The Wilier Filante SLR ID2 is one of those bikes that makes more sense the faster you go. Not in a ‘white-knuckle, cling-on’ way, but in a deeply reassuring ‘this is exactly what it was built for’ kind of way. It’s quick, confident and stable, combining a light weight with aero credentials, and I found it plenty comfortable enough for long rides.
As the name suggests, the Filante SLR ID2 is an update of the previous Filante SLR, Wilier having focused on improving the aero performance rather than reducing weight (we’ll come back to the aerodynamic claims later).
At speed, it behaves impeccably. There’s no nervousness through the handlebars, little twitchiness in sidewinds, and never any sense that the bike is trying to do something you’re not intending. Instead, the Filante SLR ID2 settles into its stride and just… goes. The faster you push it, the more composed it feels.
Stiffness is right where you want it. The bottom bracket shell stays firmly in place when you stamp on the pedals, and accelerations feel crisp and immediate. The frameset as a whole feels solid without being harsh.
What really stands out, though, is the balance Wilier has struck between efficiency and ride quality. The Filante SLR ID2 is clearly a race bike, but it doesn’t beat you up for daring to take it on long rides. Road buzz is well controlled, and while it’s not masquerading as an endurance bike, it’s far more civilised than its aero status might suggest.
The handling mirrors the ride feel perfectly: confident, stable, and refreshingly grown-up. This isn’t a ridiculously lively, hyper-reactive bike that darts across the road every time you sneeze. Instead, it feels planted and predictable, especially when you’re pressing on. The Filante SLR ID2 isn’t fazed by high-speed descents – you can lean into corners knowing the front end will hold its line, and if you need to make a mid-corner correction, well, that’s no drama.
Wilier has slightly lengthened the wheelbase over that of the previous Filante SLR, and the bike delivers stability without dulling engagement. It still feels sharp when you want to change direction; it just doesn’t feel nervous. If you like your race bikes to feel calm, assured and fast rather than frantic, this is very much one for you.
At 7.24kg for a fully-built aero race bike with a SRAM Red AXS E1 2×12 groupset (including power meter), the Filante SLR ID2 never feels like it’s carrying excess baggage. The frame weight is virtually unchanged from the previous Filante SLR (a claimed 860g +/-5%), and it rides light out on the road: this bike climbs and accelerates eagerly, and you never feel that the aero optimisation has come at the expense of other aspects of the performance.
You certainly don’t get that draggy sensation that some aero bikes still suffer from when the gradient kicks up. There are lighter bikes out there, but the Filante SLR ID2 feels lively enough that you won’t be wishing for a different bike as soon as the road tilts skyward.
Aerodynamic performance is a central part of the Wilier Filante SLR ID2 story, so let’s deal with that in a bit more depth. Here are Wilier’s claims, although we’ve not taken the bike to a wind tunnel to get our own data. If you want more details, Wilier has published a white paper on the Filante SLR ID2, complete with a section titled: Silverstone Wind Tunnel: Measurable performance, real advantages – although it’s light on raw data.
In short, Wilier says that if you look at the bike alone (with no rider on board), the Filante SLR ID2 has a CDA (coefficient of drag x area) that’s 13.1% lower than that of the existing Filante SLR at 50km/h (31.1mph) at 0° in the wind tunnel.
Clearly, that’s far from a real-world scenario. With a rider in place, Wilier claims that the CDA of the Filante SLR ID2 is 5.22% lower than that of the first-generation Filante SLR at 50km/h and 0°, and 5.04% lower at 50km/h and 15° yaw.
Wilier also says that it measured the Filante SLR ID2 in the wind tunnel against ‘five top-of-the-range models from the main WorldTour competitors [and] the Filante SLR ID2 registered an average CDA that was 2.42% better.’
Okay, but it would be far more useful if Wilier named those rival bikes.
Wilier says, ‘In tests conducted on the bike alone, at 40km/h [24.9mph] there is a saving of 8.9 watts with standard water bottles and bottle holders [over the previous version of the Wilier Filante SLR], and 9.47 watts with the Aerokit [we’ll come back to that in a sec]; values that increase at 50km/h [31mph] to 19.13 watts and 21.20 watts respectively.
