Specialized Aethos 2 - Break the Rules Again
At 595 grams, the Aethos 2 is the world's lightest road frame. It's a bike that disappears beneath you—built not for rules, but for the pure love of riding.
When Specialized launched the original Aethos, it changed how riders thought about road bikes. It wasn't built for UCI weight limits or aero charts—it was built to disappear beneath you and let the ride itself take over. With the Aethos 2, Specialized has refined that idea, making it lighter, more versatile, and better suited to more riders than ever before.
At just 595 grams, the Aethos 2 is still the lightest disc road frame in the world. But numbers only tell part of the story. What matters is the way it rides. On a long climb, the frame feels like it vanishes. In a descent, the handling is intuitive and planted. Across broken roads, it floats with a smoothness that defies its weight. The Aethos 2 is about that elusive state where effort fades away and joy takes over—the reason we ride in the first place.
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Refined for More Riders
Specialized knew the Aethos formula was already close to perfect. The challenge with the Aethos 2 wasn't to reinvent it, but to refine it. Geometry was the first step. Drawing on decades of Body Geometry fit data, engineers gave most frame sizes a 15 mm taller stack to reduce hand pressure, a 3 mm lower bottom bracket for more planted cornering, and a slightly longer wheelbase for stability at speed. A half-degree slacker head angle smooths steering without losing the Aethos' quickness. Together, these changes expand the fit window while preserving the lively handling riders loved.
Versatility also improved. The Aethos 2 now clears 35 mm tires, opening up more comfort, traction, and all-road possibilities. Achieving this without adding weight required painstaking work at the factory, adjusting carbon layup down to fractions of a millimeter. The outcome is a bike that delivers more freedom without compromise.
Joy as the Goal
What makes the Aethos 2 different isn't just its weight, geometry, or engineering. It's the philosophy behind it. Specialized designed this bike not to meet regulations, not to chase podiums, but to give riders the purest possible road experience. When the fit is natural, the weight disappears, and the handling feels like second nature, you're left with only the ride itself. That's the joy the Aethos 2 was built to deliver.
The Aethos 2 is still the world's lightest road frame. It's still the most sublime road feel you can buy. But now it's more accessible, more versatile, and more refined than ever. For those who measure performance not by medals but by miles of joy, this is the bike without compromise. The Aethos 2 breaks the rules again—simply for the love of the ride.
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Details that Matter
The bike's new Roval Alpinist II cockpit continues the theme of thoughtful refinement. Based on over 100,000 rider fits, its ovalized tops reduce pressure on long rides, while a four-degree flare mirrors natural wrist angles. At just 270 grams, it's lighter, more comfortable, and internally routed for a clean silhouette, yet still compatible with traditional bar-and-stem setups.
Roval Alpinist CLX III wheels have also been reimagined. At 1,131 grams, they pair featherweight climbing performance with durability and control. New composite spokes save over 100 grams while being stronger than steel, and DT Swiss 180 internals keep engagement smooth and precise. Hooked rims ensure secure tire retention for riders who want performance without compromise.
Complete Builds
The Aethos 2 lineup spans from S-Works to Expert, all delivering astonishingly light builds. The S-Works Aethos 2 with SRAM RED AXS weighs just 5.98 kilograms, while the Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 version comes in at 6.05. Pro-level builds with Force AXS or Ultegra Di2 land around 6.7 kilograms, and Expert models hover just above seven. These are everyday-ridable, tubeless-ready bikes at weights that once seemed unattainable.
Compatibility remains refreshingly open. The Aethos 2 works with any standard 27.2 mm round seatpost, uses a 30.0 mm collar, and accepts both integrated and traditional cockpit setups. Its custom UDH hanger blends lightness with modern drivetrain compatibility. This balance of innovation and universality ensures the bike is as easy to live with as it is to ride.
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Perfection is attained not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing more to take away.
