{"id":63778,"date":"2024-05-19T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-05-19T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/8a994717-96e9-4d8b-9c7d-43bc3a72a7db"},"modified":"2024-05-19T15:59:41","modified_gmt":"2024-05-19T13:59:41","slug":"specialized-allez-e5-review-budget-road-bike-of-the-year-contender","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/specialized-allez-e5-review-budget-road-bike-of-the-year-contender\/","title":{"rendered":"Specialized Allez E5 review | Budget Road Bike of the Year contender"},"content":{"rendered":"

The new Specialized Allez builds on its envious reputation as the go-to beginner’s road bike with added versatility <\/p>

By Ashley Quinlan\n <\/p>

Published: Sunday, 19 May 2024 at 13:00 PM<\/p>

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The Specialized Allez has a solid reputation for offering good-value performance going back decades.<\/p>

This latest iteration relaxes the ride experience slightly while still providing a good level of all-round practicality.<\/p>

Many will argue we don\u2019t get the same value at \u00a31,000 \u2013 a key jumping-off point for first-time road bike buyers \u2013 for money as we once did, but this entry-level Allez\u2019s specification is satisfactory versus the competition today.<\/p>

Behind its modest build, the Allez E5 offers a solid frameset that will heartily lap up significant upgrades, while offering an enjoyable ride experience from the get-go.<\/p><\/div><\/div>

Specialized Allez E5 frame<\/h2>
The Allez was updated in 2023 to boost versatility. – Steve Sayers \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The 2023 update to the Allez<\/a> saw the bike overhauled to widen appeal to more riders.<\/p>

The geometry was brought more towards the endurance end of the road bike spectrum and the frame was modified to improve versatility.<\/p>

The bike offers clearance for 35mm-wide tyres and mounts for full-length mudguards<\/a> and a pannier rack<\/a>.<\/p>

Specialized claims the bike is capable of light gravel riding<\/a> duties and suitable for the daily commute, alongside its core road-going DNA.<\/p>

\"Specialized
Welcome standards, such as a threaded bottom bracket, will make upgrades easy. – Steve Sayers \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The frame consists of a mix of single and double-butted alloy tubes. These are made of Specialized E5 Premium Aluminium. This is claimed to save weight where possible but offers strength and stiffness in key zones.<\/p>

The US brand claims the frame is the lightest in its class at 1,375g in a size 56cm.<\/p>

You could rightly point to the Trek Emonda ALR<\/a>, which has a claimed frame weight of 1,257g in an unspecified size to counter. But given the Allez has more in common with Trek\u2019s Domane ALR these days, the comparison doesn\u2019t hold as much water as it once did.<\/p>

The frame is paired with a full carbon fork with a tapered 1-1\/8in – 1-3\/8in steerer. <\/p>

The standard headset size and external cockpit routing mean riders have a broad choice of third-party bars and stems should they wish to swap out the Specialized-supplied ones.<\/p>

Cables and hoses are internally routed, entering the side of the down tube and the fork crown.<\/p>

\"Specialized
A 27.2mm round post is about as standard as standards come. – Steve Sayers \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

While not as sleek as the through-the-headset cable routing on the Domane AL 2 Gen 4<\/a>, it does bode well for easier, cheaper servicing.<\/p>

The bike uses a standard BSA threaded bottom bracket and 27.2mm seatpost.<\/p><\/div><\/div>

Specialized Allez E5 geometry<\/h2>
\"Specialized
Plenty of steerers provide ample adjustment. – Steve Sayers \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The new Allez’s geometry is less racy layout than previous generations, but it’s no slouch.<\/p>

A 73 degree head angle in my size 58cm test bike keeps things sharp. This is paired with a 73.25 degree seat tube angle.<\/p>

These figures remain race-esque, but are slightly less extreme than they once were. The headtube is 0.5 degrees slacker and the reach has been pulled 4mm towards the rider.<\/p>

However, the stack is 17mm shorter at 610mm, while the trail is up 6mm to 58mm to calm down steering.<\/p>

The chainstays are 425mm long, with the overall wheelbase measuring 3mm longer at 1,017mm, further encouraging calmer handling.<\/p>

Specialized has attempted to make the Allez more versatile than before, without losing the sense of excitement previous Allez\u2019s have generally offered riders.<\/p>

<\/colgroup>
\ufeff<\/th>44<\/b><\/th>49<\/b><\/th>52<\/b><\/th>54<\/b><\/th>56<\/b><\/th>58<\/b><\/th>61<\/b><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Seat tube angle<\/b> (degrees)<\/td>75.25<\/td>75.25<\/td>73.25<\/td>73.25<\/td>73.25<\/td>73.25<\/td>73.25<\/td> <\/tr>
Head tube angle<\/b> (degrees)<\/td>69.5<\/td>70.5<\/td>71<\/td>72<\/td>72.5<\/td>73<\/td>73<\/td> <\/tr>
Chainstay<\/b> (mm)<\/td>420<\/td>420<\/td>425<\/td>425<\/td>425<\/td>425<\/td>425<\/td> <\/tr>
Seat tube<\/b> (mm)<\/td>430<\/td>460<\/td>490<\/td>510<\/td>530<\/td>550<\/td>580<\/td> <\/tr>
Top tube<\/b> (mm)<\/td>493<\/td>500<\/td>530<\/td>541<\/td>556<\/td>569<\/td>586<\/td> <\/tr>
Head tube<\/b> (mm)<\/td>110<\/td>125<\/td>140<\/td>155<\/td>175<\/td>195<\/td>230<\/td> <\/tr>
Fork offset<\/b> (mm)<\/td>47<\/td>47<\/td>47<\/td>47<\/td>47<\/td>47<\/td>47<\/td> <\/tr>
Trail<\/b> (mm)<\/td>81<\/td>74<\/td>71<\/td>64<\/td>61<\/td>58<\/td>58<\/td> <\/tr>
Bottom bracket drop<\/b> (mm)<\/td>77<\/td>77<\/td>77<\/td>76<\/td>76<\/td>74.5<\/td>74.5<\/td> <\/tr>
Bottom bracket height<\/b> (mm)<\/td>273<\/td>273<\/td>273<\/td>274<\/td>274<\/td>275.5<\/td>275.5<\/td> <\/tr>
Wheelbase<\/b> (mm)<\/td>984<\/td>984<\/td>995<\/td>998<\/td>1008<\/td>1017<\/td>1033<\/td> <\/tr>
Standover<\/b> (mm)<\/td>715<\/td>739<\/td>761<\/td>781<\/td>801<\/td>821<\/td>852<\/td> <\/tr>
Stack<\/b> (mm)<\/td>519<\/td>536<\/td>552<\/td>569<\/td>590<\/td>610<\/td>643<\/td> <\/tr>
Reach<\/b> (mm)<\/td>356<\/td>359<\/td>364<\/td>370<\/td>378<\/td>386<\/td>392<\/td> <\/tr> <\/tbody> <\/table>