Acciaio Owner Reviews

bmxboy10

Hi guys just wondered if any Acciaio owners would be willing to give a decent in depth review of their purchase and riding experience? There are a few interesting threads on here but would like to know of anyone who has gone from CF to the Acciaio and if there have been any regrets. I am keen on the bike but not the standard paint scheme panel effects. May be looking at custom paint so wondered how you confirm paint schemes with Condor as this seemed a bit wooly when I was in the shop recently. Also what's the deal with upgrading the forks? Seems this is a thing condor recommend but suddenly makes the frame and fork closer to a grand. Cheers in advance

menthel

solboy10 wrote:

Hi guys just wondered if any Acciaio owners would be willing to give a decent in depth review of their purchase and riding experience? There are a few interesting threads on here but would like to know of anyone who has gone from CF to the Acciaio and if there have been any regrets. I am keen on the bike but not the standard paint scheme panel effects. May be looking at custom paint so wondered how you confirm paint schemes with Condor as this seemed a bit wooly when I was in the shop recently. Also what's the deal with upgrading the forks? Seems this is a thing condor recommend but suddenly makes the frame and fork closer to a grand. Cheers in advance

For the custom painting they will do all sorts, from £100-300. They have an in house designer and as long as you don't demand the Mona Lisa or one of the more extreme colnago jobs they can be very flexible. I got this chatting whilst being refitted for my Italia. I may also be considering a baracchi or super acciaio...

bendertherobot

It's awesome.

I wouldn't go back.

The fork is absolutely fine.

I might change it to a Super but only because it's a slightly nicer looking paint job.

Money no object? I'd get a stainless.

bmxboy10

bendertherobot wrote:

It's awesome.

I wouldn't go back.

The fork is absolutely fine.

I might change it to a Super but only because it's a slightly nicer looking paint job.

Money no object? I'd get a stainless.

How long you had yours?

bendertherobot

Just under a year

styxd

I've got one, love the handling, the fit is just about bang on aswell. However, for the price, I'd expect it to be a little more refined

bmxboy10

styxd wrote:

I've got one, love the handling, the fit is just about bang on aswell. However, for the price, I'd expect it to be a little more refined

Can you expand on this?

styxd

solboy10 wrote:

styxd wrote:

I've got one, love the handling, the fit is just about bang on aswell. However, for the price, I'd expect it to be a little more refined

Can you expand on this?

Yeh, but bear in mind I only got it at the end of March and have only done about 3000 - 3500 miles on it in that time, so it's not a long term "review"

The head angle steepens and the seat tube slackens out on the larger sizes (mine's a 61cm) so I can get the saddle back to a reasonable position. It handles well and goes downhills like a charm. Steep head angle coupled with a 140mm stem lets you get alot of weight over the front end. It carves round corners really well. Alot of frames these days seem to keep a constant head/seat angle throughout the sizes.

Only fault with the geometry is the head tube is a touch too long for me. I could have got a custom one, but I couldnt be bothered waiting.

It's pretty heavy though, I'd expect a lighter tubing for the price eg the seat tube is a bit of a beast and doesnt look like it's butted. I reckon a few tweaks with the tubeset and it'd be lighter and ride a bit more like you'd expect a steel bike to. It's not super smooth, and it flexes a bit when out of the saddle. That's minor stuff though, I'd probably get one again. Another option is the Ritchey road logic, but the geometry is a bit funny and the tubeset looks a bit noodly aswell.

Here's a pic

bendertherobot

Mine doesn't flex!! I'd say it's stiffer than my Canyon CF was. Though perhaps they are less flexy in smaller sizes.

I certainly can't argue against the fact that they are heavy. But mine is still considerably lighter than a lot of the bikes on any average sportive.

One thing to note is that, as you go up the range (Super, stainless) you don't lose any real weight.

ugo.santalucia

bendertherobot wrote:

One thing to note is that, as you go up the range (Super, stainless) you don't lose any real weight.

Yeah, not sure why people think different grades of steel have different weight. They all weigh the same... you can have thiner tubes, but the difference is often 1/10 of a millimeter, which makes 100 grams for the all frames or so

woolwich

Styxd,

I would view the solidish seat tube as a sign of quality instead of a negative. The bottom end needs to be thick until at least above the mech brazeon or you can risk deflection when honking.
With the modern fashion for lots of exposed seat pin, the toptube/stay cluster comes under a lot leverage and stress as well. Failures have occurred at the stress relief hole for the seat tube clamp slot on lesser specced bikes.
It is possible the tube is butted but externally ( which is why you cant see it staring down the hole). This can be subtle and hard to spot by eye but beafs up the areas that needs it.
Also I think I spotted your bike in the my rides section. I thought it was refreshing to see a well proportioned large bike. I much prefer the long head tube to a stack of spacers or stem that looks like a hard-on. Your bike is lovely as it is.

styxd

woolwich wrote:

Styxd,

I would view the solidish seat tube as a sign of quality instead of a negative. The bottom end needs to be thick until at least above the mech brazeon or you can risk deflection when honking.
With the modern fashion for lots of exposed seat pin, the toptube/stay cluster comes under a lot leverage and stress as well. Failures have occurred at the stress relief hole for the seat tube clamp slot on lesser specced bikes.
It is possible the tube is butted but externally ( which is why you cant see it staring down the hole). This can be subtle and hard to spot by eye but beafs up the areas that needs it.
Also I think I spotted your bike in the my rides section. I thought it was refreshing to see a well proportioned large bike. I much prefer the long head tube to a stack of spacers or stem that looks like a hard-on. Your bike is lovely as it is.

yeh, cheers I agree.