[Bill Bikie]

Good letter

I think that when one buys bikes in the price-range and category we're talking here it's fairly difficult to get it all wrong these days. Most bikes in the categroy are pretty good. Before ending up with my Quattro - based on the very scientific method of seeing one in a shop and falling for it - I was pondering options for about half a year (October-March, the winter season). The bikes you mention were on my list, as was Specialized Roubaix (liked the idea of comfort), Scott (CR1 and Addict), Orbea (Onix and Orca), Trek Madone (can't remember which of them) etc. etc. And after a lot of looking, and a little bit of trying, it all came down to the "ooh I like that one with the black colour scheme and the wavy fork).

That said, I now have over 1500 km on the thing (since mid April) and love it to bits. I haven't changed or upgraded anything yet, but will probably do something with the saddle, wheels and... ahem... bottle cages in the not to distant future. Thing is I prefer to just take the thing out and ride it than to spend time in bikeshops pondering equipment. In sum, the bike is fast (or at least faster than anything I've had before), quick to respond when accelerating. It's very stable, even in quite heavy wind - gives a lot of confidence when going fast downhill, it doesn't feel nervous at all. And, importantly, for the long rides at least, that wavy onda fork is not just a gimmick, it soaks up road buzz and makes the ride smooth and comfortable (or as comfortable as can be expected on 23mm tires with 8.5 psi of pressure in them).

So, definitely a biased Pinarello forum and fanboy view. But in sum - and that's the advise I got and in the end chose to follow - pick the one that makes your heart bit that little bit faster (after checking that it fits you, of course - in the end differences in geometry and ratios between crank to seat stem/seat stem to handlebars, and the way the cyclist is built (long/short legs, trunk, arms) defines what one is most comfortable on.

(mine is, by the way ultegra (compact) equipped - maybe not as sexy as campy, but it has performed without a hitch so far).

The bottom line is to work with a pro shop. They can fit you and offer a suggestion on the size. If you order through them they can also swap the bars, stem and seat to make it fit even better. Also my shop is giving me 10% off on new purchases for six months because I paid for a fitting and bought a Pinarello. $4300.00 total outlay including modifications to my 1885 Bianchi, Las helmut, wireless computer etc. and two sets of Grand Prix tires. I'lI upgrade the wheels to Hed Ardennes SL's later. I always support local businesses, especially bike shops.

 

[Bill Bikie]

Nice but I like more color thats the reason for the red tape and bottle cages.

I have black bar tape with red hoods, red cables, black bar and stem with red and white trim. Also an Arione saddle with red trim. A large Pinarello logo in under the down tube.

Pictures tomorrow!

 

[rbhennessy]

Love my fp quattro

I have a QUATTRO size 57.5 with ultegra and i love it!!!
I changed the rims,tires,tubes,skewers and stem and my bike comes in at 17.6 pounds
The bike is a touch heavier than some other bikes in its class,but pinarello is known for its comfort and ride, not for being the lightest..My bike handles like a dream and it is very comfortable to do long rides on.I am not a professional racer so i think the prince was a little overkill for me because it is the same bike just a bit lighter....

 

[Bill Bikie]

Very pretty bike. Quite a departure from my BoB Quatro which is much more subtle. I'm a Campy guy, and fortunately my bike came with Athena group.

Happy trails.

Bill in Winona, MN (on the Mississippi)

 

[Bill Bikie]

Got the white mirror finish rival package (instead of the BoB). Very happy w/ the white/black/silver paint scheme. Sold and swapped a lot of stuff from the stock parts. Saddle was 1st to go; Arione in black/white. Wheels were 2nd; fulcrum 5's to DT Mon Chassaral in white; handlebars from MOst to FSA compact wing in white; Seatpost from MOst to Ritchey WCS wet white; FD from Rival to Force; stock Conti Ultra Sports to Torelli open tubulars (clinchers). Debating a switch from Most B-Force brakeset to SRAM Force, but not sure about any weight savings or stopping power difference. Could go either way on brakeset. Took about an 80 mile ride on the thing, a sweet and stable ride. Not as light as the super six hi mod I got rid of, but steers well and soaks up the bumps better. Wonder if Pinarello will ever go w/ BB30 setup. The standard crankset probably weighs this thing down pretty much.

