I own this bike so here are my thoughts. Hopefully it might help somebody since most of us have to make these large financial commitments without having much of a chance to test ride these things. My setup is the S works Aethos with SRAM red, ENVE 4.5 AR wheels, ENVE cockpit, 28 tires. It’s a great bike. The first thing you have to do is learn to trust it. When you first pick it up it’s so light you worry that it might snap in half. Once on the bike that concern quickly fades. Surprisingly it isn’t the climbs that made it stand out as much as descending and cornering. It feels planted and agile at the same time. I would often read in bike reviews about a particular biking making you want to push harder and go faster and riding this bike is the first time I really “got” that idea. It does seem to do that. I’m not sure I understand why but I think it’s because you feel such an exhilarating response when you pedal hard. It responds and accelerates so well that you want to feel that feeling over and over again that you get when you put in the effort. You really feel like it rewards you for it. I assume it’s the light weight. It doesn’t maintain as speed as efficiently as my aero bike when I’m on a flat and not pedaling but it does seem significantly more responsive on the flats to even light effort. The GRAN FONDO cycling review made a comment similar to this and I would have to say I agree 100%. (In fact their whole review is spot on in my opinion and is 10x better than mine so you might want to check it out on their web site) I don’t notice as much of a pronounced benefit when climbing as I thought I might with such a light weight bike but it climbs great nevertheless. The miles I have on it so far have not involved much climbing though so I will hold judgment on that for now. It definitely feels like a race bike geometry and apparently it is the same geometry as the SL7. Given the fact that Specialized is not marketing and didn’t focus their design on this as a race bike I would have thought that a more relaxed geometry would have made more sense. I probably would have preferred that frankly. It is still a very comfortable bike however. Like every bike out there it’s not the right bike for everybody but I do think it’s the right bike for me as I don’t race, typically do lots of climbing on my long rides, and given my relatively limited skill level probably notice the benefits of a light weight bike over a heavier aero one. Yes it is ridiculously expensive but keep some things in mind. A lot of what you’re paying for is the years of R & D that Specialized put into developing the technology for this bike. That was years of financial investment with no return. In my experience, regardless of the product, we all think an “outrageous” price on anything is always one level above whatever it is we can afford. I’m certainly guilty of this. If you’re reading this thread your bike, although perhaps much less expensive than this one, is almost certainly ridiculous expensive and forever out of reach to somebody. so perspective is important. Less expensive bikes and people who love to ride but have less financial resources will almost certainly benefit in years to come from what Specialized has done and learned here. We can all be grateful for that.
Specialized launches the SL7: "Forget about road bike categories like aero or lightweight. You only need the one true road bike." Two months later: "Forget about what we said two months ago. Here's a dedicated lightweight bike."
@@ilgour Illegal bikes already a thing few years ago, specialized tries to market the old trend. I'm not even surprise anymore. That's always been the case for specialized nowadays.
It would be even lighter if they made a rim braked version of it. I'm no hater of disc brakes, but if the goal is to create a the lightest bike, drop them.
Don’t attack me, but this looks and feels so much like my very inclusively priced 2017 Specialized Allez...aluminium with carbon forks, my favourite bike of all time. It’s not insanely light or aero...but feels so lovely. Every time I get on it any depression just falls off me and makes me smile. I hope this is a new direction bike manufacturers are going to take. Not be so hellbent on going fast and taking seconds off Strava times. The look, feel and sensation of the bike is more important to the regular rider.
Have you tried the Allez Sprint? It’s like riding a lightning bolt. So much better than the regular Allez, which is admittedly a great bike in its own right.
All the new marketing will tell you that, but they are forgetting that some of us rides in groups with fellow riders and goes below 20km/h when riding up a 8% hill... In this case the weight vs aero discussion might look a bit different!
@@casperradil Yes, it's simple physics really. 6kg is (obviously) lighter than 7kg and will take less effort to lift off the ground. But of course, you have to count body weight as well. 1kg difference on bike + rider, let's say from 80 to 79kg, it's not much.
So good to hear that the designer (not surprising after hearing he designed the Super Six) thinks non-dropped seat stays look better - because, of course, they do. Just need to get that top tube a bit flatter and we’re there 🙂
Hippos can run faster than humans on land, and swim faster than humans in water. Which means the bicycle is your only chance of beating a hippo in a triathlon.
marketing BS aside, what attracts me to this bike is the lack of integration and proprietary parts. Normal seatpost, so you can use a post with more setback if needed, and no integrated bar stem combo, which locks you into a set bar, no ability to rotate the bar on the stem, limited stem lengths, and limited spacer adjustments. I just look at these totally integrated setups on most brands top spec bikes and wonder if I could ever get them to fit precisely. They look great, with all the hidden cables, but if you can't get it to fit, who cares what it looks like
Entirely agree. It is basically a 'normal', but well spec'ed, bike from about 3 years ago. Maybe it is an acknowledgement that integration was going too far, and was alienating some cyclists who'd rather high performance but 'pure' bikes.
