Showcasing its entire range at the Sheppard Cycles Dealer show, Avanti Bikes had a handful of new bikes on hand. Following on from last year, Avanti continues with its strategy to not do year models, but rather focus on product series. We take a look at some road highlights from the New Zealand brand.
Avanti Corsa ER
The true highlight of the road range is the Corsa ER. This brand-new endurance-focused carbon bike has been built specifically for disc brakes.
Bolting from beneath, Flat Mount is a new standard introduced by Shimano last year. Expect this to be the future of road disc
The UCI-approved frameset is built with the very latest standards for road discs, including a front 100 x 12mm thru-axle and a 142x12mm thru-axle out back. The brakes employ the new road-specific Flat-Mount standard.
We were, unsurprisingly, told that this is Avanti’s most compliant frame yet –and that it underwent detailed real world testing using multiple accelerometers to fine tune reductions in vibration.
It’s easy to believe this is the brand’s most comfortable ride to date. There's clearance to fit up to a 30c tyre (28c is stock), along with thin seatstays and chainstays to promote vertical flex.
3T's new Ionic Comfort seatposts are specced on the Corsa ER
Furthering the comfortable ride is the use of 3T’s new Ionic Team Comfort carbon seatpost in a 27.2mm diameter. This places a vibration-dampening elastomer ring to separate the clamp mechanism from the post. Avanti claims that the differences compared with a traditional post design were obvious in its advanced accelerometer testing.
It's not a flex stem from the past, but the idea isn't too different
Up front, Avanti has fitted a vibration-dampening stem from TranzX. This ‘Antishock’ stem model features a similar isolating elastomer ring to that of the 3T seatpost, but it’s instead at the steerer clamp. This provides noticeable vertical flex to the handlebars, although a test ride is needed to see if it affects handling (Avanti claims it doesn’t).
Lots of carbon here
Ensuring the bike isn’t a soft noodle to pedal, Avanti has used some impressively square edges along the top and down tubes. The ultra wide down tube uses the full width of the BB86 bottom bracket, before flowing seamlessly onto the chainstays.
Up front, a tapered 1 1/8 to 1 1/4in head tube is given to hold the full carbon fork. Tucking in just behind the head tube is the internal cable routing, which is completely interchangeable between mechanical or Di2 systems.
Looking at the geometry figures of the six available frame sizes, the handling should be quite sprightly too. This doesn’t appear to be an ultra-relaxed endurance bike, but rather a sporty ride with a comfort fit.
Many of these design cues are borrowed from the brand’s Corsa SL and Corsa DR models – which remain mostly unchanged for 2016.
There are two models to be available from October, with the upper level Corsa ER 2 (AU$4,000) offering a Shimano Ultegra 22-speed drivetrain, Shimano R805 hydraulic disc brakes and DT Spline R23 wheels. We weighed the prototype display sample at 8.24kg.
Sitting at AU$3,000, the Corsa ER 1 (not pictured) offers Shimano 105 22-speed shifting, Shimano RS505 hydraulic discs and an Alex CXD4 wheelset. Both models are using semi-compact 52/36 gearing.
Corsa DR TRI
Give it a TRI: the Corsa DR TRI is focused on TT and triathlon riding
Taking the UCI-approved aero road Corsa DR (Drag Reduction) frame and swapping out a few components, Avanti is now adding the Corsa DR TRI to its lineup.
Designed for the time-trial or triathlon enthusiast, it features a Profile Design T2 Wing basebar and accompanying clip-ons, along with a Prologo Tripas saddle.
Although the basic Shimano RS010 wheels should likely be swapped out come race day, the Shimano 105 22-speed gearing and brakes should make this a reliable ride for its AU$2,800 price.
Avanti investing in track racing
Want to go really fast in circles? This is built for that.
As a sponsor to many of New Zealand’s finest track racers, Avanti is one of the few brands actively investing in the sport. With this, the UCI-approved Pista Team frameset looks to combine absolute stiffness with wind-cheating elements.
Replaceable stainless steel and adjustable horizontal dropouts look to ease the chain tension process. Available in four size, the frameset is expected to retail for AU$3000.
The Pista Pro is a more affordable option at AU$1400 complete
For a closer look at Avanti's range, click or swipe through our gallery above. All international pricing is TBC – we'll update when we know more.