Wilier Cento1 Hybrid review

Constructed at the foot of Monte Grappa in Italy, the 11.21 kg Wilier Cento1 Hybrid is the lightest E-road bike in our test. Is being lightweight enough to beat the who’s who of the industry?

For an overview of the test fleet head to the main article: The best E-road bike of 2019! – 13 of the most exciting models on test

**Wilier** Triestina Cento1 Hybrid Custom | 11.21 kg | € 9,000 | MAHLE ebikemotion X35

The Rossano Veneto-based family business sent us a Wilier Cento1 Hybrid with a consistently high-end spec. Despite its Italian descent, the Wilier feels pleasantly restrained in terms of frame design compared to Bianchi and Pinarello. With lots of attention to detail, the E-road bike is not only very tidy but also extremely light. A quick look at the scales confirms that, with them reading 11.21 kg in size L, making the Wilier the lightest E-road bike in the test. Unfortunately, the custom features with that extra dose of sex appeal won’t be available in stores. Along with the Ritchey Superlogic carbon cockpit and seat post, Wilier paired the MAHLE ebikemotion hub motor with Miche SWR carbon wheels and Shimano’s DURA-ACE R9170 Di2 groupset. The Selle Italia SLR C59 carbon saddle, weighing merely 60 g, completes the build. The look of the stem divided our test crew, but it promises a lot of torsional stiffness in the cockpit – we can only hope that the T20 screws don’t come loose on the road since you’re unlikely to find a suitable bit in your multitool. According to Wilier, this build would cost about € 9,000, though it’s not available as a production bike. However, there are numerous factory builds available in a range of prices.

**Helmet** POC Octal | **Glasses** Smith Wildcat | **Jersey** Ryzon Generator Aero | **Bibs** Ryzon Generator | **Socks** Ryzon Trace Performance | **Shoes** Giro Techlace Prolight

The Wilier Cento1 Hybrid in detail

Motor/Battery MAHLE ebikemotion X35 250 Wh
Drivetrain Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9170 2×11
Gearing 52/36 T und 11–30 T
Brakes Shimano DURA-ACE BR-917 160/160 mm
Stem Ritchey Superlogic C260 carbon
Handlebar Ritchey Superlogic Evo Curve Carbon
Seatpost Ritchey Superlogic Carbon
Wheels Miche SWR Carbon 38
Tires Vittoria Rubino Pro 28C

**Clean**
The cable routing is very tidy despite being external, great!

**Could do with a bit more**
Up very steep terrain – just when you need the motor the most – the MAHLE ebikemotion runs out of power.

**Good team**
The Miche carbon wheels and Vittoria Rubino Pro tires performed convincingly throughout the test.

**A forgivable mistake**
DThe cheap brake rotors are the only compromise in the otherwise immaculate spec .

Size	XS	S	M	L	XL
Seat tube	430 mm	460 mm	500 mm	530 mm	570 mm
Top tube	505 mm	525 mm	544 mm	561 mm	578 mm
Head tube	104 mm	121 mm	145 mm	166 mm	185 mm
Head angle	70.5°	71.0°	71.5°	72.0°	72.5°
Seat angle	75.0°	74.5°	74.0°	73.5°	73.0°
Chainstays	406 mm	406 mm	408 mm	410 mm	411 mm
Reach	365 mm	376 mm	383 mm	390 mm	395 mm
Stack	515 mm	532 mm	555 mm	576 mm	595 mm

The Wilier Cento1 Hybrid in review

With its quick acceleration, the Wilier Cento1 Hybrid exudes a spritely character. Besides the minimal weight working in its favour, it’s also has a very well balanced ride. This results in predictable handling, making the Wilier a lot of fun on every descent. Thanks to the adjustable support modes, ambitious riders will get up climbs well below threshold and be able to attack with everything their worth on the descents. Staying fresh can also help beginners to work on improving their skills. Anyone who’s been riding road bikes for some years and is now looking to switch to an E-road bike will appreciate the familiarly narrow Q-factor, made possible by the hub motor of the MAHLE ebikemotion system. The only drawback of this system is that steep climbs can overwhelm it. However, on moderate climbs, you can relax and enjoy the power of the motor.

**Tuning tip**
in order to compensate for the lack of motor power of the MAHLE ebikemotion system in very steep terrain fuel with a double shot of espresso

The ride feel of the Wilier is deceptively similar to a conventional bike. It’s by far the best E-road bike in the test fitted with the MAHLE ebikemotion motor!

he motor engages as soon as the cassette rotates and isn’t dependent on the applied force of the rider. As long as you keep the pedals turning with minimal effort, you’ll easily reach the 25 km/h limit. But the Wilier doesn’t encourage leisurely cruising, begging to be ridden at high speeds instead and feeling right at home above the 25 km/h threshold. The comparatively compact and central riding position is just as enjoyable as the bike’s overall comfort. The compliance of the seat post in conjunction with the frameset and tires provide a significant amount of vibration damping. Even long rides are no problem – as long as you get on with the shape of the C59 saddle.

Conclusion

The handling of the Wilier Cento1 Hybrid is good-natured, predictable and agile and it feels light-footed even without the support of the motor. Here, everyone from beginners to professionals will find an E-road bike that scores for its adjustable support levels and natural road bike handling. The lack of power on steep climbs is what cost the Wilier the test victory, but our Best Value Tip definitely goes to Italy! We’ll drink a shot of Grappa to that.

Tops

handling to suit everyone
stable and comfortable even on rough roads
standard Q- factor

Flops

lacks power for really steep climbs
unnatural feeling support when the cassette is turning

Riding Characteristics

Agility

cumbersome
playful

Stability

nervous
confident

Handling

demanding
balanced

Fun factor

boring
lively

Motor feeling

digital
natural

Motor power

weak
strong

Value for money

terrible
very good

Technical Data

Wilier
Triestina Cento1 Hybrid Custom

Size: XS S M L XL
Weight: 11,21 kg
Motor: MAHLE ebikemotion X35
Motor torque: 40 Nm
Battery Capacity: 250 Wh
Price: € 9,000

Indended Use

Smooth tarmac 1

Allroad/Gravel 2

Everyday/Commuting 3

For more info head to: wilier.com