PedalHeads in QLD (the shop I got the SL8 from) did an amazing job with building up my SL8, but the bar tape wrap job wasn’t perfect, and I needed that Sam Mingle perfection so I dropped in to see Sam at CCACHE today. Turns out it was good timing as they just got some CCACHE x NSTRMO Burgh bar tape in stock. Love the Burgh bar tape on my Allez, so more than happy to stick with the brand, and of-course Sam absolutely killed it. I’ll never do my own bar tape ever again!
We had a HUGE day shooting 2 VERY rare motorcycles yesterday at UNO Studios in Alexandria. Jordan of UNO Studios is a bike guy and let us know that there was a 1 of 6 (in the country) KTM Brabus 1300 R Masterpiece Edition’s that he could get his hands on if we wanted to shoot it.
Fuck yeah we want to shoot it!
What’s even more nuts is that he also suggested that we shoot a fresh out of a crate MV Agusta Brutale 1000 RR Assen too, suggesting that both bikes have most likely never been in the same room together, ever.
BTS Feature now on ZEN Blog: https://www.zengarage.com.au/bts-shooting-a-brabus-1300-r-edition-23-mv-agusta-brutale-1000-rr-assen-at-uno-studios/
WTF.
This guy on the forums did a YouTube unboxing of this 3D printed saddle and I made this graphic to point out how they’ve copied not only the saddle, but the logos too lol!
Old Man Cycle Crew #OMCC. Little video Mark took here: https://youtube.com/shorts/yVOe0oAMupI?si=-oCN9vMcBPI1zAQr
2nd ride. Ripped the bad tape job off and adjusted my hoods inwards (essentially 360 at the hoods). Bike feels awesome. Today I rode with a Mark who’s a tall mother and won a few local crit races. At one stage he went for a sprint expecting to leave Reggie and I behind but I stuck on his wheel and when he turned around at the end of his sprint to find me right next to him he was quite literally surprised!
One for the ego for sure, but above all it’s confirmation that all this riding I’ve been doing the past 5+ months is starting to pay off.
PS: The Specialized S-Works Power with Mirror saddle is just SO comfy it’s ridiculous. I hate how it looks. I hate how grippy it is. I especially hate that it weighs 203g… but damn. It’s SO comfy I’m not sure I’m ready to replace it with a Berk, yet.
I’m so glad I got my SL6 in a size 52 (the recommended size for my height). The fit is so perfect with a 110mm -12 degree stem. Jumping back on the size 49 Allez earlier this week I instantly realised I felt cramped up. I ended up busting out the tape measure, and too right, the distance between the tip of the saddle to the centre of the bars was 20mm shorter on the Allez so I bought a 130mm -12 degree stem and happy to say that I managed to make it fit without extending the brake hoses.
Not ridden it yet, but it measures up great and damn it looks fucking mean AF!
UPDATED SPECS: 2022 Specialized Allez Sprint Comp (size 49) in Tarmac Black/Brushed Foil
GROUPSET: SRAM RED AXS E1 rear derailleur, shifters and calipers, SRAM DUB BB, SRAM Red AXS E1 chain, SRAM RED AXS E1 cassette (10-36), SRAM RED AXS E1 crankset (160mm), SRAM X-SYNC chainring (50T).
WHEELS & TYRES: ENVE 65 Foundation wheelset, Continental AERO 111 front (29), Continental GP 5000 S TR rear (32), Galfer rotors (160mm front 140mm rear).
COMPONENTS: S-Works Tarmac SL7 stem (130mm -12 degree), Tarmac SL7 stem cable bat and stem cover kit, RaceWare 3D printed spacer, Specialized Roval Rapide handlebars (380mm), Burgh Lightning Bar Tape, Berk Lupina Short (132mm), Specialized carbon rail clamp, Hylix 0 offset seatpost, Xpedo Thrust SL titanium pedals, Specialized front derailleur mount cover, S-WORKS bottle cage bolts.
WEIGHT: 7.65kg.
Maiden ride this morning with Reggie.
Just reporting in with initial thoughts from a 1.5hr shakedown ride.
Fit & Feel: My SL6 fit is so dialled in that it feels more like an endurance bike than a race bike. I have the stem slammed on the SL8 (15mm spacer on the SL6) and the reach is 5mm longer and I can feel the difference (feels more like a race bike, slightly more pressure on hands too). That said stem angle is -12 on the SL6, and -6 on the SL8 and my hoods aren’t turned in at all on the SL8 and I feel they’re a little low on the bars too.
The bar tape job isn’t the best, so I’ll book in with Sam at CCACHE who did the bar tape on my Allez (literally perfection) and at the same time I’ll move my levers up a little and angle them in too.
The S-Works Power with Mirror saddle is so damn comfy it feels odd. My position is racey, but the saddle feels like a comfy lounge chair. It’s damn grippy too which is something I’m not used to. IE: Every time I sat back down after being out of saddle I had to micro adjust.
