Today Specialized unveiled its latest innovation in gravel suspension, the Diverge STR. The Diverge has been no stranger to suspension, with the integrated Future Shock that’s been a part of the lineup for a few years now. The latest evolution for Specialized adventure gravel bikes now moves to the rear of the bike with a curious-looking shaft and piston that extends from the rear of the top-tube to an unusually long seatpost. STR stands for Suspend The Rider, and it looks like the new system will do just that by offering up to 30mm of travel with the new rear future shock, and rider-tuned with 3 compression settings (wide-open, medium, and firm). By suspending the rider, instead of the bike, Specialized tells us that they believe they have increased control and efficiency while decreasing fatigue. Below are photos of the 2023 Specialized Diverge STR Pro, that retails for $9,500 USD and comes in this beautiful Satin Blaze/Violet Ghost Pearl Fade colorway. The STR is also available in an S-Works version for $14,000, and an Expert model for $7,500. The frameset itself costs $6,000.

According to Specialized, by suspending the rider with damped, tunable travel—20mm front/30mm rear—Future Shock Technology absorbs bump forces to boost your control and capability while retaining the efficiency and responsiveness of a rigid frame. Because as far as power transfer goes, it is a rigid frame.

Learn more at Specialized.com