Swork Aethos - what is it really like?
 

I have been checking out on this bike and pretty intrigued.

Having read & watched many reviews, the reviewers tend to regutgitate what Aethos says about the bike. There is a bit of "group think" perhaps? Are they really independent or sponsored?

I like the honest/independent view from a cyclist(s) who has used/owned different road bikes and owns an Aethos Sworks. As such he/she is able to judge the real difference in the ride quality (versus Giant TCR Advanced Pro, SuperSix EVO...etc.

The price difference between the Aethos & the rest is pretty wide, so is there a tangible difference? Are we talking about percieved quality & aesthetics? Or are we talking about Performance, Functionality etc?

Pls help if you own an Aethos Sworks. Thanks a lot for clearing the air.

Interesting question. Never mind comparing it with other bikes, how does the S-Works version compare to the cheaper versions? I was seriously thinking of buying the Pro-version last year, but couldn't find one in stock and I wasn't impressed that the wheels were not tubeless compatible at the time.

You might have better results if you ask pointed questions to get the information you need. All of your questions are pretty general and the answers will be completely subjective.

I'm sure different people with different riding styles and different road conditions and terrain will feel somewhat different about it. If we knew what your riding style was, terrain conditions, what type bikes you had previously that you liked and whether you want to be in the fairly aero position that you'll have on the Aethos, then maybe you could get a answer better suited to you.

I like my Tarmac, I'm pretty sure I'd like the Aethos. Aethos is a tad lighter. So maybe I'd get a few more personal KOM's. But maybe not enough weight difference to be an advantage against other bikes with more aero frames on really long rides.

i’ve been riding the SW aethos for around a year and 6k miles. i wanted one for quite a while but wasn’t really sold on the s-works version until 12 speed dura ace came out, at which point i thought it made sense (as much as such a thing ever does!) to go all in. didn’t really like the SRAM groups, wanted electronic shifting, less wires, something close to 1:1 climbing gear, so the 12 speed DA option (11-34 rear cassette, not avail easily on prior DA) was what i got.

today i would consider the expert, at $6k less (prices seem to have gone up again) but i don’t love the C38 wheels and certainly prefer the frame with no “specialized” written on the side. i changed out my cockpit for a one piece, changed the saddle, so in the end the differences would be frame, wheels, and group.

i have ridden lots of other road bikes, but few long enough to really know if the very satisfying combination of ingredients of the aethos is common. it’s very light, to the point that when you’re really in the zone, it feels like the bike isn’t there. all your energy seems to go into moving yourself forward, or sideways, and the inertia of the bike itself seems to disappear. it’s stiff enough for me (6’2, 185) that i have never felt anything other than confident about hammering it, but it’s very, very comfortable. my last bike had a head shock and bigger tires, but the aethos is just as good for me over 5+ hour rides. and, finally, i do like the very discreet branding and combination of traditional overall form with ultra-modern details and construction. so, super light, stiff, comfortable, looks good. on the downsides, expensive, not quite as aero as a tarmac or similar.

is the extra $2k for the s works frame worth it? objectively, no. my estimation from the test rides i took is that the regular one is 9/10 of the way there. is the extra $1k for dura ace worth it? again, objectively not. between those two things, you’re talking about a pound or two. if i was building one from scratch and time was no object, i’d probably get the base frame, 12 speed ultegra, any really good carbon climbing wheels, and have 95% of the bike for 75% of the cost. but that’s splitting hairs - i seriously love the bike, always look forward to riding it, and it gets me out there more.

I have no experience with this bike, but everything you wrote makes sense to me. "Worth it" becomes a highly subjective conversation, especially when comparing two high end bikes that are already at the extreme end of the spectrum.

The cost difference on framesets is $2200 at the moment. ($3300 for the Aethos, $5500 for the S-Works). As far as I can tell, the regular Aethos frameset is 699g, and the Aethos is 585g.
Beyond the 114g weight savings, is there any meaningful difference in terms of ride quality or handling? I can't imagine any of us can really tell a difference in 114g out on the road, but lightweight bikes are a sum of parts, so it all adds up.