For me this comes really close to a pure road bike. If it was steel or titanium it would be the pure road bike for me. I can't stop thinking about carbon in 30 years... It'll probably be fine but I can't get it out of my head that it will explode or melt or something stupid. Steel will definitely last, will be heavier but I would love to see a modern steel bike from a big manufacturer. Cool bike!
@@edgarpereira4865 Just get a Responsorium from Pegoretti...Stainless. Also, the review is all about not caring about aero and it basically being a "pure" bike. IF that's what is needed, I 100% agree with Quenten. For that money you can get a custom steel or Ti bike, or just get a more unique Pegoretti, Baum, Stelbel, or Festka.
Ok, just for the fun of it, since there's so much hype around the Aethos and how light it is, here are the numbers: 1. TCR advanced SL size 54, Dura Ace drivetrain, WITH pedals, bottle cages, cadence sensor and computer mount: 6.76kg. 2. Specialized S-Works AETHOS also size 54, Dura Ace drivetrain, but WITHOUT pedals, bottle cages, cadence sensor and computer mount: 6.12kg. If I add the same pedals, bottle cages, cadence sensor and computer mount to the Aethos, it would bring it up to 6.475kg - that's a "whapping" 285 grams different. And if I really want to be picky, the Aetos top of the line built comes with a little lighter wheelset - 1,248g Roval Alpinist CLX vs. 1,327g CADEX 42 DISC TUBELESS (79g difference). So let's say I really want to go crazy and build my TCR Advanced SL as light as want (ala "Aetos money is no issue" built), and I'll get wheelset at that weight, I can get my TCR at about 206g off the Aethos 😳 SO much hype for 200g? I mean, I was thinking we are talking about kilograms difference, not 200 GRAMS... And the TCR is more aero, more racy, and oh yeah, more affordable... Complete built with weight numbers of the TCR here: th-cam.com/video/QGIjwvKTWZI/w-d-xo.html Actual weight of the Aethos, without all accessories mentioned above here: th-cam.com/video/k7tiANbVcSg/w-d-xo.html
The founders edition was 5.9 kilos. One Peice Alphinist Carbon Cockpit. Yes without , pedals . Computer mount & bottle cages . Pretty sure with my calculations l can finish one off @ 6 kilos or 6.1 kilos complete. One K carbon wheelset 930 grams is the secret.
When you describe a product and can only talk about how it makes you feel then you know that it is ridiculously expensive, this bike sounds like expensive perfume.
I am pretty blown away they didn’t factor in aero in any way. THAT is a puzzler. That said, it’s one gorgeous machine and I’d absolutely love to ride it. Hell, even own one. BUT it’s price is way beyond anything I could ever afford. In dreams only... Great review. Thank you
'An everyman Aethos...'. Classic. Actually, although still wildly unattainable, the 4 grand for the frameset is much more appealing than the 13 grand for the complete bicycle - particularly if you've spent a long time collating your parts bundle.
This is a really good review. Very insightful and interesting and it really evokes a feel for what the bike is like to ride and why it exists. So much more meaningful than those lazy reviewers that just list specs...this has had real thought and reflection behind it.
£10k stealth machine... until you pick it up and feel the feathery weight. I still think the best way for me to get my riding system lighter is for me to eat fewer pies and ride a whole lot more. I can buy a lot of pies for £10k and keep riding the bike I’ve got... but it does look lovely...
Oreo Carlton It is certainly a trend moving away from rim brakes, too bad for people like me living in the flatlands and trying to avoid brake complications when I can ...
the idea of this bike makes a lot of sense. road biking is now currently making a split away from more race orientated bikes seen in the world tour and making a bike for the consumer. This also means not having to worry about the uci weight limit. It's quite a big statement from specialized saying that the pro team won't ride this either. kudos.
Will there be an ultegra version?!. I’m am so happy brands aren’t forgetting lightweight stiff bikes. Scoot addict 10 rim break, caad series and now this it’s brilliant.
My prediction: Felix's hair will look *spectacular*, Tom Marvin likes France, Seb has been measuring long bikes, MAllen's not hot and Jack Luke will be wearing a shirt that someone died in.
Very nice, of course I wouldn’t say no, but kinda what’s the point? Bikeradar - I’d be genuinely interested to know who buys these top end machines, is it just the super rich? That said, I can’t wait for the trickle down ...
It's fair to say there's no one on staff at BikeRadar with the kind of disposable income to justify spending this much on a bike. You always pay a massive premium for the halo models though, and we're pretty sure the cheaper ones that eventually follow will be pretty appealing in their own right.
