Seriously Slick: The Wilier Zero SLR
A superlight bike with disc brakes and integrated cables
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Wilier Triestina has a new lightweight superbike ready to tackle the imposing slopes of the Dolomites in the Italian company’s backyard. It’s called the Zero SLR, and it’s an all-around race bike chasing the elusive perfect balance of feathery weight, stiffness and aerodynamics. Outfitted with the latest Dura-Ace Di2 and featuring integration throughout, this is a statement piece that Wilier says is the first superlight bike with disc brakes and full cable integration.
Features
- Fully integrated cables.
- Integrated stem and handlebar.
- Asymmetric fork to balance the forces generated by disc brakes.
- Liquid crystal polymer increases frame strength and impact resistance while reducing road vibration
- Stiffness to weight ratio is 24 percent higher than Wilier’s Zero.6.
- Mavic Speed Release thru axle shaves weight and wheel change time
Lightweight, but Fast
Designed to be the best possible all-around race bike, the 780g Zero SLR is not just fast uphill. Aerodynamic tube shapes help it target PR’s and KOM’s even on pancake-flat segments. A new seatpost clamp, integrated into a truncated seattube shape, is thin to keep weight down and also creates a narrow profile for better aerodynamics. Using concepts developed in its Turbine time trial bike, Wilier has also moved the fork blades farther from the wheel to decrease turbulent air at the front end. At only 340g, the fork complements the light weight of the frame. Mavic’s Speed Release thru axles also shave weight while decreasing wheel change time—especially valuable in race situations.
Responsive Ride
The Zero.6 and Zero.7 were already impressively light and responsive, but the SLR bests them both by quite a bit in terms of stiffness to weight. Wilier claims the 780g SLR has a full 24 percent higher stiffness to weight ratio than the Zero.6—and better still compared to the Zero.7. Wilier achieves this by using high quality carbon called HUS-MOD. Liquid crystal polymer—the same material used in bulletproof vests—is also integrated into the carbon layup to increase the frame’s strength and impact resistance while reducing road vibration.
An asymmetrical rear triangle accounts for the imbalances between the drive and non-drive sides of the frame. Up front, the fork is also asymmetric to account for the uneven forces exerted by disc brakes.
Not a Cable in Sight
Thanks to an in-house integrated handlebar and stem combo which hides all the Di2 and hydraulic brake cables, this bike is smoother than your legs the night before the state championships. There’s hardly a cable in sight; it’s an impressively clean look.
And at only 330g, the integrated Zero bar also contributes to the low total weight.
And of course, the cable integrations shows off Wilier’s gorgeous Italian paint jobs. If you want to be flashy, opt for the blue or red. If you want the lightest frame possible—as well as the stealthiest—black is your best bet.
Check out issue no. 88 of PELOTON for our review.