2024 Specialized Tarmac SL8 Expert

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 Specialized’s 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.

AERO IN EVERYTHING: Specialized are putting aero where it matters – the leading edge – not just where it looks good. In the process they’ve created their most aerodynamic road bike ever. Yes, it’s more aero than the Venge. Clean air is optimised 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 Specialized have 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 Specialized’s 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 Specialized’s 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 tyres 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.
The Tarmac SL8 Expert delivers exceptional performance with a full SRAM Rival eTap AXS groupset with power meter, C38 carbon tubeless ready wheelset, and an SL7 stem with Specialized Expert Shallow Drop alloy handlebars makes for an accessible performance-packed bike.

WEIGHT
Weight Size
56cm
Weight
7.77 kg (17 lb, 2.1 oz)

COCKPIT
Saddle
Body Geometry Power Expert
SeatPost
S-Works Tarmac SL8 Carbon seat post, FACT Carbon, 15mm offset
Handlebars
Specialized Expert Shallow Drop, alloy, 125mm drop x 75mm reach
Tape
Supacaz Super Sticky Kush
Stem
Tarmac integrated stem, 6-degree
Seat Binder
Tarmac integrated wedge

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

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

WHEELS & TYRES
Inner 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

DRIVETRAIN
Chain
SRAM Rival 12-speed
Cassette
SRAM Rival, 12-speed, 10-36t
Bottom Bracket
SRAM DUB BSA 68
Shift Levers
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

BRAKES
Front Brake
SRAM Rival eTap AXS, hydraulic disc
Rear Brake
SRAM Rival eTap AXS, hydraulic disc

* 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.

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