Specialized Sirrus Alloy

The venerable Specialized Sirrus may have been around a while but this modern version still offers fair dashings of speed, a cushioned ride and even a soupçon of fun. However, this bottom-of-the-range Alloy model feels a little too cheap to live up to the frame's potential.

• Pros: Great ride quality, some decent Specialized own-brand kit, V-brakes do the job
• Cons: Shimano Tourney drivetrain doesn't match frame potential, skinny handlebar

With a proven provenance, it's no surprise to find the latest version of the aluminium-framed Specialized Sirrus Alloy is a very adept performer. In terms of both pedalling effort and control, it reacts quickly and efficiently without being overly affected by under-tread imperfections. Even though it's no lightweight, the Sirrus is eager to get up to a cruise and feels securely connected with the road without ever crashing over bumps.

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Stability is really good, particularly at speed, but it's never boringly benign. Point the Sirrus into a corner and it'll turn in promptly and assuredly. It's a rewarding sensation and testament to the fact that – with more than three decades' experience – the bike market's big players know how to dial in an alloy frame. Even if you fancy taking the Sirrus for an off-road jaunt, you'll find things stay the right side of twitchy right down to minimum speeds.

Comfort is a high point, especially when it comes to subduing shocks at the rear. Of course, the natural limitations of the Sirrus's flat handlebar mean you can't alter your position too much, which tends to result in hands suffering over time. But Specialized's Body Geometry XCT grips are very comfortable and the steel fork does its best, so it's fine for one or two-hour blasts and if you're planning frequent refreshment stops on a day-long leisure ride, there won't be a problem.

Position in all other respects is perfect, with weight spread nicely and a feeling that at any moment you could just as happily sit up and relax or get your head down and plough on.

Frame

The reason for such a capable ride is thanks to the Sirrus's frame. Only a few years ago, the Sirrus and its drop bar sibling the Roubaix shared some similarities in design, with both sporting tapered top tubes that featured just the hint of a curve as they met their respective head tubes. The old Roubaix actually had a more pronounced swan neck, but there was a feeling of family likeness and I always thought that made a lot of sense, as both bikes were created to provide similar kinds of performance – comfort with speed – albeit for different markets and in different packages.

Since then the Roubaix has gone off on its merry way with straight tubes and now finds comfort via the Future Shock suspension system. However, the modern Sirrus has retained and actually enhanced its curved top tube. As a pure shape, the frame is very pretty, although the styling of this model has gone down the subtle utilitarian/urban road with a largely matt black finish. There is a hidden highlight, though, in the reflective black paint Specialized has used for its branding – it really does work well and will have you standing out when caught in headlights after dark.

In terms of practicalities, everything else is as you'd expect. The Sirrus frame is made of Specialized's A1 Premium Aluminium tubes that have been manipulated and butted to suit. The overall frame shape is what Specialized refers to as 'Fitness Geometry', which is just what it seems.

And you get rear rack and mudguard mounts to turn the Sirrus into a true year-round workhorse, although niceties such as internal cable routing are missing on this budget model.

Good components

It shows you how much the cycle market has moved on in recent years when it's a talking point that a hybrid hasn't been fitted with disc brakes. The Sirrus's unbranded V-brakes are actually pretty good, though, and I had no hesitation in taking on descents at speed. Outright power and even modulation isn't a mile away from bottom-end discs and V-brakes are perhaps a little less overwhelming for new riders to maintain. In fact, rather worryingly, the unmarked V-brakes are one of the Sirrus's componentry highlights.

But before we move on to negatives, let's also have some deserved praise for Specialized's renowned Body Geometry kit. The Sirrus comes with both those fantastic BG XCT grips I mentioned above and a Canopy Sport saddle, meaning that contact points are as plush as you're likely to find at this price. Teamed with decent mitts, my hands didn't suffer in the slightest and I've spent most of my time with the Sirrus wearing only unpadded cycling jeans, again with no problems. If anything, I'd say the saddle is perhaps a tad too chunky, but it's a safe bet for new riders.

Not so good…

More annoying is the handlebar and the stem, which was obviously going to be too short for me from the off. No problem, I thought, it's an aheadset, I'll just swap over a longer spare stem or borrow one from another bike. Unfortunately, rather too late I realised my efforts would be in vain because the Sirrus is fitted with a 25.4mm handlebar and all the stems at my disposal were 31.8mm.

In fairness to Specialized, it is not the only brand to spec skinny bars on its entry-level hybrids – Trek, for one, does it as well. But it does result in two things: the 'cockpit' feels a bit unsubstantial and cheap; and it's really, really annoying when you think it'll be easy to swap in a longer stem yet all you have are those that fit 31.8mm bars. (For the record, every other model in the Sirrus range, including the standard Sirrus with disc brakes, comes with a 31.8mm bar.)

The stem issue is easily fixed and will probably be only a minor irritation for riders with a few spares or other bikes at their disposal. Far more fundamental is the Shimano Tourney gearset. Don't worry about the numbers – the 7-speed 12-32t cassette with triple chainset provides a wide enough range for riders to deal with any challenge – it's the operation that's most frustrating.

Changes at the rear can be unreliable and operation is generally just a bit clunky, although the front mech worked fine. I'm traditionally a fan of Shimano's cheaper kit but the gap between Tourney and even Acera/Altus is noticeable and anybody used to components from Shimano's higher line-ups will be underwhelmed, especially given the Sirrus frame seems to deserve better.

Wheels

Rounding off the package is a fairly nondescript wheelset. The unbranded double wall 700C aluminium rims on unbranded aluminium hubs don't promise much but they roll straight and smooth. Even more praiseworthy are the 32mm Specialized Nimbus tyres with Flak Jacket puncture protection. They suit the Sirrus perfectly, with a fine combination of grip and speed, and just enough cushioning.

Overall, the wheel and tyre package does nothing to improve the Sirrus V-Brake's total weight, which is comparable to its rivals at just under 12.5kg but still nothing to write home about. It's worth considering that spending just a couple of hundreds pounds more could really reduce the weight of a potential bike purchase, though.

> Beginner's Guide: What's a hybrid and why might you want one?

And that's a theme that pervaded my entire experience of this Sirrus model. Despite the ride quality, this version of the Sirrus just doesn't seem satisfying enough. In terms of spec, corners have been cut and the cheapest viable kit has been fitted to meet the budget. That's fair enough. But if I was buying, I'd desperately try to find at least another £100 and step up to the standard Sirrus with Promax hydraulic discs, a few crucial Shimano Altus components and even – praise be – a 31.8mm handlebar. It would be well worth the extra £100 because, at its heart, the Sirrus is just as good as it's always been.

Verdict

Great frame and excellent ride quality at its core, but let down by the spec – spend more for the next model up