ChucklesKY

I find the Wilier Gran Turismo very attractive. But I'm confused. The company and most description/accounts of it refer to it as an all-day endurance bike. When I analyze the geometry though it is almost identical to the Specialized Tarmac, Trek Madone, Ridley Helium and other such bikes. In fact, comparing the geometry to the Wilier Cento1 Superleggera, which is Wilier's "ultimate superlight racing machine", it is identical, give or take a millimeter. The geometry is very different than a Specialized Roubaix which has slacker head and seat tube angles and an appreciably longer wheelbase. Is this classification as an endurance bike based all on the frame construction or what?

Henry III

The layup up the carbon could be different and how do the components compare to the Superleggera?

BentLink

I really like my Spec Roubaix, but have a serious crush on that Wilier.

bbattle

+1 on the carbon layup and mix.

ultraman6970

Well u have to realize that willier is a full race bike company, doubt they will manufacture a tourism bike with a front tube like 30 cms tall and 70 degrees seat tube angle ever. THeir spirit is totally different, ridley and bmc are the same stuff... "so if you go to willier asking for a touring bike with 40 cm front tube?? go somewhere else, we dont have that!". Not even the weeked ride they have looks like that.

The other factor is esthetics, italian company... not even paying them they will produce a bike like some of the Roubaix models, probably ever. Is not their market... so willier attach the problem in another way.. carbon layout.

By the way which % of the specialized owners and people who goes to a store to get a specialized with a 60 cm head tube knows what a willier is?? the number has to be really really low.

ChucklesKY

I'm not looking for a massive head tube upright touring bike from Wilier. I really like the Gran Turismo. And I guess part of it is pride that the term "all day endurance bike" is a turn off for me. It really shouldn't be; I don't race. But I do like to suffer! And whenever someone says something like "comfort endurance bike" to me I think, "I don't wanna be a pansy and ride a sissy bike!"

bbattle

Wow, there are some real insecure people here. Must be the cold weather.

If you like the Gran Turismo, get one and go ride. It's a very nice, very fast bike.

Geez.

Henry III

I would take a Wiliers in a second if my pocket book had the funds over a Specialized Roubaix. I'm not big on the big name company's like Trek, Giant, Specialized...etc.

revchuck 

It's higher than you think. Just because not all of us are wannabe racers doesn't mean we don't appreciate cool bikes.

There's the "suffer" that comes from thrashing yourself hard on the bike, and then there's the "suffer" that comes from riding a bike that doesn't fit because you bought it for the coolness factor alone. The first is admirable, the second is stupid.

That Gran Turismo is gorgeous, but would be the wrong bike for me - I need more head tube as a result of a back injury sustained in a motorcycle accident in '77, and I'll be 60 next month. I'm making do with a Look 585 Optimum, which has both enough coolness and enough head tube for me. Any suffering I undergo on that bike, or my on Specialized Allez or my Bianchi Trofeo, will be due solely to the effort I put out. If I were to meet you while riding and you had the Gran Turismo, I'd drool over it like everyone else.

ChucklesKY

Touche. No argument from me!

well biked

I think the popularity of "Gran Fondos" and the whole image that kind of thing brings to mind is the main reason these "endurance road bikes" have gained in popularity. It seems that the market is being flooded with many brands' version of them. In our shop, we've been very successful in selling a couple of diffferent brands' offerings in this category. There are certainly many takes on what a modern "endurance road bike" is, and we've found that the brands that actually change the geometry from their race bikes with noticeably longer headtubes and longer chainstays are most appealing to a customer that's looking for such a bike. In making the frame and fork of lightweight carbon fiber with the different geometry, equipping the bike with nice components and wheels, you end up with a light, comfortable road bike that really is appealing to a lot of folks.

shokhead

Gee, ok.

Clipped_in

Well said.

ChucklesKY

shokhead

No kidding. The coolness factor seems to get in the way of the smartest decision for your money, not I want it because I just love the color and nobody else rides them. I couldn't give a rats a$$ who else rides what, it's about me.

revchuck 

Like I said, that's a fargin' gorgeous bike!

shokhead

Just noticed they use FSA brekes?

ultraman6970

Come on OP get the bike and borrow it to me to test it, that bike has been in my list since a few years now.

mpath

How can that be when it was new for 2011, slotted between the now Izoard XP and the Imperiale? IOW, Wilier downgraded the Izoard by attaching the XP suffix and either SRAM Force or Ultegra/FSA mix for the GT to fit.

Henry III

I guess if your looking to spend that much on a bike why not getting something custom to match what you exactly need?

ChucklesKY

I thought it slotted in between the Izoard XP and the Cento1. I thought the Imperiale was a horse of a different color. . .an aero frame. But I could be wrong. I have been wrong before. . .once.

ChucklesKY

I guess expense is a relative term. My wife thought I had lost my mind when I spent $1,500 on an entry level bike. The Wilier GT as a complete bike comes equipped with Ultegra and FSA components in the U.S. for around $3,500. Now granted that's a lot of money but there certainly are bikes out there more expensive. I was looking at maybe building it up with a combo of Force and Red components which may cost a couple hundred more. I would think a custom frameset alone, if that's what you're referring to, would cost $4-5K alone.

shokhead

For me the FSA brakes and crank on the Izoard XP are a bit of a drawback. Example the Specialized Roubaix Ultegra is all Ultegra but it is $400 or so more.

ChucklesKY

Do you mean the Gran Turismo instead of Izoard XP? True, the Gran Turismo has FSA crank and brakes with remaining components being Ultegra. Truthfully I don't know if that's good or bad. Of course, I was thinking of building one up, or letting Competitive Cyclist do it, with Force and Red components.

tkr

I had one of the first Gran Turismos in Canada as part of a waranty replacement for an izoard with a cracked frame. The full Ultegra gruppo from the 2010 izoard went on the '11 GT frame along with the Ritchey Seatpost, stem and bar. -I have no FSA stuff on my bike. I did upgrade the wheelset to Fulcrum 3's. Following that disclaimer mine shouldn't be much different to ride than a stock North American (Shimano equipped) model.

The I did a lot of research into this frame before taking the upgrade (I had to pay a little bit). What I learned was that yes the geometry is the same as the Cento models but with the shapes of the tubes allows for a frame that is a bit more forgiving over long days in the saddle, while still handling like a race bike. You do lose a bit of stiffness (not that I could tell after trying a cento) and gain a bit of weight in the frame over the racier models.

After 5000+ km on it including several rides that were in the 100-200km range and 1 day that I put in 400km, this bike if fitted properly to the rider, is great for its stated purpose as an all day endurance bike.