Riders on used SL6s or comparing a previous Tarmac to SL7/SL8. Check stack/reach — sizes did not stay still.
The 2018–2020 Tarmac: disc-era race geometry before SL7's aero integration. Still a low, racy fit; cockpit is more conventional than SL7/SL8.
Aero racers. If you want light and conventional, R5; if you want endurance, Caledonia.
The aero Cervelo: V-stem, deep tubes, and a bike that wants to be ridden fast in a straight line and still corners better than its looks suggest.
Racers who want BMC's classic race fit. Roadmachine if you need stack.
BMC's lightweight race bike: steep, precise, and a WorldTour stack/reach reference. Less aero than Teammachine R / Timemachine.
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.
| Measurement |  SpecializedTarmac SL6 2019 |  CerveloS5 2022 |  |  SpecializedTarmac SL8 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stackmm | 565 | 565 | 565 | 544−21 |
| Reachmm | 391 | 392+1 | 392+1 | 384−7 |
| Head tube angle° | 73.5 | 73.0−0.5 | 72.3−1.2 | 73.0−0.5 |
| Seat tube angle° | 73.5 | 73.0−0.5 | 73.5 | 74.0+0.5 |
| Chainstaymm | 405 | 410+5 | 410+5 | 410+5 |
| Wheelbasemm | 991 | 994+3 | 1000+9 | 978−13 |
| BB dropmm | 72 | 70−2 | 69−3 | 72 |
| BB heightmm | — | — | — | 268 |
| Standovermm | — | — | — | 768 |
| Part | Tarmac SL6 56 | S5 56 | Teammachine SLR 56 | Tarmac SL8 54 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
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