Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8
Nothing is faster than the Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8 thanks to a combination of aerodynamics, lightweight and ride quality. After over two decades of development, it’s more than the fastest Tarmac ever – it’s the world’s fastest race bike. Your legs up for it?
Aerodynamics or lightweight alone don’t win races – speed is what matters. Delivering that speed requires creating an uncompromising combination of aerodynamics, lightweight, stiffness, and compliance.
AERO IN EVERYTHING:
Specialized are putting aero where it matters – the leading edge – not just where it looks good. In the process they’ve created our most aerodynamic road bike ever. Yes, it’s more aero than the Venge. Clean air is optimized for maximum advantage with the Tarmac’s new nose cone – the Speed Sniffer. By moving the steer tube back – the tube that determines head tube width – the leading edge of the head tube can be much sharper, delivering a much lower drag shape. Utilising new UCI rules, the Tarmac SL8 has the narrowest, most aero seat post Specialized have ever made. Doesn’t victory smell sweet?
MINIMUM WEIGHT, MAXIMUM AERO:
Tarmac SL8 took learnings from Aethos to be easily built at the UCI minimum with a full aero set up. The team delivered a 685 gram frame – 15% lighter than the Tarmac SL7 and lighter than anything on else on the World Tour*. With the ability to make lightweight a top priority in the down tube, seat tube, and rear of the bike lessons from Aethos were applied. The frame’s shape carries load so efficiently that extra carbon stiffness layers become redundant. *Unless of course you count the time Kasper Asgreen raced our 585 gram Aethos frame during a Tour stage.
GOES LIKE HELL, RIDES LIKE HEAVEN:
With massive gains in stiffness-to-weight – the Tarmac SL8 takes legendary handling, aggressive responsiveness and World Championship proven geometry to the next level. The bike is stiffer at the pedals, more precise at the bars, and combines it with a compliant ride in the saddle that sets a new benchmark for race bike comfort. Thanks to our Rider-First Engineering, every rider, regardless of size, gets the same unprecedented ride quality and handling. In the saddle the Tarmac SL8 delivers 6% more compliance, floating over rough road with a supple feel. Tarmac’s proven geometry and 32mm tyre clearance are identical to the SL7, ensuring easy adaptation and the versatility to run higher volume tyres when needed.
BEYOND GENDER:
There can be more difference between two male cyclists than between a male and female. Gender alone doesn’t provide nearly enough data to specialise and that means creating male or female bikes is outdated. Every rider can get the next level advantage of Tarmac SL8. It’s time to go Beyond Gender.
S-Works Tarmac SL8 is spec’d with only the best components. A full Shimano Dura-Ace 9200 series Di2 groupset with dual-sided power meter, and a Roval Rapide CLX II tubeless-ready wheelset is the perfect complement to the world’s fastest frame. All S-Works Tarmac SL8 models ship with a Roval Rapide cockpit to save weight and for the fastest possible leading edge.
Get that perfect bike fit with a Cycle 360 custom saddle fitting. Check out our Retul saddle fitting service.
The S-Works Tarmac SL8 Frameset is part of a great range of road bikes. Feel free to check out our full Specialized bike range.
