A lovely and most helpful review, thank you David. The comments about the supposedly high price are curious - as David said below, there is currently a general trend towards inflated bike prices, yet the Filante significantly undercuts its handful of direct rivals (eg Tarmac SL7, by some £2000). The real problem, here in the UK at least, is that currently you simply cannot get a Filante SLR for love or money (even a lot of money) - not a complete bike, nor a frameset. On the comfort issue, David rightly compares the Filante to the Tarmac SL7, but it is doubtful that the Filante advantage here is primarily due to the compliance of the frame and fork, or due to geometry. The point about the shorter reach doesn't hold across the size range; when comparing eg a size M Filante and a (comparable) size 54 Tarmac SL7, it is in fact the Filante that has the marginally longer reach, as well as a lower stack. A better explanation may be that whereas Filante test bikes (including David's) roll on 28 mm tubeless tires, SL7s tend to be tested on 26 mm clinchers, inevitably inflated to a higher pressure. That difference probably introduces a far greater divergence in compliance than any other single factor; to really tell whether one rides more smoothly than the other over our crumbling Cotswolds roads, they ought to be tested on the same wheels and tires, inflated identically. (I would be interested in such a comparison, but imagine that it would be logistically tricky to set it up.)
Your review helped me to choose between the Filante and the Zero SLR ... Just rode mine for the first time today... Amazingly smooth and responsive... fast ...powerful ... can’t wait to ride more and more kms and discover all this beauty qualities...
David, just rode the Filante. Your review is spot on! It's a surprisingly smooth ride for a race bike. Light up the hills, power transfer excellent. And it is beautiful.
@@davidarthur David, I now own the Wilier Filante, and can't say enough about what an impressive ride it is. It's pure joy and will be so for years to come.. Keep up the great work.
A beautiful bike indeed, but then that's Italian stylists for you. I have a black and red Wilier Izoard XP (8 years old now?) that still turns heads and beats most other bikes into a cocked hat lookswise. It's also a very smooth comfortable ride, so I imagine the intervening 8 years have made the Filante an absolute joy. Thanks.
Hey Dave you know its a 👍review when one says “im sold”. An aside theres a “ too good to be true” aspect to your findings. Your demeanor and sincerity in presenting however squashes this thought 💭. good work 🤝☺️
Great review indeed, I did meditate between newest Trek Madone and Filante and the review and the testing ride at our local dealer helped to decide. Looking forward now to receiving my red glossy one soon :)
lovely italian bike needs lovely italian drive train - campi all the way! always a blast checking out people whose lives are so sad they watch new bike reviews and moan about prices. now head to the lamborghini reviews and have a field day - good times!
The industry will keep pushing the prices up if people keep buying them. One signal of this is the SL line that Willier launch last year, my guess is that they lost so many clients/potential clients because normal people couldn't afford the SLR models so they look into other brands that are offering second tier bikes. Almost every brand have them now. So yes, there will be people buying the top of the line, but i don't believe that the big bike companies make much money out of them. They make money selling the second tier or the low spec overpriced frames that people can afford. That's my guess but i can be wrong.
@@davidarthur Yes I know David, but the problem is I can’t even see why a 105 equipped bike costs as much as it does. The components on a bike are not many and at the same time are quite basic! For example, a carbon wheelset. Made up of a rim, spokes and a hub. How on earth can they be £1000-3000? And yes I own a set of Hunt carbon wheels at the lower end of the spectrum, but still think they’re overpriced.
Hi David, I'm a huge fan of your work. This bike is a real stunning machine. I was wondering if you could do some review about a Basso Diamante SV, Cervélo Caledonia 5 and so on... And even better, some back-to-back comparisons... I do look forward to it. Also some buyer's advise for decent bikes at reasonable prices are always a good idea... Anyway keep on riding, reviewing and posting good videos. Best regards from Belgium.
Definitely a beauty from Wilier. The Italians definitely know their design and how to create objects of sheer beauty (aside from the ugliness that is Pinarello these days, unfortunately). From Wilier to Bianchi, De Rosa and Colnago - they still edge most manufacturers when it comes to design. You’ll always have your weight weenies and marketing hype-driven consumer who buy Canyon and Cervelo (the latter as ugly as the Pinarello’s) but this is why we have many options. Gorgeous Wilier.
Stunning bike on video and jaw dropping in person in this colourway! I couldn't justify the price and opted for the Cento10SL, bike GNC crew used for their cross UK ride. Its a lower version but the ride quality and balance of attributes is something special and a considerable step up from my past Agron 18 and high end Giant road bikes I've owned. I am besting all my past segment times and am happy the aero bit isn't all marketing buzz. Fit wise as you can see with David in the video Wiliers have a true race geometry with very low stack heights I went a size up and use a shorter stem. Works great and it looks heaps better - looking at David on this large he would likely get on better with the XL to.
Great review Dave, stunning bike - just that price point especially with that wheel set is hard to justify when Focus and Orbea are putting out such comparatively better value.
David, I was actually contemplating this bike just today (excellent timing, yours). However, after carefully considering the very racy geometry, there’s just no way I could get comfortable on this bike. Too old and inflexible, I’m afraid. Then I turned to the Cento10NDR, Wilier’s endurance version of the Cento10 from which the Filante is derived, if I’m not mistaken. Have you tried that bike yet? I’m keen to hear your thoughts if you have. Cheers!
Hey David, great looking bike and good review, price on the high side. How would you compare the Merida reacto 7000e against this one? let me know your thoughts
Thanks. I would choose the Filante over the Zero, for me it’s an easy decision. The speed, smoothness and looks and only a small weight penalty make it an easy pick in my mind
I had the same doubt... thanks for expressing your choice as I had to choose between the 2 before your review came out ...I chose and got the Filante 😍 Soon I will have the same pleasure you’ve had riding it! Can’t wait!
