This all new Tarmac accelerates faster, glides through the wind with more precision, corners with eloquent aggression, while its climbing prowess continues to rise. The Shimano Dura-Ace 9110F direct mount brakes enable a greater tyre clearance of up to 30 mm (vs. 28 mm, on the previous SL5 model) and greater breaking power. Also, the wheel rims are carbon and lightweight, but no lighter than the rim brake version, and I suspect they are cut from the same mould. I liken it to sitting around the campfire and staring into the fire for hours on end. In fact, the mechanics at the shop said since switching to Specialized they cant remember the last time they fixed a creaky bottom bracket. That said, their marketing claims might be just a bit big for whats been delivered. With a claimed weight of 733g +/- 20g for a 56 cm frame (average of all the first run of production), the Tarmac SL6 is seriously light. to hurt myself without even realising it. Additionally, I will provide an intimate comparison to the now older Specialized Tarmac SL5 model. I applaud Specialized for being able to improve on an already excellent bike and Ive yet to see very many revolutionary leaps with bikes these days. So the answer is, yes, I think it may well be. When not engaged in subconscious masochism, I found the Tarmac Disc a joy. Andy is a 54cm framesize and also failed to notice a difference in cornering while descending compared to his SL4. Ive ridden the 32s for 3 years now and the CLX 64s on the old Venge. Only the drive side front spokes though, as the non-drive front spokes have a slightly different sheen. By continuing to use this website, you consent to our use of these cookies. Secondly, taking a rider first approach, Specialized have created three separate forks. Additionally, this Tarmac isnt really an iteration of the SL5, where theyve made few tweaks here and there. So is the new Tarmac better than the Tarmac SL4? Orange Seal, does it live up to it's fame. Zdenek Stybar and Elia Viviani, both of Quick-Step Floors, have been competing on the Tarmac Disc this year, and Specialized has the stats to back up the pro endorsement. Then the frames are coated in an Ultra Light paint which is said to add just 10g to the complete bike. Many manufacturers would do that in advance, but the app was slick enough. Your email address will not be published. Thanks for reaching out. googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || []; googletag.cmd.push(function() { Ride Recap | Hazel Valley Gran Prix Challenge 2020, Ride Recap | Hazel Valley Gran Prix Challenge 2017, Ride Recap | Hazel Valley Gran Prix Challenge 2016, Ride Recap | Triple Crown Challenge Bentonville-Bella Vista 2016, Ride Recap | Triple Crown Challenge Fayetteville 2015, https://ozarkcyclingadventures.com/general/product-reveiw-specialized-tarmac-disc-expert/, Ride Recap | HAZEL VALLEY GRAN PRIX CHALLENGE 2017, Ride Recap | HAZEL VALLEY GRAN PRIX CHALLENGE 2016, Ride Recap | TRIPLE CROWN CHALLENGE Bentonville-Bella Vista 2016, Ride Recap | TRIPLE CROWN CHALLENGE Fayetteville 2015. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. With the S-Works Tarmac Disc, that doesnt seem to be the case. The good thing is that I can now ride a steel bike and know that it's not heavier than the latest carbon bikes around. only the top end tarmacs will be OSBB (s-works/ expert). Honestly the best looking road bike I think Ive ever seen. Road tubeless clinchers. We're using cookies in case to provide best-possible user experience. While thats great to hear because lets face it we do love hearing those features articulated out loud, the waters have been muddied over the years. This has enabled them to focus all their energy and time into one race performance machine. JavaScript is disabled. Id give the EVO Hi Mod a slight edge for best all around bike. Can you send us a nice picture of the Sagan version you bought? Long live threaded bottom brackets! https://ozarkcyclingadventures.com/general/product-reveiw-specialized-tarmac-disc-expert/. I have an S-Works SL5 (New Tarmac) in a 56 and it was spot on at 1100gr with BB, hanger and seat post binder installed, stripped it should be damn close to 1000gr. Another exciting development is that the new Tarmac also features a disc brake frameset option which has identical geometry to the rim brake option. Well put it on our Instagram account and tag you. But I cant shake this feeling that this really is as good as it currently gets. These 50 mm wide-rimmed carbon clinchers really add another aero dimension to this bike. From reading other sources (unpublished by Specialized), the S-Works frame (56cm) weighs 966g and the fork comes in at 360g. While this bike has truly exceeded my expectations, its important to recognise that this is a performance bike. However, the intent was much more ambitious than that . The Roval wheels are one of the highlights in my opinion, but lets focus on the bike itself. Speshs capital allows them to do this well, for better or worse. Otherwise, youre hardly slumming it with the standard S-Works which still checks in at 13.78lbs (6.25kg), though this is for a 54cm womens Tarmac. And wide is good. It feels so fast, so nimble, so versatile and yet does it all with a sense of grace and smoothness. If you were purchasing a new bike what would be your deciding factor between the new s-works Tarmac and the Pro Venge? Theres been three BIG technical changes to the frame: Firstly, theres been an upgrade in the quality of carbon fibre used, from FACT 11r to FACT 12r. These wheels improve ride quality. Wonder why they are waiting till next year for the disc version sl6? The watts also came easily. googletag.enableServices(); The question remains, do discs add anything? The chainstays are also more rounded than the exaggerated oval shape of the previous iteration. sl7 specialized tarmac snappy wheelset googletag.enableServices(); tarmac sl7 di2 ultegra shimano etap sram axs lordgun lordgunbicycles Cable routing on the frame is internal and super clean for Di2 installations with the wires disappearing between the stem and the derailleurs, tucking in behind the rear brake cable through the top tube. }); 2018 Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL6 Review (with SL5 comparison). Given my experience of moving from the SL4 to the SL5, I did think that this might just be another Tarmac with some slight changes. Im a 56cm frame-size and according to Specializeds claims of their bikes previously being designed based on that size and then being scaled up or down, I came into this ride being skeptical that I would notice much of a difference to my SL4. Discuss light weight issues concerning road bikes & parts. Please email me at cameron@bikechaser.com.au if youre up for it. For Specialized its a more important question than for most, because it has committed totally to the move towards disc brakes, claiming that it might eventually phase out its rim brake bikes altogether. If I distill all the information coming from Specialized on the new Tarmac down to two words, they would be improved handling. Find the 2018 S-Works Tarmac SL6 and other bikes for sale in Melbourne on Bike Chaser. But to go down you must first go up, and the first thing I could notice while climbing was the stiffer bottom bracket, especially when out of the saddle. I knew only moments after leaving the house, that this all new Tarmac from Specialized, really was all new. Head on over toThe Bike Routeand test ride one yourself! Subscribe to our mailing list here. Specialized's flagship endurance racer is pretty much as good as it gets, An all-round bike that is as capable as it is good looking, Treks versatile gravel bike offers progressive geometry, hidden storage, a racy but comfortable, The Corsa N.EXT is billed as a challenger to the GP5000 and Pro One, and we think its claim is, Movistars rider secured the maillot jaune with victory on back-to-back stages, Dutchwoman dominates to emphatically claim yellow jersey on day of reckoning for GC hopefuls, Yellow jersey sprints to a second stage victory, extending overall advantage ahead of final weekend. http://www.rodbikes.com/catalog/outlaw/outlaw-main.html. After having rented a Tarmac in Europe Ive added them to my list of possible next bike. If you think thats all that goes into a bike youre missing a lot. But the bikes still have spec differences like crank length, saddle choice, and colors, thoughthe colors arent exactly definitive. Great mini review. Citing a need for a bike thats better at adapting to the needs of different courses, Specialized set out to finish the latest chapter in the Tarmac story. