S-WORKS Tarmac SL6 / 5.44kg

[justinfoxphotos]

Nice build and good read. I recently got an 56cm UItralight SL6 with a SR12 build. I hope by the end of winter, it will be a EPS12 build. After reading your build, I suspect I will be in the same ball park with the weight. At least a goal to shoot for.

TY and nice! I didn't know the Ultralight version existed until after I acquired this bike. Congrats on finding one!

Amazing build, love the Extralite stuff, just looks right. although, in the last pic (EL Rings on the Red Crank) are you rings positioned correctly? The 'catch' pin should be orientated in one of 2 holes, in your case, behind the crankarm/not visible.

TY! You're 100% right! Noob error on my behalf.

I'll have to remove the rings and rotate them to get the pin behind the crank arm.

I've just inspected some of my other bikes out of curiosity; my Allez Sprint (1by SRAM Red E1) doesn't have a catch pin, my 80's steel road bike (Campagnolo) doesn't have one either, and neither does my fixed gear bike. I've never had a chain come off on either of those bikes, so for now I've just removed the pin altogether, but will most likely get around to rotating the rings and resinstalling the pin at some point. Thanks for the heads up, much appreciated.

[justinfoxphotos]

HOPP CARBON PARTS Cover ICR Port for Specialized Tarmac SL6 (2g).


CERAMICSPEED Headset Dust Cover Cap (4g).

The first order I made with R2BIKE on September the 30th finally arrived today (note to self; NEVER option for the cheaper shipping, ever!).

All up a 9g savings over the huge 20mm headset spacer but the weight savings aren't showing on the scale. I'm assuming it's because it's been raining, and after today's ride I now have some dirt on the bike?

20km ride today. The new rear derailleur hanger has done wonders. Drivetrain is still noisy, but a LOT quieter than before. I'm now thinking the noise is coming from the chain. I've ordered a Dura-Ace/XT 12 speed chain (which many have reported to not only shift better, but make a lot less noise on an 11-speed drivetrain). I'll be happy if it works out as I'm not diggin' the gold chain (doesn't match anything else on the bike and screams for a little too much attention).

I've got some new pulleys coming too and when they come in I'll replace the rear derailleur with the short cage one I got from the sale of the bike.

[Butcher]

I plan on making my own version of the Specialized cable covers. I'll get it down to 1g

[OtterSpace]

I plan on making my own version of the Specialized cable covers. I'll get it down to 1g

I just removed mine entirely and vinyl wrapped over it 0.27g for the wrap.

[Butcher]

I thought of that too.

[justinfoxphotos]

I plan on making my own version of the Specialized cable covers. I'll get it down to 1g

I have no doubt! The Hopp cover is WAY thicker than it needs to be for sure.

[justinfoxphotos]

Just an update.

60kms or so now on the bike. I've literally not ridden my Allez Sprint at all since this build has been completed (makes me sad), and I have to say that the larger frame (52 vs 49) and the non-slammed stem have made a world of difference in comfort.

As mentioned elsewhere I only ride at the one place 4-5 days a week. It's a beautiful park with an undulating 4km loop and for the first time since getting back on the bike I did 8 laps (I usually only do 3 on average, some days 5).

I still think the Allez feels faster, especially when getting off the saddle and mashing the pedals. I also feel the Allez rolls faster (coasting on the downhills on the SL6 I feel like the bike literally drops all speed and slows down a tonne wheras the Allez feels like it actually gains speed when coasting on the downhills. I think the differences are a combination of things, maybe the Allez is stiffer, the more aggressive setup probably attributes to the bike feeling faster, and the extra weight of the Allez probably makes it roll faster when coasting downhill.

Either way what I'm really happy about is that both bikes look and feel different to each other. I no longer wish to make the Allez lighter, and I no longer wish to slam the stem on the SL6. Bit of a win win really.

Earlier I commented that my drivetrain was louder since installing mods, and I blamed the cassette (thinking that it's because it's a one-piece vs. the Ultegra cassette my bike came with).

I've ordered a 12-Speed Dura-Ace/XTR chain which will get to me next week, but this morning I refitted the Ultegra chain the bike came with and VOILA! No more noise at all! Sadly the Ultegra chain weighs 30g more, maybe the Dura-Ace/XTR chain will be lighter, will see when it arrives next week.

Hate to be a spreader of misinformation so thought I'd better share my findings. TLDR on the ZTTO Gen 3 cassette: Weight good, shifting good, price good. Very happy.

EDIT - Went for a ride this morning and wow, what a huge difference the Ultegra 11-Speed chain made to the drivetrain noise, which was pretty much non-existant and shifting is even smoother.

When I got home the 12-Speed Dura-Ace/XTR chain came in the mail and I just got it on the bike. The Ultegra chain was 2 links longer than the KMC X11SL as the bike came with a larger rear cassette, but I decided to meet half way and just leave an extra link on the new chain as today's ride was just fine with the chain 2 links longer. It's even quieter now on the work stand, and it's lighter than the 11-Speed Ultegra chain too. All up 17g heavier than the KMC X11SL, got 11g of that back by cutting my seatpost down and after wiping down the bike (was a bit dirty from the previous ride) weight is now 5.44kg's.

