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Today’s Deals2021 Specialized
S-Works Aethos - Founder's Edition
A carbon frame race bike with ultra high-end components and shimano dura-ace hydraulic disc brakes.
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Manufacturer Price
$14,500| Frame | Carbon |
|---|---|
| Fork | Carbon |
| Wheels | 700c Carbon |
| Drivetrain | 2 × 11 Electronic |
| Groupset | Dura-Ace Di2 |
| Power Meter | Dura-Ace |
| Brakes | Shimano Dura-Ace Hydraulic Disc |
5'1" – 5'5"
5'3" – 5'7"
5'5" – 5'9"
5'7" – 6'0"
5'10" – 6'2"
6'0" – 6'4"
🐐 Estimated
Summary
The Specialized Aethos is celebrated for its exceptional lightweight design, superb ride quality, and precise handling, making it a standout in the race category. Its frame, one of the lightest available, offers a perfect balance of stiffness and comfort, excelling in climbing and descending. While it boasts understated aesthetics and high-performance features, some reviews note limitations like non-tubeless wheels and a high price point.
One of the lightest frames available, enhancing climbing performance
Superb ride quality with a perfect balance of stiffness and comfort
Precise and intuitive handling, excellent for both climbing and descending
Understated aesthetics with high-performance features
Generous tire clearance and traditional standards for ease of maintenance
Non-tubeless wheels and tires limit potential
High price point may deter some buyers
Limited to electronic groupsets, restricting customization options
Some models may feel too twitchy for certain riders
This $4,800, 17.2-pound Aethos—the base model—is one of the finest road bikes, of any price, I’ve ridden in my long testing career.Bicycling
Much like an iPhone, it appears sleek and minimal on the outside, but with incredible technology and performance hiding inside.
BikerumorThe Aethos is crazy light.
Canadian Cycling MagazineIt’s one of a small number of test bikes I’ve missed since the day I handed it back.
Cycling TipsThe result is the new Specialized Aethos. A concept that goes against the status quo and may revolutionise how bikes are designed and built in the future.
Cycling NewsFeedback?
View all reviews
Dec 2021 · Leon Poultney
We spend time with Specialized's latest lightweight, high-performance road bike that seemingly excels in all areas.
Climbs like a champion
Impossibly light
Stylish
Effortless to ride
The price
Looks better in rowdier colours
Limited wheel options
Lacks aero touches some might demand
Sep 2021 · David Kennedy
When you stop listening to the pros and focus on the people, bikes like the Open MIN.D. and Specialized Aethos are the result
May 2021 · James Spender
The Aethos is virtually the perfect bike, from its razor handling to incredible climbing. If only it had tubeless wheels and cost a bit less
Light and stiff
Incredible climber
Fantastic handling
Clincher-only wheels
Apr 2021 · Benjamin Topf
Hardly any aerodynamic features, cable integration or even mounting points, other than for two bottles: the list of things that the Specialized S-Works Aethos doesn't have is long. Does this reductionist concept work during the test or does this bike not stand a chance against the competition? Find out here.
Balanced and intuitive handling
Most light-footed and willing acceleration in the test
Minimal weight without the usual disadvantages
High level of comfort
Average efficiency on the flats
Limited mounting point
Apr 2021 · Matt Phillips
It sells for $4,800, but it rides like a million bucks.
Dec 2020 · Liam Cahill
What a bike. If you have the cash and don't care about aero, buy it
Incredible ride
Low weight
Excellent stiffness
Perfect handling
Gets most of the tech from the S-Works
No power meter
Expensive
Oct 2020 · Tyler Benedict
The earth-shatteringly lightweight Specialized Aethos has very quickly added two new models. They’re more affordable, and they’re both still really light. The Aethos Pro and Aethos Expert road bikes share the same new molds and tube shapes, but use a slightly more standard layup to bring prices starting at less than half of the S-Works’ […]
Oct 2020 · George Scott
Aero is everything, except where the Aethos is concerned
Exceptionally light frame, pin-sharp handling, 32mm tyre clearance, practical build for everyday riding
No tubeless compatibility, minimum £10k pricing
| Frame | S-Works Aethos FACT 12r Carbon, Rider First Engineered™, Threaded BB, Electronic cable routing only, 12x142mm thru-axle, flat-mount disc BB Standard: BSA, 68mm, Threaded Color: Satin Brushed Liquid Silver / Holographic |
|---|---|
| Fork | S-Works FACT Carbon, 12x100mm thru-axle, flat-mount disc |
| Bottom Bracket | Shimano Dura-Ace, BB-R9100 |
| Handlebar | Roval Alpinist Cockpit, one-piece bar/stem combo, carbon |
| Saddle | Body Geometry S-Works Romin Evo, Carbon Fiber Rails, Carbon Fiber Base |
| Seatpost | Roval Alpinist Carbon Seatpost Type: Rigid |
| Rear Derailleur | Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9150, 11-speed |
|---|---|
| Front Derailleur | Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9150, braze-on |
| Crank | Shimano Dura-Ace R9100, HollowTech 2, 11-speed, Dual-sided Powermeter, 52/36T |
| Power Meter | Shimano Dura-Ace R9100, HollowTech 2, 11-speed, Dual-sided Powermeter, 52/36T |
| Shifters | Shimano Dura-Ace R9170, hydraulic disc |
| Cassette | Shimano Dura-Ace R9100, 11-speed, 11-30t |
| Chain | Shimano Dura-Ace, 11-speed |
| Brakes | Front: Shimano Dura-Ace R9170, hydraulic disc, Rear: Shimano Dura-Ace R9170, hydraulic disc Type: Shimano Dura-Ace Hydraulic Disc |
| Rims | Front: Roval Alpinist CLX, 21mm internal width carbon rim, 33mm depth, Win Tunnel Engineered, Roval AFD hub, 21h, DT Swiss Aerolite spokes, Rear: Roval Alpinist CLX, 21mm internal width carbon rim, 33mm depth, Win Tunnel Engineered, Roval AFD hub, 24h, DT Swiss Aerolite spokes |
|---|---|
| Tires | Front: Turbo Cotton - Black Sidewall, 320 TPI, 700x26mm, Rear: Turbo Cotton - Black Sidewall, 320 TPI, 700x26mm |
First added March 26
Last updated June 11
Not listed for 738 days