New Pinarello Dogma X endurance bike features wild comfort-enhancing seatstays

Pinarello has launched the Dogma X, a new endurance platform with a radical seatstay arrangement, claimed to improve compliance.

Called the X-Stays, the seatstays join the seat tube at two separate locations and the bike can also accept reasonably voluminous 35mm tyres.

Pinarello has also introduced new, more affordable X9, X7 and X5 models, which feature a more relaxed geometry and a revised seatstay arrangement.

Pinarello intends to make its range simpler, with ‘F’ bikes aimed at racing and ‘X’ for endurance.

Want to know our initial impressions of the Pinarello Dogma X? Check out our first ride review.

We’ve got to talk about those stays…

The new X-Stay technology sees the thin, sweeping and dropped seatstays incorporate a second set of tubes that join the seat tube just above the upper bottle cage boss.

Pinarello says because there are two points at which the stays intersect with the seat tube, this enables more forces to be dispersed.

The stays then have an X-shaped insert between them, which Pinarello says is to boost stiffness, otherwise the seatstays would be too flexible.

Pinarello says it has carefully chosen the carbon fibre layup patterns, incorporating a reduced tube diameter in the curved stays. The brand claims the X-Stays not only dampen vibrations but also increase lateral stiffness to compensate for the longer chainstays.

Not simply a taller and shorter Dogma F

Pinarello claims the Dogma X strikes the perfect balance of performance and ride comfort, and is designed for long days in the saddle.

It takes clear design cues from the pro-pedigree Dogma F, sporting the brand’s unmistakable asymmetric design.

The brand claims the Dogma X is 5 per cent less aerodynamic than the Dogma F, but didn't provide any numerical comparisons in terms of compliance.

Put the two side-by-side and there are some clear differences in the tube profiles.

The top tube slopes in the middle on the Dogma X and the bottom bracket junction is noticeably smaller. Although the seatstays are dropped further on the Dogma F, they are dramatically thinner in profile on the new Dogma X and incorporate the brand’s new X-Stay design.

Pinarello continues to use Toray carbon from Japan and, just like the Dogma F, the Dogma X uses the top-tier T1000 1K layup, which Pinarello claims offers the ultimate stiffness-to-weight ratio.

The brand claims an unpainted 53cm frame weighs 950g (without hardware), 60g more than the Dogma F in an equivalent size. The fork is then claimed to weigh 400g (steerer uncut).

Pinarello says the Dogma X is only compatible with electronic groupsets because it lacks the necessary ports to accept mechanical cables.

Like the Dogma F, the Dogma X uses a 1.5in headset standard, with Pinarello speccing CeramicSpeed’s SLT (Solid Lubrication Technology) bearings. These are self-lubricating, corrosion-resistant bearings, backed by a lifetime warranty, with an increasing number of brands opting for the system.

The proprietary seatpost found on the Dogma F and F-Series ports over to the Dogma X. Unlike the Dogma F, which uses a wedge that sits behind the post, the Dogma X inherits the integrated clamp design found on the F-Series, with the T20 Torx bolt integrated into the top face of the top tube.

The Dogma X also retains the Fork Flap, a shroud that conceals the front brake caliper, which Pinarello claims reduces drag.

The Dogma X can accept up to 700c x 35mm road bike tyres – less than the recently launched Specialized Roubaix SL8, which can accept 40mm rubber and the Giant Defy at 38mm, but it’s still more voluminous than the endurance bikes of yesteryear.

The Most Talon integrated handlebar/stem found on the Dogma F is reused on the Dogma X. Any electronic wires and hydraulic hoses are routed internally through the bar and run either side of the steerer tube. There are 16 variations to choose from.

Pinarello claims the Most TiCR (an acronym for Total Internal Cable Routing) system saves 5 watts over external cable routing.

BikeRadar asked Pinarello if it considered developing a different handlebar for the Dogma X that was focused on compliance. This is a fairly common trend on endurance bikes, with Giant introducing its D-Fuse handlebar to balance the rear-end compliance out-front.

However, Pinarello says it always intended to spec the Talon Ultra cockpit.

Pinarello Dogma X geometry

The Dogma X uses what Pinarello calls its Endurance Geometry.

Like the Dogma F, the Dogma X will be available in 11 sizes, from 43cm to 62cm (seat tube centre-to-centre measurement) – that’s quite a lot, considering moulds for the carbon frames are expensive, so brands tend to have fewer options to encompass a greater range of rider heights.

When Pinarello launched the Dogma F, the brand told BikeRadar “we will never use T-shirt sizes to measure our bikes”.

For a nominal size 54cm, the Dogma X has a shorter 381.2mm reach than the 385mm found on the equivalent Dogma F, as well as a taller 568.4mm stack (compared to 551mm).

Unlike the Dogma F, where the brand varies its chainstay length, all sizes of Dogma X sport 422mm chainstays. Pinarello says this is the shortest length it could get away with to ensure the 35mm tyre clearance.