Try looking at the Vial evo Disc go on ax-lightness website and they just came out with the Vial evo Disc 5,6kg with Red étap axs or Dura Ace Di2 and 5,4kg with Red 22 !! That's if we're talking about disc brakes. But, for rim brakes ax-lightness has had out the Vial evo Ultra for years already at 4,8kg with Red22 and if you swap the brakes and crank and put THM brakes and crank and carbon-ti chainrings the bike will be around 4,4kg !! They have always made the lightest production bikes in World and they make everything themselves.
Going by claimed weights, the Vial frame is heavier than the S-Works. When the latest version launched AX told us a medium is 750g. Complete bikes are another matter of course, as that depends on component choice. Thanks for watching!
Does the sight of a super lightweight bike with disc brakes make you tear your hair out? Do you agree with Matthew’s honest thoughts at the end of the video? We hope you enjoyed the premiere and as always, let us know your thoughts in the comments!
This bike could've been 5.5kg with rim brakes if they really wanted to have fun with a light weight bike. The technology is right there! But the bike industry is stubborn on disc brakes cause they save lots of $$$ making only one type of bike (for braking).
Specialized needs to release a alloy version of the aethos using their Smartweld technology. It would be similar to treks version on the Emonda (emonda alr). I reckon it would be a hit and would definitely be affordable for the general public.
Nice, but very very expensive . If you want a fantastic lightweight bike go for a Ridley Helium SLX. I’ve built one up with only cane creek cycle works brakes and lightweight stem as true “weight weenie” products for 6.3kgs with clincher wheels and dura ace Di2 for £4K . Fantastic ride.
At least Specialized had the guts to create a bike like this, to challenge the engineers, even though the sales numbers will not be huge due to the pricing.
G'day Jim this is a bike for the enthusiast and could only be improved in my view with rim brakes. I would buy this beautiful machine before blowing similar coin on a crappy new car or kitchen reno. All the best.
As a non competitive cyclist I think this bike is a much better looking than the new Tarmac SL7. The more traditional look appeals to me. They also had me at threaded bottom bracket. I don’t really care about weight so I hope they do come out with a lower priced version.
People are really struggling with this apparently... this is quite simply a bike for the people that don’t care about UCI legality, the tarmacs “one bike to rule them all” as in, one bike to rule all the others that are being RACED by the pros. This is more similar to something like Cervelos caladonia or the diverge, it’s not for racing but for people that want a FUN bike.
No point of having a lower end Aethos. It be just an older 2012 style frameset, might as well go buy a SL5 disc lol. The reason I get the Aethos will only be Sworks as the weight of the frame is what makes this frame special and the reason behind the high price tag.
Well cmon, this bike is just a Cervelo R3, really!!! Light weight and can go anywhere, especially the rim brake version!!! Specialized finally caught up with Cervelo. For those of us who don’t climb mountains or ride in the pouring rain, we don’t need disk brakes!!
It would be just amazing if they made a rim brake version at that insane price , and it would be even lighter , and since that is the focus of this bike ..............
technically a lighter frame should be cheaper because they use less carbon. Saying that I wouldn't ride a bike that could snap in half if you hit a pot hole.
Merida: "Bike weight is only relevant for acceleration and very steep mountains. The influence of the weight is the most overrated issue [in] road bikes", Specialized: "To us, aero truly is everything. It's an ethos embodied in every design decision we make, and it's why we're continually setting new benchmarks for the world's fastest products". Just some of the quotes from yesterdays, I'm curious why didn't this bike get 2 out of 5 rating from journalists, as for other models they were deducting scores for lack of tubeless, no dropped seatstay, no integration, and lack of aero features?
Not quite, I think the hi mod SuperSix was supposed to be 650g (it could have been a little bit heavier). I supposed I could strip my bike down and find out. 😉
I remember riding the 1st gen Emonda SLR and it surged up hills like nothing else but had a bit of character at the same time. The thing is this bike is lost on the majority of riders because as a proportion of rider and bike weight the difference is negligible. That's why most riders would be better off with the SL7. I suspect light and aero trumps just light most of the time.
It's almost admirable on a business level -- recognize that there's a market for a super-luxury bike for very wealthy people who don't race. "For the love of riding" is kind of comical, though, because outside of a hill climb, it's hard to see how a featherweight bike is going to deliver the best riding experience.
I don't know man. Is the tarmac really going to be faster? It would be faster for the pros but we're not pros and don't need to follow the 6.8 rule. If they abolished the 6.8kg rule, which bike would they race?
Unless all you do is ride up steep gradients, aero is massively important. Whether or not you care about it is another matter, of course. Thanks for watching!
They'll make an aero version next and tell you a super lightweight bike is fine but what's the point if it's not aero? Another12k please, thanks. See your wallet again in 3 months. oh and just ignore that kid on his 9kg aluminium bike smashing you. You're amazing, trust us. All that matters is how much your bike cost.
