Bianchi is a premium Italian bike manufacturer which is known for its high-performing road bikes. But exactly how much is a Bianchi bike worth?
With so many high-end bicycle manufacturers in the market, it can be difficult to figure out what bicycle brand is actually worth buying and can give you value for your money.
Currently, a Bianchi Bike is worth anywhere between $700 to a whopping $11,500, depending on the type of model you choose. The high price is due to various factors including its state-of-the-art manufacturing process, its high-tech labs, its Italian brand name, and its customizability.
Some people may believe that shelling out thousands of dollars for a bike is a bit much, however, Bianchi Bikes are worth it. In this guide, I have written about the factors that make Bianchi a high-end bicycle brand. In addition, we will also look at the various categories of bikes offered by Bianchi and find out how much the bikes in each category are worth.
I have bought a few Bianchi bikes over the years for myself and my family and have been very happy with their performance. As far as high-end bikes go, Bianchi offers a lot of value for its many and are worth their cost.
What Type of Bike is a Bianchi?
Bianchi Bikes are manufacturers of high-end bicycles that are intended to be used by bike enthusiasts, experienced riders and professional racers. However, the company also makes more affordable models for beginner riders and children. The company has an extensive lineup of road, mountain, gravel, and electric bikes so you can expect a bike for every kind of rider.
Although the bike’s frames are made in Taiwan to take advantage of the low labor and manufacturing costs of the country, it is designed, assembled, and tested in Italy, before they are shipped to customers and retail stores.
Bianchi is the world’s oldest bicycling manufacturing company that exists till now. The company was established in 1885 in Italy and its products have been used by many pro racers including Tour de France and Giro d'Italia winners, including the world-famous FaustoCoppi,FeliceGimondi, Marco Pantani, Simon Yates, and Michael Matthews. As such Bianchi Bikes is a highly established and renowned brand and places its reputation on the line every time it releases a model – and for that, it justifies the high costs.
Factors That Contribute Towards the Cost of Bianchi Bikes
Since its inception, Bianchi Bikes have been leveraging state-of-the-art innovation and using its proprietary technologies to shape the modern bike. Here are some special features that make Bianchi different from others.
The Bianchi Countervail Technology
Bianchi’s flagship Countervail (CV) technology is a proprietary manufacturing process for making premium carbon frames. The technology is used to integrate viscoelastic resin between layers of high-grade carbon fibers in order to absorb shock and reduce the vibrations from the road, ensuring a more ergonomic and comfortable ride
According to the manufacturers, the CV technology dampens up to 80% of vibrations giving riders more control over the ride and reducing their muscle fatigue. In addition, the strength and stiffness of the frames are also increased.
Although it seems like a huge claim, this same technology has also been used by military helicopters and NASA.
Bianchi High-Tech Lab in Italy
Bianchi Bikes frames are all designed, assembled, and tested in the company’s state-of-the-art lab in Treviglio, Italy. The lab is equipped with some of the best engineers in the world who create a 3D digital model and a physical resin prototype of a Bianchi bike.
The high-end road and MTB bikes are also painted in Italy by expert artisans.
Bianchi Sizing
One of the major advantages that Bianchi has over many other bicycle manufacturers is that they produce a large number of frame sizes. As such, their bicycles are suitable to be ridden by people of all ages and sizes.
Bianchi’s road bikes are available in up to nine different sizes ranging from 17.3 inches (44 cm) to 24.8 inches (63 cm). Whether you are a short or tall rider or a man or a woman, Bianchi bikes can fit all sizes.
What are Bianchi Bikes in the Various Categories Worth?
Bianchi Bikes are available in five distinct categories including Road, MTB, Gravel, City Fitness, and Junior. The world-famous brand is known for its raceworthy bikes that stand out in a sea of bikes because of its famous Celeste blue color.
Bianchi Road Bikes
The Bianchi road bike category consists of low-end to premium models that are suitable for all sorts of riders including beginners and pro racers. The category is divided into:
- Racing
- Endurance
- Cyclocross
- TT/Triathlon
- Pista/Fixed Gear
Bianchi’s high-range bikes are made of a high-grade, lightweight carbon while its more affordable models are made with aluminum frames. The most elite models have an exceptional aerodynamic shape, integrated cockpits, best-in-class components, and low weights.
Specialissima
Price: $10,000
Bianchi Specialissima is a super-light road bike which is built with a premium carbon CV frame. The model is compatible with both mechanical and electronic shifting and comes with robust hydraulic disc brakes.
The bike has an aggressive geometry since it is designed for professional racers; however, it does not sacrifice its comfort. Depending on the size of the frame, the Specialissma weighs about 14 lbs.
Bianchi also offers this model with the Ultegra Di2 groupset with hydraulic disc brakes. It is equipped with the Fulcrum Racing 400 wheels, sports Thru Axles and internal cable routing.
