PERFORMANCE
Bianchi Specialissima
£11,206 A very special ride indeed from the Italians
Weight 7.17kg (59cm) Frame CV carbon Fork CV carbon Gears Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 12-speed 50/34, 11-30 Brakes Dura-Ace disc Wheels Vision SC40 Finishing kit, Reparto Corse stem, bar and seatpost, Fizik Antares R1 saddle, Pirelli P Zero Race 26mm tyres
The Good
Handling balance, smooth ride, brilliant drivetrain
The Bad
Wheels not quite as exclusive reducing the length of road-borne vibrations by up to 80 per cent.
More than Zero
The Bianchi has Pirelli’s range-topping P Zero tyres. Though only 26mm wide, these contribute to comfort that matches bikes with wider tyres
Vision on
Vision’s tubeless carbon SC40s are quality wheels, but you can find them on bikes much less expensive than the Specialissima
On Corse
The cockpit features Reparto Corse’s 3D-forged aluminium stem, compact UD carbon bar and a Reparto Corse/FSA seatpost
THE BIANCHI SPECIALISSIMA Dura-Ace Di2 is very different to the bike that was our 2014 ‘Superbike of the Year’ – most obviously, with its disc brakes and aerodynamic tube profiles. Despite this, a 55cm frame still weighs just 750g.
The frame features Bianchi’s Countervail CV technology. This material sandwiches a viscoelastic material between carbon layers, The frame’s parallel 73-degree angles shout ‘performance bike’.
It’s long and low and designed for a racing mindset, and this is reflected in its ride, and within minutes of being astride the Specialissima, I knew I was onto something very good. The chassis is stiff and responsive and lively – something often amiss on flyweight carbon bikes.
It accelerates with ease, but it handles wonderfully and is a great climber. The steering requires so little effort because the perfectly weighted front end lets you dart in any direction. It’s so responsive that swiping between hazards on poor roads is never a challenge.
I’ve ridden comfort-oriented bikes – with tyres wider than the 26mm Pirellis – that don’t handle knocks as well as the Specialissima. It glides over rough tarmac without complaint, and its ability to track straight and nullify vibrations makes this one of the very best bikes for descending.
The Specialissima’s price is reflected in its top-level components, which notably showcase Shimano’s new and impeccably performing 12-speed semi-wireless Dura-Ace Di2, along with Vision’s Grand Tourinspired SC40 tubeless carbon wheels and Pirelli’s range-topping P Zero 26mm tyres.
And while Bianchi may have moved away from classic styling, I think it’s still a handsome machine and one that doesn’t disappoint when it comes to the most crucial factor – the ride. It’s fast, flighty and nimble, yet composed and confident on sub-optimal surfaces or when pushing yourself to the limit. It’s a bike I found myself wanting to live up to, not a bike I felt like cruising on. This Bianchi is one of the best bikes I’ve ridden in recent times – it’s long, low and luxurious – and I’m smitten.
Verdict
Jaw-dropping blend of speed, handling, control and smoothness. Pure superbike gold