Specialized Aethos vs Tarmac: What is the right model for you?

Nov 8, 2024 10 min

Specialized Aethos vs Tarmac: What is the right model for you?

If you have decided that it’s time for a Specialized road bike, you might have asked yourself, “ Should I get a Specialized Aethos or a Tarmac?" This is a common question we keep hearing, and today, we will answer it.

In this article, we will be discussing the difference between the two, breaking the specifications down, and also discussing the history and which is going to be best for you. By the end of this article, you will know the answer.

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Who are the legendary Specialized?

Before we get into answering Specialized Tarmac vs Aethos, it’s good to understand just who Specialized is as a company. They were originally started in 1974 by Mike Sinyard, who used the company to import Italian bike components to the US.

The Stumpjumper was the first bike they made and continues to be produced to this day. The range has massively expanded in that time, and they do pretty much every type of day-to-day bike you can imagine.

They are not just known for having a lot of bikes but have created innovative technology over the years and support and sponsor some incredible teams and athletes. In most disciplines, It is not rare to see a Specialized bike on a podium.

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What is the Aethos road racing bike?

The Specialized Aethos is a road bike created in 2020. In the grand scheme of bike design, it’s fairly new to the Specialized range. It was designed for riders to embrace the joys of road riding without any limits.

You will find it to be incredibly light, much lighter than a UCI professional road racing bike, and has a high strength-to-weight ratio. It’s about just getting rid of everything you don’t need and making an incredibly light bike that gives an exceptional road feel.

It’s not a bike for a race. It's all about the experience and creating something minimal that will give you a feeling you are not going to get from a professional racing bike. It’s made just for fun and feels more than anything.

What is the Tarmac road racing bike?

The legendary Specialized Tarmac has been around since the early 2000s and has stayed relevant since its release. It’s a racing pedigree and continues to get updated to become faster with each new release.

It’s designed for road racing, and you will see it in races such as Tour de France and Giro d’Italia. It’s made to offer incredible aerodynamics, speed, and strength and has an incredible power transfer saving every single possible watt.

You would have seen many professionals riding a Specialized Tarmac, such as Peter Sagan and Tadej Pogačar. It’s what wins races, and you will see many professionals continue to race them to this day.

Bike	Aethos	Tarmac
Frame Material	Carbon	Carbon
Price Range	$5,200 to $14,000	$3,500 - $15,000
Primary Audience	Purists and road riders.	Racers and competitive cyclists.
Geometry	Lightweight, comfort based, relaxed.	Aero optimized, aggressive, and made for speed.
Technology Focus	Lightweight and simplicity	Speed and aerodynamics.
Weight	6.1 kg to 6.8 kg	6.8 kg to 7.5 kg
Tire Clearance	32mm	30mm

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History of the Specialized Tarmac vs Aethos

Understanding the difference between these bikes is important. In the next section, we will discuss where these bikes came from.

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The back story of the Aethos

The Aethos is a fairly new bike to the market, and it was only released in 2020. It came from cyclists wanting something that didn’t conform to racing regulations. It was a bike that allowed them to take the technology further and see what happened.

It was a big success and gave not just great performance but also a special feel to it, like a bike without limits. It’s like art, but when it comes to bikes. It is an incredible model and offers something very free regarding the design.

The back story of the Tarmac

The Tarmac originally hit the shelves in 2004. In that time it has seen many upgrades and introduced a lot of technology into road cycling. The Tarmac is not just about being the lightest it can be within regulations but also offering incredible aerodynamics.

The Tarmac has a decorated history when it comes to road racing, with Grand Tour wins and even Championship victories. Tadej Pogačar won the Tour de France in 2020 and 2021 on a SL6 and SL7 Tarmac. Julian Alaphilippe won two World Championships in 2020 and 2021 on a Tarmac.

The bike is proven to be an incredible race machine and has undergone rigorous testing to ensure improvement with each new model released.

How do the bikes compare against each other?

Both the Specialized Aethos vs Tarmac are amazing bikes, but let’s get down to the stand-out differences.

The weight

The Aethos is lighter than the Tarmac. This isn’t because the Tarmac cannot be made light but because it needs to be a minimum of at least 6.8 kg for UCI regulations. The Aethos is lighter because it doesn’t conform to these regulations.

The money you will spend

The Aethos is a more expensive bike than the Tarmac, but they all come in different specifications, which has a big effect on the cost. The Aethos is more due to the very light frame.

The geometry you will ride

The Aethos is designed more for comfort than anything else. It is for the joy of riding and cannot be raced with its weight and relaxed geometry. The Tarmac is made for racing and comes with an aggressive geometry.

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The tire clearance you have

Although there is only a small difference for some riders, it is very important. The Tarmac has the ability to seat a 30mm tire, while the Aethos can fit a 32mm.

Power transfer and stiffness

When it comes to power transfer, the Tarmac is at the top. With the tight stiffness in the frame and the rigid tubing, it’s perfect for quick sprints. The Aethos has a more flexible approach, with comfort being more important.

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Trends, pricing, and availability

Let’s start getting into finer details and discuss the trends, price, and if you are able to get a Specialized Aethos vs Tarmac.

The Specialized Aethos

The Specialized Aethos has been incredibly popular amongst cyclists. It has the appeal that it’s incredibly comfortable to ride and is very lightweight and popular amongst riders because of its performance, especially up hills.

When it comes to pricing, it’s not cheap. Coming in at $5,200 for a base model and a top-end model exceeding $14,000, you are spending a lot for this bike, but it’s one of the lightest bikes you can buy off the shelf and not shy of good aerodynamics.

Availability can be challenging with the Aethos as it is very popular and quite sought after. With Specialized, they are good at creating more quickly, and if you don’t want to order direct, there are many secondhand on the market on websites such as buycycle.

The Specialized Tarmac

The Tarmac is a very sought-after bike, but for many different reasons than the Aethos. The Tarmac is a race machine that is being used by some of the best of the best. For many, it's the dream bike they see their idols on and know the performance it can offer.

When it comes to the pricing, it’s not cheap, but there are options for budget builds. It starts at $3,500, and you can spend up and above $15,000 for all singing and dancing S-Works models.

Availability can be tough, but Specialized has seen the demand over the years and keeps a lot of stock. You will also find many stores that keep them for testing so you can try them before you buy.

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Choosing the correct bike for you

When it comes to choosing the right bike for you between the Specialized Aethos vs Tarmac, it’s down to personal preference. If you are just in it for the smiles and miles, the Aethos is perfect for you. It’s light, fun to ride, and gives a perfect feel for the road.

If you want a race machine, then it’s definitely the Tarmac you will want to use. It is UCI-regulated and will also offer the power transfer and aerodynamics that you need to stay with the pack and possibly get in front.

It’s important to understand there’s different models and older versions might not have as much technology involved compared to newer versions. We often get asked Specialized Aethos vs Tarmac SL8, Specialized Roubaix vs Tarmac vs Aethos, Specialized Aethos vs Tarmac SL7, and more. It’s important to do the research on the bike you are looking at and what model it is.

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Where can you buy an Aethos or Tarmac

Buying an Specialized Aethos vs Tarmac does have to be from the main manufacturer. In fact, many people choose to go down the route of buying secondhand from buycycle. Not only do you get buyer protection but you also save a lot of money and ride a much better model that might be this season or last.

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