Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8 vs. Cannondale Supersix Evo Lab71 | Which road bike is best?

[@omarcastz]

Cannondale all the way. However, a correction to the video is required because the Cannondale Supersix Evo can fit up to 34 mm (measured) tires with no clearance issues as per the manual.

[@DaveCM]

I'd go with the Cannondale personally.

[@omarlondon]

why?

[@spilot1016]

@@omarlondon SL8 is a horror show when it comes to internal brake lines. Massive design flaw.

[@weisong3593]

@@spilot1016 do you have any article or forum to prove that?

[@SuperDodoe]

Sans the tan sidewalls and the wheels would look deeper and the bike harder

[@LifeCycle1978]

@@spilot1016what a misinformed and petty comment. They both route brake lines in the area, every internally routed bike follows the same basic direction of routing.

[@angela-onesroman8873]

Cannondale for me as well , just love pretty much everything about it and the upgrades/changes. The wine bowling ball red color would be my choice.

[@dwaynerandolph3565]

CANNONDALE’S baby ! 9 of them & counting

[@ashrockdigital]

Cannondale Evo 2 with Ultegra Di2 is a steal at $5.5k compared to similar SL8 Pro with UDi2 at $8.5k

[@Millicente]

I feel the same except I’ve seen people argue the base specialized sl8 should be compared to the hi-mod instead which personally i think is stupid. Base model should be compared with base model

[@remkooudeelferink3017]

@@Millicente you should compare it with high mod. Look at the frame weight as well. It compares to the hi-mod.

[@andrewrockwell1086]

Cannondale Hands down. I had a 2nd generation Supersix and it was the best bike I've ever had....I've been longing for it since!

[@ram5672]

For my bike build I was happy to get a Cannondale Supersix Hi Mod frameset. I have no experience with the S-Works bikes, but I would surely opt again for the Cannondale. What a great bike that is!

[@jorritwigchert]

The Lab71 can officialy take 34mm, I have the same color bike, 25mm enve 4.5 rims with 32mm tl gp5000 tires and they fit perfectly with lots of room to spare though the front has a lot more clearance then the rear.

[@mogglie]

The one with the horizontalest top tube. Cannondale it is.

[@tonyg3091]

Horizontalest 😂😂😂 What’s is wrong with more verticaler tubes? 😂😂

[@eto2352]

Verticalest, bro. Verticalest! @@tonyg3091

[@mogglie]

@@tonyg3091 horizontal top tube is just sexier.

[@Mengcharsway]

You have much to learn! Horizontal is sleek, classic, masculine, and sexy. Sloping top tubes are toy-like, unflattering, and malformed. Imagine wearing a suit that doesn’t fit or adopting a bowl cut for a hairstyle. It’s just not done.

[@tonyg3091]

@@Mengcharsway 😆😆

[@adrian21090]

As these bikes are similar, I would focus on build quality and ease of servicing. I have a tatty, old Supersix and the quality is not great but it gets ridden hard in all kinds of weather and it’s very easy to repair and service (apart from that bottom bracket). My SL7 has been perfect but then it only comes out in the sunshine.

[@a-u_s]

The german tour magazine tested the supersix in a windtunel with 50mm cannondale weels at 45 km/h. The resistency was 207 watts. The sl7 with deeper weels had 208 watts while the Systemsix was at 203 watts

[@Millicente]

Resistency???? Also that probably means the sl8 is faster than the cannondale. Cannondale said their bike was 4 watts faster than the sl7 and the sl8 is more than 4 watts faster than the sl7. The new rapide bar is 4 watts by itself

[@omarcastz]

@@Millicente The Cannondale bike was tested with a two piece stem and aero bar like the Tarmac SL7. I assume if the cannondale is re-tested with the one piece MOMO design aero bar then it is at least as fast as the SL8 if not faster within a few watts (assuming the same 4 watts for a one piece aero bar and stem). They are essentially the same.

