Pinarello says au revoir to Paris with new X-Series endurance bike

Pinarello has announced the launch of two new X-Series endurance road bikes, replacing the Paris as part of an overall range shake-up.

Compared to the brand’s racier Dogma F and newly launched F-Series bikes, the X-Series features a more relaxed geometry coupled with tube designs and a carbon layup optimised for all-day comfort.

The X-Series comes in two spec levels at launch. The X1 features mechanical Shimano 105 R7020, while the X3 is available with a choice of Shimano 105 Di2 R7170 or SRAM Rival eTap AXS.

The X1 costs €3,680, while the X3 is priced from €5,660 for the 105 Di2 version, to €6,070 for the SRAM Rival AXS model.

Model availability depends on territory.

Endurance with Pinarello flavour

The X-Series is Pinarello’s answer to the modern endurance road bike, and features a new frameset design complete with a more relaxed geometry.

Compared to an equivalently sized F-Series bike, which uses the brand’s competition geometry (as seen on the Dogma F used by Team Ineos-Grenadiers), the X1 and X3 feature a 13.1mm shorter reach and 33.2mm higher stack in a size 53.

However, in keeping with Pinarello’s goal of maintaining sharp handling, the head tube angle measures a racy 72 degrees, just half a degree shy of the brand’s race bikes.

The chainstays measure 415mm throughout the size range. Pinarello says this is compact enough to maintain a good level of responsiveness, but nevertheless elongates the wheelbase slightly to improve stability.

In contrast, the shorter, 406 to 410mm chainstays of the F-Series are said to offer a more responsive ride feel, at the expense of slightly tighter tyre clearance.

Pinarello offers the X1 and X3 in nine size options, which the brand says should near-guarantee a perfect fit for any given rider – something it claims is vital for optimum comfort.

Toray T600 carbon and Flexy Stays

Under the skin, Pinarello has opted for Toray T600 carbon fibre, which the brand says was chosen for its blend of performance and comfort.

Pinarello says it worked directly with Toray to improve its application of the T600 material, in order to promote comfort in key areas of the bike.

Although it doesn’t quote specific figures, it says it has “significantly reduced vertical stiffness when compared to our top race model [the Dogma F]”.

According to Pinarello, the star of the show is the rear triangle, which uses a ‘Flexy Stay’ design to neutralise road vibrations without resorting to mechanical means.

Pinarello has a track record in experimenting with suspension systems for road bikes – notably when it launched the K8-S back in 2015. However, eight years later the brand appears convinced that including such a device would add too much weight to the bike and “drastically reduce performance”.

Instead, the curved design of the stays has been engineered to best utilise the T600 material’s inherent damping properties.

Elsewhere, Pinarello has used truncated ‘flatback’ aerofoil tubing across the frameset for improved efficiency, with a tapered head tube and seat tube, plus a proprietary aero seatpost.

It has also borrowed the 3D-printed titanium, integrated seatpost clamp design from the Dogma F and new F-Series bikes.

The X-Series also features fully internal ‘TiCR’ cable routing, which the brand says saves up to five watts compared to a “conventional setup”.

Neither the X1 or X3 models available use the Most Talon Ultra integrated bar-stem arrangement (instead opting for a two-piece setup). However, the fork does use Pinarello’s proprietary 1.5in steerer, meaning riders can upgrade if desired.

The Onda-style wavy fork is also claimed to reduce road buzz and fatigue over long rides.

Thanks to the fork’s slightly raised crown, and the frame’s elongated chainstays, clearance is rated to 32mm-wide tyres.

Range overhaul

The X-Series comes as part of an overall update to Pinarello’s range of road bikes.

The idea, says the brand’s head of communications, Federico Sbrissa, is to help potential riders know what they’re looking at, at a glance.

“Names like the Paris and Prince, they have history and are famous names for Pinarello, but they arguably don’t represent the bikes [any more],” he says.

Now, the Pinarello range is split into three broad categories: the F-Series of race bikes, the X-Series of endurance bikes, and its range of Nytro ebikes.

Pinarello X-Series availability

The X1 and X3 models are available from Pinarello dealers now, subject to territory selections.

The X3 represents the higher-spec offering of the two, with a choice of Shimano 105 and SRAM Rival electronic drivetrains. These come fitted with Fulcrum Racing 800 DB wheels and Pirelli P7 tyres.

The base-level X1 is available with an 11-speed Shimano 105 mechanical groupset, and is offered with a Shimano WH RS-171 wheelset.

Pinarello X-Series specifications

Pinarello X3 105 Di2

Price: £4,500 / $N/A / €5,660

Frame: X-Series, Toray T600 carbon

Fork: Onda carbon

Groupset: Shimano 105 Di2 R7170

Wheels: Fulcrum Racing 800 DB

Tyres: Pirelli P7, 700 x 28c

Seatpost: Pinarello aero seatpost

Handlebar/stem: Tiger TiCR handlebar and Jaguar XA stem

Saddle: Most Aircross

Pinarello X3 Rival AXS

Price: £N/A / $N/A / €6,070

Frame: X-Series, Toray T600 carbon

Fork: Onda carbon

Groupset: SRAM Rival eTap AXS

Wheels: Fulcrum Racing 800 DB

Tyres: Pirelli P7, 700 x 28c

Seatpost: Pinarello aero seatpost

Handlebar/stem: Tiger TiCR handlebar and Jaguar XA stem

Saddle: Most Aircross

Pinarello X1 105

Price: £TBC / $N/A / €3,680

Frame: X-Series, Toray T600 carbon

Fork: Onda carbon

Groupset: Shimano 105 R7020

Wheels: Shimano WH RS-171

Tyres: Pirelli P7, 700 x 28c

Seatpost: Pinarello aero seatpost

Handlebar/stem: Tiger TiCR handlebar and Jaguar XA stem

Saddle: Most Aircross