I own this bike so here are my thoughts. Hopefully it might help somebody since most of us have to make these large financial commitments without having much of a chance to test ride these things. My setup is the S works Aethos with SRAM red, ENVE 4.5 AR wheels, ENVE cockpit, 28 tires. It’s a great bike. The first thing you have to do is learn to trust it. When you first pick it up it’s so light you worry that it might snap in half. Once on the bike that concern quickly fades. Surprisingly it isn’t the climbs that made it stand out as much as descending and cornering. It feels planted and agile at the same time. I would often read in bike reviews about a particular biking making you want to push harder and go faster and riding this bike is the first time I really “got” that idea. It does seem to do that. I’m not sure I understand why but I think it’s because you feel such an exhilarating response when you pedal hard. It responds and accelerates so well that you want to feel that feeling over and over again that you get when you put in the effort. You really feel like it rewards you for it. I assume it’s the light weight. It doesn’t maintain as speed as efficiently as my aero bike when I’m on a flat and not pedaling but it does seem significantly more responsive on the flats to even light effort. The GRAN FONDO cycling review made a comment similar to this and I would have to say I agree 100%. (In fact their whole review is spot on in my opinion and is 10x better than mine so you might want to check it out on their web site) I don’t notice as much of a pronounced benefit when climbing as I thought I might with such a light weight bike but it climbs great nevertheless. The miles I have on it so far have not involved much climbing though so I will hold judgment on that for now. It definitely feels like a race bike geometry and apparently it is the same geometry as the SL7. Given the fact that Specialized is not marketing and didn’t focus their design on this as a race bike I would have thought that a more relaxed geometry would have made more sense. I probably would have preferred that frankly. It is still a very comfortable bike however. Like every bike out there it’s not the right bike for everybody but I do think it’s the right bike for me as I don’t race, typically do lots of climbing on my long rides, and given my relatively limited skill level probably notice the benefits of a light weight bike over a heavier aero one. Yes it is ridiculously expensive but keep some things in mind. A lot of what you’re paying for is the years of R & D that Specialized put into developing the technology for this bike. That was years of financial investment with no return. In my experience, regardless of the product, we all think an “outrageous” price on anything is always one level above whatever it is we can afford. I’m certainly guilty of this. If you’re reading this thread your bike, although perhaps much less expensive than this one, is almost certainly ridiculous expensive and forever out of reach to somebody. so perspective is important. Less expensive bikes and people who love to ride but have less financial resources will almost certainly benefit in years to come from what Specialized has done and learned here. We can all be grateful for that.
Specialized launches the SL7: "Forget about road bike categories like aero or lightweight. You only need the one true road bike." Two months later: "Forget about what we said two months ago. Here's a dedicated lightweight bike."
@@ilgour Illegal bikes already a thing few years ago, specialized tries to market the old trend. I'm not even surprise anymore. That's always been the case for specialized nowadays.
Don’t attack me, but this looks and feels so much like my very inclusively priced 2017 Specialized Allez...aluminium with carbon forks, my favourite bike of all time. It’s not insanely light or aero...but feels so lovely. Every time I get on it any depression just falls off me and makes me smile. I hope this is a new direction bike manufacturers are going to take. Not be so hellbent on going fast and taking seconds off Strava times. The look, feel and sensation of the bike is more important to the regular rider.
Have you tried the Allez Sprint? It’s like riding a lightning bolt. So much better than the regular Allez, which is admittedly a great bike in its own right.
It would be even lighter if they made a rim braked version of it. I'm no hater of disc brakes, but if the goal is to create a the lightest bike, drop them.
All the new marketing will tell you that, but they are forgetting that some of us rides in groups with fellow riders and goes below 20km/h when riding up a 8% hill... In this case the weight vs aero discussion might look a bit different!
@@casperradil Yes, it's simple physics really. 6kg is (obviously) lighter than 7kg and will take less effort to lift off the ground. But of course, you have to count body weight as well. 1kg difference on bike + rider, let's say from 80 to 79kg, it's not much.
So good to hear that the designer (not surprising after hearing he designed the Super Six) thinks non-dropped seat stays look better - because, of course, they do. Just need to get that top tube a bit flatter and we’re there 🙂
Hippos can run faster than humans on land, and swim faster than humans in water. Which means the bicycle is your only chance of beating a hippo in a triathlon.
marketing BS aside, what attracts me to this bike is the lack of integration and proprietary parts. Normal seatpost, so you can use a post with more setback if needed, and no integrated bar stem combo, which locks you into a set bar, no ability to rotate the bar on the stem, limited stem lengths, and limited spacer adjustments. I just look at these totally integrated setups on most brands top spec bikes and wonder if I could ever get them to fit precisely. They look great, with all the hidden cables, but if you can't get it to fit, who cares what it looks like
Entirely agree. It is basically a 'normal', but well spec'ed, bike from about 3 years ago. Maybe it is an acknowledgement that integration was going too far, and was alienating some cyclists who'd rather high performance but 'pure' bikes.
When you describe a product and can only talk about how it makes you feel then you know that it is ridiculously expensive, this bike sounds like expensive perfume.
