00:00Before I explain my thinking, I think it's important to make sure that we're on the same page
00:04about what a superbike really is. For me, it has to be something at the cutting edge of technology,
00:10something that's been recently released and is possibly being raced by professionals.
00:15So, think Specialized Tarmacs, Giant Propels and Colnago V4 RSs. You get the sort. Usually,
00:22they have a pretty hefty price tag attached to them and these days, sadly, that tends to be
00:28a five-figure number. Now, they've been created with the intention of being the fastest thing on
00:34the road to save as many watts as possible and to turn your spinning legs into KOMs.
00:40The hallmarks of a superbike will usually be deeply sculpted high-grade carbon frames with
00:45deep section wheels and a range-topping groupset like Shimano Dura-Ace, SRAM Red or a Campagnolo
00:51Super Record. You may also spot what's saving gadgets like oversized pulley wheels, integrated
00:57cockpits and ceramic bearings. It's, of course, these things which differentiate a bike from being
01:02just a really good bike to being a superbike. There's no denying that if you really want to
01:13be as fast as possible out on the road, then a superbike will make up one part of the puzzle
01:18in getting you there. However, if you look at the entire range of bikes that's offered from a brand,
01:23you can always find models with a lower specification but with many of the same
01:27features. For example, look at my Canyon Ultimate here. You can go and buy the top-end Ultimate CFR
01:33for nearly £11,000 here in the UK or you could get this Ultimate SLX for nearly £6,500.
01:40That's 40% cheaper but the difference in real-world speed won't be that large.
01:47This is because the bike enjoys exactly the same frame shape, the same handlebars and still features
01:52deep section wheels. While I'm not trying to fool anyone into thinking that £6,500 is a small
01:58amount of money, it is, however, a vast reduction from the range-topping offering. Sure, the carbon
02:04layout is different. The SLX is about 480g heavier and the wheels are a bit more standard compared to
02:11the Zipp 353 NSWs found on the CFR. But when you consider you'll be enjoying all the benefits of a
02:17power meter, a second-tier electronic 12-speed groupset and the latest design cues found on the
02:23bike's bigger brother, you really have to wonder why coughing up that extra money is worth it
02:28when you consider real-world speed.
02:35There's one thing that I absolutely love about superbikes and that is the way that they look.
02:40I've always been a big fan of the imaginative shapes, the constant pursuit to make them look
02:44cleaner, faster and more slippery in the wind than ever before. But much like my last point,
02:49these design cues can be found on other bikes, you just have to look lower down in the range.
02:55Sure, they may not be as uncompromising and the lack of top-end components may soften their
02:59impact a little, but the frame shapes themselves won't change. A lot of superbikes feature drop
03:05seat stays and this is because it helps improve comfort and aerodynamics. It's now not uncommon
03:10to see them on bikes costing around £1,000. This is a clear example of how design innovation
03:16really does make its way down to those lower echelons. Back in 2022 when I reviewed Shimano's
03:22third-tier 105 Di2 groupsets, one of my key takeaways was how good it looked. I fully believe
03:28that if you had an unmarked 105 Ultegra and Dura-Ace groupset side by side, you'd struggle
03:34to figure out which was which. Really, in some instances, the more affordable tech really does
03:40hold a candle to the best. When top-end bikes are being designed and tested in the wind tunnel,
03:52they're done so in the most aerodynamic position, which is also the most aggressive position.
03:57Obviously, this is because it's the fastest. Of course, for professionals who spend a lot
04:02of time training their flexibility and core strength, this isn't a problem because they
04:06can hold that position for hour after hour. However, for us mere mortals, it's more than
04:12likely that we don't possess the same abilities as our heroes. This results in us riding in a
04:17more upright position. Then you have to wonder how much of a benefit are you actually getting
04:23if you aren't riding the bike as it was originally designed. It's not just about the aerodynamic
04:30benefits but also how the bike feels underneath you. Again, as I say, bikes are designed with
04:35the stem slammed to the head tube. This also means that the way the bike handles and responds
04:40has been fine-tuned from this position. Now, if you start sliding headset spaces onto the
04:45steerer tube and altering the geometry of the bike, then it's not going to feel as good.
