New Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL7 2021 Review

[@jameswatson5380]

They are a beautiful thing.. i bought my SL6 after test riding it. I tried 10 other bikes.. the money is high.. but man do they feel it.

[@yashahouse]

Best looking Tarmac so far, but the Venge still looks better

[@tosheshdaulta8899]

the desire for aesthetics kill progression of functionality

[@georgefarrowgreen01]

@@tosheshdaulta8899 considering the venge was still faster?

[@rcg9573]

Great bike for Instagram posing gullible muppets. LOL

[@lilTKOAfreaklol3737]

*Works great my **Latest.Bike** I have a bad knee so I still get exercise but the bike assists me. I am a big guy so I didn’t think it would go as fast but it works great.*

[@jamesrobert262]

This is a great review. One can only dream of a bike this good!

[@CycoWarriorx]

Glad I stumbled on your channel... great review... subscribed!

[@Cyclistmagvideo]

CycoWarriorx thank you! 👍

[@CycoWarriorx]

Cyclist no, thank you... that was comprehensive, concise and you got straight to the point without all that hyperbole other reviewers sometimes do a deep dive into... I personally appreciated it... I’m looking forward to seeing more of your videos! 🍻... And yes I hit the bell! 🙌🏽

[@SwiftySanders]

Stu I like your videos a lot. Thanks for posting them. I hope you keep them coming.

[@brentleysawyer5595]

instablaster

[@SSCartelMuscle]

If I had the money I would buy thiss bike totally! I'm only 21 years old so I got my whole life ahead of me and time that I could save up for thiss bike

[@joshschrader4732]

Well done- I received my new frame yesterday - should have it ready for the road by this weekend- went with the crazy paint job ;) Thx for the review

[@Cyclistmagvideo]

Josh Schrader thank you Josh!

[@czts4778]

Josh Schrader what paint color did you choose? Curious.

[@same8825]

I. want. this. bike. so. bad.

[@markanderson7412]

Hey mate great review well done, The next roubaix will be the ultimate gravel race bike as the diverge has gone more slack angles

[@molfar9049]

looks like a specialized went all in with marketing of this bike. anyone with a handful of subscribers got one to promote it.

[@Cyclistmagvideo]

Nazar Sparrow Hi Nazar, We’re one of the largest cycling print magazines in the world, with editions in Turkey, Italy, Australia and many more territories. Our KZbin following is quite small as we have historically been primarily print focussed. Please do take the chance to check out our magazine at cyclistmag.co.uk, or our website at cyclist.co.uk or our Instagram cyclist_mag. Thanks, Cyclist

[@tosheshdaulta8899]

I look forwards to the days when manufacturers can give us cheaper bikes because they don't have to worry about more cables in groupsets.

[@AllanPhillips]

Just to note that the rear wheel is 30mm wide, 5mm narrower than the front. Also the reason the wheels aren't tubeless is simply because they couldn't hit their weight target with a heavier tubeless compatible rim, so it isn't quite without compromise.

[@georgefarrowgreen01]

If konnigsegg can make a 6.7kg wheel for a CAR that does 300mph and that's tubeless. Then specialized seriously needs to sort themselves out and just start using more exotic carbon fibres. M40X for example. 420gram for a 51mm tubeless rim should not be that hard to create. Oh no! cost cutting on a bike that costs 11.25k absolutely obsurd you'd have to be a 🤡 to buy one.

[@cliveburcham2702]

Great review. Thank you for your work

[@96golfcl]

8:27 6.7 kilos out of the box which gives you 100 grams for pedals, mounts/cages. Good luck getting "bang on" that UCI weight limit!

[@adamgoodman3422]

In size 52

[@yazidjaafar]

9:22 what’s wrong with the head tube surface 🤔

[@RC_FITNESS_]

Not sure how Specialized will go selling these bikes in this economy? In Australia the mark up between the SL6 and SL7 is $1.5k for the frame alone. That's really asking too much. Also in the cycling tips podcast where engineers were talking about the new Tarmac, there wasn't a great deal of performance numbers to talk about. It feels like Specialized is trying to cost cut by deleting the venge and pouring all of its resources in marketing one bike to improve their bottom line.

