Throw the CL 50 wheels on and you have a complete race machine. In this review I will detail the significant changes in the geometry of this all new Tarmac and describe what impact a lighter and more aerodynamic bike has on overall ride quality. Im bummed though they dont have a mechanical DA option without discs to keep the price down. My personal unbias objective opinion is that this is the best looking Tarmac ever. This all new Tarmac accelerates faster, glides through the wind with more precision, corners with eloquent aggression, while its climbing prowess continues to rise. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo, VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Anyway, understand this is an older post and you may not monitor it anymore but if you have any thought on this years Specialized Tarmacs Id appreciate hearing that. }); Ive spent the last 3 weeks road testing the all-new 2018 Specialized S-Works SL6 Tarmac. This bike is actually more comfortable than its predecessor, the SL5, and the handling performance is another level above. Reason being, it doesnt matter which way I turn to ride, I always roll down my driveway. I was immediately critical, before even riding the bike. I am curious if there is a successor to this bike in the Specialized line? when travelling), this is something that will need to be fixed as I dont think Ill be the last person to encounter this. Thats very close to the specs of my current SL4 that Ive been familiar with for the past couple years. Ultimately Id say it would be hard to go wrong with either. And wide is good. From reading other sources (unpublished by Specialized), the S-Works frame (56cm) weighs 966g and the fork comes in at 360g. Does anyone know the weight of the (10R) SL5 & SL6 frames? Not a fan of the gum-wall look, but to each their own. What discs add to the overall package is something that does really matter, though, because the S-Works Tarmac Disc was built to descend. Since removing the seatpost is an extremely common thing to do (e.g. While thats great news for accelerating, going fast in a straight line, and motoring up a hill, I did wonder what impact these changes might have on say handling stiffness and comfort. More than just changing tube sizes or layups however, Specialized states that it comes down to adifferent recipe for each frame to maintain the same handling characteristics across the board which results in essentially a completely different frame from size to size. Hey, that seat post looks like the same one from Giant. Also, the weight is perfectly acceptable at 6.83kg. Dont take this the wrong way, the Tarmac SL4 is a bike Ive had the pleasure to ride for nearly two years now and is an incredible bike. The rapid speed of decent and the bikes cornering prowess, make this a tantalising prospect for any downhill dare devil or serious road racer. The watts also came easily. All of this, while improving handling performance and comfort. Please note: I upgraded to Specialized Roval CL 50 wheels and that WAS NOT A MISTAKE. I have to be honest when descending, neither of us could feel a noticeable difference between the SL4 and the new Tarmac in steering response while cornering. googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); The geometry is identical (on my size 56cm, at least some smaller sizes vary marginally) and Specializeds tradition of engineering disc frames around short chainstays means the rear is just as compact and punchy. That is the question. Except for this one compelling piece of information used in the design of the Tarmac SL6. When I asked Specialized about this, the response from James Hibbard (Product Manager) was: While other manufacturers do indeed make changes to the lay-up and tube shape of their various sized bikes, they make these changes to achieve those stiffness targets which are based off of the 56cm frame. Then the frames are coated in an Ultra Light paint which is said to add just 10g to the complete bike. While thats great to hear because lets face it we do love hearing those features articulated out loud, the waters have been muddied over the years. cruising at 25-35 km per hour with no desire to beat your mates around the block, then perhaps a Roubaix could be more your style. Specialized claim that the all new Tarmac is more aerodynamic than the first built Venge. With the discs, I could control my entry speed all the better, as well as knowing that if I fluffed a lineI could still bring the bike safely to a stop instead of binning it in a verge. Prior to that, Zach spent many years in the back of a bicycle shop building and repairing nearly every type of bike, while figuring out how to (occasionally) ride them. Thats in quotes because much like the new Diverge, the Tarmac is a shared platform between men and women with the same geometry for each. googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || []; googletag.cmd.push(function() { This