BikeRadarIndependent reviewer
6.0/10
How we read this review
Brilliant but underwhelming; same bike as before, pricing questioned
NEW Specialized Tarmac SL9 Review – Brilliant But Underwhelming2027 Specialized Tarmac SL9
Hover to zoomPhotos from Incycle Bicycles
More from Incycle Bicycles
2027 Specialized Tarmac SL9
Est. tax $510.30 for 43215 (Ohio average) · Shipping set by Incycle Bicycles at checkout · 19 listings at 15 stores
What these specs mean
Shimano road groupsets
- Claris
- Sora
- Tiagra
- 105Also offered
- UltegraAlso offered
- Dura-AceAlso offered
11 or 12-speed, mechanical or Di2. The sweet spot for most riders
A groupset is the shifters, derailleurs, brakes, crankset and cassette. Higher tiers are lighter, shift more crisply and have more gears; most riders stop noticing a difference above 105.
SRAM road groupsets
- Apex
- Rival AXSAlso offered
- Force AXSThis one
- Red AXSAlso offered
12-speed wireless. Comparable to Ultegra
SRAM’s road groups, lowest to highest. AXS means wireless electronic shifting.
- Di2
- Shimano’s electronic shifting: a small motor moves the chain at the press of a button. Crisper shifts and no cable stretch; you charge it every few hundred miles, and it usually adds several hundred dollars.
- AXS
- SRAM’s wireless electronic shifting. No cables to adjust; each part has a battery you charge.
About this item
- The Tarmac SL9 was born from the fastest road bike ever made.
- Not just because it’s the lightest.
- Not just because it’s our most aero.
- Not because it handles better than anything else on the road.
- But because it delivers the lowest real-world Time to Finish of any road bike ever made.
- Tarmac SL9 turns more of your effort into pure speed—validated for real race courses, real terrain, real riders.
Why it scores 6.0: Mixed, from 6 sources. Strongest on reliability. See the breakdown
Every store selling it
19 listings at 15 stores, lowest first. Ask the stores what shipping to 43215 costs to see who is cheapest at the door.
| Store | Option | Price | Delivered | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Incycle Bicycles Lowest new | Shimano 105 Di2 Comp | $4,199.99 | · | View |
| swannyscycles | Shimano 105 Di2 Comp | $4,199.99 | · | View |
| Bike Mart | Shimano 105 Di2 Comp | $4,200.00 | · | View |
| Orange County Cyclery | Shimano 105 Di2 Comp · preowned | $4,499.00 | · | View |
| Strictly Bicycles | SRAM Rival AXS Comp | $4,499.99 | · | View |
| Orange County Cyclery | Shimano Ultegra Expert · preowned | $6,499.00 | · | View |
| Incycle Bicycles Viewing | SRAM Force AXS Expert | $6,999.99 | This one | |
| Pro Bike Supply | SRAM Force AXS Expert | $6,999.99 | View | |
| Bike Mart | SRAM Force AXS Expert | $6,999.99 | View | |
| ERIK'S Bike Board & Ski | SRAM Force AXS Expert | $6,999.99 | View | |
| Orange County Cyclery | SRAM Red AXS · Red · preowned | $9,499.00 | View | |
| ERIK'S Bike Board & Ski | Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 | $9,999.99 | View | |
| Bike Mart | Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 | $9,999.99 | View | |
| CyclErie Bike & eBike Shop | SRAM Red AXS · Red | $10,499.99 | View | |
| Strictly Bicycles | SRAM Red AXS · Red | $10,499.99 | View | |
| ERIK'S Bike Board & Ski | SRAM Red AXS | $10,499.99 | View | |
| Bike Mart | SRAM Red AXS · Red | $10,500.00 | View | |
| Cycle Sport | SRAM Red AXS | $13,999.99 | View | |
| Epic Cycles | SRAM Red AXS | $13,999.99 | View |
How it scores
Mixed · likely 5.1 to 6.8 · medium confidence
From 5 video reviews, 1 owner report, 7 community posts.
Your score
What matters to you? Tap to weight the score. Tap again for more weight.
