Racers and fit club riders who want a low stack without full aero integration. If the Aeroad cockpit feels like too much, this is the sibling.
Canyon's lightweight race bike: snappy, precise, and less of a wind-cheater than the Aeroad. It rewards a committed position and calm hands in corners rather than a slammed aero tuck.
Riders shopping the newest Tarmac. Compare stack/reach to SL8 before you assume your size letter carries over.
The next Tarmac generation in the catalog window. Treat it as the race-bike successor to SL8: same family, new tubeset — confirm geometry on the year page rather than assuming SL8 numbers.
Racers and fast club riders who want the modern Tarmac. If you came off an SL7, check that the stack/reach still matches your size.
The current Specialized race bike: lighter than SL7, still aero, and famously 'it just disappears' if the fit is right. Size by stack/reach — the 54/56 split is where a lot of riders hop.
Climbers and racers who want Cervelo without S5's deep aero cockpit. Soloist is the value race sibling.
Cervelo's lightweight race bike. It does not try to be an S5. Climbing, precise, and still a low WorldTour stack/reach chart.
| Measurement |  CanyonUltimate CF SLX 2027 |  SpecializedTarmac SL9 2027 |  SpecializedTarmac SL8 2024 |  CerveloR5 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stackmm | 560 | 544−16 | 544−16 | 568+8 |
| Reachmm | 393 | 384−9 | 384−9 | 391−2 |
| Head tube angle° | 73.3 | 72.5−0.8 | 73.0−0.3 | 73.0−0.3 |
| Seat tube angle° | 73.5 | 74.0+0.5 | 74.0+0.5 | 73.0−0.5 |
| Chainstaymm | 410 | 410 | 410 | 410 |
| Wheelbasemm | 988 | 986−2 | 978−10 | 993+5 |
| BB dropmm | 72 | 72 | 72 | 74+2 |
| BB heightmm | — | 268 | 268 | — |
| Standovermm | — | 767 | 768 | — |
| Part | Ultimate CF SLX M | Tarmac SL9 54 | Tarmac SL8 54 | R5 56 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stem | 100 mm | 100 mm | 100 mm | 100 mm |
| Bar | 420 mm | 420 mm | 420 mm | 420 mm |
| Crank | 172.5 mm | 172.5 mm | 172.5 mm | 172.5 mm |
Specialized S-works Tarmac SL8: how does it stack up 12 months on? · +. Under 7kg ready to ride · +. Fast, decisive handling · +. Compliant enough for long rides.
For a bike with such impressive aero performance, the Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8 climbs remarkably well. Specialized Sworks tarmac sl8 2024 Test Review WEB ...
The handling geometry has been lifted directly from the R5 climbing race bike to create what Cervelo says is a platform with “poise, stability, and precision”.
Cervelo's R5 is an excellent all-rounder. For everything from long and steep climbs to big rides over questionable surfaces, it's sufficiently light and ...