The 2008 Bianchi range

narra · July 19, 2007

For all the Bianchi fans LOL

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/article/the-2008-bianchi-range-11434

Feature

The 2008 Bianchi range

Posted by Warren Rossiter

http://mos.bikeradar.com/images/bikes-and-gear/in-depth/2007/bianchi-launch/bianchi_4-3-280-80.jpg

The 2008 Bianchi range (Warren Rossiter ?)

In recent years Bianchi have kept a fresh yearly

line-up of bikes through simple tweaks and cosmetic changes. The 2007

range was highly developed, but it could be criticized for falling

behind big brands Scott and Specialized and falling short of the

technical innovations of smaller companies such as BMC and C?rvelo.

The engineering design team have realised this, and throughout

product launches and shows last year they hinted at major changes for

2008. Well here they are. and this is in no way cosmetic. Each range

has been thoroughly overhauled from the ground up.

Race bikes

HoC Frames (Hors Category)

Bianchi's HoC 928's are at the pinnacle of the range with race bred

geometry, light carbon being the order of the day. The HoC Carbon 928

SL UD now sits atop the composite race bikes with an all new high

modulus uni-directional carbon monocoque design.

Nano Nano

The carbon itself is of the Nano-tech variety (ala Easton and BMC)

re-sculpted low weight drop outs and a new oversized BB shell to

improve stiffness throughout the transmission. The frameset's tubing is

reworked with a triangulated top tube which flows into a more ovalised

box section at the seat tube, this flows into the seat stays - a la

specialized's Tarmac and Wilier's Cento. The downtube starts in a more

conventional round section but increases in diameter and ovalizes at

the reworked BB area.

All these design tweaks combined with the new material and the

dropping of the 12k weave outer layer of previous incarnations has

given the 928 SL UD a very competitive weight of just 900g (55cm).

Combined with a new 300g SL fork, this is a seriously lightweight

chassis. The test bike we rode in the Bergamo hills (specced with

Campag's Chorus and Zonda wheels) came in at a complete weight of a

touch over 7 kilos/15.4 pounds - light enough in anyone's book, and

remember this is no superbike component spec, more what most of us

would use day to day.

http://mos.bikeradar.com/images/bikes-and-gear/in-depth/2007/bianchi-launch/bianchi_2-480-70.jpg

Ride light

Aboard the 928 the first thing you notice is the weight, this is one

light bike. Climbing on the 928 felt nimble and quick, and out of the

saddle stomps up steep sections were remarkably free of any stresses.

No wandering, no flex, just forward motion. Once the climbs had been

conquered, descending felt planted and in out of the saddle sprints,

quick direction changes were instant and without drama. This tester

would have preferred a wider bar, even though the 42cm Deda Campione

has a great traditional bend and nicely oversized diameter, but that's

a small niggle.

I had no expectations of comfort as bikes of this ilk are usually

all about efficient transmission of power and can lead to a rather

harsh and eyeball shaking ride over rough surfaces, so I was pleasantly

surprised at the comfort level of the 928 SL. It's not quite in the

league of a titanium bike or, for that matter a Time VXR, but it's

certainly much better over harsher surfaces than most of the US bikes

I've tried and those from the other big Italian marques.

http://mos.bikeradar.com/images/bikes-and-gear/in-depth/2007/bianchi-launch/bianchi_3-480-70.jpg

http://mos.bikeradar.com/images/bikes-and-gear/in-depth/2007/bianchi-launch/bianchi_4-480-70.jpg

Bianchi will also continue to offer the Aluminium FG Lite C (It a

racers favourite in Italy) with its exclusive Hyperalloy construction

(a mix of alu, magnesium and with Bianchi's patented structural foam

injection (which increases the strength of the

frame))

http://mos.bikeradar.com/images/bikes-and-gear/in-depth/2007/bianchi-launch/bianchiweb_woz002-480-70.jpeg

B4P

The B4P has a new bonded T-Cube design carbon frame, which uses a

more conventional tube construction as opposed to the monocoque HoC.

The T-Cube design eliminates the use of lugs and therefore the B4P for

2008 has seen a significant drop in frame weights - down to the kilo

mark for a 55cm model. The new oversized BB design (similar to the HoC)

has increased the stiffness by 25 percent over the previous model.

http://mos.bikeradar.com/images/bikes-and-gear/in-depth/2007/bianchi-launch/bianchiweb_woz004-480-70.jpeg

S9 Matta

The B4P range is topped by this beautifully sandblast-finished

3al/2.5v titanium beauty, double butted ti throughout with reparto

corse specific profile tubing. For safety's sake the tubing is

completed with the patented structural foam injected core.

