00:00 Before I explain my thinking, I think it's important to make sure that we're on the same page about what a superbike really is.
00:06 For me, it has to be something at the cutting edge of technology, something that's been recently released and is possibly being raced by professionals.
00:15 So, think Specialized Tarmacs, Giant Propels and Colnago V4 RSs. You get the sort.
00:21 Usually, they have a pretty hefty price tag attached to them and these days, sadly, that tends to be a five-figure number.
00:30 Now, they've been created with the intention of being the fastest thing on the road to save as many watts as possible and to turn your spinning legs into KOMs.
00:40 The hallmarks of a superbike will usually be deeply sculpted high-grade carbon frames with deep section wheels
00:46 and a range-topping groupset like Shimano Dura-Ace, SRAM Red or a Campagnolo Super Record.
00:53 You may also spot watt-saving gadgets like oversized pulley wheels, integrated cockpits and ceramic bearings.
00:59 It's of course these things which differentiate a bike from being just a really good bike to being a superbike.
01:11 There's no denying that if you really want to be as fast as possible out on the road,
01:15 then a superbike will make up one part of the puzzle in getting you there.
01:19 However, if you look at the entire range of bikes that's offered from a brand,
01:23 you can always find models with a lower specification but with many of the same features.
01:28 For example, look at my Canyon Ultimate here. You can go and buy the top-end Ultimate CFR for nearly £11,000 here in the UK
01:36 or you could get this Ultimate SLX for nearly £6,500.
01:42 That's 40% cheaper but the difference in real-world speed won't be that large.
01:47 This is because the bike enjoys exactly the same frame shape, the same handlebars and still features deep section wheels.
01:54 Now, while I'm not trying to fool anyone into thinking that £6,500 is a small amount of money,
01:59 it is however a vast reduction from the range-topping offering.
02:03 Sure, the carbon layout is different. The SLX is about 480g heavier and the wheels are a bit more standard compared to the Zipp 353 NSWs found on the CFR.
02:15 But when you consider you'll be enjoying all the benefits of a power metre, a second-tier electronic 12-speed groupset
02:21 and the latest design cues found on the bike's bigger brother, you really have to wonder
02:25 why coughing up that extra money is worth it when you consider real-world speed.
02:29 [Music]
02:35 There's one thing that I absolutely love about superbikes and that is the way that they look.
02:40 I've always been a big fan of the imaginative shapes, the constant pursuit to make them look cleaner,
02:45 faster and more slippery in the wind than ever before. But much like my last point,
02:49 these design cues can be found on other bikes. You just have to look lower down in the range.
02:55 Sure, they may not be as uncompromising and the lack of top-end components may soften their impact a little,
03:00 but the frame shapes themselves won't change. A lot of superbikes feature drop seat stays and this
03:06 is because it helps improve comfort and aerodynamics. It's now not uncommon to see them on bikes costing around £1,000.
03:14 This is a clear example of how design innovation really does make its way down to those lower echelons.
03:19 Back in 2022 when I reviewed Shimano's third-tier 105 Di2 groupsets, one of my key takeaways was how
03:26 good it looked. I fully believe that if you had an unmarked 105 Ultegra and Dura-Ace groupset side by
03:33 side, you'd struggle to figure out which was which. Really, in some instances, the more affordable tech
03:39 really does hold a candle to the best.
03:42 [Music]
03:48 When top-end bikes are being designed and tested in the wind tunnel, they're done so in the most
03:53 aerodynamic position, which is also the most aggressive position. Obviously, this is because
03:59 it's the fastest. Of course, for professionals who spend a lot of time training their flexibility and
04:04 core strength, this isn't a problem because they can hold that position for hour after hour.
04:10 However, for us mere mortals, it's more than likely that we don't possess the same abilities as our
04:15 heroes. This results in us riding in a more upright position. Then you have to wonder how
04:21 much of a benefit are you actually getting if you aren't riding the bike as it was originally designed.
04:28 It's not just about the aerodynamic benefits, but also how the bike feels underneath you.