It really wasnt that long ago when £8000 would buy you the equivalent Specialized lightweight bike and now that price has gone up disproportionately. The weight savings on this over a 2010 lightweight bike is probably the same difference as trimming your eyelashes and cutting your toenails. Save yourself £9000 and buy a second hand old model one.
Can you prove that? What is the weight of that frame? Because if they are different, a ton of brand new R&D, testing, designing and manufacturing changes would have to occur, which would make your allegation incorrect.
I own this bike so here are my thoughts. Hopefully it might help somebody since most of us have to make these large financial commitments without having much of a chance to test ride these things. My setup is the S works Aethos with SRAM red, ENVE 4.5 AR wheels, ENVE cockpit, 28 tires. It’s a great bike. The first thing you have to do is learn to trust it. When you first pick it up it’s so light you worry that it might snap in half. Once on the bike that concern quickly fades. Surprisingly it isn’t the climbs that made it stand out as much as descending and cornering. It feels planted and agile at the same time. I would often read in bike reviews about a particular biking making you want to push harder and go faster and riding this bike is the first time I really “got” that idea. It does seem to do that. I’m not sure I understand why but I think it’s because you feel such an exhilarating response when you pedal hard. It responds and accelerates so well that you want to feel that feeling over and over again that you get when you put in the effort. You really feel like it rewards you for it. I assume it’s the light weight. It doesn’t maintain as speed as efficiently as my aero bike when I’m on a flat and not pedaling but it does seem significantly more responsive on the flats to even light effort. The GRAN FONDO cycling review made a comment similar to this and I would have to say I agree 100%. (In fact their whole review is spot on in my opinion and is 10x better than mine so you might want to check it out on their web site) I don’t notice as much of a pronounced benefit when climbing as I thought I might with such a light weight bike but it climbs great nevertheless. The miles I have on it so far have not involved much climbing though so I will hold judgment on that for now. It definitely feels like a race bike geometry and apparently it is the same geometry as the SL7. Given the fact that Specialized is not marketing and didn’t focus their design on this as a race bike I would have thought that a more relaxed geometry would have made more sense. I probably would have preferred that frankly. It is still a very comfortable bike however. Like every bike out there it’s not the right bike for everybody but I do think it’s the right bike for me as I don’t race, typically do lots of climbing on my long rides, and given my relatively limited skill level probably notice the benefits of a light weight bike over a heavier aero one.
Yes it is ridiculously expensive but keep some things in mind. A lot of what you’re paying for is the years of R & D that Specialized put into developing the technology for this bike. That was years of financial investment with no return. In my experience, regardless of the product, we all think an “outrageous” price on anything is always one level above whatever it is we can afford. I’m certainly guilty of this. If you’re reading this thread your bike, although perhaps much less expensive than this one, is almost certainly ridiculous expensive and forever out of reach to somebody. so perspective is important. Less expensive bikes and people who love to ride but have less financial resources will almost certainly benefit in years to come from what Specialized has done and learned here. We can all be grateful for that.
I'm pondering that exact build, or with ERC 1100 Dt Swiss wheels. Do you still love it ??
Thanks for the info
@@stuarthenderson7354 sorry for the delay. yes I love it.
thank you for the detailed review
thank you for detail review
So basically the the Venge is now the Tarmac and the Tarmac is now the Aethos.
Lets hope for a 2022 Venge - outperforming the Shiv :)
Specialized launches the SL7: "Forget about road bike categories like aero or lightweight. You only need the one true road bike." Two months later: "Forget about what we said two months ago. Here's a dedicated lightweight bike."
"Racing" versus "riding" explains it all. The UCI regulations were ignored when designing this bike.
Yep this is next level marketing bullshit. Bike industry is so lost. Saturated market where pinnicale bike where found years ago.
@@ilgour Illegal bikes already a thing few years ago, specialized tries to market the old trend. I'm not even surprise anymore. That's always been the case for specialized nowadays.
This is the second time the industry has moved from one-bike to three-bikes. FOOL ME ONCE!
Just feeding the n+1 in us all... 🤤
It would be even lighter if they made a rim braked version of it. I'm no hater of disc brakes, but if the goal is to create a the lightest bike, drop them.
And a pressfit BB.
Far as I’m understanding is that the goal was for the best bike rather than the lightest.
Don’t attack me, but this looks and feels so much like my very inclusively priced 2017 Specialized Allez...aluminium with carbon forks, my favourite bike of all time. It’s not insanely light or aero...but feels so lovely. Every time I get on it any depression just falls off me and makes me smile.
I hope this is a new direction bike manufacturers are going to take. Not be so hellbent on going fast and taking seconds off Strava times. The look, feel and sensation of the bike is more important to the regular rider.
i have the 2019 and i concur!
Have you tried the Allez Sprint? It’s like riding a lightning bolt. So much better than the regular Allez, which is admittedly a great bike in its own right.
Great timing. I just finished the last podcast 30 minutes ago. I learned that bike weight doesn't matter.
