Specialized has released the S-Works Tarmac SL8 Artist Series, featuring artwork from Pieter 'Parra' Janssen, Yoon Hyup and Lucas Beaufort on its flagship road frame.
The brand says it has chosen to work with the artists, who are cyclists themselves, to draw on their experiences on and off the bike.
Specialized claims each design expresses a different relationship to movement, colour, rhythm and the feeling of riding the bike.
The S-Works Tarmac SL8 Artist Series frames are priced at £4,999, and once they’re gone, they’re gone forever.
We’ve seen other brands work with artists to turn their bikes into rolling canvases, with Canyon’s MyCanyon Aeroad available with artwork from Felipe Pantone and Elena Salmistraro.
Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8 Parra
Specialized says the Parra-designed bike draws from the colourful 90s cycling culture that first inspired Pieter Janssen, reimagined through his signature curvy, hand-drawn style.
The frame is said to carry the feeling of blasting through colour at high velocity, layered with hidden typography and redrawn elements waiting to be discovered.
It's said to reflect the clarity Janssen finds on the bike and the surge of the cycling high, resulting in a design that feels electric, modern and unmistakably Parra.
Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8 Yoon Hyup
The brand says Yoon Hyup’s frame captures the sensation of moving fast through the city – quiet, sharp and stealthy in motion.
It’s said to be inspired by dawn and night rides where streetlights stretch ahead like a runway, the design reflecting the blur of night-chase energy as speed turns into flow.
There are hand-painted textures and hidden elements that are said to be drawn from Hyup's riding life, bringing his signature rhythm to the SL8.
Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8 Lucas Beaufort
Specialized says this frame is shaped by a style rooted in life and experience, carrying hidden layers meant for each rider’s interpretation.
It is said to encourage curiosity, openness and the confidence to follow your own path with joy and hope.
