Strengths: Good for climbing, sprint and long distance ride
Weaknesses: little heavy! but it's not a problem.
Bottom Line:
I'm 47 years old. My FP3 model 2009.Just 6 time ride with Pina FP3. 2 days back to back ride 300 km. Best bike ever I have before. Last time I have Proton T-Sprint (Malaysia Product) and Bianchi Alloy Hidrocarbon Frame. FP3 is the best. Best for long distance ride, power for climbing, booster sprint and enjoy for constant ride 35km/h - 40km/h.Just bought 3 weeks ago, I love it!
Strengths: Stiff but forgiving ride. Great aceeleration, climbing, descending and cornering. Wonderful feel for all day riding
Weaknesses: If there are any, it won't be the frame but the components.
Bottom Line:
This is a review of the 2009 FP3 with full Ultegra components and Fulcrum Racing 7 wheels and hubs.
It doesn't take long in the saddle to know that this is a great bike. I've been riding road bikes since the 80's and this as a sweet a ride as I have ever had. I decided to make the move from my old Pinarello Montello Columbus steel road frame (top of the line back when I bought it). Technology has changed a lot since then and a CF frame of the quality that Pinarello makes at this price was just too much to pass up.
I find the ride to be stiff but not brutal. It turns at your thought and every pedal stroke leads to forward movement. Climbing is never easy, but this bike helps you with energy transfer. Decents feel tight and controlled even when you hit some crud or bumps in the road. On the flats it is easy to get into a great rhythm and the bike helps you to keep to form.
The fit and finish are excellent. They know how to make a bike look beautiful while still making it very functional. Getting the full Ultegra set was unexpected since it is advertised with some MOst components. As with any bike, there is always some break in time, but after a few hundred miles in the hills of New England I really like this bike. It is a better feel than my old Pinarello while actually performing better overall.
Honestly, I am sure Cannondale and Specialized CF frames in the same price range are great bikes, too. All I can say is that this ride feels like a road bike should and it felt right to stay in the family!
This is a frame will allow you to improve as far as you want to go.
Submitted by
louielouie62
a Recreational Rider
from
Date Reviewed: October 6, 2009
Strengths: Crisp, clean handling, awesome looks, HEAD TURNER!!!
Weaknesses: A bit on the heavy side but not noticeable.
Bottom Line:
I bought my 2009 Pinarello FP3 with Campy Centaur this past August 21st. Since then I have put about 500 miles on it and every new mile just feels better and better. I’m 69 inches tall with a 32 inch inseam and bought the RED 51.5 (is there any other color?) which comes standard with the 110mm stem. Prior to my FP3 I was riding a 2007 Specialized Allez Expert Triple size 54 with full Ultegra(see review here) which is also a very nice bike.
But the Pinarello is a Lamborghini compared to the Allez which is more of a Mustang. You can go test ride the Prince and then test the FP3 and I guarantee you that unless you’re a Pro Peloton cyclist you will not notice the difference. It is just one sweet ride. I actually miss it when I’m not riding it and away on business and I find myself just staring at it when I’m home. IT WILL TURN HEADS!! So if you don’t like the “bling” factor don’t buy it! Happy cycling!
Similar Products Used: 2007 Specialized Allez Expert
Bike Setup: Full Campy Centaur with Carbon Brake Levers, MOST Compact Chainring(50-34), MOST Carbon Cranks, LOOK KeO Sprint Pedals, Cateye V2C Wireless Computer.
Strengths: Acceleration, hill climbing, stability in sprints, handling, attractive looks
Weaknesses: A touch heavy, but barely noticeable
Bottom Line:
It's a surprisingly comfortable ride for a racing frame, and that's important at my age (61). It takes grades, shallow or steep, better than anything I've ever ridden and accelerates around corners with great stability. I'm not that refined a rider, but this feels like a Prince on a pauper's budget.
Strengths: Rigid frame, great handling, smooth ride, fantastic looks and finish, stability in descents. It's a Pinarello!
Weaknesses: A tad heavy at 18.3 lbs including Keo classic pedals, Zonda wheels, two bottle cages, and heaps of Pinarello decals. Expensive compared to comparably equipped competition.
Bottom Line:
I just picked up my Centaur equipped FP3 and put in a couple hundred kilometers so far.
A little background... I'm 5'-10" and 155 lbs, non racer but road biked for 35 years. I enjoy the weekend metric-century group ride. My previous bike was a mid-70's steel lugged, campy record equipped Raleigh Pro which I must say served me well.
I upgraded my FP3 from the factory to include the Most XLR (Selle Italia SLR) saddle, Most Thundercat ergo handlebar, and Campagnolo Zonda clincher wheels - otherwise all stock with Keo pedals.
First impressions are "wow" the FP3 is light years ahead of my Raleigh - as expected with 35 years of technological improvements. However, I'll try to be objective...
Ride quality seems plenty rigid and responsive, while also smooth and not at all punishing to the rider. On the maiden voyage I took it straight up the nearest hill and found it to be a worthy climber, not surprising given the 5-6lb weight reduction from the Raleigh. More impressive was on the descent where it's Prince-like geometry produced a combination of confidence and excitement the likes of which I've never felt on a bike before. I backed off at 55+kph but the bike felt very stable and clearly wanted to go much faster. To quote another reviewer "It tracked like it was on rails." On the flats it simply does what it's told. Power transmission feels very efficient - the bike just wants to go! Handling is consistently stable without feeling heavy and never felt "twitchy".
For me the aesthetics were also a factor. The finishing is top-notch and IMHO the Pinarello designs are some of my favorite cycling eye candy. I wanted a bike both beautiful and functional. The FP3 doesn't disappoint me.
The bike is not an ultralight. With two bottle cages and pedals it tipped my bathroom scale at 18.3 lbs. The bars added a few grams, the seat took a few off compared to stock components.
The 2009 Centaur gruppo is performing admirably and I love the new ergo levers! The braking is excellent. I ride on the hoods a lot and find a finger or two on the top of the lever is plenty under almost all conditions. I love the ergo bars, and with the ergo levers mounted high on the bar it creates a wide 'table' to rest my palms on comfortably with a smooth transition on and off the hoods.
I heard mediocre reviews of the stock Chall aluminum wheels, and given wheel importance - gave them a pass. The Zonda wheels look great, roll smooth, feel rigid under torsional stress, and while it's too soon to report on durability, others have given them solid reviews.
For what its worth, I toured the Pinarello factory in Treviso, Italy recently and saw firsthand their quality control and attention to detail. The FP3 frame (like other Pinarello CF frames) is made by Torayca in Taiwan. Once received in Treviso each frame gets a thorough inspection, numerous alignment checks using custom jigs and is meticulously finished in their new paint/decal shop area, and assembled.
Bike Setup: Centaur Gruppo, Most Thundercat ergo handlebars, Most XLR saddle (Selle Italia SLR), Most Lynx C7 compact crankset, Campagnolo Zonda wheels, stock Continental ultra sport tires, Keo pedals.