But it is still a very nice bike.
Which podcast?
All the new marketing will tell you that, but they are forgetting that some of us rides in groups with fellow riders and goes below 20km/h when riding up a 8% hill... In this case the weight vs aero discussion might look a bit different!
@@conrad6226 The Bikeradar podcast
@@casperradil Yes, it's simple physics really. 6kg is (obviously) lighter than 7kg and will take less effort to lift off the ground. But of course, you have to count body weight as well. 1kg difference on bike + rider, let's say from 80 to 79kg, it's not much.
I will keep my 2014 S-Works Tarmac which costed me half of the Aethos price, weight about the same and still performs quite well.
So good to hear that the designer (not surprising after hearing he designed the Super Six) thinks non-dropped seat stays look better - because, of course, they do. Just need to get that top tube a bit flatter and we’re there 🙂
Personally I prefer dropped stays. But hey, each to their own
T Watts Don’t worry there’s still time for you 😉
Could not agree more. I don´t understand, why it does not have a horizontal top tube. That is a big drawback for me.
The only thing lighter than that bike is that presenter!
They both going uphill smoothly
🤣
Lol
lol
🤣🤣🤣🤣
Hippos can run faster than humans on land, and swim faster than humans
in water. Which means the bicycle is your only chance of beating a hippo in a triathlon.
Made my day!
yea we all saw the shark meme too
Cannondale should bring back the old classic SuperSix Evo!
I still have mine, the hi mod version, just over 6kg! It's a thing of beauty!
Love the bike and love your presentation 👌
Frame is the same shape as my Planet X Carbon 105. Wahey!!!!! ✌🏻
If you sanded it down to a similar finish you'd turn heads!
Such a light DISC bike.....wondering about abundant disc rub under load as it flexes.
marketing BS aside, what attracts me to this bike is the lack of integration and proprietary parts. Normal seatpost, so you can use a post with more setback if needed, and no integrated bar stem combo, which locks you into a set bar, no ability to rotate the bar on the stem, limited stem lengths, and limited spacer adjustments. I just look at these totally integrated setups on most brands top spec bikes and wonder if I could ever get them to fit precisely. They look great, with all the hidden cables, but if you can't get it to fit, who cares what it looks like
Entirely agree. It is basically a 'normal', but well spec'ed, bike from about 3 years ago. Maybe it is an acknowledgement that integration was going too far, and was alienating some cyclists who'd rather high performance but 'pure' bikes.
Best bike of 2021
great review guys. I like the realist review. getting it next month, it's still being built.
Having seen this bike in person it’s beautiful.
Do you want to sleep with it?
@@hcw199 I would kick my girlfriend out of bed
Looks a lovely bike fair play.
fine presentation. Thanks ... and I absolutely agree to you - it is wonderful to see such a beauty... lets start dreaming...
Specialized: “the Aethos is for the love of riding”
*comes with a power meter*
Ha ha, fair!
Specialized UK has changed the price at the eleventh hour. The 'regular' S-Works models as featured here are now £10,500. Thanks for watching!
For me this comes really close to a pure road bike. If it was steel or titanium it would be the pure road bike for me. I can't stop thinking about carbon in 30 years... It'll probably be fine but I can't get it out of my head that it will explode or melt or something stupid. Steel will definitely last, will be heavier but I would love to see a modern steel bike from a big manufacturer. Cool bike!
Be carefful with steel, it can rust on the inside without you even notice.
Plastic = carbon fiber. Lasts for Century s
@@edgarpereira4865 Just get a Responsorium from Pegoretti...Stainless. Also, the review is all about not caring about aero and it basically being a "pure" bike. IF that's what is needed, I 100% agree with Quenten. For that money you can get a custom steel or Ti bike, or just get a more unique Pegoretti, Baum, Stelbel, or Festka.
I'm gonna run my giant contend the distance and see how long it lasts... 3 years so far and going strong. A beautiful ride.
This is great. I hope it starts a trend and as a weight weenie I hope it makes sub 5kg disc builds a thing.
Ok, just for the fun of it, since there's so much hype around the Aethos and how light it is, here are the numbers:
1. TCR advanced SL size 54, Dura Ace drivetrain, WITH pedals, bottle cages, cadence sensor and computer mount: 6.76kg.
2. Specialized S-Works AETHOS also size 54, Dura Ace drivetrain, but WITHOUT pedals, bottle cages, cadence sensor and computer mount: 6.12kg.
If I add the same pedals, bottle cages, cadence sensor and computer mount to the Aethos, it would bring it up to 6.475kg - that's a "whapping" 285 grams different.
And if I really want to be picky, the Aetos top of the line built comes with a little lighter wheelset - 1,248g Roval Alpinist CLX vs. 1,327g CADEX 42 DISC TUBELESS (79g difference).
