NEW: Specialized Tarmac SL8 First Ride Review | Still The King Of Road Bikes?

Specialized has just released the brand new Tarmac SL8. The SL8 is the 8th iteration in the Tarmac's lineage and represents itself as a do-it-all road race bike. Since it now replaces the Tarmac SL7, the new bike has to perform better than its predecessor. Sam Gupta has taken a deep dive on all the details and has also been able to ride the new road bike so also shares his first ride review. The new bike boasts an aero improvement to the tune of 16.6 seconds, a weight saving of 15% and a stiffness to weight improvement of 33% all compared to the outgoing SL7. Let us know, what do you think of the new road bike from Specialized!

00:00 - Intro
00:35 - Tarmac SL8 Frame Changes
02:45 - Tarmac SL8 Improvements
03:24 - Tarmac SL8 Aero Upgrades
05:43 - Tarmac SL8 Weight Savings
07:34 - Tarmac SL8 Ride Quality
10:32 - Verdict
11:10 - Tarmac SL8 Pricing & Builds
11:54 - Tarmac SL8 Nerdy Details
12:54 - Outro

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[tccycling]

The SL7 was a lightweight Venge. Say what you want about which is faster, the SL7 or the Venge. In practice, both bikes are basically the same. A good rider will make them both go fast enough to win. Now we have the SL8, an SL6 with better aerodynamics. It's funny they say the SL7 and SL8 have the same geometry. They don't (at least in my size: 52). Look up the numbers. The SL8 has the same geometry as the SL6, as far as stack and reach go. It's not a huge difference but it's not exactly the same. They gave everyone what they wanted: An SL6 that is as aero as the Venge.

[marcusfistarol]

To be honest....the sl7 Looks more elegant....

[jasonhowes]

Let’s be honest it’s all in the new handle bars saving 4 watt this is where the time saving comes from. All SL7 owner just buy the new bars 😊

[isaachernandez]

The rear does not look like the aethos. It looks identical to the SL6…

[christianhandel]

Clever Marketing bring it out right after Remco won the world champion title😂. At Canyon they are not allowed to work today! They will start thinking about some campaigns from tomorrow on....

[angushulme]

really like this guy. gives an honest review as opposed to the like od David Arthur and others blowing smoke up specialized ahem. looks a lightweight climbing bike and a nice one, but lets face it they'll all be pretty much the same... it won't be competing with the pure aero bikes in their favoured domains would be my guess.

[joharimohd]

Cycling weekly is only one of few channels that gives honest balanced reviewes and not just marketing gibberish

[tonyg]

They mounted the fork backwards…😂

SL7 is better looking.

[dcv]

Impressive Specialized Marketing 👏👏👏 - That's how you sell a RIDICULOUSLY PRICED bike. 😎

[tccycling]

To me the "pro" 10r frameset is the way to go. Couldn't care less about the one piece bar and stem. 10r frameset, find an 11-speed Dura Ace group, Quarq DFour power meter with Quarq cranks, Enve 4.5 SES wheels, Enve SES Aero Bars. Done. Probably end up with a 7.4 kg (with pedals) race bike for around $9500.

[SamSam-dmji]

I don't think it no needs a wind tunnel to test whether SL8 is faster than Venge & SL7. It only need a power meter & aero meter can check it out. I look forward there will have such test in future.

[chrisbinch]

'Not built for rough roads' well, that rules out much of the UK!

[TheLimeCurd]

Specialized CEO : "Sales decreasing what are we going to do about this?"
Marketing Manager : We can re-name SL7 to SL8 sir!

[royanderson]

❤Red looks good. Di2 105 option would be good for the public.

[Hippiehansie]

9000, - euro for a bike with ultegra DI2! They are king of the madhouse at specialized .

[MarkArthur]

First man to ride SL8 in the UK, you da man!

[andrewlabat]

Nice, real look at this bike. I'm a firm believer that outside of a experienced rider, most will never notice any chamge as they're all so good, and " very marginal gains" is the most you can hope for..

[brittle]

Well the tarmac hasn't been the king for quite some time now, courtesy of the likes of cervelo

[KevinLimSG]

I love this review, because it’s staying as objective and data oriented as possible (eg SL6 vs SL7 vs SL8 claims for context)

[resmaadityaanggayuno]

the back is similar to the SL6, so the maximum design for better performance is the SL6 model, it's proven that it often wins stages, in my opinion the SL8 frame is a combination of the SL8 frame and the Venge headtube