Specialisima v C60 v other

gsk82

The bianchi Specialisima has been niggling at me since I first saw it and I've finally decided I should scratch the itch and am trying to sort out a test ride. I don't want to spend that much on a frame without trying out a few competitors though, so I'll also be trying the Colnago C60.

I intend to buy a frame and use my current mavic ksyrium pro sl wheels and build up the rest to be pretty light but not obsessively so.

Are there any other bikes I should consider? I like the classic looking light frames and have around £3,500 to spend. I've been on a canyon ultimate c.f. slx for 5 years. It's been a great bike but i just fancy something a bit more prestige this time.

Cheers
Gary

arlowood

gsk82 wrote:

The bianchi Specialisima has been niggling at me since I first saw it and I've finally decided I should scratch the itch and am trying to sort out a test ride. I don't want to spend that much on a frame without trying out a few competitors though, so I'll also be trying the Colnago C60.

I intend to buy a frame and use my current mavic ksyrium pro sl wheels and build up the rest to be pretty light but not obsessively so.

Are there any other bikes I should consider? I like the classic looking light frames and have around £3,500 to spend. I've been on a canyon ultimate c.f. slx for 5 years. It's been a great bike but i just fancy something a bit more prestige this time.

Cheers
Gary

If you can find one the Trek Emonda SLR10 frameset is claimed to weigh only 690gms.

Chevin Cycles has a 2015 frame in a 56 for a shade under £3K

https://www.chevincycles.com/bikes/clea ... -56cm.html

The Merida Scultura 9000 is also claimed to be a super light frame tho I can't see a weight listed on the Merida website

https://www.merida-bikes.com/en_gb/Fitness-1523.html

If you really want to blow your budget the why not consider an AX Lightness Vial Evo Ultra at £4,300

http://www.ubyk.co.uk/ax-lightness-vial ... 2017/63878

Frame + Fork weighs less than 1kg

mercia_man

You could get a custom carbon frame for your £3,500 from makers such as Sarto and Legend from Italy and Filament from England. With custom tubes and geometry and your own choice of paint and finish, it would be a bit special. All three do lightweight frames with traditional round tube looks.

For example, a Legend HT7.5 frame is £3,399 from Bike Science in Bristol. They offer test rides and delivery from Italy is quoted as eight weeks.

sloppyschleckonds

Amazing how some of these brands are seen as 'prestige', give me a Dolan any day of the week over an overpriced titanium or custom carbon frame

gsk82

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

Amazing how some of these brands are seen as 'prestige', give me a Dolan any day of the week over an overpriced titanium or custom carbon frame

Thanks for your input

matt_n-2

Has it got to be carbon?

How about some steel, Pegoretti perhaps?

agnello

To answer the original question. Specialissima + super record

lincolndave

Either , both excellent frames but I personally think the Bianchi is the better of the two

gabriel959

I would love an Specialissima with Super Record. So yes, go for that.

mfin

Anybody offering an opinion actually ridden them both?

mr_mojo

I have a C60, size 57 tradition. It is just wonderful to ride, stiff and responsive but extremely comfortable. Not the lightest bike out there, mine is built with mechanical Dura Ace 9000 and Zipp 404 Firecrest wheels and weights about 7.5kg. This is the big but though, I also have a C40, C50 and Extreme C all with Campagnolo and they especially the C50 ride just as nice. You can pick up a very nice used C50 frame well under £1k. Hard to say if the C60 is worth 4 times, but it is a thing of beauty.

Never tried a Bianchi because as you've probably guessed I'm a Colnago person!

cougie

Ssshhhh don't talk like that or the whole marketing house of cards will collapse.....

Midlands Grimpeur

The C60 is a nice bike (to be fair, all the top line Colnago's are). I had a C60 and C59 but sold them and kept my C50 in the end as I always preferred the more old school style of it.

Have you seen a C60 in person, they are pretty beefy and I was never a massive fan of the oversized lugs? If you wanted something more classic in style the C59 is worth a look.

