Zwift’s latest update includes the welcome addition of several new bike frames, including two versions of the highly respected Tarmac SL8 from Specialized. We’ve already covered the S-Works version, and today we’ll cover the non-S-Works version, which Specialized refers to as the Tarmac SL8 Pro on their website:
On Zwift, you’ll need to be updated to game version 1.86+ to see the Tarmac SL8 in Zwift’s Drop Shop. You’ll also need to be at level 35+ with 700,000 Drops to buy it. Here’s how it’s described in the Drop Shop (the same text as the S-Works version):
“Nothing is faster than the Specialized Tarmac SL8 thanks to the bike’s synergistic combination of aerodynamics, light weight, and ride quality previously thought impossible. After eight generations and over two decades of development, it’s more than the fastest Tarmac ever – it’s the world’s fastest race bike.”
In real life, the S-Works Tarmac is a bit lighter than the Tarmac SL8 pro, and also ~$6,000 more expensive. But how do the two compare on Zwift?
See our master list of all frames in Zwift >
It’s rated 3 stars for aero, 4 stars for weight, like a handful of other top newish all-arounders. But a 4-star system isn’t the most granular of performance measurements, so we ran this frame through our precise tests to measure performance at nerd-level detail. Let’s dive in!
Note: test results below are from a 75kg, 183cm rider holding 300W steady using Zwift’s stock 32mm Carbon wheelset.
Aero (Flat/Rolling) Performance
The Specialized Tarmac SL8 is slippery, trimming 60.7s off our baseline Zwift Carbon frame over an hour of flat riding.
That puts it within 2.3 seconds of the game’s fastest frame, and 1.2 seconds behind the S-Works version of the same bike. Considering that our tests have a 1-second margin of error, one could reasonably lump this frame in with the other fastest frames in terms of performance on flat roads.
Climb Performance
The S-Works Tarmac is currently the fastest climber in our tests, at least at 4 W/kg. The Specialized Tarmac SL8 holds its own, though, coming in 4th overall in terms of climbing performance, just 7.5 seconds behind the S-Works version over an hour of climbing.
This Specialized Tarmac shaves 48.5 seconds off of our baseline Zwift Carbon’s time on an hourlong climb.
Upgrading Your Specialized Tarmac SL8
Like all frames in Zwift, the Specialized Tarmac SL8 can be upgraded in five stages. As a high-end race bike, each of the five stages results in a performance improvement. The S-Works Tarmac SL8 upgrade stages are as follows:
- Ride 200km, pay 100,000 Drops for an aero upgrade
- Ride 260km, pay 200,000 Drops for a weight reduction
- Ride 320km, pay 350,000 Drops for a drivetrain efficiency improvement
- Ride 380km, pay 500,000 Drops for an aero upgrade
- Ride 440km, pay 750,000 Drops for a weight reduction
You can expect a fully-upgraded Specialized Tarmac SL8 to be approximately 28 seconds faster on a flat hour and 36 seconds faster on an hourlong climb vs the “stock” Specialized Tarmac SL8.
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Conclusions
The Specialized Tarmac SL-8 is beaten by the S-Works Tarmac SL8 in all areas but one: affordability!
While the S-Works version requires level 40+ and 1,750,000 Drops to purchase, the Specialized Tarmac SL8 can be purchased at level 35+ for just 700,000 Drops. Apart from the wildly attainable Canyon Aeroad 2024 (level 10, 1,100,000 Drops), this Tarmac is the only frame in the top 5 of our stacked percentile rankings that isn’t unlocked at level 40.
Will riders choose to buy the more easily attainable Tarmac, or wait another 5 levels for the more expensive, slightly faster version?
Regardless of this Tarmac you choose, this much is true: you’ll get no color slider. #sadtrombone
Questions or Comments?
Will you be buying this Tarmac? Why or why not? Share below…
Important note: this post contains speed test results for Zwift frames or wheels. These results may change over time, and a bike's performance relative to others may also change. We don't always revise posts when performance rankings change, but we do keep current, master versions of our speed test results which are always available. See the frame charts, wheel charts, and Tron vs Top Performers for current performance data.
