PARLEE OURAY
The S5 is a sport-wide benchmark for speed and aerodynamic efficiency—with the race results to back it up
Cervélo S5 Review 2026: The Fastest Bike We Sell?
The Cervélo S5 is one of the most aerodynamic road bikes ever made, and it's the aero bike we sell more of than any other. We rode it on the Swiss passes, built it in our own workshop, and this is what we found.
The S5 at a glance
Every tube on the S5 is shaped for speed, and the distinctive split fork is the first thing anyone notices. The wheelbase is compact, yet there's clearance for tyres up to 34 mm. Our test bike came as Cervélo delivers it: Reserve carbon wheels, the one-piece aero handlebar, and the split spacers that make adjusting bar height genuinely easy — a small detail that matters more than it sounds once the bike is yours. It's a complete race package out of the box.
How the Cervélo S5 rides
What the spec sheet can't tell you is that the S5 is agile. The short wheelbase means it changes direction quickly and willingly through corners, and the frame is seriously stiff around the bottom bracket, so sprints and hard efforts feel remarkably efficient. In crosswinds it stays composed on exposed roads. The comfort is the real surprise: this is an aero bike you can ride for five hours and step off feeling good.
Its true home, though, is speed. On flat and rolling roads at 40 km/h and above, it holds pace with noticeably less effort than a conventional road bike.
Who the S5 is for
If your riding is decided at high speed — racing, fast group rides, personal records — the S5 is a complete aero package and a bike you can buy with confidence.
