Italian craftsmanship – those are all the words you need to describe the Sarto Seta Disc. With its superbly finished carbon frame and classic shape, the bike promises to be both comfortable and quick, thereby meeting the demands of modern road bikers. We put it to the test to find out if it can also deliver as an all-road bike.
For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best all-road bike 2022 – 7 models on test
7.62 kg in size L | € 12,000 | Manufacturer’s website
Sarto stands for hand-made Italian craftsmanship. Based in the northeast of Italy, the company have been making bikes for several decades, yet they remain a well-kept secret amongst fans of custom made Italian bikes. As such, the Sarto Seta Disc is one of the more exotic models in our test field, not having been mass produced in the far east but born out of manual labour right in Veneto, Italy. It will be the first time that many of our readers hear of the brand. Thanks to the option of custom geometry, the bike can be tailored to your specific measurements. For the purposes of this test, however, we opted for a standard size L, which weighs 7.62 kg and costs € 12.000.
What drivetrain would you spec on a bike like this if not Campagnolo? Which is exactly what they’ve done, relying on the Italian brand’s flagship groupset, the Campagnolo Super Record EPS. Besides making for a very coherent picture and maximum Italian flair, this means you’ve got to make significant compromises in terms of shifting performance and speed – especially when compared to the new Shimano DURA-ACE Di2. The gearing of the 53/39 t crankset paired with a 11–32 t cassette is reserved for riders with strong legs. Everyone else will be wishing for an easier gear on the climbs. The Campagnolo Bora WTO 45 Disc wheels further add to the bike’s Italian flair with their iconic 3-spoke pattern.
The Campagnolo Bora WTO 45 Disc wheels on the Sarto Seta Disc are tubeless-ready. We can’t figure out why the Italian brand chose to set them up with tubes, especially with the high-volume Continental Grand Prix 5000 tires. We’d prefer the higher gravel capabilities of a tubeless setup over the higher precision on asphalt of a tube setup.
The offset lettering on the top tube of the Sarto Seta Disc adds the perfect finishing touch. It doesn’t get much more extravagant.
The one-piece cockpit on the Sarto Seta Disc doesn’t just look the part, it also offers perfect integration and comfortable ergonomics.
Sarto Seta Disc 2022
€ 12,000
Specifications
Seatpost Deda Superleggero 27,2 mm
Brakes Camapgnolo Super Record 160/140 mm
Drivetrain Camapgnolo Super Record EPS
Chainring 53/39T
Stem Ursus Magnus H 01 115 mm
Handlebar Ursus Magnus H 01 420 mm
Wheelset Campagnolo Bora WTO
Tires Continental Grand Prix 5000
Cranks Camapgnolo Super Record 172,5 mm
Cassette Campagnolo Super Record 12 11–32T
Technical Data
Size XXS XS S M L XL XXL
Weight 7.62 kg
Specific Features
full integration in a classic design – tradition meets modernity
Italian flair at its finest – the bike with the most beautiful details
Camapgnolo wheels featuring their iconic spoke pattern
handcrafted in Italy
The thumb shifters of the Campagnolo Super Record EPS controls are always easy to reach, adding to their excellent ergonomics. Unless you’re used to Campagnolo, you might occasionally shift unwantedly when riding on bumpy terrain.
While the direct mount brake calliper looks nice, we wouldn’t mind sacrificing the looks by using an adapter for a 160 mm brake rotor if it means having more braking power at the rear.
The 53/39 t crankset of the Campagnolo Super Record EPS on the Sarto Seta Disc features the biggest chainrings on test and unless you live in completely flat topography, you’ll need seriously strong legs to get up the climbs.
Fatto a mano in Veneto – being hand made in Veneto, the bike is every Italophile’s dream. And it delivers in terms of performance too!
However, with an internal width of 19 mm, the rims offer limited cornering support for the 700 x 32C Continental Grand Prix 5000 tires. Besides that, the Seta is the only bike on test apart from the Specialized Aethos Expert that comes shipped with tubes in the tires. To make up for this, though, it’s also one of the few bikes in the test field that relies on a one-piece cockpit, joining the ranks of the ROSE REVEAL SIX DISC, offering perfect integration with its 115 mm stem and 420 mm wide handlebar.
| Size | XXS | XS | S | M | L | XL | XXL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat tube | 440 mm | 465 mm | 485 mm | 510 mm | 540 mm | 565 mm | 585 mm |
| Top tube | 505 mm | 515 mm | 530 mm | 550 mm | 565 mm | 580 mm | 590 mm |
| Head tube | 105 mm | 115 mm | 125 mm | 147 mm | 173 mm | 193 mm | 210 mm |
| Head angle | 70.5° | 71.0° | 71.5° | 72.5° | 73.0° | 73.0° | 73.5° |
| Seat angle | 75.0° | 75.0° | 74.5° | 74.0° | 73.5° | 73.0° | 72.5° |
| Chainstays | 402 mm | 402 mm | 403 mm | 405 mm | 407 mm | 408 mm | 410 mm |
| BB Height | 270 mm | 270 mm | 270 mm | 270 mm | 270 mm | 270 mm | 270 mm |
Shorts Rapha Pro Team Training Bibs | Shoes Specialized S-Works 7
Socks FINGERSCROSSED OFF ROAD
Riding the Sarto Seta Disc
In terms of speed, the Sarto Seta Disc doesn’t hold back, turning out to be one of the best speed all-rounders on test. It’s hot on the heels of the quickest accelerating bikes on test and ultimately overtakes them once they’re all up to speed and you’ve got to hold that pace. Thanks to this efficiency, which is almost on par with that of the Trek Domane SLR 9, it’s a star-athlete amongst all-rounders, capable of performing on all kinds of topography – as long as your legs are powerful for the big ring on the climbs. On the other hand, the Sarto Seta Disc is more of a mid-field contender when it comes to comfort since it’s not as good at damping vibrations and bumps as the best bikes on test, though it never feels overly harsh. This level of comfort suits the bike’s sporty character, along with use cases that prefer asphalt over gravel. We would have preferred if the bike came with a tubeless setup as that would improve its long-distance comfort and make it more capable of tackling compact gravel.