[@vomErsten]

The type of person who can buy a bike like a Comp-level Tarmac or better is not the type who is getting particularly whacked by the economy and all the manufacturers are selling out as fast as they can build right now. That said, I am annoyed that even the price on existing models has gotten jacked up at other brands; it is nice to see that the SL6 will be hanging around and that the price for the spec hasn't gotten worse. Also, you can be absolutely certain that another Venge will come around.

[@almanisafashion]

In my country, to get this bike you have to wait 2-3 months, 1st stock just sold in flash. Happen to other expensive bike like pinarello f12 etc

[@JanKowalski-pe9lo]

That's what biker society want... More braindead wannabe pro mamils... Splendid.

[@LOGICAL-JAY]

Yep..totally agree..I waited until now to buy a 2021 sl7 sworks tarmac frame(same black/green frame color in video)..my bike shop had alot of dead stock that they were sitting on because their sales prediction were wrong..they brought too much stock thinking they were going to sell like they did in the past year during the pandemic..around pandemic time everything was sold out..alot of people got into bike riding and people that didnt ride bikes in years were now buying bikes..it was so bad that companies like TREK were on back order. Now in 2022 things have slowed up slightly and bikes are alot more available..instead of paying 5,500 for a s-works frame I got it close to half off because the frames weren't moving(especially in size 61)..I have the roval rapide aero bars, some c38 roval wheels,700x28 or 26 tan cotton tires and debating on either di2 or etap red..bike complete under 6,500.00..not bad

[@lattiure]

sick paintjob

[@DetectGames]

I can only dream of some day getting a bike like this. Too expensive, never even seen that much money.

[@tanthaman]

Y

[@tomstory8423]

Great Review. I love my Tarmac.

[@fiend821]

Merging Peter Sagan with Julian Alaphillippe is just describing Eddy Merckx...

[@MsBrett99]

Great review. Thank you👍

[@pedromichael8287]

Hi . The wheel specs quoted in this review are in consistent with what specialized site says - for front at and back wheels. the front wheels are wider at 35 and the rear is 30.

[@ianrichardson8657]

It'll hurt my back but I'll still want one, Vermac or Tarvenge 🙄

[@tomrachellesfirstdance7843]

Is there something wrong with the headtube on the close ups? Looks like there is some sort of bubbling ?

[@winds10]

isn't that just the carbon layup showing through the paint?

[@JohnFoxBass]

Question: I was about to buy a 2021 Emonda SLR with Dura Ace Di2, then I discovered the Tarmac SL6 and now the SL7. I am a former Olympic level racer (from the late 80's) now getting seriously back into riding, and plan to start racing again next year. I will be doing LOTS of climbing on my training rides, and also going for KOMs on Strava segments. Most of my longer rides will be in the 75km to 100km range, sometimes slightly longer, generally under 150km. I want something that is fast, comfortable, and light. Of those 3 bikes, which do you recommend and why?

[@Cyclistmagvideo]

We'd opt for the SL7 over the Sl6, there's been a definite step up. The new Trek Emonda feels a little harsher than SL7, but is lighter. We’d probably go for the SL7 over the Emonda, but we'd really need a few more months testing to really decide 🙂 Thanks! Cyclist

[@ralphdajao8547]

Dream bike

[@guspachio4977]

Liked your presentation and your review, welcome me as a new subscriber......Specialized let everyone on a dirty little secret, wheelsets influence a bike’s aerodynamics way more than previously thought, or they would have still spec’d TLR rims and tires....But, they really wanted to drop aero numbers as much as possible to put themselves on top.....Makes one wonder?

[@georgefarrowgreen01]

TL rims should be on all bikes. A car wheel does it why can't a 700 £££ carbon rim. The fact they say its for weight is a joke, for the majority of consumers 60-100g will make absolutely no difference and tubeless significantly reduces time at the side of the road and will lower rolling resistance.

[@cpf55]

Great review!

