Specialized Sirrus X 2.0 review: affordable, rugged and fun, but there's another model I'd buy

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The Sirrus X 2.0 sits one above the base model in Specialized’s Sirrus X line-up, with three bikes above it, culminating in the parallelogram-like frame shape of the carbon 5.0.

These bikes are aimed squarely at urban riding, but with a small twist. Specialized has brought more than 40 years of mountain bike knowledge to the Sirrus X design to create handling that’s more agile than your average hybrid.

This makes it suitable for light trails, too. With tyre clearances up to 50mm and a price of £699 / $899 / €699, I could see the Sirrus X being a very capable flat-bar gravel option on a budget.

The 1x 9-speed drivetrain keeps it simple, and internal routing for the rear derailleur and rear brake maintain the Sirrus X 2.0's clean appearance.

• Read more: Best commuter bike – what's the best bike for commuting in 2026?
  

Specialized Sirrus X 2.0 frameset

The Sirrus frame is made from the brand's own-specification A1 aluminium tubing, hydroformed and shaped to give it a premium look.

The ‘fitness geometry’ takes more of its ride position from mountain bikes than speedy, road-focused styles.

Both the frame and the steel fork are well-appointed. The frame gets Specialized’s own Plug + Play rack and mudguard mounts that are compatible with the brand's range of accessories.

The fork gets the same for its mudguards, along with traditional low-rider rack mounts. While both frame and fork have flat-mount disc compatibility, they also have older-style standard quick-releases rather than thru-axles.

Specialized's ‘Integrated Reflectivity’ paint finish is a smart idea. Both the paint and the graphics contain a reflective element. That means under headlights from any angle, the bike glows.

Having this extra element of safety is a great idea, and one I’d pay a premium for. So, it’s great to see it on an inexpensive bike such as the Sirrus X 2.0.

How I tested – sub-£1,000 hybrid bikes

I selected three bikes costing less than £1,000 that all offer up-to-date takes on the classic hybrid bike template.

All the bikes were ridden back-to-back over several weeks. I rode commuter-length loops of around 20 miles on successive days, taking in urban roads with plenty of traffic, but also riding on bike paths, towpaths and even a few light trails.

My riding included running errands, too, and I wore commuting-friendly clothes and used the pedals the bikes came with.

Bikes on test

• Pinnacle Neon
• Cube Editor One FE review

Specialized Sirrus X 2.0 geometry

The ‘fitness geometry’ makes The Sirrus a little taller at the front, and a little shorter, than traditional road-race bikes. It takes inspiration from both mountain bikes and endurance bikes. The handlebar height is taller too, because the flat bar has a 15mm rise compared to a standard bar.

Specialized Sirrus X 2.0 specification

The Sirrus X build combines Shimano's CUES shifter, cassette and derailleur with a Prowheel crankset.

The gearing combo of 42-tooth chainring and an 11-46 cassette provides a broad range. The Prowheel crankset uses an old-school square-taper bottom bracket, which seems a little low-grade compared to the CUES on the Pinnacle and Gates/Praxis unit on the Cube I tested this bike alongside.

It has a wider Q-factor (the distance between pedal centres), but it feels plenty stiff enough when pedalling hard. Braking comes from hydraulic Promax F1 discs, with 160mm six-bolt rotors front and rear.

The wheels have double-walled alloy rims with a large, tyre-friendly 21mm internal width. They are matched to six-bolt, quick-release alloy disc hubs and shod with Specialized’s own Pathfinder fast gravel tyres in a 40mm width.

As with all Specialized bikes, the finishing kit is entirely own-brand. Up front, a wide 680mm, 15mm-rise bar with Specialized Neutralizer locking grips is attached to a 3D-forged stem. At the back, a simple alloy seatpost with a 12mm offset is topped with Specialized’s Bridge Sport saddle.

Specialized Sirrus X 2.0 ride impressions

The Sirrus X 2.0 looks pricey compared to the Pinnacle’s value-packed spec. It does, however, come together in a great ride experience. As soon as I got on it, I was impressed by its flighty, fun feel.

In comparison, the Cube feels somewhat stately – a comfortable cruiser, while the Pinnacle Neon does exactly what you’d expect of a hybrid town bike.

The Sirrus X brings bags of fun into the equation. I had a blast flicking it into corners, zipping through gaps in traffic, even hopping a curb or two, and taking a shortcut cross-country.

It feels at home in lots of different conditions – it’s a true multi-surface bike that I’d be happy to take places that I wouldn’t dream of riding either the Pinnacle or the Cube.

The broad gear spread gives a light climbing gear for the steepest of urban ramps, and a good top end of 42-11.

Having only nine speeds means there are some larger gaps between gears, especially on the larger sprockets, but for urban rides and commuting duties, I’m less concerned with efficient gear progression.

I’d rather just have the right gears to get around town and the Sirrus certainly has those. The shifting is reliable, and the narrow-wide chainring on the budget Prowheel crankset does a great job of keeping the chain in check even on rougher ground.

Similarly, the Promax brakes offer confident stopping power, although they lack the out-and-out feel of the Pinnacle’s Tektros and the Cube’s slick Shimano brakes.

Specialized Sirrus X 2.0 bottom line

Even considering the Sirrus X’s spec shortcomings, it’s the most fun to ride out of this trio of commuter bikes. The handling is sharp yet confidence-inspiring. It practically invites you to ride quicker, and thanks to its great feel (and tyres), it’s the bike most capable of taking on terrain way outside the remit of urban rides.

I wouldn’t usually be swayed by a bike that doesn’t represent the best value (that goes to the Pinnacle Neon here), and it’s not as stylishly equipped as the Cube.

However, while it doesn’t take the win on those counts, the Sirrus X 2.0 is the most fun. The handling makes even the blandest urban errand run exciting and it’ll turn your commute into an adventure. It’s happy to take a shortcut on a trail, cut through traffic, drop a few stair sets and cut plenty of corners, should you wish.

I can forgive its shortcomings simply because the fun factor is so high. However, I’d be very tempted to upgrade to the Sirrus X 3.0 (£1,099) in EQ spec, where mudguards, lights and a rear rack come as standard.

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