In terms of other prestige Italian brands, De Rosa are worth a mention. If you want something that very few people have, Time are also very nice bikes. They actually make their own carbon fibre and the quality and finish is as good as you will find but aesthetically they are a bit marmite.

thegreatdivide

I’ve got a C59 and I’ve tried a C60 and like a lot of these top end bikes, there’s really no discernible difference in the (superb) ride feel – I suspect the Specialisma will be the same. I’ve never ridden one, but my LBS is a Bianchi dealer and from a purely aesthetic view the Colnagos beat it hands down and it just looks bland compared to the Oltre. It makes me think of Parlees.

trivial_poursuivant

I love Bianchi and own a few but the Specialissima for the price is not a patch on the Oltre xr4. Even to the point that even Lotto Jumbo riders prefer to ride the Oltre on the hills. If it is a choice between the Specialissima and a C60 I'd personally go for the Colnago. If you offered me a bike in that price range I would probably go for the XR4

gsk82

Thanks for the replies. I'll get a few of these checked out and hopefully get some test rides in.

rokt

Have a look at Factor, I had a test ride on one last week, very very nice !

gsk82

Any opinions on the colnaga v2-r or its predecessor the v1-r?

mr_mojo

I would go for the V2-R over the V1-R purely for the rear brake is back in its proper place, not under the BB. I like my Colnago's built in Italy so for me it's still the C60.

mfin

Anyone actually ridden the V2-r or V1-r?

(Fair point on the rear brake though, it was widely accepted as being a bit undesirable and unnecessary).

I assume the OP wants opinions based on experience not on random people liking what they see in photos and articles?

gsk82

mfin wrote:

Anyone actually ridden the V2-r or V1-r?

(Fair point on the rear brake though, it was widely accepted as being a bit undesirable and unnecessary).

I assume the OP wants opinions based on experience not on random people liking what they see in photos and articles?

Yeah preferably. But also any alternatives. I'll be trying peak cyclesport for the bianchi and they also sell factor which is a bonus.

thehighroad

Owned a Specialissima. Unfortunately only lasted 3 months before I was taken out by a car and the frame split in 2 Got mine from Peak Cyclesport as well.

The ride was sublime. The countervail technology dulls road buzz and it glides over the tarmac. It still maintained responsiveness and it really was a special bike. I would consider another when the claim gets settled.

Currently have a supersix hi mod and the supersix is a bit lighter, more racy and wants to be pushed, I'd say the ss is more fun where the Bianchi was more comfortable. Tough to choose between them. Different bikes.

Not ridden a c60 to comment. I'd imagine there won't be a great deal between them. Here was my Specialissima.

arlowood

If you are anywhere near Ludlow then a trip to Epic Cycles might be worth the effort. They stock Bianchi but also have Cannondale, Look and Orbea on offer.

Have visited a couple of times and found them to be first rate. Very knowledgeable and not pushy. I think they also allow extended test rides

http://epic-cycles.co.uk/bianchi-specialissima

gsk82

arlowood wrote:

If you are anywhere near Ludlow then a trip to Epic Cycles might be worth the effort. They stock Bianchi but also have Cannondale, Look and Orbea on offer.

Have visited a couple of times and found them to be first rate. Very knowledgeable and not pushy. I think they also allow extended test rides

http://epic-cycles.co.uk/bianchi-specialissima

Cheers arlowood. Its not a million miles from my girlfriends parents so i have been considering a visit.

gsk82

I visited my local colnago dealer last night (vive le velo, west of hull). The c60 looks stunning in blue and the gold wasnt bad either despite it just been a standalone frame. I hope that when i get chance to ride one the ride is as good as it looks.

mfin

If the resale value is of interest, I would guess the Colnago frameset will hold its value more in future if and when you sell it.

gsk82

mfin wrote:

If the resale value is of interest, I would guess the Colnago will hold its value more in future if and when you sell it.

It's not something Ive considered as I keep my bikes for a good while. The shop did mention the same thing last night though.

He also showed me a video of the factory on YouTube

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tijgNEqBfh4

mfin

gsk82 wrote:

mfin wrote:

If the resale value is of interest, I would guess the Colnago will hold its value more in future if and when you sell it.

It's not something Ive considered as I keep my bikes for a good while. The shop did mention the same thing last night though.

He also showed me a video of the factory on YouTube

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tijgNEqBfh4

They had to dub that clichéd emotive music over the top because that guy gluing the tubes together was clearly listening to Status Quo.

gsk82

Vive le velo have managed to get me a c60 for the weekend after this. Unfortunately I'm on holiday so it'll have to wait. I feel quite giddy about it none the less.

coops1967

test both... but the C60 is by choice not playing the 'look at how light this frame is' game as opposed to the also excellent Specialissima.

I'd take my money go custom and make sure the frame can take 28mm tyres... which means at least 31mm clearance - and be looking at Rotor hydro rather than Di2 et al bast@rd batteries and sh@te.

shamrock134

I was trying to decide between the C60 and Specialissima earlier this year. In the end I settled on the Bianchi although I think I probably would have been happy with either.

Took it out for the first time today in the Surrey Hills and it rides great. The colour might not be to everyone's taste.