Viner MAgnifica / Gladius

orangepip

Hi All,

Any experience of the two bikes above? I'm quite interested in getting something non mainstream and the recent stuff i've been reading about the front end wobble on the Planet X SL has kind of put me off a bit - even though it does sound a bit like it happens to some and not to others. I'm a heavier rider (about 90kgs)

Any advice would be great

Chip \'oyler

If your budget can stretch I'd go for the Magnifica. In order to produce a bike at the magical £1k price point, the Gladius is made in Taiwan. All other Viners are truly made in Italy.

The Magnifica is aimed more as a sportive bike - there are a few guys on here with them, so no doubt they'll come along and give you a good review.

I have a carbon Viner - it's superb. It's stiff, but still comfortable, soaks up the road really well, and is so well balanced it's increased my descending abilities.

You won't go wrong with a Viner. If you look on www.viner.it there is a pdf of the 2010 catalogue you can download

stuaff

Got my (previous frame version) Magnifica second-hand in August. Absolutely love it, it's exactly what I wanted- quick, stable, comfortable yet firm. Not the bike for you if you want something a bit twitchy or super-stiff, I certainly didn't. I've done quite a few 60-70 runs on it, umpteen 30-40 milers, and it's been an absolute joy to ride. Even did 100+ miles in Wales on it with a flat-spotted rear wheel following a prang, and it was still perfectly rideable.
As Chip says, can't go wrong with a Viner

paul64

Huge fan of Magnifica here too plus Viner as company respond rather than ignore which was my experience with Look and Bianchi to name but two. The Magnifica was almost as comfortable as the 566 and the 928 C2C but it was the handling that had me hooked, that it worked with me especially out of the saddle better than the others and just felt, well, balanced. I assumed that was because the geometry suited me but perhaps it's simply a damned good bike. You probably know Epic have the outgoing 2009 on a special and AFAIK it's the same as 2010 minus the silver paint colour.

This handling and balance together with the levers and brakes of the SRAM Rival I took a punt on have made for really enjoyable riding and descending. My only observation in windy weather is that perhaps light weight and shape of tubes means I feel the sidewinds more than my old rounded tube steel bike does. In all other respects it's a chore to ride the latter in comparison.

sandbag

Can you just buy the frames?

Chip \'oyler

sandbag wrote:

Can you just buy the frames?

Yes you can

sandbag

Viner Passo :P

http://road.cc/content/review/4621-viner-passo

Ok so it's not the lightest bike at 20lb, little difference.

jules_r

Magnifica gets my vote, had mine 10 months and love it, i commute, road race, sportive, tt & even triathlon on it. I find it very comfy (tanks to ace set up by Epic) but also quick enough to ride competitively.

paul64

I rode my Magnifica with my new winter wheels for the first time yesterday. Easton EA50SL with 23mm Rubino Pros tucked away and Bontrager Race (cheapest version) and 25mm Conti 4 Seasons installed.

The bike is comfy anyway but have to accept my LBS was right, these 25mm wheels are more comfortable, in fact I was not expecting this level of improvement so it may well influence whether 23mm go back on or not, period.

I usually run my tyres at about 100 to 105 psi and I weigh circa 100kg. Perhaps us tanks sipmly need to use the bigger tyres to enjoy the comfort the light guys get from 23mm?

JamesB

Cannot directly comment on the Magnifica but am very pleased with the Viner Mitus (frameset) I` got; superbly comfortable, responsive, stiff where needed and great sportive bike---so if the other Viners are the same quality etc---, buy one!

rolf_f

Chip \'oyler wrote:

If your budget can stretch I'd go for the Magnifica. In order to produce a bike at the magical £1k price point, the Gladius is made in Taiwan. All other Viners are truly made in Italy.

Actually, that isn't so - there are quite a few Viners that aren't made in Italy (eg Daedalus and the Carbon X Plus). The cheapest Italian made Carbon Viner is the Magnifica.

Also worth noting that the Perfecta/Volata and above can be built to bespoke geommetry at no extra charge; helpful if you are wierd of shape.

I'm hopefully (eventually.......) going to be getting the new Volata which is actually last years Perfecta re-named (the new one being nearer the Mitus in price and design and stiffness).

Chip \'oyler

Rolf F wrote:

Chip \'oyler wrote:

If your budget can stretch I'd go for the Magnifica. In order to produce a bike at the magical £1k price point, the Gladius is made in Taiwan. All other Viners are truly made in Italy.

Actually, that isn't so - there are quite a few Viners that aren't made in Italy (eg Daedalus and the Carbon X Plus). The cheapest Italian made Carbon Viner is the Magnifica.

Also worth noting that the Perfecta/Volata and above can be built to bespoke geommetry at no extra charge; helpful if you are wierd of shape.

I'm hopefully (eventually.......) going to be getting the new Volata which is actually last years Perfecta re-named (the new one being nearer the Mitus in price and design and stiffness).

I stand corrected. A rule of thumb is usually that if a carbon frame has lugs then it hasn't been in a Taiwanese mould

Westerberg

Chip \'oyler wrote:

The Magnifica is aimed more as a sportive bike

is there any reason why the Magnifica would not be suited to road racing / criteriums? I'm looking at one (an XL) mainly for sportives but wanted to try my hand at racing this year.

http://www.epic-cycles.co.uk/images/viner-mag09-geo.jpg