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| The Specialized AWOL Expert is a do-everything bike. Photo courtesy: specialized.com |
If you follow bicycle retail, you've probably noticed some interesting models labeled "adventure," "bikepacking," "gravel" or "offroad touring." These are bikes like the Soma Wolverine, the Salsa Marrakesh or Vaya, and Surly's Troll or Ogre. They take wide tires, they tend to be made from high quality steel, and they come with disc brakes. Basically, they're designed to handle the rough stuff while carrying a load.
Specialized's offering is pricey, but it has it all: dyanamo-powered lights (add it to Edwin's list!); fenders with mudflaps; front and rear racks; disc brakes; really wide (comes with 700x45) tires; and a many gear combinations. You could ride across the continent on this, or you could just ride to work. It will do whatever it is you want it to do.
Here is a 2014 review from Bicycle Times.
Here are the specs:
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FRAME
Heat-treated custom-butted Premium Cr-Mo tubing, internal light cable routing-ready, Adventure Geometry, post disc mount, fender/rack mounts, kickstand plate -
FORK
Butted premium Cr-Mo, unicrown, heat-treated -
FRONT HUB
Shimano Dynamo hub, Center Lock disc, 32h -
REAR HUB
Shimano Center Lock disc, 32h -
SPOKES
Stainless,14/15g w/self-locking threads -
RIMS
Specialized 29" disc front, 6061-T6 aluminum, 32h -
INNER TUBES
Standard, Presta valve -
FRONT TIRE
Specialized Borough Armadillo, 60TPI, 700x45mm -
REAR TIRE
Specialized Borough Armadillo, 60TPI, 700x45mm -
CRANKSET
Shimano Tiagra -
CHAINRINGS
50/39/30T -
BOTTOM BRACKET
Shimano Tiagra -
SHIFT LEVERS
Shimano Tiagra -
FRONT DERAILLEUR
Shimano Tiagra -
REAR DERAILLEUR
Shimano Tiagra -
CASSETTE
Shimano, 10-speed, 11-36t -
CHAIN
KMC X10EPT Anti-Rust, 10-speed, w/reusable MissingLink -
FRONT BRAKE
TRP HY/RD, hydraulic disc, 160mm rotor -
REAR BRAKE
TRP HY/RD, hydraulic disc, 160mm rotor -
HANDLEBARS
Specialized Adventure Gear AWOL, alloy, 125mm drop, 70mm short-reach, 12-degree flare-out -
TAPE
Specialized Adventure Gear S-Wrap Canvas Tape -
STEM
Specialized, 3D forged alloy, 4-bolt, 7-degree rise -
SADDLE
Body Geometry Phenom Comp, hollow Cr-Mo rails, 143mm -
SEATPOST
Specialized CG-R, FACT carbon, single bolt, reflective, 27.2mm -
SEAT BINDER
AWOL forged alloy, CNC, stainless bolt, 29.8mm
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| You can ride it in the country; you can ride it in the city. Photo courtesy: specialized.com |
3 comments:
The AWOL is more a trend follower than trend setter (I mean, it basically looks like a Vaya and smells like a Vaya...), but it's a quality machine and Specialized has more reach than other brands. So this is good for consumers interested in this type of bike (and who can afford it).
I have a Vaya and can confirm it basically can do everything that 95% of riders typically do. If you're a road/crit racer or into technical MTB, obviously you're going to have a special bike for that purpose and that purpose only. But for everything else, get one of these "All Road" bikes and have fun!
I've seen some complaining about this latest trend of All Road, and yes, in some quarters the industry has gone overboard (or put models on the market that sort of swing and miss on the "gravel bike"). And less bro-centric marketing would help, too. But these types of bikes are great for the people IMO.
I like this new trend of the bike industry, of making bikes with more reliability and "common sense" on their design than most other new models only bringing the latest gimmick but not necessarily the most useful or logical.
It's a pity though that most bikes in this sector are all mid to high range, with very high price tags. It stops many people from getting these very useful bikes, and also reduces its versatility. Bikes like this AWOL would make great commuters, but not even with the best lock in the world would I park a 2500 USD bike in my city, day or night.
A similar frame with more basic but still decent components could be offered for 800-1000 USD, making it a better commuter-basic tourer option. Not everybody wants to go around the world, and if they do, they can always upgrade the required components.
You are right, you can get the AWOL base model for 1200. and it is a perfect city commute bike, and can still do everything this one does.
Just without a few bells and whistles most of us don't need.
The AWOL Expert is their top model. Comparing it to the average bike is like comparing the Jeep Wrangler RUBICON to a Jeep Wrangler SPORT. The price is high, and the capabilities are high. Or you can buy the sport for half the price and upgrade as you go. Either way, its a JEEP. (or in this case, an AWOL) lol
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