Viner's 2008 range is topped by a fully customisable carbon bike. The Italian company, celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, is known for offering custom options on their top end bikes at no extra cost and has continued that tradition into the era of carbon fibre.
The Maxima 60th Anniversary road frame takes custom carbon to its logical conclusion, with custom tubes and hand made carbon lugs using differing grades and thicknesses of carbon matched to the type of rider you are and the size of bike you want. The aim is to make a bike which gives the same ride characteristics - the stiffness of aluminium with the comfort of carbon - throughout the range, and capable of giving the optimum ride and performance to both a powerful pro sprinter and a lightweight climber. Sounds like a tall order and one we'd be keen to put to the test.
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There are a number of build options available, the most expensive being a combination of Campagnolo Record groupset with Fulcrum Racing Speed wheels. The whole lot weighed a claimed 6.6kg with a frame weight of 1.08kg, for the display bike at Eurobike which has a 54cm top tube. In its smallest, lightest guise Viner reckon they can make a frame weighing 950g. Forks are Deda Black Drive, a single monocoque unit weighing just 350g.
Aside from being available as a custom option, the Maxima frame has a couple of touches that set it apart from the crowd: the integrated seat post goes through the top tube which is chopped in a style reminiscent of old school GT road bikes. The neat twist is that not only is there 2.5cm of seatpost adjustment available courtesy of an expander bolt in the seat tube, but the Maxima can also be retro-fitted to take a conventional seatpost - which should address worries about the re-sale values of bikes with integrated posts. >Frame and fork: £2,799 ($5,200.67) with extended seat tube; £2,699 ($5,040.58) with standard seat tube. The made to measure option adds 10 per cent to the price.
There is also a time trial version of the Maxima, the Crono/Tri this time without an integrated seat post, although the seat tube does extend a generous distance beyond the top tube. Claimed weight is 7.8kg built up with Miche Supertype wheels, Campagnolo Record, and Deda Elementi tri bars. The frame making up 1.13kg of the total. >Frame and fork: £2,899 ($5392.78).
There are two versions of the Mitus: the standard model or the Mitus Miche Team Replica. Both feature a T9005 3k carbon fibre frame with a kevlar-reinforced head tube. The hand made joints are smoothed to create the look of a smooth monocoque frame. Rear triangle comes courtesy of Dedacciai Ice Tail and Ice Box, built from Toray T700S UDPP high-modulus carbon. Forks are aerodynamically-sculpted to match the profile of the frame, tipping the scales at 380g.
It's a machine, says Viner, aimed at riders who want a high performance race bike, but don't need custom tubing. It is also lighter and more rigid than the '07 model.
Go for the Team Replica and it comes built up with Miche's Super Type groupset. Well nearly groupset in our book because it's based on a Campag Record front and rear mech (it would be great if Miche did a full group) with Miche chain, cassette, carbon brake callipers, and carbon cranks, plus Miche Supertype carbon wheels. The complete bike weighs a claimed 7kg. >Frame and fork: £1,999 ($3784,57).
The Perfecta is Viner's take on the long distance comfort market but it's race capable too - a carbon all-rounder. Basically it's a round tubed version of the Mitus that sacrifices 10 per cent of the latter's rigidity at the back end in favour of a tad more comfort - it's also £500 pounds less than the Mitus in the UK. Time trial, cyclo-cross, and track versions are also available. >Road frame and fork: £1,499 ($2738.82).
Perfecta 08 Crono frame and Stream fork £1,999 ($3,516.15).
Perfecta 08 Cyclo Cross frame and CX fork £1499 ($2,825,98)
Perfecta 08 Pista track frame and REB fork £1499 ($2,825,98)
This pink and black Primus is another eye-catching machine. Again there are a number of build up and paint options, as well as the choice of buying an off the peg or custom frame. The machine pictured here comes with a SRAM Red groupset and Fulcrum Racing 1 wheels. The frame features a manipulated alloy front end mated to a carbon rear and is available with either standard, compact or women-specific geometry. >Frame and fork: £1,749 ($3494.81).
Breaking out of Europe in 2009 Viner mountain bikes, this '08 hardtail is certainly an interesting looking bike.