So let's say I really want to go crazy and build my TCR Advanced SL as light as want (ala "Aetos money is no issue" built), and I'll get wheelset at that weight, I can get my TCR at about 206g off the Aethos 😳
SO much hype for 200g? I mean, I was thinking we are talking about kilograms difference, not 200 GRAMS...
And the TCR is more aero, more racy, and oh yeah, more affordable...
Complete built with weight numbers of the TCR here:
th-cam.com/video/QGIjwvKTWZI/w-d-xo.html
Actual weight of the Aethos, without all accessories mentioned above here:
th-cam.com/video/k7tiANbVcSg/w-d-xo.html
Yep! Correct
The founders edition was 5.9 kilos. One Peice Alphinist Carbon Cockpit. Yes without , pedals . Computer mount & bottle cages . Pretty sure with my calculations l can finish one off @ 6 kilos or 6.1 kilos complete. One K carbon wheelset 930 grams is the secret.
When you describe a product and can only talk about how it makes you feel then you know that it is ridiculously expensive, this bike sounds like expensive perfume.
What else is he supposed to talk about? It’s a review, not a spec sheet analysis.
The frame set option is really nice. I want to put my shimano 105 triple on it.
I think the frame only supports electronic shifting, not cables.
I am big fan of classic looking bike . It's amazing
I am pretty blown away they didn’t factor in aero in any way. THAT is a puzzler. That said, it’s one gorgeous machine and I’d absolutely love to ride it. Hell, even own one. BUT it’s price is way beyond anything I could ever afford. In dreams only... Great review. Thank you
'An everyman Aethos...'. Classic. Actually, although still wildly unattainable, the 4 grand for the frameset is much more appealing than the 13 grand for the complete bicycle - particularly if you've spent a long time collating your parts bundle.
Leave it to specialized to continue to come up with the latest and greatest
This is a really good review. Very insightful and interesting and it really evokes a feel for what the bike is like to ride and why it exists. So much more meaningful than those lazy reviewers that just list specs...this has had real thought and reflection behind it.
Thanks for your comment we're glad you enjoyed it! From all at BikeRadar
£10k stealth machine... until you pick it up and feel the feathery weight. I still think the best way for me to get my riding system lighter is for me to eat fewer pies and ride a whole lot more. I can buy a lot of pies for £10k and keep riding the bike I’ve got... but it does look lovely...
Looks lovely and should feel amazing to ride
Right but if u buy this bike, u will be left with no money for food... you will be lighter AND have a wicked light bike lol
@@fernandoroman6494 genius move from specialized
@@fernandoroman6494 LOL! You are right! I must buy it now! I'd be even lighter if I bought the £13K version! You are a genius!
Now I want some pie.
What an appealing bike! A rim brake version would be truly amazing (I'd probably still not be able to afford it though...)
No rims, disc shilling only
Oreo Carlton It is certainly a trend moving away from rim brakes, too bad for people like me living in the flatlands and trying to avoid brake complications when I can ...
Just steal one. bolt cutters are much cheaper.
the idea of this bike makes a lot of sense. road biking is now currently making a split away from more race orientated bikes seen in the world tour and making a bike for the consumer. This also means not having to worry about the uci weight limit. It's quite a big statement from specialized saying that the pro team won't ride this either. kudos.
Will there be an ultegra version?!. I’m am so happy brands aren’t forgetting lightweight stiff bikes. Scoot addict 10 rim break, caad series and now this it’s brilliant.
Yes, The Pro model uses Ultegra Di2.
would love for this to turn into a trend fo bike brands
What?
@@oreocarlton3343 Apparently bikes from 2012, but this time with disc brakes
My prediction: Felix's hair will look *spectacular*, Tom Marvin likes France, Seb has been measuring long bikes, MAllen's not hot and Jack Luke will be wearing a shirt that someone died in.
Sounds like you know far too much Mr Healy!!
This is straight like a TopGear intro
Glad I gotta Supersix evo Himod to build up
I've gotten rid of every Cannondale I've bought within a year of ownership. I keep my Specialized bikes forever.
Very nice, of course I wouldn’t say no, but kinda what’s the point?
Bikeradar - I’d be genuinely interested to know who buys these top end machines, is it just the super rich?
That said, I can’t wait for the trickle down ...
It's fair to say there's no one on staff at BikeRadar with the kind of disposable income to justify spending this much on a bike. You always pay a massive premium for the halo models though, and we're pretty sure the cheaper ones that eventually follow will be pretty appealing in their own right.
Try looking at the Vial evo Disc go on ax-lightness website and they just came out with the Vial evo Disc 5,6kg with Red étap axs or Dura Ace Di2 and 5,4kg with Red 22 !! That's if we're talking about disc brakes. But, for rim brakes ax-lightness has had out the Vial evo Ultra for years already at 4,8kg with Red22 and if you swap the brakes and crank and put THM brakes and crank and carbon-ti chainrings the bike will be around 4,4kg !! They have always made the lightest production bikes in World and they make everything themselves.
