Reviews of the Azzurri Di2 Forza Pro from Cycling Express

[Arlberg]

For those who got in early on the October shipment, apparently you can expect to receive your bike as early as next week.

For the benefit of those of us still waiting for the November delivery, please fill us in by putting your thoughts and opinions on here. Topics such as the delivery and packaging, the build quality of the bike, the sizing/geometry, the quality of the frame (which has generated a lot of opinion both positive and negative) and of course how it actually rides are going to make VERY interesting reading for those of us still waiting!

[santacruzscott]

Was told they would start to be delivered end of this week/beginning of next.

I am not the ideal person to review or compare to other bikes , as this is my first road bike.

But will report in on the delivery and packaging side of things , and also the build quality.

Will also post as many close up pics as I can.

Nearly there..............

[Redbull]

I'm interested in the ride reports.

You take the price of the groupset and wheels out of the total price and it doesn't leave much for the rest.

Its either a big time loss leader (for the retailer and Azzuri) or they have been skimping big time on the bits that really matter i.e the frame.

[briztoon]

I'm interested in the ride reports.

You take the price of the groupset and wheels out of the total price and it doesn't leave much for the rest.

Its either a big time loss leader (for the retailer and Azzuri) or they have been skimping big time on the bits that really matter i.e the frame.

Are you subtracting the retail (online or instore) or wholesale price for the groupset and wheels from the retail price?

[Redbull]

Doesn't matter, margin is margin.

[pauls51]

It will be interesting to do a comparison to a similar equiped Giant

[Arlberg]

I'm interested in the ride reports.

You take the price of the groupset and wheels out of the total price and it doesn't leave much for the rest.

Its either a big time loss leader (for the retailer and Azzuri) or they have been skimping big time on the bits that really matter i.e the frame.

This is what fascinates me too. Some people no doubt will buy the bike just to get the groupset and components to put on another frame. Adding up the cost of buying the Di2, the other Ultegra components and the saddle separately means you are basically getting the rest of the bike for nothing. The Reynolds Solitude wheels are good and alone retail for around $600 and are therefore basically 'free', as is the frame of course.

I will be therefore VERY interested to get some reports on the quality of this frame. If the frame is good, then this is an absolute bargain. I am also interested in how well assembled the bike is by Cycling Express. For those living outside of Melbourne/Victoria, this is very important. They dont want a badly built bike and have to be sending it back to Melbourne to be fixed. I hope Cycling Express take their time and do a great job of assembling these bikes.

[santacruzscott]

I assume that the frame is the pretty much the same as all the Forza models that they sell now.

If so these reviews are probably relevant.

http://www.productreview.com.au/p/azzurri-monocoque-forza.html

http://www.productreview.com.au/p/azzurri-forza-rl.html

I have seen a Forza Pro in Hobart in-store , and was very impressed with the quality and finish of the frame.

A friend has just received his Forza RL (sram red group set) and is over the moon with fit , finish and ride quality of his bike.

I am certainly buying it as a complete bike , with no intention of stripping it and adding the parts to a NAMEBRAND frame.

[Redbull]

oh oh

Be careful

ass u me

[santacruzscott]

Well some people are ass u me ing the frame is no good..............................

[paulz]

I have heard that the delays on the October shipment were, in part, due to a holding period in customs. The bikes should be dispatched shortly.

[santacruzscott]

Anybody else have one of the October delivery bikes on order?

Just wanted to see if anyone had been notified that their bike was in the post

Sorry , just me being impatient , hopefully will receive mine by the end of the week.

Lots of pics to follow , as soon as it arrives...........

[santacruzscott]

Cheers Paulz

Thanks for the info.

[santacruzscott]

Actually the best part about your reply is you answered me before I had even asked the question.

[briztoon]

Actually the best part about your reply is you answered me before I had even asked the question.

And you don't find it interesting that paulz one and only post is to explain why the bikes may be delayed? Joined yesterday too.

[santacruzscott]

Wasn't going to say anything................

But now that you mention it

[briztoon]

Doesn't matter, margin is margin.

Ah no it's not mate. If you're going off internet retail prices for all the parts you're still not getting a true reflection of the wholesale margin for the frame from Azzurri or Cycling Express's retail margin (if there is one) if they are the ones putting this package together. If you work for a store that buys wholesale, why don't let us know what the true cost of the various parts are, then everyone can play the guessing game of the margins for Azurri and Cycling express.

Does anyone know if this is a package put together by Azzurri or Cycling Express?

[santacruzscott]

Doesn't matter, margin is margin.

Does anyone know if this is a package put together by Azzurri or Cycling Express?

Same people , I'm led to believe.

They used to be Learsport and are now Azzurri.

But I could be wrong (usually am )

[paulz]

I can assure you folk that I am not affiliated with CE or Azzurri. I have one of the bikes on order. Just passing on what I have been informed. Really looking forward to riding with the U di2 when it arrives.

[briztoon]

Welcome to the forum then paulz. Sorry for jumping to conclusions, but I have been reading a thread about industry types lurking on forums, etc.

[santacruzscott]

I can assure you folk that I am not affiliated with CE or Azzurri. I have one of the bikes on order. Just passing on what I have been informed. Really looking forward to riding with the U di2 when it arrives.

I'm with you Paulz , really looking forward to my new (first) road bike turning up.

[paulz]

It would be a very long ride to work if I did work at CE given that I live in Perth.

[ftssjk]

hopefully my house sells quick and i can order a november shipment

[Arlberg]

I contacted Cycling Express about the bikes today. Apparently they were held up by customs, and they now expect the October shipment to be delivered to customers in November, at the same time as the actual November shipment! Considerably later than the 'early October delivery date' which was advertised initially.

Delays do happen, but has anyone with a supposed 'October' delivery date been kept updated on what is happening with their order? I am a November shipment, so I dont know, and I certainly haven't received any correspondence from Cycling Express advising me if there is a delay with the November shipment as well.

Are the bikes still being built, or on their way to Australia, or still held in customs, or at the shop being assembled, or somewhere else? It would be nice to be kept informed by Cycling Express.

And by the way, are the bikes being shipped out fully assembled from OS (presumably Taiwan), or are just frames coming from there and the bikes are being assembled here in Australia?

Anyone from Cycling Express or otherwise 'in the know' like to comment?

[MarkG]

One of my mate's mate has brand new Giant Trinity which is currently sitting in a shipping container on that ship which is broken up in Kiwi waters!