5
3 Reviews
Nothing is faster than the Tarmac SL8 thanks to a combination of aerodynamics, lightweight,…
As Specialized celebrates its 50th Anniversary of innovating to improve riders’ lives, we have our sites set on the next half century and creating the future of cycling. Join us as we look back at five decades of innovation so we can continue to Pedal the Planet Forward together.
Nothing is faster than the Tarmac SL8 thanks to a combination of aerodynamics, lightweight, and ride quality previously thought impossible. After eight generations and 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. Through race simulations using real world data our Ride Science team knows the Tarmac SL8 is the fastest race bike ever made on the routes that matter - 16.6 seconds faster over 40km, 128 seconds faster over Milan San Remo, 20 seconds faster over the legendary Tourmalet climb.
Now, the fastest race bike in the world meets SRAM RED AXS groupset with power meter - the lightest electronic groupset ever - and a Roval Rapide CLX II tubeless-ready wheelset. All S-Works Tarmac SL8 models ship with a Roval Rapide cockpit to save weight and for the fastest possible leading edge.
AERO IN EVERYTHING: We’re putting aero where it matters - the leading edge - not just where it looks good. In the process we’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. Utilizing new UCI rules, the Tarmac SL8 has the narrowest, most aero seat post we’ve ever made ensuring fast moving, dirty air around the legs can flow back more cleanly. 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 mind bending, scale tickling 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 - an improvement of 33% over the SL7 - 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 unique in the high strung world of race bikes. Tarmac’s proven geometry and 32mm tire clearance are identical to the SL7, ensuring easy adaptation and the versatility to run higher volume tires 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 specialize and that means creating male or female bikes is arbitrary and 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 SRAM RED AXS groupset with power meter - the lightest electronic groupset ever - and a Roval Rapide CLX II tubeless-ready wheelset are 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.
Frame
S-Works Tarmac SL8 FACT 12r Carbon, Rider First Engineered™, Win Tunnel Engineered, Clean Routing, Threaded BB, 12x142mm thru-axle, flat-mount disc
Fork
S-Works FACT 12r Carbon, 12x100mm thru-axle, flat-mount disc
Front Brake
NEW SRAM RED AXS, hydraulic disc
Rear Brake
NEW SRAM RED AXS, hydraulic disc
Shift Levers
NEW SRAM RED AXS, hydraulic disc
Front Derailleur
NEW SRAM RED AXS, braze-on
Rear Derailleur
NEW SRAM RED AXS, 12-speed
Cassette
NEW SRAM RED XG-1290, 12-speed, 10-33t
Chain
NEW SRAM RED 12-speed
Crankset
NEW SRAM RED AXS Power Meter
Chainrings
48/35
Bottom Bracket
SRAM DUB BSA 68
Front Tire
S-works Turbo Rapidair 2BR, 700x26mm
Front Wheel
Roval Rapide CLX II, Tubeless, 21mm internal width carbon rim, 51mm depth, Win Tunnel Engineered, Roval AFD hub, 18h, DT Swiss Aerolite spokes
Rear Tire
S-works Turbo Rapidair 2BR, 700x26mm
Rear Wheel
Roval Rapide CLX II, Tubeless, 21mm internal width carbon rim, 60mm depth, Win Tunnel Engineered, Roval AFD hub, 24h, DT Swiss Aerolite spokes
Inner Tubes
Turbo Ultralight, 60mm Front, 80mm Rear, Presta valve
Stem
Roval Rapide Cockpit, Integrated Bar/Stem
Handlebars
Roval Rapide Cockpit, Integrated Bar/Stem
Tape
Supacaz Super Sticky Kush
Saddle
S-Works Power with Mirror
SeatPost
S-Works Tarmac SL8 Carbon seat post, FACT Carbon, 15mm offset
Seat Binder
Tarmac Integrated Wedge
Pedals
PEDAL, TEST RIDE PEDALS PROVIDED BY SPECIALIZED
Head Unit and Mount
Roval Head Unit Mount
Product ID
221539
Weight
6.66 kg (14 lb, 10.9 oz)
Weight Size
56
* Weights based on production painted frames as pictured. Actual weights will vary based on colourway, frame size, and component variation. Specifications are subject to change without notice.
| 44 | 49 | 52 | 54 | 56 | 58 | 61 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crank Length | 165mm | 165mm | 170mm | 172.5mm | 172.5mm | 175mm | 175mm |
| Handlebar Width | 380mm | 380mm | 400mm | 400mm | 420mm | 420mm | 440mm |
| Stem Length | 75mm | 75mm | 90mm | 100mm | 100mm | 110mm | 110mm |
| Saddle Width | 155mm | 155mm | 155mm | 143mm | 143mm | 143mm | 143mm |
| Seatpost Length | 300mm | 300mm | 300mm | 380mm | 380mm | 380mm | 380mm |
| Frame Stack | 501mm | 514mm | 527mm | 544mm | 565mm | 591mm | 612mm |
| Frame Reach | 366mm | 375mm | 380mm | 384mm | 395mm | 402mm | 408mm |
| Stack to Stem | 509mm | 522mm | 535mm | 552mm | 573mm | 599mm | 620mm |
| Reach to Stem | 363mm | 372mm | 377mm | 381mm | 393mm | 400mm | 406mm |
| Head Tube Length | 99mm | 109mm | 120mm | 137mm | 157mm | 184mm | 204mm |
| Head Tube Angle | 70.5° | 71.75° | 72.5° | 73° | 73.5° | 73.5° | 74° |
| BB Height | 266mm | 266mm | 266mm | 268mm | 268mm | 268mm | 268mm |
| BB Drop | 74mm | 74mm | 74mm | 72mm | 72mm | 72mm | 72mm |
| Trail | 71mm | 63mm | 58mm | 58mm | 55mm | 55mm | 52mm |
| Fork Length, Full | 370mm | 370mm | 370mm | 370mm | 370mm | 370mm | 370mm |
| Fork Rake/Offset | 47mm | 47mm | 47mm | 44mm | 44mm | 44mm | 44mm |
| Front Center | 572mm | 574mm | 577mm | 579mm | 592mm | 606mm | 613mm |
| Chainstay Length | 410mm | 410mm | 410mm | 410mm | 410mm | 410mm | 410mm |
| Wheelbase | 970mm | 973mm | 975mm | 978mm | 991mm | 1006mm | 1013mm |
| Top Tube Length, Horizontal | 496mm | 509mm | 531mm | 541mm | 563mm | 577mm | 595mm |
| Bike Standover Height | 723mm | 735mm | 746mm | 768mm | 786mm | 808mm | 834mm |
| Seat Tube Length | 433mm | 445mm | 456mm | 473mm | 494mm | 515mm | 545mm |
| Seat Tube Angle | 75.5° | 75.5° | 74° | 74° | 73.5° | 73.5° | 73° |
5
3 Reviews