[@spilot1016]

@@Millicente The other way around. More resistance = more watts.

[@czts4778]

It’s not the bike but the rider. Those watts difference was very minimal.

[@einundsiebenziger5488]

... German* magazine / wheels* / resistance* (there is no such word as "resistency"). And four Watts difference at a speed that even most ambitious amateurs are not able to maintain for a significant amount of time? Definitely not worth a five-digit asking price!

[@bingvoorham3063]

Cannondale I have two and I am absolutely in love with them !! I you try one, you never can go back to another brand!

[@KenSmith-bv4si]

I'm diggin them 353NSW wheels and that LAB71 looks sharp with them but, I diggin that SL8 as well which would look sharp as hell with the same Zipp wheels.

[@Sutlore007]

LAB71 has better detailed design on the rear end and the smoother connection of seat stays to the seat tube, so I picked this one

[@georgemicolta2130]

Cannondale I wish they did another collaboration with palace skate board company the last collab was sick

[@markp353]

If you are choosing based on looks, the all white SL8 is boring to look at. The LAB71 is eye catching and just looks great. LAB71 wins. With their performance almost identical, it would be the paint job and possibly tyre clearance that would be the deciding factor in choosing one frame set over the other. I certainly would not spend big bucks for a bike that just looked run of the mill.

[@aerodynamicist4]

I think it's also worth noting that many top-end bikes are shipping with colors that are mostly black or white. In fact, a majority of bikes are shipping with monochromatic (fun way to say 1 color) paint. I just got al all black (boring af) Giant TCR, and as dumb as drivers are these days, I most certainly wish there were more bright, eye-catching colors to promote rider visibility on the streets

[@red2lucas]

I have the SL8, but that Cannondale is beautiful. I would be equally happy with either.

[@kristofferguerra569]

Correction, 6.8 is minimum, not maximum weight limit

[@michaelguerrera1463]

I got my sse set up with continental 28's and absolutely fell in love with the ride, handling. Etc. I was afraid of this new tech nit allowing me ti be comfortable for uo ti 3-4 hrs butvi was gladly wring, it just goes abd goes!!! The hydraulic rim brakes aren't exactly sexy like my rim brakes on my Caad 10 but super effective. The best part is i git it used for just over $1k.

[@NicoleGarrow]

Team Jimmy, Great report on both bike. I have a tarmac works SL6 . I absolutely love it! I would buy the Tarmac SL8 in the flash. I loved the design in fact everything about the bike.

[@almin9751]

I am a die hard specialized fan but this time in terms of looks the cannondale looks better.

[@ahrayahisrael494]

The Cannondale lab7 looks beautiful. The SL8 doesn't make me go wow, for all the big hype it looks like a bike from 7 to 8 ago. I'm just not impressed.

[@chrisridesbicycles]

Cannondale because the little bit less long and low geometry matters if you have long legs/short torso.

[@stirny9731]

I am trying to understand which of these two bikes is more "comfortable." I am 191 cm tall, have long legs, but a rather short torso... I am between sizes 58 and 61 but am concerned that a 61 might be too big.

[@einundsiebenziger5488]

@@stirny9731 Simple. Test ride the bikes. Choose what feels better.

[@Soonaone]

@@stirny9731 'd say 58 would be better. Go 61 and you'll have a long top tube / reach if you have a short torso. I'm 185cm and i ride a modern 56cm.

[@ourayimage9564]

Despite owning a 2015 Cannondale Supersix Evo, I bought the Tarmac SL8 Pro. I was interested in the Evo (size 54cm) but the SL8s are more abundant, especially higher end models. The Tarmac Pro is equal to the Evo High Mod 2 and about the same price. The geometry figures of the 2015 Evo are nearly identical to the figures of the SL8.

