Is the extra $5,000 worth it? Specialized Tarmac SL7 S-Works vs Pro

Рет қаралды 210,646

2 жыл бұрын

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Пікірлер: 491

@whatwelearned 2 жыл бұрын

It's been proven that the faster bike is the one with tan side walls

@TenSapphires 2 жыл бұрын

And gold chain adds 5 Watts!

@MrHellothisisme 2 жыл бұрын

False… it’s the red bike. Always the red bike.

@ruffrydazz2032 2 жыл бұрын

They're called "dick skins".

@JonReid 2 жыл бұрын

@@ruffrydazz2032 😂

@indusrtial 2 жыл бұрын

Aligned valve stem to logo adds another 5% of power as well.

@Joshua-dx7zn 2 жыл бұрын

This is basically what I heard: "If I crash, it isn't my bike". Man I need a sponsor.

@NorCalCycling 2 жыл бұрын

and that's basically what i said lol. i'm super lucky for sure, but i spent 10 years devoted to the sport, without any success, before i had any sponsors.

@geraldtone5914 2 жыл бұрын

@@NorCalCycling Jeff, what is your occupation?

@Joshua-dx7zn 2 жыл бұрын

@@NorCalCycling I'm not hating. I'm totally envious of your abilities and both bikes.

@JimUe1 2 жыл бұрын

I heard i'm gonna be winning crits. wow!

@Mollymollyboy 2 жыл бұрын

@@geraldtone5914 he's a freaking scientist. Fact. And he actually looks like Tony Stark! Haha

@stevengraham7627 2 жыл бұрын

This is the video we all wanted and no one else "in the industry" will make. Thanks!

@peterkiraly6699 2 жыл бұрын

U got me into cycling and now I cycle every day

@robthompson6674 2 жыл бұрын

Good stuff. I love "hacking" the cost of race bikes. I bought a used 2018 Tarmac SL6 with eTap for $2215, swapped the wheels from my old bike (ENVE SES 5.6 that I've trained/raced on for over 5 years, so that investment has more than paid off) and created a legit road rocket for less than the cost of the standard SL7 frameset. While I'm not competing in Pro 1/2 races, it has helped me reach occasional Cat 3 glory. Even better is hitting Strava PR's in my 50th year of life (beating times I set as a racer when I was 5-15 years younger RULES)

@AndrewCJXing 2 жыл бұрын

wow, that’s an amazing deal for a 2018 sl6 with etap.

@robthompson6674 2 жыл бұрын

@@AndrewCJXing It was in the "before times" (before supply chain issues) and it's rim brake (everyone wants disc) but it was a really good deal and has been a phenomenal race bike

@AndrewCJXing 2 жыл бұрын

@@robthompson6674 Oh I miss that time so much. But anyway, sl6 rim for 1 grand and eTap for another grand either it's force or red, is simply a no-brainer deal. Could you share some pictures of the bike?

@robthompson6674 2 жыл бұрын

@@AndrewCJXing No clue how to attach an image to a reply on KZfaq. Sorry.

@chiefrocker12 2 жыл бұрын

Enter the Allez Sprint, relatively cheap frame, rigid enough and ideal for crits. Fair test. Would like to see you get your hands on one

@davidnicholson6680 2 жыл бұрын

They're awesome bikes and standard issue for crit racers. An Allez Sprint with Rival AXS and Winspace Hypers is probably the best, fastest race bike for the money you're gonna find.

@bernardo9202 2 жыл бұрын

isnt the merida reacto or scultura a better option? for a first road bike?

@NorCalCycling 2 жыл бұрын

I think the allez sprint is a great choice, especially for not very technical or hilly crits. pair it with fast wheels/tires and that's a very capable setup.

@richardggeorge 2 жыл бұрын

@@bernardo9202FYI, Merida can't be sold in USA. They are the best value mainstream brand here in Australia last time I checked. If I was to buy new i would probably get a Reacto if there was sufficient tyre clearance.

@bernardo9202 2 жыл бұрын

@@richardggeorge yeah i know because of the deal with specialized whey yhey bought 20%. I was with same though, still looking for the domane or the cx trek released some time ago

@marshallman6591 2 жыл бұрын

I'm no A/V geek but I feel like editing all this takes a long time. At least to do it well like you've done here. Great content. Thanks.

@NorCalCycling 2 жыл бұрын

Much appreciated!