Pinarello Dogma X models and availability

The Dogma X will come in four colours – Xolar Sun, Xolar Green, Xolar Blue and Xolar Black. It will be available in five different builds.

The Dogma X will be available on Pinarello’s custom paint MyWay platform.

A frameset retails for £5,500/$6,950/€6,700. Australian pricing and availability are to be confirmed.

Pinarello Dogma X Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 PM

Frame: Toray T1000 1K Colour: Xolar Black, Xolar Sun, Xolar Blue, Xolar Green Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 with power meter Wheels: Price: £13,300/$15,500/€16,100 with Princeton CarbonWorks Grit 5440 wheelset; €15,050 with DT Swiss ARC 1400 50DB Dicut or Princeton Peak 4550 DB (not available in UK or USA)

Pinarello Dogma X SRAM Red eTap AXS

Frame: Toray T1000 1K Colour: Xolar Black, Xolar Sun, Xolar Blue, Xolar Green Groupset: SRAM Red eTap AXS Wheels: DT Swiss ARC 1400 50DB Dicut or Princeton Peak 4550 DB Price: €16,100 (DT Swiss) or €15,600 (Princeton) (not available in UK or USA)

Pinarello Dogma X Campagnolo Super Record Wireless

Frame: Toray T1000 1K Colour: Xolar Black Groupset: Campagnolo Super Record Wireless Wheels: Campagnolo Bora WTO 45 Price: $16,000/€16,350 (not available in UK)

Pinarello X-Series frame details

Pinarello is also extending its X-Series endurance range with the introduction of new X9, X7 and X5 models, all of which borrow heavily from the Dogma X.

These bikes will sit alongside the cheaper X3 and X1 endurance bikes launched earlier this year.

The X-Series bikes use what Pinarello calls ‘FlexiStay 2.0’ rather than X-Stays. This means the bikes simply do away with the X-shaped insert between the seatstays, which the brand claims further improves compliance.

A combination of Toray T900 and T700 carbon fibres are used in the stays to provide a smoother ride, according to Pinarello.

The X9 and X7 bikes use Toray T900 carbon fibre frames, with the X5 stepping down to T700.

Pinarello claims the X9 and X7 frames weigh 960g in a size 53cm (unpainted and without hardware) and the X5 is a little heavier at 990g. Although Pinarello says the forks are different from the Dogma X, they are also claimed to weigh 400g uncut.

Like the Dogma X, the X9 uses the MOST Talon Ultra integrated handlebar/stem. Both the X7 and X5 step down to a two-piece affair – a MOST Tiger Alu TiCR stem paired with a MOST Jaguar XA TiCR handlebar.

Pinarello X-Series geometry

The bike also features a more relaxed and taller geometry, which Pinarello calls Endurance+.

Nine bike sizes are offered. Although not a direct comparison, for a nominal size 54.5cm, the reach is shortened to 376.7mm and the stack is taller at 588.2mm, over the 381.2mm reach and 568.4mm stack on a 54cm Pinarello Dogma X.

Pinarello X-Series models

Six X-Series builds will be offered, with Australian pricing and availability again to be confirmed.

Pinarello X9 Shimano Dura-Ace Di2

Frame: Toray T900 carbon fibre Colour: Xpeed Gold Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 Wheels: MOST Ultrafast Carbon Price: $11,800/€11,900 (not available in UK)

Pinarello X9 SRAM Red eTap AXS

Frame: Toray T900 carbon fibre Colour: Xpeed Gold Groupset: SRAM Red eTap AXS Wheels: MOST Ultrafast Carbon Price: €11,900 (not available in UK or USA)

Pinarello X7 Shimano Ultegra Di2

Frame: Toray T900 carbon fibre Colour: Xpeed Red, Xpeed Blue Groupset: Shimano Ultegra Di2 Wheels: MOST Ultrafast Carbon Price: £7,200/$8,800/€8,850

Pinarello X7 SRAM Force AXS

Frame: Toray T900 carbon fibre Colour: Xpeed Red, Xpeed Blue Groupset: SRAM Force AXS Wheels: MOST Ultrafast Carbon Price: €8,750 (not available in UK or USA)

Pinarello X5 Shimano 105 Di2

Frame: Toray T700 carbon fibre Colour: Xolar Black, Xolar White Groupset: Shimano 105 Di2 Wheels: MOST Ultrafast Carbon Price: £5,700/$6,000/€6,800

Pinarello X5 Shimano 105 R7100

Frame: Toray T700 carbon fibre Colour: TBC Groupset: Shimano 105 R7100 Wheels: Fulcrum Racing 800 Price: €6,150 (not available in UK or USA)

What’s next for Pinarello?

Pinarello was clear it sees the ‘X’ line-up as its endurance arsenal. In its product presentation, where an image of the family of bikes was included, an unnamed gravel bike was included in the X-Series line-up.

With the existing Grevil F designed for gravel racing and appearing in the 'F' column of the table in the presentation, does that mean Pinarello has a new endurance-focused gravel bike on the way? Watch this space.