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Wilier Cento 1 review

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$8891

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Rigid, light and a great looker.

BikeRadar verdict

4.5 out of 5 stars

"No compromises in its pursuit of all-out performance"

13 comments
Thu 6 Nov 2008, 8:00 am GMTBy

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With a history stretching back over 100 years, Wilier’s understandable pride hasn’t prevented it from sourcing the Cento 1’s frame from the current leading source.

Made at Mitsubishi’s carbon fibre facility in Taiwan, the Cento 1 is so stiff, light and responsive that if you could gas it up, only rocket fuel would do. This bike is truly a no-compromise race machine.

If you want to experience superbike territory, you’ll have to pay a superbike price of £5499. But it’s worth it.

Wilier cento 1: wilier cento 1

Ride & handling: accelerates up to speed quickly – and is happy to stay up there.

Tipping the scales at a feathery 6.8kg/14.96lb, the Centro 1's handling is matched by its looks. Sustained high speeds and quick acceleration from sharp bursts of power are par for the course. 

Shod with a pair of Vittoria Open Corsa CX – among the world’s best tyres – it offers precision handling and a rock-steady platform from which to launch aggressive attacks on weary pelotons and challenging road courses.

The cento 1 is so stiff, light and responsive that if you could gas it up, only rocket fuel would do.: the cento 1 is so stiff, light and responsive that if you could gas it up, only rocket fuel would do.

Frame: supremely fit for purpose, rigid, light and a great looker

With a unique construction method based around three separate elements unified into what eventually ends up as a single monocoque unit, the Cento 1 features a massively rigid square section downtube and a BMX-styled single loop asymmetric chainstay/seatstay assembly anchored by an extra wide oversized bottom bracket shell.

Wilier’s designers display an overriding obsession with stiffness, low or zero torsional flex and the latest European testing standards, while they also include the usual flare for aesthetics expected in an Italian bike, with sweeping curvaceous lines and red-hot colour options. 

Usual italian style with sweeping curvaceous lines and red-hot colour options. : usual italian style with sweeping curvaceous lines and red-hot colour options.

Equipment: the best that money can buy, including Campag Super Record 11-speed

Wilier has done away with the standard threaded set-up, like the Giant Defy, and it’s only normal that the default compatibility is for the Campag Ultra-Torque system, with a Shimano conversion option included in the price of the frame kit (£2399 and £2499 depending on paint scheme).

Featuring the freshly minted Campagnolo Super Record 11-speed groupset, the Centro 1 also came equipped with one of our all-time favourite and best looking wheelsets, Fulcrum Racing Zeroes.

One of our all-time favourite and best looking hot-wheels: fulcrum racing zeroes.: one of our all-time favourite and best looking hot-wheels: fulcrum racing zeroes.

What's the score with BikeRadar reviews? You can find a full explanation of our ratings here.

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User Reviews

There are 13 reviews on this post

Showing 1 - 13 of 13 comments

  • yeah, it's lovely but.... HOW MUCH ?????

  • How many kids do i have to sell?

    That's if i had any kids!!

  • So nice I wouldn't want to ride it...... just put it in a glass box and stare at it... 487 times better than anything Trek have ever put out....

  • 6.8kg/14.96lb - simply quite amazing!!

  • It looks good but still isn't a Colnago.

  • What's it like for aggressive XC?

  • weight is good but on other hand you can buy a dave hinde road pro £794 weighing in at 7.6 kg so what else do you get for your money ?

  • Camion -- you are right, it is NOT a Colnago. Thank God it is not or it would be just another overpriced, underproforming turd from Italy.

  • i am a proud owner of Cento 1....

    and i can say that this bike is the ultimate road machine.....

    plus when i don t ride it ....i just get pleasure by staring at this piece of art...

    Viva Italia!!!

  • rode one in italy, to test.

    this really is the second best bike I ever rode.

    and that is a lot!

  • I just purchased one. I also have a DeRosa Protos, a Look 585, a BMC SLC01, a Colnago C-50HP, & a Merlin ExtraLight Ti. The Cento Uno is by far the best riding, if not best looking, and the lightest of the crew. Highly, highly recommended!

  • hey kestrelxlo - got any bikes for sale???

    i want a bike for anything from a 10mile TT up to long sportif 100mile ride. i am looking at either a uno or izoard (must be wilier)

    concerned that the uno will not be a goof choice for the long rides and the izoard wont be the bike for the short blasts.

    what you think everyone? looking at buying within next 3weeks

  • Best bike I have ridden - ever

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Specification

Name:
Cento 1 (09)
Built by:
Wilier Bikes
Price:
$8891.00

Available Sizes:
L, M, S, XL, XS, XXL
Weight (kg):
6.8
Weight (lb):
15
Year:
2009

Frame & Fork:

 
Frame Material:
Full carbon monocoque with capped carbon dropouts- alloy inserts & replaceable gear hanger.
Fork Model:
Carbon blades crown and 1 1/8in steerer alloy dropouts

Geometry:

 
Seat Angle:
73.5 Degrees
Head Angle:
73 Degrees

Brakes:

 
Brakes Brand:
Campagnolo
Brakes Model:
Super Record

Transmission:

 
Cranks Brand:
Campagnolo
Cranks Model:
Super Record Carbon Ultra-Torque
Bottom Bracket Brand:
Campagnolo
Bottom Bracket Model:
Super Record integrated sealed cartridges
Rear Derailleur Brand:
Campagnolo
Rear Derailleur Model:
Super Record 11 spd
Front Derailleur Brand:
Campagnolo
Front Derailleur Model:
Super Record Carbon braze on
Shifters Brand:
Campagnolo
Shifters Model:
Super Record Ergo 11Spd
Cassette:
Campagnolo Super Record Steel/Ti 11-25 11spd

Wheels:

 
Wheels Brand:
Fulcrum
Front Wheel Weight:
980 g
Rims Brand:
Fulcrum
Rims Model:
Zero machined alloy
Front Hub Brand:
Fulcrum
Rear Hub Brand:
Fulcrum
Tyres Brand:
Vittoria
Front Tyre Model:
Open Corsa CX
Front Tyre Size:
700x23C
Rear Tyre Model:
Open Corsa CX
Rear Tyre Size:
700x23C

Contact Points:

 
Saddle Brand:
Selle Italia
Saddle Model:
padded - Vanadium rails
Seatpost Brand:
Ritchey
Seatpost Model:
WCS
Stem Brand:
Ritchey
Stem Model:
Carbon WCS
Handlebar Brand:
Ritchey
Handlebar Model:
Carbon WCS Evolution SL shallow anatomic 42cm c-c

:

 
Bottom Bracket Height (cm):
27 cm
Chainstays (cm):
40.7 cm
Seat Tube (cm):
47.5 cm
Standover Height (cm):
78.5 cm
Wheelbase (cm):
98.7 cm
Top Tube (cm):
56 cm

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