2023 Pinarello Road Bikes Look to Cut the Herd

The Pinarello F and X lead the brand out of the gate in the 2023 model year, both under claims of balanced performance attributes.

The F is a roadie that hunts a spry feel on climbs, so riders can save power for the inevitable descent. And the X is an endurance rig built for “all the riders who ride for pure pleasure” — engineered for comfort on long hauls, but, Pinarello stresses, still fun to pedal.

Pinarello emphasized the carbon layup and material choices it made with each bike. Sourcing materials from its partner Toray, which it calls “the best carbon fiber producer in the world,” the layup on each bike seeks to add stiffness where you need it and maximize strength where that’s key.

Specs include the best equipment SRAM and Shimano have to offer. Both bikes come in a staggering nine sizes. Here’s the rundown on each new rig.

2023 Pinarello X

Pinarello thinks endurance bikes shouldn’t ride like tractors on carbon fiber wheels.

“Too often, bikes in this sector are heavy and unresponsive,” the company said in a press release, “but this is a Pinarello, and it was impossible to ignore our legendary performance DNA. Our goal was to develop a frame that could deliver the pure joy of cycling.”

Strong words. To meet that muster, the engineers started with carbon and landed on a setup that “significantly reduced” vertical stiffness from its top race bikes. Simply put, sitting on a bike for a long time can be uncomfortable — if it moves with you and not against you, that can help.

The massive size range seeks to serve the same goal. As Pinarello points out, the riding position is critical when it comes to comfort, especially at distance. Dialing in the fit shouldn’t be an issue for riders of just about any size and shape, and a wide array of stem and handlebar sizes can help too. The smallest X comes in at a petite 43 cm, and the biggest is 60 cm.

Also, to help out with a comfy ride, the X can handle 32mm tubeless tires. The carbon layup balances weight, responsiveness, and damping ability. (Weight stats were not available as of this writing.) The intentionally designed seat stays with a curved shape also support vibration damping without “mechanical” aids.

The X engineers didn’t bypass the need for the bike to be slippery, either. It’s got an aero-shaped seat post and tapered seat tube for aero gains in the rear triangle, plus an aero head tube. “[E]very possible watt is saved,” Pinarello said.

The lineup includes the X3, with either Shimano 105 Di2 or SRAM Rival componentry. The X1 gets Shimano 105 gear. Pricing was not available as of this writing.

2023 Pinarello F

“[A]ll true riders know that what goes up must come down,” Pinarello said. “For this reason, the Pinarello F is designed to excel on all terrain and is as adept at climbing as it is on a high-speed descent.”

To build a bike that fits that bill, Pinarello looked to a weight-savings program that considered the full build rather than just the frame. “It is both restrictive and reductive to weigh the frame in isolation,” the brand said. But, the only weight stats it made available were for the frame in isolation: 950 g for the F9 and F7 (competition builds), and 990 g for the F5 (lower spec) in a size 53 cm.

The F shares the same sizing range as the X. Nine sizes from 43-59.5 cm are available, plus a range of handlebar and stem sizes.

For aero gains, Pinarello cited full cable integration, an aero seat post on a tapered seat tube, and an aero head tube. As well, a “recessed downtube” helps cut drag from the bottle cage. Finally, a narrower top tube and seat post (compared to the previous Dogma F) help it slip through the air.

And to balance the bike and reconcile torsional forces, there are asymmetries everywhere. Improving lateral stiffness and containing wattage is the goal with an asymmetric chainstay design, which Pinarello claims also facilitates better handling. The seat stays don’t match, either, and even the head tube “progresses from an aerodynamic shape” to make more room for internal cabling on the right side.

Engineers chose two types of carbon for the F series. You’ll find Toray T900 carbon on the F9 and F7 for an “ideal” balance between weight, reactivity, and vibration absorption. The F5 model gets T700, which flexes more to absorb road vibrations.

The F makes room for 30 mm of tire clearance, but its engineers didn’t want the resulting wider shape in the rear triangle to have a negative effect on handling. So keeping the chain stays between 406 and 410 mm (depending on size) is a “compromise between versatility and performance.”

There are weight savings in the seat post clamp that I would unironically call amazing. The 3D-printed titanium integrated piece saves 36 g over its predecessor.

The range-topping F9 comes with either Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 or SRAM Red parts. From there, you’ll find Shimano Ultegra Di2 and 105 Di2, and SRAM Force componentry in the lineup.

The limited pricing Pinarello made available shows you’ll pay $8,800 for an F7 with an Ultegra Di2 groupset (which indicates the approximate middle of the range). Check it out on the primo Italian bike maker’s website.

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