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review

Tifosi Auriga Disc Chorus 2022

8
£3,499.00

VERDICT:

8
10
Quick-handling race machine with an aero advantage, but will benefit from a wheel upgrade
Great performance
Fast handling
Chorus groupset offers great shifting and braking
Not the lightest wheels for the money
Weight: 
8,740g

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The Tifosi Auriga Disc Chorus 12x Hydro is a fast-feeling aero bike, with a lovely looking frameset adorned with Campagnolo's smooth-shifting Chorus groupset. The wheels are a little on the entry-level side, though, and add a bit of weight.

Just one look at the Auriga Disc lets you know it is a bike with purpose. This latest model uses a new stem setup for directing the cables into the frame via the head tube, which gives the aero frame and fork a clean, fast look.

With large section tubing, it certainly doesn't look as though it is going to be a let down on the stiffness front either.

2022 Tifosi Auriga Disc Chorus 12x Hydro - top tube shape.jpg

Thankfully it doesn't just look purposeful – this really is one quick bike.

The frame is tight. There are absolutely no issues with stiffness, that's for sure, whether you're cruising along a flat section of road or when getting out of the saddle and smashing the pedals as hard as you can.

2022 Tifosi Auriga Disc Chorus 12x Hydro - riding 2.jpg

The press-fit bottom bracket used allows for a wider shell, giving a larger surface area for the mating of chainstays, seat tube and down tube than otherwise. That will certainly be contributing to the stiffness.

2022 Tifosi Auriga Disc Chorus 12x Hydro - bottom bracket.jpg

It means the ride is on the firm side compared to some endurance style bikes, but Tifosi has kept it on the comfortable side of harsh.

It makes the Auriga Disc a fun bike to ride. It's got that buzziness, that eagerness that makes you want to ride it hard, and you are repaid when you do with speed and performance.

2022 Tifosi Auriga Disc Chorus 12x Hydro - riding 3.jpg

Nudging 1,800g the Scirocco wheelset isn't the lightest, which slightly takes the edge off acceleration and climbing prowess, but overall this is a bike you can race on, or just ride quickly around the lanes.

2022 Tifosi Auriga Disc Chorus 12x Hydro - tyre and rim.jpg

The frame profile brings a small aero boost, and above 20mph the Auriga zings along the road. Stick on a set of light, deep-section carbon wheels and the Tifosi's abilities will be fully unveiled.

With an all-up weight of 8.74kg on our scales, the Auriga still feels responsive. It's not fast off the mark as something a couple of kilos lighter, inevitably, but stopping and starting when travelling through town doesn't become a chore.

Geometry wise (I'll give you the numbers in the next section) the angles are pretty aggressive, and you get a low front end which adds to the racy feel of the bike. On the downhills or when powering along the road trying to get out the wind, the drop from saddle to stem gives you a low-slung aero position. You also get to lower your centre of gravity a bit too, which makes the Tifosi feel more planted and controllable.

2022 Tifosi Auriga Disc Chorus 12x Hydro - front.jpg

The handling is quick, which makes the Auriga feel direct and easily controllable at speed. On my favourite test hill it handled the tricky off-camber chicane at the top with ease, and for the rest of the corners – fast and slow – the Tifosi took everything in its stride.

Frame and fork

Stiff bikes can often be unsettled in corners by rough sections of road and things are no different here, but thanks to the frameset's great feedback and that quick handling, you can easily keep things under control.

The fork is well matched to the frame, with great stiffness for cornering hard or braking, but enough flex in other directions to smooth out the ride and keep the tyre in contact with the road.

2022 Tifosi Auriga Disc Chorus 12x Hydro - fork.jpg

This third generation of the Auriga comes with an ACR (Aerodynamic Cable Routing) stem from FSA, which takes the cables and hoses from the handlebar and funnels them directly into the head tube. This means that the frame and fork have no entrance holes to speak of, which makes them look very smooth and clean. The routing is smooth too, as the shifting still feels great at the lever.

2022 Tifosi Auriga Disc Chorus 12x Hydro - stem and spacers.jpg

The only holes here are the exits for the brake hoses and the front and rear mech cables.

2022 Tifosi Auriga Disc Chorus 12x Hydro - rear mech.jpg

The frame itself has some interesting designs, not just in the size of the tube profiles, but also the shaping, with swooshy lines all over the place to direct the airflow. The rear wheel is shrouded by the seat tube, you get an integrated seat clamp, and the fork tucks into head and top tube junction to keep the rest of the lines smooth. Tifosi says the design comes from CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) and wind tunnel testing.

2022 Tifosi Auriga Disc Chorus 12x Hydro - bottle cages.jpg

Other changes have been made to the chain and seat stays in a bid to improve comfort, and to up tyre clearance to 28mm.

