The Assos Equipe R Bib Shorts S11 aim to deliver top-tier performance without straying into the wallet-emptying costs of ultra-premium options. The Swiss company has long been regarded as producing some of the finest shorts in the cycling world, combining premium materials, meticulous craftsmanship, and a hefty price tag that reflects their elite status – and these really are excellent, delivering superb long-distance comfort without emptying your bank account.
For more options, check our best cycling bib shorts buyer’s guide.
Packaging and first Impressions
Assos understands how to make an impression. The Equipe R Bib Shorts S11 arrive in a sleek, high-end box that immediately reinforces their premium status. The fabric and finishing are impeccable, with a race-cut silhouette that looks fast even before you pull them on.
Colour options, however, are a little more niche. My test pair came in ‘Edge Green’, a bold, almost pastel shade that won’t appeal to everyone. There’s also Secret Blue, another distinctive option, or the safer bet – plain black – if you prefer a more traditional look.
Fit and compression
The fit of these bibs is unmistakably race-focused. The Type.911 textile provides a firm, compressive fit, supporting your muscles without feeling overly restrictive. The raw-cut cuffs and minimalist silicone grippers ensure a smooth, aero profile while keeping your legs firmly in place without excessive pressure.
One of the standout features is the ZeroPressure Waist, a low-cut front panel designed to eliminate any stomach constriction when you’re riding in an aggressive position. This works brilliantly when tucked in the race position, but it does have one minor drawback – if you pair it with a shorter jersey, there’s a chance your base layer or a bit of skin might be on display when standing at the café queue.
The X-Frame bib strap system, borrowed from Assos’s higher-end models, is soft and supportive, distributing pressure evenly across your shoulders.
It does a great job of preventing the rear of the shorts from sagging, ensuring the chamois stays exactly where it needs to be during long rides.
Chamois and ride comfort
The Equipe R S11 insert is where these bibs really shine. Assos has used its GoldenGate 2.0 technology, which means the chamois is stitched at the front and rear but left free-floating at the sides, supposedly allowing it to move with your body rather than against it. While this is difficult to quantify, what I can say is that the chamois remained exceptionally comfortable across a variety of ride types and intensities.
From a flat-out 10-mile TT effort to our two-hour local paceline slugfest, the padding offered excellent road feel without sacrificing comfort. The 9mm channelled foam and 3D waffle technology effectively damped vibrations without feeling bulky, striking the right balance between support and connection to the bike.
That said, the chamois pad is on the shorter side, reinforcing the aggressive race-focused design. It works perfectly when riding in a low, forward position, but for more upright endurance rides or long, social spins, you may notice a lack of support in comparison to a more endurance-oriented chamois.
Performance on the road
Once in motion, the Equipe R Bib Shorts S11 feel fast and supportive. The compressive fit enhances muscle efficiency, reducing fatigue on longer efforts, while the floating design of the chamois ensures consistent comfort across different riding styles.
These bibs truly excel when you’re pushing hard, whether that’s a fast group ride, interval session or road race. They keep everything locked in place while remaining breathable, making them a solid choice if you’re a rider who prioritises performance.
Crash replacement policy
Assos offers a crash replacement policy, which is a great reassurance when you’re investing in premium kit. If you damage the bibs in a crash within the first 30 days, Assos will repair or replace them for free. Beyond that, Assos will still attempt to repair or replace them at a ‘reasonable charge’, though it doesn’t specify exactly what that cost would be. While the lack of transparency on post-30-day pricing is a minor downside, it’s still a useful policy that adds value.
Value
At £165, the Equipe R Bib Shorts S11 are undeniably premium-priced, but they deliver high-end performance that rivals some even more expensive bibs. Looking at the alternatives, these sit between mid-range and ultra-premium offerings:
The £125 Santini Karma Evo Delta Bib Shorts and £145 Le Col Sport Bib Shorts II provide strong competition at slightly lower prices, but they don’t quite match Assos in terms of fabric quality, compression or aerodynamics.
Meanwhile, they significantly undercut ultra-premium bibs like the Pas Normal Studios Escapism Bib Shorts that are a wallet-worrying £240 and Assos’s own £215 Equipe RS Schtradivari Bib Shorts while offering virtually all of the same core technology and race-ready features.
