2011 Bianchi Vigorelli
Another addition to the Gran Fondo line is the 2011 Bianchi Vigorelli, which comes packed with a lot of history.
Named after the popular velodrome in Milan, the Bianchi 2011 Vigorelli is your all purpose bike that really shines in the commuting department.
Featuring Reynolds 631 tubing, carbon fork, Shimano 105 drivetrain with 10 speed shifters, the bike will be available at authorized dealers for MSRP $1,699.
I am assuming because it appears to be TIG welded Reynolds 631 it is of Asian origin and not fabricated in Italy-can anyone verify this for us please?
Seems like common knowledge now, but aren’t all mass-produced bikes in this price range manufactured overseas?
By overseas, I meant Asia, not Europe.
I agree with you, most mid priced and most low priced offerings are from Asia, but some companies (especially with European monikers) market themselves as European, especially when using European branded such as Reynolds and Columbus tubing when they are not European fabricated. What is common knowledge to some is not for others.
So what’s the problem? Edoardo Bianchi, an Italian, started a company in Italy. The product still bears his name. I don’t see anything beyond the name that suggests European. There’s probably a sticker on this frame somewhere that says, “Made in Taiwan” (or where-ever). Does that mean the company need to change its name just because certain products are outsourced? If a cyclist wants to find a custom-built frame from Europe, they certainly represent a small demographic of the market and understand the industry.
A few Bianchi models are still built in Italy, right?
Yes we do believe they may still make some frames in Italy, and yes one can buy an Italian built frame set from one of the few remaining craftsman that do these fabrications. There is nothing wrong with going to Asia for cheaper sourcing to achieve price points and legally yes there should be a sticker stating the source of origin. We did not mean to offend you but we do like to stress origins so consumers know as much as possible when making choices!!! In our mind there is a distinct quality and ride difference between Asian produced frames and Italian or European frames, even when using the same materials and for this reason we encourage preciseness or at least the ability to question a frames origin!!!
jps001-thank you for the ongoing comments-these sort of forums do help many and are crucial to all that want to learn as much about the sport we love so passionately and the equipment choices we make!!!
Fair enough, and no offense taken, but now I am curious: what are some examples of the “distinct quality and ride difference?” What will the average rider notice? What should we be looking out for? Thanks!
Wow, interesting conversation. I was actually looking at the Vigorelli in black because my LBS had a closeout for this year’s model, but I thought at this point I should probably wait to check the new color scheme and certainly the new 105 components. I have to admit, I love the classiness of the Vigorelli! Bicycles4ever, I checked your website – do you recommend that I should be checking out some other stuff, as well? I appreciate the aqdvice!
Greetings, sorry for the late reply. The Italian built machines, ones of the highest order, utilize low temperature silver brazing, usually lugged or filet brazed, this execution tends to have less of a compromising effect on the tubing making it less brittle and therefore less likely to fatigue over time and also gives the frame a more lively and reactive ride quality. The Italian builders are very specific about how tubing is drawn with regard to wall thicknesses by the tube manufacturer so they may fine tune the ride characteristics in either a custom build process and even when building stock frames. They work directly with the tubing manufacturer’s representative in Europe and buy in small lots unlike the Asian producers that given their role in the Bicycle Industry buy in large quantities and build for the masses. The process between the tubing manufacturer and the builder in Italy is much closer and much more well defined.
We must note that differences do come at a high price, as jps001 has alluded, and tend be for the more discerning. Ultimately the point we are trying make here is that if one is in the lower or middle price point sector of the market do not be misled by a label, many bicycle frames under many labels come from the same factories in Asia, test ride as many offerings as possible, often there are alternatives in this sector of the market that can be had a much lower price with the same ride characteristics as the more expensive brand. Bianci, regardless of the perception we may have demonstrated is one of the better more common labels in our opinion.
MY COMMENTS ARE BASED ON A BIANCHI C2C 2010 THAT I BOUGHT. I HAVE OWNED THE BICYCLE FOR A MONTH AND TO BE HONEST, I’M NOT TO IMPRESSED. THE BIANCHI BICYCLE DOES NOT HAVE A SMOOTH RIDE AND I HAVE HAD TO EVEN CHANGE THE SEAT (I REPLACED IT WITH MY OLD BICYCLE SEAT). THE SHIFTING OF GEARS ISN’T TO BAD BUT IS A LITTLE ROUGH. COULD BE DUE TO HAVING A THREE CRANK WHEEL AND HAVING 8 COGS CASSETT. MAYBE A LITTLE ADJUSTMENT WILL MAKE ME CHANGE MY MIND. I AM IMPRESSED WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM IT HAS ON THE HANDLE BARS (TWO ON THE CURLED SECTION OF THE HANDLE BARS AND TWO GRIPPS ON THE CRUISING SECTION). IT IS A NICE LOOKING BIKE.
Do a search: “Where is my bicycle made?” It will lead you to a very interesting blog ( industry insider)that answers all of the above. Bianchi carbon frames (Race shop) are made in the Orient, with the complete bicycle assembled in Italy. The steel bikes most likely all made in the far east. Bicycle Retailer website list the factories where each brand in made. The French make their frames, BMC same in Switzerland and high end Treks in the US. Most everything else is the far east.
Many (most) European bikes started becoming mostly Asian made bikes back in the 80′s. Some name brands like Motobecane and Peugot went out of business. Anyway if the bike is spec’d out with mostly Asian components it is already non European. In the Vigorelli price range you will rarely see much European parts save for steel tubing. The Vigorelli is my next bike. Love steel!