Specialized Tarmac SL9 S-Level - Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 vs Trek Madone SLR 9 AXS 1x Gen 8

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

The short answer

For a typical all-round rider the Specialized Tarmac SL9 S-Level - Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 comes out ahead (75% against 73%). That is not a universal verdict — change the terrain or the priority and the order can flip.

Specialized

Tarmac SL9 S-Level - Shimano Dura-Ace Di2

75% for a typical rider

£8,749 at Brand website

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Trek

Madone SLR 9 AXS 1x Gen 8

73% for a typical rider

£10,000 at Brand website

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What actually separates them

Price: The Specialized Tarmac SL9 S-Level - Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 is £1,251 cheaper — £8,749 against £10,000.
Weight: The Trek Madone SLR 9 AXS 1x Gen 8 is 0.7kg lighter, which you notice on long climbs more than anywhere else.
Climbing gear: The Specialized Tarmac SL9 S-Level - Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 has the easier bottom gear (29 gear inches against 36), which matters more than weight on anything genuinely steep.

Side by side

Spec	Tarmac SL9 S-Level - Shimano Dura-Ace Di2	Madone SLR 9 AXS 1x Gen 8
Price	£8,749	£10,000
Weight	7.1 kg	6.4 kg
Frame	carbon	carbon
Groupset	Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9200 2x12 electronic	SRAM RED AXS E1 1x12 electronic
Stack / reach	1.43	1.44
Tyre clearance	32 mm	32 mm
Lowest gear	29 in	36 in
Mudguard mounts	No	No
Comfort	44	40
Speed	83	87
Climbing	81	69
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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