[@robhaddock2034]

Love this bike, looks incredible and the weight was seriously impressive (saw one at Sigma), very nice review too...but this 45secs faster thing is ridiculous. According to CW that's based on 50kph. I'm not seeing many of the chubby bankers round London who ride them going at those speeds. Also think the pricing on the lower spec models is now absurd. £6500 for the Pro? Have a word.

[@happydays8171]

I don't know, there's some chubby riders that get ahead of me on the Thursday night ride. You say they're bankers? They told me they were toll collectors ... what a brilliant disguise!

[@crimson177]

Now 7k, as if 6.5k wasn't nuts

[@GasolineCaffeine]

@@crimson177 Now £7.9k

[@LOGICAL-JAY]

@@happydays8171 lmao..lol..lol

[@LOGICAL-JAY]

Last year the 2021 tarmac sl7 expert(11 speed di2)was a great deal for 5k..now this year the sl7 tarmac expert has a 12speed di2, some carbon roval wheels with an unjustified 3,000 dollar mark up..smh

[@perryyip3416]

I prefer the all rounded venge, sadly cant buy them now.

[@mrrodriguezHLP]

For $12k it better come in more colors than GREEN.

[@dh7314]

It does

[@LaughingSaint66]

Where are you riding that there’s no cars😂🤙🏽🚴🏼

[@rafscindaydreamer5616]

Ill buy this one..

[@kidkarbon4775]

You got to be bonkers to pay what they are asking for the S-Works. You could get a bespoke bike with custom geometry made by a craftsman for similar money

[@MattSezer]

Kid Karbon Exactly, you could even get a custom carbon frame for that amount of money if you don’t want titanium or high-end steel.

[@HarryPotter-wm3kf]

How tall is Stu Bowers and which size was this? Just to have a good idea of what we have at site :-) Thx in advance for your reply and ride on :-)

[@Cyclistmagvideo]

For our First Ride Review, visit www.cyclist.co.uk/specialized/tarmac And let us know what you think of the bike below 👇 😃

[@MattSezer]

You could get a custom carbon frame built specifically for your body for about the price of this. The lower-grade version of this frameset seems to be a much better deal.

[@mrluis9456]

I'm surprised they didn't offer a 105 groupset Model🤔 Forcing people to overpay 5k plus starting 🤦🏾‍♂️

[@yonglingng5640]

@@mrluis9456 Not just yet, the Tarmac Sport is still using the Tarmac SL6 FACT 9r frameset.

[@snaavs]

Can't wait to see execs 10kgs overweight riding these on my local roads soon.

[@Cartman2428]

Is the SL7 the kind of bike that if you wreck its totaled?

[@scofair1968]

Where about's in the New Forest did you do your filming? I'm up in Lancashire now but used to live in Burley, so this all looked very familiar

[@mastermalinggero7864]

I'll just wait for the Tarmac that's faster than the Venge.

[@mohamadjamil3164]

The rear end of the bike is very stif. Although stiff is considered good, Specailized takes it a notch up whereby the bike rear becomes very hard and unforgiving. There is a thin line between stiff and too hard. Sl7 does not balance between the two and you loose contact with the frame and focus on pain.... all of the marketing videos out there do not talk about that. It is like they are reading a manuscript

[@global_nomad.]

there is a claimed aero benefit to having tyres narrower than rims, perhaps you missed that bit of the press release...so you're claim of having plenty of margin to add wider tyres on the rim (as supposed to the frame space) is allegedly missing the point

[@mohdazwan7706]

what colour is this?

[@RMD992-f2n]

Why doesn’t specialized release a rim break version of the tarmac s works ? Discs are unnecessary and Chris Froome even said they are bad.

[@carefulsum]

This flat black is an option color?

[@Cyclistmagvideo]

Howard L it actually has a green lining to it that shimmers in the light, that you may not pick up from the video. That is a standard option on the S-Works tier bike👍 Cyclist

[@nicensleazy1892]

ashdown forest ?

[@tapdq]

Not tubless compatible? Hmm But still, you could sell those wheels for a good amount of money and get something similar tubless!