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Enjoy the SL6! That includes different size fork legs (three different sizes for44-52,54-56, and 58-64cm with a truncated airfoil shape), drastically different tube shapes and sizes, and in the past, even different headset bearings. Getting the power meter working was simple once Id worked out to peel off the plastic battery covers. I am curious if there is a successor to this bike in the Specialized line? A 13.5 lb build is pretty standard with an Emonda SLR. kind of generic looking in plain black (and I happen to like plain black). The point of the new Tarmac was to alter the design methodology towards creating a bike optimised for a riders size rather than designing a bike based on 56cm measurements and simply scaling up or down (from a compliance and stiffness perspective). There are multiple page threads on weightweenies for both disc and rim versions with posted weights but I don't have the time to dig through to find the weights of the non sworks frames. The most significant visual difference youll notice between the new Tarmac and the SL4 is at the seatpost junction, where almost everything above the top tube has been eliminated. If youre like me, and you want to be on a race performance bike thats ridden by the pros then read no further. I love all the comments of this looks like a BMC or that post looks like a Giant. There are only so many ways you can join a couple of triangles together. The handling is exceptional. Be prepared to have creaking noise in 5000 miles. This tarmac is thinner, narrower, and lighter. Still love their bikes, but I think I will pick up a 2017. looks good. Chipping away at marginal gains over the years is how bikes have gotten to where they are, and a few years down the road well have seen massive advancement through many iterations. I may cry a little or go out and buy last years version on big discount. @Wiscocheese: People are saying it looks like a BMC because it *does* look like a BMC. Di2 would clean it up nicely. The wheels, tyres and finishing kit are all developed by Specialized and have an almost symbiotic relationship. But back to the paint scheme it is really that cool and seeing it in person is the only way to really get it. Thanks Peter Sagan. Just mentioning about the looks. Here is a link to our review on that bike. @matt And isnt a truncated airfoil just another name for a Kamm-tail? I was immediately critical, before even riding the bike. All bark and all bite. Thats not to say that it was bad; far from it. googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); From a personal perspective, I loved the new Roval CLX 50 wheels that come with this Tarmac. At 3,250 just for the frame, and over 9,000 for this build, it will be out of reach for the majority of riders, and it will be a year or so before we see a more affordable Pro level version of the bike. But firstly, Id like to describe a little Tarmac story for you. This bike is outfitted with 11-speed Shimano Dura-Ace 9100. I need to be clear I was looking hard for reductions in comfort and handling stiffness. It feels planted and assured, while the accuracy and power of braking bestows huge confidence. Often times it comes down to what color the paint scheme is. Zach Overholt is the Editor in Chief of Bikerumor. Thus, you can make a smaller frame stronger, stiffer and more compliant. Without going too technical, instead of using 300 engineered carbon pieces with a FACT 11r frame, Specialized now use 500 pieces. According to the feedback Specialized received from riders and testing, the SL4 small frames were too responsive to steering input for optimal handling, while larger frames were not responsive enough. Fast-forward to developing the SL6, and Specialized have thousands of analytical reports from fits across both men and women. Specialized's flagship endurance racer is pretty much as good as it gets, Specialized S-Works Venge 2019: Launch and first ride review of disc only new model (gallery), First look: Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL6 disc, Vittoria Corsa N.EXT tyre review: Taking aim at Continental and Schwalbe, Gallery: Marianne Vos is the Greatest Of All Time. So as you can imagine, after 3 years of essentially riding the same bike, I was eager to throw my leg over this new SL6. At the recent Cyclist Track Day series (where visitors got to try out top-end bikes from a large number of the big brands) it was one of the most popular bikes thanks to its smooth ride, lightning acceleration and assured handling. Its a question I get asked many times, and normally I steer clear of answering all bikes are different, and people have very different tastes. Now, the exact design methodology for each of the major brands and their various bike sizes can be debated, but I felt this was important to clarify since this is the foundation of the new Tarmacs story and sets up buyer expectations. Limited to just 500 bikes, the Ultra Light is a special build which starts with the very best frames. It provides more of a relaxed geometry and takes a way a lot of the shock you get on the road while also offering a compelling level of race performance.

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