I reviewed the top-end Specialized S-Works Aethos back in October, and found it to be a truly exceptional road bike. It’s incredibly light, it rides very well, it handles great, and generally just feels oh-so-good in a way that’s increasingly lacking in modern road racers that place a higher priority on numerical gains. It’s one of very few test bikes I’ve missed since the day I handed it back.

Then again, the bike I tested retails for a whopping US$12,500 / AU$18,500 / £10,750 / €11,800, so in reality, anything less than an emphatically impressive ride experience could be considered an abject failure.
Alternatively, the Aethos Comp Rival eTap AXS model offers a nearly identical frame with a lesser build kit for less than half the price than the S-Works model. Is the Aethos frame so inherently good that it can withstand an extra 1.7 kg (3.75 lb) in ballast without changing its personality, or is it a case of the parts having an outsized influence on the whole?

Luckily for Specialized, my experience has shown it to be the former. This more affordable version may be heavier than the flagship model, but it’s still an amazing bike to ride, and I’ll miss this one when it’s gone, too.

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