NEW Specialized Allez Sprint | Alloy Tarmac Killer on a Budget!

Specialized claims that the 2022 Allez Sprint is the ‘fastest alloy road bike ever’. It has identical geometry and tube shapes as their World-Tour Level Tarmac SL7. But is it a Tarmac killer?

What do you think? Happy to see alloy return as a ‘superbike’ material? Would you choose an Allez over a Tarmac? Let us know in the comments!

The impressive specs alone could well be enough to sway some riders but these are the 5 key things that I think you need to know.

Number one, Specialized claims this new model is “41 seconds faster over 40km than the previous Allez Sprint Disc.” This has been done by borrowing the aerofoil tube shapes and dropped seat stays from the SL7 Tarmac. Of course everything has been designed to be aero optimised.

Number two, the frame and fork have clearance for up to 32c tyres.

Number three, the lightest build has a claimed complete weight of 7.9kg in size 56cm. Our build is the Allez Sprint comp and comes in at 8.8kg on our scales.

Number four, it’s disc brake only and features a threaded bottom bracket.

And finally number five, the tubes are welded together using Specialized’s D’Alusio Smartweld technology. By using this technology, Specialized say it’s able to make alloy frames that rival carbon ones, for key characteristics such as stiffness, weight and ride quality.

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:46 Bike Highlights
02:01 Frameset
04:54 Spec
05:52 Build Options
06:32 First Ride Impressions
08:21 Cons
09:03 Outro

📖 Read Simon's first ride review:

📖 Our news story:

2021 Specialized Tarmac SL7 | Devastatingly Effective, Single-Minded Venge Killer 🔪

The BEST Road Bike Tyre in 2022! | Continental GP5000S TR Review

Has Internal Cable Routing Gone Too Far?

Simon will no doubt have thoughts about the threaded bottom bracket choice

SUPER in-depth Shimano 105 Review | Everything You Need to Know About R7000

#SpecializedAllez #AlloySuperbike #BikeRadar

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[bikeradar]

What do you think? Happy to see alloy return as a ‘superbike’ material? Would you choose an Allez over a Tarmac? Let us know in the comments!

[davidnicholson]

Originally, the whole idea of this bike is that it's a race-ready frame that people on a budget can afford to crash without being too worried. Now it's $3K for aluminum frame, mechanical 105 and cheap wheels. Any racer will add carbon wheels and a power meter and suddenly this is a $5K "budget" bike. A similar bike was about half that just a few years ago.Specialized has been particularly aggressive with their increasingly outrageous pricing increases over the past two years. Vote with your wallet, don't buy this.

[SecwetGwiwer]

A 105 equipped aluminium bike for £3k is just a demonstration of what’s happened to the bike industry. Budget bikes are no longer, budget bikes.

[twatts]

I was interested, then i heard the price.
Specialised are frankly taking the mick with that price.
Giant TCR Advance 1, with ultegra and a carbon frame, costs less than that.

And the welds on the downtube aren't great.

I have an alloy racer now, wish more brands made them, but the prices are just daft.

[twraia]

Shockingly bad weld, shockingly bad pricing… that’s all I need to know

[joelzylstra]

My race bike is alloy and it’s beyond good enough for anything I want to do with it. Doesn’t hurt that it’s a full kilo lighter than the top spec Allez.

[matthiasbenaets]

these manufacturers are bonkers. 7500 euro for top spec (which isn't even top spec) and 3300 for a basic alu frame and 105. big yikes. paid the same (as the ltd model) for the last venge model with ultegra di2 and you get a carbon frame 7.6kg. Milking and scamming people

[mischief]

Those welds! Ye gods that looks shocking. I could choose instead the Trek Emonda AL5, aluminium, 105, better looking and save over £1000; or an Emonda SL5 carbon, 105 etc for the same money, or a beautiful Orro Venturi STC aero bike, carbon, full 105, and still save money. Specialized are taking people for absolute fools.

[Wesrl]

Trek doesn’t call their ALR bikes super bikes and they cost 1k less with the same parts and proven geometry of their carbon bikes

[mohamadjamil]

Specailized are marketing scammers. The bike is so expensive for what it offers. They did the same with the tarmac and aethos. Journalists keep on promoting them and we keep on believing journalists. Vicious circle.

[googlekonto]

I am not sure whether I despise bike 'journalists' or the bike industry more.
In the end they are the same.

[simonwillgress]

I’ll stick with my Caad12 thanks, those welds are horrendous.

[ralfmimoun]

My wife has a cheap Decathlon road bike with a partial Shinano 105 groupset and waaay better welding. Cost less than 1000€, so more than enough juice left for decent wheels, powermeter and whatnot. That Specialized is nuts. I really hope that they don't sell even one.

[kleve_michael]

Ridiculous! I just got a second hand deal with trek alr5 105 disc with dura ace rotors for just 1300usd. Looks good than this. That welding is just pain in my eyes 😂

[mrstanhope]

Thinking of all those things I can do with those 41 seconds I’ll save on a 40km ride

[crazyjoedavola]

When budget bike is more expensive than my car...

[erickruiz-hlvs]

I got 2 second hand bike: Allez (2013) & Fx(2008) fully restored with 105 shimano group sets… couldn’t be happier 🤗🤗

[indonesiaamerica]

This is for those that want SL7 Tarmac at the best price possible. The current CF Tarmacs at this price (window) are all using SL6 molds. IOW, you carry extra weight (over a pound?) in exchange for budget-priced SL7 style cable integration.

[Ydegaard]

Ah yes, the $6, 800 budget bike. Great satire guys, keep it up

[izmael_kneafcy]

It’s hilarious that a budget alloy road bike, with shimano 105, is now £2, 650. 105 carbon bikes of between 5-10 years ago were between £1, 500 - £2, 000 max! Then you’d stick a nice set of wheels and tyres on it. The bike industry has lost touch with the consumer.