S-Works SL8 2025, Super Record Wireless, Bora Ultra 60

[rollinslow]

After reading so much about the SL8 I decided to move forward and get a 2025, Gloss Red To Black Pearl Over Deep Lake Metallic / Satin Metallic Obsidian

The color is stunning in person. It has shades of dark torquoise, red and gold depending on the lighting. Frame weight for a 56cm was 690g (including bottle cage bolts). I have started the build, and done most of the more difficult steps of transferring my fit by the mm to this frame and cutting the fork to length. It should be complete in the next 1-2 weeks. I am building it very carefully, with attention to every detail, down to the exact grease I prefer in my home workshop.

Frameset: S-Works Tarmac SL8 2025, 56cm
Groupset: Campagnolo Super Record Wireless. 45/29 crankset, 10-29 cassette, 160mm rotors front and back (prefer symmetry)
Wheels: Campagnolo Bora Ultra WTO 60
Tires: Continental GP5k 25mm, Tubolito TPU road tubes
Handlebars: Enve compact road, 42cm
Stem: S-Works SL7, 90mm
Pedals: Look Keo Blade Power Duo
Bottle Cages: Alpitude
Saddle: S-Works Power
Bartape: Lizard Skins 2.5mm jet black
Garmin Mount: Alpitude

[rollinslow]

Here's the final build. I posted my review of Super Record Wireless (love it) in the Campy thread. Weighed again today, exactly as pictured with pedals, Garmin mount etc it is 7.00Kg.

[BudhaNL]

Beautiful bike & very nice weight. Great color!

[Juanmoretime]

Veery nice! I have a SL2 as a bike to use when I visit my daughter in California. Love the bike and yours makes me think maybe!

[wolflikeme]

Wow, great build. Definitely a unique SL8 !

[mike]

love the bike!

[MichaelK]

Love the colour of the frameset and exposed UD carbon on the groupset... however I still can't get my head around how BULKY Campagnolo has become. The RD, the FD, the hoods. The small chainring combo compared to the 160mm rotors. The proportions just look off, I'd think they'd be even worse on the 52cm frame that I'd need.

I bet it rides very nicely though.

[rollinslow]

Love the colour of the frameset and exposed UD carbon on the groupset... however I still can't get my head around how BULKY Campagnolo has become. The RD, the FD, the hoods. The small chainring combo compared to the 160mm rotors. The proportions just look off, I'd think they'd be even worse on the 52cm frame that I'd need.

I bet it rides very nicely though.

Yeah i understand. For comparison, I had sram red axs on my gravel bike (see build for the Mosaic) and it was equally bulky in person. I would say the use of carbon fiber on the derailleurs really makes up for size. The shifters are very comfortable. I like the feel of the groupset while riding a lot.

[merlino]

Very nice rig, congrats. Was complicated to install this groupset comparing to a Shimano for instance?

[Yoln]

Who would have though an SL8 could look so unique!

Absolutely gorgeous build! Congrats!

The front derailleur is bulky, yes, but the rest is just nonsense. complaining about the ratio of the cassette to the rotor?! You mean a 29 teeth cassette and a 160mm rotor, which is probably the most common ratio you can find? Or the hoods, that are if anything slightly less pronounced than previous super record ? It's really looking for things to say for the sake of it...

The wide-ish angle of the camera doesn't help the overall proportions though, probably much more naturally looking in person

[rollinslow]

Who would have though an SL8 could look so unique!

Absolutely gorgeous build! Congrats!

The front derailleur is bulky, yes, but the rest is just nonsense. complaining about the ratio of the cassette to the rotor?! You mean a 29 teeth cassette and a 160mm rotor, which is probably the most common ratio you can find? Or the hoods, that are if anything slightly less pronounced than previous super record ? It's really looking for things to say for the sake of it...

The wide-ish angle of the camera doesn't help the overall proportions though, probably much more naturally looking in person

Thanks!!!

Yeah, that's true about the camera angle. I honestly was in the never-Spesh camp and ultimately after endless research figured it probably was the best road bike out there and needed to keep an open mind. I have zero regrets after having ridding it a fair amount this month and think it is the best bike I have ever ridden. Same for the campy group. Lots of changes for myself with this build and very glad I made them.

[rollinslow]

Very nice rig, congrats. Was complicated to install this groupset comparing to a Shimano for instance?

Compared to Di2 it is easier to install SR WRL. Compared to my Red AXS build it was very similar. The work is in the fine tuning of the hydraulic system. The derailleurs were incredibly easy. The SR rear derailleur was much less finnicky compared to Red regarding the B-gap. I also liked that you can fine tune individual gears if needed.

The hydraulic system overall though was the easist I have setup among shimano/sram/campy.

[Yoln]

Who would have though an SL8 could look so unique!

Absolutely gorgeous build! Congrats!

The front derailleur is bulky, yes, but the rest is just nonsense. complaining about the ratio of the cassette to the rotor?! You mean a 29 teeth cassette and a 160mm rotor, which is probably the most common ratio you can find? Or the hoods, that are if anything slightly less pronounced than previous super record ? It's really looking for things to say for the sake of it...

The wide-ish angle of the camera doesn't help the overall proportions though, probably much more naturally looking in person

Thanks!!!

Yeah, that's true about the camera angle. I honestly was in the never-Spesh camp and ultimately after endless research figured it probably was the best road bike out there and needed to keep an open mind. I have zero regrets after having ridding it a fair amount this month and think it is the best bike I have ever ridden. Same for the campy group. Lots of changes for myself with this build and very glad I made them.

Tell me about it... I was like you never going to buy spesh ever. Went through the thought process for a new XC MTB, and the Epic was the obvious choice. And recently did the same for a lightweight gravel frame, where Crux rules as king, and here I am with two Specialized now!

[rollinslow]

Hahaha I know right? Now I look like a hypocrite because I love my S Works and my Campy without thumb shifter.

[justinfoxphotos]

Nice build. That front mech looks like an esky (that's Australian for "cooler box")! But good on you for going Campy. I've got Campag on my 80's steel roadie and EKAR on my Canyon Grizl gravel bike. The thumb shifter on the EKAR is a bit whack (not super ergonomic when using the hoods or the drops), but overall I'm just glad it's different and not Shimano or SRAM.