Cervélo says the new S5 aero bike is “simpler, faster and easier to live with”

By Simon von Bromley

Published: Tuesday, 26 July 2022 at 12:00 am

Cervélo has launched the latest update to the S5, the Canadian brand’s flagship aero road bike.

While the new Cervélo S5 looks only subtly different from the outgoing model, Cervélo says there have been some significant changes, all of which make the 2022 model “simpler, faster and easier to live with than before”.

As well as updating the tube profiles to take advantage of the latest changes to the UCI technical regulations, Cervélo says it has worked hard to simplify the front end, for easier maintenance and tweaks to bike fit.

Tyre clearance has also been upped significantly, with the new S5 having room for up to 34mm tyres (measured width).

Cervélo is also launching a new aero wheelset, the Reserve 52/63 alongside the new S5, with some significant aero claims.

Blink and you’ll miss it

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The new Cervélo S5 had a successful run at the 2022 Tour de France.
Cervélo

Cervélo claims the outgoing S5 was “already the fastest aero bike on the market” (a claim that has also been made by Cannondale about its SystemSix).

Although the changes appear fairly low key at a glance, the new S5 is said to offer a 65g reduction in aerodynamic drag versus the outgoing model.

According to Flo Cycling, that equates to around 8.45 watts at 48kph / 30mph.

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The 2023 Cervélo S5 is outwardly very similar to the previous model, but there have been a number of changes.
Cervélo

Much of this improvement, it seems, can be attributed to the new Reserve 52/63 wheelset (more on this later), which is said to “save a little over 5 watts” compared to Reserve’s outgoing 50/65 wheelset.

The rest, Cervélo says, can be attributed to updated frame tube profiles, including “a deeper head tube and bottom bracket area, and more aggressive shaping on the trailing edges of the tubes“.

The fork has also been updated with a “new aerodynamic nose”, which protrudes forward of the head tube like a small ship’s bow.

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The front end of 2023 Cervélo S5 is said to be simpler and more aerodynamic than before.
Cervélo

As already mentioned, these changes take advantage of recent updates to the UCI’s technical regulations that allow for slightly deeper, more aerodynamic tube shapes.

The front derailleur mount is now removable, too, giving riders the option of running a cleaner and more aerodynamic 1x drivetrain setup.

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The 2023 Cervélo S5 gets a big bump in tyre clearance, up to 34mm.
Cervélo

Frame and fork clearance has also been increased to accommodate tyres up to 34mm wide (measured width), and all builds come with 28-622 (700 x 28c) Vittoria Corsa TLR G2.0 tyres as standard.

As we saw on stage 5 of the 2022 Tour de France – which included 18km of brutal cobblestone roads borrowed from Paris-Roubaix – the new S5 can easily accommodate chunky tyres for fast rides on rough roads.

Simplified cockpit

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Cervélo has made it easier to adjust the front end on the new S5.
Cervélo

While outwardly the new S5’s cockpit looks practically identical to that on the outgoing model, Cervélo says it has made some key changes to simplify and lighten the front end.

Because there’s no traditional steerer tube, the fork is held in place with a tensioning rod and a large bolt through the upper headset bearing.

This means stack height can be adjusted up and down by 30mm with the use of spacers, without needing to cut anything down to size.

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Cervélo acknowledges the old S5 was fairly difficult to work on, making trialling a different riding position less than ideal.
Cervélo

Cervélo has also ditched stack-specific bolt sizes, meaning it should also be easier to swap a stem for a different-sized model than before (although it seems you’ll still have to contend with the stem’s internal cable routing).

Despite appearances, cables on the handlebar are routed externally, through a small channel on the underside of the bar, which is then hidden by the handlebar tape.

In total, these changes are claimed to save 53g of weight.

Cervélo also says the handlebar now attaches in a simpler manner than before and allows for up to 5 degrees of rotation, with no discrete steps, to help “dial in your fit”.

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2023 Cervélo S5 will ship with a 15mm offset seatpost as standard.
Cervélo

The new S5 will ship with a 15mm offset seatpost, rather than the 25mm offset version specced on the previous model.

The seatposts will be cross compatible (meaning you could use an older 25mm offset post if you want to), but Cervélo says “Bike fitters at every level are moving away from longer-offset seatposts”.

Size4851545658
Stack (mm)496519542565588
Reach (mm)367376384392401
Seat tube angle (degrees)7373737373
Effective top tube length (mm)520535550565581
Head tube angle (degrees)71727373.573.5
Fork offset (mm)5852464343
Trail (mm)56.156.156.256.256.2
Head tube length (mm)6684106127154
Bottom bracket drop (mm)72.572.5707067.5
Front centre (mm)579580581588604
Chainstay length (mm)405405405405405
Standover height (mm)715736754782813
Wheelbase (mm)973974975982999

Reserve 52/63 wheelset

The new Reserve 52/63 wheelset is said to be key to the new S5’s improved aero credentials.

