Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL2 Dura-Ace

Price Paid:  $4400.00 at Rock-N-Road Cyclery

Favorite Ride:
Saturday Canyon Ride

Summary:
2009 S-Works Tarmac SL2 (Carbon/Red) with SRAM Red. This was a bike I had been eyeing for some time while I was riding on my 08 Tarmac Pro with Dura-Ace. I liked the Pro SL but it was the softer 8R and less dominate tube lay up from earlier version Tarmac. One Ride and my mind was made up on the SL2. The SRAM took a little adjustment after riding Shimano Dura Ace for the past 15 years! This bike is stock except it was fitted with Mavic Ksirium SL in all black! I have found myself focused on climbing and sprinting with the front group once again!

http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?arc=2009&spid=42650&menuItemId=0

Strengths:
Super Crazy Light weight yet Stiff in all the right places with just enough shock absorbing qualities. This bike basically is the blueprint for how a super high end racing bike should perform! The most noticeable part is how confident the handling is!

Weaknesses:
Expensive...had to break into my kids college funds, but what the heck they are always studend loans! My only fear with the bike is that the bike is very lean with very thin clear coat. I added some 3M protective film under the downtube but already had one rock chip on the drive side stay!

Similar Products Used:
08 Tarmac SL Pro, Calfee Tetra Pro, S-Works Tarmac E5, S-Works E5

Price Paid:  $0.00

Favorite Ride:
Donut Ride

Bike Setup:
Stock plus Dura Ace C50 wheels

Summary:
2009 Tarmac SL2 Saxo Bank

Wow - just one ride in and Im in awe of this bike. Im coming from an 8r frame Tarmac with Ultegra on it, which is a great bike too and has the same geometry (so I knew how it would handle), but Im shocked at how well this SL2 goes. It just goes and goes and goes. I found that I was hanging with the guys who normally start to pull on me on the bumps and the gap was just a bit easier to close.

I sold the Zipp 404s that came on the bike before riding them and stuck with my Dura Ace C50 tubulars.

TIP: I like a tighter fit so Ive stuck with the same 52cm I had on the previous bike. Im 5'9 with 31 inch inseam. Works well for me even though every bike shop (except the one smart one) steered me to a 54. The tarmacs are longer than they are high, and it works for me.

Strengths:
Stiff stiff stiff and light light light. The 7900 Dura Ace stuff is amazing.

Weaknesses:
It isnt cheap! No weaknesses found yet, but only one ride.

Similar Products Used:
8r Tarmac with Ultegra

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Price Paid:  $0.00 at LBS

Bike Setup:
2009 Tarmac SL2
DA 7800 components throughout
Taupe Seat

Summary:
Bike is as good as it gets. Makes me train harder because I do not feel worthy of ridding such a fast machine. Really does ad +2mph to your average speed with less effort

Strengths:
Bike is extremely fast and nimble.
Corners like a rail and not so stiff to be uncomfortable. Ride for hours with a smile on my face

Weaknesses:
none yet

Similar Products Used:
Colnago C50-DA components