[@MrVeliKaptan]

SL8 doesn’t look like a 2023 bike with those tube shapes. It’s like s step back from SL7 if you ask me. Lots of hype around sl8 but i guess most people think ‘it’s specialized so it must be better’. Spesh possibly sells more bikes and therefore have a bigger fan base. Cannondale for me…

[@leszekjastrzebski-lw2ic]

True

[@SuperPassiveaggressi]

Cannondale all day everyday

[@Pablo_Coach]

with that strange steerer? Only round steerer like SL7/SL8 have is ok for me

[@user-cx2bk6pm2f]

What an interesting match up! Well done.

[@jwfriar]

Fair video - S-Works is lighter and a touch more aero. Personally I think it looks better, but Cannondale has the better paint schemes. Always been a bit of a Specialized fan boy. Feels like I should get a little discount for the Cannondale. All that to say, I’d prob go S-Works. Either way, both great bikes and I think a do-it-all is the way to go.

[@mohamadjamil3164]

How is the ride quality of the tarmac when the road gets rough? Is it bouncy?

[@karolislatakas137]

It would be interesting to see a avarage bike like Trek domane sl6 for 3k vs s-works sl8 to see the difference in speed and comfort.

[@ДмитрийФедоров-щ4ь]

domane is an endurance bike, you better compare it to emonda

[@jeremysweeten2792]

They do look ridiculously similar!

[@n22pdf]

Cannondale any day 😊🚴🏻🚴🏻👍 yep I’m a fan 😊😊

[@911Sam]

In the world of unlimited budget that SuperSix Hi-Mod frame in Laguna Yellow would be the best for my taste. The full builds are in Spesh’ favor because of the pre-installed power meters (no one rides a bike like this without one). The full build color schemes of Cannondale Hi-Mod are disappointing except for that yellow one. SL8 in design looks more boring. For now I will settle with my Aethos and CAAD9 so let’s call it a tie!

[@BirdmanFL]

I had both and ended with the tarmac . The stupid seat post noise on the cannodale drove me crazy

[@sasha371]

I would go for the canyon aeroad :)

[@ManuelGil-Goodman]

I'm an S-works guy, however I really believe Specialized has lost the battle of most beautiful for now. IMHO my 2020 S-Works Venge is still the best looking machine they've ever made and what a coincidence, the Cannondale looks a lot more like a Venge than does the SL8. Aero look for the win!! As noted in the vid a livery you love always matters. I'd be happy with either one, but if I had to choose on looks alone the LAB 71 takes it.

[@littlevo9]

Specialized for Life ,j’ai eu un sl6 et maintenant un sl7 c’est une machine extraordinaire,ils savent faire des vélos,le sav est impeccable,le vélo grimpe comme un chamois et extrêmement rapide en plaine ,que l’on soit en bonne ou mauvaise forme il est présent et vous donne du plaisir.

[@Bikes-guitars]

I prefer the S-Works and in that colour way 👌

[@universe-juice]

Have never owned either companies bikes. Will be remedying that soon.

[@davidfleischmann1844]

I would go with the Cannondale because the frame size 61 offers much more stack.

[@sustainf]

They didn’t mention… the SuperSix Evo 2 which has most of the top bike’s tech is going for $5,500 USD! Best value!

[@tossemanden]

Doing cycling videos myself. A couple of notes. 1. You killed med with the two minutes of pricing, data etc etc in the beginning. 2. When using b-roll: try and shoot something that shows the bikes. Shooting from the front or back does not allow the viewer the ability of just enjoying the look of the bike, groupset etc. be sure to shoot: Groupset, bottom bracket, cassette, chainring, rear derailleur, both wheels, show the tires from the front and back. Handlebars, stem, head tube, seat post, saddle. Get these things covered for sure when you are doing b-roll. For on the bike b-roll: flat terrain, hills, descent, sprint, turns, accelerations, for example when exiting a turn, in the hoods, in the drops, on rough surfaces (which you did just fine though. Get DJI mics! There are two in a set and they are easy and cheap. Using one mic seems ridiculous and degrades the final product.

