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TECH NEWS

Just in: Bianchi Oltre XR1

Brand new £2,700 Campagnolo Veloce-equipped carbon race bike arrives in the road.cc bike shed

Bianchi's race-ready Oltre XR was launched in 2012, followed up by the improved XR2 in 2014, and is this year joined by the new XR1, a more affordable version built using a slightly modified frame with a different carbon layup, and four builds starting with this Campagnolo Veloce model costing £2,700.

The new Oltre XR1 looks identical to the XR2. That’s because it essentially comes out of the same mould, but it uses a different grade of carbon fibre to keep the price a bit more affordable. There’s none of the reinforcing X-Tex in this frame, which is used around the head tube and bottom bracket of the XR2 to boost stiffness. The seatstays are typically skinny in an effort to provide some smoothness over bumpy roads.

The rear dropouts have been redesigned on this XR1, with one-piece carbon fibre moulded dropouts with an aluminium insert, replacing the bolted stays of the XR2. All cables are internally routed, the rear brake inside the top tube and the gear cables inside the down tube. The frame is Di2 and EPS compatible so it’s got plenty of upgrade potential. The fork is similar as well to the one used on the Oltre XR2, with a claimed weight of 355g.

The geometry is carried over from the top-end XR2 as well. This is a 55cm model (seven sizes are available from 47 to 61cm) and has a 550mm horizontal top tube, 495mm seat tube, 587mm reach, 388mm stack, 407mm chainstays, a 72.5 degree head angle and 73.5 degree seat angle.

It’s a good looking bike, with aero shaped fork blades and flared down tube at the the head tube/fork interface, a teardrop seat tube, with a cutaway for the rear wheel, and aero seatpost. The seat tube, while it looks the same as the XR2’s seat tube, has been redesigned to shed a bit of weight. The seatpost uses a single bolt clamp mechanism and is offered in four lengths, from 250 to 380mm, and is available to take saddles with round or oval rails.

Four builds are available in the XR1 range, this is the most affordable at £2,700. For that you get a Campagnolo Veloce 10-speed groupset with the updated ErgoPower shifters, with a down-turned shift lever that is far more ergonomic than the previous design. There’s an FSA Gossamer Pro chainset with a 52/36t chainring combination and out back is a 12-27t cassette, it's a good setup for racing and sportives.

The Oltre XR1 rolls on a pair of Vision Team 30 wheels with 25mm Vittoria Zaffiro Pro Slick tyres. Bianchi’s in-house brand Reparto Corse is used for the finishing kit, an aluminium handlebar and stem, carbon post and San Marco Era Dynamic Open saddle completes the spec details.

The Oltre XR1 does carry a slight weight penalty over the more expensive XR2, the frame reportedly weighs about 200g more than the XR2's 895g claimed frame weight (for a size 55). On the scales, this bike weighs 7.95kg (17.52 lb).

It’s available in your classic Celeste colour or, if you prefer, a modest modest black paint job. Some people of course feel that a true Bianchi must be painted in this colour and specced with a Campagnolo groupset. You may feel differently. 

There’s a fair amount of competition at this price point, so close to £3k, and the Eddy Merckx SanRemo76 immediately springs to mind. It too is a bike designed for racing and high performance cycling, where speed matters hugely. 

Mat was really impressed with the Oltre XR2, awarding it a 9/10 score, and summed it up by saying: “...the Oltre XR2 is outstandingly responsive. It accelerates super-fast, exactly as you'd expect of a bike that mixes it at the very highest level.”

It’ll be interesting to see how the XR1 compares and if, in the changes to meet a lower price, it has lost any of that character.

www.bianchi.com

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes

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14 comments

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nadsta | 8 years ago
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So they've watered down their halo product and undermined their sempre pro. Seems kinda dumb.

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IanW1968 | 8 years ago
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This bike looks superb in the flesh but you would have to really want a Bianchi to pay c.1k over the odds for the spec.

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buntysouth | 8 years ago
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I'm waiting for the XR3i

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buntysouth | 8 years ago
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I'm waiting for the XR3i

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slam that stem replied to buntysouth | 8 years ago
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buntysouth wrote:

I'm waiting for the XR3i

Ok. At least I appreciated that one...

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Simkart | 8 years ago
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Well... I'm a Bianchi man and I wouldn't buy XR1. I'd take the Sempre Pro with Athena build and use the change for the new wheelset.

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Gweeds | 8 years ago
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Nearly £3k for Veloce?

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Kestevan | 8 years ago
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NIce bike, but a hell of a price premium just to have a bike in an odd green colour......

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McVittees | 8 years ago
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As per the above comments, I know its a gorgeous frame but I don't think you can get away with speccing anything less than a 11 speed groupset on a bike over £1.5k any more (let alone £2.7k). You can thank Shimano and 5800 105 for that.  36

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hill4544 | 8 years ago
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What a rip off. Last year I bought a Canyon Ultimate CF SL with full Chorus groupset and Campy Eurus wheels - for £2400. And it weighs 6.85kg without pedals. I'd be surprised if they sell any of these with such a lowly spec and extortionate price.

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Chasseur Patate replied to hill4544 | 8 years ago
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hill4544 wrote:

What a rip off. Last year I bought a Canyon Ultimate CF SL with full Chorus groupset and Campy Eurus wheels - for £2400. And it weighs 6.85kg without pedals. I'd be surprised if they sell any of these with such a lowly spec and extortionate price.

With seemingly every other cyclist riding a Canyon I'm sure some people will be happy to pay a premium for something different to the crowds. You're paying for the frame. (An XR2 frame is 3.2k) the XR1 may be cheaper but let's not kid ourselves its in bargain basement territory. Value is subjective. If we all rode the same thing it would be a very boring world indeed.

Lovely beautifully finished frame, excellent mid range groupset. Meh wheels. But then I own an Oltre xr2 so I may be somewhat biased ref the looks department.

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Broady. | 8 years ago
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Lot of money for Veloce / FSA.

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S13SFC | 8 years ago
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I already own a Bianchi and was going to buy a XR1 but then I rode the Merckx San Remo and that was that.

XR1 is great but the Merckx is simply awesome.

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eddie11 | 8 years ago
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Is it my screen settings or is that shade of celeste way off?

Lovely bike otherwise though.

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