Verdict
Truly a near-flawless all-rounder. Incredible dealing with, stunning seems to be, aero credentials, a spec record to die for, and that intangible Italian-ness with out something insane.
For
Handling so good it’s going to depart you speechless Good seems to be with out sacrificing aero Best-of-the-best construct White Industries hubs.
Against
More costly than the Factor Ostro VAM for comparable efficiency
Score
94%
At the launch of the newest, best Dogma F I used to be barely lamentatious about the truth that, on paper, it wasn’t truly any higher than the outdated one. Marginal CDA enchancment, and some grams shed, plus the addition of fairly a bulbous ‘aero keel’ fore of the underside bracket. Nothing a lot to write down residence about.
After throwing a leg over and smashing about within the Dolomites for a number of hours in really biblical rain my preliminary misgivings did start to dissolve like a lot sugar. A launch journey is normally designed to showcase the most effective of the bike in a panorama designed to wow, and it did very a lot that; the dealing with was fantastically good, and the climbing traits chic, however preliminary impressions on a press journey don’t a great overview make.
Since that great launch journey I’ve been smashing about on the brand new Dogma on my residence roads. Familiar take a look at loops designed to see the way it truly matches up in opposition to different bikes. Also, within the interim, we’ve taken the Dogma and 10 different superbikes to the wind tunnel so we are literally ready to say the way it performs in a extra numerical sense.
The brief story is the newest Dogma is excellent. It’s functionally no totally different to the outdated one apart from a small tweak to the fork geometry, however even amongst the most effective street bikes available on the market it stands aside as one thing really particular, in a means only a few bikes have felt.
Image 1 of 5
Design and aesthetics
It’s a looker, that’s for positive. There’s a lot of what I like to consider as ‘Café Factor’ right here – whereby different riders on the café will go ‘oooh, aaah, isn’t it attractive’ that it places all the pieces else within the shade. I do rock as much as membership rides on a humiliation of riches fairly continuously, and I’ve positively turned heads on bikes just like the Basso Diamante SV, however by no means earlier than have I had associates sheepishly ask if they will have a go earlier than. There’s simply one thing about it that’s utterly beguiling.
The paint helps, as does the matching seatpost and blanked out driveside dropouts. These have some claimed aero advantages however I feel the better profit is that they appear cooler. The curves have mellowed through the years too, which helps. The fork, and particularly the rear stays, are far much less wibbly-wobbly, offset on this case to a point by the extraordinarily wavy Princeton Peak 4550 wheelset, although extra on that presently.
The largest visible distinction over the outdated one by way of the silhouette is the deepened part behind the top tube. At its base it traces fairly a pointy angle on a motorcycle so replete with flowing traces, however that’s actually nit selecting. It seems to be stunning, that’s all there may be to it.
The newest race content material, interviews, options, evaluations and skilled shopping for guides, direct to your inbox!
Aesthetics apart there was some design work occurring by way of drag discount. You can learn up on the entire body and design updates in our Dogma information piece from when the bike launched. Pinarello claims an enchancment of 0.2% by way of the coefficient of drag. That is, I’m afraid, mainly negligible. To put it into context swapping from the quickest to the second quickest helmet in our wind tunnel helmet take a look at resulted in a distinction of 0.6%, and would internet you a 7 second achieve over a 40km time trial.
A 0.2% enchancment, for those who ignore the rider place and simply take the bike, would achieve you 2 seconds over a 40km time trial, using at 250 watts. Or, alternatively, the brand new bike requires 82.14 watts to carry 40km/h, versus 82.3 watts for the outdated mannequin.
This is so small a distinction as to be pointless for all however the prime flight riders on the Ineos roster, who’ve probably exhausted all different wattage good points. For us mortals, other than the load saving, it is mainly simply as quick because the outdated one.
Greater strides have been made within the cockpit division, and the brand new Talon cockpit is usually beautiful. It is available in an important number of widths and reaches, and the tops particularly have been slimmed down so using on them (as I are inclined to whereas climbing) is rather more nice.
The flare is noticeable, and to my tastes it is maybe slightly too flared, however I believe I’m within the minority. The drops have slightly flex to them that I additionally discovered on the cockpit of the F7, and whereas it wasn’t horrible it was noticeable when out of the saddle however by no means to a detrimental diploma.
The indisputable fact that the cockpit is fairly good is noteworthy as a result of, because of a brand new ovalised steerer tube designed to enhance cable routing, you’ll be able to’t run the rest.