‘The effectiveness becomes even more evident when considering the combined bike-and-rider system: at 40km/h, the advantage for the rider is 11.51 watts with standard bottles and 14.15 watts with the Aerokit, while at 50km/h, the savings climb to 24.55 watts and 28.80 watts.
‘Translated into real-world performance, this means that in a 70km time trial at an average of 290 watts, the cyclist would take 1:25mins less with the new Filante SLR ID2 equipped with standard bottles, and an impressive 1:45mins less with the Aerokit.’
Okay, the Aerokit, then… That’s the name Wilier gives to ‘a custom system of aero bottles and bottle holders, with a tapered profile and fully integrated into the frame, which functions as a kind of spoiler capable of making the airflow cleaner and more regular.’
Designed and produced with Elite, the Aerokit comprises six separate elements: two aero water bottles, two bottle holders, and two coupling bases that are specific to the Filante SLR ID2’s down tube and seat tube. It’s vaguely similar (in concept, at least) to Trek’s RSL Aero Water Bottle and Carbon Bottle Cages that are designed especially for its Madone Gen 8.
The Aerokit system is a part of the Wilier Filante SLR ID2’s secret sauce, then. Wind tunnel gains are one thing, but does the Aerokit get in the way of functionality?
Short answer: it doesn’t, once you get used to it.
The bottles are shaped with a flat surface along one side to sit flush with the cages. That means you need to put them into the cages at a particular angle or they won’t sit right.
Returning standard round-profile bottles to a normal cage probably isn’t something you give much thought to. You don’t even need to look down, right? But on my first ride on the Wilier Filante SLR ID2, I just couldn’t get along with the Aerokit system. The bottle would go into the cage skew-whiff… Every. Sodding. Time. I thought this was going to be a big problem – drinking is kind of a big deal after all – but things were a whole lot easier by the second ride. By ride three, it wasn’t an issue any more. You just get the hang of it.
Each bottle holds 550ml, and the cages will also take traditional round water bottles, albeit for less of an aero benefit: 550ml on the down tube and up to 750ml on the seat tube. I tried several, and some felt more secure than others.
If you really find you can’t get on with the Aerokit system, you’re not locked into it. Standard cages fit just fine, and swapping is the usual two-bolt job.
The down tube and the Aerokit system have been designed to work together. The lower part of the down tube is wide to shield the bottles and reduce turbulence in this area. The upper part of the down tube is far narrower with NACA airfoil shaping.
Wilier calls the down tube and Aerokit ‘the most complex challenge’ in the Filante SLR ID2’s design, and it has done a lot of work elsewhere to improve the aerodynamics.
With the fork, for example, it has combined a NACA airfoil with a flat inner profile ‘to minimise interactions with the wheel and tyre and maximise aerodynamic stability.’ There’s also what Wilier calls ‘a partial fairing’ ahead of the brake calliper, and the end of the thru axle on the right fork leg is completely enclosed, as we’re seeing on many other performance-focused bikes these days.
The head tube is deep and the profile tapers, again to reduce drag, while out back the seatstays sit wide although they slope inward. Wilier says that the water bottle position and the redesigned stays generate a cleaner airflow to reduce turbulence’.
The F-Bar ID2 one-piece handlebar/stem is new too, and I liked it a lot. There’s a slight upward rise to the dropped section that keeps your wrists in a neutral position when your hands are down there, and a flare means your hands sit a little wider on the drops than when you’re riding on the hoods – 42cm versus 39cm on the XL-sized Filante SLR ID2 that I was riding.
Different bike sizes get different bar sizes, but it’s a shame that you can’t choose the specific handlebar width and stem length that you want. Buy the XL-sized bike and you’ll get the 39/42cm handlebar width with a 110mm stem length. Even if you could choose, Wilier only makes the F-Bar ID2 in six sizes.
Whichever size bike you go for, the reach of the handlebar is 68mm and the drop is 124mm, and the clamping hardware is completely hidden behind a cover that slides into place.
