Lightweight is great, even in times when racing bikes are becoming more and more aerodynamic and less importance is attached to lightweight construction. However, anyone who prefers the feeling of riding a super-light bike to sober wattage calculations for air resistance can count themselves among the target group that Wilier has in mind for the new Verticale SLR. The name says it all, advertised as "lighter than light", the bike is intended to be a pure mountain specialist, made for steep climbs and descents. According to the manufacturer, this has been achieved through a targeted arrangement of different fibres and a new manufacturing process in which the resin content in the carbon is optimised.
A new handlebar unit is also intended to reduce the weight, and additional grams have been saved on small details such as the seat clamp, derailleur hanger and derailleur hanger. The Verticale is said to be ten per cent lighter, using the predecessor Zero SLR as a reference, whose naked frame weighed 922 grams on the TOUR scale in 2019. Back then, when disc brakes had their breakthrough and framesets became heavier as a result, that was a pretty good figure. Nowadays, the lightest road bike frames from other manufacturers such as Trek (Émonda 706 grams), Specialized (Tarmac 723 grams) or Giant (TCR 758 grams) easily undercut this.
Wilier Verticale: Some compromises despite the price
Fans of classic racing bikes will be pleased to know that the Verticale is soothingly unagitated. Largely round tubes, an almost horizontal top tube - the Wilier is orientated towards traditional virtues without appearing unfashionable. This also applies to the riding position and handling. When you take a seat on the bike, you find yourself in an extremely stretched seating position, with the front wheel almost in front of your nose. However, because the contact points are comfortable, this does not feel uncomfortable at all - at least for the first few kilometres.
With its short wheelbase, it reacts lively to acceleration and steering commands, almost a little nervously, and is great fun to ride. The tide turns on fast descents, because despite its generous 30-millimetre tyres, the Wilier feels wobbly in fast corners. This is due to the low weight and aggressive steering geometry, but also to the average stiffness values revealed by our lab test: They are around 25 per cent below those of leading competitors.
Another compromise of the consistent lightweight construction is revealed in practical use. The seat clamp, which is elegantly concealed in the seat knot, repeatedly caused us problems. The screw in the corner of the frame triangle is easy to reach, even with a mini tool. However, if it is tightened carefully as usual, the seat post gradually slips into the seat tube during the ride. Once tightened to a higher torque, the seat post was almost impossible to release again - the cone gets so jammed that it can only be released with a little force. We also found the somewhat careless rubber cover of the clamp, which did not fit properly, inappropriate for such an expensive bike.
Great comfort, low weight
On the plus side, there is excellent comfort, to which the very well-sprung seat post and the wide tyres contribute. If you are comfortable with the riding position, you will be able to enjoy long rides on the Wilier without any worries. The Verticale is good in its main discipline, but not outstanding. In fact, the frame has only become slightly lighter, 887 grams is not a fabulous weight these days.
What's more, the savings are lost in the overall weight. If you take into account a few extra grams for the wide tyres and the bright green paintwork - the Verticale is also available in subtle black with decorative stripes, in which case it weighs slightly less - at around 6600 grams, it would rank between classics such as the Giant TCR, Canyon Ultimate and Specialized Tarmac. This makes it one of the lightest complete bikes on the market. The fact that the World Tour pros sponsored by Wilier still prefer the Filante sister model, which weighs only 100 grams, is probably due to its better aerodynamics. But if you don't ride a road bike for a living, you can set other priorities - and simply enjoy the feeling of sitting on a really light road bike.
A bike with a high fun factor: lively, direct and with a great riding position. Lots of comfort and wide tyres bring the concept into the modern age. - Jens Klötzer, Tour editor
The Wilier Verticale in detail
- Price: 12,200 Euro
- Weight of complete wheel: 6.8 kilos
- Frame sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL (test size greased)
Geometry
- Seat/top/head tube: 522/560/156 millimetres
- Stack/Reach/STR: 570/386 millimetres/1.48
- Stack+/Reach+/STR+: 622/582 millimetres/1.07
- Wheelbase/caster: 1000/62 millimetres
Equipment
- Drive/gear shift: Shimano Dura-Ace | Grade: 1.0
- Brakes: Shimano Dura-Ace (140/140 mm) | Grade: 1.5
- Tyres: Vittoria Corsa Pro 30 mm (eff.: 31 mm) | Grade: 1.5
- Impellers: Miche Kleos RD 36
- Impeller weights: 1132/1519 grams (front/rear)
Measured values
- Driving stability: 6.47 N/mm | Grade: 3.0
- Rear comfort: 118 N/mm | Grade: 1.7
- Comfort front: 100 N/mm | Grade: 2.7
- Ride/ bottom bracket stiffness: 49 N/mm | Grade: 3.0
Advantages and disadvantages of the Wilier Verticale
- Plus: Very light, comfortable ride
- Minus: not very stable, expensive
Jens Klötzer
Editor