[@eto2352]

Look forward to seeing your video review

[@tossemanden]

This is a professional context and the material we are watching here is quite frankly lacking. The criticism I put forth is on point and constructive. I do not do product reviews as these guys do. I do however believe that the problems I mention here will be respected by the people producing the content.

[@dionfrancis]

Supersix for sure...

[@holmesroach]

Put on a set of 33 Vitoria Torino dry for a 100k gravel it was Fast and climbed with more ease than my Diverge

[@albertkikstra]

Cannondale for sure.

[@johnrcyclist]

Very nice!

[@NesKhan-g4t]

Cadex wheels are 22.4mm internal, but only 26mm external, that's very narrow. None of the reviews mention this

[@adamsolomon9353]

If you're in a vacuum, aero gains don't matter. (yes that's a joke, what isn't a joke is how much these bikes cost and how big a pain they are in order to save single digit watts)

[@johnhirka654]

How about a 2013 tarmac rim that smokes both

[@dainiusvysniauskas2049]

It doesn't smoke shit

[@johnhirka654]

@@dainiusvysniauskas2049 please - enlighten us all on the aero /watt/ blah savings that these new fat tire road bikes with oil lines provide? For 15k…. Go ahead And Read the pamphlet to us all

[@JanKowalski-pe9lo]

@@dainiusvysniauskas2049 You have no idea what you talking about bro.

[@dainiusvysniauskas2049]

@@JanKowalski-pe9lo Typical boomer response. "2013 bikes were better" "2003 bikes were better" "1993 bikes were better" "1983 bikes were better" "Horse and carriage were better"

[@JanKowalski-pe9lo]

@@dainiusvysniauskas2049 Typical boomer response... - I didn't understand what he says so I write anything - I won't stay on topic so I'll go ad personam - I paid for new bike yet has been smoked by more fit guy on the shit bike from 2012 Grow up man

[@markcave2065]

Defo the S-works, Cannondale aftercare service is non-existent, I had an issue with a brand new systemsix and basically they dragged it out for months! Previous to that, I had a paint issue (very small) with the s works 7 and Specialized replaced the whole frameset within weeks!

[@TheAntoine191]

Cannondale is bankrupt I believe buying those is very risky. Even when the company was in a good Shape I had a current year frame with factory defects and because I was not first owner they did not took care of it which is illegal but I had no time to sue for paint. The whole paint is chipping away it's not just a small patch.

[@lukebarnett1478]

Recently had an issue with cannondale and they took a month to respond and basically do not stand behind their products.. no help at all.

[@livingstonest]

Does anyone know if frames perform differently with same brand or is it just weight? Lab71 vs hi mod and sworks vs non-sworks sl8?

[@Notcho02-j3c]

Cannondale is a lot better in both quality and performance.

[@lostboy8814]

S-Works without doubt.....it's the pedigree.

[@robertchung4914]

If only there were some way to measure aero drag in the real world without a wind tunnel.

[@nektin9923]

Cannondale 💯

[@hope2someday691]

The S-Works puts the rider in a less aero position with a sloping top tube. A larger tire size is a very desirable option too.

[@roadcc]

We'd love to hear the theory behind this one! We are definitely a fan of wider tyres too :)

[@jonphotos8631]

@@roadcchow did the supersix hold speed on the flats? Friend has a sl8 and it doesn’t.

[@unlimitedcosmicspeed]

I would have both :)

[@Scott-oe2vx]

It's insane how much bikes are now. I want to see the true cost to manufacture them.

[@teemukoo755]

Quality

[@gordon5008]

Are the weights quoted with cages, pedals and computer mounts?

[@einundsiebenziger5488]

Of course not!

[@rafacycle]

Sl8 with Zipp 353NSW would be my choice

[@marcinstyle85]

Put on that Cannondale hyper67 wheels and then run again ...

[@mikewikstrom3416]

The Cannondale looks way cooler.

