Light, stiff, and old school: our take on the new 600-gram Specialized Aethos 

Specialized is done marketing to dentists, lawyers and doctors with the sl7. The Aethos is marketed towards investment bankers.

Literally every high end bike build is $12,000 besides Canyon so thanks everyone for the original comments about it's high price, you made such a thoughtful contribution. Do you come for every specialized launch fingers crossed that this time Sworks will be affordable for you. You knew you couldn't afford the bike, but you came to the video anyways just to complain about the price tag like it's something novel.

I will always enjoy riding lightweight, non aero bikes because their ride quality is always better, they look better, and I enjoy the feel of a lightweight bike. I know that aero bikes are significantly faster in most scenarios, but I don't race anymore so I don't care about the relatively insignificant handful of seconds that they would save me.

So basically what happened is that Specialized alienated potential Venge buyers and poisoned that brand name by coming out with the (ugly and) excessively integrated Venge Vias, so they made a new, more normal Venge and called it the Tarmac, and now made a new Tarmac and called it the Aethos. Put this frame next to the SL5 Tarmac and you'll be like "Oh yes, this is clearly the new version of that bike". So welcome back, Tarmac. We've missed you.

“Quite novel”??? Hell, it’s basically an Emonda SLR disc before Trek screwed it up by going aero-ish.

This is the first fully honest review I've seen so far on this bike. Everyone else just regurgitated the marketing bs without really adding any actual opinion.

Finally, a review that tells us what this bike is actually like to ride. This is the best review I've seen on the Aethos.

I hated the new design philosophy of modern aero road bikes so much that I started building my own frames in a way more traditional manner. I'm thrilled to see people coming to their senses. A return to round tubing, more normal cable routing, and a threaded bottom bracket will be welcome by a lot of riders, I bet. The price, though? Not so much.

Oh cool, Spesh made a pre-2021 TCR. Slap an S on the front and add $5k. Winning.

Great review! I have either owned and or ridden every high-end bike Specialized has ever made and now I own an Aethos hands-down the most amazing bike Specialized has ever made

"People buy things they don't need, at prices they can't afford, to impress people they don't like" George Carlin

Unless there are some diamonds hidden in the frame, I don’t see how this is worth the sticker price...

I have a Giant TCR, before i have a TARMAC and now i have aethos pro and it's stiffer, confortable and more balance, i love this bike now I ENJOY the ride ...

Tyres with tubes, tick. No integrate cables in bar and stem, tick. It’s like they been listening to Nerd Alert!

Get a TCR Advanced SL Rim. As light as Aethos and as fast as SL7

This is like the Porsche 911R of the cycling market. This is the best video about this new/old bike I've seen so far. Good job guys.

Agreed. "re-shaping the modern road bike", yeah, not really. You nailed it, it's sorta reviving the past but with modern touches. It's very cool actually.

Great Review: You described how it DESCENDS a mountain. Well done. I note the chain stays are 210mm. Specialised ought to push that figure out to 240-250 and they'd really hit the mark!

Supersix EVO gen2?!

Just buy a bike from 2016 for a 3rd of the price.

Just buy a disc brake TCR lol

just got one of these and it's just a pleasure to ride, everything he said basically!

Specialized tries to market the old trend. Again... it cost more than 10k. I'm speechless with these companies coming up with 10k bikes. No thanks, i'll take giant tcr whenever I had the money.

“Just dropship a Yeoleo and see if they'll notice.” - Specialized VP Product

I’m excited for them to bring back the rim brake and reshape everything again

James, just before you talked about how the bike was really a bit of a throwback, I was thinking the same--but even more basic: a 2003 TCR seems remarkably similar. Sloping top tube, essentially round tube bike, trad BB, 27.2, clamp binder, etc. With the changed demands of disc brakes and evermore engineering refinement, Im sure there's weight drop and ride improvement. But low weight and rideabiluty seemed like the TCRs focus (foci?) too. I'd be interested what the bare frame weight comparison would be, or even a back to back ride quality comparison--what has 17/18 years got us-from the early 00s to this most recent iteration?

Giant TCR, Chapter 2 Huru...done..no gap in the market..just gap in the highly marketed overpriced brands

Weight savings, simple swapping of components seems like the right thing to do. Modern Vitus 9-series perhaps? Love how you add a bell and trendy handlebar bag to ruin the moment :)

So Specialized saw the Canyon CF Ultimate Evo and new Ultimate CFR and thought... break out the 2015 Tarmac designs we gotta do something quick

It's kinda of an interesting offering. Performance-ish oriented along with lots of comfort. I like lightweight go-anywhere bikes. Not for $12k though.

Hey James, would be great if you could put this head to head with an old school lightweight great like the SuperSix Evo Hi-Mod. Would be great to get a sense of the difference when they are ridden back to back (with equally wide tires).

I am thinking of buying the Aethos Expert and put some nice Zipp 303 on but I am not entirely sure yet. Current bike is a Tarmac SL5 which is still doing its job.

Everything you said I like ! I want one now !!! 😉

Nice review

When the new Bianchi Specialissima Disc comes out, I’d love to hear what you have say about that in comparison to this Specialized.

Great review as always, James. Curious what model handlebar bag you had on it. Cheers.

Speaking of the Tarmac comfort vs this. Would 30mm tires on a Tarmac be as comfortable as this?

When you compared it to the SL7 did you also have a bar bag on it?....... I’m just stirring the pot...... probably make weight weenies jump for joy.....for me the greatest innovation is that there is no Branding apart from the mark of Zorro on the headtube.

