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Submitted by
Amber
a Triathlete
from Date Reviewed: October 28, 2011
Strengths: LIGHT,responsive, just the right amount of stiffness, great for long rides, but ready to go in a sprint!Weaknesses: Exposed carbon in my opinion requires extra attention to cleaning, but not a big deal.Bottom Line: I recently purchased a Tarmac SL4 2012.I love it! It's an incredibly smooth ride.I do the majority of my riding on bricks and beat up country roads. After a good, hard ride with my group, I am astonished by how fresh my legs still feel. I have a Time Trial bike for triathlons, but sometimes when the course is more technical I will race my road bike. My legs feel fresh into the run!
The bike is incredibly responsive in sprints!It's stiff, and light for some serious get up and go power!It's light on the climbs as well. I feel as if all the power in my legs translates into forward moving power and speed, not like I'm lugging my bike up a hill! I have Campy wheels and compoents, Its under 16 lbs!
Favorite Ride: Specialized Tarmac Pro SL$
Purchased At: Bent's Cycling
Bike Setup: Campagnolo Record shifters, cassete, front and rear deraillier. Campagnolo Chorus 11 Crankset. Time Pedals. Campagnolo Nucleon Wheels. Sel Italia Flight saddle. Size 49.
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Submitted by
davewalk66
a Recreational Rider
from Date Reviewed: April 8, 2011
Strengths: trickle down tech frame
dura-ace shifters
looksWeaknesses: stock wheels in the 1700 gram rangeBottom Line: This bike is one that I will be keeping for a while. the frame for the pro sl is the s-works frame from 2009. When Specialized came out with a new s-works frame they moved the old one down to the regular tarmac. The Dura-ace 7900 stuff is trouble free and the front derailler is the first one that you can completely cross shift without any rubbing. Wheels were upgraded when I got it with so I can't speak of the stock wheels. the ones I have are about 300 grams lighter than the ksyrium stock wheels which are a little heavy but still awesome troublefree wheels. The naked carbon finish with the world champion colors on the downpost are very cool and look better the closer you get to the bike. I don't keep bikes more than a year or two but this one may be a keeper
Favorite Ride: anything with hills
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Purchased At: used
Similar Products Used: 06 s-works tarmac which doesn't compare to the 2010 tarmac
Bike Setup: dura-ace with I9 Ego wheels
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Submitted by
kyliebert
a Recreational Rider
from Date Reviewed: February 20, 2011
Strengths: Looks, weight, stability, stiffnessWeaknesses: None that I would mentionBottom Line: I purchased a used (barely)2009 Tarmac Pro SL about a year ago (female ridden). Fell in love with the white/black paint scheme and found a killer deal on Ebay. The bike came with full Dura-Ace 7900, even brakes,and was like new when I received it. I have put about 1700 miles on this thing and it is awesome. I have read the other reviews and I agree wholeheartedly. This thing is light and stiff, but I also find it very comfortable. Im 5'8" about 160, so not a big guy. I ride a 52 cm and have been very pleased with the comfort of this bike. I think the thing that amazes me the most is descending. Not a hint of twitchiness and really confidence inspiring even at 40+ mph. I know this bike is a few years old now, but if you have a chance to pick one up, even the 2010s, then do it...you wont be disappointed. I rode a 2008 Tarmac Comp prior to this and there is no comparison between the two frames. The 10r carbon soaks up road buzz like a sponge and the BB30 bottom bracket is oh so stiff that it accelerates instantly. Im a Specialized fan for life...maybe an SL3 is somewhere in my future if my wife doesn't kill me....:)
Favorite Ride: Incycle Cow Ride
Price Paid:
$2700.00
Purchased At: Ebay
Similar Products Used: Fuji Roubaix RC
Specialized Tarmac Comp
Bike Setup: 2009 Specialized Tarmac Pro Sl
Full Dura-Ace 7900
Spinergy PBO Stealth Clinchers
Continental 4000S Tires
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
dufyy
a Recreational Rider
from Date Reviewed: March 26, 2010
Strengths: The thing that I was most surprised about was how well this bike descends. No matter how fast I have been going I have not felt the slightest bit of twitchiness. Of course it will also respond well when climbing because of its stiffness. But like a lot of reviewers have already pointed out the rider in most cases is the limiting factor when climbing. That being said the bike will not hold you back. Another good quality in my option is the quickess in handling. Overall a bike for someone looking for a race style setup that can be relaxed a little.
Weaknesses: This is my first carbon bike I am coming off a Cannondale R800 aluminum frame bike. The smoothness of the ride of the Tarmac is not smooth a silk. But I knew going in this was a race orientated bike. So if you are looking at getting a very smooth ride look at the Roubaix or other similar bike. But looking at what the tarmac is this frame is rock solid.
Bottom Line: This is a 2009 Tarmac Pro SL with Sram Red. I have had the bike for about six months and have been very pleased. I am a recreational rider that loves to do any ride with hills although I am not the strongest going up I guess I enjoy the pain. This bike will not be the smoothest ride but is not intended to be. The stability at higher speed is great and is fun to take descents fast. This bike will also accelerate incredibly well, being that it is so stiff. I didn’t ride any of the lower models of the Tarmacs so I can’t speak about them but if you have the money for the Pro or S-Works go for it.
Favorite Ride: 7 Hills of Kirkland
Price Paid:
$3200.00
Purchased At: Craigslist
Similar Products Used: Cervelo R3, Scott R1, Trek Madone 5.9, Flet AR2, Pinnarello FP3
Bike Setup: Tarmac Pro SL 2009
Sram Red group
DT Swiss mon Chasseral wheel set
Fizik Arione saddle
S-Works carbon handle bars
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Submitted by
defeog
a Recreational Rider
from Date Reviewed: March 22, 2010
Strengths: super stiff
quick handeling
Sturdy good for bigger riders 200+ lbs
Weaknesses: the compleat bikes are expensive and only come with top of the line componetsBottom Line: 2009 Tarmac Pro SL
This is a very solid bike i have about 2,5000 miles on it and have had no problems with it. I ride almost every day in the summer and the bike feels great on long rides and on rough rodes. It is one of the few bikes that is stiff enough for me. (im 6'2" 225lbs). one of the things i notice about this bike is the handeling is very quick and responsive compared to other road bikes od similar quality (Madone 5.5, Roubaix). i built mine up from a fram so i cant say much about the compleat bikes but I have a 105 ultegra drive train and it works great having ridden Dura-Ace i would say that the actul preformance of the componest is almost the same the only diffrence is the weight and price.
Favorite Ride: Anywere in Maine
Purchased At: Center Street Cycles
Similar Products Used: Roubaxi
Douglas
Bike Setup: 2009 Tarmack Pro SL
105 Ultegra drivetrain cane creek breaks
Fulcrum Racing 3 wheels
specialized mondo pro tires
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