BicyclesOn test: Bianchi Methanol SL Team Edition
Stiff, light, responsive and precise: absolute one of the best XC bike
After the first impressions that we have written during the official presentation of the new Bianchi Methanol SL Team Edition, we had the opportunity yet to test the bike on our test tracks for a full and thorough test, which revealed all the characteristics of new Bianchi bikes. Recall that the Methanol SL Team Edition is the perfect replica of the bike that came with the Team Bianchi TX Active. The frame Methanol SL was introduced last year and is the result of a long series of studies on the application of composite fibers. Made of carbon fiber monocoque, with a surface finish in one direction, is composed of a mix of three different types of carbon fiber Toray T700 and 40T-30T. The 40T is a very high modulus carbon disk, the 30T is an intermediate modulus carbon fiber, but with a high tensile strength and good elastic capacity (both these values are higher than 40T), the T700 is always a intermediate modulus carbon, but offers more capacity than the elastic 40T and 30T. This mix of carbon fiber is prepared differently according to different areas of the frame, while the horizontal tube and are made using a process called "Triple Wall Tube", which involves placing the carbon fibers to form three walls thin after baking process are a pipe-piece seamless, but with a dual chamber, which improves the rigidity of the tube. This method of construction allows for a lower section of pipe while having a high stiffness and low weight, compared to a conventional tube, which in comparison seem larger and rigid, but instead is the exact opposite, it is less rigid and more heavy. The rigidity of the frame is enhanced by a series of stiffening ribs around the bottom bracket and head tube, with a technique called "Embedded Reinforcement Construction", by which the ribs are integrated and printed with different composite skins around the nodal points the structure of the frame. The head tube is short and keeps the headset FSA in classical measure 1 inch and 1/8. Properly sized and rigid is the area of the headstock and even more so is the bottom bracket is with oversized BB30 standard. The rear is marked by large sections of the pipes and the particular design called "Shock Assorbing Stays," a form "S" of the vertical tubes, with a construction of the composite laminate with carbon fibers and glass that increases the absorption capacity of vibrations and impacts from the rear dropouts, without weakening the lateral and torsional stiffness of the frame. The dropouts are forged aluminum, have a greater stiffness than carbon. Present, and beat the chain, mostly in a plate alloy that protects the frame when the chain output from the crank. The vertical tube houses the integrated seatpost, but there is a kit to transform the traditional bike seat post. The frame has a declared weight of 1170 pounds. The model Team Edition is assembled with the SRAM XX 2x10v, with front and rear derailleur, chain, sprockets 11-36 and controls. The crank, however, is the FSA, the model 386 K-Force Light with BB30 bottom bracket, ceramic bearings and 39/27 crowns. The brakes and their controls with levers in carbon, are Magura, Marta SL model with discs 160 millimeters in diameter. The appendices are Token Ultra Lite. The Magura Durin fork is a MD100R RMLO, fully adjustable and equipped with a lockout on the handlebar. The wheels are Mavic Crossmax SLR Disc, complete with Cobra Hutchinson Tubeless 26x2.10 tires. The stem is always FSA OS-99 CSI model, aluminum coated with carbon, and the handlebar is always FSA K-Force Flat Carbon 3k. The Ritchey WCS seatpost is, the saddle is Selle San Marco Team Edition customized with the colors of Team Bianchi TX Active. The Elite bottle cage is, while the pedals (not shown in the picture but which are part of the standard) are Time ATAC XS Carbon. Three sizes available 43, 48 and 53. So assembled, the size 48, the bike has a weight of 8.9 kg without pedals, as observed with our instrumentation.
