SL9 officially launched

[Willos]

https://www.bikeradar.com/news/specialized-tarmac-sl9-2026

I wonder how long until we see clone appearing in this forum.

[Dark17]

Is there a geometry table available? I'm curious to see the geometry of this frame before making any opinions.

[Serge_K]

Geometry hasn't changed vs SL8.

That offset steerer is wacky. I hope it won't come back to haunt them, Specialized has had plenty of recalls for "features" that turned out to be mechanical disasters.
Not that i would ever buy one, but you can't turn the bars much, which may be a problem if you want to put the bike in the trunk.

[alfiomotrambo]

I only watched a video for two minutes, so I don’t think it would be fair to comment, especially since I haven’t seen it in person yet. The thing that surprised me the most was the “crooked” head tube. I imagine there’s a team of engineers behind the project, but it still seems strange to have a crooked head tube. In any case, I can’t wait to see it in real life and try it out.

[patliean1]

I got invited to launch party tonight at my local flagship shop.

Gonna do my best not to laugh out loud during the marketing presentation. But mainly I'm gonna film content of all the attendees drooling over what is essentially a 3 year-old product.

The components brand GANNA has been selling aftermarket "aero-fin" seatposts for months. Well before the SL9 launch. So I am curious who stole from whom in terms of that aero seatpost design. Because GANNA basically sells the SL9 seatpost for the SL8.

[Sander2177]

I got invited to launch party tonight at my local flagship shop.

Gonna do my best not to laugh out loud during the marketing presentation. But mainly I'm gonna film content of all the attendees drooling over what is essentially a 3 year-old product.

The components brand GANNA has been selling aftermarket "aero-fin" seatposts for months. Well before the SL9 launch. So I am curious who stole from whom in terms of that aero seatpost design. Because GANNA basically sells the SL9 seatpost for the SL8.

Well you can laugh at me as I have Pre Ordered mine! 

Plus I have been making enquires now I have sold my X68 for someting heavily inspired by the the SL9  spoke to a gentlemen who said he already has something apparently!

Seat post wise I heard it was the larger of the two companies that had the idea first 

[patliean1]

Well you can laugh at me as I have Pre Ordered mine! 

Hey I never said I wasn't going to buy one myself 
Currently I am working on a deal LoL

[Sander2177]

Hey I never said I wasn't going to buy one myself 
Currently I am working on a deal LoL

 
No deals from Specialized for us mere mortals  :'(
But luckily the sale of the SL8 and a UK government scheme called the cycle to work scheme will help to ease the  financial burden! 

And maybe we will see a TT X72 

[Tijoe]

Meh!  I would never pay £11,999 / $14,000 / €13,999 for a Specialized bicycle.    I'd build another sub $4K Chiner bike that would meet my needs, and spend the saved $10K on something else.   (Besides, I doubt if I will ever purchase or build another road bike.  I'll stick to gravel bikes, bikepacking, and MTB riding.   The roads where I live have become too dangerous due to distracted drivers, and aggressive drivers that don't give a sh*t about road cyclists.)

[gribs]

The components brand GANNA has been selling aftermarket "aero-fin" seatposts for months. Well before the SL9 launch. So I am curious who stole from whom in terms of that aero seatpost design. Because GANNA basically sells the SL9 seatpost for the SL8.

That style of seat post is a copy of something Giant did in the '90s.

[Lotnik]

There's already a preorder launched for 'replicas" 

[Kar25]

https://www.bikeradar.com/news/specialized-tarmac-sl9-2026

I wonder how long until we see clone appearing in this forum.

Not long.... I found these on Threds 😉

[Da11as]

It is so damn boring I don't understand why bother buying one even when you have a budget/

[jfcb]

The Specialized SL9 launch is straight out of the Apple playbook. Every two years, it’s the exact same script: they shave off some grams, change a tube shape and save a couple of watts, call it a 'revolutionary breakthrough,' and the fanboys lose their minds and rush to pre-order.

Don't get me wrong, it’s a premium bike, but you’re paying a massive 'S-Works tax' just for the brand. Anyone who actually looks at the data knows you can get the exact same performance—or better—from brands on the market.

With the SL8, the biggest aero gain came from the handlebar, now out of the 4Watt improvement half of it comes froms the wheels.

[Sander2177]

The Specialized SL9 launch is straight out of the Apple playbook. Every two years, it’s the exact same script: they shave off some grams, change a tube shape and save a couple of watts, call it a 'revolutionary breakthrough,' and the fanboys lose their minds and rush to pre-order.

Don't get me wrong, it’s a premium bike, but you’re paying a massive 'S-Works tax' just for the brand. Anyone who actually looks at the data knows you can get the exact same performance—or better—from brands on the market.

With the SL8, the biggest aero gain came from the handlebar, now out of the 4Watt improvement half of it comes froms the wheels.

Yes I lost my Mind 
But I don't have to pay full RRP
I sell my old bike and with a scheme through my employer in the UK I pay next to nothing for a new frame basically the new SL9 will cost me £411.85                                                                                                                                       I have done this since the Venge.
Sell the out going frame before second hand value nose dives and transplant the parts and group set on to the new bike