Yes David, please test ride the V3RS which has been ony top list all this while until I saw this Filante SLR in real life today! And with your awesome review, now I feel like getting the Filante SLR instead!
Instead of reviewing "innovative" bikes like this, I suggest you to review small brands David. The price they put mostly affordable. I believe there's a lot out there and it would be great to help those companies/makers grow. You got my attention on palace's new alloy bike, it was like a gem and I hope you can find another one.
Question: the bike looks a bit small for the rider here. I ask because I have Willier and find it a bit on the small side. Wondering if this is just the way it is for Willier bikes.
The stack is lower and the reach longer than a typical endurance bike and the wheelbase is shorter too. As you can see though with a few spacers you can raise the bars for a more relaxed fit. But it's an emphasis on being an aero fit compared to a more upright endurance bike. Hope that helps
size large?Do you mind sharing your saddle height from BB to saddle center? How tall are you? What about saddle bar difference? saddle tip to bar center? thx.
It is expensive yes but overpriced? Compared to similarly specced bikes from Trek or Specialized it’s currently cheaper, though that could well soon change
I’m sure they’ll come out with an Ultegra or a 105 mechanical later this year for around $4,000. If the ride is as good as described, definitely a bike to check out, especially since you won’t be like everyone else out here in the US on a Trek or a Specialized
@@ozgurinsan it’s all relative though, obviously plenty of people willing to pay the price. No consumer needs the 12r carbon from Specialized, but lots of people want it. Hopefully they bring out a ‘budget’ version.
At 9:35 you say that the fit is perfect but you are running a humongous set of spacers. A perfect fit is where you don’t need spacers half the height of the top tube. The handling character of the bike is changed substantially by the spacers since it means you have effectively made a racing bike into an endurance geometry + it impacts the stiffness doing turns at the head tube. You would be better served with their endurance bike.
I can’t describe how dumb your rationale is. A bike doesn’t need to and rarely ever does come out of the box with a perfect fit. You need to adjust it to your specifications. Next are you going to frown upon someone raising their seat post? Also just because the rider position is less aero, doesn’t mean that the aero bonus you get from the bike is erased or negated. Finally, it is super common for aero bikes to have these spacers, even some of the pro Astana riders run the Filante with a good amount of spacers.
Not sure where I said that. He obviously needs a bike with a taller head tube if he needs that much amount of spacers. This is not an opinion but a visible fact. This means he needs to go a size larger or needs a bike with a geometry which allows for a taller head tube. An endurance geometry provides that. Not sure what is so offensive in saying some one needs an endurance geometry.
Rahul S It isn’t offensive, it’s just stupid. He shouldn’t change the type of bike he is riding because it could fit more comfortably out of the box. You act like spacers are the devil, but in reality it’s completely fine. Also he isn’t even running a crazy amount of spacers. It is normal for someone to have to add spacers, sizing isn’t just about one factor. If he were go a size up it could mess up how the bike fits in on there areas. If he is the rider and he says it is a perfect fit, it probably is.
No bike is worth 9K .......you will not be any quicker on a £5k bike or a 9k bike simples.....just get a smaller frontal area and a good set of wheels.
Same with cars though isn't it. What's so special about a super expensive hyper car or a 4x4 when you could just have a basic one for a 100th of the price
I wud rather have torque settings permanently marked on the frame in lieu of a mistake made by myself or a mechanic. The saddle position is probably adjusted the most so that may be the reasoning for it being “etched” close to where the bolt is. One also see this sort of marking on Stems n Handlebars across many brands - It’s mentioned “right there” to obviously alert not to over torque. In a previous video too u had the same gripe for another bike - I don’t understand why u r making such a big fuss over it as it’s there for safety reasons n to prevent a costly mistakes. Get over it !
Each to their own. I don’t see why the settings can’t just be in the manual. I’d argue saddle height isn’t something you adjust much after the initial setup, and often with high-end bikes the shop are doing the build. Other brands can do without torque settings on the top tube so my point stand IMO
Rarely do people keep user manuals safely n I doubt anyone has them handy when they go for rides or when one is away from base - ( I personally do maintain a spiral folder where i keep user manuals for all of gadgets i possess, but I have noted this practice b more of an exception than the norm with friends/neighbors, etc. ). So this way Wilier n other brands make it more difficult to over torque n thus damage expensive carbon frames. Plus it’s not like the text is large, “in your face” - It’s an appropriate size so it can be read. As for the frequency of adjusting Saddle Height, one may need to adjust it from time to time based on different riders who may ride the bike - While changing the Stem n Handlebars will not happen so frequently. I highlighted the point of Saddle Position for thats when in the video your shared your gripe !
I don’t have a label on the outside of my cars fuel filler cap to remind me of the fuel type to use... I think we’ll just have to agree to disagree here. And that’s fine. It’s just my opinion after all :)
The conversation is about bicycles - But to take your analogy ahead - Yes, many cars do come with a warnings of “Only Petrol” or “Only Diesel“ - This is specially important information for cars that are rented, Avis, Hertz, etc. Also important for families that own multiple cars where different cars have different types of fuel requirements, “Leaded/Unleaded”, etc. Again, all this is done to prevent a costly mistake may it b for bicycles ( of over torquing ) or for vehicles ( adding the wrong fuel type ). On a lighter note : I now just hope you don’t maintain a gripe that Coffee Shops have Coffee Decanters labelled as “De-Caffeinated” or “Caffeinated” !! : ) KNOW & APPRECIATE why a company such as Wilier which prides itself in creating great designs, ( here I refer to visual aesthetics ) & exquisite finishes does decide to add some basic cautionary n informative text on their bikes.