[@mikew9743]

Would you say its noticably more comfortable than current venge

[@mrluis9456]

He said in the video its more comfortable then the Venge

[@georgefarrowgreen01]

Safe to say pressfit wouldn't cause problems if manufacturers of these bikes actually built them to specification and didnt cut corners. Pressfit is used in cars, motorbikes, any factory machinery anything really. The fact they cannot make a concentric hole 42mm in diameter on either side of a bike frame that's aligned correctly should be discussed here. Let me guess, 💵 💵 💵

[@wowcherub]

$12k and it weighs that much + not tubeless out of the box... you're actually taking the piss

[@CyclespeedTours]

And don't forget all quoted weights are without pedals.....but hey, it's 0.0001% more aero!

[@JanKowalski-pe9lo]

If you keep 50km/h over 40km lol

[@Ludvig__GT]

So... This is just a really long advert paid for by Specialized?

[@Cyclistmagvideo]

Paul Smith Appreciate your concern - we’re very open about our commercial arrangements with brands. Specialized helped us create this video as part of a sponsorship package. The editorial within it that was independent. We’d encourage you to have a look at Stu Bowers’ two decades of bike reviewing experience, or our long history of coverage of the Tarmac series (eg www.cyclist.co.uk/specialized/s-works-tarmac/3058/specialized-s-works-tarmac-sl6-review) and draw your own conclusions about how sincere our views on the bike are. We’ll also be reviewing the bike in-depth both in print and online in the near future, where we’ll be able to articulate more of our impressions of the bike’s performance during long-term testing. We hope you enjoyed the video 👍

[@EvilestGem]

@@Cyclistmagvideo ...that's a yes.

[@TheTimbo611]

Bike magazines have always carried adverts for bike brands. I don’t see this as being any different.

[@jessegutierrez982]

Paul Smith looks like it...

[@CyclespeedTours]

Nothing negative will ever be said here. You're better off watching a Specialized advert.

[@epride38]

why he never say about the price. 10k dollars for 12miles avrage. thats not the way how you want to spend your money.

[@lacyleech7798]

Very nice bike, but I would change the wheels to ZIPP 303 firecrest.

[@Cyclistmagvideo]

Nice choice! The Rovals are great too.

[@lucasgjohnson]

I am a size 58 frame if wanna gift the review bike 😃

[@shanewiseman5729]

Amazing how much it costs when being made in China for sweet FA

[@gurugamer8632]

Dogma F12 better than Tarmac SL7?

[@yonglingng5640]

If you already have a preferred stem brand and model, no. The Dogma F12 can only run MOST (Pinarello's componentry brand) stems, even when the shift and brake lines are partially exposed from the head tube onwards. The Tarmac SL7 is compatible with any 1 1/8-inch cockpit. ZIPP, 3T, Deda Elementi, you name it. The rear derailleur hanger is softer than other bikes' hangers too. One moderate impact and you'll likely have to replace it because if you try to realign it, chances are, it could break.

[@chaseviolinsandbows]

Put it on a scale

[@senssci]

I can’t afford this bike. You would need to sell your SL6 AND add the same amount that you paid for the SL6 to afford the SL7...... something is telling me I need this bike......and it’s Specialized. How do Venge owners feel about this bike? Specialized have just devalued their SL6 and Venge by a large factor in the space of a few years. I’d be angry.

[@mrluis9456]

Or wait a couple months for the 105 groupset Model probably for 2700/3000 range

[@alexvaughan5269]

is that hair real?

[@CyclespeedTours]

Surely allowing big frame gaps to take 32mm tyres is bad for aerodynamics.......

[@Cyclistmagvideo]

We'd have to do some real aero testing to tell you for sure, but our understanding is that the wider rims help reduce the negative effects of this. However the gaps can, in theory, also improve aerodynamics. Moving air cleanly over the fork crown particularly is apparently a tricky part of front end aerodynamics, and having space around the wheels and between the forks can help, in theory.

[@Hexsense]

If it is so bad. Specialized Shiv TT wouldn't have the largest gap between seat tube to rear tire of any bike. images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/07/4-b2a9313.jpg

[@JanKowalski-pe9lo]

Would you ride shiv on 32mm tyres?