The Roval Rapide CLX II hubs are so silent I literally couldn’t hear them at all unless I pedalled backwards! Towards the end of my ride I started to hear them a little. I just assume they’re really packed with grease? It’s always windy at the park and all that I’ve read about these wheels handling crosswinds well is true.
The gear shifting is so damn smooth it’s kinda mindblowing and now I’m convinced that it’s because of the closer gear ratio cassette (same SRAM Red E1 on my Allez but with a 10-36 making for some larger jumps).
All in all I’m happy with the bike, but is it $10K+ better than the SL6 and Allez Sprint? Fuck no! No way (and hey I’m OK with that!).
Dat paint!
MagCAD computer mount.
6.85kg as pictured (but since put lighter Galfer rotors and Absolute Black lockrings on).
Nervousness, paranoia, anxiety, buyers remorse, just some of the things I’ve been feeling the past few days, but really happy to say that my SL8 got to me earlier today without issues!
The shop (PedalHeads in QLD) and delivery people were so awesome, giving me updates along the way. The delivery people didn’t even want to be mentioned as they’re apparently too busy as it is and are not at all looking for more work!
A sticker on the bike suggests the bike was born on the 8th of May 2024 (nice!). The paint is amazing in real life (it’s well known that Specialized never seem to capture their paint jobs in their press photos). So much detail up close, and even more when it’s under the sun.
The bike came with a Roval computer mount (I have one on my Allez, it’s a solid unit). I didn’t know it was going to come with one and had ordered a 3D printed MagCAD computer mount. The Roval mount weighs in at 52g, and the MagCAD weighs in at 18g so I’ve decided to remove the Roval and install the MagCAD one.
Owning and dialling in the fit on my SL6 (also a size 52) was a blessing as it’s made setting up the SL8 a breeze. The SL8 came with a 15mm offset seatpost which I’ve replaced with an S-Works 0 offset seatpost and the bike setup is now pretty close to my SL6 (5mm longer reach as the Roval cockpit on my SL8 has a 115mm stem).
Sadly the 0mm offset seatpost is pretty porky at 173g (the 15mm setback post was 141g). I’ll most likely look into either a Hylix, or Darimo, or Alpitude seatpost at some point down the line, but for now this 0 setback seatpost is doing it’s job.
The S-Works Power with Mirror saddle looks super wide and it’s heavy at 203g. I’ve got to at least test it out though, who knows? It may kill me with comfort.
Issues: I’ve read of a lot of owners with a gap between the headset dust cover and frame, and yup, mine has it. I’ve also read of people complaining about the top cap bolt not fitting flush, and yup, mine has that too, but worst of all I’ve read of SL8 owners noticing that their front wheel isn’t dead centre, happy to say I do not have this issue.
Locked in to go for a ride tomorrow morning. Can’t wait!
SPECS:
2025 S-Works Tarmac SL8 (Size 52)
Gloss Dove Grey / Silver Dust Blurred Impasto / Black Pearl
Brake Rotors: Galfer E1 160mm/140mm (97g/79g)
Brake Pads: Absolute Black Graphen (40g)
Shift Levers: SRAM RED E1
Derailleurs: SRAM RED E1
Cassette: SRAM RED 10-33t
Chain: SRAM RED E1
Crankset: SRAM RED E1 with Power Meter 165mm
Chainrings: SRAM Red E1 48/35
Pedals: Xpedo Thrust SL Titanium (165g)
Bottom Bracket: SRAM DUB BSA 68
Front Wheel: Roval Rapide CLX II 51mm
Rear Wheel: Roval Rapide CLX II 60mm
Tyres: S-works Turbo Rapidair 2BR 700x26mm
Inner Tubes: Specialized Turbo Ultralight 60mm Front, 80mm Rear
Lockrings: Absolute Black (10g)
Stem: Roval Rapide Cockpit 380mm/115mm
Tape: Supacaz Super Sticky Kush
Saddle: Specialized S-Works Power with Mirror (203g)
Seatpost: S-Works 0mm offset (173g)
Computer Mount: MagCAD (18g)
Bottle Cage: S-Works Carbon Rib Cage III (24g)
WEIGHT: 6.75kg
The removalist has picked up my new SL8 from PedalHeads Cycles in QLD. I’m nervous, excited, all the things!
Reggie made us Omurice! Delish!
OMG I want this bread van.
Hey Daniel!
Last week I was invited out to Cult & Classic to visit some old friends I’ve not seen in many many years.
Turns out Reggie who drove me out to the meet (was a bit of a road trip!) didn’t tell the others that I was going to be there, and man did it make for some funny and memorable reactions.
Jaws dropped, literally!
Was awesome to catch up with these lovely people. They’re all just so… nice! It makes me wonder whether we lost touch because I was in such a dark place.
Lots to chew on, or maybe not? Either way it was a great day out, lots of stories, lots of laughs, life’s good!
