Specialized SL8 Review | 100kg rider sub 7kg bike. New Bike Day

I get the chance to head out with my good buddy Ryan who has recently got hold of a Specialized SL8 Tarmac PRO. We head out to Richmond park to take a closer look at the bike and see what happens when you put a 100kg rider on the flagship Specialized bike. We have a quick chat about compliance, firmness and the noticeability of whether these things impact the ride for someone who's quite new to the sport.

Find me on:

[taxi]

Thor arrived for a bike ride ☝️on the new specialized Thormac SL8 ❤

[HawkEurope]

I'm at 95kg and ride a size 61 Tarmac SL8, S-Works frame, SRAM Force AXS with DT SWISS ARC1100 wheels. The frame in 61cm is a lot heavier than smaller frames. I think Specialized added more carbon to the larger sizes to account for heavier riders at taller sizes.
I didn't notice any flex or issues and I now have ~2500km on the bike. Having some brake rub during sprinting is kinda normal to me. Haven't ridden a bike that hasn't done that.

[NoahStephens]

Love how you played big cycling brother to Ryan. Also crazy he had to put out 200 more watts to maintain the same speed uphill

[TomHassan.]

I sit at 103-104kg and ride an Aeroad. Big up Ryan

[bernadetteoliver]

Great informative video particularly with an inexperienced road cyclist on top end bike

[paulseandaniels]

It's a very traditional looking bike with short seat stays.Much like Alot of the other bikes out now. The new Trek Madone Gen7 or Gen 8 is just class!

[carusjohn]

At around 70kgs I don't have to worry too much about how light my frame is, other than as an engineer, slightly older and more risk-averse, it does a little, and it would stop me buying something down at say sub 800g frame weight .. but that's just me. At 100kg, with a lot more power on tap, I would certainly be a little more worried about an ultra light frameset, also the spoke count, as I expect the wheels come spec'ed for some lightweight GC rider. Even north of 85KGS, wheel builders would probably be increasing spoke count. At 100kg, a few kilos on the bike would matter not as it isn't going to affect the outcome of climbing a hill where less flex would probably win out, and on flats or descents it is pretty much irrelevant anyway. He should talk to a wheel builder and a frame builder. What I wouldn't want with that mass and energy numbers at speed, would be a catastrophic failure from any of the carbon components. (that frame weighs something like 700g, the engineer in me says this is no good when considering stopping forces, pothole impacts etc for 100kgs at speed)

[kentao]

I appreciate this! I may be biased because I have the same bike and same height and weight although I want to drop about 20 lbs and build up 10.

I weighed mine and it was around the 17 lb mark with pedals

[cyclingunboxed]

loved that power overlay on dark hill!

[StephenDone]

Will we see you on Made in Chelsea next? 😀

[markfly]

I think an ultralight bike is important for feel especially on hills but only if the rider is also light, hence the bike weight is a higher proportion of overall system weight. I am less than 70kg and ride a Cervelo R5 (under 7kg bike), so it feels responsive esp out of the saddle. I think if i was 100kg i would focus primarily on a very aero bike 😊

[VC]

Thic boys in the back leggo hahaha. 90 kg here 😂🎉❤

[mikehhhhhhh]

Bizarre that anyone can criticise bottom bracket stiffness of the 10r SL8. At 83kg with a modest peak of 1300w and 20 second power of 1000w, it feels so much stiffer than the SL7 it replaced for me.

Lots of reviews seem to draw the same conclusion!

[forzamark]

Being a big rider I would be more worried about the wheels than the frame.

[walterramos]

I have a sl7 and I don’t think to upgrade for now

[michaelknibb]

Would be really cool if you could ride a SL8 and then compare it to the Winspace.

[martincburns]

Size of him 😅 makes me feel good about being 6 foot and 81kg.

[graemeross]

I need to stop eating crap and get out more get bsck to 76

[RoadBikeCC]

BananaWax TdF ChainWax Save Ryan Some Watts 😁😁 He is Massive 💪💪

[DanTuber]

Those wheels would make most bikes feel pretty good. Give him some alu and his opinion on the bike would change.
video tip: when you're talking, please turn the music off. it's distracting.