The rather stretched riding position will also limit certain, less flexible, riders in their comfort. In this case, it might be worthwhile to dig a little deeper into your pockets and fork out for your dream of a custom built bike featuring tailored geometry. The balanced and intuitive handling of the Sarto Seta disc is a lot of fun, coming in close behind the Specialized Aethos Expert. It feels a little vaguer than the Aethos, but the handling is more precise and direct than you would expect considering the high-volume tires. Unlike the ROSE REVEAL SIX DISC, the cornering precision of the tires doesn’t suffer as a result of the rather narrow internal rim width of the Campagnolo wheels despite both the rims and the tires having the exact same dimensions. This can be attributed to the fact that the tires aren’t set up tubeless and are run at a higher pressure. The tires and frame instil you with confidence, making you feel like you can push the limits. To underline this feeling on the descents, it would make sense to upgrade to a 160 mm brake rotor at the rear too. When riding on gravel and poorly maintained roads, the chain slaps around and makes the bike a lot noisier than the other bikes. A small thing like this can erode your confidence despite the fact that the bike is fully capable of mastering this kind of terrain, albeit while offering limited compliance.
Tuning tip: rims with a wider internal width and a tubeless setup for improved comfort and more off-road reserves
The Sarto Seta Disc doesn’t do much wrong in this group test, turning out to be one of the best bikes on asphalt thanks to its superb handling and excellent speed. Ultimately, it’s the bike’s limited long-distance comfort and lack of reserves when riding on gravel that prevent it from scoring better as an all-road bike.
Riding Characteristics
4Agility
- cumbersome
- playful
Stability
- nervous
- confident
Handling
- demanding
- balanced
Fun factor
- boring
- lively
Comfort
- firm
- comfortable
Value for money
- terrible
- very good
Our conclusion on the Sarto Seta Disc
The Sarto Seta might not be the best all-road bike on test, yet it’s still an excellent all-rounder! Thanks to its high-speed capabilities and agile handling, it’s the right bike for ambitious all-road riders that tend to stick to asphalt roads and have a deep love for all things Italian. Thanks to the standard frame sizes, that custom bike charm has now become a little more affordable. However, if you want a comfortable ride, you’ll find more compliant bikes on test.
Tops
- excellent workmanship and beautiful details
- best speed all-rounder on asphalt
- intuitive handling that allows you to push the limits
- first class integration
Flops
- gearing will be too hard for a lot of riders
- doesn’t come with a tubeless setup
- limited long-distance comfort
You can find out more about at sartobikes.com
The testfield
For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best all-road bike 2022 – 7 models on test
All bikes on review: BMC Roadmachine X ONE (Click for review) | Cervelo Caledonia-5 Ultegra Di2 (Click for review) | Parapera Atmos MASTERPIECE (Click for review) | ROSE REVEAL SIX DISC Red eTap AXS (Click for review) | Sarto Seta Disc | Specialized Aethos Expert (Click for review) | Trek Domane SLR 9 (Click for review)
No, it’s not about perfect race tracks, it’s about efficiency. Fast, fleet-footed and efficient – those who want to speed along high-speed passages need a defined and spritely bike that accelerates with ease and efficiency. Nevertheless, reliable components are important too. We interpret “Smooth tarmac” bikes as follows: Hard efforts at high speeds with a maximum efficient bike on a consistently well-paved road. Effort-joy ratio: 80:30 (not everything has to be 100%!)↩
… also known as bike riding. Broken-up roads in the hinterland, deadlocked gravel roads, loose surfaces – sometimes muddy, sometimes bone-dry. For this, it takes bikes with super all-round, handling and wearing qualities uphill and downhill. Effort-joy ratio: 50:50↩
If you want to use your bike almost every day, you usually do not need an extremely tuned racing machine. Solid components, which are able to cope with the rigours of continuous usage in any kind of weather, are part of the basic equipment. At the same time, the bike should have practicable details: integrated fenders/assembly options, luggage racks/attachment points and a light system or at least the option of installing bike lights. The position on the bike should be rather relaxed, the overall comfort high, so that the Afterwork Ride becomes a cure and not a curse. Effort-joy ratio: 30:70↩
You can find more info about our rating system in this article: Click here! ↩
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Words: Photos: Benjamin Topf