Going by claimed weights, the Vial frame is heavier than the S-Works. When the latest version launched AX told us a medium is 750g. Complete bikes are another matter of course, as that depends on component choice. Thanks for watching!
With that money I can get an Ultimate Evo (6KG) + Aeroad CF SLX di2
Or you can get this bike. The list of alternative things you can buy with money is infinite. What's your fucking point?
@The Mig Cycling Nothing "new to market"? How about a 585g frameset?
Roger Sears how about it’s a fuckin 2 triangles glued together.
@@rotwart angry much? On ur period?
@@rlsedition Evo is having more aero shapes, and as Specialized told us before, Aero is everything.
Very well done
I like it. I prefer the look of internal cables but its a really great looking bike.
right so quiet a bike hopefully they will have an affordable one !
Does the sight of a super lightweight bike with disc brakes make you tear your hair out? Do you agree with Matthew’s honest thoughts at the end of the video? We hope you enjoyed the premiere and as always, let us know your thoughts in the comments!
This bike could've been 5.5kg with rim brakes if they really wanted to have fun with a light weight bike. The technology is right there! But the bike industry is stubborn on disc brakes cause they save lots of $$$ making only one type of bike (for braking).
After I drop timmy to private school in the maserati I'll go and ride this. Kinnnn elllll.
Really?
If I owned this I wouldn't see Timmy or my Maserati unless it was raining outside.
Specialized needs to release a alloy version of the aethos using their Smartweld technology. It would be similar to treks version on the Emonda (emonda alr). I reckon it would be a hit and would definitely be affordable for the general public.
Cool to see a bike at this level. For $25,000 New Zealand dollars it would need to make me coffee as well.
My built up 2015 SuperSix EVO Hi-Mod is only a few hundred grams heaver.
Same here!
Nice, but very very expensive . If you want a fantastic lightweight bike go for a Ridley Helium SLX. I’ve built one up with only cane creek cycle works brakes and lightweight stem as true “weight weenie” products for 6.3kgs with clincher wheels and dura ace Di2 for £4K . Fantastic ride.
Imagine what it could weigh with rim brakes
Mosttimes i am a Fan of disc brakes but in this Case when it is Just weigth rimbrakes would be so much better... Kinda sad
True weight weenie always go rim
@@janscheffold Except that rim brakes are inferior to discs.
Great review. Is it the kind of bike you have to wait 'months' for?
Accountants , lawyers , dentists , getting there orders in ... 😀
At least Specialized had the guts to create a bike like this, to challenge the engineers, even though the sales numbers will not be huge due to the pricing.
Atleast there is a bike for all wallet sizes.
G'day Jim this is a bike for the enthusiast and could only be improved in my view with rim brakes. I would buy this beautiful machine before blowing similar coin on a crappy new car or kitchen reno. All the best.
@@saturupiah5940 I fail to understand how inferior rim brakes could improve this machine. Lighter, yes, but better performance, no way.
@@saturupiah5940 Well some of us have priorities
As a non competitive cyclist I think this bike is a much better looking than the new Tarmac SL7. The more traditional look appeals to me. They also had me at threaded bottom bracket. I don’t really care about weight so I hope they do come out with a lower priced version.
Its a lovely looking bike.
People are really struggling with this apparently... this is quite simply a bike for the people that don’t care about UCI legality, the tarmacs “one bike to rule them all” as in, one bike to rule all the others that are being RACED by the pros. This is more similar to something like Cervelos caladonia or the diverge, it’s not for racing but for people that want a FUN bike.
Plz can you do a video with MBM QUARX I know it is not to good but for the money is the best
Plz
Plz plz
Please do test between this bike and the trek emonda in both high build and average build. Thanks
How is this any different from an emonda slr from 2-3 years ago?
Even Matthew can pick that bike up.
Love this bike! Specialized is just nailing it these days!
Is it the new AMD zen 3????
Lol, I like the randomness of it.
Btw specialized is probably going to call a "supercomputer"
Probably a couple of 4U servers if we're lucky...
No point of having a lower end Aethos. It be just an older 2012 style frameset, might as well go buy a SL5 disc lol. The reason I get the Aethos will only be Sworks as the weight of the frame is what makes this frame special and the reason behind the high price tag.
Lol you know nothing
SL5 rim*
It looks like a stunning bike and I'd love to have one. But at that price, it's completely out of my budget at the moment. Maybe one day!
It looks so much as the cannondale supersix !
So thats the new loghtweight tarmac actually.
Specialized marketing is playing us !
Just sloping top tube+disc supersix.
not really special.
specialized supersix evo?
A pure beauty 🤪
Great, now build it with a BB386 like the Ax evo & put those to cables inside the stem like the Ridley Helium and I buy it at ones.
