Bianchi Oltre XR3 Disc bike review

Bianchi Oltre XR3 Disc bike review

Does celeste go faster? Let’s find out!

Words and images: James Raison


The Oltre XR3 is Bianchi’s attempt to squeeze the pro spec Oltre XR4 and their vibration suppressing Countervail tech into a more accessible price. Make no mistake though, the Oltre XR3 will make a $7,999 hole in your savings account so it’s not a cheap bike. For context, that’s the same price as the eye-wateringly expensive Oltre XR4 frameset. So what does Bianchi have to sacrifice to make that happen? Quite a lot.

Truly this has been the most conflicting bike I’ve ridden.

Bianchi Oltre XR3.jpg

BUILD

  • Frame: Oltre XR3 Disc Countervail, PressFit 86,5x41mm BB, flat mount caliper, thru axle 12x142mm

  • Fork: Bianchi Full Carbon Aero Disc w/Countervail, thru axle 12x100mm

  • Headset: Fsa Orbit C-40-ACB

  • Shifters: Shimano Ultegra ST-R8020 Derailleurs:

  • Shimano Ultegra RD-R8000

  • Crankset: Shimano Ultegra FC-R8000 52x36T

  • Cassette: Shimano Ultegra 11-28T

  • Brakes: Shimano BR-R8070, SM-RT800 Center Lock rotors 160mm

  • Wheels: Fulcrum Racing 418 disc brake

  • Tyres: Vittoria Rubino Pro G+ 700x28

  • Stem: Reparto Corse +/-6°

  • Handlebar: Reparto Corse Aero Compact, reach 74mm, drop 116mm

  • Seatpost Oltre Full Carbon Aero; clamp with alloy head adjustable and reversible +/- 35mm, Setback: 25mm/-10mm

  • Saddle Fi'zi:k Antares R7

GEOMETRY

Bianchi has thrown a hefty serving of race geometry at the Oltre XR3. My “570” size has well-balanced numbers; 393 mm reach, 561 mm stack, 73.5° seat tube and 73° head tube, short chainstays (for a disc bike), a decent 68 mm BB drop,

Interestingly the seat clamp can flip, giving up to 35mm of fore/aft movement. Really, there’s not much that stands out in the geometry numbers. It’s racey but not particularly aggressive. The front end is slightly lower than the modern crop of bikes with a shorter head tube than the new Cannondale SuperSix or Giant TCR Advanced. It falls cleanly into the Italian race bike category with little fuss.

THE RIDE

So much of the Oltre XR3 depends directly and indirectly on the Countervail tech so I’ll start by addressing how it affects the ride.

COUNTERVAIL GIVETH

The fancy carbon wizardry noticeably and dramatically reduces high frequency vibrations when you’re rolling on the tarmac. It’s ideal on basically all sealed tarmac but is most effective on coarse chipseal and poorly maintained surfaces. It makes smooth tarmac feel like you’re riding on glass, and vastly improves coarse road surfaces.

It’s not effective on bigger bumps or potholes because it’s just an elastomer after all - there’s no moving parts to absorb those hits. It’s moderately effective on gravel with your butt and hands slightly protected from the surface. Proper gravel bumps are too constant for the Countervail to be completely effective. I found a particularly heavy vibration coming through my feet on gravel roads.

Bianchi Oltre XR3 countervail.jpg

Countervail’s smoothness is valuable because you can output better power when your body isn’t shaking and vibrating, plus you can steer with more confidence because the bike is more settled and rides rough surfaces better. On longer rides you’re less worn out by bumps and vibrations. It really can make the road disappear beneath you.

It has a similar feel to the Aktiv fork on the TIME Scylon and TIME Alpe d’Huez I reviewed last year; an expensive but ninetheless effective way to smooth out the rougher tendencies of race bikes.

THE COUNTERVAIL TAKETH

The main drawback to the Countervail is the weight it adds both directly and indirectly to the build.

Rolling weight of the XR3 once I’d bolted on Favero Assioma pedals, a very light bottle cage, and my Garmin Edge 530 was a hefty 8.8 kg. It feels it too when you’re climbing. There’s a tardiness to the bike when hitting steep gradients. Hills that reach double digit gradients feel tough with that amount of weight, especially once you’ve added water bottles.

Bianchi Oltre XR3-2.jpg

Indirectly the Countervail forces Bianchi to spec less-than-racey components to keep the build within a reasonable price. The Vittoria Zaffiro tyres don’t offer much feedback and don’t feel sprightly on the road. Similarly the 1.7 kg Fulcrum Racing 4 DB wheels - while good overall - seem underpowered for the frame. I’ll address the rest of the build below but it’s safe to conclude the spec is compromised by Countervail’s inclusion.