Man...you made sooo many changes. I can understand the wheel upgrade, but the other stuff won't make you any faster. Sounds like you might even find something to swap on a Dogma2 with full Super Record or Dura-Ace

Perhaps you should go custom. You'll pay more, but you'll get what you want the first time.

Stay upright!

 

[goofytony9]

I love my quattro, got a really good deal on it and what a smooth ride! Definitely not a super light bike but like they say "it's the engine". Mine tips the scales at 17.5 lbs with a heavier rival crank that came with the bike and 105 pedals. If there was ever a good "value" for a pinarello it's this bike. :thumbsup:

 

[Bill Bikie]

I love my quattro, got a really good deal on it and what a smooth ride! Definitely not a super light bike but like they say "it's the engine". Mine tips the scales at 17.5 lbs with a heavier rival crank that came with the bike and 105 pedals. If there was ever a good "value" for a pinarello it's this bike. :thumbsup:

Very nice! who makes Mercury wheels? I have a Quatro also, black on black. The only colored Pinarello name is on the bottom of the downtube. Also have the hidden shifter cables. Gruppo is Athena 11 speed black components. I sold the Fulcrum 5's to my pro shop owner and bought HED Ardennes SL wheels.

Today I rode the Bianchi and the temp was 35 degrees! But fun anyway.

See attached files

 

[goofytony9]

i really like your 2012 quattro! i wish my 2011 had hidden cabling... it looks better and makes the bike much easier to clean. also like the campy setup! mercury bikes is a us company that makes their wheels in house. really great wheelset! there is a video online of a guy doing crazy cyclocross stunts on them which means they are durable. 59mm and only weighing 1500g which is unheard of for a clincher of that size.

mercurybikes.com

 

[Bill Bikie]

The Most B Max brakes are actually FSA brakes, they stop really well. Never had a problem with the ones on my bike.

I had some mods done on my Quatro by my pro shop. A different size stem, a bontrager saddle, Athena brakes for the Pinarello Most brakes, and Hed Ardennes SL wheels. If the item cost more, I just paid the difference.

I went with Athena brakes because I wanted a full Campy gruppo

 

[apn]

I love my quattro, got a really good deal on it and what a smooth ride! Definitely not a super light bike but like they say "it's the engine". Mine tips the scales at 17.5 lbs with a heavier rival crank that came with the bike and 105 pedals. If there was ever a good "value" for a pinarello it's this bike. :thumbsup:

Thinking about a stock FPquattro/Ultegra; any chance you can share details of the "really good deal" since those words seem counter to Pinarello's MSRP numbers

Thanks.

 

[Nicole Hamilton]

What do you mean they run large?! We're not comparing tee shirts from Penney's and Gap. A 56 is a 56. It is what it is. All frames are measured the old fashioned way, even though the top tubes may slope downward.

With Pinarello, a 56 is not a 56, it's 56.5. And for a smaller frame, the difference is even greater. On a 51.5, the top tube is 53.5 cm. You have to look at the frame geometry chart; you can't just pick a Pinarello based on the "size".

 

[goofytony9]

somehow i was lucky enough to find my bike which is the 2011 fp quattro with rival/force on real cyclist on clearance for $2500 no tax, free shipping, free assembly. stumbled upon the deal around late december. i guess they were trying to clear inventory for the 2012 models. i used fat wallet which gave me 6% cash back and as soon as the bike came in i sold the stock fulcrum racing 5's to a friend for $200. so all in all i got it for around $2250.
hope that helps

 

[apn]

^Wow, that's a sweet deal, indeed! Congrats.

I've also been checking RC specifically for the no-tax free shipping (which makes it > CC), but current prices are $3600 Force/SRAM and $4100 Ultegra for the 2012 model, which is basically MSRP.

Perhaps I'm too optimistic, but I prefer not to pay full retail whenever possible.

 

[Nicole Hamilton]

Perhaps I'm too optimistic, but I prefer not to pay full retail whenever possible.