@stylgen 2 жыл бұрын

That was awesome! I just got my Favero Electronics Assioma Duo-Shi in yesterday and now I can finally train with power. Keep up the good work. You're videos are awesome!

@user-sc6wb7kg5d Жыл бұрын

Love the segment, super valuable for a casual rider like me to make an evidence-based decision about how much money to spend on a road bike. Keep them coming!

@hansthetix8053 2 жыл бұрын

Love your videos man. Short, simple, concise, and fun. Just how all contents should be!

@dutypaidrock 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Jeff for the honesty. For those questioning the accuracy - what, you think suddenly your 'improvements' are going to yield differences that can justify (and let's all remind ourselves here...) a $5,000 difference?! I can't even conceive of a performance increase that could justify that. PLEASE, let's all quit this delusion that we're getting 'value for money' from the bike industry. You're paying $5,000 for a decal. If that's how much you value 'street credibility', then knock yourselves out, but stop with the post hoc justification based on zero measurable value. They're skinning us alive and we're lapping it up like thirsty puppies [/mixedcliches], and so long as we do, they'll keep jacking the prices up every year for their "7% more aero performance" marketing claims.

@thomasvmanning 2 жыл бұрын

I mean, it was 2 pounds lighter. That ain't nothing. It's not significant for most people, but not nothing.

@NorCalCycling 2 жыл бұрын

it's lighter and comes with a faster wheel/tire setup, so the difference isn't nothing. if you're at the absolute peak of training/fitness, justifying the extra $$ might make sense. I hope my video makes that clear so people make informed purchase decisions.

@dutypaidrock 2 жыл бұрын

@@thomasvmanning $2,500 per lb. Just... no.

@marcalvarez4890 2 жыл бұрын

" a $5,000 difference?! I can't even conceive of a performance increase that could justify that." ...EPO, HGH, and steroids have entered the chat....

@ithanil4429 2 жыл бұрын

@@dutypaidrock What you seem to neglect is that $2,500 isn't worth the same to everyone. For some people it is literally pocket money, while others might need a long long time to save that up. So yeah, I think if you have to compromise any other aspect of your life to buy the $5000 bike frame (!) over one with much better value, it's not worth it at all.

@gabrieloperana2728 2 жыл бұрын

And the white sl7 pro to me definitely looks a lot cleaner, the paint on the sworks sure looks nice but a clean white bike is just chef's kiss worthy. And mind if I ask, but is the 2000$ racebike/setup video still coming? Love the content!

@NorCalCycling 2 жыл бұрын

yes, it's coming

@87togabito 2 жыл бұрын

I usually would prefer the Sworks. But I went with the pro this time because the white of the pro just, imo, looked so much better

@scottbaker5851 2 жыл бұрын

@@NorCalCycling I was told by Joe Bell a custom frame painter that white bikes are heavier. It takes more paint to cover the frame.

@tenderlovellcare 2 жыл бұрын

I really enjoy these videos. Thanks for all your content Jeff. Really enjoyable and really educational content. Much respect and kudos to you man. 🤙🏻

@EliCriffield 2 жыл бұрын

Please do 32c tires vs 25c tires, with a variety of pressures on the same course!

@s.jatighetchi9021 2 жыл бұрын

Thx Jeff. I’ve contemplating this question for awhile. This vlog absolutely answered all my questions made it clear to me. By the way, 5k difference in price in USD is more like 7k or 8k in CAD$ for me. Cheers and many thx on a great vlog. More content like this is greatly appreciated 👍😃

@DanielHernandezBC 2 жыл бұрын

Great video Jeff, just 2 things to improve on for the next tests: 1. Weight yourself before every run and make sure to weight the same (adjust with water). The body weight difference between runs due to sweat is usually a LOT more than you think (1lb+) 2. The difference in power between runs look small, but 3w on 300w is already a 1% difference. So you should try to take it into account in your conclusions, or try to make them exactly the same by looking at a "lap power" field in you garmin and adjunting throughout the run. I did a similar test in a video but with different PSI on the wheels, and had to take into account all these "small" details for the test to really be relevant.

@Thom4aa4s 2 жыл бұрын

At the end of the day, the results would still be the same. Small differences for an extra 5000$.

@bdoxsee 2 жыл бұрын

Nice info/video. I would have liked to see what the SWorks mounted with the SL7 wheels would reveal. I’d also like to see what a neutral low/mid profile wheelset on both bike would show weight, segment times and subjective “feel” of the two bikes.