Quick picks:
By what matters
Ride comfort2 reviews · what they said5.4
- Praises all-round performance and handling of SL9 YouTube comment on Cycling Weekly
Speed & weight5 reviews · what they said4.8
- Claimed fastest road bike ever made, 4 watts more aero, 6.5kg flagship build BikeRadar
- Covers weight and ride impressions versus SL8; no specific verdict road.cc · sponsored
- No major performance jumps over previous generation YouTube comment on BikeRadar
- Dismisses 4-watt gain as not worth upgrading for YouTube comment on Cycling Weekly
Components1 review · what they said8.0
- Build with SRAM Red AXS, Roval Rapide CLX III wheels, CeramicSpeed bottom bracket outdoorbros · sponsored
Tire room & versatility2 reviews · what they said6.9
- Believes 35mm measured tires fit SL9 clearance YouTube comment on BikeRadar
- Build uses 32mm Cotton TLR tires; no clearance comments outdoorbros · sponsored
Reliability1 review8.8
Value for moneyprice against similar products6.1
By source
Video reviews5 sources · 73% of the score6.0
Community discussion7% of the score5.5
Problems owners mention
- price seen as excessive
Out of 10. Each source is weighted by how reliable it is, how much data it has and how recent it is; sponsored videos count half, and the brand’s own videos don’t count. How the score works
Reviews and videos
Cycling WeeklyIndependent reviewerSponsored by the brand
6.5/10
How we read this review
Asks if SL9 is enough to be one of the best race bikes for 2027
Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL9 Review - In A League Of Its Own?David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes
6.0/10
How we read this review
First-look ride impressions comparing new SL9 with the SL8
I Rode the New Specialized Tarmac SL9... Here's the Truthroad.ccSponsored by the brand
6.0/10
How we read this review
Comparison video asking whether SL9 is worth buying over SL8
Specialized Tarmac SL9 vs Tarmac SL8 - Which is Better in 2026?GC PerformanceSponsored by the brand
5.0/10
How we read this review
Brief new-model intro for Tarmac SL9 Expert; mostly promo links
NEW!! Specialized Tarmac SL9 Expert 2027Community
Suggests buying last-gen frames since SL9 shows no big performance jump
YouTube comment on BikeRadarCommunity
Says development money should have made SL8 cheaper instead
YouTube comment on Cycling WeeklyCommunity
Confident 35mm tires fit the SL9 based on measured width on older SL7
YouTube comment on BikeRadarCommunity
Price of £12,000 for marginal gains over SL8 seems crazy
price seen as excessive
YouTube comment on Cycling WeeklySources we checked
- Shopify Global Catalognot run yet
- Hacker Newsnot run yet
- Redditnot connected yet
- YouTube reviewsnot run yet
- Expert reviews (Claude web search)not run yet
- Video reviews, watched (Gemini)not connected yet
- Xnot connected yet
- Expert reviews (web)not connected yet
- Browsing agent (computer use)not connected yet
Compare with similar items
| This item2027 Specialized Tarmac SL9 |  AD9 |  XDS X-LAB RT9 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customer rating | |||
| Price | $6,999.99 Lowest price | $7,999.00 | $9,150.00 |
| Doorprice Score | 6.0Doorprice Score | 7.4Doorprice Score Best score | 6.1Doorprice Score |
| Sold by | Incycle Bicycles | X-LAB | Contender Bicycles |
| See details | See details | See details |
Product description
The Tarmac SL9 was born from the fastest road bike ever made. Not just because it’s the lightest. Not just because it’s our most aero. Not because it handles better than anything else on the road. But because it delivers the lowest real-world Time to Finish of any road bike ever made. Tarmac SL9 turns more of your effort into pure speed—validated for real race courses, real terrain, real riders. When the goal is to cross the line first, no road bike gets you there faster. At a Glance Use: Road Racing Frame: FACT 10r Carbon Wheels: Roval C38 Drivetrain: SRAM Force AXS Weight: 7.55 kg Cockpit: Rapide Stem/Alloy Bar
From the seller’s listing.