Why the Specialized Tarmac?
Nothing is faster than the Tarmac SL8 thanks to a combination of aerodynamics, lightweight, and ride quality previously thought impossible. After eight generations and over two decades of development, it’s more than the fastest Tarmac ever - it’s the world’s fastest race bike. Your legs up for it?
Aerodynamics or lightweight alone don’t win races - speed is what matters. Delivering that speed requires creating an uncompromising combination of aerodynamics, lightweight, stiffness, and compliance. Through race simulations using real world data Specialized knows the Tarmac SL8 is the fastest race bike ever made on the routes that matter - 16.6 seconds faster over 40km, 128 seconds faster over Milan San Remo, 20 seconds faster over the legendary Tourmalet climb.
Technical Details
The engineers at Specialized aimed to make the SL8 more aerodynamic than its predecessor. One of the ways they achieved this is with the Speed Sniffer. By sliding the steer tube position back, it allowed them more freedom when sculpting the head tube into its drag-reducing shape.
- Speed Sniffer Equipped
- A Lesson Learnt
- The Trifecta



Geometry

44 | 49 | 52 | 54 | 56 | 58 | 61 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A | Reach | 366mm | 375mm | 380mm | 384mm | 395mm | 402mm | 408mm |
B | Stack | 501mm | 514mm | 527mm | 544mm | 565mm | 591mm | 612mm |
C | Head Tube Angle | 70.5° | 70.5° | 70.5° | 70.5° | 70.5° | 70.5° | 70.5° |
D | Front Center | 572mm | 574mm | 577mm | 579mm | 592mm | 606mm | 613mm |
E | Bottom Bracket Drop | 74mm | 74mm | 74mm | 72mm | 72mm | 72mm | 72mm |
F | Wheelbase | 970mm | 973mm | 975mm | 978mm | 991mm | 1006mm | 1013mm |
G | Chainstay Length | 410mm | 410mm | 410mm | 410mm | 410mm | 410mm | 410mm |
H | Head Tube Length | 99mm | 109mm | 120mm | 137mm | 157mm | 184mm | 204mm |
I | Top Tube Length | 496mm | 509mm | 531mm | 541mm | 563mm | 577mm | 595mm |
J | Seat Tube Angle | 75.5° | 75.5° | 75.5° | 75.5° | 75.5° | 75.5° | 75.5° |
K | Standover Height | 723mm | 735mm | 746mm | 768mm | 786mm | 808mm | 834mm |
*All measurements in degrees or millimetres

Frame Sizing
The sizing chart is a great place to start when picking your next bike but everyone will fit a bike a bit differently. Your torso, arm, and leg lengths all play into what size of bike you may need. Plus, there's your own personal preference.
We always recommend swinging by the shop and taking the bike that you're looking for a spin to see how it feels. If you're unable to come by, looking at the geometry of your current bike and comparing it is a good place to start. If you have any further questions, our customer service team is there to help.
Size | Height | Imperial | Metric |
---|---|---|
44 | 4'8" - 5'1" | 142 - 155cm |
49 | 5'1" - 5'5" | 155 - 163cm |
52 | 5'4" - 5'7" | 163 - 170cm |
54 | 5'7" - 5'9" | 170 - 175cm |
56 | 5'9" - 5'11" | 175 - 180cm |
58 | 5'11" - 6'2" | 180 - 188cm |
61 | 6'2" - 6'5" | 188 - 196cm |
















