TIFOSI CK3 GIRO 1.1
Tifosi have a strong reputation for reliable all-weather road bikes at competitive prices. Jack Sexty gets testing to see if the CKCK3 Giro 1.1 fits the bill…
How does the British brand’s sub-£1K, allweather road bike stack up against budget competition? Head here to find out…
Contrary to their Italian name, road bike specialists Tifosi are very much a British operation, and a proprietary brand of cycle distributor Chicken Cycles. Though comparatively small next to some of the major players they’re starting to make waves in the road market with their Spirit Tifosi racing squad, emerging as one of the most successful elite amateur road racing teams in 2016.
Tifosi describe themselves as synonymous with the term ‘winter bike’, but the CK3 Giro range is aimed at entry-level racing or sportive riding. At 9.2kg for our sized medium build, it might not be super-light, but this is a fairly good weight for a sub-£1k aluminium bike.
The top tube and down tube boast the Tifosi branding, and are complemented by a simple black and red paintjob to give a modern look to live up to the Italian-sounding name. The top tube also has some aero profiling and looks racey, and paired with quite a chunky down tube, the frame is a well-rounded effort that isn’t ultra-aggressive but is certainly a suitable geometry for an entry-level race bike.
SIMPLE SAVINGS
Interestingly the cabling is part-internal, exposed on the top and internal on the down tube. We’re told this was simply a cost-saving exercise, and considering the bike has gone down from £999 last year to £850 for 2017 this can be excused.
Expecting a further catch, we were told there genuinely isn’t one and that the price drop was simply to pass savings onto the retailer and consumer. Looking at the build we’d largely concur, with the only downgrade being the Tektro brake calipers instead of Shimano 105.
The CK3 Giro range has four models in its line, with the 1.1 version being the highest-specced Shimano-equipped bike. You get Shimano 105 shifters, derailleurs, cassette and brake levers, which is very good value for a bike comfortably under the £1k mark. We find 105 gives more definitive shifting and a slightly smoother upshift
to the big ring compared to the Shimano Tiagra groupset, not to mention the 11-speed gearing.
PACKING A PUNCH
Right from our first ride, the ONE Sport handlebars felt too narrow for a medium-sized bike, and we measured ours at just 40.5cm across. This did lead to some shoulder discomfort on a longer ride, but bar width comes down to personal preference so be aware that you might want a wider bar than the stock version if you’re broad-shouldered. ONE sport are an OEM brand (and are also responsible for the stem, seatpost and hubs on Tifosi’s CK3 range), and the parts are robust and reliable with no noticeable trade-offs compared to offerings from better known brands.
Handlebar issues aside, we found the ride to be pleasantly punchy on flats. Although you get the obvious weight penalty compared to a carbon frame, it performed well on our hilly route on every occasion, with the bottom sprockets untouched. A 50/34 chainset with 12-28 cassette provides a fine range of gears for climbing and flats alike for a reasonably fit rider, though true beginners might prefer a compact chainset.
The Selle Royale Seta saddle adds to the bike’s credentials as a comfortable racer. It’s nicely padded and caused us no discomfort on rides of up to 60km. The Tektro calipers definitely wouldn’t be our choice, and we found in the wet they just didn’t give us the confidence that you’d get with 105 calipers, taking a split second longer to respond to sharp braking. If you’re going to make a £50 upgrade we’d suggest this would be the first place to do so.
The Weinmann Flyer wheels caused us no problems – we hardly felt any vibration – and we were pleased with Tifosi’s choice of selecting 25mm tyres to accompany them. Those supplied on our test bike were the Vittoria G+, which provided a plush ride and good traction. It’s worth noting that the stock model of the 1.1 on Tifosi’s website comes with Schwalbe’s Lugano tyres, a budget option that have performed badly in independent rolling resistance tests but are noted for being tough and puncture resistant. If you’re planning on racing the bike, we’d recommend going with the Vittorias or a renowned race tyre for the summer.
Overall, how does the CK3 Giro 1.1 stack up in terms of value? With full 105 at the £850 mark it trounces some of the bigger brands, and you have to go up to £1,300 before you find a Specialized Allez specced with a 105 mix as an example. At the other end, you can pick up a Mango Point R with full 105 groupset and full internal cable routing for a pound less at £849, but it has a heavier frame and Mango take advantage of a direct sales model.
All in all, we’d recommend any bike in Tifosi’s CK3 Giro range for the entry-level multisporter who wants a do-it-all bike for anything but truly heavy use in the winter. The 1.1 version may be the best value of all four and, if you have a £1,000 budget, you can easily swap out those tyres, handlebars and brake calipers if required with money to spare.