Bicycles

Test: Torpado T20 Team Spectrum

Details

Parent Category: Bicycles

Category: Torpado

Published on Tuesday, 14 April 2009 16:27

Written by Luca Salvatelli

Lightweight, rigid and reactive, is a true "animal" for the race, fast in skilled hands

The Company

Torpado was founded in 1895, but after the war is beginning to be known by the general public thanks to the team Torpado. Many successes, both in one day contest and in very long runs in stages. Come to the Spanish Vuelta in 1956, where Angelo Conterno was the first Italian to win the race to stage Spanish course on a bike Torpado. Then the modern times, and he wanted to continue on a path less flashy but no means devoid of charm and substance. So, today, alongside Torpado, there are other brands that have created an industrial group able to offer any bicycles for use, type of market and price.

The Range

The complete range Torpado is made up of bike racing, hybrid, trekking, mountain bike front or full, freestyle, city and bikes for children. The mtb’s sector is represented by a wide range of models ranging from less sophisticated products, and suitable for light hiking, to the most sophisticated carbon fiber frame, including the model used by Team Torpado 4US, which this year includes among its ranks a strong athlete: Yader Zoli. The Faentin, Class 1975, has attended both the 2004 Athens Olympics as well as the Beijing 2008, it was confirmed in Grotte di Castro Italian Cross Country Champion for the third consecutive year, and has also won a mesh Italian Marathon Champion in 2005. An element value that is sure to succeed at the top this interesting brand. The range Spectrum represents the top range for the aluminium frame. Is a range of high quality and for those who prefer aluminium for cost and reliability, carbon. Three models, with the same chassis, but different composition. A courageous bike, because it shows how we can achieve a competitive product, erformance and price, and quality from an aluminium frame. The differences between the three models lie in the group adopted Shimano XT/XTR for the model we tried, XT for the T25 model and SLX for the model T20, including different wheels (Shimano models T20 and T25), fork and tyres.

The bike on test: Torpado T20 Team Spectrum

Entire Spectrum range is based on a beautiful aluminium frame. The whole design of the frame has been designed to obtain rigidity and lightweight. That is the main pipes are generously sized, but not exaggerated. The steering tube is short and is connected to the horizontal pipe and oblique one that merge into a single structure to help improve the rigidity of the area. The box of the bottom bracket is well made, but, again, without major veins or tissue reinforcement between the pipes. The seat tube is shorter, due to the accentuated sloping frame, and hosts seatpost diameter of 31.6 millimeters. The rear has shaped tube for better absorption of vibration and drop-machined for maximum ease. All welds are performed to perfection, the painting, well done and all the decals are covered with transparent, do not miss the chain on the protective sheath beat down the rear triangle, transparent and nearly invisible, but effective. The assembly is cured in every particular. For the group has chosen an excellent and reliable Shimano XT, which is used for the controls, the disc brakes, the derailleur, the crank with traditional crowns 22/32/44, the pack 11/32 sprockets. For the rear derailleur you have used the more sophisticated Shimano XTR, with carbon fiber cage. Continue, and then with the beautiful seatpost Ritchey carbon monocoque (WCS Carbon model), the saddle is a Fi'zik Tundra, the stem is Ritchey aluminium coated carbon (WCS Carbon 4Axis model) and Ritchey is always the handlebar (Model WCS Carbon) monocoque carbon. The fork is a nice Rock Shox Sid Team, fully adjustable and equipped with a lock of movement control on the handlebar. The wheels are Mavic Crosstrail Disk, tyres tubeless, these are the Geax Saguaro, although we tested the Maxxis UST CrossMark that were with the bike. The handles are Pro Grip while aluminium bottle cage is signed 4US. The pedals are not incluted. The bike is only available in the colour of the model tested in 4 different sizes. The bike so assembled, has a weight of 10.4 kg, as reported by our instrumentation.

