What Are the Key Features of the Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8?

Question

What can you say about the key selling points of the Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8 racing bicycle?

Answer 1

The Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8 is suitable for use as an all-round race bike and has a great performance in various circumstances, adding a new dimension in the realm of racing bicycles. It’s been ages since the Venge so there is no purpose built aero bike but this one manages to pack in both aerodynamics and low weight. Among other attributes, it has a single carbon structural cockpit with no seams, bladed fork profiles and ‘speed sniffer’ gracelessness where the head tube is shaped. Those tubes lying behind the front edges are round off for easier and lighter efficiency. Specialized has claimed that its road bike would be the fastest, the Venge however Tarmac SL8 saves a professional rider 2’8 seconds at the classic Milan-San Remo compared to the Tarmac SL7.

Comments

I'm a massive S Works fan, but the new SL8 is ugly compared to the outgoing SL7. The Canyon looks like a climbing bike rather than an all rounder, even when you add deeper wheels. For me I'd choose an outgoing SL7 because to me at least, it's the beat all rounder out there. The aero advantages of the SL8 are meaningless to a 53 year old rider like me, but the feel good factor of the better looking SL7 give me a psychological lift that the SL8 wouldn't.

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SL8 for me, will be purchasing one this January

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The SL8 looks more modern especially with aero-rims vs the classic ones on the Ultimate. A year ago I ordered a SL7. Soon I should get my SL8... It will be a replacement for my 2007 Ultimate. The Canyon is a very good bike, but I like electronic shifting and don't wanted to spend more than 3x the price vs. the old bike on a bike where there is limited service support.

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Specialized has lifetime warranty and very easy to sort out issues, while Canyon has only 6 yrs and  when it comes to customer support,  it's very tricky take ages to handle issues! I have Ultimate rim brakes, Giant TCR advance disc pro 1, but  I bought the SL8 expert which I can confirmed to have better performance

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"The Tarmac is the only road race bike by Specialized"
Aethos?

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SL6 or SL7 (fancy integrated/hiddden cables)

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Only faster than the Venge cause there's no Venge anymore.

Stick speed sniffer on Venge and it's faster again, so what ur really getting is a good climbing bike from the SL8 with serviceable aero front and a minimal rear end with track bike like handling and geometry...........cool, but a pure amplified aero option would still be nice, even stick speed sniffer on old SL7 rear would be interesting