The road test The Bianchi SL Methanol is a very nice frame for details and design, both in this version Team Edition than in the other versions (Methanol SL 9900 and Methanol SL 9700). Perfect surface finish and carbon coating with a fine layer of transparent that protects decals well. Excellent protection against impacts of the frame and chain guards always perfect on the cables to avoid contact with the frame. Fixed guided passage of the various cables. Sophisticated knobs and extension of the handlebar. Excellent for the adoption of standard time carbon pedals. Characteristic rear and the stiffening ribs, in addition to the special shape of the tubes. High-quality assembly, with the group Sram XX, excellent FSA K-Force Light crankset, Magura Marta SL brakes, saddle San Marco Racing Team and Mavic wheels. The weight is competitive, though not a record that still can be reached starting from the frame kit with even greater care and choosing the individual components, of course regardless of the final price. At list price of the bikes assembled, however, is very difficult to do better. In the saddle you find a position with your body leaning slightly forward and holds the top handlebar FSA completed with knobs that have a very high comfort and grip. Excellent in the case of Token appendices. The controls are easy to reach, as always reduced the travel of the levers Sram XX, only slightly less fluid in the drive compared to Shimano. Perfect accuracy and speed in various gear changes. Always at the index also Magura Marta SL brake levers. In ride with hard and compact soil speed of the bike is excellent thanks to the great stiffness of the frame. Also good smoothness and rigidity of the crank. The ceramic bearings and BB30 bottom bracket, in addition to the aforementioned rigidity of the frame, allowing the K-Force crankset 386 to work the best. The smoothness of the wheels is perfect. So it is very difficult to find competitors who can keep up with this Methanol SL, also benefited from the weight. Uphill continues to demonstrate its competitiveness, with a rear-wheel drive always good and easy steering control. You never lose control of the front wheel, and also in steep gradients just move a bit the trunk forward to finding the right support of the front wheel, all without pulling the rear wheel suffers apparent. Even in these times the weight of the bike and the rigidity of the frame will help in allowing the use of a gear longer than you would normally. So you can escape from difficult to more quickly and with greater ease and safety. The tires offer a good compromise between smoothness and grip on hard surfaces are fine and slightly wavy, and enter into crisis through the mud or loose much money. The fact that we take tubeless tire, however, also allows use of very low inflation pressures by improving the grip in difficult situations. Excellent range, very stiff, which does not seem to suffer from the lack of separate series of steering. The fork, then, has the advantage of being sensitive to control, allowing for effective customization based on your driving style and road conditions. Perfect brakes, very powerful, but also adaptable. We use only the index finger and allows more secure control of braking. Their action is effective and safe even with the mud and rain. They are also resistant to fading, although the harsh climatic conditions have made it less demanding on our test. It's also true, however, that during the previous tests, carried out with very high temperatures and high altitude, had not acknowledged any problems. In the long runs and faster treatment shows a good stability of the bike, with a steering wheel, once again, very accurate and secure. The fork copy well the rough and the geometric dimensions of the frame, in addition to its stiffness, will assure a very easy control of the bike. The entry of the corners are always very precise and fast tracks, once again, you can make a difference, because of the high quality of rigidity and steering precision of the frame. The speed in the corners, as in the rapid changes of direction, not the absolute top, but some work more with the arms do not lose ground to competitors more manageable, but less accurate. The difference in speed cornering is still small and perfectly balanced by the precision and stability of the bike, while the high stiffness of the frame allows fast acceleration out of tight corners. In locations closer then it was facilitated by the excellent direction of the steering, which always allows you to find the best trajectory also facing difficult and sometimes very narrow at high speed you can always check the bike perfectly and its trajectory, to unlike other more manageable but less precise geometries, which require constant steering adjustments. Finally, good overall comfort, although it is a minor issue on a bike "race ready", but compliance with "S" of the wagon appears to provide maximum comfort, certainly higher than the stiffness and responsiveness of the frame would assume. In the conclusion Methanol SL proves one of the best XC bike in 2011. Its advantage is the stiffness of the frame and guessed the balance between agility and stability. It's a bike that allows anyone to go fast and allows for the more experienced to look over the limit and daring, always with great confidence and control: an advantage in the race recently. On certain routes, medium fast or faster than, but not tight, is without doubt the best bike that an athlete could want, at least given the current competitors. On paths very slow, it remains competitive, but does not offer the great advantage that the other tracks, however, remains a competitive bike. Overall, on a journey of mixed race is the best compromise possible today. The rigidity of the frame is a perfect reference point. A perfect bike, and then, for the agonist, but also for amateurs who want one of the best XC bikes currently on the market.
Price The bike on test has a cost of about Euro 5990 and the frame kit is priced at about 1590 Euro. In both cases they are correct. The frame kit is priced very competitively for less (often much) all direct competitors, and costs as many frame kits well away from the performance of this Methanol SL. More aligned to high-end bike the price of the bike, which is competitive for the quality of assembly and superior performance compared to competitors. A plus the name Bianchi, and good assessment of the market.
Positive aspects Build Quality Rigid frame Stability and steering precision Rear wheel traction Braking Overall Performance
Negative aspects None
The report card Quality 9.5 (it's all on top, maybe you could avoid the mix of components) Stiffness 10 (a benchmark for its category) Comfort 9 (better than other competitors less stringent) Stability 10 (a safety, always) Manageability 9 (just slower than other competitors) Braking 10 (powerful and adaptable, a perfect system) Weight 9.5 (is at the top, but some is still better) Price 9 (a great price in relation to performance and quality)
Read more: Bianchi Website: http://www.bianchi.com
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