The brand new Verticale SLR is Wilier’s lightest highway bike ever. The subsequent new highway bike to be developed along with the Groupama – FDJ crew, this new Wilier Verticale SLR is an simple light-weight, constructed for when the roads head up into the mountains. However it’s not simply an ultralight climber’s bike, the all-new Verticale is a lightweight and stiff allrounder with fashionable vast highway tire clearances and slick integration.
Plus, it by no means hurts that our XS take a look at bike weighs in at simply 6.7kg, with none part compromises…
Wilier Verticale SLR light-weight carbon climber’s highway bike
Out of the field beneath the minimal UCI weight restrict earlier than we threaded on a set of pedals, the brand new Wilier Verticale SLR instantly feels light-weight. They are saying it’s the lightest bike the Italian bike maker has ever constructed – based mostly on a package of body, fork, hand;lebars & seatpost. However that assertion would appear to incorporate some gentle rim brake bikes of the previous – just like the 680g one hundred and tenth anniversary Zero.6.
In any case, this bike is gentle and feels gentle. Wilier pegs that body package at 1623g.
It claims to be 9.7% lighter than the disc brake 0 SLR – down from its 1798g body package. And that sensation is barely amplified when the highway begins to level uphill.
However Wilier made clear that they weren’t reducing efficiency corners to save lots of weight. This was constructed to be a Professional Tour race bike, and must again up its gentle weight with race-ready stiffness.
Groupama – FDJ R&D
Wilier and FDJ labored forwards and backwards from the R&D lab to the wind tunnel, to out on the highway to refine a light-weight bike with “most management”. Wilier aimed to construct a motorcycle to climb rapidly up the mountain, then descend the opposite facet in full management.
“You may really feel that the Verticale was designed to reply particularly when the gradients are difficult and also you’re dancing on the pedals. It provides you again precisely what you give it and you are feeling in full management throughout extremely technical high-speed descents: this is essential as a result of an expert bike owner wants to completely belief his bike. It actually is a superb bike for mountain levels. It is going to be my trusted companion all through the Tour de France and I can’t wait to check it through the mountain levels.”
– David Gaudu, Groupama – FDJ professional bike owner
New carbon manufacturing tech
The brand new Wilier Verticale SLR is fastidiously crafted with a mix of extraordinarily excessive tensile power T800 & T1100 carbon, combined in with hi-mod M46JB fibers. The goal was light-weight with superior torsional stiffness. The true secret to creating that work although, appears to be a brand new “Lively Moulding” course of that makes use of a brand new kind of “foamed polymer” internal molds that “adapt to the supplies through the curing course of” presumably increasing from the within to eradicate any air bubbles, extra resin, or wrinkles within the carbon layup.
What else is new?
In comparison with the earlier 0 SLR, the brand new Verticale SLR is slimmed down and tweaked throughout the board, shedding a number of grams with each little change. However the body and fork form adjustments are principally fairly delicate, with many of the upgrades occurring contained in the carbon layup.
Some of the distinguished adjustments within the new bike although, is the revised seat cluster. The Verticale now will get a smoother net between the seat and prime tubes, angled down consistent with the seatstays. The brand new revised built-in wedge-style seatpost clamp, now matches angled into that connecting net to clamp the proprietary 27.2mm deep however simply 22mm vast aero seatpost.
The Verticale SLR additionally options revised racing geometry in comparison with the 0 SLR. The adjustments are comparatively minor, however Wilier expanded the body Attain vary – shorter on the smaller, longer on the most important sizes – to supply a wider match vary, whereas retaining low Stack numbers. Mix that with new sizes for the all-new cockpit to ship race-ready matches to extra riders.
That new 1-piece monocoque carbon V Bar cockpit is alleged to weigh simply 310g. It has a clean flattened prime with excessive mounts for the lever hoods. Then, slightly below the hoods, the bars rapidly widen for extra stability.
