Sometimes it helps:
Weird that they used the Trek Supercaliber color way for the Tarmac Sport
…gross
What about Orbea Orca? People riding it love it, but I almost never read bout it here.
Wait what? Are you sure you didn’t make a typo? Ultegra DI2 with alloy wheels… 5799 euro’s?
That’s rather expensive if it’s still alloy wheels, not? Isn’t it 4799 then?
Guess that Shimano will do 12 speed on DA first, then take at least another year before it gets to Ultegra. For me Ultegra Di2 is the sweetspot in the groupset market - awesome shifting, braking and durability in all conditions, and I’m not rich enough and/or skinny enough to justify that much additional spending to save a few hundred grams.
I certainly need a new bike before 2022, prefer Shimano to SRAM, and by 2022 there will no doubt be some new technology about to be launched. Wireless Shimano? Shimano with build-in PM? New tubeless standard? So kind of figure it’s never worth waiting unless it’s something that’s a real game changer. Disc brakes might fall into that category depending on the terrain and conditions you ride, but a 12th gear certainly doesn’t!
That’s a really good answer and I agree with you in most of your thoughts but let me ask you something else, if you were about to buy a tarmac pro with di2, would you get the 2020 model with a 25% off or the new one that’s coming next week?
For me 100% buy the SL7. I would much prefer to have the newest possible model as opposed to the last of the older model.
I would (and will) do the same! Even though the SL6 is a great (best bike I used so far) bike. I hope the 7 is not like the 5, but it is the improved 6 from a ride quality
I’m sorry but what happened with the sl5?
Going by the number of people on this thread going after the sworks so have lots of disposable income…
Doesn’t seem like there is enough known about the new bike as no one has really used it to be able to make the call if its worth spending over $1000 more to get. Other then being the previous model is there anything wrong with the 2020 version?
FWIW I got a SL6 Pro in March and absolutely love it.
Maybe I’m slightly biased but before getting the SL6 I really wanted a fully integrated cockpit and felt I was settling but I actually prefer the look of the SL6 to the leaked SL7s.
I like your answers and no, there is nothing wrong, at least that I know, about the pro di2 2020.
It’s everything about the colors, mayb some less weight that’s something that’s need to be confirmed, the wheels, maybe goes with the aero handlebar and I don’t know if will be any other thing different in the new model.
The thing that I have seen is that some people is already selling their 2020 model for 2k euros less than the real price just to get the new one.
Less than a week to know everything and check reviews.
If you race and marginal gains are important to you the SL7 will most likely be better. Think in terms of the difference between the current tarmac and venge. Weight could be less, but probably not significant. If you’re that worried about a small change in weight seems like a Sworks SL7 might still be less then a pro sl6. Some people have to have the latest which can be a great time to take advantage of that and buy the unwanted older stuff.
Buying used does have a disadvantage. Lifetime frame warranty only applies to the original owner:
https://support.specialized.com/home/warranty/faqs/where-can-i-view-the-complete-warranty-policy
But make sure you get the original proof of purchase so you can get some benefit if it breaks
https://support.specialized.com/home/warranty/faqs/what-is-the-assisted-replacement-program
Me, I want to get a new bike to partially replace my Fuji Gran Fondo but while a tarmac may be great, still need to test ride multiple bikes to make sure the geometry suits me and so is comfortable for me. Hard to do that during covid.
The SL5 just wasn’t for me. I had (and have) a Chavanel SL4. Fitted like a glove. Stif and fast. Bought a Kwiato Sl5 had a crash and needed a replacement frame. All black. Looked okay, but never had the feeling on this bike like on the SL4. Cannot tell what it is, but the bike just did not do what I wanted it to. Maybe it was the extra compliance they gave the bike? Maybe it was because I did not pick the bike, but it was a replacement. Switched to the SL 6 Disc when it came out (frustrating long wait…) and fel in love with the bike. Best I ever road. Close to 30.000 km now. It is fast, stif, easy to ride on long rides, love the disc brakes (even on the flats I brake later), tru axels make the steering a dream, it just works. Only the way the cables look on the front… I have seen and touched the SL7 in real life and it is a beauty. Looking forward to the first ride. Hope I am not just disliking odd number Tarmacs ![]()
Love my SL6 that I got last year. I for sure seeing this being my top of the line bike for a very long time. I can honestly say I will ride this thing into the ground before replacing.
Pretty sure we have all said that…lemme translate that - I’m getting a new bike next year!!
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If it really is a 25% difference and they have availability in your size I’d be massively tempted by the 2020 model which is still a great bike.
Guess it really depends what your motivation for getting a new bike is and what will make you happy. The reality is that bike purchases are mostly emotional - if it was a bang for buck decision we’d all be riding something like a 105-equipped Specialized Allez Sprint. I can’t see anything about the SL7 that makes it 25% better than the SL6, but if you can (just about) afford it and it puts a smile on your face then it’s worth every penny!
I’m a guy who grew up in the bike biz and spent YEARS riding the latest and the greatest…always had the latest grouppo, wheelset, etc. The reality is that none of it made me any faster…
In today’s bike world, I simply can’t fathom spending the kind of duckets new bikes cost…so if you can pick up last year’s tech at a steep discount, you grab it IMO w/o looking back.
(I’m the same way with my golf stuff…I see guys rushing out to buy new drivers every year while I grab last year’s model at less than 1/2 retail. We still hit the same distances as we always did.
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Yeah I’m choosing between a 2020 Allez and Tarmac Sport.
At the same time, if you got the dough, and love bikes, I totally getting wanting to ride the latest and greatest. It’s not about need.