2013 Specialized Globe Roll 8 Rare – Reynolds Chromoly Frame w/ Belt Drive, Alfine & More!
Specialized’s Globe bicycle line continues to grow the options for urban, commuter and city bikes with well appointed frames. Several eyecatchers are shown at the bottom of this post, but there was one clear leader of the class. As with any brand, they need a halo bike in the line, just for fun in some cases, but also to showcase what can be done.
For Globe, it’s the Roll 8 Rare. The frame is a premium Reynolds 725/520 chromoly steel that’s nickel plated and polished to a shine. It’s then equipped with top end commuter bits like Shimano’s Alfine 8-speed internally geared hub (hence the “8″ in the model name) driven by Gates’ Center Track carbon belt drive. And then there’s the small details…
All Globe bikes have the blank headbadge that lets you slip in your favorite photo. Classic cable housing clips hold the brake cable in line. Riding position is very upright thanks to plenty of rise in the handlebars.
All belt drive bikes need a frame break somewhere to insert the belt into the rear triangle. The Rare’s stainless steel CNC’d frame break sits high on the seatstay. This sort of arrangement is found on plenty of frames, but few are as smooth as this – no visible welds or tube interruptions make for a very sleek appearance. Wheels get strong box section rims with stainless steel eyelets. Brakes are custom TRP road brakes for use with flat bar brake levers.
The lugged chromoly fork ends with chromed axle caps and has hidden accessory mounts (racks, fenders, etc.). Rear dropouts and the brake arch are forged pieces. Retail is $1,750 and only 275 will be made, 100 coming to the US.
Some other fun bikes, all listed on Globe’s website.
Comments
Those cable clips are a huge problem. They’re not retro, they’re primitive and a magnet for scuffs dirt, and general ugly shittyness.
And those clips will scratch the crap out of that finish…
That bike is boring as hell. For $1750 you should be getting disc brakes and a threadless headset. Only idiots will buy this as a commuter bike.
Seriously? All least it dosn’t have those stupid one piece bar stem combo from a few years ago.
Don’t believe the hype, for a start Reynolds 520/720 is the cheapest stuff Reynolds sells, since it is Asian made tubing with a Reynolds label, unlike 525 & 725 which are actually made by Reynolds, and really premium Reynolds tubing like 631 or 853. With the shiny shiny and the fancy name this looks like a cut price Budnitz, catering to a wannabe demographic. For serious urban use a Novara Gotham is $500 cheaper, has the same belt drive a Nuvinci CVT and generator lights.
Disc brakes are definitely not necessary, but why not threadless? And yes, it would have been way cooler to internally route the rear brake housing. But you’re not an idiot if you buy it. Unless you keep those bars on it, cause when are people going to figure out swept back bars suck for anything other than riding straight on flat ground. Oh that’s right, they look cool and you don’t really ride bikes.
steel isn’t real
every time i see a new bike with a threaded headset i barf a little.
I’ve always loved the idea of a picture-frame headbadge.
I guess Specialized liked my idea, too.
No mudguard clearance on a city / commuter bike, really? Is this another bike rumor hoax?
For a “halo” bike this is a pitiful failure.
I honestly don’t mind the threaded headset, but could they have used a NICE one at least? And WTF is up with those forks – they are the ugliest things i’ve ever seen – popsicle sticks?
The rest of the spec is mediocre, and the cable clips are just plain cheap.
This bike has pros and cons. For that money, Raleigh has a bike with an Alfine 11, hydraulic disc brakes, threadless, aluminum frame, etc. Its non-belt drive compatable, though. You knwo what they say, no belt, no broken belt.
http://www.raleighusa.com/bikes/fitness/cadent-i11-13/
I wonder what people’s reactions would be if this bike was from someone small. I imagine a lot of the hate is because it’s from Specialized.
Yo, at least Specialized is going in the right direction with urban; they have soul in the design compared to> Trek Soho
http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/town/urban_utility/soho/soho_deluxe
Specialized have blended old school with a bit of modern.This bike is like no other i have ever ridden it is just pure fun to ride if you ever get the chance to ride one grab it because not many bikes come along that really wow you.The only problem you will ever have with this bike is that you really don”t want the journey to end.
“Unless you keep those bars on it, cause when are people going to figure out swept back bars suck for anything other than riding straight on flat ground. Oh that’s right, they look cool and you don’t really ride bikes.”
I can only surmise that the 4k miles under various conditions I put on my Salsa Fargo since I got it in May (and immediately put some a-bars on it) in fact:
A) were all in a straight line on flat ground
B) were all ridden in a state of suffering, even though I had a smile on my face the whole time
C) never happened…were simply a figment of my imagination, because you know, I don’t really rode bikes