Specialized Tarmac Sport 2013

Gabbo
Gabbo Posts: 864
edited April 2013 in Road buying advice
Seems that they are using near enough the same components as the 2012 Tarmac elite. Few downgrades however including the wheels and possibly the breaks.The paintwork isn't as appealing either but all for £200 less, a good deal for wannabe road racers?

2013 Sport: http://www.specializedconceptstore.co.u ... ac/tarmac/

2012 Elite: http://www.specializedconceptstore.co.u ... ac%20Elite

The Sport, as seen, retails at £1500. The Elite retails at £1700. Do the upgraded parts on the Elite do justice to it's £200 increase in price over the Sport?

Comments

  • bmxboy10
    bmxboy10 Posts: 1,958
    Which ever you get you will want to upgrade the wheels so I would go for the 2013 version, get some kysrium elites in the sale for about £340 or some rs80s for £300
    and stick some 105 calipers on at a later date if required for about £60.
  • Gabbo
    Gabbo Posts: 864
    The reason as to why I'm opting for the Specialized Tarmac is because it was the only bike I was actually really happy with in terms of sizing. Other bikes such as Cube Agree or BMC Streetracer were dissatisfying when trying to fit to it. The 58cm Cube seemed too compact whereas the 60cm seemed too stretched out. The same applies to the BMC as well.

    So, brand of bike has now been decided. It's now a task to find the best possible deals out there.

    Specialized Tarmac but which one?

    Sport?
    Elite?
    Comp?
  • snoopsmydogg
    snoopsmydogg Posts: 1,110
    considering they are currently on sale at the same price (rrp might be different but in store are the same) then why not go for the better specced bike?

    http://www.evanscycles.com/categories/b ... 2;sort=asc
  • Gabbo
    Gabbo Posts: 864
    :mrgreen:
    considering they are currently on sale at the same price (rrp might be different but in store are the same) then why not go for the better specced bike?

    http://www.evanscycles.com/categories/b ... 2;sort=asc

    Didn't notice that Evans had reduced the Specialized Tarmac Elite. How much better are the specs? They only have display models left in my size that have probably been ridden a number of times but hopefully it should be ok!
  • Gabbo
    Gabbo Posts: 864
    The Specialized Tarmac Elite 2013 is due out in mid - late September. Anyway, here are the spec differences between the 2012 Elite and 2013 Sport.

    STEM (Elite 2012): New CompSet 6061 alloy, cone head bolt, 12-degree, 4-degree shim 31.8mm
    STEM(Sport 2013): Specialized Elite-Set, 3D-forged alloy, 4-position adjustable, 4-bolt 31.8mm clamp

    HANDLEBARS (Elite 2012): New Specialized Tarmac Comp, alloy
    HANDLEBARS (Sport 2013): Specialized Comp, alloy, shallow drop

    BRAKES (Elite 2012): Shimano 105
    BRAKES (Sport 2013): Axis DC 1.0

    CASSETTE (Elite 2012): Shimano 105
    CASSETTE (Sport 2013): Shimano Tiagra

    WHEELS (Elite 2012): Fulcrum Racing 6
    WHEELS (Sport 2013): DT Axis 2.0

    TYRES (Elite 2012): Specialized Turbo Elite w/BlackBelt protection, 100 TPI, aramid bead, 700x23c
    TYRES (Sport 2013): Specialized Espoir Sport, double BlackBelt, 60TPI, wire bead, 700x23c

    SADDLE (Elite 2012): Body Geometry Romin Comp, hollow Cr-Mo rails
    SADDLE (Sport 2013): BodyGeometry Toupé Sport, hollow Cr-Mo rails, 143mm
  • dashik
    dashik Posts: 156
    What did op buy in the end? I pulled trigger on a Tarmac Sport 2013 today :D
  • elderone
    elderone Posts: 1,410
    Dashik wrote:
    What did op buy in the end? I pulled trigger on a Tarmac Sport 2013 today :D
    So when do you get it matey?
    Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori
  • dashik
    dashik Posts: 156
    Andy at LBS added it to his order today so what with my shifts sometime next week or the week after :D
  • elderone
    elderone Posts: 1,410
    Dashik wrote:
    Andy at LBS added it to his order today so what with my shifts sometime next week or the week after :D
    Nice one,be a looooooooooooooong weeks or so for you. :D
    Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori
  • I got my new Tarmac Sport last week. Had excellent customer service from Stonehenge cycles and the bike is perfect for me. I was a bit reluctant to get something so mainstream as Specialized but it was worth it. I love my Tarmac, hope you get on well with yours!
  • dashik
    dashik Posts: 156
    I so want it yesterday.......

    But I'm off to work Friday to Monday so it would not do me much good until Tuesday. But I could sit and stare at it when I got home of an evening.... :D
  • dashik
    dashik Posts: 156
    Ok well unfortunately I've had to give up work to look after my partner for at least the foreseeable future so the Tarmac is cancelled.

    I have however upgraded my Allez see here :- viewtopic.php?t=12873270