Cervelo S5 Force AXS Bike

The Cervelo S5 Force AXS Bike is Cervelo's flagship aero road bike — the fastest production road frame they build, developed through wind tunnel testing that clocked it at 6.3 watts faster than the previous S5 generation and 8.7 watts faster than the nearest competitor as tested. That's not a marketing number; it comes from a purpose-built wind tunnel session using a consistent test protocol across tube variations, fork designs, and cockpit configurations. The Force AXS build at $10,250 puts SRAM's wireless electronic drivetrain — with an integrated Quarq power meter — on that platform alongside Reserve 52|63 co-developed carbon wheels and the HB19 one-piece integrated cockpit that makes the S5's front-end aerodynamics possible.

The S5 frame runs deep airfoil tube profiles with sharper trailing edges across the frame, fork, and cockpit, sculpted through wind tunnel iteration rather than CFD simulation alone. Despite increased surface area at the fork and head tube compared to the previous generation, the current S5 achieves 65 grams of additional drag reduction — a counterintuitive result that comes from managing how airflow interacts with the wheel, fork, and downtube as a system rather than optimizing each component in isolation. The Cervelo Bayonet S5 all-carbon fork (~395g) is integral to that system: its wide crown profile manages the airflow transition from the front wheel through the head tube and into the downtube in a way a conventional fork can't. Cables and hydraulic lines route through the frame internally via Cervelo's BBright-integrated cable management system, emerging cleanly at the derailleur and calipers without disrupting the surface. The PF BBright bottom bracket shell — Cervelo's proprietary 79mm design — provides a platform wide enough for DUB-spindle cranks with excellent bearing placement and stiffness. The frame weighs approximately 980g in size 56.

The HB19 cockpit is a one-piece integrated carbon bar and stem — no separate components, no gap between bar and stem to catch air. Cervelo's "Plus-Four" design runs the hood section 4cm narrower than the drop width, which narrows the rider's silhouette in the brake hood position while keeping a comfortable 36, 38, or 40cm drop section. The bar has 7° of flare, 75mm reach, and 125mm drop — proportions designed for riders who spend most of their time on the hoods in a race or aggressive training position. Stem lengths run from 80mm to 150mm in 10mm increments, allowing a wide range of fit positions within the integrated system. All AXS connections and hydraulic lines run through the steerer and bar, with no external cables from stem to caliper.

The drivetrain is SRAM Force AXS — 12-speed wireless electronic, with the Force crankset running a 48/35T configuration and an integrated Quarq power meter (±1.5% accuracy, dual ANT+/Bluetooth). At $10,250, a factory power meter is a meaningful inclusion — no crank swap, no separate purchase, calibrated and ready from the first ride. A 10-33T Force cassette rounds out the drivetrain with the range for rolling and hilly terrain while keeping gear steps tight in the middle where most road riding happens. Braking is SRAM Force AXS HRD hydraulic disc with 160mm flat-mount rotors. The wheelset is Reserve 52|63 — a depth-matched carbon set (52mm front / 63mm rear) co-developed by Cervelo and Reserve specifically for the S5's aerodynamic profile. The 52|63 uses Reserve's Turbulent Aero platform, developed from real-world wind data rather than ideal tunnel yaw angles, and runs 25mm internal width up front and 24mm rear on DT Swiss 350 hubs with 24 spokes and Centerlock disc mounts. Vittoria Corsa N.EXT TLR 700x28c tires are fitted tubeless-ready. The Cervelo SP20 carbon aero seatpost and Prologo Dimension NDR T4.0 saddle (143mm) complete the build.

Design Benefits

1. Wind tunnel-validated aero gains. 6.3 watts over the previous S5 and 8.7 watts over the nearest competitor aren't estimated figures — they come from a controlled wind tunnel session using a consistent test protocol. At race pace over 40km, that translates to real time saved.
2. Bayonet S5 fork as part of the aero system. The wide-crown fork manages airflow from the front wheel through the head tube and into the downtube as an integrated unit — not just a structurally stiff fork attached to an aero frame, but a designed system where both elements shape the air together.
3. HB19 one-piece integrated cockpit. Eliminates the aerodynamic penalty of a separate stem-and-bar interface, narrows the rider's hood-position silhouette via Plus-Four geometry, and routes all cables internally. It's also lighter than a comparable two-piece setup.
4. Quarq power meter factory-installed. The Force AXS crankset ships with a Quarq power meter integrated — bilateral, ±1.5% accuracy, dual ANT+/Bluetooth. On a $10,250 bike, that's a meaningful inclusion versus paying separately post-purchase.
5. Reserve 52|63 co-developed wheelset. Cervelo and Reserve built these wheels together for the S5, with the 52mm front and 63mm rear depth asymmetry designed to balance aero efficiency and crosswind handling specifically for how the S5 rides. Turbulent Aero rim profiles are developed from real-world wind data — not just optimal tunnel conditions.
6. SRAM Force AXS wireless ecosystem. No cables under the bar, reliable shifting under load, and the full AXS protocol for integration with compatible components. For race and training use, the simplicity of a wireless drivetrain at this level is hard to argue against.
7. Aggressive race geometry. A stack-to-reach ratio of approximately 1.44 (size 56) puts riders in a genuinely low, aerodynamic position — built for riders who've been properly fitted and want maximum speed over comfort concessions.

Final Take

The Cervelo S5 Force AXS is Cervelo's fastest road bike — full stop. The wind tunnel numbers are real, the Reserve 52|63 wheels were purpose-built for this frame, and the Quarq power meter inclusion makes the Force AXS build unusually complete at $10,250. For riders chasing speed on flat and rolling terrain, racing crits, or simply wanting the sharpest aero road tool Cervelo makes, this is the build.