Wilier Filante SL on test: At the upper price limit - but does it ride like one?

All other 16 competition road bikes in the TOUR test

• Benotti Fuoco Aero SL
• Bianchi Oltre Comp
• Canyon Aeroad CF SLX 8 Di2
• Corratec CCT Evo Pro Di2
• Cube Litening Aero C:68X Race >> e.g. available here
• Focus Izalco Max 9.8 >> e.g. available here
• Giant Propel Advanced Pro 0
• Lapierre Xelius DRS 8.0 >> available here
• Merida Reacto 9000
• MyVelo Verona
• Rose XLite 06 Ultegra Di2 >> e.g. available here
• Scott Foil RC 10 >> e.g. available here
• Stevens Arcalis
• Storck Aerfast.5 Pro
• Trek Madone SL 7 >> e.g. available here
• Van Rysel RCR-R Pro Ultegra Di2
• Results and test winners at a glance

Wilier Filante SL: Affordable offshoot of the professional version

The Wilier Filante made its debut in its current form back in 2020, at the time still as a designated aero road bike alongside the very light Zero. However, it quickly became clear that the more recent design was the better all-rounder. In professional trim, it was significantly faster aerodynamically, but hardly heavier than the Zero: a Filante SLR with high-end equipment weighed in at just 6.9 kilograms, with perfectly acceptable aerodynamics. The low weight is still a top value today, even if there are now significantly more equivalent competitors. However, the traditional manufacturer from Rossato Veneto charges at least 11,700 euros for this lightweight dream bike.

In order to make the model accessible to a less solvent audience, the Filante SL offshoot has been available for two years, whose frame is manufactured with a more favourable carbon quality and built with cheaper components. The still contemporary-looking frame design and geometry are identical to the top model, which was ridden by the Groupama - FDJ team in this year's Tour de France. However, this version is not a real bargain either. At € 7,000, the Wilier with Shimano Ultegra components marks the upper price limit of our test field. However, it cannot benefit from the higher budget in the competition. On the contrary, it trails the test winners, some of which are significantly cheaper, by a considerable margin in terms of both grades and handling. The reasons for the clear difference are difficult to identify at first glance.

The most expensive, but not the best bike in the test field

The inexpensive tyres are the most striking detail, apart from that the bike has an attractive design. The Filante SL also comes with 50 millimetre high aero rims and a carbon handlebar unit, which also characterises the significantly more expensive version.

Visually, it is almost indistinguishable from a high-end racing bike. In wind tunnel tests, however, it performs measurably slower than the professional bike at the time. As it turns out, this is a disadvantage of the wheels and/or tyres: With our reference wheels from Zipp, the test bike becomes four watts faster - and then hits the level of the top model with a decent 215 watts. There is also a weakness that became apparent during our stiffness measurements in the test lab: The frameset is not as stable as is usual on modern road bikes. This is not critical, at least for light riders.

The riding characteristics of the Wilier Filante SL

Nevertheless, the bike's steering is less defined and controlled, especially in fast bends. This can be uncomfortable for relatively heavy riders. Another gap to the competition is the weight. Here, the Filante SL takes a back seat, with only Bianchi and Trek being heavier. It's not just the 150 gram heavier frame and the groupset that make the bike weigh a full kilogram more than the professional model mentioned at the beginning. Once again, the wheels and tyres in particular have to take some criticism; compared to the lightest sets from Benotti and Storck, this is already a disadvantage of a good 500 grams.

Ultimately, they also dampen the fun of riding the bike a little. The Filante accelerates less lively and feels a little sluggish when turning. Compared to the top tyres usually fitted in this price range, some with tubeless set-up, the Vittoria Rubino with butyl tubes roll a little more slowly and less comfortably, although they are quite wide at over 30 millimetres. An effective tuning tip is therefore obvious. Apart from that, we wouldn't change much about the components; we actually really liked the comfortable saddle and the easy-to-grip handlebar unit with the oval top bar.

>> Tuning your road bike: The best tips for more riding fun

Application area and equipment

Whether the compact crank suits your own requirements is a matter of taste. If you don't ride ambitious races, but only occasionally tackle sporty training laps, you should be grateful because the fine gradation of the cassette can be utilised even with little power. By changing the sprockets, a very mountain-compatible gear ratio can also be realised without much effort. A total of nine versions of the Filante SL are available. It starts at 5100 euros with SRAM Rival or Shimano 105 Di2 including aluminium wheels, which should increase the weight to just under nine kilograms. The top model comes with the noble Campagnolo Super Record and costs 9800 euros. The lighter SLR frame with Ultegra and lighter wheels is already priced at 9400 euros.

