The Specialized Sirrus Sport is a practical, well-equipped everyday option for the commuter but its ride doesn’t shine quite as brightly as its paint finish.
The Sirrus has long been a favourite with those who turn to the big S for a ride-to-work option, and this model sits roughly in the middle of a wide range of Sirrus bikes.
Compared to options from smaller brands, the Sirrus frame is fancy with tubes that are dramatically manipulated and flash paint work that stands out. As we’ve come to expect, there are rack and mudguard mounts, as well as a couple of places to mount a water bottle.
Getting comfortable on the Sirrus was easy, its lengthy head tube and flat handlebar make for loose shoulders and a commanding — if not aerodynamic — position.
Within minutes of pushing at the FSA sub compact chainset, I discovered this was a bike that doesn’t appreciate being rushed. Sure, the Sirrus can pootle along nicely on a majority of roads, but up the tempo and it seems to translate a disappointing amount of effort into forward momentum, particularly considering its minimal 11.47kg weight.
At the same time, its carbon fork and alloy frame don’t offer a whole lot of comfort — at least not up to competitors with larger tyres. The 32mm own-brand rubber fitted here just doesn’t seem to roll especially quickly and has stiff casings that favour puncture protection over a supple ride.
Its Microshift/Shimano drivetrain mix was a welcome surprise with shifters that have a shorter throw than cheaper Shimano parts but click with the same positivity of mid-range SRAM bits. Another excellent choice is Shimano's M315 hydraulic disc brakes, which provided consistent, powerful stopping with plenty of feel.
It’s a dependable build though, so providing you aren’t wanting to travel at road-bike speeds, then I think it’ll keep most people happy enough.
Considering its relatively steep pricing it’s somewhat disappointing that the Sirrus isn’t equipped with mudguards, a rack or lights. In fact, we’ll happily wager that most people looking to buy one will continue spending in order to fit one or more of the aforementioned accessories.
It’s important for me not to be too hard on the Specialized. It’s a dependable bike with no major flaws, but its relatively forgettable ride and average value for money mean it doesn’t deserve a higher score.
