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Today’s Deals2015 Specialized
Tarmac Expert
A carbon frame race bike with high-end components and shimano ultegra rim brakes.
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| Frame | Carbon |
|---|---|
| Fork | Carbon |
| Wheels | 700c Aluminum |
| Drivetrain | 2 × 11 |
| Groupset | Ultegra |
| Brakes | Shimano Ultegra Rim |
Summary
The Specialized Tarmac is celebrated for its race-ready performance, offering a blend of stiffness, aerodynamics, and handling precision across its model family. It features size-specific designs for optimal performance, with improvements in comfort and aerodynamics over previous generations. While some models may carry additional weight or have component limitations, the Tarmac consistently delivers a responsive and engaging ride.
Steady and calm frame even at high speeds
Improved handling across all sizes
Size-specific frames for optimal performance
Stiff racing frame with powerful sprinting ability
Comfortable ride with excellent vibration damping
Larger frames are a bit heavier than their predecessors
Disc-brake frames weigh about 80 grams more than rim-brake versions
Lower-grade carbon construction compared to range-topper
Heavy wheels slow it down
The bike is so distinct from previous versions that Specialized considered calling it something other than TarmacBicycling
With the latest Tarmac, Specialized has shown that improving a bike, even a race model designed to win the Tour de France, requires more than increasing stiffness and reducing weightBicycling
It's simply a very good road bike, with an emphasis on speed and that highly tuned handling that has been developed on the racing circuit making it a lot of fun to ride.
road.ccBest handling bike I’ve ever ridden
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Aug 2016 · Marc Abbott
The Specialized Tarmac Sport has the race-ready geometry of its bigger brothers but does it deliver at this price?
Stiff racing frame
Heavy wheels slow it down
Jun 2016 · Warren Rossiter
A sharp-handling, firm-yet-forgiving race machine that’s seriously fun to ride. Buy if you want a fine-handling race rig that’s a blast to ride
Sorted handling that the tarmac is famous for, luxury tyres
Brakes could be a little sharper
May 2016 · Lennard Zinn
Any discussion about best bike in the pro peloton has to include the S-Works Tarmac. As a brand, Specialized is polarizing; as a designer and builder of
Oct 2015 · Kristen Legan
Specialized unveils the special world champion edition S-Works Tarmac that Peter Sagan will ride in the Abu Dhabi Tour and next season.
Sep 2015
While the pro peloton is only just starting to experiment with disc brakes, consumers have had access to road disc bikes for a few years. Specialized was an early adopter however a pure-bred race bike with disc brakes was missing from their catalogue until recently. In this review, CTech editor Matt Wikstrom compares
Mar 2015 · Andre Cheuk
Just in for testing is the Specialized new S-Works Tarmac Disc, a brand new model for 2015. The S-Works Tarmac Disc shares identical geometry with its
Mar 2015 · David Arthur @davearthur
Racing heritage shines through with sparkling ride backed up by no-nonsense build
Jun 2014 · Matt Phillips
The new generation of the Tarmac is unlike anything else on the road
| Frame | Specialized FACT 10r carbon, FACT construction, tapered/shaped 1-1/8"" to size-specific lower head tube, compact race design, internal cable routing BB Standard: BB30, Press Fit |
|---|---|
| Fork | S-Works FACT carbon, full monocoque, size-specific taper |
| Bottom Bracket | BB30, press-fit |
| Headset | 1-1/8"" upper, size-specific lower, stainless steel cartridge bearings, 8mm carbon cone spacer, w/ 25mm carbon spacers |
| Stem | S-Works SL, alloy, 4-bolt, 6-degree rise |
| Handlebar | Specialized Expert, shallow drop, alloy, 123mm drop, 75mm reach |
| Saddle | Body Geometry Toupé Expert Gel, hollow Ti rails, 143mm |
| Seatpost | S-Works FACT carbon, 20mm offset, 27.2mm Type: Rigid |
| Pedals | Nylon, loose ball bearings, w/ reflectors |
| Rear Derailleur | Shimano Ultegra, 11-speed |
|---|---|
| Front Derailleur | Shimano Ultegra, 11-speed, braze-on |
| Crank | FSA, carbon, BB30, 52/36 |
| Shifters | Shimano Ultegra, 11-speed |
| Cassette | Shimano Ultegra, 11-speed, 11-28t |
| Chain | Shimano Ultegra, 11-speed |
| Brakes | Front: Shimano Ultegra, Rear: Shimano Ultegra Type: Shimano Ultegra Rim |
| Rims | Front: Fulcrum S4, Rear: Fulcrum S4 |
|---|---|
| Tires | Front: Specialized Turbo Pro, 127TPI, folding bead, BlackBelt protection, 700x25c, Rear: Specialized Turbo Pro, 127TPI, folding bead, BlackBelt protection, 700x25c |
First added July 9
Last updated July 9
Not listed for 2,521 days