Is Specialised worth the extra?
kammybear
Posts: 500
The Specialised Tarmac is £1500 and comes with 105 apart from brakes and crank.
Other bikes in the same price range come with full 105 or ultegra or a mix.
Are the Specialised frames much better as the reviews suggest or should I just get a Giant TCR?
Other bikes in the same price range come with full 105 or ultegra or a mix.
Are the Specialised frames much better as the reviews suggest or should I just get a Giant TCR?
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The only way to properly compare is at the detailed component level. You need to include cockpit stuff, wheels, tyres, etc.....
When all is stripped off their frames are not a lot more, and sometimes less than other manufacturers.
Having said that, buying bikes based on pricing is a fools errand.0 -
If you like the look and ride of a bike you are more likely to get out on it. You are right to compare spec's but be careful not to choose a great value for money bike you don't like the look or ride of.
My xc MTB is a specialized and I chose it due to being a good size, liking the look of it and having decent frame, fork and wheels. A test ride convinced me. The other thing to consider is they have a good warranty reputation and the bikes are only sold through registered dealers.
Downside is price and spec compared to other brands.0 -
As with any 'branded' product, you're paying a premium for intangibles such as brand, reputation and warranty. If you want better bang for your buck, then the likes of Planet-X, Ribble or other B-2-C dealers will offer a higher-spec for the same money. FWIW Specialized frames are made by Merida, there's nothing intrinsically better about them.Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..0
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the one thing you do get with a spesh frame is a lifetime warranty, or at least you used to.
That may tip the balance for you.0 -
My summary on specialized is 'great frames, poor spec'. With one or two exceptions this tends to be bang on. Nice bikes but there is better value for money elsewhere without looking too hard.0
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If you are below £2k then they will not be as good as some of the less attractive brands. There are some fantastic bikes in the <£1,500k price bracket. I've always found their stuff pretty good and the brand is not really much of a premium. Plus bikes hold their value well and branded bikes will always be easier to shift for good money.
One of the reasons why I like boardmans - people sell them on cheap with low usage. Whereas I've seen some of the custom Swork Venge's go for £3,500 - which is crazy when the original customs were for a £3.8k new.0 -
samsbike wrote:the one thing you do get with a spesh frame is a lifetime warranty, or at least you used to.
That may tip the balance for you.
Still do for the original owner and having claimed for mine I can report its hassle free and IMO well worth it for the peace of mind.0 -
It depends what you're comparing to of course... One of my LBS's has a bianchi sempre pro for £2000 which is 105. So just comparing group sets, the Tarmac is cheap compared to that!
You'll always be able to get something cheaper, but there can be more to it than that (like the warranty someone mentioned). Also, whilst I realise not all LBS's are good, the one I use is excellent, so I prefer to buy brands he stocks, rather than alternatives.0 -
There are one or two people around this forum who seem to hate Specialized and will always say that they represent poor value, (indeed, I am amazed that they have not already done so) but I suggest that you go and ride a Specialized (whatever model) and it's direct competitors from other makers and decide for yourself. As somebody else said, there are always cheaper bikes available, usually from 'chain stores' or smaller companies which may or may not come with the same warranty as a Specialized.
Speaking personally, I have got a Tiagra equipped Allez which I think is a a fantastic bike and which I preferred to others that I tried. I would also much rather buy from a LBS than via the internet and I got a decent discount from mine who also provide a very good all round 'customer experience' with knowledgeable staff and good workshop facilities to back it up.Cannondale Synapse Carbon Ultegra
Kinesis Racelight 4S
Specialized Allez Elite (Frame/Forks for sale)
Specialized Crosstrail Comp Disk (For sale)0 -
Just to give you another option - I changed to Focus bikes a couple of years back and think they are fantastic - and offer great value for money. There are a few models available around the £1500 mark, the Cayo Evo offering full Ultegra at this price (on sale at the minute).
Just something else to throw in the mix - if you are near London Sigma Sport stock a full range of Focus bikes, and also have a Specialised store, so you could go and check them all out for yourself.0 -
I'm just about to buy a new bike and it's very likely to be a tarmac. My last road bike was an allez elite and I did thousands of miles on it, so I'm quite reluctant to jump ship.
I like the orange coloured sport and by adding 105 calipers and 105 pedals it would work for me. I intend asking my lbs if they can do that for the £1500 list price. I have a set of zondas that have never been used, so that would give me wheels as well. Only snag is the bike needs to be ordered and I'm not sure how long that would take.
There's always a temptation to go a little higher though.
So then I look at the comp. £2000 full ultegra, with distinctly better wheels. That's a little more than I would like to pay, so I would ask to see if they could do a discount. Spesh greatly discourage that, but it has to be worth a try. Then I begin to think, have I really just talked myself up another £500? You can get a serviceable bike for that!0 -
Your Zondas will likely be better wheels than the ones on the £2000 bike too.0
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With the 'Big 4' (Spesh, Trek, Cannondale and Giant) there is the general rule that you pay for the frames and get lower component spec than other equivalent price points for other brands (Canyon may be a big exception) and their frames are usually regarded to be very good as they have been developed for such a long time.
Opinions naturally vary- it's the spice of life after all- and you'll have to go by reviews and even test rides if you can get them as its also perfectly reasonable that they inflate the prices because they know people will pay it.0 -
mfin wrote:Your Zondas will likely be better wheels than the ones on the £2000 bike too.
The Zondas are the equivalent of the fulcrum 3s. The comp has fulcrum 4s, which as I understand it have a 3 hub and a 5 rim.
If I got the comp I'd be happy to run the 4s as an everyday wheel and keep the zondas as a cycling event / summer wheel.
If I got the sport I'd probably dump the own-brand wheels and use the zondas all the time, which could mean swapping tyres and possibly cassettes for events. It also leaves me vulnerable with only having one wheelset in the event of breakages etc.0 -
Well I've bought the tarmac comp in white / blue. I have to wait 3 to 4 weeks for it to arrive though!0
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Ive got 2 Spec MTB's and they love the abuse my big frame throws at them, I like that the fact the frames are very light.
When buying my latest Roadie I was stuck between the Roubaix and Trek Domane, both were specced the same in my price bracket and i had aftermarket wheels to throw at either,
I opted for the Trek just because I got £500 knocked off by way of a friends discount, had I been paying full price them maybe would took the Spec on the fact of abuse the MTB's have taken.0 -
Pigtail wrote:Well I've bought the tarmac comp in white / blue. I have to wait 3 to 4 weeks for it to arrive though!
I enjoy modding my bikes so might just get the Sport but after I placed my deposit, I realised that the sport and comp are the previous years SL4 frame and not the new rider specific geo models, thats the 3000+ model. Kinda took the wind out my sail after that.
Ordered black but tempted by Orange... An extra £500 will get me chinese carbon wheels and some ultegra bits...0 -
I bought the Comp based on the colour scheme. Didn't like the expert red...
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That looks good.
What wheels are they?
I intend buying ultegra pedals to match the groupset.0 -
Wheelsmith aero50, I have ultegra pedals and the chainset to.0
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If you're looking at the £1500 mark, the best option I can seem to find at the moment is the Cube Agree GTC Di2 SLT from the Bike Shed.
It's an absolute bargain, full carbon fibre, Ultegra Di2 for £1499.0
