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2012 Specialized Shiv Review
images by Nick Salazar
Jan 23, 2012  hits 134,641

The S-Works aerobar is a pretty slick bar, much like that on the Trek Speed Concept.
The S-Works aerobar is a pretty slick bar, much like that on the Trek Speed Concept.
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Tags » frames,  shiv,  specialized
  • The 2012 Specialized Shiv, comin' atcha!
  • The massive, 11cm-deep downtube is a luxury available only to triathletes. Thanks, Spez.
  • The 2012 Specialized Shiv.
  • I'm not very keen on how the front brake operates as a sidepull, I wish they'd kept the centerpull as on the Shiv TT and Transition. However ...
  • ... you can tuck the cable in front of the head tube to improve aesthetics (and aerodynamics, perhaps?)
  • The rear brake is a sidepull, fed by a cable that pops out just forward of the bottom bracket. It's a relatively clean solution, and very easy to servie.
  • The Shiv comes with TWO seatposts, one with more setback/forward than this one. Both are flippable for a total of four seatpost positions.
  • Every Shiv comes complete with a chain catcher, which is a very nice touch.
  • One great thing about the Shiv is that it's compatible with both cabled AND Di2 drivetrains in the same frame. If you want to upgrade one day from cabled to Di2, you'll have no problems doing so.
  • The S-Works crank is awesome, and I have absolutely no gripes about it. It's based off of the Lightning crank that I've reviewed previously.
  • One minor gripe I have with the Shiv is that the cables don't look as clean as they could. Here, I'm using the Fuelselage cavity to hide as much Di2 ugliness as I can, but it still is messier than some other setups.
  • Most of the tubes on the 2012 Shiv end in blunt edges - a trend we're seeing all over the bike industry, which is aimed at improving crosswind performance.
  • A standard two-bolt seatpost clamp keeps things simple.
  • The TRP/Tektro brake up front isn't my favorite, but works just fine. I wish they'd kept it as a centerpull.
  • From this angle you can see how the head tube bulges to provide additional stiffness
  • From this angle you can see just how much the head tube bulges out. The black cap on the top tube is the cover for where you'd normally place the Fuelselage. I'm using that cavity to hide my Di2 wires, and not using the Fuelselage in this shot.
  • The OSBB bottom bracket comes stock with Specialized's own S-Works crank, which is a fantastic piece of hardware.
  • The 2012 Specialized Shiv in all its glory.
  • Another angle on the 2012 Specialized Shiv.
  • The 2012 Shiv, size Small, with a Felt Devox Aerobar. Works for me!
  • The massive head tube cluster.
  • The S-Works aerobar is a pretty slick bar, much like that on the Trek Speed Concept.
  • The bar and stem are an integrated unit - each one must be used with the other
  • The stem on the S-Works bar offers two fore-aft positions, and will clamp to ANY 1-1/8 inch steer tube.
  • The Fuelselage straw stays in place via a small magnet attached to your aerobars.
  • The S-Works bar is highly adjustable, but that comes at the cost of some relatively high-stack hardware.
  • The Fuelselage bladder fits neatly inside the frame, and comes out for cleaning.
  • The top cap of the Fuelselage can be opened mid-ride for on-the-fly refilling.

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