Specialized Tarmac SL8: Worth the ‘Best Road Bike’ Hype? What You Need to Know

The Specialized Tarmac SL8 has taken the cycling world by storm, but is it really worth the hype? In this video, I dive into what makes this bike special, from its impressive aerodynamic performance to its lightweight frame and unmatched comfort. I’ll also share my personal experience riding the SL8, comparing it to its predecessor, the Tarmac SL7.

Whether you’re racing or just curious about the latest tech in road bikes, this review will help you decide if the SL8 deserves a spot on your list of the best bikes. Let’s talk aerodynamics, handling, and what it’s really like to ride one of the most talked-about bikes of the year.

More About This Bike
Aerodynamics: 209 watts of drag (Tour Magazine)
Weight: 685 grams for the S-Works frame
Key Features: Roval Rapide one-piece bars, dropped seat stays, and exceptional vibration damping.
My Bike Complete Weight: 16.12 pounds

If you’ve ridden the SL8 or have thoughts about whether it’s overhyped, let me know in the comments! Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more cycling reviews and insights.
#SpecializedTarmacSL8 #RoadCycling #bikereview

IG: @outdoorbros_

Gear I’m Riding and Into ↓↓↓

Nutrition ↓↓↓

Camera Equipment ↓↓↓
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0:00 Intro
0:22 2025 Test Bikes
0:50 Aesthetics
1:37 Aerodynamics
2:08 Weight
2:35 Comfort/Ride Quality
3:35 Handling
4:28 No Handling Compromises/Safety
5:03 Custom
5:48 2025 Version
6:41 The Whole Package
7:10 Benchmark Test Rig
7:38 Tarmac SL7 vs. Tarmac SL8
8:14 Colnago Y1Rs/Outro

[outdoorbros_]

Properly or overly hyped? What’s the SL8’s top competitors?

[scottxb]

I believe you're in Southern California - I hope you and your family are safe from the tragic fires going on there right now. As always, great content, can't wait for more!

[ogden]

Got myself the SL7 sport on sale last month. Coupled it with a set of 46mm wheels and the Rapide bar it came in at £2200 all in. Nice to know I'm not missing out on too much not going for the SL8. Love the content. 👌

[PatrickLino]

For how polarizing the SL8 has been within the court of public opinion, it's still one of the benchmarks customers/viewers look for.

[drazffm]

I love the SL8 and have ridden it with great joy for a year and a half. But since I am an emotionally driven southern European, the SL 8 has now had to make way for a De Rosa 70. I ride the 70 on 30 mm Conti Tubeless and Enve 4.5. The bikes are on par. Emotions are the only deciding factors here. Greetings to you and I enjoy all your videos. Keep up the good work, my Californian friend.

[tpd]

I absolutely LOVE the look of the SL8.

[xgymratx]

Love that you photograph the bike dirty. We are using these bikes, not putting them in a museum.

[rickkoscelnik]

I’ve had 2 BMC Teammachines since 2018. Outstanding bike. IMHO

[Climate.Realist]

Still loving my Melee. With Sram Force & Enve 4.5 + Conti GP 5000. Don't need much more.
Comfortable, Quick, Timeless piece of art. Going to reach my first 1000 Km on it soon. Recently got my bike fit and now just waiting on installing slightly better suiting saddle & stem.

[Matt-fbxe]

30mm Conti's on my S-works Aethos. Biggest I've ever run on a road bike. Fantastic!

[terrellpickett]

That’s part of the allure of the SL8. I just completed a build and didn’t put any restrictions on it. I cracked my Specialissima frame, which was my daily training bike. I have an Oltre XR4 Disc that I use to race crits and a Crux for gravel. I was on a search for a new daily with a few requirements: light, stiff, comfortable, as few silly proprietary parts as possible. I contemplated for a few weeks and narrowed my choices down to the TeamMachine R, V2 Ostro VAM, SL8, and a new Madone. I actually ordered the Ostro VAM but ended up not going through with the purchase for a number of reasons. I then started considering the fact that I had a specific request for bar width/length, I wanted a 0 offset seat post, I didn’t want to pay for a powermeter I wasn’t going to use (I use Assiomas), I wanted SRAM with a 50/37 and 10/36 rear. This meant that instead of a full build - a frame up build made the most sense. The SL8 is the lightest of the options, but bigger than that, it isn’t compromised. There are multiple cockpit options, it has the best bottom bracket standard, there are multiple seat post options, it has great tire clearance (I run 32s). It was the build that I didn’t have to compromise with. I’ve put about 1, 000 miles on my build and I’m very happy with it so far. It is 6.6kg with pedals/cages/mount, goes up hill great, is much “snappier” than any of my previous bikes, and I don’t feel like I lose anything in situations where aero is king. Is it a boring, dentist bike? Maybe…but a bike is a tool and it is a pretty damn good tool.

[tyler]

My setup is Conti Aero 111 in 29mm on the front and 30mm GP5k on the rear on my SW SL8 with 4.5’s. The 29mm blows up to 30.5mm which is perfect for the 32mm external width.

[stephenmorris]

I've never ridden one and think the nose looks a little clumsy, but what seems remarkable to me is that it has survived the many attempts to fault it, and has picked up many reluctant converts. Best to you and your family.

[Niggoification]

When it comes to looks I think the SL7 is still the nicest bike Specialized has ever released, but I have to admit, the weight savings + comfort from the Aethos is really cool about the SL8. With that being said, not enough reason to update from SL7 to SL8 in my opinion. Will be interesting to see what happens with the updated Aethos this year (confirmed by multiple sources) and where the SL9 or maybe even Venge 2 will go.

[justinliborio]

Remember, Anthony Turgis of Team TotalEnergies won Stage 9 of TDF on a Melee. Keep up the awesome content!

[rg]

I built an SL7 last year. I'm 61 and I still love to smash it, and this bike is great, so fast!! BTW, the SL8 isn't weird looking in person. For some reason those early pictures didn't work.

[PedroPrego]

Spesh needs to make this bike in the fray geometry (I don't want to have 35mm spacers to fit me) and tire size compatibility. Basically a lightweight fray

[chriscapotosto]

I think the bit on handling is the most important part. I’ve been riding a BMC teammachine for 3.5 years now and have the occasional overshoot on tight turns - the same turns that my crux (on the same wheel & tire combo) can handle fine. I’ve also found that the crux is so much more playful than the teammachine, which feels very planted and stable on straights and gradual bends. I was so skeptical of getting the crux and I hate to love how good it feels. If the crux rides this good, I can only imagine how the tarmac rides.

[Pablo_Coach]

Just read page 5 in Tarmac SL8 service manual (section: „trade off”):
„relatively short produkt life”, „you are choosing light weight (shorter frame life) over more frame weight and a longer frame life”,
„you are choosing light weight over more dent resistant or rugged frames that weigh more”

[nicholastopley]

I have both S-Works SL-7 (Dura Ace 9500) and SL-8 (New RED). Both are brilliant but different. I love the look of both and the SL-8 particularly. Both have identical hand-built wheels (#puravelo) with DT-swiss hubs (240 and 140 respectively) Conti 5000 tubeless 30" on both. I disagree with the blind test as the SL-8 is more flighty and the SL-7 like a mini Venge (a bomber). In my experience, the SL-8 is more nimble and a better climber but on a TT the SL-7 is just as fast (although I think the Venge with a disc wheel and clip-on bars kills them both!). The biggest difference for me is that the SL-7 handles crosswinds better and under very hard braking the rear end is much more stable. That said I love them both. What a pleasure to walk into a bike room and say 7/8 or Venge today (or S-works Roubaix Team Edition!)
Love the video.