Anyone with experience with the new Royal Rapids CLXIII wheels,, especially vs the older Roval C38 wheels? I am looking at getting a new Specialized Tarmac, either the Pro or the Expert. The Pro comes with the CLXIII and the expert comes with the C38, with a resulting price difference of $2000. If there's any other significant difference between the two it's minor. Worth it?

If nothing else about the two different models stands out to you, then for the wheelsets, consider that the CLX III are deeper profile by more the 10mm with the frond being 12mm deeper. So they can be more aero.

Roval makes good wheels. So depending on how aero a wheel you want pick your model bike. Or consider if you can do better buying another brand wheelset that is more aero than the C38 for the $2000 difference.

The pro also has a very nice one piece aero carbon bar in that price jump.

The paint jobs available are different too. That matters

If the 2k difference was for wheels alone…

To me personally - not worth it.

The C38’s are great. The other wheels would provide marginal gains in performance and weight. Marginal.

Thats just my opinion.

Absolutely right Chodo. The Pro comes in a sweet dark red color, the Expert does not.

S-WORKS = CLX
Pro = CL

Main difference is the hub, and spokes.

I've no experience with the new CLX 3, but I'm no fan of the shallower rear wheel. I get that it's mainly for weight saving, but I think it looks odd. I like my current CL 2 that came with my 24' Pro. After 15 000km, I can say that they're stiff, not too shaky with crosswinds and reliable. I may have an opportunity to trade them for CLX 2s and I am considering it, mainly to get the Roval hubs with DT 180 internals (ceramic bearings!).

Unfortunately Specialized does not allow changes to bikes that are ordered, either on line or by the store- So my choices appear at this time to be the Pro, with the CLXIII or the Expert, with the C38- a price difference of $2000. Or buy a frame and build it up, although I don't see on the website where you can buy just the frame, unless it's an S works. Or switch to a different company, I've looked at Factor and know a couple of people who bought them locally and love them. Stories of creaky BB on the internet are a little bothersome. Oh well more research to do

So if you are wanting the CLXIII, why not go with the Pro? The wheelset will cost you $3,399.98 USD if bought without the bike. The C 38's are priced as a wheel set and will only cost $1,199.99. So there is a $2,199.99 USD difference in the cost of the two wheelsets alone.

Possibly I'm mistaken that the C 38's are sold a wheel set together. But there is no way to specify front or back wheel on the order page as there is for the CLXIII.

You seem to have ignored my point that the Pro also has a significantly more expensive one piece aero handlebar.

As indicated above, the Pro trim comes with CL wheels, not CLX. CLXs are exclusive to the S-WORKS trim. You can always buy them separately.

And this

Just to clarify, I'm pretty sure the Pro comes with CLIII wheels not CLXIII.

In addition to the one-piece bar/stem, the Pro also comes with a power meter while the Expert doesn't.