Bianchi USA Inc. S9 Matta Ti Carbon Record

Price Paid:  $1500.00 at Gran Fondo

Model Year:
2005

Favorite Ride:
Harpeth Trace

Bike Setup:
10 speed Campy Centaur shifters/derailleurs, FSA Team Carbon crank, FSA Energy brakes, Mavic Ksyrium Elite wheels, FSA Wing bars, Selle Italia Flight saddle, FSA integrated headset.

Summary:
Beautiful Ti frame with understated looks. Very stiff with excellent power transfer. At the same time incredibly comfortable. Basically a great all around frame. Silent as a church mouse. A more cost effective alternative to Litespeed or Seven titanium frames.

Strengths:
Nearly bulletproof. A quick wipe down and it looks like it came off the bike shop floor. It will be around long enough to pass it to the grandchildren.

Weaknesses:
May not be flashy enough for some. (A classic tuxedo on wheels.) Standard Bianchi fork isn't the lightest. Some may not like the integrated headset.

Similar Products Used:
Classic Bianchi Brava steel, Specialized Sequoia, Olmo Vitalicio Seguros team frame

Price Paid:  $1600.00 at Math Salden

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Spanish Pyrenees

Bike Setup:
'07 Bianchi S9 Matta Ti C2C frame with stock full-carbon fork & with a mix of Campa '01 brakes, pedals, hubs & '99(?) semi-aero post; Chorus '07 Ergopowers & '06 cassette; Centaur '07 derailleurs; '03 Pazzaz bars; '07 FSA Orbit headset & '03 crankset; Ritchey '01 WCS stem; Fizik Aliante '07 braided carbon saddle; '03 Mavic CXP33 rims.

Summary:
This review is of the S9 Matta Ti C2C frame. (no carbon rear). Lovely to look at, what with no less than 2 crowned eagle badges and subtle copper colored etched decals! Welds not as perfectly tidy as on Merlin, but mind the Eur. 1000+ price difference. Marvellous handling & stability: I go faster and get less tired than on '01 Trek OCLV 5200 or '02 Time VX. Only my ancient 1988 Merlin Extralight still exceeds it.

Strengths:
Stiff, stable and very comfortable. Efficient: easy to maintain speed. No problems dragging it along cobblestone roads. Beautiful but subtly so.

Weaknesses:
None discovered yet. Many Bianchi riders fulminate about cracking bikes and watercolor paint. Former Alessio rider Backstaedt always told Bianchi: if the Alu & carbon jobs you give me don't cut the mustard I'll be back on the Matta in no time. (He won Paris-Roubaix 2004 on the Matta Ti C2C).
I hope not to have to report about the Matta again within the next 20 years or so.

Similar Products Used:
Richard Sachs; Gazelle/Time VX; Trek OCLV; RIH; Huissoon; Peugeot.