Well cmon, this bike is just a Cervelo R3, really!!! Light weight and can go anywhere, especially the rim brake version!!! Specialized finally caught up with Cervelo. For those of us who don’t climb mountains or ride in the pouring rain, we don’t need disk brakes!!
I ride in the mountains and use rim brakes no problem. Even in the rain.
How is it 585 grams, I am baffled by the weight of this vehicle
Its better called a Giant TCR ... but without the upcoming predictable re- call due to front disk shudder.
giant TCR with specialized logo
But with long chain stays
Looks like compact geometry introduced by Giant is right despite many opinion saying that it is crap
You wish! As does Giant...
Durianrider is gonna shit his pants when he sees this...
It would be just amazing if they made a rim brake version at that insane price , and it would be even lighter , and since that is the focus of this bike ..............
But that would be admitting rim brakes are still relevant. A deadly sin these days.
technically a lighter frame should be cheaper because they use less carbon. Saying that I wouldn't ride a bike that could snap in half if you hit a pot hole.
So the Specialized Aethos is the 2019 Super Six Evo
Unless you’re a pro it really ends up as bragging rights, weight and price....
looks like a giant TCR
Tarmac went into the woodchipper when you said under UCI limit
😍Love it, want it, need it...... Can't afford it 😭
Merida: "Bike weight is only relevant for acceleration and very steep mountains. The influence of the weight is the most overrated issue [in] road bikes", Specialized: "To us, aero truly is everything. It's an ethos embodied in every design decision we make, and it's why we're continually setting new benchmarks for the world's fastest products". Just some of the quotes from yesterdays, I'm curious why didn't this bike get 2 out of 5 rating from journalists, as for other models they were deducting scores for lack of tubeless, no dropped seatstay, no integration, and lack of aero features?
The paid presentation refers to the clothing and not the bike?
The frame weight of the presenter is not much higher than the Aethos?
does it look like an emonda?
Could it be a fixed gear
only if you used an eccentric bottom bracket to tension the chain.
@@robertroth8509 Or go shop the MTB section for a chain tensioner to put where the derailleur normally goes.
@@vomErsten single speed with a chain tensioner like that is fine, but fixed gear is asking for trouble.
Robert Roth Yeah, I had a brain fart and conflated fixie with single.
You said that Colnago V3RS is too expensive, but SL7 and Aethos is just rape!
Imagine how much better this bike would be with rim brakes
this frame is in reality what cannondale supersix used to be lol
Not quite, I think the hi mod SuperSix was supposed to be 650g (it could have been a little bit heavier). I supposed I could strip my bike down and find out. 😉
All you Tarmac SL7 lovers must be aware that by Specialized’s own admission, the gen 3 Venge is faster! You know that, right?
Great video guys.. what are the odds of doing a review on the Aethos that most of us muppets could afford? Ie- the comp model. Cheers.
People hating on a bike they will likely never see in real life, let alone own or ride. Ride your bike and stop whining.
I love you guys!
I see you ride a 54, what’s your height and inseam ?
I remember riding the 1st gen Emonda SLR and it surged up hills like nothing else but had a bit of character at the same time. The thing is this bike is lost on the majority of riders because as a proportion of rider and bike weight the difference is negligible. That's why most riders would be better off with the SL7. I suspect light and aero trumps just light most of the time.
One bike, oh wait, a second bike to rule them all, no really at this point waiting for the third one
🤣🤣🤣
3 bikes are not enough, you can't do mountain biking or bmx racing on any road bike for an example. One must ride all the bikes.
It's almost admirable on a business level -- recognize that there's a market for a super-luxury bike for very wealthy people who don't race. "For the love of riding" is kind of comical, though, because outside of a hill climb, it's hard to see how a featherweight bike is going to deliver the best riding experience.
There are now Pro ($7400) and Expert ($5200) Aethos models available.
I don't know man. Is the tarmac really going to be faster? It would be faster for the pros but we're not pros and don't need to follow the 6.8 rule. If they abolished the 6.8kg rule, which bike would they race?
Unless all you do is ride up steep gradients, aero is massively important. Whether or not you care about it is another matter, of course. Thanks for watching!
They'll make an aero version next and tell you a super lightweight bike is fine but what's the point if it's not aero? Another12k please, thanks. See your wallet again in 3 months. oh and just ignore that kid on his 9kg aluminium bike smashing you. You're amazing, trust us. All that matters is how much your bike cost.
It really wasnt that long ago when £8000 would buy you the equivalent Specialized lightweight bike and now that price has gone up disproportionately. The weight savings on this over a 2010 lightweight bike is probably the same difference as trimming your eyelashes and cutting your toenails. Save yourself £9000 and buy a second hand old model one.
It’s just a rebadged sl5...with some marketing fluff. is nobody going to comment on this?
Can you prove that? What is the weight of that frame? Because if they are different, a ton of brand new R&D, testing, designing and manufacturing changes would have to occur, which would make your allegation incorrect.