Assos Equipe RS Schtradivari Bib Shorts S11 review 

Assos’ Equipe RS Schtradivari Bib Shorts S11 are the next generation of the Swiss brand’s flagship WorldTour bib shorts. 

Compared to the outgoing S9 bib shorts line, Assos has gone back to the drawing board to produce a model with lower weight, increased ventilation, and improved compression and comfort. 

In testing, I’ve found the Equipe RS Schtradivari S11 an excellent performer, a notable improvement over the Equipe RS S9 equivalent. However, the chamois is not as comfortable over longer rides as the brand’s dedicated endurance Mille options, which is worth bearing in mind. 

Assos Equipe RS Schtradivari Bib Shorts S11 construction

Like its previous Equipe shorts, the new shorts are based on Assos’ racingFit, which the brand describes as a “second-skin aerodynamic silhouette”, a design informed by WorldTour feedback. 

Although distinctly Assos-like in appearance, the Equipe RS Schtradivari S11s are a complete revamp in terms of construction. 

Assos has used a new Type.911 textile, which replaces the Type.441 fabric used on the Equipe RS S9 Targa. It’s claimed to reduce the seam count and any wrinkling, while allowing for a more accurate fit across the legs and waist. 

Because the new textile is more elastic and compressive, Assos says this enabled it to get rid of the rollBar bib strap design. This approach meant the bottom of the bib straps was visible behind a jersey, and some found the aesthetic challenging. 

The new textile is rated to UPF50+ and is claimed to reduce any odour. 

Assos has paid particular attention to the hip area, incorporating its ‘cranKio Tec’ construction, which is claimed to reduce bunching in front of the hips when pedalling. 

The Equipe RS Schtradivari S11s continue to use a three-layer chamois pad, which is 9mm thick. However, Assos has revised it, intending to make the insert’s top sheet softer against the skin and more durable, as well as being more odour-resistant. 

In turn, this is said to maintain ‘kraterCooler’ and ‘whirlKrater’ layers for ventilation, as well as the ‘goldenGate’ technology (where the front and back of the pad are stitched to the panels but the inserts are allowed to float) so your body moves with the chamois rather than against it.  

Finally, Assos has revamped the leg grippers with the new ‘INject’ design. It’s modelled closely on the skinGrip finish of the Equipe RSR Bib Shorts S9 Targa, which uses silicone grips reminiscent of micro-suction cups around the entirety of the leg. 

Unfortunately, when I reviewed those shorts, the material wasn’t quite as grippy as at the start of testing and I’ve heard of others who have experienced this issue too. 

Assos seems to have taken this feedback on board, with the grippers now spanning the back half of the leg, with the front completely bare. 

The shorts are offered in a single black colour in six sizes, from XS to XLG, and you can pick between a ‘Standard’ or ‘Long’ leg length. 

Assos Equipe RS Schtradivari Bib Shorts S11 performance

I’ve been testing a pair of size-large shorts in the long-leg variant on both road and gravel rides of varying distances and temperatures ranging from 9 to 26°C. 

The bib shorts were tested on four saddles – a Specialized Power Pro Elaston, Fizik Argo Tempo R1, Syncros Tofino and a San Marco Regale.  

The fit is identical to other Assos shorts, with a close, form-fitting feel. I was very impressed by the feel of the new Type.911 textile and found the fit was better contoured to my anatomy than older Assos shorts. 

While the construction isn’t new, the lack of seams and the clever way Assos has stitched the pad to the front and back panels of the shorts, allowing the chamois to move with your body, is worthy of note. This was also something I noticed when I reviewed the Assos Equipe R Bib Shorts S9.  

The leg material feels much lighter than on the outgoing Equipe RS Bib Shorts S9 Targa. It’s significantly softer against the skin and more breathable, with a very premium feel for the price point. 

But what’s also impressive is its cooler-weather performance – I didn’t feel cold on a tough chain gang at 10°C. 

Another highlight is the updated leg grippers, which didn’t deteriorate throughout the test period. The silicone grippers at the back of the leg were unnoticeable when riding and paired well with knee warmers in cooler temperatures. 

My only qualm with the new shorts is the same complaint I’ve levelled at other Assos Equipe bib shorts – the pad isn’t as comfortable on longer rides as the brand’s Mille range, its dedicated endurance line. 

While the updated construction feels softer against the skin, I found its limit to be the four-hour mark.

I would, however, call that a significant improvement over the pad on the Equipe RS S9, with which I drew the line at three hours. 

All in, the pad makes for great (although extravagant) bib shorts on training rides, but I’d switch to an endurance option for longer escapades.   

Assos Equipe RS Schtradivari Bib Shorts S11 bottom line

The overall updates found in the Assos Equipe RS Schtradivari Bib Shorts S11 are a noticeable improvement over the Equipe S9 Targa range, which was already highly rated. 

The new Type.911 textile is the star of the show with its luxuriously soft feel and tangibly helps to improve the fit. 

However, these are definitely race-oriented bib shorts and wouldn’t be my first choice for rides longer than four hours.