Advice on: Bianchi Via Nirone 7

davehmercer

I have seen my LBS has a 2010 Via Nirone 7 (Sora Mix) in stock and it is just in my price range but cant seem to find many reviews on it. Does anyone have one of these or have any views on them before I go and part with my hard earned?

Many Thanks

Dave

Simontheintrepid

Yes I have one of these, it's my first road bike so nothing to compare to.

When it's all working, it really is great fun, smooth comfortable ride and pretty sporty, worth every penny. Always get remarks of 'that's a lovely bike' when I go out with a different group. And it is a looker!

To be honest - all the bikes I was looking at including the Bianchi - Specialized Allez, Trek 1.5 (or was it 1.2, can't remember), Giant Defy etc - there was very little to choose from. All closely matched on price and spec.

It was just love at first sight with the Bianchi - those exposed carbon forks (sadly not on the 2011 version), those svelte curves. That was the dealbreaker. Everyone has a Specialised anyway, the Bianchi is just a bit different.

There have been problems, although not with the frame itself (mostly the Tiagra mech) and probably more to do with me being ignorant of maintenance. A few months of experience and it's much better behaved, I guess it's the same with any bike.

The saddle is also a bit carp. Throw it out and get a Spesh Body Geometry one - I have a Romin and it's ace. The wheels are also basic, but again it might well be the same with other bikes at this price point, I don't know.

Despite this, you will fall in love with it. The ride is extremely good and it seems pretty responsive to me. I've really enjoyed riding it and am looking forward to longer rides in the summer, it's certainly helped me get into cycling in a big way.

So, a thumbs up from me. It'd be interesting to hear from people that have owned other similar bikes though.

How much are they asking?

titch124

i have the 2010 2300 version, and its been a brilliant bike, had no problems whatsoever. and it looks the bomb. like simon said ^, at that price range, there is not that much of choice, for me the looks of the bianchi just stole the show compared to the others.

davehmercer

Thanks for the replys guys,

I am going down on my lunch break so ill let you know how it felt!

paulbox

I have the same bike, but a different model. It is a sweet ride but also my first road bike so only test rides to compare it to.

Balaclavas

I have this bike with the same build spec only from 2007-8. Frame looks exactly the same, though the saddle on mine was a Selle Italia ponza I think and it had Ambrosio wheels. Though the spec is basic, the ride is brilliant (helped in no small part by the excillent k-vid carbon forks)

Only change I made was to swap the compact for a standard double crankset, though thats a personal choice.

Mine has 'handbuilt in Italy' stickers on it, not sure if this is true of the newer frames, but the perfect welding and paintwork certainly make it look more expensive than many similarilly priced bikes.

All in all, a very good purchase.

Simontheintrepid

Balaclavas wrote:

I have this bike with the same build spec only from 2007-8. Frame looks exactly the same, though the saddle on mine was a Selle Italia ponza I think and it had Ambrosio wheels. Though the spec is basic, the ride is brilliant (helped in no small part by the excillent k-vid carbon forks)

Only change I made was to swap the compact for a standard double crankset, though thats a personal choice.

Mine has 'handbuilt in Italy' stickers on it, not sure if this is true of the newer frames, but the perfect welding and paintwork certainly make it look more expensive than many similarilly priced bikes.

All in all, a very good purchase.

Ha Ha that's cool, mine has a 'Made in Taiwan' sticker on it. I'm a little bit jealous but looking at how the price has gone up again this year (from around £800 to £900 for the Tiagra version - also 2011 is bright red - yuk!), it feels like I've done okay value-wise. One other thing - not sure about the paint job - it flaked off around the front fork quick release more or less straightaway and has been worn by the brake cables on the head tube. Not important but you notice it.

nochekmate

Via Nirones? Nice looking bikes for the money but well worth upgrading groupset & wheels in time.

davehmercer

Well, I went down at lunch time,

What can I say, well it really is a lovely bike! feels like it fits really well but I suppose until I get out on a good ride I wont really know.

Either way seemed like a bargain to me.

I'm picking it up on Friday so ill report back at the weekend after my first ride.

paulbox

Simontheintrepid wrote:

flaked off around the front fork quick release more or less straightaway

Yeah, mine did that as well. Did you do anything about yours?

Simontheintrepid wrote:

worn by the brake cables on the head tube.

I've never had a bike that doesn't do that...

Simontheintrepid

PaulBox wrote:

Simontheintrepid wrote:

flaked off around the front fork quick release more or less straightaway

Yeah, mine did that as well. Did you do anything about yours?

No I didn't get it looked at, did you? I don't live very near an Evans and with the hassle I was giving them over basic setting up of gears (newbie ignorance) I let it go. I think I did the rookie mistake of tightening it too much.