Specialized seems to have tailored the specs for both in a way that further differentiates the S-works model (they don't seem to sell the regular Aethos with DA, or the S-Works with Ultegra, for example). I'd be really interested to see a direct A-B comparison of identically built bikes, same groupsets, same wheels, etc.

i think of all the differences, the frame is the least likely for a mere mortal to be able to discern the difference. that small weight difference is pretty evenly distributed. the aethos fb group has one or two reports of people who switched from the SW to the regular and none claimed to notice a difference in ride quality. here’s one such report

I would trust the Cyclingtips review more than any single owner. https://cyclingtips.com/2020/10/spec...-ride-quality/ After all James has experience riding many more bikes than any owner is likely to have. As to independence, I think someone who's spent the kind of money this bike costs is more likely to be prejudiced in favor of it than an independent reviewer. (and no, Cyclingtips accepts no sponsorship money.)

I do not have one, but I did help somebody at the side of the road that had one about a year ago (demo-ing from the local Specialized boutique). My initial impression (apart from the negative of having to do adjustments etc for this hapless individual) is it would be a great bike if it were half as expensive. I could buy an extremely well-made titanium custom bike with very high-grade wheels for the same price. (It might be a wee bit heavier, but as a late-middle age lardbag, I can safely say the bike ain't what holds me back.)

If the money is burning a hole in your wallet, go custom, and get exactly what you want.

I like the review. yes, he is a little bit gushy, but in part that seems to be because he really likes the bike.

To me, 28-mm tires on a 14-pound bike is where I want to be .... unfortunately, $14 K is what I do Not want to spend, but oh, well. I'd just waste the thing anyway .... but boy howdy, do I like it.

ftfy.

It wasn't broken (unlike the Aethos at the side of the road).

Aetho's is a pretty bike. If I ever sell my Ibis MX. I want to buy a crux. Since I don't ride my bike's naked ( I mean the bike with no bags, tools, co2, pump, inner tubes etc... ) and I don't have a SAG following I am going to buy the non S-works model. Before I spend 2k more to save 100 grams I either need to ride the bike naked or least spend more money on every thing I carry on the bike to make sure it's the lightest, bag, tools, inner tube, shoes, food etc.. I am sure I could save 400 grams cheaper if I optimized what I carry on my bike.

Thanks so much for all the comments. Really useful!
I am not a racer and not really an aero guy. I do enjoy a bit of speed every now & then. Love bikes and build bikes when free.

I have Giant TCR Adv Pro, a Revolt, Cannondale Caad 2, 8, 12 (6.3k) and 13, a very light Chromoly Yasujiro Svelte (6.4k), a very old (35 yrs old) Schwin.

I love the ride on the Revolt (7.4kg, 1x, 28mm tires)...very comfy.

For faster rides, I enjoy the Caad12 (6.3kg, 1×, 26mm Race tires) and the Yasujiro (same wt almost but 26mm Road tires). I am moving all my tires to Pirelli Pzero Race and Road series...I can feel the grip even when wet. I only use Pirelli Pzero smart tube (Polyurethane, 34g per tube). I have dropped Tubolito ( production consistency not there yet)

So I am looking to decide if Sworks or Specialised Aethos should be on my list...as I prefer lighter bikes. All my frames will be heavier than either of the Aethos, so on 1x, I should get to 6kg hopefully. And with the quality & years of engineering knowhow put in by Sworks/Specialised into the design, carbon layout, finite element analysis etc (which they claim)...I should be over the moon.

My big question is will the difference be sufficiently significant that I will go "wow, this is it man"! Or it will be just another bike. And if u blindfold me, I can't tell the difference. Or it takes an expert to tell the difference.

I have drank a few very good wine..C Lafite, C Blanc etc...and a novice can tell they are very good! Will Sworks/Specialised Aethos be the same? And as many mentioned, is the added cost of SW aethos worth it?

