Matt Stephens rides the Specialized Tarmac SL8 Road Bike | Sigma Sports
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- čas přidán 4. 06. 2024
- The Tarmac has been revered as one of the most capable road bikes for many years and with Specialized's latest iteration, the Tarmac SL8, the American brand has further pushed the boundaries when it comes to aerodynamics, weight and overall ride feel.
Keen to test out this exciting addition to the range, Matt Stephens headed to Glasgow to clip in and get familiar with the Specialized Tarmac SL8.
What Matt was wearing:
Specialized S-Works Evade Helmet: www.sigmasports.com/item/Spec...
ASSOS Mille GTS C2 Short Sleeve Jersey: www.sigmasports.com/item/Asso...
ASSOS Mille GTO C2 Bib Short: www.sigmasports.com/item/Asso...
ASSOS GT C2 Socks: www.sigmasports.com/item/Asso...
Specialized S-Works Torch Road Cycling Shoes: www.sigmasports.com/item/Spec...
Shop the Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8 RED eTap AXS Disc Road Bike: www.sigmasports.com/item/Spec...
Learn more about the Specialized Tarmac SL8: www.sigmasports.com/hub/news/...
Shop the Specialized Tarmac Range: www.sigmasports.com/brand/spe...
Shop Specialized: www.sigmasports.com/brand/spe...
Shop Road Bikes: www.sigmasports.com/bikes/roa...
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With multiple retail stores and an extensive website, we cater to cyclists, runners and triathletes of all abilities. Our collection of brands are available for quick and easy worldwide delivery, while unique events, group rides, bike fitting sessions and mechanics courses ensure we are actively involved with our community. - Sport
Don’t worry the SL9 will be lighter stiffer more aero and more expensive!
Dude you should go play the lottery!
You forgot 30 seconds faster also...
SL8 is cheaper than SL7 in top specs (cheaper not cheap)
Yup, so you can just enjoy what's out now and buy and have fun or you can wait until the day you die for the best you'll ever have
Everything evolves so you would always like the next model to be better!
Dentists love this bike! IYKYK
You can’t afford one.
He's a legend!
I'm so sick of marketing bullshitters making all sorts of claims with zero proof.
but "youve seen the numbers"
SL4 - SL6 mechanical with rim brakes without the stupid handlebars were perfect.
I’m still on a SL5 and I love it.
Entertaining as usual Matt. Personal feeling is always important. The bike industry has moved on and there will be no going back. As a modern disc road bike looks like the SL8 is great. The problem is very few people believe the hype and cherry picking data to ‘prove’ a point. Loads will buy the SL8 and in todays market it is very likely right up there with the best. If that’s your bag and you can afford it, go for it
Great video Matt
I've been using a Specialized Secteur Sport for 10 years plus and I've done 1000's of miles on it. I remember the discomfort the day I bought it and I remember 2 weeks later it feeling not so bad and then a month later it was an extension of my body. I changed the wheels to Shimano Ultegras. The groupset remained the same. Sora. Ive often dreamed of buying lighter more expensive bikes but I always stop myself in time to realise that Specialised gifted those of us without the means to buy into the competition bikes but allowed us to thoroughly enjoy ourselves anyway.
I hope they never stop producing quality bikes that last.
Constanly on edge with you leaving the bike unlocked outside the café, have to be honest ☺
i have met with matt in Andy’s restaurant in Camden Town..he is very friendly…best of luck matt
I still have a tarmac SL4! Love it
I suggested also watching Durianrider's review too, you know, for balance. BOOM! My comment deleted. 😂
🤣
That guy is such an idiot, what he calls a honest review is just a random opinion. No facts and figures, just bashing for the likes and the money.
IYKYK 😂
Not for ordinary cyclists for sure. You need really deep pockets to afford one. It's a bike I'd love to try, but I'd constantly worry about it being stolen without a film crew following me around! Great video though Matt. Always love your enthusiasm for cycling (and cafe stops). I would have loved to see you on the Tarmac 'giving it a nudge' in Glasgow in the old kit. Pin a number on soon 😉😉
Great video filmed in my home town of Lennoxtown with my local cafe and climb The Crow Rd 😁😁
We LOVE You Matt!!!
Nice review, thanks. Wondering what the tire (or tyre) size was on the test bike? Looks beefy. Thanks and regards to Clive.
26mm S-Works Turbo Rapidair 2BR T2/T5 Road. It looks beefy due to the Roval rapide clxII
Always enjoy your videos Matt.
never get enough from matt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
4:00 How about the cable routing/headset design?
Miss you Matt.❤
Beautiful bike
This is what a paid promotion looks like folks. If you believe it you deserve to pay the price. Good luck!