[@industryrule-4080]

The Cannondale is the best looking mainstream road bike to me currently and I own an Aethos. 😂

[@tonyg3091]

It looks very nice indeed but in my eyes nothing beats Time ADH

[@wsbygt]

By looks alone the Super6 wins but only the aero gain decides the winner.

[@freebird61885]

Except EF are riding the Hi-Mod frame painted up as Lab 71. I would very much like to know why that is.

[@eto2352]

short supply?

[@nerocoaching]

Source of this info?

[@freebird61885]

@@eto2352unlikely.

[@freebird61885]

@@nerocoachingcheck the internet; wish I could post all of the links. Look at any of the EF bikes (Carapaz’s for example). Each of them are marked CANN-S6HM Frameset 44379, the UCI marking for SSE4 Hi-Mod frames. I believe the Lab 71 frames are CANN-S6SL. I have seen zero EF bikes that are actual Lab 71 frames, even though they have the Lab 71 paint schemes.

[@freebird61885]

Needless to say, I think this is false advertising and something no one has really brought up. Why would the pros choose or be given the second tier frameset? Is it better than the Lab 71? Are Cannondale sponsored teams not worth the best? Why would Cannondale paint them as Lab 71 when they aren’t? Are the Lab 71 frames not durable enough for a pro season? I have so many questions

[@mrjames7246]

Regardless of anything spec related i'd always take the cannondale. Tarmac looks ugly with the fat front end

[@chrisduffy8993]

Your cursory mention of geometry is laughable. You can't compare reach on two bikes with different seat tube angles. The effective top tube of the bikes is identical with the primary diff being 10mm of stack height on the Supersix. For most riders that will be welcome (one fewer spacer). Next, head tube and trail. The Tarmac is .5 degrees steeper with 10ish percent less trail. For most weekend warriors, that's a twitchy bike. I'm currently riding the Lab 71 and my primary gripes with it are the lack of one piece bar with more negative stem rise and the 20mm seatpost setback. The extra height of the front end, while I think great for a lot of riders, and the extra set back with a relatively slack seat tube angle places my weight a little further back than I'd like when riding hard or descending. This is easily corrected with a zero offset post. Otherwise I think it's a darn perfect bike. And you don't have to be seen riding a Specialized! 😂

[@jonphotos8631]

How does the supersix hold speed on the flats?

[@huntos83]

Very well, notably better than the previous Supersix, but the Systemsix still holds speed a little better (I’ve owned all of them). The biggest difference is on the feel of smoothness and ride quality in the new Supersix, it’s exceptional.

[@jonphotos8631]

@@huntos83 I asked the question because I compared a sl8 6.4k to a new dogma 6.9k and I had to do 50w more on the sl8 to hold the same speed. If I put lighter wheels on the dogma it could be lighter. The dogma was better on the climbs, the power transfer was better. I would like to compare a supersix I just love how they look.

[@huntos83]

It sounds like something is wrong with your test - a 50w difference between race bikes is highly unlikely. That would be like comparing a mountain bike to a race bike. Did you use the same power meter on both? Was it correctly calibrated after install

[@jonphotos8631]

@@huntos83 same PM yes calibrated same head unit same road same time. No wind day.

[@beetrootjunkie4178]

So, we’ve got to decide ourselves because all these Chinese frames are basically the same… “go with your favourite paint scheme”? 😂😂

[@marcustan5868]

Does cannondale support mechanical grpset?

[@yonglingng5640]

The fourth-generation SuperSix EVO is still compatible with mechanical groupsets, something the Tarmac SL8 has already lost. However, I'm not sure if SuperSix EVO has a shift housing stop somewhere in the frame because if it doesn't, it can't run SRAM and Campagnolo mechanical.

[@cornelhughes6763]

sl8 when my numbers come in

[@ramongarcia2647]

The geometry of the cannondale is much more comfortable

[@GTRapt0r]

Cannondale. Period.