HANDLING

There’s flashes of true brilliance from the Oltre XR3 once I’d crested the hills and hit the flats and the descents. It’s one of the finest handlers I’ve ridden.

Italian race bike geometry has its own distinct character; an ease of handling and effortlessness to the speed. They’re the sort of bikes that you steer less and can use weight transfer to pin it around the corners more. It was plenty of fun threading it down the quicker descents in my area. I love how the handling and powerful brakes encourage you to stop later before choosing an aggressive line and then punching it out with some kicks of the pedal. That’s where the bike thrives.

Bianchi Oltre XR3-1.jpg

I’d often find myself rolling along oblivious to how fast I was going. So much perception of speed comes from feedback through the bike and into your body, but when the bike’s this smooth you don’t notice it as readily. I switched over to some Specialized Turbo Cottons - my favourite clincher - and they livened the bike up immensely. Then again, they liven up every bike. Quality tyres make a massive difference.

Some rides it all clicked into place; great stretch road, exciting bike, and grippy tyres and I found the sense of joy I wanted from the Oltre XR3. That’s why I got frustrated at the less impressive aspects of the bike. I know how good it could be.

FINISHING KIT

The Ultegra R8050 is excellent as always. This generation of Ultegra is all-time brilliant. The mechanical shifting is crisp, quick, and precise. Front derailleur shifting on Shimano is without peer, and rear derailleur is snappy. My only small complaint is the R8020 shifter ergonomics aren’t my favourite of the lineup with both the R8070 and standard R8000 more comfortable to my hands. Braking is excellent too with plenty of power and modulation.

Who doesn’t love Ultegra?

Who doesn’t love Ultegra?

As mentioned above, the wheel and tyre combo are lacklustre given the asking price. I don’t mind the Fulcrum Racing 4s as a wheelset, but the frame deserves better. They’re fairly shallow on an aero frame at 35 mm, have not-so-aero rounded spokes, and don’t impress on the scales, but they feel smooth once you coerce them up to speed. The Vittoria Rubino Pros are bland tyres with little feedback, and I’d argue too wide. I love wide tyres but there’s no advantage I can see to shipping with 28mm. You shouldn’t need the comfort because of the Countervail, and it’s aerodynamically disadvantageous to have a tyre that’s so much wider than the rim. Vittoria’s Corsa G2s in 25mm would be a much better tyre for this build.

Flip the seatpost clamp to make a clever adjustment to the geometry

Flip the seatpost clamp to make a clever adjustment to the geometry

Contact points are passable. I don’t get along with the Fizik Antares, it being both too wide and too flat, but that’s a personal fit issue of mine. The Reparto Corse Aero Compact bars and handlebar tape are fine; relatively short reach and shallow drop and comfortable in hand.

I do have to call out Bianchi for their hosing and cable job at the front of the bike. It’s not a good look on such an otherwise handsome, and expensive, bike.

That cabling makes me sad

That cabling makes me sad

THE MARKET REALITY

The Oltre XR3 has a harsh economic reality to it. Bianchi’s use of Countervail adds manufacturing cost, and retrospective R&D cost of creating the tech. So they’re backed into a corner when trying to make a more affordable version of their halo product Oltre XR4. It’s easier to justify the price of the top end Oltre XR4 because it’s for buyers who want the best, have enough money to not really care, and don’t want compromise. Trying to make a full build with such an expensive frame is always going to be hard because it doesn’t compare well against full builds on cheaper frames. It’s a spec level or two down from other bikes in its price band.

That’s the reality of modern bike buyers; they’re looking at the frame and then the groupset and wheels to gauge overall value. The Oltre XR3 doesn’t look good when considered in those terms; it’s below average groupset and wheels at its price. I’m not saying it should be compared to all other bikes because the Countervail puts it slightly out of step, but buyers will make the comparison nonetheless.

Nobody else does Countervail but plenty of others make comfortable aero bikes and many have superior builds on them.

WRAPPING UP

Bianchi’s Oltre XR3 is a bike of compromised brilliance. There were moments I loved it and couldn’t get enough of its handling and speed. Other times I was frustrated because so much of the build hides its true potential.

Everything depends on the frame; if you want that exciting Italian race bike geometry and handling, silky smooth Countervail ride quality, plus the added celeste vibes of riding a Bianchi, then you get it here. Bianchi is a brand with gravitas and it undoubtedly feels special to ride, and drew comments and queries from people I rode with.

My advice to buyers is to immediately upgrade tyres, and consider upgrading wheels if you can stretch your budget. This frame deserves it, and so do you.