9,000 / $9,500 / €9,500
Specalized Diverge STR Expert
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- Frameset: Diverge FACT 11r carbon
- Groupset: SRAM Rival/GX Eagle eTap AXS mullet
- Wheels: Roval Terra C
- Price:£7,500 / $7,500 / €7,500 / AU$10,500
Specialized Diverge STR frameset
- Price: $6,000 / AU$8,500 (not sold in UK or Europe)
Need a refresher on the previous generation bike? Read our 2020 Specialized Diverge Review
Photos by Specialized except where noted