Tarmac Frames 06 - 08 difference

willbevan
willbevan Posts: 1,241
edited May 2008 in Workshop
Hi all,

I have been looking at buying a tarmac or roubaix and have mentioned on the forums before i will be taking them for a test ride once i saved a tad more money.

Now whats happened is that my car is costing me well over a grand to fix so my bike fund is seriously affected, so looking second hand.

Been offered a US spec 06 (i think, its got the wheel cut out) tarmac expert, ultegra, Mavic Ksyzium Equipe

Now i know the frame is different, 6r carbon on the previous tarmac expert frames, were its 8r now, am i going to tell the difference? is there much difference between the frames or the two years models that would make you say go for a lower spec 08 model instead?

Thanks

Will
Road - BTwin Sport 2 16s
MTB - Trek Fuel 80
TT - Echelon

http://www.rossonwye.cyclists.co.uk/

Comments

  • gkerr4
    gkerr4 Posts: 3,408
    08 is much more comfortable - closer to the roubaix in terms of headtube size etc - where the easrlier ones were much more racy.

    the 6r vs 8r thing - hmm - i doubt youd notice that.

    I was in the market for a roubaix and when i looked I was torn between a roubaix but could have taken an 08 tarmac when I looked into it - i couldn't have stood an 06 tarmac though.

    (i ended up wth the roubaix!)
  • over-the-hill
    over-the-hill Posts: 144
    willbevan wrote:
    Hi all,

    I have been looking at buying a tarmac or roubaix and have mentioned on the forums before i will be taking them for a test ride once i saved a tad more money.

    Now whats happened is that my car is costing me well over a grand to fix so my bike fund is seriously affected, so looking second hand.

    Been offered a US spec 06 (i think, its got the wheel cut out) tarmac expert, ultegra, Mavic Ksyzium Equipe

    Now i know the frame is different, 6r carbon on the previous tarmac expert frames, were its 8r now, am i going to tell the difference? is there much difference between the frames or the two years models that would make you say go for a lower spec 08 model instead?

    Thanks

    Will[/quote

    I know where there is a new 07 tarmac expert 54 for sale for £1499.00 and they may go lower. If you're interested. Specialized have an archive section on their website so you can check out the geometry - 08s are exactly the same but have longer head tubes.
  • willbevan
    willbevan Posts: 1,241
    cheers! will have a look at the geomety etc
    Road - BTwin Sport 2 16s
    MTB - Trek Fuel 80
    TT - Echelon

    http://www.rossonwye.cyclists.co.uk/
  • Nuggs
    Nuggs Posts: 1,804
    over-the-hill wrote:
    ...08s are exactly the same but have longer head tubes.
    Surely that could make a massive amount of difference?
  • over-the-hill
    over-the-hill Posts: 144
    Nuggs wrote:
    over-the-hill wrote:
    ...08s are exactly the same but have longer head tubes.
    Surely that could make a massive amount of difference?

    Not saying it couldn't.
  • wildmoustache
    wildmoustache Posts: 4,010
    the best looking tarmac ever was the first one ... black and red 05 I think.

    Why did they change it :(

    Then the first generation Tarmac SL was nice too.

    Recent efforts look like clown bikes! !!!
  • Nuggs
    Nuggs Posts: 1,804
    over-the-hill wrote:
    Nuggs wrote:
    over-the-hill wrote:
    ...08s are exactly the same but have longer head tubes.
    Surely that could make a massive amount of difference?

    Not saying it couldn't.
    Apologies - the way I read your post made me think that's what you were inferring.

    As you were...
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    Nuggs wrote:
    over-the-hill wrote:
    ...08s are exactly the same but have longer head tubes.
    Surely that could make a massive amount of difference?

    I wouldn't say so. My two best bikes have the handlebars at the same height, except one has a ridiculusly short head tube with 3 or 4cm of spacers, and the other has a longer headtube with no spacers. It doesn't make a massive difference.
    I like bikes...

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  • gkerr4
    gkerr4 Posts: 3,408
    i does at the extreme ends of the scale though - if you want it really low or reallyhigh.

    Personally I prefer the look of a bike without spacers too - so to my eye, my roubaix with no spacers (bar the cone) is better looking than a tarmac with an extra 20mm of spacers (which would give the same (desired) bar height)

    imo - the current model tarmac is one of the best looking bikes available - very smart frame design and nice graphics - not sure how they look like clown bikes ?
  • wildmoustache
    wildmoustache Posts: 4,010
    gkerr4 wrote:
    i does at the extreme ends of the scale though - if you want it really low or reallyhigh.

    Personally I prefer the look of a bike without spacers too - so to my eye, my roubaix with no spacers (bar the cone) is better looking than a tarmac with an extra 20mm of spacers (which would give the same (desired) bar height)

    imo - the current model tarmac is one of the best looking bikes available - very smart frame design and nice graphics - not sure how they look like clown bikes ?

    it does depend on the spec, but what I find aesthetically unsettling about them is the starfish wheels, the white and red toupe saddle (there is such a thing as too much colour co-ordination) and the zertz inserts everywhere with accompanying graphics

    I'm not knocking it as a bike, but just wish specialized would get back to simpler graphics such as the old Tarmacs and E5s

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