You can laugh, but compared to some of the European racing we tested – from Bianchi, Storck and Look – the 720mm stem and 90mm Wilier 101X felt almost like an enduro setup. The 70.5-degree headphone angle and 1,100mm wheelbase also give the 101 a fairly stable steering.
In addition, there is only one XT shifter on the handlebar, adding more “trend” points to Wilier and reducing the weight (10.13 kg) at a competitive price. It even has a direct-mount rear derailleur on the end of the asymmetrical 142×12 thru-axle chainstays for more precise shifting.
Traditional and Di2 compatible internal cable routing uses guide plates for quiet operation and can be assembled to work with the latest Shimano Side-Swing front derailleur.
There are also 12 different builds to choose from, from the XT with Miche wheels to the premium Di2 XTR. It speaks to Wilier’s priority that even the top model still comes with the same high-performance Fox 100 fork as the base model and our sample, rather than a premium factory fork.
While the previous generation XT wheels were heavy and unresponsive, the new version of the 8000-series, wrapped in Maxxis Ikon 29 tires with barely visible tread, is very competitive in terms of weight and hourly speed. It’s still certainly pricey for a more mainstream brand of XT-equipped bikes, but the “60-Ton Elastic Membrane” carbon frame is a complex design that uses tubes of different diameters and shapes to match the size of the bike shelf.
The top tube splits in front of the ultra-narrow seat tube to form a top ring bracket under the seat ring, while the bottom “shelf” splits into two extended seat stays. The bottom of the seat tube is square and flares out where the bottle cage attaches, and the wide 92mm bottom bracket looks solid when laid flat.
This means that we were surprised that in short, sharp bursts, when you throw every muscle from shoulder to toe into the mix, there is a palpable sense of diminished strength. While the way the 27.2mm seatpost wobbles makes life in the saddle smoother, it also creates annoying bounce when you’re trying to send big gears at low revs. The result was impressive grip from the Ikon tires and comfortable seating, but getting up made Villiers feel a tingle in his legs on rocky descents.
The slightly wider cabin and firmer handling made it more forgiving on technical trails, and the Wilier 101X XT was an interesting place to be when we weren’t using it to its full potential. His “modernity” also works in his favor.
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Post time: Oct-19-2022