Currently, I’ve almost finished the 4th upgrade on my S-Works and every kilometre I put down, I wish I had started on a different frame.
The marginal gains aren’t worth the extra effort, in my humble opinion.
I’ll complete the upgrade and use it for racing but then I will immediately get stuck into either the Felt or the Dogma and that will be my social rider.
I’m working on the 2nd S-Works upgrade but I’ll go back to my “painted” Dogma F for my social rider, it’s more “exclusive” because it’s painted.
Same with me.
im more focused on using my time trial and climber.
I so wish I could get the orange/pink paint job of my Dogma on the S-works SL8. The all white is just so boring.
White carbon is also heavy, proving Zwift’s ratings are unrealistic :).
Thank you Eric for all the data you supply to help us decide which bikes to upgrade when. Could anyone explain to me what is meant by ‘drivetrain efficiency improvement’? Thanks!
In game it’s actually your Crr being reduced. The net effect is that you roll faster!
Thanks. How does this compare to an aero upgrade? I understand the reason for rolling faster is different from having a bike being more aerodynamic in real life, but are there any tests on how those two are different in the game? Wouldn’t it make more sense to reduce Crr as a potential upgrade to wheels, which Zwift could introduce in the future?
I already have the S-Works….so no to the standard SL8. If I decide to go for a Halo bike, will choose the least expensive and fastest to upgrade after the S-Works SL8
It will probably all change in a few months.
Long before I get the Halo bike at any rate.
I hope bikes will be neutralised for ZRL finals starting next week. I’ve been seeing tons of folks game the bike-upgrade system, constantly spawning up ADZ then coasting down with zero watt! 😒
I saw a bunch of that on my climb today. I’m exited about the upgrades because it’s something but it seems like more then should be done to neutralize equipment during races. This is assuming nobody is already cheating about their weight.
A lot of us don’t have the Drops to burn on the fanciest equipment in-game, so for the economy-minded, there’s no question that the cost savings for the Tarmac SL8 are well worth the small performance hit. And I may simply be extrapolating from my own experience, but I’d guess that folks on the lower-Drops end of the Zwift spectrum aren’t racing all that much and thus likely aren’t looking for every marginal gain on the bike no matter the cost, just like IRL. It’s going to take all the Drops I have the time and the legs to earn to upgrade enough frames so that then I can both purchase and upgrade a halo bike.
For those who have ample resources to spend, though, the S-Works is the way to go, and more power to them: a nice reward for being, let’s be honest, better at the game.
Only long-timers have that many drops.
There’s at least 2 people with aero socks already.
Thanks for this heads-up, the timing could not have been better for me!
I just hit level 39 and I was thinking I really wanted the S-Works Tarmac to replace my Scott Addict (nerfed) as my all-rounder.
But I was well over a 1.25M drops short – which meant I would have to ride with Robopacers for my foreseeable future. After reading this article I saved myself the grind and just now got the Specialized Tarmac SL8 as my new allrounder.
Thanks!
don’t make the same mistake as me and accidentally buy this instead of the s-works – a waste of drops; at least i noticed quicly … 🤦♂️
White depressed me
I love my Tarmac Pro with 5 upgrades
I’ve upgraded the “works” – what next ? What’s the next “best” bike to upgrade – this one ?
I’m so confused by it all !
So the 4th upgrade is another aero? What’s the difference between upgrade 1 aero and the 2nd upgrade aero at stage 4 upgrade?
You can see how much of a difference each upgrade makes at https://zwiftinsider.com/upgrade-charts/
For me I’ll do the Swork,s version. Im level 45 and actually only noticed the drop shop today then come here for info. I’d a 7 year injury break from cycling so zwift changed a lot. Had the Tron when I cycled on zwift in 2018 so need it upgraded now doing 3 zwift bikes. 1 done 2 to go but in no rush. I look at it in long term ie get the work,s and be done rather than say I wish at a later date. If we are on zwift for the long haul, over time those drops build up anyways.