@henrikmadsen6446 2 жыл бұрын

Jeff - I love this - do more of what you do. Just do what you find fun cuz that carries over to the content.

@pup5190 2 жыл бұрын

One of my favorite KZfaq channels. Seems like a real nice guy. Thanks for all the cool racing videos !

@channul4887 2 жыл бұрын

I love your in-depth, unbiased videos. Please do a full length feature on the SL7 "recall".

@8rk 2 жыл бұрын

Top end bikes from 5 years ago is also a great alternative. Last year I sold my S-Works SL7 to get a Rim brake supersix. Never been happier! Wallet is so much heavier though :P

@HaveAGoodHeart 2 жыл бұрын

tks so much. love your videos as always, short and sharp, full of solid substance!

@roadkill_toronto 2 жыл бұрын

The more people like yourself able to share info with a guy like myself who is currently unable is only going to help push things further farther and faster. Thanks.

@paulseandaniels5031 2 жыл бұрын

Love the video!!! Something different and definitely makes sense to upgrade on wheels or moving parts!

@huddlesteam 2 жыл бұрын

Not sure if you’ve done this before-would love to hear you thoughts and analysis on the latest tire trends and get your thoughts on how they impact speed and climbing. I’m thinking like tubeless vs. super light clincher/latex tubes setup, or something along those lines. I know there’s a lot of “tech” vlogs out there, but your real world experience would be really cool to see here!

@michaltreder 2 жыл бұрын

finally some product review and comparison! looking forward to see more!

@chrisw5483 2 жыл бұрын

Adding the music in now makes the videos super more pro. Love the video and the channel all the way from Auckland, New Zealand 🇳🇿

@ChristophPotzinger 2 жыл бұрын

I really enjoyed the video (which applies to all of your vids) and fully agree with your conclusion. Great job. I also like how you store your bikes. Is this a Thule rack from which you picked the SL7?

@bradleyleeper9517 Жыл бұрын

just rewatched this twice. Still one of my favorite videos on the tarmac differences

@mathewrose2951 2 жыл бұрын

I upgraded my ride to a Bianchi Oltre XR4 with all the DuraAce and Ceramicspeed goodies. I don't race, but I enjoy the livelier acceleration and (strangely) reduced harshness. I'd say that the bike subjectively "feels" like 10-15% better than what I'd had, but at double the cost. As a MAMIL, however, I'm okay with that. It's very subjective, but it works if it's worth it for you.

@Dramboli 2 жыл бұрын

SL7 pro just has this heavy groupset and this is the main reason it's loosing time uphill, otherwise it's nearly the same as the s-works model. Put a dura ace on it and I'm sure there will be no difference.

@ceazy1861 2 жыл бұрын

I appreciate the work that goes into your production

@cyclingchefglenn 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! Great content and comparison

@SR-fm1ft 2 жыл бұрын

Love your videos man keep up the great work.

@mgoldberg333 2 жыл бұрын

love these jeff - they make me a better and more informed cyclist.

@tieskuijpers936 2 жыл бұрын

Love the content Jeff! Keep it up!

@taylorbrasher4252 2 жыл бұрын

Love these comparisons! Hey what ever happened to the Couch to Crit series? I loved the theory but never saw any follow-up.

@TaylorSmith-tm3sz 2 жыл бұрын

Definitely glad you did this!

@avenc8516 2 жыл бұрын

Thank YOU Jeff for your channel and content

@BabisCharalamp 2 жыл бұрын

Brilliant, and I agree with the conclusion and advice at the end.

@ucdescents 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing this. Been following you since you had around 100 followers. Which road was this? I also live in the Bay Area.

@NorCalCycling 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for your support from the beginning!! steven's canyon road to redwood gulch

@tyleromeo 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Jeff for the video. This is exactly why I got the SL7 Pro (Di2) instead of the S-Works for $5000 more. I am not good enough to benefit from the 1-2% benefits and don't care about the S-Works badge on the frame to make me feel fast.

@MFASonic Жыл бұрын

True. Count me in. Still I always buy S-Works, just to make sure it is definitely me who failed, not the bike.

@czts4778 Жыл бұрын

Maybe on climbing it’s not just 1 to 2 percent difference. I’ll buy the sworks.

@justinossa7349 2 жыл бұрын

So jealous of your Garage. So neat and organized for the videos.

@justinossa7349 2 жыл бұрын

Also, Your welcome?

