{"id":44678,"date":"2022-12-15T17:00:11","date_gmt":"2022-12-15T16:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/?p=698779"},"modified":"2022-12-15T17:42:08","modified_gmt":"2022-12-15T16:42:08","slug":"wiliers-new-granturismo-slr-endurance-bike-boasts-a-clever-flexion-device","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/wiliers-new-granturismo-slr-endurance-bike-boasts-a-clever-flexion-device\/","title":{"rendered":"Wilier\u2019s new Granturismo SLR endurance bike boasts a clever flexion device"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Ashley Quinlan\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Thursday, 15 December 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Wilier has launched its new Granturismo SLR endurance road bike<\/a>, with the express aim of targeting riders who want a top-level road bike without the downside of an overly aggressive riding position.<\/p>\n

The endurance bike concept is nothing new, but has arguably been transformed in recent times by crossover with the world of gravel bikes<\/a>. However, Wilier claims the new Granturismo SLR offers race-bred performance and technology, designed for use on the road, and will work out faster for the average rider than its Filante SLR<\/a> race bike.<\/p>\n

The Granturismo SLR features an Actiflex 2.0 device \u2013 a kind of suspension system that pivots on a bearing \u2013 with learnings taken from the brand\u2019s Cento10NDR bike<\/a>, which featured first-generation Actiflex to add compliance.<\/p>\n

The new bike features the same high-modulus carbon fibre as the Filante SLR, as ridden by WorldTour<\/a> team Astana-Qazaqstan, but with a tweaked layup to support Actiflex 2.0\u2019s properties.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s available now, with prices starting at \u00a37,660 \/ \u20ac7,400 for the cheapest SRAM Force eTap AXS<\/a> and Shimano Ultegra R8170 Di2<\/a>-equipped models, rising to \u00a312,070 \/ \u20ac11,700 for a Campagnolo Super Record EPS<\/a> build.<\/p>\n

Actiflex is back<\/h2>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Actiflex 2.0 evolves the original Actiflex concept seen on the Cento10NDR road bike.<\/span><\/figcaption> Wilier<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

It\u2019s been over a year since the Actiflex-equipped Cento10NDR was discontinued, but with the Granturismo SLR, the comfort-enhancing technology has made its return.<\/p>\n

This time, it\u2019s said to be improved, with the Actiflex unit housed around the top tube-seatstay junction.<\/p>\n

\u201cAround\u201d is the key word here, because the seat tube is not attached to the seatstays. Instead, it proceeds directly downwards to the bottom bracket in a design reminiscent of Lapierre\u2019s Xelius<\/a>, Pulsium and Aircode bikes.<\/p>\n

Wilier says the remodelled Actiflex tech enables the rear triangle to flex substantially more than it would otherwise, with the Actiflex unit physically compressing and pivoting around a bearing when riding over rough tarmac.<\/p>\n

The result? Greater claimed vertical compliance with what Wilier calls \u201cMTB-like\u201d suspension, but with a relative saddle-bottom bracket position that remains unchanged.<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The design sees the seatstays join to the top tube via a pivoting bearing.<\/span><\/figcaption> Ashley Quinlan \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The reasoning for the design rests on guaranteeing the rider their optimal riding position at all times \u2013 a position often arrived at through great bike-fitting expense, says Wilier \u2013 which should translate into a more comfortable, efficient ride over longer distances.<\/p>\n

The Actiflex device comes in two versions; a softer unit is recommended and supplied as standard with the XS, S and M-sized frames, and a stiffer version reserved for the L, XL and XXL models.<\/p>\n

Wilier says you can switch out the device at point of purchase if you really want a more compliant or rigid experience, but that the default supplied units should suit the vast majority of riders who buy the relevant-size bikes.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also possible to replace the Actiflex unit post-purchase, so in theory you could have both units and switch them out to suit a given ride.<\/p>\n

The Italian brand is also experimenting with 3D-printing technology for future iterations of Actiflex. Theoretically, this could enable custom units to be made, which are tuned more accurately to rider weight and desired compliance levels.<\/p>\n

Rigid Filante SLR-grade carbon and a more friendly geometry<\/h2>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
It might be an endurance bike, but the Granturismo SLR is designed to be ridden like a race bike.<\/span><\/figcaption> Wilier<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Despite being an endurance bike, Wilier is at pains to point out that the Granturismo SLR shouldn\u2019t be seen as a second-tier bike. In fact, the Italian brand says it will be the optimal bike for most riders, with the Filante SLR better suited to racers with greater flexibility.<\/p>\n

With that in mind, the Granturismo SLR features the same carbon fibre with liquid crystal polymer mix as the Filante SLR race bike, just with a modified layup to enable more vertical flex in the rear triangle.<\/p>\n

Wilier says it needed to add some extra carbon fibre in specific areas to provide the strength necessary to cater for the compliance Actiflex 2.0 brings, but that the modifications should only serve to improve the ride over longer distances, rather than slow the bike down.<\/p>\n

The seatstays are also connected by a torsional support bridge. For previous-generation bikes, Wilier offered the bridge as a mounting point for rim brake calipers, but it has stuck with it here purely for its bracing properties.<\/p>\n

The geometry is taller and slacker at the front end compared to a traditional race bike such as the Filante SLR, with the long head tube particularly noticeable.<\/p>\n

<\/colgroup>
XS<\/th>S<\/th>M<\/th>L<\/th>XL<\/th>2XL<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Seat tube length <\/b>(mm)<\/td>450<\/td>480<\/td>500<\/td>520<\/td>540<\/td>560<\/td> <\/tr>
Top tube length <\/b> (mm)<\/td>517<\/td>532<\/td>547<\/td>558<\/td>574<\/td>592<\/td> <\/tr>
Head tube length<\/b> (mm)<\/td>117<\/td>136<\/td>157<\/td>177<\/td>196<\/td>217<\/td> <\/tr>
Head tube angle<\/b> (degrees)<\/td>71<\/td>71.5<\/td>72<\/td>72.5<\/td>72.5<\/td>72.5<\/td> <\/tr>
Seat tube angle<\/b> (degrees)<\/td>74.5<\/td>74<\/td>73.5<\/td>73.5<\/td>73<\/td>72.5<\/td> <\/tr>
Chainstay length <\/b>(mm)<\/td>409<\/td>409<\/td>412<\/td>412<\/td>412<\/td>414<\/td> <\/tr>
Wheelbase<\/b> (mm)<\/td>977<\/td>985<\/td>995<\/td>1002<\/td>1013<\/td>1027<\/td> <\/tr>
Stack <\/b>(mm)<\/td>527<\/td>546<\/td>566<\/td>586<\/td>604<\/td>625<\/td> <\/tr>
Reach <\/b>(mm)<\/td>369<\/td>374<\/td>379<\/td>384<\/td>389<\/td>395<\/td> <\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>