SPECIALIZED Creo SL- Road ebike

Yes, that is the lightweight ebike I have been waiting for all along. Will ride and handle like a regular road bike. I would love to have this bike, but it is way too expensive. I would never feel comfortable locking that bike anywhere. I'd constantly worry about it being stolen.

Maybe next year or the year after Specialized will make an aluminum version with aluminum wheels and a Tiagra or 105 groupset and maybe it will only be $5k then. At that price I might get one. Maybe it will weigh more like 30 lbs. then, but I'm willing to take that extra weight if the bike is half the price.
 
The assist is to 28mph. The details are on the Specialized website. It is supposed to be available in the fall. There is also a short review on Gran Fondo Cycling Magazine as well as a few You Tube videos.
 
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If they were the same price I'd prefer the Creo over the Gain, but given the price discrepancy I will likely end up buying the Gain instead. However, I've checked with some Orbea dealers locally and it's uncertain if they'll even bring the bike in.

Jaxx have you taken the rear wheel off your Gain yet? I'm curious if it uses a 14 mm axle that is ground flat on some sides to act as a torque arm or it uses some other method. I find those ground down axles to be a pain.
 
Captain Slow said:
If they were the same price I'd prefer the Creo over the Gain, but given the price discrepancy I will likely end up buying the Gain instead. However, I've checked with some Orbea dealers locally and it's uncertain if they'll even bring the bike in.


Jaxx have you taken the rear wheel off your Gain yet? I'm curious if it uses a 14 mm axle that is ground flat on some sides to act as a torque arm or it uses some other method. I find those ground down axles to be a pain.
Click to expand...

Yeah Cap, flat sided. Now I've had the Gain a few months, I'm really understanding what it's about? Keep the cadence around 75-80rpm and it is a really sweet ride. I don't push it on the Gain, average speed 16-17mph ave HR 126. Fifty miles About 35% battery usage. I get home relaxed having enjoyed the countryside. Oh and for me at least the riding position is excellent, normally would ride a 56cm frame. Went for a medium approx 56cm, added a 120mm stem. Even with the shortish depth headtube the frame fits great.
 
I really like this new e-road bike, but $12,300CAN is way more than I'm willing to pay for a bike.

My wife, who is usually okay with me buying new bikes, asked, "What happens if you buy this bike and a week later crash and damage the frame"? I replied, "I'm out $12,300".
Also, my house insurance, which has an added rider for my bikes, will only pay a maximum of $5,000 if my bike is stolen. That would mean I'd be out $7,300CAN. :(
 
I was just talking to the owner of a LBS and he said he's already placed his order for the aluminum Creo's which will be announced later this year (I would guess fairly soon). He said price will be $6k Cdn. - That is something that I would actually consider. Who knows, I may be getting a Creo in 2020.

It will be an interesting decision as the Gain is a lot cheaper, but the Creo can take both 700c and 650b wheels and with a mid-motor I can change wheelsets and use the bike for road riding, commuting and gravel riding. I could do that with the Gain, but it wouldn't be nearly as easy to change tires and I'm stuck with the wheels since that's where the motor is.
 
At $6,000 Cdn that would put it very close to the Cannondale Synapse Neo SE (gravel model $5700 Cdn). I've been looking for a Cannondale dealer on Vancouver Island that has one it stock, but none of the dealers I've talked to have one in stock. They will bring one in on a special order, but I want to test ride one before I buy it. Hopefully, my local Specialized dealer will be bringing in a cheaper Creo so I can take one for a test ride.
 
It will be interesting to see how much the 2020 Synapse will weigh assuming it has the new Bosch motor. It will be slightly cheaper than the Creo, will likely weigh anywhere from 5 to 9 lbs. more and provide more power. Will be an interesting decision. I am quite likely to get an electric road bike in 2020.

I like the price of the Orbea Gain, but I don't like the hub motor with the flat side to the axle, such a pain. If the Gain had a round axle and used a torque arm then I think choose that instead.

At least we will options, which is a nice change!
 
I wonder if Giant has a light e-road bike in the works. Giant bikes are usually a bit cheaper than Specialized, with comparable quality.
 
I hope they are, but they use the Yamaha system and I'm not aware that Yamaha has done anything to make their system lighter.
 
You can read my review of the Creo SL EVO spec here - pricing is in NZ dollars. I don't think it is as eye-wateringly expensive as people make out. The carbon ones that have been announced are all S-Works-grade fact11 carbon, carbon wheels, Di2 etc. and that would make a very expensive road bike, regardless of the motor and battery. There will be an Al version out $7600 NZD (so around USD5k) probably November.
https://electricbikesnz.com/2019/07/25/specialized-creo-sl-expert-evo/
 
- there is also the BMC AMP LTD ONE which is a direct competitor to Trek DOmane e+ and the Creo Sl. That one is 6-7k ... Big temptations with this e road bikes.
Is it the ultimate toy ??
 
I love riding my road bike, but I have to admit that the one thing I do not look forward to on our group rides is hills. I'm okay with grinding up hills now, but somewhere down the road I know I'm going to want to take the hills part out of the riding experience. Hills are no longer a challenge for me.....they're more of a nuisance.
 
Does anyone have any idea how the Creo stacks up to the Orbea Gains? I'm looking at getting an e-road bike and I've test rode the Creo (it was awesome), but I am wondering about the Gains.
 
Are you still here Josh, is this still your question?
The Orbea gains start cheaper, but also heavier, a good carbon Gain also is expensive (still less than a carbon Creo).
A hub motor like in the Gain is good in flat territory, but bad in longer uphills. There the motor works less efficient and overheats and power reduces. So if ride mostly flat/not very hilly, the Gain is fine (therefore it's popluar here in Eruope for city/allday use). But I won't recommend it for sport in real uphills/mountains.
Also you feel the heavier rear wheel and even more of you go offroad/gravel. There the heavy rear wheel without suspension is bad for bike and rider and bikes with middle motor like the Creo much better.
 
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