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Wilier Granturismo SLR in the TOUR test
A few years ago, Wilier scored a big hit with the Cento10 NDR. The trade press and racing cyclists alike celebrated the innovative model and honoured it with the Eurobike Award (2017) as well as being named "Road Bike of the Year" by TOUR readers (2018).
The long-established company from Veneto, which until then had primarily defined itself through sporty competition bikes, suddenly found itself at the forefront of the exclusive marathon racer segment. The new Wilier Granturismo SLR aims to build on this by adopting the suspension concept of the Cento10 NDR and placing itself among the most comfortable endurance models on the market in terms of seating position.
Wilier Granturismo SLR - Suspension system on the rear triangle
The centrepiece of the Wilier is located between the top tube and seat stays and goes by the name of "Actiflex 2.0". As with full mountain bikes, the suspension system is based on the principle of a small rocker. An elastomer acts as a damper, which is slightly softer (XS, S, M) or harder (L, XL, XXL) depending on the frame size.
On the top models, the rubber is replaced by a slightly lighter damper from the 3D printer. The Granturismo SLR does not quite match the impressive suspension effect of the Cento10 NDR, where the seat stays are connected to the frame via a joint.
Nevertheless, the bike masters changing surfaces just as brilliantly, as our endurance test at this year's Strade Bianche showed. The rear end bounces noticeably, especially on rough bumps, while the potholes on the gravel sectors or the rough surface in Siena's historic centre only elicited a tired smile from the test rider. In contrast to the Cento10 NDR, the further developed suspension also fits more harmoniously into the frame concept and is protected from dirt and splash water thanks to a plastic cover.
Spring technology carries weight
A carbon seat post and the tubeless 30-millimetre tyres fitted to the test bike round off the harmonious comfort concept. Rumpy tracks are effectively smoothed out even off the "white roads". However, the front of the bike is set up quite hard per se; with the standard 28 millimetre wide tyres, the suspension comfort on the handlebars should be noticeably less.
What's more, the suspension technology makes the Wilier heavy. The carbon frame weighs almost 1400 grams, which puts the marathon bike on a par with stable gravel bikes. The fact that it could be lighter with a rear shock is demonstrated by Trek, among others, with the new Domane SLRwhose frame weighs almost 300 grams less.
Thanks to high-quality add-on parts - the cockpit and aero seat post are taken from the Zero SL and Filante SLR - the Wilier is nevertheless one of the lighter Endurance models. Borrowing from the two competition bikes, the Granturismo also looks sporty and can only be recognised as an endurance model at second glance.
Back-friendly sitting position
In the saddle, however, you immediately realise that you are riding a specialist for long distances: the long wheelbase means that the Granturismo is stable on the road, while the long stack and short reach lift the rider into an emphatically upright position. With an STR ratio of 1.62, it is one of the most comfortable road bikes. Only the Canyon Endurace CF or Rose Reveal Four are currently as back-friendly.
Despite the robust frame construction, the Granturismo reveals weaknesses in the stiffness values; in combination with the unconventional steering geometry, the road bike takes some getting used to: as with the Rave SLR gravel bike, the Granturismo also has to be pushed a little into the bend, where it tilts abruptly from a certain steering angle.
After a few kilometres in the saddle, you get used to it, but it remains unusual. In addition to the look of the bike, the prices ranging from 7400 to 11700 euros are also sporty. All equipment variants are exclusively electronic and, with the exception of the exclusive top model, are available with a simple aluminium or relatively light carbon wheelset (1000 euros).
Our test bike with the old SRAM Force eTap, which is around 100 grams heavier than the recently introduced update, and stylish Miche brand wheels costs €8,400. Technology costs. Unfortunately. Comparable concepts from other manufacturers are also at a similar level.
Wilier Granturismo SLR in detail
- Price8400 Euro >> available here
- Weight frame/fork/steering bearing* 1376/440/73 grammes
- Frame sizes** XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL
- Seat/top tube/head tube 520/565/177 millimetres
- Stack/Reach/STR*** 604/372 millimetres/1.62
- Wheelbase/caster 1005/65 millimetres
Equipment
- Drive/Circuit SRAM Force AXS eTap (2x12; 48/35, 10-33 t.)
- Brakes SRAM Force (160/160 millimetres)
- Wheels/tyres (weights)**** Miche SLR 38/Vittoria Rubino Pro Graphene 2.0 30 millimetres (f./h.: 1376/1878 g)
Measured values & individual notes*****
- Weight of complete wheel 8.2 kilos Grade: 3,3
- Steering head stiffness 79 Nm/° Grade: 3,0
- Lateral stiffness fork 45 N/mm Grade: 2,3
- Bottom bracket stiffness 50 N/mm Grade: 2,7
- Seatpost spring stiffness 112 N/mm Grade: 1,7
- Spring rate fork 89 N/mm Grade: 4,0
>> The Wilier Granturismo SLR gets an overall TOUR score of 2.3
*Weighed weights.
**Manufacturer information Test size bold.
***Stack/Reach Projected vertical/horizontal dimension from the centre of the bottom bracket to the top of the head tube;
STR (Stack to Reach) 1.36 means a very stretched sitting position, 1.60 means an upright sitting position.
****Impeller weights including tyres, cassette, quick release/threaded axles and brake discs if necessary.
*****Single notes, which are weighted differently in the overall grade, are only partially printed for reasons of space. The grades are calculated with all decimal places up to the final grade; however, for the sake of clarity, all grades are shown with rounded decimal places.
Julian Schultz
Editor