My prediction: Felix's hair will look *spectacular*, Tom Marvin likes France, Seb has been measuring long bikes, MAllen's not hot and Jack Luke will be wearing a shirt that someone died in.
For me this comes really close to a pure road bike. If it was steel or titanium it would be the pure road bike for me. I can't stop thinking about carbon in 30 years... It'll probably be fine but I can't get it out of my head that it will explode or melt or something stupid. Steel will definitely last, will be heavier but I would love to see a modern steel bike from a big manufacturer. Cool bike!
@@edgarpereira4865 Just get a Responsorium from Pegoretti...Stainless. Also, the review is all about not caring about aero and it basically being a "pure" bike. IF that's what is needed, I 100% agree with Quenten. For that money you can get a custom steel or Ti bike, or just get a more unique Pegoretti, Baum, Stelbel, or Festka.
'An everyman Aethos...'. Classic. Actually, although still wildly unattainable, the 4 grand for the frameset is much more appealing than the 13 grand for the complete bicycle - particularly if you've spent a long time collating your parts bundle.
I am pretty blown away they didn’t factor in aero in any way. THAT is a puzzler. That said, it’s one gorgeous machine and I’d absolutely love to ride it. Hell, even own one. BUT it’s price is way beyond anything I could ever afford. In dreams only... Great review. Thank you
Does the sight of a super lightweight bike with disc brakes make you tear your hair out? Do you agree with Matthew’s honest thoughts at the end of the video? We hope you enjoyed the premiere and as always, let us know your thoughts in the comments!
This bike could've been 5.5kg with rim brakes if they really wanted to have fun with a light weight bike. The technology is right there! But the bike industry is stubborn on disc brakes cause they save lots of $$$ making only one type of bike (for braking).
This is a really good review. Very insightful and interesting and it really evokes a feel for what the bike is like to ride and why it exists. So much more meaningful than those lazy reviewers that just list specs...this has had real thought and reflection behind it.
At least Specialized had the guts to create a bike like this, to challenge the engineers, even though the sales numbers will not be huge due to the pricing.
G'day Jim this is a bike for the enthusiast and could only be improved in my view with rim brakes. I would buy this beautiful machine before blowing similar coin on a crappy new car or kitchen reno. All the best.
Oreo Carlton It is certainly a trend moving away from rim brakes, too bad for people like me living in the flatlands and trying to avoid brake complications when I can ...
the idea of this bike makes a lot of sense. road biking is now currently making a split away from more race orientated bikes seen in the world tour and making a bike for the consumer. This also means not having to worry about the uci weight limit. It's quite a big statement from specialized saying that the pro team won't ride this either. kudos.
£10k stealth machine... until you pick it up and feel the feathery weight. I still think the best way for me to get my riding system lighter is for me to eat fewer pies and ride a whole lot more. I can buy a lot of pies for £10k and keep riding the bike I’ve got... but it does look lovely...
Ok, just for the fun of it, since there's so much hype around the Aethos and how light it is, here are the numbers: 1. TCR advanced SL size 54, Dura Ace drivetrain, WITH pedals, bottle cages, cadence sensor and computer mount: 6.76kg. 2. Specialized S-Works AETHOS also size 54, Dura Ace drivetrain, but WITHOUT pedals, bottle cages, cadence sensor and computer mount: 6.12kg. If I add the same pedals, bottle cages, cadence sensor and computer mount to the Aethos, it would bring it up to 6.475kg - that's a "whapping" 285 grams different. And if I really want to be picky, the Aetos top of the line built comes with a little lighter wheelset - 1,248g Roval Alpinist CLX vs. 1,327g CADEX 42 DISC TUBELESS (79g difference). So let's say I really want to go crazy and build my TCR Advanced SL as light as want (ala "Aetos money is no issue" built), and I'll get wheelset at that weight, I can get my TCR at about 206g off the Aethos 😳 SO much hype for 200g? I mean, I was thinking we are talking about kilograms difference, not 200 GRAMS... And the TCR is more aero, more racy, and oh yeah, more affordable... Complete built with weight numbers of the TCR here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-QGIjwvKTWZI.html Actual weight of the Aethos, without all accessories mentioned above here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-k7tiANbVcSg.html
The founders edition was 5.9 kilos. One Peice Alphinist Carbon Cockpit. Yes without , pedals . Computer mount & bottle cages . Pretty sure with my calculations l can finish one off @ 6 kilos or 6.1 kilos complete. One K carbon wheelset 930 grams is the secret.
Will there be an ultegra version?!. I’m am so happy brands aren’t forgetting lightweight stiff bikes. Scoot addict 10 rim break, caad series and now this it’s brilliant.
Very nice, of course I wouldn’t say no, but kinda what’s the point? Bikeradar - I’d be genuinely interested to know who buys these top end machines, is it just the super rich? That said, I can’t wait for the trickle down ...
It's fair to say there's no one on staff at BikeRadar with the kind of disposable income to justify spending this much on a bike. You always pay a massive premium for the halo models though, and we're pretty sure the cheaper ones that eventually follow will be pretty appealing in their own right.
