Wilier’s all-new road Granturismo SLR is meant to be the best of both worlds – the speed & handling of a proper race bike with the all-day comfort of an endurance road bike. It does that by blending race-ready geometry and a precise front end, with a tunable elastomer Actiflex 2.0 softail suspension system out back…
Wilier Triestina likes to call the new carbon Granturismo SLR a road racing bike “designed to bring out the utmost performance and comfort”. But it’s quite a bit more than just an all-day race bike, as the GT SLR is truly hiding the max comfort of a cushy endurance road bike out back. Yet, in the end, they do classify it as their top endurance road bike.
Wilier Actiflex 2.0 softail suspension
all c. Bike Connection Agency, photos by Roo Fowler
Its secret is a next-gen 5mm wheel travel rear suspension design, evolving the elastomer vibration-damping softail design of the Cento10 NDR for improved comfort and efficiency – but also in a more integrated solution protected from rear wheel spray.
The new Actiflex 2.0 softail design relies on vertical flex within the rear triangle to drive a short suspension link mounted under the toptube, rotating on 4 sealed bearings and damped by a tunable elastomer.
photo by Mirror Media
What you get is smooth movement isolated in the vertical plane, while retaining uncompromised lateral & torsional stiffness. A traditional seatstay bridge like on a rim brake bike helps keeping the rear end flexing uniformly without torsional losses.
Actual rear wheel travel is limited by the hardness of the elastomer vs. rider weight, and Wilier offers various elastomers to suit different rider preference. There is even a hollow 3D-printed lattice-structure elastomer that comes spec’d on top-tier models to shed an extra 20g for the especially weight conscious.
Comfortable Road Racing Geometry
Geometry-wise, the new Wilier Granturismo SLR gets race-ready 72/72.5-ish° head angle and ever-so-slightly stretched 412mm chainstays to fit bigger tires. But it does get slightly shorter frame Reach and noticeably higher Stack to accommodate a more endurance-focused fit. The GT SLR mix is a comfortable fit on the bike, but race-proven handling.
Tech details
photo by Mirror Media
Like their as Filante SLR & 0 SLR, the Granturismo SLR is laid up with Wilier’s high modulus HUS-MOD carbon reinforced with Liquid Crystal Polymer fibers inside for extra “vertical elasticity while increasing torsional stiffness”.
The new endurance race bike also gets aero-optimized tweaks, from aerodynamic tube sections to the fully internal integrated cable routing, and 1-piece 0 Bar carbon handlebar+stem cockpits. A wide-set fork crown, legs & seatstays all provide room for smooth airflow around the max 32mm tire clearance.
The Granturismo SLR features a removable front derailleur mount for fans of 1x drivetrains. It uses the same proprietary D-shaped aero seatpost as the Filante SLR with a hidden wedge clamp, a PressFit BB86 bottom bracket, 1.125” tapered steerer, 12mm thru-axles, and flat mount disc brakes.
Wilier Granturismo SLR – Pricing & options
2023 Wilier Granturismo SLR Shimano Dura-Ace Di2
The new Granturismo SLR comes in six stock sizes (XS-XXL) and three paint jobs – red, silver, or black. Frame kits alone sell for 4500€ including frame, fork, seatpost & bar. Or pick from any of 9 complete build specs with Campagnolo, SRAM, or Shimano groupsets.
2023 Wilier Granturismo SLR SRAM Red AXS
Ultegra Di2 or Force AXS build offer the lowest cost of entry from 7400€. While Red AXS & Dura-Ace Di2 cross the 10k€ threshold with carbon wheels. And ultimately Campy Super Record EPS tops them all at 11,700€ with Wilier’s SLK38KC aero carbon wheels.
