I took some pictures of the article and the text. From Robb Report.
Here's one for sale in the U.K. ;a snip at £7.5 k ! http://www.meridien.co.uk/car_details.asp?ID=2085
If you want the best carbon fiber bicycle in the world (or of nay material for that matter) buy a Parlee. www.parleecycles.com. I tested each of their models and they are by far the best bikes that I have every rudden or raced. BTW, did you check out that Ecosse motorcycle in that Robb Report?
The Ferrari mountain bikes are a status symbol and nothing more. The components and wheels are not top-flight for what you pay. I bought one for a friend of mine and rode it a bit, not nearly as good as my four year old Scott Pro-Team.
Ferrari mountain bike is an oxymoron. I could see a road bike maybe. Heres my mountain bike 1/5 the price and made of Titanium
When I crashed last week (I am still spitting out teeth) I was riding my CF3 down the Newport back bay. I had a c35, the original Ferrari by Colnago. I then purchased a CF1, which was RED, but the orders filled up, so I now own a CF3, in Yucky Yellow. Yes, I ride it up and down PCH in Newport Beach "The OC". I also have a rear disc wheel with the Cavallino Rampante for my time trials. Honestly, I ride that bike about 3k of my 18k miles every season. Ernesto Colnago is an excellent frame builder, and the bike, in limited production, is an excellent specimen at roughly $11,000 US dollars that I paid including a revamped Campy Grouppo. It is not a frame for a Ferrari enthusiast, but a frame for a true road cycling master. It is not the best frame out there, but it is the best Colnago frame, and as I hear it Ernesto and Enzo were friends. http://www.colnago.com/homecf3/homecf3.htm When I was cycling in europe, the factory was kind enough to let us stop on the Giro route for repairs. At that time I had a Ferrari saddle, the guys in the upholstry shoppe found it humorous. I was only 17, so I had yet to buy my first Fcar. Ferrari factory workers gave us a warm reception, and allowed us to tour the factory and use their tools to make repairs. Merckyx, Colnago, Lemond all former racers that turned to build bikes, like Lyons started Jaguar, Enzo started Ferrari, and the spirit goes on and on.
Robb Report is always a day late and a dollar short The bike, for those of you contimplating it is a long process, for the road bike, a) chances are you will not be able to use the pedals because you will not know how to use that type of set up, you will fall and hurt yourself. b) you probably don't go cycling often enough for them to properly fit you to the bike. c) if you exceed 180 lbs, you will break the spokes (I am a 175lb torque master myself I break carbon frames at will, let alone spokes) d) unless you own a velodrome, you will flatten the vittorio tires, very thin, like riding on just an inner tube. Doubt the roads anywhere in the US are clean enough to handle it. Every summer I have my CF3 prepped at Rotations in Southampton NY, look for it in the front window it always goes on display even if it is not for sale. I rode up to an F50 in Newport near Triangle Square, about a year ago, and the 50 owner gave me the thumbs up, funny thing is that the CF3 is harder to get than the F50.
I have been riding a C35...the first Colnago/Ferrari bike. It is full CF bike and I absolutely love it. I train and race triathlons with it....sure there are probably better bikes out there...but this one works for me. I love the styling, the handling and best of all I manage to place in the top 2-3 in my age group and my bike splits are generally in the top 2% overall.
Right on brother! My c35 had the zigzag top tube. with chased red and yellow. Colnago does not make bikes just to boost sales, they just make great frames period. When I ride my disc wheel with the CR on it, people all stop and ask where I got the bike. Porsche and Mercedes also licensed their name to frames, but this was actually a tribute and not a license. Bianchi has a Ducati frame I lust for (steel) and Lotus made their famous world record Time Trial frame. I own a Bursford Ultimate, the designer made chassis for Lola, the racing company. Cycling and racing technologies are inter-twined.
I just got a set of Zip 909 with rear disc and Campy's CF crank...I don't know if I'm any faster...but it definetely looks cool Ciao Dino
I loved time trials, I definately respond well to disc wheels, because of my body weight, I am not easily pushed by crosswinds. Here is a photo of the original CF designated bike.
If anyone wants the mountain bike version, I know FoD and some other dealers really want them out of the shop. Take the stand, display and everything for about 2/3 of the retail price. The ones at the dealers seem to sit there.
DING! I am interested. You can be an avid cyclist and get into Ferrari, but to do the reverse is rare. Most high end cyclists are in that tax bracket anyway You'd have to be to buy a bike for over 8k every season.
It is possible to get the CF2 mountain bike for under $5000, if you look around. Like mentioned earlier it seems Ferrari dealers have a hard time moving them. At retail it is way overpriced, not even sure if it would ride good, especially over rough stuff. It would seem to be good over smooth fast single track, it is kinda of a euro mountain race bike design. I have a custom built Santa Cruz Heckler too. It can handle some serious punishment, unlike the Ferrari bike that would go crack. here are some pics of my ride: http://www.pinkbike.com/modules/photo/?op=list&keyselect=1&keyword=heckler+porn
NEGATIVE, they are price set, believe me I tried. You can't buy it sans this or that. They are sold as is. You would probably not want to take it off road, it is more of a city or cross over bike, not made for trails.