Be individual

Also in the Reparto Corse range of Bianchi bikes is a fully custom

option. Bianchi Individual offers carbon bikes (the T-Cube process on

the B4P range) in any geometry you require, even offering the

opportunity to dial in your own personal characteristics of the

material (stiffness or comfort).

http://mos.bikeradar.com/images/bikes-and-gear/in-depth/2007/bianchi-launch/bianchiweb_woz005-480-70.jpeg

The B4P range starts with the 1885 series a triple butted

hydroformed aluminium frame with all new high modulus carbon fibre seat

stays and smooth quality weld finishing throughout.

C2C

This is fast becoming Bianchi's most popular race range with its

relaxed sportive derived geometry and supple ride characteristics its

certainly an excellent choice for the distance rider.

http://mos.bikeradar.com/images/bikes-and-gear/in-depth/2007/bianchi-launch/bianchiweb_woz007-480-70.jpeg

The range topping 928 carbon C2c is as with the HoC's a

fullmonocoque design using a mixture of HM carbon, combined with high

strength carbon and a more elastic Kevlar composite used on the fork

and seat stays. It works with the Kevlar fork and seat stays to give an

incredibly smooth ride. The only bike that's come close is

Specialized's excellent S-Works Roubaix with its Zertz inserts,

although in this rider's opinion, the Bianchi offered a greater balance

of comfort and stiffness.

Let's go off road!

http://mos.bikeradar.com/images/bikes-and-gear/in-depth/2007/bianchi-launch/camos-480-70.jpg

Oetzi carbon

Bianchi introduced the carbon monocoque Oetzi just 3 years ago and

for '08 it's had a radical upgrade. It now uses the same Nano tech

carbon as the HoC road machines, has a redesigned seat stay and BB, but

still retains its v-brake bosses for the lightweight freaks. High

impact resistant carbon is used in areas that can have potential

impacts (downtube, chainstays etc) but the use of the HM Nano material

keeps the weight down to a very respectable 1.2kg for the frame.

http://mos.bikeradar.com/images/bikes-and-gear/in-depth/2007/bianchi-launch/bianchiweb_woz014-480-70.jpeg

http://mos.bikeradar.com/images/bikes-and-gear/in-depth/2007/bianchi-launch/bianchiweb_woz015-480-70.jpegCamos

The all new Camos full sus XC/Marathon machine is an all new concept

for Bianchi. With an HM carbon front-end mated to an alu dual

pivot

rear, the Camos also features Carbon dual spring chainstays. These

stays are profiled into a thin slither of material which acts as a leaf

spring providing 80mm of travel (all perfectly controlled with a DT

airshock). The chainstay assembly can be removed, flipped and

reattached using the 5 Allen head mount points. This alters the

characteristics from soft and supple to a stiffer, more resistant feel.

The two prototype test rigs available were set up in both

configurations and there was a marked difference between the two.

The all-up weight of the Camos frame of 2.4kg and a complete bike

(in XT/LX) build of 13kg (28lbs) make this a real contender for the

coming year.

http://mos.bikeradar.com/images/bikes-and-gear/in-depth/2007/bianchi-launch/bianchiweb_woz017-480-70.jpeg

http://mos.bikeradar.com/images/bikes-and-gear/in-depth/2007/bianchi-launch/bianchiweb_woz052-480-70.jpeg

AndreZA · July 19, 2007

Okay, who wants to swop me a Bianchi for my never used Equinox wheels.

Mudsimus · July 19, 2007

That alu one is sweeeeet!!

Mudsimus · July 19, 2007

http://mos.bikeradar.com/images/bikes-and-gear/in-depth/2007/bianchi-launch/bianchiweb_woz002-480-70.jpeg

gummibear · July 19, 2007

the B4P seems quite nice

Joss · July 19, 2007

Nice bikes. Just a pity they are not ridden ion the TDF any longer,

slowjoe · July 19, 2007

very pretty, almost as kewl as this:

Evan Andreou · July 19, 2007

very pretty' date=' almost as kewl as this:

What bike you ride Slowjoe?
[/quote']

Kritzie · July 19, 2007

Just got my nanotech 928hope its going to last longer than my two C2C and one 928!!! Must say its a huge improvement over the C2C, climbs much better and is much stiffer.

Will always be a Bianchi fan though, part of cycling history!!

narra · July 19, 2007

Can not wait for the new Felt range. But at least I do have time to think of excuses to tell my wive

narra · July 19, 2007

By the way Slowjoe, Joss that also posted on this thread, is the guy that I spoked about, for you Felt.

narra2007-07-19 05:49:26

slowjoe · July 19, 2007

yep i remember

i hope felt skips a year , i cant afford a new bike now

En haggis het my wiele vir mampara gegee, nou moet ek nog spaar vir wiele ook

The 2008 Bianchi range

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