The S-Works Aethos

Thursday 8 October 2020
Updated: Friday 9 October 2020
Filed in: General

The lightest production disc road frame ever made

For once, we're not in it to win it. Racing means a lot to us here at Specialized, and, at times, you may even think it means everything to us. While it is true that our core is centred in racing, we also know there's nothing better than a long day on the bike with no finish line in sight. That's why we are extremely excited to introduce to you a whole new ride experience. Aethos is a bike we've been working on behind the scenes for a long time, and we had to break a few rules to make it happen. But we broke those rules chasing after the greatest expression of ride quality ever made.


There is so much that went into this bike, we're going to jump right to the good stuff:


Aethos (ay-thoss) is based on the Greek word "ethos" (meaning"character"), which describe the guiding beliefs or ideals that characterize a community. In this case, the cycling community.


At 585g, it is the lightest production disc road frame ever made. To reiterate, this is the lightest disc road bike ever made — and it's built with OEM parts. There's nothing exceptionally weight weenie about what is spec'd on the bike.


Room for 32mm tires, a BSA threaded bottom bracket, and 27.2 round seat post are meant to simplify the equation for riders.


A test lab experience truly birthed this bike. While meditating on the ways that frames move under load, our lead engineer Peter Denk realized that true performance lies in the shape of the tubes, not the material. So, while the frame may retain those classic vibes, hidden underneath is extremely advanced tube technology.


Through these revelations and renderings, we were able to improve the ride quality delivered and also save weight. We eliminated traditional carbon stiffness layers, reducing the plies necessary to build the bike by 11%, as compared to a Tarmac SL6.


Keep an eye on the riders and marketing materials for this bike. We shot in a few different countries to launch, and you will not see any racing team logos. This is the bike for the speedy, stylish café racers coming through your doors.


Framesets are coming and they're looking good. The lightest frameset in the group — the black, silky, Jet Fuel colourway was developed specifically for those customers who want a bit extra.

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