Benotti Fuoco Aero - A touch of Italy
With the takeover of the former Upper Franconian Carbon manufacture AX-Lightness In 2015, Bernd Nolte, the man behind the Benotti bicycle brand, brought first-class carbon expertise in-house. In addition to bicycle components, the new plant in Duderstadt also produces parts for motorsport and medical technology. Handmade in Germany - and correspondingly expensive - are only the components that bear the AX-Lightness label, including a lightweight frame. The Benotti racing bikes as well as the wheels called Engage on the other hand, are supplied by a partner in the Far East, which also makes the competitive price of the Fuoco Aero road bike model tested possible.
The slim Benotti aero racer has an interesting design, it comes with an inexpensive SRAM Rival drivetrain and impressively high carbon wheels. With this combination, the Fuoco Aero can not only keep up well in the wind tunnel, but also rides comparatively light and lively despite the relatively heavy frame. The good wheels largely utilise the potential of the frameset, with the reference wheels the aero road bike doesn't get any faster.
With its short wheelbase and almost nervous steering, the Fuoco Aero offers classic, if you will, "Italian" riding characteristics; many aero racing bikes from other manufacturers ride much more true to the track. The riding position, on the other hand, is more relaxed than on most competitors - also because the handlebar set supplied is comparatively short and the lower link is compact with a 125 millimetre drop.
The Fuoco Aero can be configured with the standard groupsets from Shimano or SRAM and is comparatively fairly priced. Even the top versions with SRAM Red AXS or Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 are under 8000 euros, including carbon wheels. The frame set for self-assembly is available for 2999 euros. The range of sizes is particularly interesting for smaller riders: at 46 centimetres, the range includes an extremely small frame; for taller riders, however, 58 centimetres is the limit.
Facts & measurement values for the Benotti Fuoco Aero
- Price4999 Euro
- Weight: 8,0 Kilo
- Aerodynamics: 214 Watt
- Frame/fork/steering bearing weight* 1281/460/89 grams
- Frame sizes** 46, 49, 52, 54, 56, 58 cm
- Seat/top tube/head tube 540/560/157 millimetres
- Stack/Reach/STR*** 584/388 millimetres/1.51
- Wheelbase/caster 985/56 millimetres
Equipment
- Drive/gear shift SRAM Rival eTap AXS (2x12, 48/35, 10-36 t.)
- Brakes SRAM Rival (160/160 millimetres)
- Wheels/tyres (weights)**** Engage 62C Disc SL/Continental Grand Prix 5000 25 millimetres (f./h.: 1145/1588 grams)
Strengths: good equipment, fair price, very small sizes
Weaknessesno large sizes, only two years warranty
The Benotti Fuoco Aero achieved an overall score of 1.9 in the 2023 TOUR test of competition road bikes.
More competition road bikes in the test:
>> Canyon Aeroad CF SLX 7 eTap
>> Cervélo Soloist 105
>> Cube Litening Aero C:68X Race
>> Giant Propel Advanced 1
>> Lapierre Aircode DRS 5.0
>> Merida Reacto Rival Edition
>> Ridley Noah Disc 105
>> Rose XLite 04 105
>> Storck Aerfast.4 Comp Disc Ultegra
The test results in detail
*Weighed weights.
**Manufacturer's specification, 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, 1.60 a very upright sitting position.
****Wheel weights including tyres, cassette, quick release/threaded axles and brake discs if applicable.
Jens Klötzer
Editor