It will be interesting to see how the Specialized Pro Tour sponsored riders take to this model...If at all. Also, nice to see a new model that is more mechanically approachable to the masses..Top job on the review. PJW

Where r all these guys now? I wish you did more content like the 4 bike comparison in Australia..

Specialized needs to release a alloy version of the aethos using their Smartweld technology. It would be similar to treks version on the Emonda (emonda alr). I reckon it would be a hit and would definitely be affordable for general public.

"lightweight" with discs. good one

Going to pull down my 2016 Supersix Evo HiMod from the rafters. What's 'old' is new again. #SaveTheRimBrakes

Nice James, not one mention of the price tag.

If I were a Spesh fan who'd just bought an SL7 sworks, I would now be somewhat gutted!

Wait so what is the point of this bike? Didn’t the Big S say that the SL7 was THE lightweight aero bike? What niche does this bike fill?

Is it significantly slower than Tarmac SL7 or venge?

I would describe the Aethos as "charming", it's a nice change in the modern road bike scene. That paint job is also beautiful and visually interesting, combined with the minimal branding.

Compliant (floppy) and light (draggy) perfect

I like it. No proprietary crap. Any home mechanic can work on it. As an amatuer you dont need aero, you will still ride fast. Looks cool. Overpriced. What about a rim brake option?

James tells it like it is :)

I like a smooth ride

I dont really get what the point of it is? If you want a really light bike you go rim brake, if you're racing you're still going to have to be 6.8kg and aero makes more of a difference anyway and can be pretty close to 6.8 now too.

Most average public will not notice an increase of speed at all on an aero bike that can also be slightly heavy.

Great review. Shame this bike doesn't come with Campagnolo.

What about pricing?

2013 super six hi mod. Lighter!

The competitive cyclists want aero optimized bikes and the casual/explorer bunch want gravel bikes with versatile wheel setups. Who’s this bike intended for and how many of those can afford the limited build options?

Did anyone else cringe when the mic picks up his wedding ring hitting the frame?

What about the 'SRAM version'?

Nice, sensible, no-nonsense road bike. Yes please!

It's ok, but I will wait for the rim brake version... 😜

you can buy a Stumpjumper evo for the price of the frameset

Shoddy we miss ya

It would be lighter with rim brakes if that's what they're after. Less carbon as well, as fork will not need to be as stiff.

So the feature beyond being a good bike is it's significantly more expensive? Why would one buy it other than to shred signal?

Thanks to Aethos. old bikes looks new again. :) just like iphoneSE made my iphone7 new again lol

a lighter SL5 ?

i got a short heartattack when i heard his ring snapping on the frame :O 1:24

S-works frameset: $5200.00 USD

At least the simple tube shapes should be easy to manufacture so hopefully less voids

Yes at last

Seen another video and didn't figure in the cost for a complete build. Mind you that in everything is relative to each individual person. This could be cheaper than a custom non aero lightweight carbon weenie bike! that cost even more! Still. German light weight carbon disk brake wheels could kill the already costly bike and make it even lighter!

Anyone notice that he dinged the frame with his ring at 1:25...

This seems like the Cannondale SuperSix Evo Hi-Mod reborn under the Specialized brand. 🤷🏽‍♂️

A 2013 bike, better brakes, at 2020 prices.

I dont honestly understand that price. Other than its new therefore must be priced more than anything else?

First off, I am a huge fan of Specialized, I’ve owned 2 & look fwd to my next purchase. They are well designed, well built, great performing bikes. What this looks like to me is the “hype machine” that Specialized has been spooling up for several yrs now, has red-lined & stalled out. What else can they do? Oh hey, why not just spruce up some of their older models, focus less on Aero, and start their “hype machine” over. I have an aero focused bike & love it, aero is definitely a thing, but my 2011 S-Works Tarmac SL3 still kicks arse, I love that bike!

going backwards to progress forward..

Crux review?

Well that handlebar bag sure didn’t help with hitting high descent speed 😂

Back to old-scholl. No. I think they have applied a lot of what they learned about carbon lay-up to get it structured for the ride quality everyone is raving about. I wonder if it beats my titanium ride.

so many tcr comparison. must be good bike.

This is original Merida !

Lower priced Aethos is already here: sprint-rowery.pl/rower-szosowy-specialized-aethos-expert-2021

Great, but, just do not hit it never, do not fall and be careful with the wrench to not squeeze it.

Back to basics at an obscene price.

It feels like most of the weight savings came from (lack) of paint.

Looks like a Giant TCR

Electronic only? Gawd

Your definition of "old school" is very different from mine.....

the brakes weigh more than the frame, makes sense when you dont need that much stopping power

Love it. It’s a SL4/5 made lighter by introducing modern carbon manufacturing techniques. I feel Specialized is lost as a business. Stop messing around with aero. I want a light, robust bike that’s comfortable. Oh yeah, rim brakes would be good.

My 15 year old look kx light with mercury tubs weighs 14 lbs. William's brothers dont care if it weighs 12lbs or 22lbs, genetics!

kudos to specialized for making a canyon ultimate cfr that’s even less aero but way more expensive

12k Nope. Nice review though.

585grams is based on no seat collar, no derailleur hangers.

Kansas is the one place aero gains actually really matters.

Very nice video thanks a lot! But for me the Tarmac SL7 is the best looking roadbike Specialized has ever made! The Venge looked to much aero and the Tarmac SL6 to less. It is a special form which makes Specialized the best looking bikes in the market. The Aethos falls not in this category, I think it does not looking good!

I have a family: I can't afford it I'm also an engineer: even if I could afford it, since I have a family I wouldn't put my life on a light bike designed by specialized