Wilier Lavaredo versus Felt Z85

dabber

I'm considering buying a second bike so that I can take my current bike (Giant Defy 3 2010) over to France and leave it there for a fair portion of the year (something like March to November).
I'd use the new bike back in the UK (probably around 60% of the time during that March to November period. I'd use the Giant here in the UK as my winter bike.

OK, to the point of my post....
I'd have a budget of no more than £1,000. Anything I get I'd like to be able to keep for some time.
Two bikes appeal to me but I haven't sat on/tried either of them.

Wilier Lavaredo
Felt Z85

I think the Wilier looks great and the brand appeals to me although I understand that although they are designed in Italy, they are made in Taiwan?? The groupset is a mixture of Mirage/Xenon/Veloce

The Felt looks to be a better spec'd bike with primarily 105 components. I think it looks pretty good as well.

My heart kind of leans towards the Wilier, my head inclines me towards the Felt.

I don't want to go the Boardman route. Good bikes as they undoubtedly are, they don't give me that feeling of yearning if you know what I mean.

Any thoughts. I'm guessing that neither of these bikes will be a quantum leap up from the Giant but just a bit nicer all round and quite an improvement in the arae of the shifter versus the Sora on the Giant.

Mad Roadie

I have both Wilier and Felt, but neither of these two models - if it was driven by a passion for something different then it would have to be the Wilier - but once you have one, it wont be your last


see:
https://www.bikebuster.com/details/120924.html

or four your budget, step up to

https://www.bikebuster.com/details/120789.html

https://www.bikebuster.com/details/120880.html

fallendown

Hi!

I was convinced I wanted a Lavaredo for months, and it felt great when I sat on it too. At 6ft, the large fitted very well. However, I opted for a Cube Agree Pro 2010 due to an attractive price.
Of the two bikes you mentioned, I would opt for a red Lavaredo. I'm still thinking there is a Wilier out there for me someday. As Mad Roadie has shown, you can get some good prices for a 2010 La Triestina. Bicycle in Richmond is a fab Wilier dealer that I visited, but there may be another closer to you.

dabber

Thanks for the replies... Yes, the heart still plays a big part in this. I'd recently seen the Bikebuster website but I notice they seem to spec their Wiliers with a 39-53 crankset. I would want a 34-50 compact. I haven't been in touch with them so I don't know if that would be an option (I know they do come with a compact from other sources).

leejdavies

I bought a Wilier purely based on the fact that I liked the logo!!

I would go for the Wilier but that's because I don't think you get much bike for you're money with Felt. Although at £1000 I would also suggest–although perhaps not recommend as much–a Planet X. You get one helluva bike for your money.

Really light but they have diddy frames so may be worth a test. I bought one for the lady (won over by the pink :roll: ) But having said that can't fault it. Just doesn't look as good. Which as I know is a big thing. But it comes with SRAM Rival.

dabber

I went over to a Wilier dealer today, not far from me. They had a Lavaredo on display and I had a good look... really liked it. They also had a La Triestina there which was also very nice but £150 more which I don't know if I could persuade my better half to let me part with (actually, I haven't closed the deal with her on the lower priced one yet ).

The bike shop in question seemed to have a very good sizing setup and seemed very helpful in terms of ensuring I ended up with a good fit. That somewhat sways me as to where I might buy... I guess I'll have to weigh up price savings versus local personal service.

2alexcoo

It's a nice looking bike, but that Wilier looks a bit overpriced to me. The kit is about Tiagra level so I'd say it was more like an £800 bike than a £1000 bike.

The usual Ribble / Planet-X / Boardman suspects will give you far better value for money, but if you'd prefer to buy from an LBS how about a CAAD 8 105 for the same price?

dabber

2alexcoo wrote:

It's a nice looking bike, but that Wilier looks a bit overpriced to me. The kit is about Tiagra level so I'd say it was more like an £800 bike than a £1000 bike.

The usual Ribble / Planet-X / Boardman suspects will give you far better value for money, but if you'd prefer to buy from an LBS how about a CAAD 8 105 for the same price?

You're right. If I understand it correctly .....

Xenon roughly equates to Sora
Mirage to Tiagra
Veloce to 105

So yes, understand your point about price.

The CAAD8 is another nice option. Like the Felt it's primarily 105 kitted with a BB30 bottom bracket.