Wilier take on the competition with an all-road bike that doesn’t quite fit into any particular category, the GranTurismo SLR. The bike can’t deny (and doesn’t want to) its road bike heritage, which is why it takes a different approach to the all-road genre. But does that make it less suitable than the rest?
This bike was tested as part of our 2023 all-road group test – you can find an overview of the group test and the featured bikes over here: The best all-road bike of 2023 – 10 all-road bikes in review
Wilier can do road bikes, that’s for sure – their bikes have never failed to impress in our previous tests. But how does the die-hard road bike brand fare once the going gets rough? Many brands are now trying to reintroduce all-road as a separate category in their portfolio, but race-focused Wilier are reluctant to follow suit. Classic Italian road bikes are fast, sleek, and optimised for racing, of course.
The GranTurismo is all about la dolce vita and leisurely cruising. However, in classic Italian fashion, Wilier do things their own way, providing a lot of flex at the rear and a lot of excitement in the test field – and not just with the captivating looks. But can the Mediterranean silver bullet hold its own on coastal Catalan roads?
Wilier GranTurismo SLR – Italian down to the finest detail
There’s almost no other country in the world that’s as strongly associated with design as Italy, and that’s evident in the GranTurismo SLR. The bike features a sleek, discreet white/silver finish and a fast, stylish road bike look. But the defining part of the GranTurismo sits further back. The conspicuously wide seat stays don’t end at the seat tube as usual. Instead, they’re connected to the top tube via an interchangeable elastomer. Wilier call this damping system ACTIFLEX 2.0. On the flagship models, the elastomer is 3D-printed and available in two different densities. In any case, the cleverly hidden mechanism uses four bearings to allow the seat stays to flex inwards.
The sporty look for an all-road and endurance bike is characterised by the aerodynamically optimised tube shapes. The head tube and the transition between the fork and frame are adapted accordingly. This is matched with a recess in the seat tube to hug the rear tire, along with a pronounced D-shaped seat post. With all those subtle details, it is only at second glance that you notice that the large Wilier lettering is green.
For € 10,300, the spec is consistent and convincing. Wilier rely on their in-house Zero Cockpit, which can also be found on their Filante SLR aero race bike. The beautifully finished handlebar has good ergonomics, and underlines the bike’s fast character. When it comes to the wheelset, the Italian brand don’t hold back, equipping the bike with their in-house Wilier Triestina SL38KC wheels. They look stunning with the visible carbon weave, shod with Continental GP 5000 tires – a very suitable tire choice for sporty all-road riding, which you will also find on the ROSE and MERIDA. However, the frame doesn’t accommodate anything more than sporty riding. The maximum tire clearance of 32 mm restricts the bike’s all-road capabilities significantly, and the Wilier GranTurismo SLR can’t keep up in this regard, especially given that some modern race bikes are capable of taking 34 mm tires. As for the groupset, Wilier spec the current Shimano DURA-ACE Di2, paired with an 11-30 t cassette and 50/34 t crankset. This puts shifting performance first, though it doesn’t offer enough gear range for relaxed all-road riding and steep climbs. But that isn’t the strong suit of the Wilier GranTurismo SLR anyway.
Wilier Granturismo SLR
€ 10,300
Specifications
Seatpost Wilier Granturismo Custom
Brakes Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9200 160 / 140 mm
Drivetrain Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9200 2x12
Stem Wilier 0 Bar 110 mm
Handlebar Wilier 0 Bar 420 mm
Wheelset Wilier Triestina SLR38KC
Tires Continental GP 5000 s 32x622
Technical Data
Size XS S M L XL XXL
Weight 7,56 kg
Specific Features
Colour-contrasted dropouts
Clean look thanks to the one-piece cockpit
Wilier’s in-house damping design at the rear
The fastest all-road racer on test
Size | XS | S | M | L | XL | XXL |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seat tube | 438 mm | 467 mm | 486 mm | 505 mm | 524 mm | 543 mm |
Top tube | 517 mm | 532 mm | 547 mm | 558 mm | 574 mm | 592 mm |
Head tube | 117 mm | 136 mm | 157 mm | 177 mm | 196 mm | 217 mm |
Head angle | 71.0° | 71.5° | 72.0° | 72.5° | 72.5° | 72.5° |
Seat angle | 74.5° | 74.0° | 73.5° | 73.5° | 73.0° | 72.5° |
Chainstays | 409 mm | 409 mm | 412 mm | 412 mm | 412 mm | 414 mm |
Wheelbase | 977 mm | 985 mm | 995 mm | 1,002 mm | 1,013 mm | 1,027 mm |
Reach | 369 mm | 374 mm | 379 mm | 384 mm | 389 mm | 395 mm |
Stack | 527 mm | 546 mm | 566 mm | 586 mm | 604 mm | 625 mm |
Italy’s silver bullet – Wilier GranTurismo SLR
For Wilier, the objective is fast and fun riding, and it shows. No other all-road bike in our test is as much of a compromise between race bike feeling and all-road capability as the GranTurismo SLR, living up to its sporty paint job.
