Cube Litening Air C:68X Race vs Specialized Tarmac SL8 Expert - Shimano Ultegra Di2

Both are race bikes at a similar price. Here is what actually separates them.

The short answer

For a typical all-round rider the Cube Litening Air C:68X Race comes out ahead (75% against 71%). That is not a universal verdict — change the terrain or the priority and the order can flip.

Cube

Litening Air C:68X Race

75% for a typical rider

£5,499 at Brand website

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Specialized

Tarmac SL8 Expert - Shimano Ultegra Di2

71% for a typical rider

£5,499 at Brand website

✓ Checked

What actually separates them

Tyre clearance: The Cube Litening Air C:68X Race takes 34mm tyres against 32mm — the single most common thing buyers wish they had more of.
Climbing gear: The Cube Litening Air C:68X Race has the easier bottom gear (27 gear inches against 32), which matters more than weight on anything genuinely steep.

Side by side

Spec	Litening Air C:68X Race	Tarmac SL8 Expert - Shimano Ultegra Di2
Price	£5,499	£5,499
Weight	7.3 kg	7.2 kg
Frame	carbon	carbon
Groupset	Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8100 12-speed	Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8170 2x12 electronic
Stack / reach	1.41	1.43
Tyre clearance	34 mm	32 mm
Lowest gear	27 in	32 in
Mudguard mounts	No	No
Comfort	42	30
Speed	82	87
Climbing	82	72
Value	0	0

Neither might be the right answer

This page assumes an average rider. Tell us how you actually ride and we will rank these two against everything else at the price.

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