is a fully re-engineered race machine with some profound improvements in ride quality. Really like the review of this bike. And the old super-duper Emonda build was over 3lbs lighter. This creates more comfort in the rear for the rider. Find the 2018 S-Works Tarmac SL6 and other bikes for sale in Melbourne on Bike Chaser. The most significant visual difference youll notice between the new Tarmac and the SL4 is at the seatpost junction, where almost everything above the top tube has been eliminated. While comfort has been improved, its geometry is aggressive and its capabilities have been built to help professionals like Peter Sagan win stages at the Tour de France. Ride quality is one of those things that can be vastly different. But damn, that looks good. Even with more than 200 victories on the current SL5, Specialized and their racers wanted something better. Im generally sceptical of disc brakes on road bikes. Without going too technical, instead of using 300 engineered carbon pieces with a FACT 11r frame, Specialized now use 500 pieces. I applaud Specialized for being able to improve on an already excellent bike and Ive yet to see very many revolutionary leaps with bikes these days. Subscribe to our mailing list here. The bike handles exceptionally. Finish that off with a set of EE direct mount brakes, ultra light Jagwire segmented brake housing, a Shimano Dura Ace Di2 9150 drivetrain, Roval CLX 32 wheels, and Specialized carbon power cranks, and you have the cream of the crop when it comes to the new Tarmac. Getting the power meter working was simple once Id worked out to peel off the plastic battery covers. http://www.rodbikes.com/catalog/outlaw/outlaw-main.html. Cable routing on the frame is internal and super clean for Di2 installations with the wires disappearing between the stem and the derailleurs, tucking in behind the rear brake cable through the top tube. My 56cm ultralight frame came in at 820g, I have seen others who have similar weights. It feels so fast, so nimble, so versatile and yet does it all with a sense of grace and smoothness. While theyre a good robust carbon clincher, riding the CLX 50 Rovals has been the first time Ive gotten a little excited and carried away with the feel and speed for a Roval wheel. So as you can imagine, after 3 years of essentially riding the same bike, I was eager to throw my leg over this new SL6. Chipping away at marginal gains over the years is how bikes have gotten to where they are, and a few years down the road well have seen massive advancement through many iterations. Copyright Diamond Publishing 2022. The good thing is that I can now ride a steel bike and know that it's not heavier than the latest carbon bikes around. Specialized's flagship endurance racer is pretty much as good as it gets, Specialized S-Works Venge 2019: Launch and first ride review of disc only new model (gallery), First look: Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL6 disc, Vittoria Corsa N.EXT tyre review: Taking aim at Continental and Schwalbe, Gallery: Marianne Vos is the Greatest Of All Time. The point of the new Tarmac was to alter the design methodology towards creating a bike optimised for a riders size rather than designing a bike based on 56cm measurements and simply scaling up or down (from a compliance and stiffness perspective). After staring at my old SL5 and the SL6 for hours, pondering how I would test the claims Specialized have made, in addition to assessing my own concerns surrounding what impact a lighter and more aerodynamic frame might have I rolled down my driveway and started to build a picture in my head. If you had to choose between the ride quality of the SL5 expert vs 2015 Evo Hi mod (before the latest version), which would you pick to keep and why? Not talking about what goes into a bike. Yes the OSBB is probably lighter but who cares if it creaks you dont even want to ride it. googletag.enableServices(); Fork was 354gr (cut). There are multiple page threads on weightweenies for both disc and rim versions with posted weights but I don't have the time to dig through to find the weights of the non sworks frames. 50 mms deep. I swapped between reading from Garmin Vector 3 pedals and the S-Works cranks regularly, and the wattage was consistent. Also, in my experience, bolts that are set into the frame which need to be accessed frequently (such as this new seatpost clamp) will sometimes begin to chip away at the paint from the allen key knocking it. I had a 56cm Spcialized Pro (FACT 10R version) rim brake frame last year, which came in at 15-20 grams lower than your frameset. Talk about missing the point. But to go down you must first go up, and the first thing I could notice while climbing was the stiffer bottom bracket, especially when out of the saddle. googletag.enableServices(); The constant, however, is that Ive always chosen the performance bike