People are really struggling with this apparently... this is quite simply a bike for the people that don’t care about UCI legality, the tarmacs “one bike to rule them all” as in, one bike to rule all the others that are being RACED by the pros. This is more similar to something like Cervelos caladonia or the diverge, it’s not for racing but for people that want a FUN bike.
Not quite, I think the hi mod SuperSix was supposed to be 650g (it could have been a little bit heavier). I supposed I could strip my bike down and find out. 😉
Try looking at the Vial evo Disc go on ax-lightness website and they just came out with the Vial evo Disc 5,6kg with Red étap axs or Dura Ace Di2 and 5,4kg with Red 22 !! That's if we're talking about disc brakes. But, for rim brakes ax-lightness has had out the Vial evo Ultra for years already at 4,8kg with Red22 and if you swap the brakes and crank and put THM brakes and crank and carbon-ti chainrings the bike will be around 4,4kg !! They have always made the lightest production bikes in World and they make everything themselves.
Going by claimed weights, the Vial frame is heavier than the S-Works. When the latest version launched AX told us a medium is 750g. Complete bikes are another matter of course, as that depends on component choice. Thanks for watching!
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 the general public.
As a non competitive cyclist I think this bike is a much better looking than the new Tarmac SL7. The more traditional look appeals to me. They also had me at threaded bottom bracket. I don’t really care about weight so I hope they do come out with a lower priced version.
@@ilikelampshades6 Oh have I mention these, 2 wheels, frame, saddle, handlebar and a drive train. Such an innovative bike. Jokes aside, is the R&D really that expensive 😑. Marketing bs
@Radek I have discs on my 13kg trail bike and obviously wouldn't use anything else, but never once have I needed more powerful brakes on my road bike. Plus, this bike is meant to look 'classic'. Personally, I think road bikes with disc brake look shit! Disagree if you want, but you're the sucker falling for industry driven unnecessary components. TdF won on rim brakes again this year......
Well cmon, this bike is just a Cervelo R3, really!!! Light weight and can go anywhere, especially the rim brake version!!! Specialized finally caught up with Cervelo. For those of us who don’t climb mountains or ride in the pouring rain, we don’t need disk brakes!!
Nice, but very very expensive . If you want a fantastic lightweight bike go for a Ridley Helium SLX. I’ve built one up with only cane creek cycle works brakes and lightweight stem as true “weight weenie” products for 6.3kgs with clincher wheels and dura ace Di2 for £4K . Fantastic ride.
@@antonhelsgaun And they just released a new model at $4800. Look, if you want a carbon framed, leading-edge road bike you have to pay for it. I'd like an Alfa Romeo Quadrifoglio too, but my budget says VW GTI.
*Before the video was published* TLDW: Specialized Aethon, 6.02kg without pedals. S-sworks version only. Pricing between 8-12k. 'Break the rules bike'. Get an old Izalco Max or Supersix and build it to that same weight. Same silhouet as the 2019 TCR. strikingly average. Sorry to ruin the hype.
They'll make an aero version next and tell you a super lightweight bike is fine but what's the point if it's not aero? Another12k please, thanks. See your wallet again in 3 months. oh and just ignore that kid on his 9kg aluminium bike smashing you. You're amazing, trust us. All that matters is how much your bike cost.
It would be just amazing if they made a rim brake version at that insane price , and it would be even lighter , and since that is the focus of this bike ..............
technically a lighter frame should be cheaper because they use less carbon. Saying that I wouldn't ride a bike that could snap in half if you hit a pot hole.
Merida: "Bike weight is only relevant for acceleration and very steep mountains. The influence of the weight is the most overrated issue [in] road bikes", Specialized: "To us, aero truly is everything. It's an ethos embodied in every design decision we make, and it's why we're continually setting new benchmarks for the world's fastest products". Just some of the quotes from yesterdays, I'm curious why didn't this bike get 2 out of 5 rating from journalists, as for other models they were deducting scores for lack of tubeless, no dropped seatstay, no integration, and lack of aero features?
I would have to ride this first. If it's as good as this reviewer said I don't think I would get off it, much less let it out of my sight. People said similar things about AXS. Once they've taken the plunge they don't look back.
It's almost admirable on a business level -- recognize that there's a market for a super-luxury bike for very wealthy people who don't race. "For the love of riding" is kind of comical, though, because outside of a hill climb, it's hard to see how a featherweight bike is going to deliver the best riding experience.
was just starting to get comfortable with Specialized with the Tarmac SL7 but with this I realized they’re still a rediculous elitist bike Co - course correct back to Giant and Canyon 🤠
No point of having a lower end Aethos. It be just an older 2012 style frameset, might as well go buy a SL5 disc lol. The reason I get the Aethos will only be Sworks as the weight of the frame is what makes this frame special and the reason behind the high price tag.
Can you prove that? What is the weight of that frame? Because if they are different, a ton of brand new R&D, testing, designing and manufacturing changes would have to occur, which would make your allegation incorrect.