@victordominguez8362 2 жыл бұрын

Very good video. It is the same piece of advice that Pedro Delgado sais on Spanish TV many years ago. So you have confirmed the same thing than a former TdF winner. Btw I had followed his piece of advice.... and now yours. Thank you.

@peacejustice2116 2 жыл бұрын

Great video and analysis! Love the comparison. Interesting comment on “…miserable California winter….” . I will definitely trade my Boston winter to yours every day…😝

@smits7142 2 жыл бұрын

wheel setups are most important part of any bike, thats true in every discipline

@martinhudobivnik5895 2 жыл бұрын

This is so much more enjoyable to watch than the GCN tests.

@nuttynut722 2 жыл бұрын

yes, without all the stupid pump track

@darsweave 2 жыл бұрын

This was awesome man. The music was cool too!

@trevorfilipiak1247 2 жыл бұрын

S-Works exists so that the price on the "Pro" seems reasonable

@sheldonccp9947 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Jeff, Perhaps your thoughts on SRAM red vs Force and why you like SRAM over Shimano

@bluemystic7501 2 жыл бұрын

Love the comparison vids!

@kamilklosinski5990 2 жыл бұрын

Great content Jeff. Will you do videos on winter training or your in season training (long rides, intervals tips etc)?

@NorCalCycling 2 жыл бұрын

yes! stay tuned

@BETRNSX 2 жыл бұрын

Yes! Love this stuff, gadgets and gear. Definitely don’t want to crash a more expensive bike too.

@maxw5229 2 жыл бұрын

You are welcome Jeff, enjoy giving you the pleasure do do what you want. :)

@lterra72 2 жыл бұрын

I own the allez sprint 1x and I love it. But since I installed a quarq pm I’m stuck with an fsa chainring that drops the chain. Now I focus on chain drops and my 1x seems antiquated. Falling outta love with my 1x.

@eliotzbot 2 жыл бұрын

No thank you Jeff for providing the world with dope insights and strat!!

@endeavour5316 2 жыл бұрын

Another great Video Mr.Alviso

@bshebest 2 жыл бұрын

Just picked up the black SL7 Pro. Perfect price point for me. Very excited!

@joshmaitie5954 2 жыл бұрын

Love the video and the edits

@fredkohly6892 2 жыл бұрын

Great comparison. Thank you!

@alvin.holbrook 2 жыл бұрын

Jeff, what's your take on the Assioma-Shi pedals? They're exactly what I am looking for but the wider Q-factor is a scare.

@rainerweick1114 2 жыл бұрын

Great Video👍🏿. But if you want to built up a light weight SL7 with individual colors ther only way is the S-Works. Specialized is offering the fancy colors unfortunately only for S-Works. I would use meanwhile the new Zipp 404 instead of Roval as they are tubeless.

@RichardMigneron 2 жыл бұрын

I agree 100%, for crits, there are 2 possibilities and they depend on the course. If the course requires hard braking and sprinting out of corners, you want the lightest wheels possible. On the other hand, if you can take good lines in the corners and not have to sprint out of them, you want the most aero wheels possible. Most everywhere, except steep hills where you are going less than 20 Km/h, aero trumps weight every time - up to a certain point - it is not worth it to spend to save less than 1 Kg on a bike with no other advantages (exemples: swapping all the steel screws for titanium screws or changing thru-axles for lighter ones).

@turnerdrywallrestoration8077 2 жыл бұрын

Great comparison video 👍🏻

@mikeh7759 2 жыл бұрын

Your a full legend Jeff!! Was wondering is youtube/cycling your full time job or do you have another profession? Cheers!

@johnflynn4923 2 жыл бұрын

Nice content that clearly illustrates the law of diminishing returns when it comes to barrister price bikes and the importance of decent hoops and rubber and how they are such a big factor in overall performance.

@Rodolfowei12345 2 жыл бұрын

Great content, that's exactly what i thought that there is no point on spending crazy amounts on a road bike.

@DJWolves97 2 жыл бұрын

Jeff, could you do a test of the effect of tire pressures on the same course, please?!

@jjjj041 2 жыл бұрын

Definitely like this content Jeff! Would love to see an off season training/couch to crit series where you instruct a newer cyclist on off-season workouts on the bike and in the gym too!

