Tarmac SL4 - Review

My new 2012 Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL4

I've ridden Specialized Tarmacs almost since their first incarnation way back in 2005. I've owned every single full carbon model (with a Giant in between for good measure!) The SL3's been my trusty steed for 18 months now, even after test riding all the 2012 Giants I felt this was where I wanted to be!

Along comes the Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL4.


The first thing you might think - it's been said to me several times "it doesn't look much different to an SL3". In a way they're right, it's still your typical Specialized Tarmac shape.... but that's where the similarities end.

That top-tube is huge!

Di2 looks much neater as does OSBB

First off it's a fair bit beefier, the SL3 had large tubes at the front end, but the top tube of the SL4 makes it look anorexic! The stays are probably the next thing you'll notice, the stance is a lot wider and the shape changes as you reach the seat tube, almost flattening at the top.
The huge downtube allows Di2 cables to run internally and the brake runs along the inside of the top tube (just remember rubber doughnuts inside!). The whole Di2 integration looks very neat, I just need to bungs to finish it off!

Huge stays as ever and much better dropouts

There's a few more subtle differences too, such as the dropouts - my SL3 used to be a nightmare with a Di2 mech on, this has no such issues.

So enough about how it looks, how does it ride?

This is where I stumble. I can't find a single word to sum it up. Every time I try and describe one characteristic, I lead on to another. I cannot find a superlative good enough!

Lets start with the thing which people comment on most when they ride it. It's smooth. You'd think a full on race-bike is going to be harsh, but this isn't. Specialized have obviously learnt a lot from the Roubaix and put it into the Tarmac, but in just the right amount. Personally I find the Roubaix a bit overkill in terms of smoothness, I like to feel the road, but it suits many people. The Tarmac, for me has hit the nail on the head. It's balanced front and rear, those stays ironing out the vibrations, but you can still feel the road as you should.

Cobra Headtube

Rear stance is much wider

Which leads me on to the front end.... Specialized slimmed down the headtube, but at the same time stiffened it up. It's noticeably a lot more grown-up in the handling compared to the SL3, more composed, more confidence inspiring. It's hugely stiff, but you don't ever feel like you're fighting the stiffness. One thing that astounded me about the new fork isn't the comfort or tracking, but the braking. In fact, both front and rear braking on this bike is the best I have ever encountered. I've run Dura-Ace brakes on many bikes, nothing compares to this.


As you'd expect from a race bike, the rear end is stiff too. As I've mentioned it's compliant and smooth, but if you want to put the power down it will respond -  it will respond with no hassle, no fuss until you want to stop. This is the only bike I've ridden which just wants to keep going harder than you do! I typically sprint up a climb, set a telegraph pole as a finish line... and give up 80% of the way there.  Well I did do until I rode the SL4, I keep riding past the "finish line" now, the bike just won't give in!

These stays are a masterpiece!

You may have noticed I've not really mentioned weight, it comes in at around 15lb, a bit more with deep sections shown. It's not superlight (especially with a reliable build like mine), Specialized themselves haven't shouted much about the weight, but it's the ride that out-shines the 50g weight saving over the SL3.

Obviously £2500 is a lot of money for a frameset, so it should really be a very good bike, but this just keeps making me smile every time I ride it! I must have clocked up nearly 400 miles in just over a week on it and I still cannot find a fault, this is without a doubt the best race bike I have ever ridden.