Trek Madone SLR 9 Gen 8 vs Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL9 - SRAM RED AXS

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 S-Works Tarmac SL9 - SRAM RED AXS comes out ahead (77% against 73%). That is not a universal verdict — change the terrain or the priority and the order can flip.

Trek

Madone SLR 9 Gen 8

73% for a typical rider

£10,000 at Brand website

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Specialized

S-Works Tarmac SL9 - SRAM RED AXS

77% for a typical rider

£11,999 at Brand website

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What actually separates them

Price: The Trek Madone SLR 9 Gen 8 is £1,999 cheaper — £10,000 against £11,999.
Weight: The Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL9 - SRAM RED AXS is 0.5kg lighter, which you notice on long climbs more than anywhere else.
Climbing gear: The Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL9 - SRAM RED AXS has the easier bottom gear (28 gear inches against 32), which matters more than weight on anything genuinely steep.

Side by side

Spec	Madone SLR 9 Gen 8	S-Works Tarmac SL9 - SRAM RED AXS
Price	£10,000	£11,999
Weight	7.0 kg	6.6 kg
Frame	carbon	carbon
Groupset	Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9270 2x12 electronic	SRAM RED AXS E1 2x12 electronic
Stack / reach	1.44	1.43
Tyre clearance	32 mm	32 mm
Lowest gear	32 in	28 in
Mudguard mounts	No	No
Comfort	40	44
Speed	84	86
Climbing	73	87
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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