@NorCalCycling 2 жыл бұрын

I have a series called couch to crit! check the channel

@jjjj041 2 жыл бұрын

@@NorCalCycling oh yea I’ve watched the whole series already! Wondering if you plan on doing something similar but for the off-season prep for next years race season

@facingup1624 2 жыл бұрын

Jeff: "On this miserable California winter day" me: looks outside and sees a lasagna of ice, snow, and sand in central Canada :/

@ianbent0n 2 жыл бұрын

mmm lasagna

@jeenyussnow101 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah, why he drives a AWD car when there's no snow at all 🌨️

@quarkonium3795 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah, we are lucky in California. Just today it was 26 C where I live

@nurulhuda-kb6lt 5 ай бұрын

I come back to this video every time I’m itching to get a new bike. I’m riding a specialized tarmac sl7 w roval rapide clx wheel set.

@SpeedGio 2 жыл бұрын

Great! Im looking for a new bike right now, i have the Sworks right now, its a 2019 model, and I’m not sure if the Sworks price is worth the money, so i was lookin the Pro. Also between my options, i have the BMC SLR01, and the Festka One. Haven’t pull the trigger on any of those yet. What do you think?

@EliasLopez Жыл бұрын

what wheel set would you recommend on 22/23? I'm between Enve ses 6.7 or DT Swiss arc 1100 or the Roval Rapide on the S-works build (the ones you ride pretty much) Thanks in advance, great video and editing.

@kconnnnn 2 жыл бұрын

I think you should have had the same tires on both also as that is relatively inexpensive to switch out and prob has more difference than the wheels. Love the video though!

@ritujhingta7895 2 жыл бұрын

Love your content

@PayneDeathz 2 жыл бұрын

I never realize how much of an impact good wheels can have! Great video!

@sebaslap 2 жыл бұрын

Yes and No right? Like it is an investment of $1k-$2k for a 1-3% improvement!

@PayneDeathz 2 жыл бұрын

@@sebaslap you know what? I think you're right. I never really considered it that way.

@MrKent84 2 жыл бұрын

Great video! I am really curious as to what your take is on the Assioma-Shi power meters. Did the Q factor affect you much that you could tell? Please let me know!

@NorCalCycling 2 жыл бұрын

Fine for training but I wouldn't race on them because of pedal strikes

@TurneyUK 2 жыл бұрын

I can’t really tell the difference between the two, except for the paint job. They both look like pretty top end bikes anyway. I wouldn’t be riding the more expensive bike in crits as we all know accidents happen and I’d cry if my best bike got destroyed. Always race a bike that you can crash and can afford to replace if it breaks.

@georgegould1385 2 жыл бұрын

I’m amazed you left your bike and camera out without it being taken whilst doing these runs!

@Youtubefana 2 жыл бұрын

Cool video. Did the increased Q FACTOR on the favero duo Shi bother you?

@grantdoyle1259 2 жыл бұрын

Do you not feel any issues with the wider Q-factor on the SHI pedals? Apparently the difference is pretty large

@robgreenwood7296 2 жыл бұрын

How about the S-Works Aethos vs the S-Works SL7. Will be a good side-by-side on both the flats and climbs. Have we all been punked by the aero movement only to now find out that round tubes and traditional appearance is just as good/fast?

@NeoPayneHK 2 жыл бұрын

what do you think the stance of the shi duo pedal power meter? do you get used to the wider stance?

@IsaiahsBabyDaddy 2 жыл бұрын

Can you post some thoughts regarding the Assioma Q Factor. Interested to see if you felt the width was too gross. Ty!!

@adamludvigsen7665 2 жыл бұрын

How do the bikes compare in a max sprint or acceleration comparison?

@seanchacha 2 жыл бұрын

Would be good to know how much the price difference is between the team bike + high end wheels vs the sworks, which is what you are suggesting; i guess much less than 5k?

@edsinofsky 2 жыл бұрын

what was different about the wheels and tires? different aero profiles or weight?

@burnsideisback 2 жыл бұрын

Got so into this when my sprint interval hit... wasn't paying attention and almost crashed on the stationary haha

@RidingBikes07 2 жыл бұрын

Another banger of a vid from NorCal Cycling, lessss gooooo!

@timmcclung69 2 жыл бұрын

awesome vid keep it up!

@gerard45gh 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for that review so right ✅ wheels and tyres make most the difference..

@generalpompeyo 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the vid Jeff!

@NorCalCycling 2 жыл бұрын

You bet!

@sacevedoneira 2 жыл бұрын

is it shifting any difference between a super bike and a cheap bike, i know logan did race during couch to crit on claris setting but would be a real difference if he did race on ultegra