The seatpost follows the aero theme, coming in a deep and slender profile (38mm x 16mm). Our review bike was built up with a SRAM Red AXS E1 groupset so there’s no internal battery to worry about, but if you go for a Shimano build, there’s not enough room for the Di2 battery to fit inside the seatpost. Instead, it sits at the bottom of the seat tube, accessed via a little port just behind the bottom bracket.
The power meter magnet sits in a recess where the chainstay and the BB meet. It’s on the chainset side and covered by a sticker. You won’t notice it until you go looking.
The Wilier Filante SLR ID2 review bike I was riding came equipped with SRAM’s Red AXS E1 2×12 groupset. Rather than go into depth on it here, you can check out Stu Kerton’s standalone review for the details. I don’t want to get too gushing, but the performance is stunning across the board
If you can’t stretch to top-level Red, the Filante SLR ID2 is available in a SRAM Force AXS E1 build (with or without a power meter). And if you don’t get on with SRAM, Campagnolo Super Record WRL and Shimano (Dura-Ace, with and without power meter, and Ultegra Di2) builds are available too.
We’ve reviewed the Miche Kleos RD 50 Carbon wheels before, and I agree with Stu’s assessment there too. They’re not the lightest wheels out there, but the build-quality is high. The 50mm rim depth is suitable for a variety of situations and conditions and the CeramicSpeed bearings are high-quality. They feel nippy when you’re accelerating or climbing, and they were never a handful in crosswinds.
The Vittoria Corsa Pro tyres (30mm, although Wilier’s website says 28mm) and Prologo Nago R4 PAS saddle (Nack carbon rails, although Wilier’s website says Tirox alloy steel) are similarly high-end. You can now fit tyres up to 34mm wide, by the way. You’d have to be really picky to find fault in terms of the spec.
I don’t usually mention aesthetics when I write reviews on the basis that race bikes are first and foremost designed for performance, and there’s nothing I can tell you about the appearance that you can’t see for yourself in the pics.
I’ll put that little rule to one side here because pretty much everyone who has seen the Wilier Filante SLR ID2 over the past few weeks has commented on how good it looks, from dyed-in-the-wool roadies through to hardwired mountain bikers and even my mum, when she came around. No, really. Mrs B Senior is a big fan of this one, it turns out. You’re welcome to have a different view, of course… It’s just that you’d be wrong.
Value
The Wilier Filante SLR ID2 is a high-end race bike that’s specced with high-end components and it’s priced accordingly.
> Best aero road bikes 2026 — get yourself a wind-cheating bike for an extra turn of speed
Our review bike, equipped with a SRAM Red AXS groupset, with power meter, comes in at £12,150. Yes, you’re absolutely right, that is a lot of cash. And yes, your annoying friends are absolutely right too; you could get a car for that.
How does that price stack up against the opposition? A Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8 in a SRAM Red AXS build is £11,499, a Trek Madone SLR 9 AXS Gen 8 costs from £10,500, and a Giant Propel Advanced SL 0 with SRAM Red AXS and Cadex Ultra 50 wheels is £9,749.
If you want to compare it with fellow Italian brands, a Bianchi Oltre RC in a SRAM Red build is £11,750, while a Pinarello Dogma F with similar componentry is £12,999, so the Filante SLR ID2 sits between those two.
Conclusion
The Wilier Filante SLR ID2 doesn’t try to impress you with fireworks. Instead, it wins you over with a blend of speed and composure. The ride quality is excellent, the handling inspires confidence, and the whole package feels meticulously thought through.
If you’re looking for an aero race bike that rewards riding hard but doesn’t demand constant attention or compromise, the Filante SLR ID2 makes a very strong case for itself – and it only gets better the quicker you go.
Verdict
Fast aero race bike that delivers pro-level performance at a premium price
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road.cc test report
Make and model: Wilier Filante SLR ID2 SRAM Red AXS
Size tested: XL, 576mm
About the bike
List the components used to build up the bike.
