Pinarello’s Dogma XC is one tough bike to ignore. Not only is it the brand’s first dip of the toe into mountain biking for a good time now, but it’s also propelled both Tom Pidcock and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot to great success. In pursuit of those podiums, it boasts a rather different design, too, making it rather striking to the eye, to say the least. However, the Italian brand, best known for its fiesty road bikes, has expanded its mountain bike range with new models that bring the price down a touch, and also has downcountry and marathon set in its sights.
Just before its launch, I gave the Dogma XC HT a spin, and I can tell you that it’s solely focused on racing, with serious stiffness and speed to match, but that unrelenting ride quality isn’t one that’ll suit all riders, I thought. So it’s great to see Pinarello attempt to widen the Dogma XC’s appeal to a wider audience.
In fact, the brand has given the whole range a bit of a shake-up, now introducing the Dogma XCT, a bike that’s geared more towards marathon racing. The Dogma XCR replaces the XC thoroughbred that is the Dogma XC, and the new Dogma XC range utilises slightly less fancy carbon fibre and lower-level kit to help hit lower price points.
To start with the Dogma XTC, it’s built for riders who have a penchant for distance while benefiting from the racy pedigree of the Dogma XC. As you would expect, this bike is all about efficiency and control, but it’s equipped with burlier componentry to boost confidence on techy tracks, while aiming for more consistent performance when the kilometres start adding up. Pinarello also mentions that it’s developed for downcountry racing… but I’m pretty sure that doesn’t exist yet.
As for that componentry, the XTC dons a TorayCa M30J carbon frame, a Fox 34 SL Factory fork with 120mm of travel, a Fox Float Factory shock, as well as Shimano’s XTR Di2 drivetrain, Race Face Era carbon cranks, and a DT Swiss XCR1200 wheelset.
The Pinarello Dogma XCR is the proper racy bike that benefits from the same frame as prior models, but its componentry list is very similar to what Pidock rides. The suspension is provided by RockShox with its Sid Ultimate fork donning 120mm of squish, and the SidLuxe shock. Both utilise RockShox’s Flight Attendant technology that adjusts the lockout on the fly. There’s then a RockShox Reverb AXS dropper post offering up to 150mm of drop, depending on the frame size. This bike rolls on DT Swiss’s XCR1200 wheels wrapped with Vittoria Mezcal Race tyres and is driven by SRAM’s XX SL power meter drivetrain.
As for prices, they’re steep. The Dogma XCT will set you back £12,000, whereas the Dogma XCR is priced at £13,000… phwoar.
The Dogma XC range aims to prioritise value (but you’ll still need at least six grand)
If those bikes are a little too rich for your blood, the new XC range is a little more affordable. A little…
These bikes follow the XCR and XCT themes, with two models built for distance and consistency, while the single XCR9 build is the only purpose-built race bike in the range. Each bike boasts a frame built from a slightly lower grade of carbon – TorayCa T900 and the componentry isn’t quite as swanky as what you’ll find on the spendier models.
For example, the XCR9 gets SRAM’s XO Eagle drivetrain and Select+ level suspension from RockShox. The XCT9 uses Shimano’s XT Di2 shifting, Fox Factory suspension, and DT Swiss XR1700 wheels.
At the cheapest end of the range is the XCT7. This one benefits from SRAM’s Eagle 90 Transmission, a RockShox SID 35 Base fork and a SidLuxe Select+ fork, and DT Swiss’s XR1700 wheels.
Prices here are much friendlier, with the Dogma XCR9 costing £7,900, the XCT9 at £7,500 and the XCT7 at £6,000. Though that’s all still quite a wedge of cash.
