Compare
ENVE Melee vs Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL9
Pick up to 4 bikes. Rows line up component by component. Highlighted rows differ, and green marks the best value where lower or higher is clearly better.
Key differences
- The Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL9 starts €200 cheaper (€13,999 vs €14,199 for the ENVE Melee).
- Our verdict scores the Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL9 higher overall: 80/100 vs 79/100.
- The Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL9's lightest build is 0.05 kg lighter (6.6 kg vs 6.65 kg).
- Tire clearance: up to 33 mm on the ENVE Melee vs 32 mm on the Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL9.
ENVE Melee
Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL9
| ENVEMelee | SpecializedS-Works Tarmac SL9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Brand | ENVE | Specialized |
| Build | Melee V2 PRO RED | S-Works Tarmac SL9 - Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 |
| Build notes | ENVE's configurator build: wheels, crank length, chainrings, tyre width, cockpit size, saddle width and colours are chosen at order. The claimed weight is ENVE's ride-ready figure for a 54 cm Red AXS 2x power-meter build with SES 4.5 PRO wheels, weighed with Dura-Ace pedals, tyre sealant and bar tape (56 cm: 6.82 kg; 58 cm with 1x: 6.75 kg). EUR price from ENVE's EU store, which listed the build as sold out on 2026-10-06. UK prices quoted by the press (BikeRadar £13,199) aren't on an ENVE UK store. | Colour: Satin Carbon (US). Weight of a painted production bike as pictured. |
| Price (MSRP) | €15,199$13,950€15,199 | €13,999$13,500£11,999 |
| Bike weight | 6.65 kg14.7 lb | 6.6 kg14.6 lb |
| Weight measured on size | 54 | 56 |
| Model year | 2026 | 2027 |
| Generation | Second generation (Melee v2) | SL9 |
| Launched | 2026-09 | 2026-06 |
| Discipline | Aero road | Aero road |
| UCI legal | Not stated | Not stated |
| Verdict (out of 100) | ||
| Overall score | 79 | 80 |
| Aero | 88 | 87 |
| Frame | 93 | 95 |
| Components | 93 | 94 |
| Fit | 86 | 82 |
| Practicality | 68 | 72 |
| Price | 25 | 27 |
| Weight | 100 | 100 |
| Frame & fork | ||
| Frame material | Carbon (ENVE M.O.D. Carbon) | FACT 12r Carbon |
| Fork material | Carbon (ENVE M.O.D. Carbon) | S-Works FACT 12r Carbon (Flow Fork) |
| Frame weight | 791 g27.9 oz | 687 g24.2 oz |
| Frameset weight | 1,442 g3.18 lb | 1,390 g3.06 lb |
| Weight measured on | Size 56, UL Black finish (ENVE press kit): frame only 791 g; frame, fork, headset, seatpost, thru-axles and derailleur hangers 1,442 g | Frame 687 g as stated by Specialized; frameset (frame, fork, headset bearings, S-Works Rapide Post) 1.39 kg in size 56, painted production frame |
| Max system weight | 136 kg299.8 lb | 125 kg275.6 lb |
| Frame sizes | 47, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60 | 44, 49, 52, 54, 56, 58, 61 |
| Colours | UL Black, White Lightning | Satin Carbon; Satin Silver Dust; Gloss Ruby Metallic; Gloss Dolomite Metallic; Gloss Carbon; Gloss Vivid Red / Tarmac Black; RTP Raw Carbon; Made in Racing Red (LTD); Gloss Metallic White Silver (LTD); team replica paints (varies by build and region) |
| Also available as | — | Tarmac SL9 S-Level (FACT 10r frame with FACT 12r fork), Expert and Comp builds; S-Works LTD and team replica editions |
| Compatibility & standards | ||
| Brake type | Hydraulic disc, flat mount | Hydraulic disc, flat mount |
| Max rotor size | 160 mm | 160 mm |
| Wheel size | — | 700c |
| Max tire width | 33 mm | 32 mm |
| Bottom bracket standard | BSA threaded (68 mm) | BSA threaded, 68 mm |
| Front axle | 12 x 100 mm thru-axle | 12x100 mm thru-axle |
| Rear axle | 12 x 142 mm thru-axle | 12x142 mm thru-axle (UDH dropout) |
| Drivetrain compatibility | — | 1x and 2x; Shimano Di2 (wired routing) and SRAM AXS. 2x chainrings: Shimano 34-42 / 50-55T, SRAM 35-41 / 48-54T; 1x 46-54T. Cassettes: Shimano 11-36 max, SRAM 10-46 max. |
| Mechanical shifting possible | Yes | — |
| 1x compatible | — | Yes |
| Max chainring | — | 55T |
| Front derailleur mount | Bolt-on braze-on mount | Removable braze-on hanger; cover for 1x |