Frame: FILANTE SLR ID2 – CARBON MONOCOQUE HUS MOD + LIQUID CRYSTAL POLYMER + AERO KIT (bottles)
Fork: FILANTE SLR ID2 – CARBON MONOCOQUE HUS MOD + LIQUID CRYSTAL POLYMER
H-Bar: F BAR ID2 INTEGRATED CARBON CUSTOM MADE + GARMIN/WAHOO MOUNT
H-Bar weight: 340 g +/- 5%
Headset: CUSTOM SUPERSLIM 1-1/4in UPPER BR | FSA MR137 1-1/4in LOWER BR
Shifters: SRAM RED AXS ED-RED-E1
Brakes: SRAM RED AXS ED-RED-E1
Rotors: SRAM PACELINE X RT-PLN-X-A1 160 / 160
Front derailleur: SRAM RED AXS FD-RED-E-E1
Rear derailleur: SRAM RED AXS E1
Crankset: SRAM RED E1 DUB FC-RED-P-E1 WITH POWERMETER 48-35T
Bottom bracket: SRAM DUB 86.5 PRESS FIT ROAD
Cassette: SRAM RED CS-XG-1290-E1 10-36T
Chain: SRAM RED CN-RED-E1
Wheels: MICHE KLEOS RD 50 CARBON, CERAMICSPEED BEARINGS
Tyres: VITTORIA CORSA PRO 700X30
Saddle: PROLOGO NAGO R4 PAS NACK 137mm
Seatpost: WILIER FILANTE ID2 CARBON CUSTOM MADE -0 mm
Thru axle: MICHE THRU AXLE LIGHT 12X119.5F 12X166.5R
Frame weight: 860 g +/- 2%
Fork weight: 380 g +/- 5%
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?
It’s an aero road bike that’s designed for racing.
Wilier says, “The Filante SLR ID2 represents the ultimate evolution of Wilier’s aerodynamic racing bikes.
“Developed hand-in-hand with the Groupama – FDJ Cycling Team, every detail is engineered around you and tells the story of how we experience speed.
“Lightweight, responsive, and extremely aerodynamic, the Filante SLR ID2 redefines performance standards by putting you at the centre of every design choice. Aerodynamics is not an end in itself, but serves the rider, delivering maximum efficiency, comfort, and control in every condition.
“Speed, innovation, and Italian tradition come together in a bike designed to enhance your riding experience – the fastest in the WorldTour landscape.”
Where does this model sit in the range? Tell us briefly about the cheaper options and the more expensive options
Wilier still offers the original Filante SLR, plus the less expensive Filante SL (which is made from a different grade of carbon-fibre).
Wilier reckons the Filante SLR ID2 is more aerodynamically efficient than the existing Filante SLR – by 5.22% in the wind tunnel, with a rider in place, at 50km/h (31.1mph) at 0°yaw, and by 5.04% at 15% yaw.
The Filante SLR ID2 is available in various builds, starting with second-tier groupsets: Shimano’s Ultegra Di2 (€9,700) and SRAM Force AXS E1 (€9,900).
It’s also available with top-level groupsets from the big three groupset brands: Campagnolo Super Record WRL 2×13 (€13,100), Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 (with and without a power meter, from €10,900), and this SRAM Red AXS E1 2×12 (with a power meter, €12,900).
All models have Miche Kleos 50 wheels, or lighter Miche Kleos 50 wheels with Ceramicspeed bearings.
Wilier’s Verticale SLR sits alongside the Filante SLR ID2 at the top of Wilier’s road race range, although that model is designed more for saving weight than aerodynamic efficiency.
Frame and fork
Tell us about the materials used in the frame and fork?
Wilier describes the frame and fork as being “carbon monocoque Hus Mod + liquid crystal polymer”.
Hus Mod is a high-modulus carbon fibre layup that’s said to prioritise high stiffness-to-weight.
Fibres of liquid crystal polymer are embedded into the carbon matrix with the aim of damping vibration and improving impact resistance.
Wilier claims a frame weight: 860g (+/- 2%) and a fork weight of 380g (+/- 5%).
Tell us about the geometry of the frame and fork?
It’s a typical race bike geometry. I was riding the XL size with a 57.6cm effective top tube and a 54.5cm seat tube (measured from the centre of the BB). The head tube on this size is 16.6cm and the head tube angle and seat tube angle are both 73°.
The stack on this size is 577mm, and the reach is 400mm. That gives a stack/reach of 1.44. On a medium-sized frame, the stack/reach is just under 1.40.