Has bike design & engineering reached a plateau...they can't do much more to differentiate, other then Price & percieved quality? Many products reach a plateau and companies just come out with more functionalities with no change in Performance?

I suspect (but don't know for sure) if it is just weight diff. FACT 12r could hv a very diff modulus/tensile quality to FACT10r. If so, not only the weight is diff, the stiffness/flex and overall strength/durability could be improved.

Fact12r could hv pushed the price up...but not by so much? Could be more a mktg ploy to create a "snob" quality....beyond yr reach kind of bike...priced for desirability! Haha

I'd think it would be easier to tell the difference in feel between frames, before noticing a difference in weight. Some people are more in-tune with perceiving changes in ride quality. I wouldn't mind having the opportunity to test these bikes back to back.

Objectively, there isn't going to be any significant difference between the S-Works and standard frames. What you are paying for there is 114g and an S-Works logo. You could test the effect of that by carrying something weighing 114g on your current bikes. Let's be honest, it's going to be completely lost in the noise.

So it really comes down to the Aethos (whatever spec) vs your other bikes. You already have a pretty light bike and a comfortable bike. So I doubt it's going to be a game-changer for you. But it is another very nice bike. That may be enough for you to justify buying one, but it's hard to make an objective case unless you didn't already have a bunch of decent modern bikes. If you were buying it to replace one or more of your other bikes, that makes it a bit easier to justify.

I like the bike a lot (not an owner) and would test ride one if I were in the market for a new high end road bike. If I were going to buy one, I would look at the SRAM etap model and put Roval 50 wheels versus the 20 mm. I have an S works frame with Roval 50 wheels and like it a lot.

One of the features of bikes like this is scarcity. They are hard to get (supply) and expensive which means you will not see many on the road. That offers some appeal. You show up a group ride with the only one.

I do not think most riders buy an S-works bike on gram savings. It is more about emotion and you just love the bike and want one or you get a deal via a club sponsored by Specialized. .

Agreed.
This is the "design for desirability" approach by companies...it is so desirable, u don't think about the price.

However, I sense from all the reviews that the significant difference could come when going uphill and down hill.....on the flat one may not feel any difference.

The geometry and weight distribution (eg if its Centre of Gravity is very low)...it could feel very stable even when going downhill.

Wish I know someone who has a Aethos I can try.

Aethos frame- 1995 setup meets 2020 carbon layup technology.
Seems like the best of both worlds, honestly.

I have no actual experience, just wanted to comment since the popularity of that frame is often directly tied to how retro it is.

It's all relative. A full water bottle weighs like 500 grams. If you normally carry two bottles - go ride your bike with full bottles, then dump 'em out and you'll get a pretty good idea of what 1000g lighter bike would feel like.
In the case of the 114g difference between the Aethos and S-Works (assuming identical builds), pour a small amount out of one of your bottles. Hey, just saved $2200, right?

I've got jerseys that weigh in the neighborhood of 114g. Maybe I should just ride topless.

The problem with these arguments is that no matter what other weight savings items you change (yourself, your accessories, your groupsets, etc) - the S-Works Aethos is still going to be 114g lighter.

I'm not saying that 114g matters, but it's a real and measurable number that comes out of the frame itself, so it's unaffected by any other accessories or lightweight build kit parts that you might upgrade.

I don't really care for many bikes, but I find the S-Works Aethos to truly be a nice ride. It's a simple ultra lightweight design with a universal round 27.2mm seatpost, threaded BSA and fairly wide tire clearance at 32c. There are some MTB cassettes that weigh more than that frame!

I find the overall package to be versatile and appealing. What's not to like?

Only my inability to afford one. If I could, I'd be down at the nearest dealer begging for a nice long test ride.

My only issue with the standard Aethos is that there are other frames within the ball park weight range. The S-Works version is really in a league of it's own. If I were to go all out, that's the one I'd go with.

Test ride it regardless. Shop doesn’t know you’re poor. 😜