I think you got the SL8 for only $300 more because it was sized for a Giraffe. I tried to make a deal with get the SL8 my LBS had in stock, but they wouldn't budge off of the $4500 price. Compared to the price for the SL6, there was no way I was paying an extra $1500 just to get a Dura Ace group and to receive the bike 2 months sooner.