One very last thing to shout about is that it has a threaded, Italian backside bracket. Music to my ears, and to the ears of any residence mechanic. Mine was completely creak free, however greater than that it simply exhibits which you could have hyperbike efficiency with out having to have some psychological backside bracket commonplace too.
Image 1 of 5
Performance
This job affords me the nice privilege of testing out some really wonderful bicycles, however few have left such an impression on me as the newest Pinarello Dogma F. It is staggeringly good, even amongst a cohort of different hyper-expensive Italian superbikes (see my evaluations of the Basso Diamante SV, Colnago V4Rs, Bianchi Speciallisima, and Colnago C68 for reference).
Just to tick off the marginally uninteresting aero chat for a second, we concluded that it’s mainly nearly as good as any of the superbikes available on the market in that regard, so I’m not going to profess that I can really feel that it carries pace nicely. It’s fast within the wind tunnel, so for those who’re dropping some critical money you’ll be able to a minimum of relaxation simple that it’s not going to be an enormous carbon anchor… although that does you out of an important excuse for getting dropped.
Where it actually excels is within the dealing with. I by no means rode the outdated one, and the one actual distinction is within the fork rake, nevertheless it handles with such confidence and poise it left me reeling. Even on the launch journey this was clear; with the ability to fling a motorcycle right into a rutted hairpin at full pace in driving rain, and overtaking bikes within the course of, isn’t one thing each bike would be capable to facilitate. I’ve descended sooner than I ever have earlier than on the Dogma, and with extra enjoyment too. Some bikes are fast downhill however only a bit scary – the Canyon Ultimate is one such bike when the descents get actually steep – however right here it’s simply calm, collected, and virtually serene.
My preliminary take a look at was on a motorcycle with a 90mm stem (I’ve a fairly brief torso and a historic again damage sadly), however my overview unit got here with a 120mm cockpit. It was solely a small change however having extra weight over the entrance wheel solely improved issues within the dealing with division, which is admittedly saying one thing. The solely disadvantage on this case is the seatpost, which got here in a 20mm setback possibility, so I needed to slam the saddle proper ahead. From what I can collect from the spy pictures I acquired of Ineos’ particular superlight Dogma frames the staff has seatposts with a lesser diploma of setback. I did test with Pinarello, and a lesser setback possibility is obtainable upon particular request, so if that is of concern to you I counsel you get a motorcycle match first and see.
Actually, no matter occurs for those who’re dropping over 12 grand on a motorcycle I’d get a motorcycle match anyway. Something Pinarello does very nicely is providing a reasonably large vary of sizes and cockpit configurations so that you’re virtually positively capable of finding one which’ll match.
With a protracted stem, and such a stiff, gentle rear finish I did discover the rear wheel tended to skip off the bottom when in an all out dash, however that’s a small value to pay for the dealing with and climbing prowess. Uphill the Dogma F feels magnificent. The weight, at 7.2kg, is completely aggressive. It’s mainly the identical because the equally all-round Factor Ostro VAM, with comparable depth wheels. It’s not on the UCI restrict, however these 600g are actually of no obstacle until you’re tackling some kind of mega hill, and even then with a special set of wheels you possibly can simply go lighter.
Image 1 of 5
I don’t suppose it is best to swap the wheels although. These Princeton Peak 4550 numbers are stunning, particularly when arrange on White Industries Hubs. They actually are an ideal accompaniment to the bundle. On some bikes I may see them virtually outshining the frameset, however not the case right here. The spin up is ballistic, in tune with the extraordinarily stiff pedalling platform that comes primarily from the monumental backside bracket shell. It is so huge it makes the Italian threaded backside bracket look fairly diminutive.
Last however not least on this entrance is consolation. The Dogma F is, regardless of being a hyperbike on the pace and dealing with fronts, a really snug place to be. Some of this have to be right down to the curved seatpost, nevertheless it by no means felt harsh, jittery, or something apart from nice, even when using on the absolute restrict. I may have fortunately spent all day on it again and again. Even the saddle, an personal model unit, is nice.
Given that it’s such a whole performer I needed to undertake some ultimate take a look at. An all-round, final hurrah earlier than I despatched it again. Recently I wrote a few bike I constructed particularly for a 22km phase that no person was going for. It’s an inside metropolis blast comprising 13 of Bristol’s steepest hills, and simply as many sharp, twisty descents. It’s an hour or so of all out effort, and is to my thoughts the final word take a look at, when ridden as a time trial, of a bikes all-round capabilities. I’m slightly fitter than once I initially bagged the KOM in May, and I additionally went out within the POC Procen Air helmet that gained our wind tunnel helmets take a look at, in addition to some extraordinarily quick overshoes, however these issues alone wouldn’t have been adequate to slash over three minutes off my earlier greatest.