Find a bike shop that will allow u 2 take a SL8 S-WORKS out 4 a test ride & u will be eating ur own words . Puke . I own both SL7 S-WORKS & SL8 S-WORKS & the improvements are incredible
Chapeau clipped straight in 🤙
OMG you clipped in in record time 😂
Matt never has anything negative to say about any bike he ever rides, because every ‘test’ is simply to promote it. Mildly entertaining though these vids are, they’re pretty pointless really.
Not wrong
you got it... never anything negative... really pointless lovely as matt is
You’re not gonna get bikes to review from big brand manufacturers if you’re slamming them… you’ll only get a truly objective review from someone who’s independently wealthy and can buy them out right themselves… when it comes to bike reviews think Motor Trend… and if you don’t think Spec’s put out a full court press on the SL8 with favorable reviewers - you haven’t been paying attention… if you want unvarnished reviews, there’s an Aussie known for ripping the industry on the whole… in either case, Matt IS entertaining… 🍻
@@savagepro9060 David Arthur is such as waste of time
Pure marketing
I imagine that Specialized rep being the guy at the gates of hell who tries to sell you on a membership
Neon. Who chooses to name their kid Neon?
Looks like a great bike. I'll get one next year.
I own an SL7 S-WORKS, purchased last April . Then late November /early December l purchased a SL8 S-WORKS. Both have the 1st edition Roval Rapide CLX Aero Wheelsets 51/60 & l also own a 3 rd set . Hate tubeless. Seriously considering upgrading them 2 carbon fiber spokes. Save 100 grams . My SL8 all in with my own specs weighs 6.72 kilos ready 2 ride .
The SL8 in my opinion is that its 20/25 % improvement over the SL7.
Its true the SL8 Begs u 2 get fiiter & stronger & lighter .
I too have both the SL7 and SL8 just great bikes that just want to be ridden fast.....You want to hang fire on those carbon spokes,rumour has it that Roval are in the process of creating a new carbon wheel with carbon spokes it's going to be called the CLX Team I think.It has already been tested at the Giro by Julian Alaphilippe,it has chrome hubs or the prototype does.
what size was this bike?
I have a Tarmac SL5 and a Creo. I've also owned a Venge. I like Specialized. But this company rep is spouting word salad BS.
What exactly did you not like?
7:12 The SL7 seat post is also narrower than a SL7 seat tube. What’s your point mate?
Pretty sure that was backwards. Sl8 seat tube is narrower than the Sl7 seatpost.
The lightest bikes have frames that emulate a truss bridge. The tubes are straight, and the seat stays, top tube, and seat tube come together at a common joint. Examples include the Specialized Aethos and the Trek Emonda. To add compliance for a smoother ride, the tubes are given curvature, and the seat stays are offset from the top tube at their joint with the seat tube. This induces bending in the tubes rather than carrying the entire load axially. The bending requires extra reinforcement, so a frame with dropped seat stays inevitably is heavier.
Wrong. It the parts for bending need extra reeinforcement they would need different carbon structure and be lighter. Look at the extreme, the Cannondale Topstone Carbon. The bending seat stay is extra thin for bending and has a very different carbon fiber type and layup. The SL8 is lighter than the Venge, but is much more comfortable due to different carbon layouts.
@@DilbertMuc For any given carbon layup, a structure that functions in axial compression and tension similar to a truss bridge is going to be stronger and/or lighter than a structure that functions in bending.
@@gregvassilakos Not true. That's why the largest bridges are suspension bridges that bend a lot and are lightweight. Image the Golden Gate bridge as a steely box bridge! Yuck!
The lightest bike frame I know is a carbon frame where the lower tube is just a steel wire connecting steering tube and bottom bracket. Or check out the Peterson bike. A lot of thin tubes, very comfy but very stable. Or look at the Moulten bikes from aerospace designs.
@@DilbertMuc ??? There is no bike frame designed with tension-only members like a suspension bridge. The issue I'm raising concerns the dropped seat stays on some bike frames, which places the seat tube in bending. This requires added reinforcement in the seat tube, which adds weight.
@@gregvassilakos Look at the Cannondale Topstone Carbon. You have a regular seat tube in the upper part and then a slim flexing lower part with the "KingPin" suspension. It is much slimmer because of flexing capabilities, giving up to 3cm movement for the saddle. The Tarmac and other bikes with dropped seat stays give some 3-5mm maximum, according to various tests. You can verify this in one of Canyon's factory videos with their Ultimate in a bending endurance test. Or check out the GT Grade with its slim flexing seat stays. The back part of the bike functions like a rear suspension due to the bending seat stays. The alloy version has rigid and massive tubes and there is virtually zero flex.
