De Rosa SK Pininfarina vs Bianchi Oltre XR4

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Next Bike: De Rosa SK Pininfarina or Bianchi Oltre XR4

Poll ended at Fri Feb 17, 2017 2:00 am

De Rosa SK Pininfarina
21
29%
Bianchi Oltre XR4
52
71%
 
Total votes: 73

TwinSpokes21
Posts: 28
Joined: Sat Sep 10, 2016 4:25 am
Location: NoCA

by TwinSpokes21

Pretty simple and straight forward question/poll...looking for thoughts and input from you fine folks as I've narrowed down my next build to these two. I've been following the recent posts on these two bikes on the forum carefully.

Yes, there are other (ok, lots) options out there in this aero category but due to factors including local availability, personal aesthetic opinion/taste, sizing & geometry, etc., I narrowed it down to these two. Please don't complicate things with other suggestions! :D
Would appreciate feedback, opinions, pros & cons from everyone who's interested but would love thoughts from actual owners of either of the frames. And if there is someone who has/has owned both...well first, congratulations...even better.

Given the limited distribution in my neck of the woods and that generally, most shops won't carry such high end frames (let alone in my size). Significantly fewer reviews on the web for the De Rosa (and the brand in general) as compared to the Oltre XR4.

Anyway, looking forward to your input and suggestions.

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Kayrehn
Posts: 1776
Joined: Thu Mar 24, 2011 6:06 pm

by Kayrehn

People says countervail works, so that's my pick.

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Conradsleight
Posts: 122
Joined: Tue Mar 10, 2015 5:27 am

by Conradsleight

Heard the same thing, Countervail is supposed to be pretty great.

Shrike
Posts: 2019
Joined: Fri Jun 03, 2016 5:08 pm

by Shrike

XR4 but definitely not for the countervail. Rode the Infinto CV for a main bike for most of 2016 and not convinced it does anything now. At the time I think I sort of convinced myself it did though and spoke well of it.

It would be a harsh ride with high tyre pressure, and had some jarring days on it when running around 100 PSI (on 25s), but gradually comfier enough with lower pressure. Frame design probably is what makes it a smooth enough ride akin to any modern endurance bike. My S5 now feels just as comfortable, oddly enough.

It's the ultimate marketing hack though. Neither provable nor disprovable, but if people spend money on it, they will convince themselves it's the best thing ever - we all seek to justify our choices.

Anyway, the XR4 looks amazing. Any modern gen bike will be a brilliant ride I reckon once you dial it in. Most important for me is that a bike looks like I just want to jump on it and ride it and the XR4 is the no.1 bike in the world right now for that I reckon.

TwinSpokes21
Posts: 28
Joined: Sat Sep 10, 2016 4:25 am
Location: NoCA

by TwinSpokes21

Being this is a WW forum...accurate to say that the de Rosa is a lighter frame correct? I think the XR 4 is also a heavier frame as compared to the XR2 due to the addition of countervail.


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chazmtb
Posts: 231
Joined: Tue Sep 25, 2012 7:08 am

by chazmtb

I don't have any knowledge other than a friend having a SK. Both are pretty bikes, but for me the bianchi just looks better. I think sk looks good as a smaller bike.

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silvalis
Posts: 765
Joined: Mon Sep 07, 2015 1:02 am
Location: Aus

by silvalis

Shrike wrote:XR4 but definitely not for the countervail. Rode the Infinto CV for a main bike for most of 2016 and not convinced it does anything now. At the time I think I sort of convinced myself it did though and spoke well of it.

It would be a harsh ride with high tyre pressure, and had some jarring days on it when running around 100 PSI (on 25s), but gradually comfier enough with lower pressure. Frame design probably is what makes it a smooth enough ride akin to any modern endurance bike. My S5 now feels just as comfortable, oddly enough.

It's the ultimate marketing hack though. Neither provable nor disprovable, but if people spend money on it, they will convince themselves it's the best thing ever - we all seek to justify our choices.

Anyway, the XR4 looks amazing. Any modern gen bike will be a brilliant ride I reckon once you dial it in. Most important for me is that a bike looks like I just want to jump on it and ride it and the XR4 is the no.1 bike in the world right now for that I reckon.


I agree. Current owner of an infinito cv and when I was shopping around 2 years ago the cv wasnt anywhere near as smooth as a ('15) roubaix expert (fact10) and a defy adv pro. It rode more like a tarmac than a roubaix

i voted xr4 anyway because it just looks rad.
Chasse patate

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zappafile123
Posts: 655
Joined: Sun Jun 01, 2014 8:24 am

by zappafile123

The two bikes are not in the same league. The SK is apparently a noodle and more generally De Rosa carbon engineering doesnt appear to be on the same level as other manufacturers. This shines through in the fact that their bikes (at least the ones Ive ridden) just dont ride as well. The King XS rides like a $1000 Giant composite and the Protos, whilst it's nice and racey is too brutal to be ridden everyday (i.e. the ride is not properly rounded/tuned). Having said that, aesthetically they are amazing.