[@sirehan1002]

wouldgi for the trek with the build in wind tunnel

[@einundsiebenziger5488]

would* go*

[@Anon.User.602]

System 6 would be a better comparison to Tarmac; they are both aero and stiff (SuperSix is not). Tarmac SL8 is the no1 racing bike on the market now, according to independent lab tests.

[@tonyg3091]

Neither of these. But if held at gunpoint-the Supersix.

[@RCindahouse]

Just by looking at it, it will take a real fan to say the s-works looks better than this lab71

[@adossantos69751]

Same frame with different paint job and produced in the same building 🤯

[@Thomas_Ekstrom]

Cannondale, that Specialized looks like a cheap bulit Shimano equipped 105 entry level bike, not a top end bike.

[@56brever]

The nice thing about the Specialized is that when you pay this much for one of their bikes, the CEO sends you a certified moron sticker you can put on your frame.

[@GoodToCU88]

The super six EVO geometry is hella aggressive that I can’t even ride it. I am in my 30s

[@dainiusvysniauskas2049]

Tarmac SL8 has far more aggressive geometry. SSE 4 isn't that aggressive

[@VolkswagenRacinggti]

Hmm.. a scott addict endurance is more agrassive. I bought the evo instead of the endurance bike.

[@yishaithegift9953]

I set my Supersix up aggressively. I'm 39 and wouldn't ride any other way.

[@aerodynamicist4]

I love the Specialized bars. It is nearly impossible to find traditional drop bars, and those are pretty close. My Giant has compact drops, and with how long the Ultegra R8000 hoods are, my torso is in exactly the same position, my arms are just swept back a few degrees when I go to the drops. Since my Giant is my climbing bike, I have been looking for some carbon traditional drop bars, and they have been impossible to find so far.

[@shanewiseman5729]

Both come with full marking BS, now with paper thin carbon to save as much weight as possible.

[@kivriel2660]

Im perfectly happy with the bike I have. I don´t need all these reviews of the new ”Better, Lighter more aero”… So, i did not watch to the end.

[@timtaylor9590]

yea weight doesnt matter, who goes up hills?

[@Caargue]

Cannondale! 11:33

[@joeldurbridge2718]

Give me the dale, all day every day.

[@chrisduffy8993]

Cannondale Will have a 105 12 speed mech build for $3200

[@emersonlindenlaub8124]

Cannondale

[@brownetown6976]

The Tarmac nose is foul. Not as foul as the Madone hovering seat post but not far off it. Supersix all day

[@oneshotGamingMY]

"IF" I'm rich I will buy both and just hang it on the wall.❤

[@M3GRSD]

For free, I'd take either bike. For money?... These bikes cost so much, I can't afford to even choose a hypothetical bike, let alone buy one, lol

[@arthurreyes2632]

The cannondale is the better bike. More aero, no round tubes and doesn’t look like an Aethos with sloping down tube. I would get a madone slr over both these bikes for the same money.

[@johntrussell7228]

You would buy a bike 3 lbs heavier with shit engineering? Lmao 🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡

[@lenieqleon3533]

Cannondale wins by knockout...

[@lukewalker1051]

Cannondale...actually a long list of bikes I prefer over the overpriced SL8. PS. Nobody is going to think the SL8 is beautiful. Specialized made the SL7 uglier to make it so called better.

[@bendardania]

SL8 is cheaper by $1,000. And the way the guy had it set up with zipp NSW it would be 3k min more expensive. ( taking in consideration that you sell holligram wheels and you recuperate some money from NSW which cost about 4k.)

[@stuupoo]

Cannondale 🏆

[@awakenedbahamut2574]

I don't like the Cannondale offset dishing.

[@chrisridesbicycles]

That only exists/existed on the MTB side. Cannondale road bikes are standard.

[@einundsiebenziger5488]

If you just swapped the labels between them, nobody would know the difference.

[@tonyg3091]

Yeah. If you are blind. 😂

[@fhowland]

I wish you just weighed each as built.