within the fleet, whether that be a BMC SLR01, Giant TCR or a Scott Addict. Zach Overholt is the Editor in Chief of Bikerumor. Ive been riding the SL5 S-Works Tarmac for a few years, and still cant get enough. Verdict:The S-Works Tarmac disc proves that when carefully integrated, disc brakes can improve an already excellent bike. We were just talking the other day about how did we ever ride narrow rim wheels before. It feels planted and assured, while the accuracy and power of braking bestows huge confidence. Darimo T1 or T2 seatpost - 65-90g (-110-140g). only the top end tarmacs will be OSBB (s-works/ expert). Learn how your comment data is processed. With all the media and hype about the all new Tarmac this year, I did ponder: is everyone getting a little bit carried away here? No idea on weight of the 10r sl5, though that might be a similar 200g jump. When comparing the bottom bracket deflection on my SL4 to this new Tarmac I could barely tell the difference, but it certainly came out in the ride quality. Although having said that, way back in 2012 I had been on the SL4 model, and while the changes from the SL4 to the SL5 were evident, it was no overhaul. I will be purchasing the sagan version, to add to my already sagan superstar venge . While this bike has truly exceeded my expectations, its important to recognise that this is a performance bike. Kind of mind blowing that this technology did not exist sooner. Why dont they just put wireless SRAM on it instead of all those wires? Adrian, that is a tough one. If you should run a lighter bike, you start off from scratch. Secondly, taking a rider first approach, Specialized have created three separate forks. Wow, how things have changed. But the bikes still have spec differences like crank length, saddle choice, and colors, thoughthe colors arent exactly definitive. And a sprinkle of Ultegra with a dash of 105. In fact, the mechanics at the shop said since switching to Specialized they cant remember the last time they fixed a creaky bottom bracket. This is basically just the nose of the airfoil, like what Scott has been doing with the Fo1l. Specialized have been in partnership with Retul since 2012. Down hill, up hill, corners, super tuck, heck even wheelies. Enjoying this article? Often times it comes down to what color the paint scheme is. Note: Amira will carry over on the lower-end of the womens performance Road line for MY18. The most complimented paint scheme of all the bikes I have ridden. But when you have ridden a illegal bike before it spoils you a bit. Tested this bike today and I was amazed by the responsiveness in pedal power and acceleration. Your email address will not be published. While the Cannondale EVO is still one of the finest well rounded carbon frame bikes Ive ridden the SL5 is right there. Quality review and video. If you think thats all that goes into a bike youre missing a lot. Orange Seal, does it live up to it's fame. But I cant shake this feeling that this really is as good as it currently gets. Its a great bike for fast bunch riding and criterium racing. From a personal perspective, I loved the new Roval CLX 50 wheels that come with this Tarmac. All rights reserved. This has enabled them to focus all their energy and time into one race performance machine. Once paired, the data was accurate and in-depth, and included the desirable left-right balance reading. Introduce Yourself / Gallery - Please use metric weights. Hi Debra, deciding factor would be the type of riding your doing. EVER. Oh, did I mention they are fast. At the time when Specialized were modelling the Tarmac SL5, they would have had very limited bike fit data from Retul. While very simple and effective, I did manage to accidentally make the fastening mechanism pop out and fall down the seat-tube when I took the seatpost out to discover how it worked. I mean R-E-A-L-L-Y love them. I have the tarmack 2017 and want to upgrade to the 2018 tarmack but im just changing frames ive etap Is it time to ditch the final day procession? Thus, they have jointly analysed over 40,000 fits using digital technology over the past 5-or-so years. Then theres the pricetag. I knew only moments after leaving the house, that this all new Tarmac from Specialized, really was all new. Sold. With the S-Works Tarmac Disc, that doesnt seem to be the case. If you would add "bling" (light weight components), i guess pretty soon you'd start to look for a new frameset to. Thanks mountain biking for showing roadies the way! Specialized was tasked with building an even better version of this, and Im not sure its realistic to expect that revolutionary gains would be made. Moving from the larger BB cluster to the smaller one above, the new OSBB shell is 30g lighter and gets there by using a removable sleeve to separate the cables from the bottom bracket as well as a simplified cable port. Incredible wheelset that absolutely completed this