Bikes up to 60% offWe monitor over 40,000 bikes daily to find the best prices

Today’s Deals

2021 Specialized

Aethos Frameset

A carbon frame race frameset.

Manufacturer Price

3 399 €
FrameCarbon
ForkCarbon
Wheels700c
Where to Buy
Similar Bikes
Top Comparison
Insights
Sizing
49cm

155cm – 163cm

52cm

161cm – 169cm

54cm

166cm – 175cm

56cm

172cm – 181cm

58cm

178cm – 186cm

61cm

183cm – 191cm

🐐 Estimated

Rider Fit Notes
  • 180cm, size 56cm, Just right
  • 185cm, size 61cm, Just right
Reviews

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.

Pros
  • 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

Cons
  • 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

Key Quotes
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.
Bikerumor logoBikerumor
The Aethos is crazy light.
Canadian Cycling Magazine logoCanadian Cycling Magazine
It’s one of a small number of test bikes I’ve missed since the day I handed it back.
Cycling Tips logoCycling Tips
The 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 News logoCycling News

Feedback?

View all reviews

The Gear Loop
Specialized S-Works Aethos review

déc. 2021 · Leon Poultney

We spend time with Specialized's latest lightweight, high-performance road bike that seemingly excels in all areas.

Highs
  • Climbs like a champion

  • Impossibly light

  • Stylish

  • Effortless to ride

Lows
  • The price

  • Looks better in rowdier colours

  • Limited wheel options

  • Lacks aero touches some might demand

Read Review

BikeRadar
Specialized Aethos Comp review

nov. 2021 · Warren Rossiter

If you want one of the lightest frames around but don’t want to shout about it, the Aethos is a canny buy

Highs
  • Lightning-fast handling

  • Understated looks

  • Flyweight frame

Lows
  • Wheelset and tyres limit the potential of the frame

Read Review

Road Bike Action
SPECIALIZED S-WORKS AETHOS VS. OPEN CYCLE MIN.D. - Road Bike Action

sept. 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

Read Review

Cycling Tips
Specialized Aethos Comp review: More affordable, more weight, still magical - CyclingTips

août 2021 · James Huang

Even an extra 100 g and heavy parts can’t dull this frame's luster.

Highs
  • Superb chassis efficiency and handling, excellent ride quality, generous tire clearance, classically understated aesthetics, headache-free cable routing, proprietary (almost) nothing, SRAM Rival AXS works just as well as Red and Force.

Lows
  • Heavier than some might like, mediocre (and poorly built) wheelset, almost impossible to get.

Read Review

Cyclist
Specialized S-Works Aethos review

mai 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

Highs
  • Light and stiff

  • Incredible climber

  • Fantastic handling

Lows
  • Clincher-only wheels

Read Review

Gran Fondo Magazine
The Specialized S-Works Aethos in review

avr. 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.

Highs
  • Balanced and intuitive handling

  • Most light-footed and willing acceleration in the test

  • Minimal weight without the usual disadvantages

  • High level of comfort

Lows
  • Average efficiency on the flats

  • Limited mounting point

Read Review

Bicycling
Specialized’s Aethos Comp Rival eTap AXS Is So Good, It’ll Scramble Your Brain

avr. 2021 · Matt Phillips

It sells for $4,800, but it rides like a million bucks.

Read Review

Bikerumor
Review: Specialized Aethos Pro road bike outperforms (and redefines) its category

janv. 2021 · Tyler Benedict

The Specialized Aethos Pro might just be the perfect road bike...fast, comfortable, and extremely lightweight. What's not to like?

Read Review

Geometry
Specs
Build
Frame

Aethos FACT 10R Carbon, Rider First Engineered™, Threaded BB, 12x142mm thru-axle, flat-mount disc

BB StandardBSA, 68mm, Threaded

ColorsSatin Carbon / Flake Silver; Gloss Abalone / Satin Holographic

Fork

FACT Carbon, 12x100mm thru-axle, flat-mount disc

Bottom Bracket

BSA, 68mm, threaded

Seatpost

Roval Alpinist Carbon Seatpost

TypeRigid

Rider Notes
Riders Also Viewed

First added 26 mars

Last updated 8 octobre

Not listed for 1,699 days