Specialized is one of the most well-known bike brands in the world, and for more than a decade, the Tarmac has been the brand's flagship race bike. Despite a seven-year stint in which it shared the top spot with the aero Venge, the Tarmac has always been the brand's best road bike. That became even more definitive when in 2020, the brand killed off the Venge, saying the Tarmac SL7 was the 'one bike to rule them all.'
The Tarmac SL8 is the next evolution of that bike, and since its launch in August 2023, I've ridden it in several guises. First in its S-Works version, with Dura-Ace Di2, Roval's Rapide CLX II wheels and the one-piece Roval Rapide cockpit. Next came the 'Specialized' frame, complete with Force AXS, a two-piece bar and stem, and the cheaper Roval Rapide CL wheels. And most recently I've been back aboard the S-Works frame, again with the Rapide CLX wheels and the Rapide cockpit, but with the latest Red AXS groupset.
