Tarmac SL8 Expert Sram Rival Etap AXS Specialized

Are you ready for the new Tarmac SL8?

No bike is as fast as the Tarmac SL8 thanks to a combination of aerodynamics, lightness and ride quality previously thought impossible. After eight generations and over two decades of development, it's not just the fastest Tarmac ever: it's the fastest road bike in the world. Are your legs ready?

Aerodynamics or lightness alone do not win races: what matters is speed. Achieving this speed requires an uncompromising combination of aerodynamics, lightness, stiffness and stress absorption. Thanks to complex simulations using real-world data, the Ride Science Team at Specialized has verified that the Tarmac SL8 is the fastest race bike on any course: - 16.6 seconds on 40km of flat terrain, 128 seconds faster on the Milan-San Remo course, 20 seconds faster on the Tourmalet climb.

Aerodynamics
By using aerodynamics where it is most needed, Specialized has succeeded in creating the fastest road bike ever - yes, more aerodynamic than even the Venge. The front end has been optimised for maximum advantage. The fork head tube is positioned to the rear of the front of the frame tube to offer much lower aerodynamic drag. Thanks to new UCI rules, the narrowest and most aerodynamic seat post ever made was used for the SL8 to ensure that turbulent air in the leg area can flow more easily to the rear of the bike.

Lightness
To create the Tarmac SL8 and build the most aerodynamic bike while meeting the minimum weight requirements set by the UCI, Specialized engineers were inspired by what they learned with the Aethos. The team created a 685 gram frame, 15% lighter than the Tarmac SL7 and lighter than any other World Tour bike. Focusing on the maximum possible lightness in the down tube, seat tube and rear part of the bike, they adopted the lessons learned in the Aethos project. The frame shapes respond so efficiently to stresses that it was possible to reduce the thickness of the material, eliminating the superfluous. Except for the time when Kasper Asgreen raced with the 585-gram Aethos frame during a stage of the Tour.

Ride quality
The stiffness-to-weight ratio of the Tarmac SL8 is 33% better than that of the SL7. The Tarmac SL8 sets a new benchmark in handling: it is precise in the most demanding situations and responds immediately and efficiently to pedal inputs. While the areas that ensure power transfer and steering precision are stiffer than ever, in the saddle the Tarmac SL8 is more comfortable, filtering 6% more stress from the terrain and allowing you to attack corners with a feeling of agility and balance unique in the world of road bikes. The new Tarmac SL8 retains the proven geometry of the SL7 model, with the same generous 32mm tyre clearance so that more volume can be used when needed.

Beyond gender differences
In reality, there can be many more differences between two male cyclists than between a man and a woman. Specialized designs according to the individual and its philosophy is simple: Don't create differences where there are none. Every cyclist, male or female, can benefit from the advantages of the Tarmac SL8. It's time to go further.

The Tarmac SL8 Expert is fitted with the SRAM Rival eTap AXS groupset with powermeter, C38 tubeless ready carbon wheels, an SL7 stem and Specialized Expert alloy handlebars for an excellent value for money combination.

Technical Specifications

Cockpit

• Saddle: Body Geometry Power Expert
• Handlebar: Specialized Expert Shallow Drop, alloy, 125mm drop x 75mm reach
• Tape: Supacaz Super Sticky Kush
• Stem: Tarmac integrated stem, 6-degree
• Seatpost: S-Works Tarmac SL8 Carbon seat post, FACT Carbon, 15mm offset
• Collar: Tarmac integrated wedge

Suspension

• Fork: Tarmac SL8 FACT 10r Carbon, 12x100mm thru-axle, flat-mount disc

Frame

• Tarmac SL8 FACT 10r Carbon, Rider First Engineered™, Win Tunnel Engineered, Clean Routing, Threaded BB, 12x142mm thru-axle, flat-mount disc

Wheels & Tyres

• Tubes: Turbo Ultralight, 48mm Presta valve
• Front wheel: Roval C38, 21mm internal width carbon rim
• Rear wheel: Roval C38, 21mm internal width carbon rim
• Front tyre: S-Works Turbo, folding bead, 700x26mm
• Rear tyre: S-Works Turbo, folding bead, 700x26mm

Transmission

• Chain: SRAM Rival 12-speed
• Cassette: SRAM Rival, 12-speed, 10-36t
• Bottom Bracket: SRAM DUB BSA 68
• Shifters: SRAM Rival eTap AXS
• Rear derailleur: SRAM Rival eTap AXS, 12-speed
• Crankset: SRAM Rival with Power Meter
• Front derailleur: SRAM Rival eTAP AXS, braze-on
• Chainrings: 48/35T

Weights based on production painted frames as illustrated. Actual weights will vary depending on colour, frame size and component variation. Specifications are subject to change without notice.