Specialized reveals Tarmac SL6 range

There’s a new Specialized Tarmac in town. It’s designated the SL6 to continue Specialized’s previous naming protocol, but the company just want it to be called Tarmac, giving an all-embracing, familial feel.

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Rather than building an aero, climbing or all-round bike, Specialized wanted the new Tarmac to be more versatile and equally effective on all-road terrain.

This rider first engineered Tarmac range uses specific carbon layups for different frame sizes. Instead of the SL5’s differing fork sizes across frame sizes, the SL6 fork has a short crown height and 1.5” lower bearing, plus the steerer tube’s internal taper varies by frame size.

Chris Yu, director of integrated technologies at Specialized explains that the new Tarmac has been influenced by what the brand’s learnt from the pros who have ridden the bike to success over the years. “If we are honest, racing is getting crazier, in terms of demands. The exact same three week stage race is getting faster on the flats, harder on the descents and steeper on the climbs, all the extremes have gotten more extreme.

“Up to now we have served our riders well with different bikes, sometimes the ideal would be different bikes on the same stage, so as Tarmac is racing it really has to be at the top of its game on most terrain,” he continued.

Aero improvements

Comparing the new Tarmac with other current non-aero bikes of a similar weight, Specialized says it’s 45 seconds faster over 10km. When compared to other bikes with similar aerodynamic performance, the Tarmac frameset is 200g lighter. The brand says it’s the equivalent of swapping from box section aluminium rims to deep aero carbon rims in frameset evolution terms.

The major areas for development were the fork, dropped seatstays, seat tube and seatpost shaping. The result sees a slimmer, lighter fork, dropped seatstays for increased rear compliance, a smaller rear triangle, improved aerodynamics and a D-shaped seatpost with two different carbon layups. This makes it stiffer in the lower half to deal with clamping forces and more compliant in the upper half for improved comfort.

Modern racers want a bike that at least has aerodynamic consideration within its design, so Specialized looked for aero benefits that wouldn’t compromise the Tarmac’s historical qualities or add weight.

Light weight considerations

With a claimed weight of 733g (+/- 20g to allow for manufacturing tolerances) for a 56cm S-Works frame, this new Tarmac is the lightest frame Specialized has ever made.

Yu says: “The one main criticism we had with the previous Tarmac from the pros was weight. It’s still a light bike, but once you strap on all the power meter, bottles, cages, non-standard parts (from other sponsors) it’s not quite the same, so that had to be a big consideration on the new bike.”

Using a new construction method and means of designing new tube shapes, 30g was shaved from the bottom bracket shell alone. This was achieved by removing the built-in carbon sleeve and internal cable guide tray, and using a light, removable sleeve instead.

The down tube now only has a single cable port on top of the tube, behind the head tube, with various cable guide or blanking plates available — depending on the drivetrain used.

The brakes are now direct mount front and rear, which Specialized tells us is for improved tyre clearance, better aerodynamics and improved brake performance, especially on modern, wider carbon rims.

There’s no rear brake bridge, just a carbon booster plate fixed with titanium bolts. The mech hanger has been made lighter and the new bike has clearance for up to 30mm tyres.

The first bike in the new range that will be available is the S-Works Tarmac Ultralight, and there will only be 600 released globally.

The complete bike comes with ee brakes, Roval CLX32 wheelset, a special lightweight paint weighing only 10g, and reflective decals. With the S-Works carbon crank and Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 it’s claimed to have a total weight of 6.2kg.

The range includes four complete men’s bikes, two complete women’s machines, three frameset options for men and one women.

Models

Women’s S-Works Tarmac

• S-Works Tarmac SL6 FACT 12r carbon, sizes 44-56cm, S-Works FACT carbon fork
• S-Works SL bar and stem
• Shimano Dura-Ace direct mount brakes
• Shimano Dura-Ace Di2
• S-Works carbon crankset
• Roval CLX50 wheels with Specialized Turbo Cotton 26mm tyres
• S-Works FACT carbon Tarmac seatpost

• Price: £9,000 / $TBC / AU$TBC

Women’s Tarmac Expert

• Tarmac SL6 FACT 10r carbon
• S-Works FACT carbon fork
• Specialized Pro SL stem, Expert bar
• Shimano Ultegra
• Roval SLX24 wheelset with S-Works Turbo 26mm tyres
• S-Works FACT carbon Tarmac seatpost, Oura Expert Gel saddle

• Price: £3,500 / $TBC / AU$TBC

Women’s S-Works Tarmac frameset

• S-Works Tarmac SL6 FACT 12r carbon, sizes 44-56cm
• S-Works FACT carbon fork
• S-Works FACT carbon Tarmac seatpost

• Price: £3,250 / $TBC / AU$TBC

Men’s S-Works Tarmac Ultralight

• S-Works Tarmac SL6 FACT 12r carbon, sizes 49-61cm, S-Works FACT carbon fork
• S-Works SL bar and stem
• eecycleworks direct mount brakes
• Shimano Dura-Ace Di2
• S-Works carbon crankset
• Roval CLX32 wheels with Specialized Turbo Cotton 26mm tyres
• S-Works FACT carbon Tarmac seatpost, S-Works Toupe saddle

• Price: £9,500 / $TBC / AU$TBC

Men’s S-Works Tarmac

• As above, but with conventional paint, Dura-Ace direct mount brakes and Roval CLX50 wheelset
• S-Works FACT carbon Tarmac seatpost, S-Works Toupe saddle

• Price: £9,000 / $TBC / AU$TBC

Men’s Tarmac Pro

• Tarmac SL6 FACT 10r carbon
• S-Works FACT carbon fork
• Specialized Pro SL stem, Expert bar
• Shimano Ultegra Di2 with Ultegra direct mount brakes
• S-Works carbon crankset
• Roval CL50 wheelset with S-Works Turbo 26mm tyres
• S-Works FACT carbon Tarmac seatpost, Toupe Expert Gel saddle

• Price: £5,750 / $TBC / AU$TBC

Men’s Tarmac Expert

• Tarmac SL6 FACT 10r carbon
• S-Works FACT carbon fork
• Specialized Pro SL stem, Expert bar
• Shimano Ultegra
• Roval SLX24 wheelset with S-Works Turbo 26mm tyres
• S-Works FACT carbon Tarmac seatpost, Toupe Expert Gel saddle

• Price: £3,500 / $TBC / AU$TBC

Men’s S-Works Tarmac frameset

• S-Works Tarmac SL6 FACT 12r carbon, sizes 49-61cm, five colour options
• S-Works FACT carbon fork
• S-Works FACT carbon Tarmac seatpost

• Price: £3,250 / $TBC / AU$TBC

Men’s S-Works Tarmac Sagan Superstar frameset

• S-Works Tarmac SL6 FACT 12r carbon, sizes 49-61cm
• S-Works FACT carbon fork
• S-Works FACT carbon Tarmac seatpost

• Price: £3,350 / $TBC / AU$TBC

Men’s S-Works Tarmac Ultralight frameset

• S-Works Tarmac SL6 FACT 12r carbon, sizes 49-61cm, 10g paint finish
• S-Works FACT carbon fork
• S-Works FACT carbon Tarmac seatpost

• Price: £3,450 / $TBC / AU$TBC