The Specialized Diverge Pro 4 at rest.
Eric Bangeman
The Specialized Diverge Pro 4 at rest. Eric Bangeman
Paired with the 40-tooth chainring, the 13-speed SRAM Force cassette is up for any terrain.
Eric Bangeman
Paired with the 40-tooth chainring, the 13-speed SRAM Force cassette is up for any terrain. Eric Bangeman
The Specialized Diverge Pro 4 at rest. Eric Bangeman
Paired with the 40-tooth chainring, the 13-speed SRAM Force cassette is up for any terrain. Eric Bangeman
Although the Diverge Pro 4 comes with 45 mm tires, there’s more than enough clearance for 50 mm tires—in fact, the Diverge I reviewed came with a set of 50 mm Terra TLR Trail gravel tires mounted on the tubeless-ready Roval Terra CL carbon wheelset.
The Diverge Pro’s drivetrain is the SRAM Force XPLR E1, which comes with a single 40t chainring; a 13-speed, 10–46 cassette; and programmable bonus buttons on the brake hoods. It’s a fantastic groupset, offering the same features as the pricier SRAM Red drivetrain in a slightly heavier, less-expensive package. The rear derailleur mounts to a replaceable Universal Derailleur Hanger, or UDH, which means a bent hanger is easier to replace than a proprietary one (which is better than finishing a long ride with limited shifting after you bit it on a corner because you didn’t see some loose gravel and bent your derailleur hanger… not that I’d know anything about that). I found the gear ratios to be more than adequate for anything outside of dropping the hammer on a flat segment of smooth tarmac, and I really appreciated the gearing on climbs while laboring up steep gradients on the big sprocket. I even had an occasion to take advantage of the massive 46t cog in back on a particularly steep stretch of road.
There’s also a Quarq Power Meter tucked away inside the spindle, which measures watts generated on the left side to calculate total power output.
The Diverge Pro 4 keeps the downtube storage area from the 3, and it’s larger. That means more room for a spare inner tube, CO2 cartridges, and tools for in-ride repairs. Or snacks, but I prefer a top-tube bag for gels, Skittles, and other on-bike munching.
A lesson in compliance
To make it to the nearest gravel trail, I need to ride a couple of miles of surface streets, so let’s briefly talk about riding the Diverge Pro 4 on pavement. It’s fine. With the DT350 hubs and bumpy 50 mm tires, the bike sounded like I was powering up a dynamo with each rotation of the pedals. The Diverge feels decidedly stolid on pavement, favoring comfort and stability over the liveliness of a road bike.
