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 riders who bought Trek for weight before the Madone absorbed this brief. Compare stack/reach to the Madone SLR on current years.
The lightweight Trek race bike of the 2010s–early 2020s: rounder tubes than the Madone, a sharp climb, and less aero drama. Later years sit close to Madone numbers.
Climbers and riders who want a light Specialized that isn't a full aero race bike. Not an endurance bike.
A lightweight road bike without the Tarmac's aero brief. It climbs and floats; it does not try to be a Tarmac SL7 in a crosswind. The position is still race-adjacent, not Roubaix-tall.
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.
| Measurement |  SpecializedTarmac SL8 2024 |  TrekEmonda SL 2024 |  SpecializedAethos 2022 |  SpecializedTarmac SL9 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stackmm | 544 | 570+26 | 565+21 | 544 |
| Reachmm | 384 | 387+3 | 387+3 | 384 |
| Head tube angle° | 73.0 | 73.5+0.5 | 73.5+0.5 | 72.5−0.5 |
| Seat tube angle° | 74.0 | 73.3−0.7 | 73.5−0.5 | 74.0 |
| Chainstaymm | 410 | 410 | 410 | 410 |
| Wheelbasemm | 978 | 990+12 | 991+13 | 986+8 |
| BB dropmm | 72 | 70−2 | 72 | 72 |
| BB heightmm | 268 | — | — | 268 |
| Standovermm | 768 | — | — | 767−1 |
| Part | Tarmac SL8 54 | Emonda SL 56 | Aethos 56 | Tarmac SL9 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 |
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 ...
Step forward the Specialized Aethos. I reviewed this thing in the Pro model and I was rather smitten. The ride is sublime, the weight for a disc brake road bike ...
It's reliable, intuitive and offers sensible gearing ratios that allow extensive range without big jumps. Specialized Aethos Comp. (Image credit: Future). I ...