04:33 Again, as I say, bikes are designed with the stem slammed to the head tube. This also means that the
04:38 way the bike handles and responds has been fine-tuned from this position. If you start
04:43 sliding headset spaces onto the steerer tube and altering the geometry of the bike, then it's not
04:48 going to feel as good. My recommendation is to always get a bike fit before you purchase a bike.
04:55 This means that whatever you end up buying will fit you and you can look for a bike which most
04:59 closely matches the limits of your flexibility and body size. Ideally, you want to go as close
05:04 to the position that the bike was originally designed for to get the most out of it, rather
05:09 than buying a bike and then trying to make it fit retrospectively, which will then ultimately end up
05:14 in a great bike not feeling as good. This is why endurance bikes generally have much taller head
05:19 tubes with slacker angles as it reduces the need for headset spaces and stem length reductions.
05:25 One thing we all know about superbikes, and something you've heard me bang on about this
05:35 entire video, is the unrelenting desire for superbikes to be fast. It's in their very nature.
05:41 However, that speed isn't exclusively down to wind-sculpted carbon, but instead,
05:46 the quest for save watts infiltrates every single part of the bike. Components can be manufactured
05:52 to be lighter, stiffer, more aero, and more efficient. Take the latter for example, efficiency.
05:58 One option manufacturers have is to employ the use of ceramic bearings. While a set of these bearings
06:03 in your wheels can make them spin seemingly forever, they also don't quite have the same
06:08 longevity to them. Not forgetting that these bearings are best used in the most optimal of
06:13 conditions, think dry roads and warm sunshine. Another prime example of this are the tyres you
06:20 find on range-topping bikes. Obviously, they'll be equipped with range-topping rubber, but while
06:25 they may be incredibly fast, they'll be prone to punctures and of course, just won't last that long.
06:30 The point here is that there's a plethora of products out there to help you save as many
06:34 watts as possible, but it's always worth considering what the cost of that is,
06:39 and it usually tends to be longevity.
06:41 In a similar vein to my last point, when these components do give up the ghost and need replacing,
06:52 it can be a pretty uncomfortable experience for your bank balance.
06:56 Superbikes are incredibly expensive to purchase. There's no escaping that, but never forget or
07:02 overlook the cost involved with servicing. While it shouldn't be a surprise that replacing parts
07:08 like for like will be expensive, the labour cost involved can be a fair bit higher than a normal
07:14 bike too. For example, superbikes can have more intricate routing for hosing, which can take time
07:20 to navigate. However, once a bike is set up and rolling on the road, you just want to be careful
07:25 not to damage any of the bike's more delicate parts.
07:28 In the instance that you damaged and needed to replace your Dura-Ace rear derailleur,
07:34 which isn't uncommon, then one of those will set you back £700 here in the UK.
07:39 And even if you are careful with the components, the wearable parts also aren't cheap. For example,
07:45 a new Dura-Ace chain anchor set could cost you near £400. Sure, you could replace it with a
07:51 cheaper alternative like Ultegra, but doesn't that slightly defeat the point of having a superbike in
07:57 the first place? If you'd be happy to replace it with Ultegra, why not just have it from the get-go
08:02 and save yourself from that initial cost? While I'm not trying to tell anyone how to spend their
08:08 own money, everyone of course has their own view on what constitutes good value. Just be aware of
08:13 the environment in which that bike will be operating. If you're looking for speed, ask
08:18 yourself, have you nailed your kit choice, your nutrition, your training plan? There are a lot
08:22 of things that you can control via good consistency and discipline, which will reap greater rewards
08:28 than what a superbike can deliver. Perhaps a superbike should be seen as a last-ditch secret
08:33 weapon which helps unlock any potential remaining speed. The options available to us for half the
08:38 price or even less are still going to propel you down the road at a rate of knots. What do you
08:45 think about this though? Do you think that superbikes are at risk of rendering themselves
08:49 pointless when there's so many great options out there which don't sacrifice real-world speed
08:54 and still maintain a good level of longevity? Let me know down in the comments below. If you enjoyed
09:00 the video, then please do drop it a like, subscribe to the channel for more content,
09:03 and I'll see you again very soon.
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