bike. Stock, the Tarmac ships with 26mm Turbo Cotton tires which actually measure 29mm on the wide Roval CLX 50 wheels. Otherwise, youre hardly slumming it with the standard S-Works which still checks in at 13.78lbs (6.25kg), though this is for a 54cm womens Tarmac. Copyright 2022 Ozark Cycling Adventures | All Rights Reserved. Thanks for reaching out. Check out Bike Chasers range of Specialized road bikes. What McLaren, and the new dynamic testing protocol has taught us is that these stiffness targets need to vary by size in order to achieve optimum performance. All of this results in a 13.69lb (6.21kg) complete for a 56cm of the lightest build the limited edition S-Works Ultra Light. Discuss light weight issues concerning road bikes & parts. But dont take my word for it. I dont really like Specializeds bikes, Thanks for that. The new Emonda frame weighs 640g (56cm, painted), not 770g. Im still finding it hard to fathom, or even write this down, but I was proven wrong in quite a big way. Particularly given the massive weight reduction. As Specialized maintain geometries for 3 years, the only exciting aspects to new bike dayhave been colour and components. We know that the SL5 is being replaced by the SL6 and we cant wait to get our hands on one in a couple months but the SL5 will still be around for awhile. At $1600 you would be hard pressed to find a better carbon, aero, tubless, wheelset. Sure its heavier but worth it in our opinion. Copyright 2022 Bikerumor, All Rights Reserved. The 10r sl6 I've heard is similar in weight to the sworks sl5 so that 200g number seems about right. Ive ridden the 32s for 3 years now and the CLX 64s on the old Venge. Check out each image. The trick (unknown to me until after this happened) is to tilt the frame such that the mechanism falls flush with the seat-tube while inserting the seatpost. In 2017 they wisely used the Praxis thread system BB30 which supposedly solved all creaking issues. Youd have to literally be blind not to see it. Just make sure you act fast to get one in your size and bring along $10,500. I actually found myself over cooking a number of downhill corners I would normally take with ease. The SL4 descends beautifully and while I dont claim to be the best descender on the planet, Ive always been comfortable keeping up with any of the top-level riders Ive been out with. Id give the EVO Hi Mod a slight edge for best all around bike. Outside of the brand name its become difficult to delineate between one carbon race bike to the next. Thus, you can make a smaller frame stronger, stiffer and more compliant. If the first SL5 went to market in 2014, they probably would have already developed all the tweaks from the SL4 to SL5 around about the same time their formal partnership with Retul was launched. Before I even got onto the all new Tarmac I was taken back by the size of the frame. Specialized have created a bike that is more aero than the original Venge and is lighter than any other frame that has rolled off their production line. LOL. Your email address will not be published. 2015 Pinarello F8: 13.13lbs/5.915kg(w/Roval 64's). I really like the idea of mechanical DA for price savings. But the painted ones look pretty cool. For me, the S-Works Tarmac Disc feels strikingly similar to its rim brake counterpart. Still love their bikes, but I think I will pick up a 2017. looks good. The bike appears to be purple. Additionally, I will provide an intimate comparison to the now older Specialized Tarmac SL5 model. At 3,250 just for the frame, and over 9,000 for this build, it will be out of reach for the majority of riders, and it will be a year or so before we see a more affordable Pro level version of the bike. If youre spending a fair amount of your time riding over 40 km per hour, and on flat well sealed roads Id go the Venge. If your riding style is road but perhaps more relaxed, i.e. googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); Now, the exact design methodology for each of the major brands and their various bike sizes can be debated, but I felt this was important to clarify since this is the foundation of the new Tarmacs story and sets up buyer expectations. Framesets will be available in the standard red/white of the S-Works Tarmac, but if you want to get a bit more adventurous, there will also be a number of options from mild to wild including the Ultra Light frameset and a Sagan Superstar edition. I have an S-Works SL5 (New Tarmac) in a 56 and it was spot on at 1100gr with BB, hanger and seat post binder installed, stripped it should be damn close to 1000gr. Crazy right! A new non-uniform layup design is now used, which features a strong and stiff section where it enters the frame, but an extraordinarily compliant section near the saddle. Over the last 3 years Ive ridden three different coloured Tarmac SL5s via the InForm Tineli team.
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