Bicycles

On test: FRW Eldorado 2011

Details

Parent Category: Bicycles

Category: FRW

Published on Monday, 19 July 2010 08:22

Written by Luca Salvatelli

Improved in all it's a bike completely new and tremendously effective

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The new Eldorado 2011, maintains in common with the previous model only the name because it is completely revised statt. The new frame keeps the carbon monocoque construction, but now it is like to Ultra High Modulus and his weight fell to 1050 grams, 1150 grams compared to the previous version. The frame has a number of steering with a classic head tube very short, but reinforced with ribs that come from the oblique and horizontal tubes.

The tubes have different edges of the frame and ribs along the entire length to improve rigidity without increasing weight. The sloping is very pronounced. The down tube has generated section and connects to the bottom bracket, well-made, which houses the bottom bracket with standard BSA Classic. The tube, runs very tilted and bent near the junction with the pipe, which houses the seat by 31.6 millimeters. The connection between vertical and horizontal pipe is made with a large box structure, which also connects to the pipes of the high rear, improving rigidity. The new rear stay keeps pipes from large sections, but now have a different profile, which improves the rigidity. The dropouts are now carried out simultaneously and together attack the wagon rear brake Postmount type hours. Three colors available: red, yellow and green. The bike is available in sizes S, M, L, XL. The assembled bike is available with the new Shimano Dyna-SYS3x10, XT and XTR 2x10 and 3x10. Our test bike is assembled with Shimano XT Dyna-SYS 3x10 (command, 24/32/42 crankset, chain, sprocket set 11/34, front and rear derailleur), including disc brake and pedals, which are series. Stem, handlebar and seatpost are all Ritchey WCS series, aluminum. The saddle is a Selle Italia SLR XC Flow. The fork is a Manitou R7 MRD Seven, fully adjustable. The wheels are Mavic Crossmax SLR Disc, which are supplemented by tires Geax Saguaro White; bottle cage is standard, as the bottle. So assembled, the bike weighs 10 kg net, as detected with our instrumentation, including pedals XT (347 grams the weight).

The road test

It's easy to recognize the 2011 Eldorado, the new graphics and especially the new case differ greatly from the previous model, but also from other bikes, with a strong personality and distinctive. Excellent painting, really brilliant and quality far beyond what we had used FRW (now more brilliant and shiny surface). Excellent, as tradition FRW, assembly, with high quality components, but especially homogeneous among themselves, as the new group XT Dyna-SYS, used at full strength. Also welcomes the adoption of series of pedals, water bottle holder and water bottle.

The weight is low and competitive in absolute terms (only 200 grams more than the previous model assembled with the XTR group). Now in the saddle we realize that the bike has changed dramatically, not in the riding position, excellent, but the dynamic behavior and the rigidity of the frame. Now the rear stays are much more rigid and transmits the power from the wheel to the ground. Also the bottom bracket shell is more rigid and able to accommodate better the performance of athletes more powerful. This new rigidity also allows a better fluidity of the crank, which associated with better fluidity of the XT Dyna-SYS, becomes best overall performance with less power loss due to friction and micro-bending of the frame. With the bottom compact, so the performance of the new 2011 Eldorado are much better than the previous model. In absolute good and the level of the best competitors in the industry. Uphill it confirms the good rear traction, that only in extreme cases lose grip, but there is also clearly the new frame geometry. Now the left front wheel lighter, there is always more attached to the ground and steep climbs you must move your weight forward to keep the right direction. Not so excessive as to be done with other products but not as in the previous model where the practice was unnecessary.

Is lost then the heavy steering of the previous model to search for better handling, this has partly affected the absolute direction that emerged in height or speed. Now the steering is lighter and should be given greater attention, but the bike is never dangerous or unmanageable, it is more driven, that is. In downhill steering should be taken by decision, while not needed because the first remained very stable, but this bike is perfectly manageable and secure. But where before it was slow, in the narrow paths, now at last you are fast, with placement in corners and change direction at the level of the best competitors, faster and more accurate, because the steering is light but not lightweight. Thus if demand more attention than driving (and capacity) is uphill and downhill, the overall performance are significantly enhanced with a chassis that is competitive not only on fast tracks, but in any situation, with an overall balance rather than better. It also lost a little comfort, but the new stiffness of the rear of the chassis and in general have definitely raised the level of performance that you can not reach. The weight is reduced and this helps more than ever upwards and in all those situations where a light bike can make a difference. Excellent as always fork sensitive to adjustments and rigid enough. The new head tube, also it seemed much more hard work and this makes the fork even better, as well as to provide greater agility and steering precision. Equally good wheel and Geax tires, even though they might have expected a better grip when cornering. The new Shimano XT Dyna-SYS is smooth, hard and fast and precise steps ratio, excellent choice reports made with 24/34 that allows you to overcome all the slopes. There are also great brakes, powerful, durable and adaptable. Compared to other products require a little more effort to handle, but largely offset by a far greater scalability of the plant. Saddle is comfortable, but it is a saddle adapted to agonist, because rigid and narrow.

In conclusion, the new Eldorado in 2011, more than all the previous model. Lost a little comfort and steering stability, but the frame is much stiffer and the new design meets the athletes who use the bike race. Now there is the manageability, we had found on the previous model, and the rigidities that make this model one of the best XC racing bike that an athlete could want.

Price

The test model is priced at 4099 Euro, while XTR 10x3 and 10x2 models are priced at 5540 Euro and the frame kit is priced at 1499 Euro. Prices are competitive, because the bike is assembled with high quality components and chassis performance is more than excellent.

Positive aspects

Rigid frame
Handling and stability
Build quality
Low weight
Overall performance
Braking

Negative aspects

None

To learn more:

FRW
Website: www.frwbike.it