[@klompjes002]

if i was fast today i was dead .a car forghet to stop at the right.

[@liamflannery4025]

It looks kind of like the new Giant TCR at a glance...

[@dh7314]

Looks literally nothing like it. Dropped seat stays and integrated stem and bars. Being the 2 major things missing from the TCR.

[@greg4318]

Your reference to the new bottom bracket on the Tarmac is wrong and continues to support erroneous views on pressed bottom brackets. Press fit is a superior design to threaded and is utilised across many industries without an issue. The real reason Specialised has made this move is to increase its profit margins. Threaded allows them to manufacture the BB with poorer tolerances - hence its cheaper to make. They have basically said their quality assurance on a $10k bike is crap and their not interested in engineering to the tolerances required. If your BB press fit creaks, it’s shit frame design, not the BB press fit design. Stop propagating this marketing drivel from bike manufacturers and call them out. They are now charging more for an inferior BB design - disgraceful and unethical.

[@Max__apex]

😂😂 SPECIALIZED Sponsored this REVIEW 😝

[@alvaroodeh4794]

10.5k GBP for a bike that you can't fit tubeless tyres on it, hmmm, no thanks

[@johntr76]

Id say that tubeless is good for gravel but road i think would be fine clincher. As far as I know, the slime for tubeless is not gonna seal the larger punctures likely from roads. Road debris is always there. You could always get some different wheels, i knowits a pain. I'm so far impressed with the new Tarmac.

[@alvaroodeh4794]

@@johntr76 Absolutely, and It doesn't mean it can't win a stage of the Tour de France at Pro tour level, however, as consumers, we would expect more for that kind of money with todays standards. Id say the main benefit of tubeless is smoother ride and 100g less on each wheel if you remove the tubes

[@JanKowalski-pe9lo]

As a consumer you have to be braindead to pay that money for nothing. You like been milked feel free to send some money straight away lol

[@popitn2nd]

Venge is a venge. That tarmac will never be a venge. So that 2 in 1 is all BS!

[@eljamo93]

the new tarmac is totally overpriced. this is just a paid promotional video. No way this bike is worth this price. Specialized only makes the tarmac because they can save money only producing one bike

[@turner02]

having a regular clincher wheels with tubes is a fail.

[@JFomo]

The paint job is so bad. There's scratches all over.

[@afpx8065]

The color choice is so ugly though...

[@Sills71]

Crap

[@EvilestGem]

All bikes looking the same now though :'(

[@robhaddock2034]

Nobody seemed to make this complaint during the decades of all bikes being a basic tubed double triangle. There's way more nuance in bikes now with tubes shapes etc. It's simply not true to say they all look alike.

[@EvilestGem]

www.swinnertoncycles.co.uk/bikes-c97/road-c110/pinarello-bike-dogma-f10-disk-dura-ace-p87479/s236940?Blisting%2Bads&cid=GBP&gclid=Cj0KCQjwgo_5BRDuARIsADDEntShNWeiZWXd4f6Pw2cEDUvPSWDJowb51neslyi6JFiFL57VdhZvNkAaArz7EALw_wcB

[@EvilestGem]

I've just linked 3 bikes that would be around the same standard/price from Giant, Pinarello and Trek, that search took all of 3 seconds and I could easily find more bikes from the other big players to prove the point but I think it's clear from what I linked that you'll see striking similarities to a point where they are pretty much identical bikes. It would appear that buyer interests are so well harvested (aesthetically) - added with the compulsory competitive homogeny found in business, that all bike companies are now pretty much making the exact same product which is rather sad as they now lack the personality that used to set them apart.

[@dh7314]

@@robhaddock2034 you're absolutely right, all bikes looked identical for about 50 years. I think the people complaining about 2020 bikes are just trying to be edgy.

[@EvilestGem]

@@dh7314 I'm not trying to be anything I'm just stating that the modern bikes are practically identical and from the pictures I think that's very clear yet you don't want to accept it and why does this makes you angry?