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Specialized Tarmac SL9

Collections Specialized Tarmac SL9

Rider on a Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL9 road bike

The fastest Tarmac family ever

Meet the complete Tarmac SL9 line-up: S-Works, S-Level, Expert and Comp, each engineered to turn more of your effort into pure speed.

The Specialized Tarmac is one of the most successful road race bike platforms ever created. From WorldTour victories to fast club rides and demanding sportives, the Tarmac family combines aerodynamic efficiency, low weight and race-proven handling to help riders perform at their best.

The complete Tarmac SL9 line-up brings Specialized's fastest road-bike platform to more riders. S-Works is the uncompromising flagship, S-Level delivers the closest experience to S-Works performance, Expert adds premium carbon wheels and electronic shifting, and Comp is the most accessible complete SL9 build.

Every SL9 is shaped by the same Time to Finish philosophy, balancing aerodynamics, low weight and confident handling across real courses, real terrain and real riders. This guide explains what changes between the four model levels so you can choose the right Tarmac for your goals.

Meet the complete Tarmac SL9 line-up

One race-winning platform, four levels of performance.

Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL9 road bike

The all-new Tarmac SL9 is Specialized's fastest road bike ever. It was developed around one outcome: the lowest real-world Time to Finish. From the flagship S-Works through S-Level, Expert and Comp, every model turns more of your effort into speed through a blend of low weight, aerodynamic efficiency and precise handling.

Lowest Time to Finish

Engineered to reduce overall race time across real courses, terrain and riders.

4 Watts Faster

New aerodynamic shaping delivers a measurable performance gain over the Tarmac SL8.

687g FACT 12r Frame

One of the lightest aero road frames ever produced, without compromising stiffness.

Flow Fork & Win Fin

New aerodynamic features improve airflow while maintaining the balanced ride feel of the SL8.

Choose S-Works for the ultimate expression of SL9, S-Level for the closest experience to S-Works performance, Expert for carbon-wheel performance, or Comp for the most accessible complete SL9 build.

Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL9 road bike

The Fastest Yet

The all-new S-Works Tarmac SL9 introduces Flow Fork, Win Fin and Flow State Design to deliver the lowest real-world Time to Finish of any Specialized road bike.

Specialized Tarmac SL9 S Level road bike

S-Level: Second Fastest

FACT 10r carbon, the S-Works FACT 12r fork, Roval Rapide CL III wheels and the Rapide Cockpit bring the closest experience to S-Works performance, with SRAM RED AXS or Shimano Dura-Ace Di2.

Rider cornering on a Specialized Tarmac road bike

Expert: Performance for All

The FACT 10r frame, Roval C38 wheels and SRAM Force AXS or Shimano Ultegra Di2 deliver premium SL9 speed for racing, KOMs and fast everyday rides.

Key features across the Specialized Tarmac family

Every Tarmac SL9 is built around the same goal—helping riders reach the finish line faster. The platform combines race-proven engineering with four carefully differentiated build levels.

Across the Tarmac SL9 family

Race-Proven Geometry

Developed through years of WorldTour racing to balance climbing efficiency, descending confidence and explosive acceleration.

Rider-First Engineering

Every frame size is individually tuned to deliver consistent stiffness, handling and ride quality across the entire range.

Performance Carbon Frames

FACT carbon construction keeps weight low while delivering the stiffness and responsiveness expected from a race bike.

Electronic & Mechanical Drivetrains

Choose from Shimano 105, Shimano Di2 or SRAM AXS drivetrains depending on model, performance requirements and budget.

Modern Road Capability

Disc brakes and generous tyre clearance deliver confident braking, improved comfort and excellent grip across a wide range of road conditions.

SL9 performance innovations

Lowest Time to Finish

Developed using Specialized's most advanced race simulation programme to reduce overall race time rather than chasing individual performance metrics.

4 Watts Faster

Refined aerodynamics throughout the front and rear of the bike deliver measurable efficiency gains over the Tarmac SL8.

Flow Fork & Win Fin

Completely redesigned aerodynamic features improve airflow around the bike while maintaining the balanced ride quality riders expect from a Tarmac.

687g FACT 12r Frame

Flow State Design creates one of the lightest aero road frames ever produced, without compromising stiffness or handling precision.

Time to Finish: the only metric that matters

Winning is not just about having the lightest frame or the lowest drag figure in isolation. The Tarmac SL9 was developed around one clear objective: helping riders reach the finish line faster across real courses, terrain and race conditions.

Specialized calls this Time to Finish. It combines aerodynamics, weight, handling, stiffness and compliance into one real-world performance measure, so the bike is faster where it actually matters.

The result is a race bike designed to turn more of your effort into speed, whether you are climbing, attacking, descending or holding position deep into a fast ride.

