Bianchi Infinito XE Ultegra review
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Bianchi Infinito XE Ultegra review

New endurance platform from Milan’s finest and one of our Endurance Bike of the Year contenders

Our rating

4

3200.00

David Caudery / Immediate Media

Published: June 30, 2020 at 1:43 pm

Our review
A fun bike to ride that deserves upgrades

Pros:

Sporty yet comfortable position; quick, balanced handling

Cons:

Middling wheels, tyres and seatpost dull performance

Bianchi’s new Infinito XE has taken its cue from Bianchi's classics-proven endurance machine, the Infinto CV. The XE mimics the same sport-orientated geometry, but eschews Bianchi’s expensive ‘Countervail’ dampening technology.

In times gone by, endurance and race bikes were worlds apart. Recent years have seen this chasm closing, thanks to the likes of Cannondale’s Synapse and the Specialized Roubaix. Conversely, many race bikes are now more comfort-orientated.

Bianchi has, however, always featured a racing edge to its endurance machines. It’s the same here. My model isn’t your typical 59cm machine. For a start its 575mm top tube is more akin to a 58cm bike and the 195mm head tube is short for such a big bike.

Bike of the Year 2020

The Bianchi Infinito XE Ultegra is part of our annual Bike of the Year test.

Head to our Bike of the Year hub for the full list of winners, categories and shortlisted bikes, as well as the latest reviews – or read our behind-the-scenes feature on how we tested Bike of the Year 2020.

Then there’s the stack – a shallow 600mm – and the 391mm reach is longer than most. The 72.5-degree head and 73-degree seat angles are race-ready, too.

It’s not as slammed as an Oltre XR4 for instance (that has a very low 575mm stack and 398mm reach) but its firmly in the fast-sporty world for sure.

Road feel is solid with no detection of flex through the bottom bracket or large, tapered head tube. Impressive stuff.

The wheel package sits in the middleweight camp. The 28c Vittoria Zaffiro Pro Slick tyres are supple but a little nervy on slippery leaf-strewn roads, and they just don’t have the same zip to them as Vittoria’s higher-level tyres.

The Fulcrum Racing 900 series wheels aren’t available aftermarket – they’re a special for Bianchi. Their alloy-rim design is based around Fulcrum’s new profile that favours wider-tyre options. With the frameset able to handle tyres up to 32mm, there’s plenty of room for experimentation.

The rims are a two-way fit so that means tubeless compatibility, but the Vittorias aren’t tubeless themselves.

Bianchi Infinito XE Ultegra
Shimano Ultegra with an 11-30 cassette… David Caudery / Immediate Media

Bianchi’s chosen the classic sportive combo of 50/34 compact chainset and 11-30 cassette, providing ample bandwidth to crest the most challenging of climbs.

The 9kg weight isn’t the lightest around, but the 1,100g frame and 420g fork are svelte enough to carry a smattering of lighter upgrades down the line; that said, the XE’s combination of sporty geometry and superb Ultegra drivetrain makes for a highly responsive number.

Bianchi Infinito XE Ultegra
… and 50/34 compact chainset. David Caudery / Immediate Media

In fact, the handling’s so good it arguably compensates for specification shortcomings, namely the combination of alloy post and Selle Royal SR Asphalt GF saddle.

The post is simple and stiff, while the saddle’s an odd mix of firm hull (compounded by the post) and thick, squishy padding. The result is a squirming, rather than planted, position on the saddle.

Bianchi Infinito XE Ultegra 08
Saddle comfort is of course personal, but I'd recommend upgrading the Selle Royal SR Asphalt GF fitted here. David Caudery / Immediate Media

On the positive, I appreciate the aero-styling of the head tube and headset that mimic those seen in Bianchi’s Oltre range, while Bianchi’s own-brand bar – well, built in collaboration with FSA – offers a shape to suit all hand shapes and that clears your wrists when in the drops.

It’s clear that the Infinito copes admirably with long days in the saddle… despite the saddle itself, which is a sore point. A saddle upgrade is a must but that doesn’t detract from the Infinito XE’s many virtues.

Overall, the combination of endurance-biased position and racy handling makes the Infinito XE a great option for riders who are looking to absorb their surroundings, but can also crank up the watts when needed.

Bianchi Infinito XE Ultegra geometry

  • Sizes (* tested): 47, 50, 53, 55, 57, 59*, 61cm
  • Seat angle: 73 degrees
  • Head angle: 72.5 degrees
  • Chainstay: 42cm
  • Seat tube: 54cm
  • Top tube: 57.5cm
  • Head tube: 19.5cm
  • Bottom bracket drop: 6.8cm
  • Wheelbase: 1,019mm
  • Stack: 60cm
  • Reach: 39.1cm

With thanks to...

BikeRadar would like to thank 100%, Q36.5, Lazer, Garmin and Facom for their support during our Bike of the Year test.

Product

Brand bianchi
Price 3200.00 GBP
Weight 9.0100, KILOGRAM (59cm) -

Features

Fork Carbon
br_stem Reparto Corse 3D forged alloy
br_chain Shimano Ultegra
br_frame Carbon
Tyres Vittoria Zaffiro Pro Slick 28c
br_brakes Shimano Ultegra hydraulic with 160/140mm Icetech rotors
br_cranks Shimano Ultegra, 50/34
br_saddle Selle Royal SR Asphalt GF
br_wheels Fulcrum Racing 900DB
br_shifter Shimano Ultegra
br_cassette Shimano Ultegra, 11-30
br_seatpost Reparto Corse alloy
br_handlebar Reparto Corse compact
br_availableSizes 47, 50, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61cm
br_rearDerailleur Shimano Ultegra
br_frontDerailleur Shimano Ultegra
Features Extras: Elite Paron bottle cage, Bianchi bottle