If you’re looking for top-tier bib shorts without being staggeringly expensive, these are a smart investment.
Conclusion
The Assos Equipe R Bib Shorts S11 are a premium, performance-focused pair of bibs designed for serious riders who prioritise aerodynamics, muscle support, and long-ride comfort in aggressive positions. They deliver high-end materials, race-proven chamois technology, and a compressive fit that feels dialled in for hard efforts.
They aren’t the most versatile bibs, and if you prefer relaxed endurance rides or a more upright position, a longer chamois pad might suit you better, but for fast-paced riding, crits, or hard training sessions, these are genuinely exceptional.
Verdict
Sleek and racy with top-tier fabrics, features and construction – though you might want to consider another colour
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road.cc test report
Make and model: Assos Equipe R Bib Shorts S11
Size tested: L
Tell us what the product is for
Assos website says:
“The core of the Racing Series, a streamlined racing bib short with trickledown technology. Engineered with highly breathable compression in a second-skin fit for daily training and racing, the S11 generation is lighter and more comfortable in aggressive riding positions.”
I think that these are a race-ready set of bib shorts that really do what they set out to.
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
“The EQUIPE R S11 is the spiritual successor to our classic NeoPro model, featuring technology from the premium RS SCHTRADIVARI Bib Shorts S11 in a simpler construction. That shared technology includes raw-cut cuffs, a minimal silicone grip, and the lightweight, compressive Type.911 textile.”
“The key differences between the RS and the R are in the EQUIPE R S11 insert and the bib strap construction, both of which are simplified for pure racing utility.”
“Main Fabric 80% polyamide, 20% elastane; Padding Insert 85% polyamide, 15% elastane”
Feel beautifully well made with soft fabrics and grippers that grip effectively.
Comfy yet supportive fit, which is as intended in the race-focused design.
No issues while testing and not a single stray stitch in sight after weeks of wearing them on numerous rides.
The chamois placement is perfect when in the attack position and so it is the compressive fit on the your quads (as Assos designed it for), but the front waist might be cut a little low for some when you’re off the bike.
True to size, with the Assos website also having a handy size recommendation calculator.
Long in the leg, which is typical of the new wave of race bibs, but it was always above the knees.
At 172g they’re a few grams lighter than similar bibs.
Expensive, yes, but not absurdly so and the overall quality is excellent.
How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?
Absolutely fine in the usual 40°C wash throughout the testing period.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
They were fantastic on racier two-hour rides as well as when I was racking up the miles over six-hour efforts.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Premium feel of the materials and badge appeal.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Colour is a little questionable.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
The price is at the upper end of the mid-market bibs – think Pas Normal and other Assos shorts – though the price is undercut by other brands offering super-bib levels of performance for less cash.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Yes
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes – just not this colour!
Use this box to explain your overall score
A truly fantastic pair of bibs that offers racy performance and badge-appeal to boot – but with a good cash saving over the ultra-expensive options on the market.
About the tester
Age: 33 Height: 190cm Weight: 94kg
I usually ride: Santa Cruz Stigmata My best bike is: Factor One Disc
I’ve been riding for: 10-20 years I ride: Most days I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo cross, touring, club rides, general fitness riding, Gravel, Track and Zwifting
2 thoughts on “Assos Equipe R Bib Shorts S11”
Yet another bargain at £165
Yet another bargain at £165.00!
The challenge I have with
The challenge I have with expensive cycle shorts is rather like a saddle you dont know whether the pad will suit you until its too late.
I have half a dozen pairs of shorts that are all fine for a 2-3 hr bimble or an hour on Zwift. Get above 3hrs or 100km and nearly everything starts to rub – except 1 particular pad from 1 particular manufacturer, which then requires a long detailed search of the internet checking which shorts have that pad. If Im spending anything over about 50-60 I want the certainty of a good endurance fit, but how do I get that certainty?
(Elastic Interface Paris HP pad if you are wondering – DHB make the cheapest shorts with them in but involves giving money to Mike Ashley now)