What's worse for a blurbvert gcn or sigma? all csrbon frames are generally the same now - youve got to have mega-bucks to own these, mine - a china special 👍 #bxt
Depends on your ability to perceive things. I have 2 modern carbon bikes, roughly the same weight and used with identical wheels/tyres. One feels like a tank and one feels like the stays/fork are made of thin air. Both climbing bikes. I have 2 filled brazed steel bikes as well, and again totally different feeling.
er, fast _is_ a number! Thumbs-up for Matt (always)
Why hate the SL8? embrace the evolution of the bicycle, it's beautiful! great video Matt
the price tag
@@DanTuber SL8 is cheaper than the SL7 and lighter and faster! Don't get me wrong but every bike manufacturers are increasing their prices even Halfords bikes LOL!
Great video guys
@@Vinch22 Canyon dropped their prices other bikes are getting heavy discounts, stop simping.
@@hughjanus7354 I'm not being biased here, I am just being open minded. I have Giant TCR 2021 and Canyon Ultimate and I will buy SL8 maybe expert and I will.
So, Sir Jony Ive’s is making bikes?
The best bike you ever made was the venge I am still looking for her
For 12k it better be bloody fantastic!
Don’t hold your breath
For the most genuine SL8 review you should watch Durianrider's reviews.
You gotta be kidding ! The worst review ever by someone who wears holy sock & works out his data from only fans!
@AB-st7tr on nikes and flat pedals hhahan, durienrider will never say any disc brake bike is any good. Never, no matter what. So its not that objetive either.
@@lattiure that’s not true at all. What he says is that they don’t compare at all to the race bikes of old that were built Stiff and light with crazy responsiveness… This is a gravel bike. He’s right about that. But OK… Drink the Kool-Aid.
He was never going to say anything negative about this as if sigma sports wants to ruin they relationship within specialised
Then why watch?
It’s almost like Sigma Sports wants to sell a lot of bikes or something. Weird.
@@brianmcg321 sigma sports will always sell bikes
yes seatpost should be narrower than a seatube
To be honest, i will wait a few weeks until unsponsored youtubers will do a review on the bike. Matt Stephens is a super nice and funny bloke but this „test“ is pointless.
Aero my arse. Aero profiles my arse.
The bike is heavier than a rim brake bike, its not jusy heavier but its heavier in the wrong place. Its less aero than any decent rim brake bike. The pizza cutters catching the wind from side on, the calipers are in the wind, it has more spokes than a rim brake bike. If you want a lighter more aero bike buy a second hand rim brake bike or a Winspace SLC 01.
Cafe Barga ❤ fried egg and roll looking at the crow 🎉🎉
A nice sigma sport advert for a bike. Bit like buying a new flash Porsche sports car. Enjoy if you can afford it and that is what you want to spend your money on. Would be good if big manufacturers made bikes easier to adjust/fit and repair and had a bit less focus on pushing super expensive super bikes. Aethos was nice change.
Why nobody is commenting on the fact that Kopecky won riding an SL7 when Glasgow was the official and so expected launch of the new SL8?
Sorry, that front brake disc, caliper and exposed cable can’t be as aero as my ‘15 Venge fork with a front rim brake.
Should be for the price tag lets be honest
Noodley flexy gravel bike
I think it is great that most commenters here have a mind of their own to discern what’s good or bad or BS. Can’t care less (and indeed afford) for these ads for a new flashy bike. But if you do enjoy other contents that are not purely ads, then you gotta also recognise that without ads like this, most content creators can’t do anything sustainably.
Unless you’re imagining all content creators can have mountains of cash sitting around, and are just doing it for fun…
It's another over-priced "Clone" bike!
I will keep my Colnago, and my recent Bianchi Specialissima which I have stripped of it's Shima(NO!) Dura-Ace, etc.
It is being fitted with Campagnolo Super Record EPS, Campagnolo tubular wheels, ENVE carbon, Selle SMP F30 carbon saddle, etc.
The Colnago with full Campagnolo Super Record EPS, etc, already get's the jealous looks, so the Bianchi should be worse as in a custom
orange paint job, which is ultra-rare, and stand out!
The guy from Specialized talks like he's a caricature of himself. Nonsense marketing talk ...
Dont tell me, its lighter, stiffer, more aero & faster then the SL7...
He talks about comfort , but you could see the vibrations on his forearms , the frame was adequately dampening the bumps out. So I wonder what defines a subjective experience such as comfort on the bike , please don’t say compliance ? I don’t know how you measure that ?
I test rode this bike and when I was riding, the brakes were extremely grinding, something I didn't know from the SL7.
More Spin. Say anything to keeping Mugs buying every season
Bring back the Venge.
Save $10k, buy a SL4 , faster and easier to tune the brakes
So matt, what bike would you buy with your money...