04:50My recommendation is to always get a bike fit before you purchase a bike.
04:55This means that whatever you end up buying will fit you and you can look for a bike which most
04:59closely matches the limits of your flexibility and body size. Ideally, you want to go as close
05:04to the position that the bike was originally designed for to get the most out of it rather
05:09than buying a bike and then trying to make it fit retrospectively which will then ultimately end up
05:14in a great bike not feeling as good. This is why endurance bikes generally have much taller head
05:19tubes with slacker angles as it reduces the need for headset spaces and stem length reductions.
05:25One thing we all know about superbikes, and something you've heard me bang on about this
05:30entire video, is the unrelenting desire for superbikes to be fast. It's in their very nature.
05:36However, that speed isn't exclusively down to wind-sculpted carbon, but instead,
05:40the quest for save watts infiltrates every single part of the bike. Components can be
05:46manufactured to be lighter, stiffer, more aero, and more efficient.
05:50Components can be manufactured to be lighter, stiffer, more aero, and more efficient. Take the
05:55latter for example, efficiency. One option manufacturers have is to employ the use of
06:00ceramic bearings. Now, while a set of these bearings in your wheels can make them spin
06:05seemingly forever, they also don't quite have the same longevity to them. Not forgetting that these
06:11bearings are best used in the most optimal of conditions. Think dry roads and warm sunshine.
06:17Another prime example of this are the tires you find on range-topping bikes.
06:21Obviously, they'll be equipped with range-topping rubber, but while they may be incredibly fast,
06:26they'll be prone to punctures and of course, just won't last that long. The point here is that
06:31there's a plethora of products out there to help you save as many watts as possible, but it's always
06:36worth considering what the cost of that is, and it usually tends to be longevity.
06:47In a similar vein to my last point, when these components do give up the ghost and need replacing,
06:52it can be a pretty uncomfortable experience for your bank balance. Superbikes are incredibly
06:58expensive to purchase. There's no escaping that, but never forget or overlook the cost
07:04involved with servicing. While it shouldn't be a surprise that replacing parts like for like
07:09will be expensive, the labor cost involved can be a fair bit higher than a normal bike too.
07:15For example, superbikes can have more intricate routing for hosing, which can take time to
07:20navigate. However, once a bike is set up and rolling on the road, you just want to be careful
07:25not to damage any of the bike's more delicate parts. In the instance that you damaged and needed
07:31to replace your Dura-Ace rear derailleur, which isn't uncommon, then one of those will set you back
07:37£700 here in the UK. And even if you are careful with the components, the wearable parts also
07:44aren't cheap. For example, a new Dura-Ace chain and cassette could cost you near £400. Sure,
07:50you could replace it with a cheaper alternative like Ultegra, but doesn't that slightly defeat
07:55the point of having a superbike in the first place? If you'd be happy to replace it with Ultegra,
08:00why not just have it from the get-go and save yourself from that initial cost?
08:05While I'm not trying to tell anyone how to spend their own money, everyone, of course,
08:09has their own view on what constitutes good value. Just be aware of the environment in which
08:14that bike will be operating. If you're looking for speed, ask yourself, have you nailed your
08:19kit choice, your nutrition, your training plan? There are a lot of things that you can control
08:24via good consistency and discipline, which will reap greater rewards than what a superbike can
08:29deliver. Perhaps a superbike should be seen as a last-ditch secret weapon which helps unlock any
08:34potential remaining speed. The options available to us for half the price or even less are still
08:40going to propel you down the road at a rate of knots. What do you think about this though? Do
08:46you think that superbikes are at risk of rendering themselves pointless when there's so many great
08:51options out there which don't sacrifice real-world speed and still maintain a good level of longevity?
08:57Let me know down in the comments below. If you enjoyed the video, then please do drop it a like,
09:02subscribe to the channel for more content, and I'll see you again very soon.