2022 Tifosi Auriga Disc Chorus 12x Hydro - seat stays.jpg

The Auriga is constructed from Toray T800 carbon fibre, with the T700 grade in key areas to allow some flexibility, according to Tifosi. The overall quality is high, and I'm a big fan of the decals and the paintjob.

2022 Tifosi Auriga Disc Chorus 12x Hydro - down tube.jpg

The frame comes in at a claimed 1,220g (Tifosi doesn't say which size) and 440g for the fork. There are five sizes available from XS to XL, with top tube lengths of 535mm to 595mm. That'll suit riders from 158cm to over 185cm tall.

The medium we have offers a 565mm top tube, a 520mm seat tube and a 130mm head tube; slightly shorter than you'd expect, because the lowest headset spacer is recessed flush with the top of the top tube.

The stack and reach figures are 549mm and 402.4mm respectively, which is a little stretched out compared to most road bikes in this size, but only by a couple of millimetres. The wheelbase is just 995.6mm, which is what keeps the Auriga feeling nimble and responsive.

If you are looking at a different size, you'll find a full geometry table on Tifosi's website.

Finishing kit

According to Tifosi's website the Auriga Disc is available as a frameset or in this Campagnolo Chorus build. It comes with a 52/36t chainset that looks resplendent with its carbon fibre cranks, mated to an 11-34t 12-speed cassette for the kind of gears this style of bike requires. They give plenty of top end to push against, while giving a low enough gear for most on the climbs.

2022 Tifosi Auriga Disc Chorus 12x Hydro - front mech.jpg

If you haven't used Campagnolo before, you should know the gear changes are carried out by way of the swing lever behind the brake (which is static), and a thumb operated button on the inside of the hood. The thumb lever is well positioned for use both from the hoods and the drops, and the chain can be moved multiple cogs at a time from either control.

2022 Tifosi Auriga Disc Chorus 12x Hydro - cassette.jpg

I'm a big fan of the ergonomics of Campagnolo's brake lever. I find my hand rests naturally in the curve, allowing me to sit comfortably while always being ready to brake. The hoods are also a great shape for comfort, with these hydraulic offerings not being that much larger than the mechanical versions.

2022 Tifosi Auriga Disc Chorus 12x Hydro - bars 1.jpg

I'd say the shifting of Chorus is slightly heavier than Ultegra or 105 mechanical when new, but over the miles it beds in and gives a very precise change with a light movement. It's one that gives plenty of feedback even when you are just holding the lever or button down for those multiple shifts.

2022 Tifosi Auriga Disc Chorus 12x Hydro - shifters.jpg

Campagnolo came late to the disc brake game, but it was worth the wait. The calipers are powerful and offer excellent modulation, just like other top-end hydraulic setups. The rotors and calipers also look cool...

2022 Tifosi Auriga Disc Chorus 12x Hydro - front disc brake.jpg

Tifosi specs a 160mm rotor on the front and 140mm on the rear, which is ample for fast road use.

> road.cc Road Bike of the Year 2020/21

Away from the gearing and braking Tifosi has specced a Deda Zero2 handlebar with that FSA ACR stem. It's a pretty basic bar, but the positions it offers are good with a smooth transition to the hoods and shallow drops that you don't need the flexibility of a yoga teacher to use.

The seatpost is full carbon fibre and secured by way of an internal wedge system. It stayed secure during testing with no slippage.

2022 Tifosi Auriga Disc Chorus 12x Hydro - seat tube.jpg

The Selle Italia Model X saddle is a new one to me, but I got on well with the shape. I like a shorty saddle and this one, with its curved shape, is very supportive and comfortable too.

2022 Tifosi Auriga Disc Chorus 12x Hydro - saddle.jpg

Wheels and tyres

The Auriga Disc is fitted with a set of Campagnolo Sciroccos, which have a very distinctive spoking pattern of bunches of three. As I mentioned earlier, they aren't exactly light, but they are durable and will take plenty of abuse. The rim depth is kind of semi-aero at 33mm, and with an internal width of 19mm they work well with 25mm and 28mm tyres.

2022 Tifosi Auriga Disc Chorus 12x Hydro - rim.jpg

Lighter, more aero wheels really help the performance of the Tifosi, but the Sciroccos are still a decent place to start.

Tifosi specs the Auriga with IMPAC RacePac tyres, but our review model turned up with Schwalbe's Pro Ones, a much-appreciated upgrade. I haven't ridden on the IMPACs, but with a price around £15 and a thread per inch (tpi) count of just 24, I wouldn't hold out much hope of a high-performance tyre.

