What’s really the difference in frame? Local shop says there is a definite difference in ride beyond weight, but I’m skeptical. I haven’t been able to ride both side by side to compare.
Thanks
Specialized has generally trickled down the frame technology when they introduce a new top model (SL4 now). I talked to a rep about my S Works SL a couple years ago, he said that when the SL2 came out the SL became the Pro. Not sure if this translates directly to the SL3 and SL4 but the current Pro model should be at least the same as the SL2 by now.
rich
I don’t think that’s the case with these. These are both SL4 bikes, and the shapes look the same externally. I really like the looks of the blacked out Pro, and the price with Red seems about right. The SWorks is a lot more dough, just curious what you actually get.
I wouldn’t ride the s-works if I were you. You save a ton of cash riding the Pro.
Seriously, the S-works has a livelier feel and are a little lighter. Everyone I know who rides the bikes back-to-back prefers the feel of the S-works. I ride the lower end stuff (pro, comp) because I just can’t justify the cost difference.
What’s really the difference in frame? Local shop says there is a definite difference in ride beyond weight, but I’m skeptical. I haven’t been able to ride both side by side to compare.
Thanks
I got the 2012 sworks tarmac… its sick… besides the weight, its stiffer and definitely snappy. I rode my buddys tarmac expert and its a world of difference. I swapped out the handle bar to zipp’s slc2. Thats the only mod I have on it.
Honestly, I dont think theres much of a price difference between the pro and the sworks… I would definitely go with sworks
How does your bike descend? I’m thinking about the s-works Tarmac just because I want a bike that descends well.
work on your descending skills=save a ton of cash 
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My road bike is really crappy. I’ve ridden an s2 and it was night and day. I felt safe going down hill. $$$ for perceived safety is worth it for me :).
fair enough…if you are gonna upgrade anyway you should check out both the Venge and the Wilier Zero 9, both handle beautifully (the Venge almost surprisingly so), throw on some 25mm tires and have at it
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I test rode both and could not tell the difference. So I got the cheaper one with Sram Red and it is truly a dream bike. Really, really love it and it is much much better than any other bike I have ever had. Ironically, trying out the more expensive bike was what convinced me to buy the “cheaper” one which was still about $2000 more than I intended to spend in the first place!
S-Works frames are generally two things - always - lighter and stiffer. This because they use a higher quality (higher modulus) carbon fiber. The reason that they are dramatically more expensive is that the carbon used to make them is dramatically more expensive. As with most things, you are paying a lot for a marginal increase in performance. Is it a MEANINGFUL increase in performance? I’ve given up trying to answer that question for other people. Likewise questions about “value.” The Pro is a great bike. You’d love it. And you’d also love the S-Works…
They are both great bikes.
Is budget an issue? Get the pro.
Is image an issue? Get the S-works.
They are both terrific frames. The Pro is at least 95% of what the s-works is, maybe more like 98-99%.
The pro with SRAM red andaluminum wheels is a great value for a great bike.
hard to say. i ride a sworks tarmac and love it. i’ve never ridden a Pro tho. honestly i’d be hard pressed to say there’s a huge difference except for $$$.
fair enough…if you are gonna upgrade anyway you should check out both the Venge and the Wilier Zero 9, both handle beautifully (the Venge almost surprisingly so), throw on some 25mm tires and have at it
So that’s my current dilemma! Venge vs Tarmac. I have a discount from the cycling team I’m on so I want to stick with specialized.
Venge is faster, but Tarmac is more comfortable and should descend better. The guy at the LBS told me that the XL Venge was pretty flexy.
I’m going to race the bike, but it’s not what I get my self worth from. If I lose it’s no big deal. I just want the bike that I will enjoy more. I’m also trying to figure out if I should get the pro vs sworks…
I’m leaning towards the s-works tarmac right now. I feel that since I own a bike related company I better get the s-works. That’s what I tell my wife too ;).
I took a Venge on a pretty significant test ride. Fast bike, no doubt. Good handling. Rough ride. I love the idea of aero road bikes but the ride quality isn’t there yet on the handful I’ve ridden. I preferred the Tarmac largely because of the better ride quality. The Venge sounded cool when up to speed.
I would like for guys that don’t work in test labs to refrain from making statements about what is - and is not - stiff. When a guy at an LBS says, “XYZ is ‘flexy,’” I just shake my head. It’s like hearing some dude with a trash can muffler talk about cornering grip on his tires.
The XL Venge is NOT “flexy.”
And descending performance is a function of geometry predominantly, which is essentially identical between the two (head tube heights are different as are some nuances of the basic frame geometry due to tube shapes, etc).
Good to know.
So if they descend the same, it sounds like its ride compliance on the Tarmac vs aero benefits of the venge.
Is that the major difference in your opinion rapp? I know they say the Tarmac is stiffer, but is it noticeable?
Maybe I could mitigate the compliance on the venge with 25mm tires in training?
I think I’ll be happy with either bike.
Ride both, buy the one you prefer, they’ll both go downhill about the same
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Since I’m a XL it’s tough to do that. They never have them in stock :(.
Jordan,
Realizing this may be a function of what you get given, what road bike are you riding these days?