It has the identical impact as a bar with about 10° of flare, but the drops stay parallel with the total transition occurring slightly below your brake levers. The top result’s the bar is 3cm wider on the drops than it’s on the hoods. Slim & aero up prime, then wider for sprinting stability and wrist clearance down beneath.
Tech particulars
- Uneven full carbon fork with 1.25″ tapered steerer, flat mount disc brake & 12mm thru-axle
- Beneficiant clearance round max 32mm tires (there’s room for 35s in our take a look at bike, with room to spare)
- New detachable braze-on entrance derailleur hanger, for excellent compact or professional 2x chainring ratios
- New full carbon dropout for 12mm thru-axle & flat mount 140mm, with modular insert and replaceable derailleur hanger
- Proprietary aero carbon seatpost with both 0mm or 15mm offset heads, plus built-in quantity plate or taillight mounting
- BB86 PressFit backside bracket
- V Bar full carbon built-in one-piece handlebar cockpit with replaceable alloy steerer clamp {hardware}
- 6 cockpit sizes out there: 37/40mm & 39/42mm widths, with 110, 120, 130 & 150mm stems
- V Bar-specific alloy out-front GPS mount, included
First Climbs
With fashionable vast tire clearance, highly effective disc brakes, and race-proven geometry, this light-weight bike continues to be a stable all-rounder. And we’ve been pedaling to a lot of PRs & the occasional QOM – from cobblestone sectors to native climbs.
On the flats and thru rolling terrain is just feels quick. The dealing with is fast and the bike is de facto gentle although, so high-speed descending within the wind requires cautious consideration.
Steeper climbing felt fast, however even with the UCI-illegal weights novice riders in search of a climber’s bike may need compact as an alternative of the mid-compact gearing that got here on this bike. Our XS take a look at bike slackens the top angle out fairly a bit to eradicate toe overlap, which is okay for many using. However standing & pedaling out of the saddle on the steepest climbs, and the entrance finish flops a bit. Possibly a shorter cockpit may assist preserve weight secure additional again when climbing? We’d additionally recommend smaller riders on the sting to measurement up in the event that they plan to spend so much of time within the mountains.
Using Impressions
A pleasing shock was how planted and clean the bike felt over the cobbles and damaged asphalt. Loads of that actually goes to the sunshine and supple 30mm Vittoria Corsa Professional TLR tires (31mm measured). However fast-rolling, comfy, and grippy tires are one of many biggest issues about top-tier fashionable highway bikes. And there’s loads of room for wider tires for heavier riders or extra time on rougher roads.
One other good shock was the Prologo Onetouch 3D tape with its little CPC linked energy management tubes. They ship nice grip even when sweaty and nice airflow. We simply want that Wilier would have wrapped all of it the way in which across the bend a number of cm additional. Certain, extra bar tape is much less aero, however let’s prioritize consolation, please.
We additionally have been a bit shocked at how vivid the inexperienced body was when it first got here out of the field. However it rapidly grew on us. Now we like it. It actually pops in any climate, from rain rides to sunshine. The inexperienced cockpit is a bit excessive, however a little bit extra bar tape would kind that out too.
Wilier Verticale SLR – Pricing, availability & choices
The brand new ultralight 2024 Wilier Verticale SLR is accessible as a body package beginning at $6900 / 5800€. That features the total carbon body, fork, built-in cockpit, headset, and seatpost. Decide from 4 finishes – gloss pink, semi-matte black, Hulk inexperienced, or the pink, white & blue Groupama FDJ crew duplicate.
Then, there are 7 commonplace full bike builds, ranging from $12,100 / 9900€ with both SRAM Drive AXS or Ultegra Di2. Out full Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9270 construct with Miche Kleos RD36 carbon wheels however no powermeter, sells for $14,500 / 12,200€. Full bikes prime at $15,700 / 13,400€ with a Campagnolo Tremendous Document Wi-fi construct.
Order yours out of your native Wilier supplier beginning at present.
