Bianchi USA Inc. Megapro XL EV2

Price Paid:  $2000.00 at A large dealer

Favorite Ride:
Around South Holland

Bike Setup:
CHORUS

Summary:
Lovely looking frame with Italian flair. Comfortable ride. Nice paint job.

Strengths:
Looks and weight.

Weaknesses:
Frame broke and Bianchi will not honour either the guarantee or their legal obligations. The metallr retarded dwarves at their customer relations (ha ha ha) department respond to neither the dealer or me. Dealer no longer stocks Bianchi frames as a result of a galactically high failure rate and mind-bogglingly inept service. NEVER buy a BIANCHI.

Similar Products Used:
Pinarello Colgnago Giant etc.

Price Paid:  $3000.00 at A shop

Favorite Ride:
Giant

Bike Setup:
Chorus and Record

Summary:
Well I had a Bianchi which broke just outside of the guarantee period. Those mental midgets, who laughingly refer to themselves as Customer Service, refused to pay anything towards its replacement even though it cost €2700. Do not buy any Bianchi products: their frame failure rate is appalling

Strengths:
Looked nice

Weaknesses:
The fornicating construction: three fractures in the down tube and two behind the bracket.

Similar Products Used:
Frames which did not break and one which did outside a guarantee period but was still refunded by the manufacturer. Pinarello, Giant, Handmade frames, Orbit, Raleigh

Price Paid:  $799.00 at supergo.com

Favorite Ride:
laps around Stone Mountain

Bike Setup:
Full Ultegra. Ritchey aluminum stem and seatpost - might upgrade to Easton carbon soon. 3t forma bars. LOOK 297 pedals. Selle italia flite ti gel saddle. 32 spoke - dt revolutions matched to ultegra hubs and sun me14a (open pro like) rims. Cinelli celeste bar tape - hehe ;)

Summary:
For this price point - or full retail for that matter - I really don't hink it can be beat. Absolutely race-worthy, looks stunning, lifetime warranty. If the geometry works for you, and Aluminum is your thing, you can't go wrong. (even if steel or ti is your thing I'd try it out) And you won't see many of these in your local club. It came down to this vs a CAAD4 and I am thrilled I made this decision.

Strengths:
I really can't describe in words what this bike does to me. One look and I'm weak at the knees and desperate to ride. It is very light, plenty stiff in the bottom bracket, smooth in the front end. Doesn't beat me up like some of the other Aluminum bikes I've ridden. Also a very good price for a pro-peleton worthy Italian steed.

Weaknesses:
I would have rather had a 1 and 1/8' steerer instead of the 1' - it would be a little more up to date that way. Oh well.

Similar Products Used:
Test rode the Cannondale CAAD4, Giant TCR, and Lemond Zurich. Owned a LOOK KG 171.

Price Paid:  $1100.00 at Budget Bikes

Bike Setup:
rolf vector pro, record 10, itm big one stem, deda handle bar

Summary:
had a great time on the bike. rode very comfy compared to my cannondale. i miss the bike but did not want the EV2 replacement 2000 or 2001 model w/ foam injected bottom bracket, etc... currently have the XL Titanium 2001 frame. look for my review.

Strengths:
was very happy with how light and responsive it was. all your energy is put straight to the road. great on turns and decents. Geometry was great.

Weaknesses:
broke the frame during a field sprint. bike was never crashed or neglected. seat tube snaped off of the bottom bracket. i then heard how other ev2 aluminum frames had broke.

Similar Products Used:
Cannondale 1988 crit series

Bike Setup:
Campagnolo record 9-speed gruppo, Shamal wheels

Summary:
I am a Bianchi fan...having been completely satisfied with the Bianchi Megatube titanium that I've had since 1995, this bike once again did not disappoint. I love the geometry, stiffness and light weight. Unlike the titanium bike I have, however, this EV2 was a bit rough. I guess the rigid characteristics of aluminum causes this. But it's amazing how much lighter this bike is, and in spite of the lightness, the Megapro technology applied to the tubes makes the bike responsive.

Strengths:
super light, stiff, responsive

Weaknesses:
rigid, rough on less-than-smooth pavement

Similar Products Used:
Bianchi titanium Megatube