According to the company, the Specialissima weighs around 1.7 lbs and its fork weighs around 0.75 lbs. The unbelievably light weight of the bicycle model is what makes it one of the best climbing bikes in the world, which is worthy of world-class competitions like the Tour de France.
Infinito
Price: $5,000 to $6,175
The Bianchi Infinito has an endurance geometry and sports the cutting-edge CV technology that is responsible for dampening vibrations. This improves riding comfort as well as reduces riding fatigue, particularly on long journeys, which is a very important feature on an endurance bike.
The Infinito is equipped with the Ultegra Di2 2×11 groupset and hydraulic disc brake from Shimano. The wide gear range can help riders find the proper gear for all types of terrain and prevent energy loss in the long run.
Although the Infinito is designed as an endurance bike, you can still take it out for racing since its endurance geometry is quite similar to that of the Oltre XR4 (selling at $9,800). Depending on the frame set and its group set, the Infinito weighs 15.43 lbs, making it a super-light bike.
If you love to ride long distances and want a bike that will help you pedal for longer without reducing speed, then the Infinito gives you excellent value for money.
Zolder Pro
Price: $3,650
In addition to pure road bikes, Bianchi also offers cyclocross race bikes including its Zolder Pro. The bike’s frame is made with carbon and is compatible with 1x and 2x drivetrains.
The bicycle comes with hydraulic disc brakes and stiff Thru Axles as well as integrated shifting and braking cables. Although it does not have the CV technology, this model is still very lightweight and delivers impressive performance.
The currentZolder Pro model is equipped with GRX 600 2X1 groupset and flat mount disc brakes from Shimano and has the manufacturer’s familiar cyclocross geometry. The cycle comes with Bianchi’s Celeste color as well.
The cycle is added with two water bottle mounts but does not have fender mounts or a rear rack. This model is a good choice if you want a mid-range bike that is light and fast.
Bianchi Gravel Bikes
Bianchi’s gravel bikes offer you a perfect balance between road and mountain bikes and allow the rider to maintain speed as they travel off-road. These bikes are a great option for bikepackers and gravel competitors.
Currently, Bianchi sells three distinct models:
- Arcadex
- Impulso
- Impulso Pro
These bikes are equipped with GRX 1x or 2x drivetrains, disc brakes, and 700cc wheels that have a clearance for 42mm wide tires.
Arcadex
Price: $4,175 to $6,700
Bianchi Arcadex is a racing gravel bike that is one of the most favored bikes for off-road enthusiasts as well as professional competitors. The bike’s frame is made of premium carbon and it is compatible with both mechanical and electronic drivetrains. The bike also has fully integrated cables and cockpit.
The gravel bike consists of the Shimano GRX mechanical or electronic groupsets with a 1 x 11 drivetrains as well as their standard hydraulic disc brakes. The bike is equipped with aerodynamic tubes that will increase average speed.
The frame and fork of the bike deliver a clearance of up to 700c x 42mm wide tires. The bike is designed to accommodate mudguards for rainy seasons as well.
Although this model again does not have front fender mounts or a rear rack, the front triangle can easily accommodate a large frame bag.
If you are looking for a lightweight bike that can be used off-road for racing, bikepacking or weekend camping, the Arcadex is a great choice.
Impulso
Price: $2,475
The Impulso is one of the more affordable bikes in the gravel category. The bike is made of aluminum but has a full-carbon fork and a clearance for 40mm wide tires. Although the bike is labeled as “All-road,” I found it to perform the best on gravel; hence it is a great bicycle for off-roading and bikepacking.
The bike consists of two water bottle mounts, extra mounts on the fork, and rear rack mounts as well. Therefore, it is a great bike for carrying a lot of camping gear for longer, multi-day trips in off-road conditions.
The Impulso is fitted with Shimano GRX 600 2X11 drivetrains and powerful hydraulic disc brakes that offer superior braking ability. Again, this model is available in eight different sizes, from 18.5 inches (47 cm) to 24.8 inches (63 cm) so you can get the right fit no matter what size you are.
One of the things that I particularly love about the Impulso is that it has a relaxed geometry that allows the rider to sit in a more upright riding position. Hence, it can cover long distances easily and allow you to sit comfortably on the saddle for hours.
The Impulso is a great mid-range aluminum-frame bike that is a good choice for bikepackers, all-road adventurers and even regular commuters.
Bianchi Mountain Bikes
Bianchi’s claim-to-fame isn’t exactly mountain bikes; nevertheless, the Italian bike manufacturer makes some of the most exceptional and high-performing cross-country mountain bikes.
Bianchi Mountain Bikes are currently hard-tail full-suspension models that are excellent choices for beginners and pro racers.