The Schwalbes, with their impressive grip and low rolling resistance, let you exploit the quick and precise handling of the Tifosi.

Value

Priced at £3,499 the Auriga is cheaper than the £3,799 Cinelli Pressure Disc aero bike and feels like better value. That comes with an Ultegra mechanical groupset... well most of one anyway, plus an FSA chainset, a KMC chain and a 105 cassette. It's heavy too, at nearly 9kg.

Vitus' aero bike, the ZX 1 EVO CRS, is great. I reviewed it back in 2021 and absolutely loved it. The latest mechanical Ultegra build is £3,499.99, but you are getting a set of Reynolds AR58/AR62 DB deep section carbon wheels included. Quite the upgrade from the Sciroccos found on the Tifosi.

Overall

So, while there are some better value and lighter bikes on the market, the Tifosi Auriga is still a very good bike. The geometry is great, it's a proper race bike with quick handling and a nimble ride feel, and I really had a lot of fun on it whether out for longer rides or those short lunch hour blasts.

Verdict

Quick-handling race machine with an aero advantage, but will benefit from a wheel upgrade

road.cc test report

Make and model: Tifosi Auriga Disc Chorus 12x Hydro Bike

Size tested: M, 56.5cm

About the bike

List the components used to build up the bike.

Brakes: Flat Mount Disc Brakes

Cable Routing: Internal

Bottom Bracket: 86.5x41mm

Handlebar: Deda Zero2

Seatpost: Tifosi Carbon

Stem: FSA ACR (Internally Routed)

Saddle: Selle Italia Model X

Pedals: Flat pedals included

Drivetrain: 12 Speed Disc Brake

Shifters: Campagnolo Chorus 12x

Front Derailleur: Campagnolo Chorus 12x

Rear Derailleur: Campagnolo Chorus 12x

Brakes: Campagnolo Chorus 12x Disc

Rotors: Campagnolo AFS 160mm (front) / 140mm (rear)

Cassette: Campagnolo Chorus 12x 11/34

Chainset: Campagnolo Chorus 12x 36/52 Semi-Compact

Chain: Campagnolo Chorus 12x

Wheels: Campagnolo Scirocco Tubeless Ready Disc Brake BT12 AFS

Tyres: IMPAC RacePac 700x28c

Tell us what the bike is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about the bike?

Tifosi says, "To further advance the Auriga's racing design Tifosi has been working with professional race teams to make the Auriga frameset faster than ever...

This, the third generation of multi race winning frame, has fully integrated internal cable routing, capable of running internally from shifter to derailleur. It is quick in the sprints but also comfortable enough for the challenging terrain of UK road racing."

I like the way the Tifosi behaves. The geometry makes it a fun bike to ride and it looks great with the internal cable routing.

Where does this model sit in the range? Tell us briefly about the cheaper options and the more expensive options

This is the only build on offer, alongside a frameset priced at £1,099.

Frame and fork

Overall rating for frame and fork
 
8/10

Tell us about the build quality and finish of the frame and fork?

The build quality and finish is high quality.

Tell us about the materials used in the frame and fork?

The frame and fork use Toray T700 and T800 grade carbon fibre.

Tell us about the geometry of the frame and fork?

The geometry is aimed at those who like to ride fast, with relatively steep angles and a short wheelbase.

How was the bike in terms of height and reach? How did it compare to other bikes of the same stated size?

The reach is a little bit longer than most, but only by a few millimeters.

Riding the bike

Was the bike comfortable to ride? Tell us how you felt about the ride quality.

Considering how stiff the Tifosi is, the comfort levels are pretty good.

Did the bike feel stiff in the right places? Did any part of the bike feel too stiff or too flexible?

Stiffness is very good where it needs to be, such as around the bottom bracket and head tube.

How did the bike transfer power? Did it feel efficient?

Power delivery is good thanks to the stiffness of the frame and fork.

Was there any toe-clip overlap with the front wheel? If so was it a problem?

No.

How would you describe the steering? Was it lively neutral or unresponsive? Quick.

Tell us some more about the handling. How did the bike feel overall? Did it do particular things well or badly?

The handling is fast which makes the Tifosi a point-and-shoot machine.

Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's comfort? would you recommend any changes?

I got on well with saddle. Its shorty design and curved shape make it comfortable for getting the power down.

Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's stiffness? would you recommend any changes?

The carbon Chorus crankset is massively stiff regardless of how much power you are putting out.

Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's efficiency? would you recommend any changes?

An upgrade to lighter wheels really unleashes the potential of the Tifosi.