In my experience so far the Oltre XR2 is one of the best you can get. Word is the XR4 has a similar ride quality, its just a lot more comfortable (and the XR2 isnt harsh) but inst quite as snappy.
FactorOne|SartoSeta|StorckF.3|Enigma EliteHSS|SworksSL6|ColnagoC60/V3Rs|DeRosa Protos|BianchiXR4/2|BMCSLR01 16|Cdale EvoHM|Focus IzMax|RidleyHe SL/SLX|BH Ulight|BassoDiamante|Scapin DyseysS8|TimeRXRS/ZXRS|TCR SL|RidleyNoah|Look585|CerveloS5/S3

Lafolie
Posts: 662
Joined: Tue Sep 08, 2009 10:12 pm

by Lafolie

zappafile123 wrote:The two bikes are not in the same league. The SK is apparently a noodle and more generally De Rosa carbon engineering doesnt appear to be on the same level as other manufacturers. This shines through in the fact that their bikes (at least the ones Ive ridden) just dont ride as well. The King XS rides like a $1000 Giant composite and the Protos, whilst it's nice and racey is too brutal to be ridden everyday (i.e. the ride is not properly rounded/tuned). Having said that, aesthetically they are amazing.

In my experience so far the Oltre XR2 is one of the best you can get. Word is the XR4 has a similar ride quality, its just a lot more comfortable (and the XR2 isnt harsh) but inst quite as snappy.




Interesting observation. What are your foundations regarding the King XS and Protos? Are you an owner of them, or just had a ride on them? I actually own both for quite some time now. I guess De Rosa wouldn't be around for as long as they have without knowing a thing or two about frame manufacturing. Both the Protos and King XS are racing frames. Fast and stiff. Long and low as the De Rosa preferred style. Both offer the rider a unique ride and absolutely reward with speed, handling and grace. Riding a bike is a very subjective, as we all experience and feel various things. However, after a time actually living with a bike/frame you find out all about it, including it's weaknesses and strong points. I have no reservations about buying them as they perform admiringly well. I can't speak for the SK because I don't own one.

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kgt
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Location: Athens, Greece

by kgt

zappafile123 wrote:The SK is apparently a noodle and more generally De Rosa carbon engineering doesnt appear to be on the same level as other manufacturers.


Slightly too biased? According to the reviews both De Rosa Sk and Protos are top frames:

http://www.cyclist.co.uk/de-rosa/1160/d ... ina-review
http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/cate ... ina-50084/

http://www.cyclist.co.uk/de-rosa/159/de ... tos-review
http://www.gearist.com/2014/01/06/de-ro ... k-edition/

Lafolie
Posts: 662
Joined: Tue Sep 08, 2009 10:12 pm

by Lafolie

kgt wrote:
zappafile123 wrote:The SK is apparently a noodle and more generally De Rosa carbon engineering doesnt appear to be on the same level as other manufacturers.


Slightly too biased? According to the reviews both De Rosa Sk and Protos are top frames:

http://www.cyclist.co.uk/de-rosa/1160/d ... ina-review
http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/cate ... ina-50084/

http://www.cyclist.co.uk/de-rosa/159/de ... tos-review
http://www.gearist.com/2014/01/06/de-ro ... k-edition/




:beerchug: :beerchug:

td100
Posts: 46
Joined: Fri Feb 11, 2011 4:10 pm

by td100

kgt wrote:
zappafile123 wrote:The SK is apparently a noodle and more generally De Rosa carbon engineering doesnt appear to be on the same level as other manufacturers.


Slightly too biased? According to the reviews both De Rosa Sk and Protos are top frames:

http://www.cyclist.co.uk/de-rosa/1160/d ... ina-review
http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/cate ... ina-50084/

http://www.cyclist.co.uk/de-rosa/159/de ... tos-review
http://www.gearist.com/2014/01/06/de-ro ... k-edition/


:beerchug: Also the biggest influence on ride quality are wheels, tyres and tyre pressures. Any frame with stiff wheels and 140psi will ride badly on rough roads.
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TwinSpokes21
Posts: 28
Joined: Sat Sep 10, 2016 4:25 am
Location: NoCA

by TwinSpokes21

Wow...polls overwhelmingly favor the Bianchi. Though, I wonder if that is because there are just more folks out there that have ridden the Oltre (or Bianchi bikes in general) vs De Rosa. I will say that while there are some good writes ups on the SK (few listed in one of the posts here), still pales in comparison to the reviews done on the Oltre. Not saying that is an indicator of anything. Just really tough as it sounds like there are just generally less De Rosa's on the road (certainly the case in my neck of the woods and one of the reasons I'm leaning in that direction!).

nickl
Posts: 140
Joined: Fri Jan 18, 2013 12:37 am

by nickl

I love the looks of the SK Pininfarina - but I think De Rosa often makes good looking bikes.

I had a DeRosa Merek II. It wasn't a super high end bike, but everyone who saw it loved it. I got more comments on bike than anything else.

I replaced it (after a car hit me) with a Wilier Cento 1 SR. I think the backend on the Wilier might be a bit stiffer when sprinting out of corners, but I wouldn't say the De Rosa was "a noodle".

Shrike
Posts: 2019
Joined: Fri Jun 03, 2016 5:08 pm

by Shrike

I think if you poll any bike v the XR4 it'd lose, simply because the XR4 is an incredible looking machine.

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