At the moment, Bianchi includes five models in this category:
- Methanol CV FS
- Methanol CV RS
- Nitron
- Magma
- Duel
The lineup consists of both premium cross-country bikes like the Methanol CV FS as well as bikes for beginner trail riders like the Magma and Duel.
Methanol CV FS
Price: $6,650 to $8,200
Methanol CV FS is a world-class cross country bicycle made of high-grade carbon, which has the distinction of being ridden by top-level MTB racers who have consistently won the World Cups.
The bike is equipped with Bianchi’s C material that dampens 80% of the vibrations from the road. It is equipped with the front and rear RockShox Sid suspension, which makes it an excellent ride for rough terrains.
Currently, these mountain bikes come in two different builds: the XTR/XT and the XT/SLX components. Both of the builds have the 1 x 12 drivetrain, robust hydraulic disc brakes and are coupled with 29 x 2.20” for superior traction on rough surfaces.
The bike has an overall low weight and has anti-squat properties, which mean it delivers high performance when it comes to climbing and pedaling. If you are looking for a mountain bike that can help you explore forest and mountain trails and budget is not an issue, the Methanol CV FS is a great choice.
Magma
Price: $1,500
If you think that owning a bike from a world-class brand like Bianchi will cost you an arm and leg, think again. The Magma is a hardtail bike with an aluminum frame that is built for beginners and recreational riders.
The bike is all-purpose and can work well on various surfaces, like dirt, gravel, mountain trails, and tarmac, but don’t expect it to win any races. In fact, it is specifically made for first-time shredders who prioritize stability and comfort over speed and are still building up their confidence.
As of writing this, Bianchi offers the bike in the Deore 1 x12 drivetrain. The bike has the standard hydraulic disc brakes with an air fork. One thing to keep in mind is that this affordable Bianchi Bike is not high-performance but it will give you decent value for your money and you will be paying for the prestige of having the Bianchi label on your frame.
Bianchi City Fitness Bikes
In addition to road, mountain, gravel, and performance bikes, Bianchi also makes commuter and fitness bikes which are great for commuting, recreational riding, and staying fit and healthy. Currently this category consists of three lineups:
- C-Sport
- Spillo
- Turismo
The C-Sport is an excellent fitness bike, the Spillo is a retro city bike while theTurismo is an excellent choice for commuters.
Turismo
Price: $700 to $1075
The Turismo bikes are engineered with a focus on commuting. This bike lineup is the most affordable lineup by Bianchi as you can buy almost all models and builds within $1000.
The Turismo consists of female and unisex bike models that feature an upright geometry which offers more comfort during daily commutes, grocery shopping, and long journeys. These bikes are typically equipped with rim brakes, although the lineup has a few models that have the hydraulic disc brakes as well.
Bianchi E-Bikes
Price: $4,000 to $8,000
Bianchi e-bikes are increasingly becoming more popular and to satisfy the rising demand, the bike manufacturers have introduced a diverse selection of electronic bikes in various lineups:
- E-Road
- E-MTB
- E-Urban
- E-Gravel
- E-Tourer
Bianchi e-bikes are mostly equipped with either theEbikemotion rear hub motors or the Bosch mid-drive. The E-Road and the E-Gravel models consist of the rear hub motions with integrated batteries so they are virtually indistinguishable from Bianchi’s non-electronic bikes.
The E-MTB and E-Urban models comprise the Bosch mid-drive systems as well as the integrated battery packs. However, the more affordable models in the lineup have their batteries mounted on the rear racks.
The e-bikes will help you with 15.5 mph and the battery will give you a range of 121 miles, depending on the model you choose, which is quite a lot. These models are some of the more expensive ones in the e-bike market; however, you need to keep in mind that they are engineered to give you a very smooth riding experience and a natural ride feel, which a lot of riders will love.
Are Older Bianchi Bikes Worth the Money?
Since Bianchi employs state-of-the-art technology and processes to construct their bikes, they are meant to be very durable and have a very long lifespan. Therefore, older vintage models of Bianchi bikes can be in excellent working order.
If you are thinking of buying a used Bianchi bike, understand that it should still be of the highest quality. Before handing over your money, you should examine the bike yourself to see if it is well taken care of and all its parts and functioning.
Are Bianchi Bikes Considered Expensive?
Bianchi is the oldest and one of the very best bike manufacturers in the world. Bianchi bikes are innovative and packed with lots of features and technology that can enhance a rider’s comfort, stability, safety, and performance when riding.
Many models of Bianchi bikes are quite expensive but they are worth it if you are looking for high performance, super-lightweightedness, and a plethora of technology. Because of the high price, the high-end models may not be the best choice for beginner riders; however, the bikes are used consistently by world-class racers.
Aside from high-end categories, Bianchi also offers affordable aluminum bikes as well which can be bought between $700 and $1500. These can offer excellent value to beginner riders, help them gain their confidence and can last for a long time.
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