Female rider racing on a Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL9 road bike

Engineered for real-world speed

Every bike in the Specialized Tarmac family is designed around the same philosophy: the fastest bike is the one that performs brilliantly everywhere. Aerodynamics, low weight, responsive handling and rider comfort all work together to help you ride faster over real roads and real race courses.

The complete SL9 line-up shares the balanced performance philosophy that has made the Tarmac one of the most successful road race bikes ever created. The differences lie in carbon construction, component level, weight and integration—not in the ambition behind the bike.

Whether you're sprinting for the finish, climbing mountain passes or spending long days in the saddle, every Tarmac is engineered to convert more of your effort into forward speed.

Remco Evenepoel making an out-of-the-saddle effort on a Specialized Tarmac race bike

What changes as you move up the range?

All four bikes share the SL9's Time to Finish philosophy and race-focused handling. Moving up the range adds lighter carbon construction, more integrated components and higher-tier wheels, saddle and drivetrain—so the distinction is clear without changing the character of the bike.

ModelFrameHighlights
S-Works Tarmac SL9FACT 12rThe flagship race bike featuring the new Flow Fork, Win Fin, Flow State Design, a 687g FACT 12r frame, Roval Rapide CLX III wheels and SRAM RED AXS or Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 drivetrains.
Tarmac SL9 S-LevelFACT 10rThe closest experience to S-Works performance: an 822g FACT 10r frame, the same FACT 12r fork as S-Works, Roval Rapide CL III wheels, Roval Rapide Cockpit and Power Pro with Mirror saddle. Choose SRAM RED AXS or Shimano Dura-Ace Di2; both sell-sheet builds weigh 7.1kg in size 56.
Tarmac SL9 ExpertFACT 10rPremium SL9 performance with Roval C38 carbon wheels, Power Expert saddle and a Roval Rapide stem with Specialized alloy bar. Choose SRAM Force AXS at 7.55kg or Shimano Ultegra Di2 at 7.53kg in size 56.
Tarmac SL9 CompFACT 10rThe most accessible complete SL9, with a FACT 12r fork, DT Swiss R470 Disc wheels, Power Comp saddle and a Roval Rapide stem with Specialized alloy bar. Choose SRAM Rival AXS at 8.14kg or Shimano 105 Di2 at 8.21kg in size 56.

* S-Level frame weight is based on a 56cm FACT 10r frameset in RTP colourway. Complete-bike weights shown are sell-sheet figures for size 56 and may vary by size and specification.

Looking beyond the Tarmac? Discover our complete range of Specialized road bikes and compare endurance, aero and all-round performance models.

Specialized Tarmac FAQs

Need help choosing the right Tarmac? You can also read our road bike guide.

What is new on the Specialized Tarmac SL9?

Tarmac SL9 introduces Specialized's latest road race technology, including Flow Fork, Win Fin and Flow State Design. Specialized says the platform is 4 watts faster than the SL8 and is designed around reducing real-world Time to Finish. S-Works adds the flagship 687g FACT 12r frame.

Which models are in the Tarmac SL9 line-up?

The complete Tarmac SL9 line-up comprises S-Works, S-Level, Expert and Comp. S-Works is the uncompromising flagship, S-Level delivers the closest experience to S-Works performance, Expert adds carbon-wheel performance, and Comp is the most accessible complete SL9 build.

What is Time to Finish?

Time to Finish is Specialized's way of measuring real-world race performance. Rather than focusing only on frame weight or aerodynamic drag, it looks at how aerodynamics, weight, stiffness, handling and comfort work together to help a rider reach the finish line faster.

What is the difference between S-Works, S-Level, Expert and Comp?

S-Works uses the lightest FACT 12r frame and flagship components. S-Level pairs an 822g FACT 10r frame with the S-Works FACT 12r fork, Roval Rapide CL III wheels, Rapide Cockpit and SRAM RED AXS or Shimano Dura-Ace Di2. Expert uses Roval C38 carbon wheels with SRAM Force AXS or Shimano Ultegra Di2. Comp uses DT Swiss R470 Disc alloy wheels with SRAM Rival AXS or Shimano 105 Di2.

Which Tarmac model should I choose?

Choose S-Works for the lightest, most advanced complete build. Choose S-Level for near-S-Works performance with flagship-level wheels, cockpit and drivetrain. Choose Expert for carbon wheels and high-level electronic shifting, or Comp for the most accessible complete bike built around the same FACT 10r SL9 frame and FACT 12r fork.

Shop the Specialized Tarmac family

Compare the complete Tarmac SL9 line-up—from the accessible Comp through Expert and near-flagship S-Level to the uncompromising S-Works. Find the race bike that's right for your riding, racing and ambitions.
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