Absolute marketing bull... All these brands, repaeat exactly the same empty words: light, stiff, areo, fast, comfortable etc etc. There is no justificaation, or data supporting the crazy prices.
Can we see the data and numbers? What a load of bull. This is a profit bike. Not a performance bike.
what a fantastic advertisement...
Yet another pointless review of the bicycle that's made for selling, not riding
didnt know lyle lovett rode bikes
Somewhat disappointed Matt clipped in first try.
Would anyone in their right mind leave a £12,000 bike unattended during a coffee stop? Would anyone actually spend that much on a bike?!!!
Why involved in so much marketing bullshit?
12 grand... probably pass this year :D
Can we be Honest for once , Junk Heavy disc crap
Matt don't loose your credibility built over many years as a respected racer and a business man for an over hyped over priced very ordinary fiber bike in a years time this model will be old hat and superseded by so many other good value road bikes every one has to be pushed through the wind mate.
Imagine, thinking that promoting a new bike is "losing credibility" when the guys job has been reviewing and promoting new bikes for years.
its even better to tell the truth sorry gentlemen this SL8 is so overpriced and no better than the SL7 why are you launching it ? OH sorry its a gravel bike i see now where your coming from Specialized. @@nanthilrodriguez
Not so respected……..
@@nanthilrodriguez Theres a difference between a review. And an advert. In fairness to Sigma, this video isnt labelled as a review.
Strange your opinion is the opposite of Durianrider . Personally I think you are being paid to talk this bike up , of course I could be wrong ? More concerned that I could be right ? The only fun I would get with this bike is laughing at the people one listening to what you guys are saying and two believing what you’re saying is correct, an extra laugh is they actually purchased it , do you guys ever watch your videos surely you can’t if so you would be so embarrassed.
Is Specialized playing dishonest word games? They say it's faster than the Venge, implying it's more aero, but instead they've redefined the word "faster" to somehow include comfort in the equation.
According to them, it's more aero than the Venge
@@DaM.1 Interesting. I hope they publish some data like Cannondale did with the System6.
@@user-cx2bk6pm2f I would also like to see that. They do have a white paper on their website, comparing the Venge/SL7/SL8, but nothing like that Cannondale paper that even claims Cda numbers
Exactly!!! Put the same bars on the Venge and let 3psi out the tyres and what’s the difference then? It’s all BS with Specialized.
The more they try to convince, the worse it gets😂
What nerve to call this the 8. More like 7.1
Noticeably faster😂
Nice scenery but not a bike review 😂
SL8 heavier and more drag than a bike a few hundred dollars. If you know you know.
Hey Matt. The aethos was a noodle and was one the worst bikes to hold speed
Overpriced junk
dang, the kool aid is quite strong here
Never buy an over priced bike, aka specialized/s-works bike .
Pointless bike for most cyclists. Not practical ,too expensive, an absolute nightmare to maintain and adjust fit due to the integrated cockpit. It's everything that's wrong about the bike industry wrapped up in one complete package.
meh same thing as the sl7, lets see what this frame can offer to the pros, I am baffled by the fact that the canyon, trek and cervelo performed better than the sl7 so not impressed
I'm guessing, it's faster, stiffer and even better than the SL 7. Very tiring , I have a small addition ! Priceless for the ordinary cyclist. So not interesting at all
More bicycle industry shilling.
No one who has grown up on the SL through SL6 wants this junk. It is not as stiff
Saddle height looks far too low.
Heavy flexy overpriced junk
Where did you do your test ride, or do you own one? Out of curiosity
He just cant afford it mate😁
@@noeldanganan1638 just like you can't afford a brain, let's be honest mate.
Still waiting…
Still waiting…
I love Matt but listening to this BS in the morning is a bit much try thinking of the consumers pockets not much money about? this was almost embarrassing to listen too.
mate, you looks tired
Far prefer this video to Durianrider showing off his young girlfriend 👍
oh man.. what bullshit marketing LMAO..
The bikes a peice of crap 😂😂😂
Can not listen to this Neon guy
Pointless review. How much did you get paid Matt?
I’m so bored of the SL8 already. Hardly any difference between it and the SL7 except it’s uglier, a bit lighter and is now “gender inclusive” with a 10mm higher stack! Wonderful.
Oh, and they’ve fixed the badly designed cable integration. That’s gone unsaid.
The handlebars make up most of the aero savings, as long as they fit you (where are the female specific sizes from 34cm upwards?).
Go buy a custom frameset or an Enve Melee.
20,000 gravel bike is what it is..outrageous and a complete ripoff. THIS is NOT a race bike, its for the old rich guys who want attention on the group rides. FACT.
Guys you should ask duriander what he thinks of this piece of sh..🫣🤪😂