Above all, the bike is characterised by the aggressive yet comfortable riding position. In a direct comparison with the Wilier 0 SLR race bike, the Italian brand have toned the geometry down somewhat while remaining true to the road bike course. The biggest differences on the GranTurismo are a longer head tube, shorter reach, and slacker head angle.
While the gearing isn’t quite sufficient for relaxed climbing, the bike will let you gain altitude at a high pace, and it doesn’t shy away from fast mountain pass sprints. This makes it one of the few bikes in our all-road test field that genuinely craves speed and encourages you to push a little harder. It’s on the descents, however, that its need for speed comes to fruition: the GranTurismo SLR excels on a diet of high-speed corners, remaining composed and predictable at all times, and unafraid of poorly maintained roads. When the elevation profile flattens out, the bike doesn’t disappoint its forbearers either, showing what the future holds. The integrated elastomer in the rear end offers a pleasant level of compliance. It doesn’t just compensate for small bumps and vibrations, but also mitigates the impact of bigger hits.
With the GranTurismo, Wilier have managed to create a bike with big aspirations, that’s big on fun. The handling and ride feel are convincing, resulting in a precise, predictable, and incredibly fun bike. However, Wilier haven’t thrown all rationality out the window, designing the bike to offer an added level of comfort.
Trimmed for speed: The Wilier GranTurismo SLR is clearly the fastest bike on the test.
Who is the Wilier GranTurismo SLR for?
It’s clear that the Wilier GranTurismo isn’t interested in casual Sunday cruises, and it’s not the type to fall in at the back of the gruppetto. Sporty all-road riders and racers with a need for comfort will get their money’s worth with this bike. The handling and geometry are based on the 0 SLR, though it has been toned down slightly for more comfort. With that, Wilier are offering a true all-road bike, potentially being the one bike that many are looking for. In the modern all-road sense, however, it could do with increased tire clearance for added off-road capability, along with slightly more relaxed handling. It also lacks the necessary mounting points needed for all-road bikepacking, though they’d look out of place on a bike like this.
Tuning tip: Experiment with the different ACTIFLEX elastomers.
Riding Characteristics
4Agility
- cumbersome
- playful
Stability
- nervous
- confident
Handling
- demanding
- balanced
Fun factor
- boring
- lively
Comfort
- firm
- comfortable
Value for money
- terrible
- very good
Conclusion on the Wilier GranTurismo SLR
With Wilier’s fast all-rounder, the GranTurismo SLR is a bike for sporty all-road riders that boasts incredible attention to detail, sophisticated solutions, and a surprisingly high level of comfort. The Italian brand clearly have a different take on all-road, seeing it more as a supplement to your race bike and not as a separate category. Unfortunately, it’s somewhat limited by the narrow tire clearance, though it’s a highly capable bike, nonetheless.
Tops
- impeccable design and love for detail
- cleverly integrated and adjustable damping
- high level of comfort despite the sporty character
Flops
- limited versatility for an all-road bike
- limited tire clearance for that true all-road feeling
You can find out more about at wilier.com
The testfield
This bike was tested as part of our 2023 all-road group test – you can find an overview of the group test and the featured bikes over here: The best all-road bike of 2023 – 10 all-road bikes in review
All bikes on review: Argon 18 Krypton (Click for review) | Merida Scultura Endurance 9000 (Click for review) | Parapera Atmos² (Click for review) | Pinarello X (Click for review) | Rondo Ratt CF (Click for review) | Rose Reveal Plus (Click for review) | Scott Solace eRide 10 (Click for review) | Specialized Roubaix Comp (Click for review) | Trek Domane SLR 7 AXS Gen 4 (Click for review) | Wilier Granturismo SLR
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↩
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Words: Calvin Zajac Photos: Jan Richter