You don't have to. Talk to CC on the phone. Negotiate. They knocked quite a bit off my Pinarello Paris Campy Chorus and gave me free shipping. My salesman there was J.D. Very nice guy.

 

[apn]

Thanks Nicole, that's fantastic news!

I'll shoot them an email and get the ball rolling. However, I'm still waiting to sit on a Quattro. The local dealer is tardy getting the 2012's in, and I want to ride a demo to confirm the size. I've been reading about CC's 8-point bike fit, but like clothing, I'm reluctant to purchase online site unseen.

 

[apn]

You don't have to. Talk to CC on the phone. Negotiate. They knocked quite a bit off my Pinarello Paris Campy Chorus and gave me free shipping. My salesman there was J.D. Very nice guy.

Thanks again, Nicole.

I called CC last night and as luck would have it, J.D. answered the phone, so I mentioned that you'd referred me. He was happy about the referral, so hopefully you get some kudo's if you need anything else from CC

They don't have my size in stock (apparently this was the case for you, too), so he's checking w/ GITA and will call me back today to confirm future availability.

 

[nescafe]

I love my quattro, got a really good deal on it and what a smooth ride! Definitely not a super light bike but like they say "it's the engine". Mine tips the scales at 17.5 lbs with a heavier rival crank that came with the bike and 105 pedals. If there was ever a good "value" for a pinarello it's this bike. :thumbsup:

Sorry to resurrect an old thread but I am just about to get a 2013 Quattro and can't decide on frame size. I'm about 166.5 cm tall (or short )so in between a size 46.5 or 50.

What size is this one and if you don't mind me asking, what's your height?

I will get the chance to fit both so not all concerned but just gathering data points now

Thanks and nice bike!

 

[goofytony9]

Sorry to resurrect an old thread but I am just about to get a 2013 Quattro and can't decide on frame size. I'm about 166.5 cm tall (or short )so in between a size 46.5 or 50.

What size is this one and if you don't mind me asking, what's your height?

I will get the chance to fit both so not all concerned but just gathering data points now

Thanks and nice bike!

Thank you very much friend! That bike is a 53 with a 54.5 top tube. I am 5' 8" tall with a 31" inseam. The 53 is a little too big for me as you can tell with the short 90mm stem and low seat.

Pinarello bikes to me are misleading when it comes to sizing. The top tube measurement is more accurate for sizing than the actual size of the bike. I have a 53 but it fits like a 54. I probably belong on a 51.5 Pinarello but 53 was all they had left on clearance. Regardless of that the bike isn't overly too big. I was professionally fitted with the shorter stem after I bought it and the bike is very comfortable.

 

[nescafe]

Thank you very much friend! That bike is a 53 with a 54.5 top tube. I am 5' 8" tall with a 31" inseam. The 53 is a little too big for me as you can tell with the short 90mm stem and low seat.

Pinarello bikes to me are misleading when it comes to sizing. The top tube measurement is more accurate for sizing than the actual size of the bike. I have a 53 but it fits like a 54. I probably belong on a 51.5 Pinarello but 53 was all they had left on clearance. Regardless of that the bike isn't overly too big. I was professionally fitted with the shorter stem after I bought it and the bike is very comfortable.

Cheers tony! Love your setup. I will probably go for a matte black with grey decals, and pair it with rey assaults, so should look quite similar to yours.

Re the size, I am around 5'5.5" (don't forget the .5!) so 465 or 500 should work. On my current ride, all the specs line up with a quattro 50 except for the head tube angle, but I think might even be a good thing as the quattro is 71.4 vs my current 72 - and I use a 90mm stem now, so might even make it less twitchy.

Thanks for the reply and again, love the set-up!

 

[AJ88V]

I'm 5'7" (170cm) and have the 51.5 Pina Quattro. The bike feels just a little bit big for me, but it comes with a 120 mm stem which I will replace with a 100 mm stem this weekend.

You should be fine with the 50. I would think the 46.5 would be too cramped and might have too much overlap with the pedals on the front wheel (common problem - my wife has small bikes).