The Dogma was brutally quick uphill, bagging a slew of prime tens and PRs within the course of, however actually made up the seconds on the descents and the flatter sections. I may throw it into apexes with such ferocity that I’d gained virtually 90 seconds inside the first 5 kilometres. The brakes assist right here; the newest Shimano Dura Ace brakes are improbable, as was the groupset as a complete, with good modulation because of the Servo Wave pad spacing – worlds other than rim brakes on carbon rims. Perhaps essentially the most telling factor in regards to the spec record is the mismatched brake rotor sizes – 160 up entrance and 140 within the rear. Pinarello may simply have saved a number of grams and gone for 140 at each ends, however higher braking does make you quicker, and a bigger entrance rotor, whereas common, is a superb addition to an entire racer.
Value
The Dogma F is the costliest of all of the superbikes we despatched into the wind tunnel. The £12,500 price ticket is really eye-watering, however within the context of recent superbikes it’s not that outlandish. It’s the identical as a Cannondale SuperSix Evo Lab71, and ‘solely’ £500 greater than a top-spec S-Works Tarmac SL8.
It is a large amount of cash however that is with out query probably the greatest, if not the most effective street bike available on the market. By the numbers the Factor Ostro VAM maybe makes extra sense from a worth perspective. It’s extra aero, and lighter, and it additionally reviewed very nicely within the extra fuzzy issues too – biking’s mushy abilities, if you’ll.
There is part of me that all the time wonders if, have been you ready to drop 10-12k on a bicycle, you’re in any means involved with worth. So sure, perhaps it loses factors right here, nevertheless it does have that intangible heritage issue {that a} Factor, or perhaps a Specialized doesn’t. It’s an costly, stunning, Italian superbike decked out with the most effective of the most effective of all the pieces (sure, which means Dura-Ace nor Super Record), absolutely the crème de la crème, however in contrast to one thing just like the Colnago C68 which additionally possesses that intangible la dolce vita issue, it’s additionally acquired the efficiency to again up the seems to be. It’s a bit like that Swedish pole vaulter from the Olympics, Mondo Duplantis. Extremely simple on the eyes, however with extra world data than you’ll be able to shake a (very lengthy) stick at.
It’s as much as you whether or not you suppose that model heritage is price two and a half grand. I actually suppose it’s a part of the product, and it delivers on it in spades.
Verdict
I’ve ridden loads of very, excellent bicycles in my time right here at Cyclingnews. Some of them excite me, and plenty of of them I’m sorry to ship again. Some, it have to be mentioned, I’m glad to be rid of afterwards, however that’s the character of the job. Few have felt genuinely particular in the best way the Dogma F has. The means it marries collectively the usually competing forces of Italian aesthetics and thoughts blowing efficiency is nothing in need of miraculous. From a pure efficiency perspective it’s kind of faultless. It perhaps loses out on an general rating to the Factor Ostro VAM by dint of being ever so barely much less aero, and a piece of money costlier, nevertheless it stands aside as probably essentially the most full street bike I’ve ever ridden.
When I used to be about 14 I used to be gifted Jeremy Clarkson’s guide, I Know You Got Soul; a compendium of articles about machines which have that sure one thing. Putting apart any conceptions of what you consider Clarkson as an individual, he did write extraordinarily nicely a few load of great autos. I’ll probably by no means journey in a Spitfire, or cruise Lake Garda in a Riva Aquarama, however a minimum of I acquired to journey a Dogma F within the Dolomites, and that’s mainly the identical factor.
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
---|---|---|
Design and aesthetics | Beautiful, with none foolish touches within the identify of design aptitude | 10/10 |
Build | I can’t consider something that might have improved this bike by way of construct. | 10/10 |
Performance | Came out nicely within the wind tunnel, handles like nothing else, and climbs even steep ramps with gusto. | 10/10 |
Weight | Not class-leading, however on a par with different tremendous excessive finish race bikes | 9/10 |
Value | There’s no energy meter, and whereas it is equally priced to a Tarmac or SuperSix it’s costlier than the Factor Ostro by a noticeable quantity. | 8/10 |
Overall | Row 5 – Cell 1 | 94% |
Get all of Cyclingnews’ premium articles in an easy-to-digest weekly kind straight into your inbox with the Musette – our brand-new subscriber-only publication. Make essentially the most of your subscription and join right here.