[dudemanppl]

I was going to comment on the drastically different position compared to the Sprint. What was the reason for slamming the Sprint? Did you get a bike fit beforehand or just sorta went for it?

[justinfoxphotos]

I was going to comment on the drastically different position compared to the Sprint. What was the reason for slamming the Sprint? Did you get a bike fit beforehand or just sorta went for it?

I'm a retired graphic designer, and as much as people think it's stupid (and I agree!), looks REALLY matter to me so I've always slammed stems on all my bikes.

[gurk700]

I was going to comment on the drastically different position compared to the Sprint. What was the reason for slamming the Sprint? Did you get a bike fit beforehand or just sorta went for it?

I'm a retired graphic designer, and as much as people think it's stupid (and I agree!), looks REALLY matter to me so I've always slammed stems on all my bikes.

dudemanppl gets it. he's the same way

[justinfoxphotos]

dudemanppl gets it. he's the same way

OK this might be one of if not the last posts on this bike.

30km ride yesterday and oh my lordy the 12-Speed Dura-Ace/XTR chain is amaaaaaazing. It shifts so good and I literally can't hear any drivetrain noise at all in my most used gears (instead all I could hear was my mate's drivetrain noise lol).

I still want to take a final set of photos, and still fighting, visually, to not slam the stem, but man this bike is just SO comfortable to ride as it is I wouldn't want to risk it. The Allez Sprint beats me up, 3-5 laps in I'm literally spent. 8 laps in on the SL6 and I feel I could easily do 8 more.

The bike has an awesome party trick too, and that's getting complete strangers I end up chatting to at the cafe to pick up the bike (then enjoying their reactions!).

Negatives? The frame itself isn't super light, probably 150g more than the weight of some others who have posted in the past. This haunts me a little, but it is what it is. The wheelset isn't super light either at 1280g, and the temptation to get a set of 25mm deep Brisk tubulars + Tufo tyres to get the final weight down to 4.98kg is strong, but 25mm wheels would visually look so weak I don't think I could deal.

Positives I'm really happy with how it turned out, and as mentioned in an earlier post; I'm just so happy that it's so different to all my other bikes. I've spent countless hours pondering over lighter wheelsets for my Allez Sprint, but with this build I got to scratch my weight weenie itch, and now I couldn't care less about the weight of my Allez Sprint.

I have an S-Works SL8 on order. Sadly I couldn't find a frameset in my size, so it's a complete bike. Things might change once it's in my hands, but I've spent some time going through SL8 build threads made by other WW members, and right now I'm not at all into the idea of compromising the quality components the bike comes with to save some grams (for example replacing the Roval Rapide wheelset for lighter CRW wheels, or the already light thru-axles for Overfast etc).

[OtterSpace]

If I were in your shoes I'd flip the Allez given its not a good physical fit. Also you already maxed it out and took great photos that you can keep around to remember the better side of that build. I kept a bike (SL4 actually) that didn't fit me for too long as I just couldn't quite convince myself to part with it for awhile even though I had other bikes I used instead. However after selling it I don't miss it at all but look at the photos every once in awhile to remember the good times I had getting into cycling with it. Don't know if it makes more sense to part out or keep as is but probably part out and then you can move some stuff over to SL8 if you need.

Given you have a new expensive love coming that will become your main bike I'd chill on the SL6 tinkering until you get the SL8 where you want it then loop back when the dust settles a bit. Might be a good move to ride the SL8 a bit before changing major parts too so you can get a good baseline. However, it is always so hard to resist the urge to modify right away.

[gurk700]

right now I'm not at all into the idea of compromising the quality components the bike comes with to save some grams (for example replacing the Roval Rapide wheelset for lighter CRW wheels, or the already light thru-axles for Overfast etc).

It's a blasphemy around here but I've been on that boat for a good bit now.
Last Saturday I beat my personal best from 2019 when I had that 5.7kg S-works SL6 on a 35 minute climb.

In comparison my SL8 is currently smidge over 7.0kg (got some extra bits on it like apple air tag etc. normally it's smidge under). A Whopping 1.3kg difference! I'm currently exact same weight as back then.

Can't really compare watts though. I did only 3 watts more but 2 minutes 10 seconds faster. I think the old power meter just read super high as I trust my current faveros way more.

Although I will say, I do everything a little differently than what people usually do I guess.. SL8 is my main bike for example. I ride it rain or shine. Put it through hell. Wash every week so headset bearings are already toast in 6 months. I just love using the stuff. So spending money on even more bling parts really took a back seat nowadays.

My Allez became strictly for international/air travel. SL8 for literally everything else.

[justinfoxphotos]

Solid advice guys. 100% will slam the stem on the SL8, but will hold off on mods until I ride it a while for sure.

Took some final shots:

[eins4eins]

i like the pictures and admire the will to spend so much money.
Do i remember correctly, that you only ride those bikes on a short loop in parc?