Rate the bike for efficiency of power transfer:
 
8/10
Rate the bike for acceleration:
 
7/10
Rate the bike for sprinting:
 
7/10
Rate the bike for cruising speed stability:
 
8/10
Rate the bike for low speed stability:
 
7/10
Rate the bike for flat cornering:
 
8/10
Rate the bike for cornering on descents:
 
8/10
Rate the bike for climbing:
 
7/10

The drivetrain

Rate the drivetrain for performance:
 
9/10
Rate the drivetrain for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the drivetrain for weight:
 
8/10

Tell us some more about the drivetrain. Anything you particularly did or didn't like? Any components which didn't work well together?

Campagnolo's Chorus is a great groupset with impressive shifting and braking power. You get a good spread of gears here too.

Wheels and tyres

Rate the wheels for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the wheels for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the wheels for weight:
 
7/10
Rate the wheels for comfort:
 
8/10

Tell us some more about the wheels.Did they work well in the conditions you encountered? Would you change the wheels? If so what for?

Not the lightest for a three-and-a-half grand bike, but reliable and give decent performance.

Rate the tyres for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the tyres for durability:
 
7/10
Rate the tyres for weight:
 
8/10
Rate the tyres for comfort:
 
8/10

Tell us some more about the tyres. Did they work well in the conditions you encountered? Would you change the tyres? If so what for?

Ours were of the best tyres on the market for performance, but not on the official spec list.

Controls

Rate the controls for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the controls for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the controls for weight:
 
7/10
Rate the controls for comfort:
 
8/10

Tell us some more about the controls. Any particularly good or bad components? How would the controls work for larger or smaller riders?

A decent spec level for the money, and the FSA stem brings a clean look to the bike.

Your summary

Did you enjoy riding the bike? Yes

Would you consider buying the bike? Yes

Would you recommend the bike to a friend? Yes

How does the price compare to that of similar bikes in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

It's better value to the similar Cinelli mentioned in the review, but there is some tough opposition from the likes of Vitus.

Rate the bike overall for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the bike overall for value:
 
5/10

Use this box to explain your overall score

There are a few components that could do with a tweak, but the basis is a quality frameset paired with a very good groupset.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 44  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: B'Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,

Since writing his first bike review for road.cc back in early 2009 senior product reviewer Stu has tested more than a thousand pieces of kit, and hundreds of bikes.

With an HND in mechanical engineering and previous roles as a CNC programmer/machinist, draughtsman and development engineer (working in new product design) Stu understands what it takes to bring a product to market. A mix of that knowledge combined with his love of road and gravel cycling puts him in the ideal position to put the latest kit through its paces.

He first made the switch to road cycling in 1999, primarily for fitness, but it didn’t take long for his competitive side to take over which led to around ten years as a time triallist and some pretty decent results. These days though riding is more about escapism, keeping the weight off and just enjoying the fact that he gets to ride the latest technology as part of his day job.

Add new comment

8 comments

Avatar
Mathemagician | 2 years ago
0 likes

With the fully internal cable routing, where do they put the front mech barrel adjuster? Campy front mechs don't have an integrated adjuster.  

Avatar
matthewn5 replied to Mathemagician | 2 years ago
0 likes
Quote:

With the fully internal cable routing, where do they put the front mech barrel adjuster? Campy front mechs don't have an integrated adjuster.

Good question! Campag make an inline adjuster though, which might fit somewhere?

Avatar
Mikewestmorland replied to matthewn5 | 3 months ago
0 likes

I've just bought a Tifosi Mons/Chorus/disk and the front mech cable adjuster is built into the top of the down tube.  It's a small wheel with holes to poke it round with whatever comes to hand - in my case the shank of a small Allen key.  Right to left seems to tighten.

Avatar
Pot00000000 | 2 years ago
0 likes

That's one hell of a fugly frame. Not sure the strange saddle shape helps 

Avatar
San Remo | 2 years ago
0 likes

Stu,

Thank you for review. You quote the Campag Scirocco wheelset as being 1800g. Campag spec claims 1585g, which is not too lardy for this price point and type. Which is correct please? Thank you.

Avatar
OnYerBike replied to San Remo | 2 years ago
1 like

Where have you found "1585g"?

Campag's website claims 1739g (excluding skewer, rim tape and hub caps) which makes Stu's claim of "nudging 1800g" seem about right. 

https://www.campagnolo.com/WW/en/Wheels/scirocco_disc_brake

Avatar
San Remo replied to OnYerBike | 2 years ago
0 likes

Thank you, On YerBike, you are quite correct, as is Stu. My bad, conflating Shamal specs. I panicked, as I have some Shamal's coming on a Barco. Apols for creating confusion.

Avatar
Secret_squirrel | 2 years ago
0 likes

Love the frame styling but seems to come at a high weight cost. 
Price compares well to the Orro Venturi Chorus too. 

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