@davehmercer - let us know how you get on. How much did you pay for it in the end? I noticed a lack of reviews when I got mine so always interested to see what others think.

davehmercer

@Simon

I will do

I paid £540 for it, which I thought was a bargain?

Simontheintrepid

That seems a good price, congratulations on your new arrival!

sopworth

I've got one too. Bought it last year for £650 and had loads of use out of it. I am 6ft and bought a 59inch frame which I think may be a bit too big for me. I had to take the spacers off the stem.
I ditched the saddle pronto as it was giving me numb nuts.
Hope you enjoy your ride.

paulbox

Simontheintrepid wrote:

PaulBox wrote:

Simontheintrepid wrote:

flaked off around the front fork quick release more or less straightaway

Yeah, mine did that as well. Did you do anything about yours?

No I didn't get it looked at, did you?

Nah, I just left it too...

paulbox

davehmercer wrote:

@Simon

I will do

I paid £540 for it, which I thought was a bargain?

Nice one, hope you'll be very happy together!

nightoff

Great choice.

I love my Bianchi and use it most days for commuting and fun rides.
Over 2000 miles on it including winter use and it still cleans up like new.

Bet you change the saddle within the first 100 miles.

kenniff

Done more than 2000 on mine and the saddle is ok
For the price you pay it has got to be the deal of the century-class

Simontheintrepid

sopworth wrote:

I ditched the saddle pronto as it was giving me numb nuts..

+1. Definitely would've altered my family tree if I'd stuck with the Selle San Marco Ponza Power that came with it. I don't know why there's still a market for these designs.

c0ugars

that is a great price would be hard push to find one second hand for that sort of price, i have this exact same bike and it feels and rides great clims well and decent well a joy to ride

LostHorizon

I have the Via Nirone 2005 Liquigas edition. It is in team colours but was equiped with basic components, mostly OEM Componeti and Campag Xenon bits. The wheels were the first to go, literally, snapped a few spokes on a climb. But the frame is really good, alloy with carbon seat stays and amazingly contoured carbon forks. If i remember right the sticker on the frame said 'engineered in italy' but not so sure where it is actually made. Would def reccomend it. The frame is a good investment.

Hierotochan

Hi there,

I'm new to the forum (coming from BMX & very scared of gears )
I'm going to start commuting to work & I've been looking at this bike too (although I've decided to splash a bit more on it than originally anticipated & go up a few models!)

@ the OP: You've had it a while now, how are you finding it now? Anything you really like/dislike?

Originally I took the £920ish model in the hideous red out for a spin from Evans in The Cut, sized up what felt right & went from there. Want to get something that will last for a while without having to upgrade so tried out the £1230ish model.
Loved the shape of the bike & feel of the ride but really don't like the shifters on the higher end model.
Is this a common thing?
Felt really awkward having to change grip to shift gears, whereas the cheaper one (think it was Shimano 105) was really natural.

@LostHorizon: Did your bike end up on eBay? I seem to remember seeing it not long ago, then on Gumtree pretty soon after...

LostHorizon

No, i still have the bike in the garage, its collecting dust. I am thinking of selling it though as i am a mountain biker at heart, always have been. And just bought a rocky mountain element 50 mtb. So i cant see the Bianchi getting much road time now. Its a shame really, it should go to someone who will use it,

Hierotochan

Ahh my mistake.

The two I saw have disapeared from Gumtree which makes me think they were stolen.
I'm always worried about buying stuff on there, really don't want to buy someones (nicked) pride & joy.

There were two on eBay that went for £450 & £379, not sure they were the same year though. What size is yours?

BelgianBeerGeek

Just joined forum - largely because of this topic! I've had a Via Nirone for nearly three years, very impressed. Mine is Sora equipped and in silver. If looked after, Sora delivers nigh on faultless performance. I got mine in LBS end of season deal. I'm 6 foot and a 57 frame is about right as I like to stretch out on the hoods. I have fitted Crud Catcher guards and have used it for commuting throughout the last awful winter - lots of fun on the ice! I'm sure that Hampshire has the worst roads in the world and the bike coped really well. OK its an aluminium frame and I like to have the pressures high so if it rattles my teeth its my fault. With slightly lower pressures it rides really well and is great for longer rides. I also changed the saddle really quickly - if it still comes with the San Marco Ponza I would change it as it was just way too harsh. Great looking bike and tough as old boots!

pashda

I got the 2009 model in celeste blue with the Campag gears on and paid £650 although that almost halved as I got it through Ride 2 work scheme (touch). Brilliant bike to ride apart from the original saddle that was like a torture device and was swapped after a month of pain. Only issue I have had was a couple of spokes breaking but that can happen on any bike and was quickly sorted by the local bike shop. The prices seem to have gone up a lot for basically the same bike so not such good value now.