Wilier Filante SL: Info & test grade

• Price: 7000 Euro
• Weight of complete wheel: 7.9 kilos
• Frame sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL (test size greased)
• TOUR grade: 2,6

Geometry

• Seat/top/head tube: 522/555/151 millimetres
• Stack/Reach/STR: 570/385 millimetres/1.48
• Stack+/Reach+/STR+: 618/586 millimetres/1.05
• Wheelbase/caster: 1000/63 millimetres

Equipment

• Drive/gear shift: Shimano Ultegra (2x12; 50/34, 11-30 t.) | Shimano Ultegra (2x12; 50/34, 11-30 t.) Grade: 1.0
• Brakes: Shimano Ultegra (160/140 mm) | Grade: 1.0
• Tyres: Vittoria Rubino 28 mm (eff.: 31 mm) | Grade: 2.5
• Impellers: Miche SWR Evo 50
• Impeller weights: 1347/1785 grams (v./h.)

Measured values

• Weight of complete wheel: 7920 grammes | Grade: 3.0
• Aerodynamics: 219 Watt | Grade: 2.7
• Driving stability: 6.2 N/mm | Grade: 3.0
• Rear comfort: 166 N/mm | Grade: 2.7
• Comfort front: 94 N/mm | Grade: 2.7
• Ride/ bottom bracket stiffness: 51 N/mm | Grade: 2.7

Advantages and disadvantages of the Wilier Filante SL

• Plus: Good contact points, pleasant handling
• Minus: Relatively heavy, weaknesses in driving stability, simple tyres

How TOUR tests

Weight (25 per cent of the overall grade): The weighed complete wheel weight in the standardised test wheel size of 56-57 centimetres counts for the evaluation. However, we also show the wheel weights for orientation purposes. The grading scale is designed so that the physical effect of weight and aerodynamics on the average speed is comparable for an average route profile of 1000 metres in altitude per 100 kilometres. For orientation: The aerodynamic optimisation of the bike can compensate for up to almost four kilograms of weight on such a route. Simultaneous top marks in weight AND aerodynamics are mutually exclusive, but there are racing bikes that find a very good compromise. If the route is more hilly than our reference route, weight becomes more important; if the route is flatter, aerodynamics become more important.

Air resistance (25 per cent of the total score): Dynamically measured in the wind tunnel, with TOUR dummy, rotating wheels, moving legs and over a wide range of flow angles. Summarised to an aerodynamic grade for typical environmental conditions.

Front stiffness (10 per cent of the total score): Important parameter for steering precision and confidence in the bike at high speeds, determined in the TOUR laboratory. The overall stiffness is determined on the fully assembled frame set, i.e. including the fork. The stiffness values are capped. The aim is not an infinitely stiff frame, but one that is sufficiently stable to ride.

Bottom bracket stiffness (10 per cent of the total score): Reveals how much the frame yields under hard pedalling, for example when sprinting. This measurement also takes place in the TOUR laboratory, with realistic clamping, in which the frame can deform as it would when riding.

Rear comfort (10 per cent of the overall score): A measure of compliance under road shocks, measured in the TOUR laboratory. A suspension travel is measured when the seatpost is loaded. The measured value correlates very well with the riding impressions and the feeling of comfort. Good marks also mean decent riding dynamics, which have a positive effect on speed on poor roads.

Comfort front (5 per cent of the total score): The deformation of the handlebars under load is determined in the same way as the rear. A good score means a lot of suspension comfort, which takes the strain off your hands on long rides. However, strong sprinters who want a lot of stiffness should look for stiff handlebars.

Switching (5 per cent of the total score): The shifting characteristics are determined in the driving test. It is not the price or the quality impression of individual components that is assessed, but exclusively the function of the entire gearbox. For example, the cable routing, the quality of the cables and the mounted chain also play a role.

Brakes (5 per cent of the overall score): As with shifting, the test on the road also counts here, and the experience from our countless tests of brakes is also incorporated into the assessment. It is not the component itself that is assessed, but the function of the interaction between the brake body, pads and discs: How well can the brakes be modulated? How durable are the brakes, how long are the braking distances?

tyres (5 percent of the overall score): Rolling resistance and grip are evaluated - if known from one of our independent tyre tests or based on driving impressions. The overall score is calculated arithmetically from the differently weighted individual scores (percentages in brackets). It primarily expresses the sporty qualities of the tyre.

The overall score is calculated arithmetically from the individual scores weighted differently (percentages in brackets). It primarily expresses the sporting qualities of the bike.

We have compiled all the information about our test here.