I need the internets help to make what feels like a tough decision. I have an SL5 Tarmac that I have put a lot of time and effort into customizing and lightening up where I felt like I could. It is a 58cm SWorks with Dura Ace di2, Enve 3.6 wheels, CK Ceramic hubs, eebrakes, I just had the rear wheel replaced under warranty and rebuilt with Berd spokes. It is right about 6.95kg.
All that being said, it was love at first sight for me and the new S5 and today I was presented with an opportunity to get a very good buy on one, but I'd need to get rid of my Tarmac to make it happen. Looking forward to anyones thoughts.
My SL5 Tarmac vs New Cervelo S5
Moderator: robbosmans
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Dan Gerous
- Posts: 2413
- Joined: Sun Aug 12, 2007 6:28 pm
I'd sell the Porsche, get a cheaper car that will go from A to B as well, buy the S5 and keep the SL5... and have spare money for the house or to go on trips to ride the bikes! 
But being serious, TonyM has a fair point, with your bars being so high, you need to check if you can actually fit on a S5 with the proprietary V stem and bars, I'm not sure it's possible to get it so high. There is a bit of adjustment range but not as much as traditional stems and bars allow, plus aero bikes typically also have a lower front end to begin with... Plus, a 100% superficial comment, the S5 is perhaps the only bike I would become a slammed stem snob with, it just ruins the superb lines and look of the bike when there are spacers under that stem.
But being serious, TonyM has a fair point, with your bars being so high, you need to check if you can actually fit on a S5 with the proprietary V stem and bars, I'm not sure it's possible to get it so high. There is a bit of adjustment range but not as much as traditional stems and bars allow, plus aero bikes typically also have a lower front end to begin with... Plus, a 100% superficial comment, the S5 is perhaps the only bike I would become a slammed stem snob with, it just ruins the superb lines and look of the bike when there are spacers under that stem.
Last edited by Dan Gerous on Tue Jun 11, 2019 3:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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halcyongolf
- Posts: 118
- Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 12:24 pm
I don't know how you're going to get the geo of the S5 to work for you. As I understand it, the stack of your SL5 size 58 has your stack at 591mm and your reach at 402mm. You seem to be running 20mm of spacers with a headset cap of around 10mm and a +6 degree stem.
The largest S5 is the 58 which has a stack of 588 and a reach of 402. However, you're limited to 32.5 mm of spacers with a stem that is fixed at a -6 equivalent angle (based on the Cervelo tech paper, I am probably wrong
). Add the fact that you're going to be more limited in how much your can rotate your bars up (as you have them in your current bike). If you're not too sensitive to the fit being off a decent chunk it seems OK....but it might not be for you.
Looking at you're bike and the size, I would venture a guess you may be tall with long legs and a relatively short torso. That's a tough fit esp. for the integrated design of the S5 when the largest size is a 58.
The largest S5 is the 58 which has a stack of 588 and a reach of 402. However, you're limited to 32.5 mm of spacers with a stem that is fixed at a -6 equivalent angle (based on the Cervelo tech paper, I am probably wrong
). Add the fact that you're going to be more limited in how much your can rotate your bars up (as you have them in your current bike). If you're not too sensitive to the fit being off a decent chunk it seems OK....but it might not be for you.Looking at you're bike and the size, I would venture a guess you may be tall with long legs and a relatively short torso. That's a tough fit esp. for the integrated design of the S5 when the largest size is a 58.
If you're asking my opinion, as a Cervelo fan and ex R5 and S5 owner,
NO THANKS on the new one. I wanted it to grow on me.. It's just butt ugly to my eyes (front end). But taste are tastes. If you like the looks of it, I'm sure it's an amazing bike. The previous gen S5 is my favorite bike ever (that I've owned) after my current SL6.
NO THANKS on the new one. I wanted it to grow on me.. It's just butt ugly to my eyes (front end). But taste are tastes. If you like the looks of it, I'm sure it's an amazing bike. The previous gen S5 is my favorite bike ever (that I've owned) after my current SL6.
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romanmoser
- Posts: 573
- Joined: Sun May 06, 2018 8:30 pm
bike fit sir, most needed !
and stop wend wax too, not good for your drivetrain
and stop wend wax too, not good for your drivetrain
I'd be lucky to get $5k for the used Porsche, but I do agree about being a snob and needing to slam the S5, the pics I see of the spacers above the top tube are not my favorite look.Dan Gerous wrote: ↑Tue Jun 11, 2019 3:18 pmI'd sell the Porsche, get a cheaper car that will go from A to B as well, buy the S5 and keep the SL5... and have spare money for the house or to go on trips to ride the bikes!
But being serious, TonyM has a fair point, with your bars being so high, you need to check if you can actually fit on a S5 with the proprietary V stem and bars, I'm not sure it's possible to get it so high. There is a bit of adjustment range but not as much as traditional stems and bars allow, plus aero bikes typically also have a lower front end to begin with... Plus, a 100% superficial comment, the S5 is perhaps the only bike I would become a slammed stem snob with, it just ruins the superb lines and look of the bike when there are spacers under that stem.
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