Specialized Tarmac SL8 Pro 2025: Test Ride, Review, Pros, Cons, Performance, Range, Opinions

Details: Written by: Luca; Parent Category: Bicycles news review test; Category: Specialized Bicycles news review test; Published: 11 September 2025

Specialized Tarmac SL8 Pro 2025: Test Ride, Review, Pros, Cons, Performance, Range, Opinions – Everything You REALLY Need to Know

Specialized Tarmac SL8 Pro 2025 Test Review Build Quality

The Specialized Tarmac SL8 Pro 2025 is expensive for a mass-produced bike, but it's very well made. There's no criticism, even if you pay a lot for everything, but the quality is still high.

In fact, the color options have increased compared to the past, but they're limited to two.

The price remains high, around €9,000, for a bike weighing around 7.2 kg, but today's market offers this, and for many, the allure of a Specialized racing bike is priceless.

Ultimately, an expensive racing bike, but well-made.

Specialized Tarmac SL8 Pro 2025 Test Review Frame

For years, it's been a reliable, a Specialized staple.

The new Specialized Tarmac SL8 Pro 2025 evolves without revolutionizing, as it should.

The available sizes are unchanged, and they are good enough to allow many people to find the right fit without much modification.

It's a shame that the frame isn't compatible with mechanical groupsets and that prices are generally high.

You pay for such quality, and its direct competitors are in line.

In the end, it's a good product, expensive, but valid.

There's no shortage of alternatives, but those looking for a Specialized will find this model a good compromise between cost and performance.

Specialized Tarmac SL8 Pro 2025 test review Assembly

The assembly of the Specialized Tarmac SL8 Pro 2025 is solid and good for the list price.

It remains an expensive bike, but there are other more affordable models in the Specialized catalog.

Overall, it's a good compromise because it doesn't weigh much more than the more expensive S-Works, but it costs significantly less.

No complaints to report; it's a beautiful racing bike.

But if passion tells us it's a good choice, reason reminds us that other competitors can offer racing bikes with a Shimano Dura Ace Di2 groupset for the same price...

Everyone should choose based on their own criteria.

A beautiful racing bike, but it's not superior to other similar models in terms of price and assembly.

Specialized Tarmac SL8 Pro 2025 test review Comfort

Decent, nothing new, but better than the S-Works.

Yes, the substantial difference is that the different carbon makes the bike heavier, but also more comfortable, less tiring on long rides.

It's not a huge difference, but it's noticeable nonetheless.

The Specialized Tarmac SL8 Pro 2025 isn't the kind of Specialized bike designed for comfort, but this version ensures decent comfort.

Specialized Tarmac SL8 Pro 2025 Test Review Guide

The main difference between the Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8 and the Tarmac SL8 Pro is their ease of riding.

The different carbon fiber construction doesn't completely change the frame, but it makes the Specialized Tarmac SL8 Pro even more balanced, easier to ride, more confident, and less nervous than the more expensive and lighter S-Works.

At high speeds, it's easier to ride than the S-Works, especially downhill and on rough terrain. It's perhaps slightly less maneuverable and slower on winding and narrow trails, but it's easier and safer to ride.

It performs very well on flat and hilly terrain, where no noticeable differences are noticeable compared to the S-Works.

It performs well on climbs, the only area where the S-Works really has an advantage, but it still offers solid and competitive performance in its price range.

The slightly heavier frame and different carbon fiber construction result in very good stability at high speeds and reduced sensitivity to crosswinds.

The brakes are more than adequate, nothing more to add.

An easy and safe racing bike for an amateur, perhaps even more manageable than the S-Works, easier to ride, safer, and less tiring.

Specialized Tarmac SL8 Pro 2025 test review Performance

The new Specialized Tarmac SL8 Pro 2025 is a very competitive racing bike on any type of terrain.

It has no real weaknesses; it's consistently competitive on any type of terrain.

Of course, you need some serious legs to take full advantage of its frame, but it's a competitive all-around racing bike on any type of terrain.

Compared to the previous model, the new 2025 Specialized Tarmac SL8 Pro doesn't perform much better, but still, with the same build, there's a clear overall improvement.

How much? Not enough to rush out and buy the new model, but it's clear that progress continues, and the new 2025 Specialized Tarmac SL8 Pro is superior to the previous Specialized Tarmac SL7 Pro.

A completely negligible difference for the "Sunday rider," but still not to be disregarded by those who compete, even at an amateur level.

On a 120km granfondo, the advantage of the new Tarmac SL8 Pro 2025 isn't a small amount; it's certainly not 10 minutes, but it's definitely worth it, thanks to improved aerodynamics, greater ride comfort, increased frame stiffness, and a slightly lower weight.

It all depends on how you experience the road bike... a minute, or even just 30 seconds, can be important, right?

Specialized Tarmac SL8 Pro 2025 Test Review Strengths and Cons

The 2025 Specialized Tarmac SL8 Pro proves to be an excellent road bike, a solid evolution of the previous version.

The price is its only real flaw, but otherwise it's a very good road bike, both overall and in its price range.

In the Tarmac SL8 range, we think it offers the best price-performance ratio.

It costs less than the S-Works and weighs only slightly more, goes just as fast, and only loses ground on the toughest climbs.

An acceptable sacrifice, in the end.

The fact remains that €9,000 for a non-top-of-the-range racing bike is crazy, but we've now surpassed €16,000 and are approaching €20,000.

In the end, the €9,000 price tag for this 2025 Specialized Tarmac SL8 Pro is almost a bargain...

If you have any questions, please write to: salvatelliluca @ hotmail.com

Editor's note: The photo does not refer to the specific bike being tested.

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