Road test

The Torpado T20 Spectrum Team is a bike really well finished and cured in the smallest detail. Ritchey components stands out, nice to see, but also reliable and light weight. Excellent choice to give the bike tubeless tyres, since the original equipment, and also the excellent choice of Shimano XT group, leaving only a few gram to more refined XTR, which among other things, the change is adopted rear. It’s a bike of quality, even in the perfect realization of the frame, as also shown by the total weight of the bike, contained in a value is often not reached by models with carbon frame. Also good for the adoption of a range of quality and with the always useful lever lock. In saddle immediately assumes a position of good control, with the correct conformation of the fold and knobs which provide an optimal and comfortable. Well the handlebar carbon that integrates seamlessly with the stem and the beautiful seatpost given the opportunity to fine adjust the tilt of the saddle. This does not hamper movement and allows a good area for the support of the buttock. Having a smooth surface enables easy and fast movements. Not having an effective area of decompression of the perineum, may create some soreness for the most sensitive, which suggest that the lower tip of the saddle a few millimeters, to find greater comfort. The others will appreciate, however, the good basis of support and the ease with speed change in attitude in the saddle. The commands Shimano, and the whole group, not a novelty, but a certainty for the operation. With a trip out and a reduced pressure on the commands you show up to every situation by securing a faultless operation of the gearbox and the derailleur. The passages of the gear are always secure and fast, quiet and accurate. An excellent group reiterated that even with the mud more "sticky" an excellent feature. Excellent fluidity of the crank and its good rigidity. The brakes have are no doubt and successful compromise between power and modular. In fact, have a modular excellent in all conditions and lead to locking of the wheel when it is required. They also have a great power, all that is necessary; respect other products, maybe you should put greater pressure on the lever, but remains largely acceptable the effort required (always just a finger to take strong), compared with a modular significantly higher than other brake systems. The fork performs well, it's hard to absorb and manage with ease even the strongest blows, but above all it is very sensitive to adjustments, allowing a perfect calibration based on weight and distance involved. The fact that it has a full opportunity to control, allows you to find the exact set-up, with the possibility to "play" with various possible calibration ranging, as we shall see, the character of the bike. Switch of the block is easily operable and effective. The wheels confirmed as seen in our previous test (in test: Mavic wheels Crosstrail) are rigid and sliding, reliable and light; marry perfectly with tubeless Maxxis tyres which proved a good compromise between rolling resistance on land and compact grip those raised and they are on the crisis in mud or sandy soil or very slight. As a compromise tyres behaviour is no longer any doubt that good and able to meet a user very wide, leaving the more technical choosing the ideal tyres according to the location and weather conditions. With the proper analysis of individual components, we see the dynamic behaviour of the bike. Be the first bike you feel the weight of the medium and high rigidity of the chassis with a rear very responsive. On smooth paths, once the fork stuck, thanks to the smoothness of the wheels and tyres, the rigidity of the unit frame, it can be very fast, with an excellent and superior to many competitors of equal price range. And this is the character of the bike, half rigid and reactive responding with great speed to the orders, either through the pedals, steering and body. The shares of the frame prevent the sound responsive to the detriment of precision driving, which is always good on fast. Than many carbon frames there is less comfort, but not excessively so, thanks to seatpost and bend carbon monocoque which absorb much of the good vibrations. In return you have a greater responsiveness and speed, the more noticeable the more the path will be tortuous and guided. In fact, emerge fully close on the validity of this frame, the guide states, but with insertions in fast bends, a perfect balance in the jump and a great ability to respond immediately to commands given from the athlete. The excellent range, a well-calibrated time, absorbing every obstacle with ease, contributing to the excellent dynamic behaviour of the medium. To enhance the skills of the frame must be adopted calibration substantially rigid, but that helps make even the fastest bike in the guided tours on fast and accurate. In these cases, the price are the biggest hits coming in the arms and the greater commitment of leadership required, also because of the speed with which you can tackle the various routes, forcing a greater focus on frequent journeys in the saddle to balance the chassis and support his movement. A challenging driving, but who pays with excellent performance, far superior to many competitors, even more on credit cards. With this calibration it is possible to be too fast uphill, both on the rigid frame, which for the weight of the bike. The steepest climb is, it must move with the body to enhance the directionality, perfectly sure of the rear wheel traction. The more relaxed, as a beginner or even with little technical adjustment may take a softer, thus greatly improves comfort, but above all changes the character of the bike, which becomes more controllable and gentle curve in the placement, the more stable and states in the hills. The excellent frame, however, continues to allow provision of relief. Thanks to the components and the validity of the project, the bike is always at ease in any type of journey is fast and winding, with a hard or rough, dry or wet. A bike that with tires appropriate to the situation, has no limits and hesitation.

Conclusions

Torpado has created a bike that goes against the current fashion of carbon at all costs and always, demonstrating how to build a bike to the absolute level starting from a proven technology and reliable. The T20 Team Spectrum is proof of how you can make a bike "race ready" while remaining in a budget price "human", but mainly by performance and dynamic behaviour ever winning against other competitors. The strengths of this bike are the high quality components with which it is assembled, weight, dimensions of the frame sound and high rigidity of the frame. This translates into excellent performance, the more one is able to push the limit this means that in the most extreme sports, the best behaviour we can wish for. It requires commitment, determination and technique, it is true, but rewards with performance often unapproachable to competitors "frendly": a perfect bike for an agonist that points to the victory. Perfect on any route. For other bikers it has a very good quality, easy to drive at least good rhythms, with a great comfort (with a properly calibrated fork) and able to meet every desire of its owner, be it a quiet exit with friends or the desire to try to find their limit. One, finally, the only defect: the saddle. The saddle is good, but not necessarily meet the favour of all, the lack of an adequate zone of decompression perineum. All in all we went to look for the "hair in the egg" in a really good bike.

Price

Bike on test, the model T20 Team Spectrum, Euros 2.790.00. A good price rather than by virtue of the components adopted and excellent performance of the medium. Who does not have agonistic ambitions can choose the other two models at prices more competitive. Indeed, the T20 model costs about 2.140.00 Euros, while the T25 model with the group and SLX fork Tora Race is proposed to Euros 1.600.00. This model we can recommend for amateurs seeking half reliable, with good performance, but not very demanding in the price.

Is suitable for

Athlete: an ideal bike for competition, with an eye for the price.
GF cyclist-tourist: excellent price, quality components, excellent bike for those looking for half reliable, durable and with excellent performance.

Positive aspects

Rigidity and responsiveness of the frame
Driving skills
Handling
Stability on fast
Weight
Assembly Quality
Value for money

Negative aspects

None

For further informations:

Torpado
Viale Enzo Ferrari, 8/10/12
30014 Cavarzere - VE
Tel. +39 0426 317511
Fax +39 0426 317569
Sito internet: www.torpado.com
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.