How was the bike in terms of height and reach? How did it compare to other bikes of the same stated size?
Height and reach are what you’d expect of a road race bike of this kind.
Riding the bike
Was the bike comfortable to ride? Tell us how you felt about the ride quality.
Yes. I don’t imagine anyone is going to find this bike uncomfortable. Apart from anything else, ours had 30mm tubeless tyres fitted and there’s space for 34mm.
Did the bike feel stiff in the right places? Did any part of the bike feel too stiff or too flexible?
It felt bang on.
How did the bike transfer power? Did it feel efficient?
It’s an efficient bike. Wilier claims a 7.5% increase in bottom-bracket stiffness over the previous generation Filante.
Was there any toe-clip overlap with the front wheel? If so was it a problem?
A tiny amount. Not a worry.
How would you describe the steering? Was it lively neutral or unresponsive? Steering is what you’d expect for a race bike of this kind – on the active side of neutral.
Tell us some more about the handling. How did the bike feel overall? Did it do particular things well or badly?
It’s an aero bike with a talent for straight-line speed. It’s pretty stable.
Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike’s comfort? would you recommend any changes?
Vittoria Corsa Pro tyres in a 30mm width provide plenty of comfort. I got on well with the F Bar ID2 integrated carbon handlebar/stem with a flare down to the drops.
Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike’s stiffness? would you recommend any changes?
It’s a high-end bike in a high-end build. I wouldn’t be in a hurry to change anything.
Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike’s efficiency? would you recommend any changes?
Everything felt efficient, including the Miche Kleos RD 50 wheels.
There are lighter bikes out there, but the Filante SLR ID2 is still pretty lightweight, particularly when you consider the aero efficiency on offer here
The drivetrain
SRAM Red AXS is one of the best groupsets out there – if not the best – and it’s priced accordingly.
Tell us some more about the drivetrain. Anything you particularly did or didn’t like? Any components which didn’t work well together?
SRAM Red AXS is excellent stuff. Whether you prefer Shimano or Campagnolo is largely going to come down to personal taste, possibly simply the method of shifting through the gears.
Wheels and tyres
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?
No complaints whatsoever. I’d stick with them.
Good durability for a high-performance race tyre.
The 30mm width adds a little weight over narrower options.
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?
Vittoria Corsa Pro tyres aren’t cheap, but they have a low rolling resistance and I found the grip to be excellent, even in wet conditions.
Controls
Difficult to judge this one in a test period of just a few weeks. All I can say is that I had no issues whatsoever.
Tell us some more about the controls. Any particularly good or bad components? How would the controls work for larger or smaller riders?
SRAM has reduced the size of the Red AXS controls, and they are extremely comfortable. Braking requires very little pressure, and you can easily adjust the brake lever reach with a hex key.
Anything else you want to say about the componentry? Comment on any other components (good or bad)
The SRAM Red chainset comes with a powermeter.
Your summary
Did you enjoy riding the bike? Yes
Would you consider buying the bike? If I had the cash, it would be on a very short shortlist
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?
The Wilier Filante SLR ID2 we reviewed is priced at £12,150.
You can certainly get similarly specced bikes for less from the biggest brands. A Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8 in a SRAM Red AXS build is £11,499, a Trek Madone SLR 9 AXS Gen 8 costs from £10,500, and a Giant Propel Advanced SL 0 with SRAM Red AXS and Cadex Ultra 50 wheels is £9,749.
Comparing it with fellow Italian brands, a Bianchi Oltre RC in a SRAM Red build is £11,750, while a Pinarello Dogma F with similar componentry is £12,999.
Use this box to explain your overall score
Top-end race bikes like this are always difficult to score. The Wilier Filante SLR ID2’s performance is excellent, and the price is high; that’s the bottom line. You could get a similarly specced bike a little cheaper but you could also spend more. I’d give the Wilier serious consideration for its balance of light weight, aero efficiency and excellent ride quality. To me, an 8 overall feels right.
About the tester
Age: 48 Height: 190cm Weight: 80kg
I usually ride: My best bike is:
I’ve been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: Most days I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding,