| Cable routing | Fully internal through the ENVE IN-Route headset system; mechanical groupsets compatible | Internal |
| Hydration & storage | ||
| Bottle mounts | — | 2 |
| Bottle mount locations | — | Down tube and seat tube |
| Fit & adjustability | ||
| Cockpit | One-piece carbon bar and stem (ENVE SES Aero V2 or SES AR One-Piece) on the complete builds; ENVE recommends its IN-Route bars and stems | One-piece bar and stem (Roval Rapide Cockpit) on S-Works builds |
| Seatpost type | Proprietary Melee v2 aero carbon seatpost, zero offset, two-bolt clamp, wedge seat clamp | S-Works Rapide Post, FACT carbon, D-shaped (35.9 x 18.4 mm), 15 mm offset, integrated wedge |
| Fit notes | 7 sizes. The SES Aero V2 one-piece cockpit comes in 18 sizes (37/40 to 41/44 cm wide, 90-140 mm stems). Compared with the first Melee, sizes 56-60 have 11 mm less stack (5 mm in the frame, 6 mm in the bar), and five fork rakes are spread across the seven sizes. The top cap adds 4.5 mm of stack. | Seven sizes from 44 to 61 cm with the same performance targets for every size. Stock bar width and stem length change with size (380 mm and 75 mm on 44-49 up to 420 mm and 110 mm on 58-61). The user manual also lists a separate Rapide stem (31.8 mm bar clamp) with Expert Shallow Bend handlebars; headset spacers up to 35 mm. |
| Aerodynamics | ||
| Manufacturer aero claims | 17 W faster than the first Melee at 50 km/h with rider, bottles and cages: frame, fork and seatpost -11.4 W, SES Aero V2 bar and aero tape -3 W, SES aero bottle cages -2.6 W. Frame surface area cut by 7.5%. | Specialized calls it the most aerodynamic road race bike it has tested and claims 4 W less drag; the Speed Sniffer head tube is 4 mm narrower for a 10% smaller frontal area. Specialized measures it by 'Time to Finish' over simulated race courses. |
| Testing method | Wind tunnel (Mercedes-AMG Petronas, Silverstone) with a real rider on board, bottles and cages fitted, developed with Simon Smart | Specialized Win Tunnel with a 6th-generation moving-leg mannequin, plus race-course simulations |
| Tube profile | — | Speed Sniffer head tube, dropped down tube, Win Fin rear, twisted-blade Flow Fork, deep S-Works Rapide Post |
| Travel, maintenance & warranty | ||
| Headset bearings | ENVE IN-Route, 40.5 x 49.5 x 6.5 mm 45/45 upper and lower bearings, alloy compression ring | CeramicSpeed SLT bearings, 49.5 mm OD x 40.5 mm ID x 6.5 mm, 45° (top and bottom); 28.6 mm steerer |
| Derailleur hanger | UDH (SRAM Universal Derailleur Hanger) | UDH (SRAM Universal Derailleur Hanger) |
| Maintenance | — | Front rotor 160 mm only, rear 140 or 160 mm. The user manual lists tubeless compatibility as 'Only S-Works (OE spec)'. No rack, fender, bag or kickstand mounts; 2.3 kg seat-bag limit. |
| Proprietary parts | Aero seatpost; IN-Route headset and cable routing | Roval Rapide one-piece cockpit, S-Works Rapide seatpost and wedge, custom headset bearings |
| Frame warranty | ENVE Limited Lifetime Warranty for the original owner (from manufacture date for second owners), plus a separate lifetime crash replacement programme | — |
| Sold via | Direct from ENVE online (US and EU stores) and through dealers | Specialized retailers and specialized.com |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Groupset | SRAM Red AXS E1 | Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9200 |
| Launched | 2024 · current generation | 2021 · current generation |
| Speeds | 12-speed | 12-speed |
| Electronic | Yes | Yes |
| Wireless | Yes | — |
| Drivetrain | 2x | 2x |
| Shifters | SRAM Red AXS E1 | Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9270 |
| Notes | Combined shift and hydraulic brake levers | — |
| Crankset | SRAM Red AXS E1 Power Meter | Shimano Dura-Ace R9200 |
| Chainrings | 46/33 or 48/35 (chosen at order) | 52/36 |
| Crank lengths available | 165, 170, 172.5 or 175 mm (chosen at order) | 165 mm (44-52), 170 mm (54-56), 172.5 mm (58-61) |
| Power meter | SRAM Red AXS E1 Power Meter | 4iiii Precision Pro |
| Launched | 2024 · current generation | — |
| Type | Integrated in crankset | — |
| Measurement | — | Dual-sided |
