From their base in Monza, Casati design and manufacture machines that typify all that’s desirable about Italian road bikes. But the Vinci offers something different: rack and mudguard mounts. In the Vinci you have your £2,000 summer superbike, but instead of putting it away when winter approaches, you just pop on the ’guards and carry on riding.
The custom-built frame features Dedacciai 7003 tubing for the front triangle and chainstays, and Dedacciai BlackRain carbon wishbone seatstays and fork to reduce the amount of vibration getting through as you ride. You can choose between standard or sloping geometry, and colourways include white, red or blue. With the pristine paintwork glistening in the rain, we headed out on familiar roads to see whether the Vinci would win us over...
Standing on the pedals we could feel vibrations from the road easily, but this disappeared when seated, so the carbon wishbone lives up to its promise. Our test bike’s traditional geometry worked flawlessly to offer the planted, surefooted feel of a classic road machine, but it could still be flicked round potholes or pressed to carve tighter lines easily, and faster blasts around tight lanes left us with a smile to match our frost-nipped lungs.
The aluminium chainstays and sturdy down tube help resist manhandling during short, sharp power climbs, giving the Vinci a pleasing ability to leap ahead of the pack whenever the pace slackens. Performance might not be quite as snappy as on a pure race machine of the same value, but the Casati still manages to blend enough speed to be fun with the comfort required for longer winter rides.
Our test bike (8.95kg/19.8lb) was specced with Deda Zero finishing kit and a Shimano Ultegra 6700 drivetrain. As expected, the Ultegra setup didn’t miss a beat and the Deda kit did its job well. Though it isn’t cheap, when you consider the custom-built frame that the components are bolted onto, the package represents good value.
The Vinci rolls along on tried and tested tubeless-ready Ultegra wheels. While not the lightest or most aero wheelset, the shallow rims, excellent stiffness and low drag bearings and freehub make these an excellent choice for performance-orientated mile-munchers. The Vittoria Diamante Pro Rain tyres are a grippy boost to cornering speed too.
At £2,000 the Casati is a relatively expensive ‘training’ bike, but it's intended for those who want to enjoy their winter riding as much as their summer miles. If you cycle whatever the weather and want a quality bike to see you through season after season, this custom training companion is just the ticket.
