I like it, but it's a complicated answer. First, I really like it as I'd been away from any kind of cycling for some years and this was one of the first bikes that had fit me for some time (not a weird size or anything, I was just riding old bikes I'd outgrown or second hand). For the price point, it was a great reintroduction.

I've had mine for a year in mid-August. I ride ~50mi/wk on a combo of paved multi use tail, gravel roads, and single track. At the moment, it's my only bike and because of that I'm also taking it places it probably shouldn't go, like rough/rocky single track. But...at the lower cost, that's something I'm more willing to do with that bike than say a $3k carbon gravel bike.

I see a lot of people out on more expensive bikes that look barely used and I'm keeping up with them just fine.

I have put some work and money into this, but nothing too outside to norm for maintenance in a year's time - standard saddle and pedal swap, tires, replaced the brake cables and re-wrapped the handle bars in the process.

I recently had a spoke break on a ride, and I think that's kind of turned my attention to wishing that there were just better components as a whole on the bike. Things like hydraulic disc vs mechanical would be nice.

However much I'd love to have a better gravel bike though, my focus is on getting a mtn bike again as I think I'm currently just treating this bike too rough. I've just found I'm really enjoying riding again and want to do it all.

If you're not sure how much you'll actually ride gravel, I'd say it's worth checking out. I believe their current line addresses some of the issues people have had with brake cables and they've moved to thru-axle as more standard, but I honestly haven't kept up with them much. It's been great for my all-around use. You just may find yourself wanting an upgrade if you get into riding gravel. But if not, at least you haven't overspent.

Hope that helps!

I bought my wife a used rocky mountain solo and she loves it. Also got a lot of compliments this weekend from others that tried it out. It's a lesser known brand but I have no complaints about it so far.

Aluminium, Steel, Titanium. They all have different feels and different prices points too.

I don't really keep up with different models of bikes unless I am in the market to buy another one but looking at that specialised it does look very well spec'd but you are also paying for the fact it is "the lightest aluminium frame ever". Why do you need the lightest bike possible? I'm not saying heavy is good but paying over the odds to shave off some grammes is diminishing returns and also only really necessary if you are competing at top levels.

Also whilst it did mention price for me that wasn't the key point. I just don't understand the fascination with carbon personally, you then need to factor in buying a decent torque wrench, some assembly paste etc. Always torqueing everything perfectly, being worried about the integrity of the frame from any bumps or falls, I just don't understand the allure especially for a casual weekend bike.

I think you'd benefit massively from riding a few bikes over some off road terrain like you would be doing if you could just to be able to compare the differences between the different materials and how they feel when you ride them. Ultimately I just don't particularly like carbon and that skews my opinion, maybe you would love it!