Wilier Triestina today announced a revamp of its ultralight Zero.7 road model.
The claimed weight for a medium frame is still around 750g, but updated tube shapes and some clever engineering have supposedly made it more efficient and easier to service, without affecting the previous model's excellent ride quality and handling characteristics.
The revamped Wilier Triestina Zero.7
While most bikes seem to get larger in terms tubing diameter with each iteration, Wilier Triestina's revamped Zero.7 has actually gotten noticeably smaller than before. According to Wilier, this reduces the volume of material required, thus decreasing weight. Wilier has, however, inflated the area around the bottom of the head tube, which now features a slightly dropped down tube that effectively wraps around the back of the fork crown.
This boosts the torsional rigidity of the front triangle by a claimed 14 percent, while upgrades to the frame's carbon fibre blend supposedly maintains similar stiffness levels elsewhere despite the smaller tubes, giving the new model a sleeker and more slimmed-down look.
Although the down tube is beefed up behind the head tube, the rest of the frame is slightly smaller than before
The new Zero.7 also has a convertible fully internal cable routing setup, borrowed from the Cento 1 SR. For mechanical drivetrains, cables enter the frame at the top of the down tube, just behind the head tube. From there, they take a straight path to the criss-crossed bottom bracket guide. The rear derailleur cable exits through the dedicated replaceable rear derailleur hanger.
Electronic drivetrains, on the other hand, use a different set of interchangeable bolt-on bits – along with a different entry point. In this case, the wire enters the frame through the same port as the rear brake cable for cleaner aesthetics while the down tube access point is then smoothly capped over.
The convertible cable routing is now fully internal
One thing that hasn't changed, is the enviably creamy ride quality. The small-diameter seat stays and fork blades, plus the newly downsized 27.2mm-diameter seatpost, likely contribute to this, but according to Wilier, the real key is the frame's SEI (Special Elastic Infiltrated) carbon composite frame construction, carried over from the original Zero.7.
According to Wilier, SEI intersperses layers of viscoelastic materials at select areas in the carbon fibre layup. In addition to providing better vibration damping, SEI is said to also improve the frame's long-term durability and impact strength.
Also making another appearance is the ultra-oversized – and widely compatible – BB386EVO bottom bracket design, tapered 1 1/8 to 1 1/4in steerer diameter, and carbon fibre dropouts.
Despite the lower half of the frame being well reinforced, Wilier Triestina claims the redesigned Zero.7 rides just as well as before
Wilier Triestina will offer the new Zero.7 in size sizes and four colour options – and not surprisingly, it's quite expensive. Retail price for the frameset is US$4,999 / €3,498; a full Shimano Dura-Ace build with Mavic Ksyrium SLR clinchers, FSA cockpit, Selle Italia saddle, and Ritchey carbon seatpost will cost US$9,499 / €6,998; and a similar setup but with Campagnolo Super Record will run US$10,499 / €7,598. UK pricing is still to be determined.
It's expected to be available from autumn.
The new Zero.7 will be available in four colour options