| Bottom bracket | — | CeramicSpeed BB Alpha |
| Standard | — | BSA threaded, Shimano |
| Front derailleur | SRAM Red AXS E1 | Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9250 |
| Notes | — | Braze-on |
| Rear derailleur | SRAM Red AXS E1 | Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9250 |
| Cassette | — | Shimano Dura-Ace R9200 |
| Range | — | 11-34 |
| Speeds | — | 12-speed |
| Chain | — | Shimano CN-M9100 |
| Notes | — | XTR M9100 chain with quick link |
| Brakes | ||
| Brake calipers | — | Shimano Dura-Ace BR-R9270 |
| Type | — | Hydraulic disc |
| Wheels & tires | ||
| Wheelset | ENVE SES 4.5 PRO | Roval Rapide CLX III |
| Front rim depth | — | 51 mm |
| Rear rim depth | — | 48.5 mm |
| Internal rim width | — | 21 mm |
| Material | Carbon | Carbon |
| Tubeless ready | — | Yes |
| Hubs | — | Roval LF18F 18H front, LF19-R 24H rear, with Sinc ceramic bearings |
| Spokes | — | Roval by ARRIS composite aero spokes with Ti end fittings |
| Notes | SES 6.7 PRO can be chosen instead; freehub HG, XDR or N3W | — |
| Tires | ENVE SES Road Tire | Specialized Cotton TLR |
| Tire width | — | 30 mm |
| Widths available | 25, 27, 29, 31 or 33 mm, tan or black sidewall (chosen at order) | — |
| Notes | — | Specialized also lists 700x25-35 mm TPU inner tubes |
| Cockpit | ||
| Handlebar | ENVE SES Aero V2 One-Piece Handlebar | Roval Rapide Cockpit |
| Type | One-piece carbon bar and stem | One-piece bar and stem |
| Integrated stem | Yes | Yes |
| Widths available | 37/40, 39/42 or 41/44 cm (hoods/drops) with 90-140 mm stems (18 sizes, chosen at order) | 380 mm (44-54), 400 mm (56), 420 mm (58-61) as fitted by size |
| Bar reach | 76 mm | — |
| Bar drop | 128 mm | — |
| Material | Carbon | Carbon |
| Notes | Airfoil-shaped drops with optional shaped pads; computer mount included. Claimed 335-355 g depending on size. The SES AR One-Piece Handlebar can be chosen instead. | Stem length 75 mm (44-49), 90 mm (52), 100 mm (54-56), 110 mm (58-61); accessory mount compatible with Bar Fly 4 adapters |
| Headset | ENVE IN-Route | CeramicSpeed SLT |
| Saddle & seatpost | ||
| Saddle | Selle Italia SLR Elite | Specialized S-Works Power with Mirror |
| Widths available | 130 or 145 mm | 155 mm (44-52), 143 mm (54-61) |
| Notes | ENVE x Selle Italia co-branded version | — |
| Seatpost | ENVE Melee v2 Aero Seatpost | Specialized S-Works Rapide Post |
| Offset / setback | 0 mm | 15 mm |
| Material | Carbon | FACT carbon |
| Notes | Proprietary; two-bolt saddle clamp | 300 mm long (44-52), 380 mm (54-61); integrated wedge binder |
| Bar tape | ENVE Handlebar Tape | Supacaz Super Sticky Kush |
| Notes | Grey, black or white | — |
| Included extras | ||
| Bottle cages | ENVE SES Aero Carbon Bottle Cage | — |
| Notes | Two cages, black or white, down tube or seat tube style | — |
| Geometry (smallest – largest size) | ||
| Sizes | 47, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60 | 44, 49, 52, 54, 56, 58, 61 |
| Stack | 501.7–610.4 mm19.8–24″ | 501–612 mm19.7–24.1″ |
| Reach | 367.6–407.5 mm14.5–16″ | 366–408 mm14.4–16.1″ |
| Seat tube angle | 72.8–75° | 73–75.5° |
| Head tube angle | 70.8–73.8° | 70.5–74° |
| Head tube length | 97.5–197.5 mm3.8–7.8″ | 99–204 mm3.9–8″ |
| Effective top tube | 502.1–597.1 mm19.8–23.5″ | 496–595 mm19.5–23.4″ |
| Seat tube length | 421.4–554.2 mm16.6–21.8″ | 433–545 mm17–21.5″ |
| Chainstay | 410–412 mm16.1–16.2″ | 410 mm16.1″ |
| Wheelbase | 977.6–1,010.7 mm38.5–39.8″ | 970–1,013 mm38.2–39.9″ |
| BB drop | 71–75 mm2.8–3″ | 72–74 mm2.8–2.9″ |
| BB height | 267.4–271.4 mm10.5–10.7″ | 266–268 mm10.5–10.6″ |
| Fork length | — | 370 mm14.6″ |
| Fork offset | 39–55 mm1.5–2.2″ | 44–47 mm1.7–1.9″ |
| Trail | — | 52–71 mm2–2.8″ |
| Front centre | 579.3–609 mm22.8–24″ | 567–609 mm22.3–24″ |
| Standover | 717.7–839.4 mm28.3–33″ | 722–833 mm28.4–32.8″ |
| Saddle height max | 746.4–879.2 mm29.4–34.6″ | — |
| Wheel size | — | 700c |
| Crank length | — | 165–172.5 mm6.5–6.8″ |
| Stem length | — | 75–110 mm3–4.3″ |
| Handlebar width | — | 380–420 mm15–16.5″ |
Geometry overlay
Pick a size for each bike to see frames and arm-pad ranges on top of each other.
Drawn to scale (how to read it).