Specialized bikes have a reputation for being excellent but generally overpriced compared to similar spec'd bikes on the market. Same can be said for cars, TV's etc., with regards doing a job getting from AtoB or watching a 4k film; however premium brands should deliver a better experience overall. That said, reviews for this bike were glowing with the only negative the price compared to others but if you can afford it/are prepared to pay for it you won't be disappointed. Anyhow with a whopping 35% discount this bike is a no brainer, all the specifications you want and very little, if any compromises for most folk. Latest SL6 frameset (tick), full Ultegra groupset (tick), Roval wheels (tick), direct mount brakes (tick). It is all the latest and greatest of non-electronic, non-disc brake bicycle loveliness. Personally I would go disc brake in a heartbeat, but I own a pair or Hunt carbon rim brake wheels which I'm not prepared to give up on just yet. I also swapped out the bars and stem as I already had the s-works sl stem and carbon bars. Job done. How does it ride, well, in a word beautifully. Completed a tough 80 mile/1800m elevation ride on Easter Monday and although my legs had given up I was supremely comfortable on the Toupe gel saddle and the overall ride is sublime. I love it. Coming from a Trek Emonda SL6 (which had the Hunt wheels and bar/stem combo) it feels a much more accomplished ride. Hard to pinpoint exactly but it just lets you ride and then want to ride some more until your legs give up as mine did the other week. Seriously, buy one, ride it, love it, upgrade bits if that's your thing but don't miss out on this price...

I have close to 1k on it now.... switched out the crankset for a 50/34 compact.. bike has been bulletproof ... with gatorskins and bottle cages she weighs out at 17 lbs ... handles phenomenal, breaks well and is very comfortabl... the acid mint color is very unique. The bike is an outstanding climber ... very please

Rode about 700 miles on a black/pink SL6 Expert, mostly climbing in hills. This is an excellent bike out of the box, the parts which look good in specs are even better in action, especially the Ultegra drivetrain and the breaks. The wheels are lively and pretty good when climbing. The tires are a bit dull however this doesn't impact their performance, and they really shine on steep sections when the grip becomes apparent; besides there was not a single flat. The frame, seatpost and the saddle are incredibly comfortable, the quality of the ride is impeccable. The bike is really a pleasure to ride. During the first rides I discovered that my heels are hitting the chainstays and the left crank, which was never the case on my previous bike (44 or 10.5 foot size). Apparently the Ultegra crank is pretty tight in this respect, so some adjustment to cleat positions was done, I mostly got used to it after few weeks. The only noticeable problem is unfortunately the bottom bracket. The frame is OSBB, so it has a Praxis adapter for the Ultegra cranks. From the performance point of few there is no complains, as I've said, the drivetrain in action is amazing. However, the adapter starts to creak under a load, which I give plenty in the hills. Even if I am mostly indifferent to creaking, it may indicate a mechanical problem lurking somewhere in this interface. Besides, it turned out that the adapter came dry, there was no grease or anti-seize that is required for its installation. Applying a retaining compound eliminates the creaking completely, however with the kind of riding I do it comes back after 200-300 miles. Which is sad since the cranks and chainrings are just fantastic and I don't see me changing them to any BB30 just in order to simplify the BB interface. Still, this bike appeals to me like nothing before, it is very solid and integral, and the ride is very right for me.

I've put about 100 miles on my new Tarmac Expert and I love it. It's stiff where you need and and damp where you want it. I previously had a 2013 Tarmac Elite and was looking to upgrade to something slightly stiffer and faster... This is absolutely it. I went with the Black / Pink lettering. It's a great looking bike that rides perfect.