As we’ve seen with wheelsets such as the Roval Rapide CLX II and in the ENVE SES range, the Reserve 52/63 combines two differing rim profiles optimised specifically for their location on the bike.

Up front, there’s a shallower, wider rim for improved stability in windy conditions, while out back there’s a deeper, slightly narrower rim for improved aerodynamic performance.

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Reserve’s new 52/63 wheelset is said to bring big aero gains to the new Cervélo S5.
Reserve

Like Hunt’s 60 Limitless Aero Disc wheelset, the Reserve 52/63 wheelset is also radically wide, with a 35mm-wide / 52mm-deep front rim and a 34mm-wide / 63mmm-deep rear rim.

Internal rim widths are also super-wide at 25mm and 24mm, front and rear.

Claimed weight for the wheelset differs depending on hub choice, but the lightest possible spec with DT Swiss 180 hubs is claimed to weigh 1,514g.

On their own, the Reserve 52/63 wheels are priced at $1,799.00, but the wheelset is supplied on every new S5 build with Zipp ZR1 ST or ZR1 SS hubs.

Cervélo S5 pricing, specifications and availability

The new Cervélo S5 is available in four builds or as a frameset.

Unlike the previous model, the new Cervélo S5 is only compatible with electronic groupsets, but there are no build options for the cheapest available electronic groupsets, SRAM Rival eTap AXS and Shimano 105 Di2 R7150.

As expected, Cervélo is sticking with its BBright press-fit bottom bracket standard.

Prices start at £5,499 for a frameset, which includes the frame, fork, handlebar, stem and seatpost.

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The 2023 Cervélo S5 is available as a frameset, or in four builds with electronic groupsets.
Cervélo

Complete builds all include the new Reserve 52/63 wheelset. These are priced from £9,199 for the S5 Ultegra Di2, which has a Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8170 groupset, rising to £12,999 for the S5 Red eTap AXS, which has a SRAM Red eTap AXS groupset.

International pricing and claimed weights for the frameset and all builds are still to be confirmed, and we’ll update this article when we receive that information.

We’ve got an S5 Force eTap AXS in to test (look out for a review coming soon), and it weighs 8.29kg without pedals in a size 56.

Cervélo S5 Red eTap AXS

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2023 Cervélo S5 Red eTap AXS.
Cervélo
  • Price: £12,999
  • Frameset: Cervélo S5
  • Drivetrain: SRAM Red eTap AXS, including power meter
  • Wheelset: Reserve 52/63, with Zipp ZR1 SS hubs
  • Tyres: Vittoria Corsa TLR G2.0, 28-622
  • Seatpost: Cervélo SP20 carbon
  • Handlebar: Cervélo HB14 carbon
  • Saddle: Selle Italia Novus Boost Evo SuperFlow Carbon

Cervélo S5 Dura-Ace Di2

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2023 Cervélo S5 Dura-Ace Di2.
Cervélo
  • Price: £12,500
  • Frameset: Cervélo S5
  • Drivetrain: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9270
  • Wheelset: Reserve 52/63, with Zipp ZR1 SS hubs
  • Tyres: Vittoria Corsa TLR G2.0, 28-622
  • Seatpost: Cervélo SP20 carbon
  • Handlebar: Cervélo HB14 carbon
  • Saddle: Selle Italia Novus Boost Evo SuperFlow Carbon

Cervélo S5 Force eTap AXS

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2023 Cervélo S5 Force eTap AXS.
Cervélo
  • Price: £9,599
  • Frameset: Cervélo S5
  • Drivetrain: SRAM Force eTap AXS, including power meter
  • Wheelset: Reserve 52/63, with Zipp ZR1 SS hubs
  • Tyres: Vittoria Corsa TLR G2.0, 28-622
  • Seatpost: Cervélo SP20 carbon
  • Handlebar: Cervélo HB14 carbon
  • Saddle: Selle Italia Novus Boost Evo SuperFlow Ti
  • Actual weight: 8.29kg

Cervélo S5 Ultegra Di2

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2023 Cervélo S5 Ultegra Di2.
Cervélo
  • Price: £9,199
  • Frameset: Cervélo S5
  • Drivetrain: Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8170
  • Wheelset: Reserve 52/63, with Zipp ZR1 ST hubs
  • Tyres: Vittoria Corsa TLR G2.0, 28-622
  • Seatpost: Cervélo SP20 carbon
  • Handlebar: Cervélo HB14 carbon
  • Saddle: Selle Italia Novus Boost Evo SuperFlow Ti