Aero test · Cyclingnews
Wind tunnel tested: 11 superbikes go head to head
Launched since and not tested here: Argon 18 E117, Argon 18 Nitrogen, Argon 18 Nitrogen Pro, Basso SV, Berria Belador BR, Berria Belador Essential, Berria Belador Pro, Bianchi Aquila RC, BMC Timemachine Mpc., Cannondale SuperSix EVO Carbon, Cannondale SuperSix EVO Hi-MOD, Cannondale SuperSix EVO LAB71, Cannondale SuperSlice LAB71, Canyon Aeroad CFR, Canyon Speedmax CF SLX, Canyon Speedmax CFR, Ceepo Katana, Cervélo S5, Cinelli Pressure II, Colnago TT2, Colnago Y1Rs, Cube Litening Aero C:68X, Dare Velocity Ace (VA-AFO), Eddy Merckx 525R, ENVE Melee, Factor ONE, Factor SLiCK, Felt Nexar, Felt Nexar UD Carbon STD, Giant Propel Advanced, Giant Propel Advanced Pro, Giant Propel Advanced SL, Giant Trinity Advanced SL, Giant Trinity Advanced SL Time Trial, Liv Avow Advanced SL, Liv EnviLiv Advanced, Liv EnviLiv Advanced Pro, Liv EnviLiv Advanced SL, Look 795 Blade RS 3, Megamo Pulse SL, Megamo Pulse SLR, Merida REACTO CF3, Merida REACTO CF5, Polygon Helios A, Quintana Roo Service Course, Quintana Roo Service Course Tri, Quintana Roo Studio NEXT Service Course Tri, Ridley Noah Fast 3.0, Ridley Triton Fast, Rose Shave FF, Rose Shave FFX, Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL9, Specialized Tarmac SL9, Time Scylon, Van Rysel RCR-F Pro, Van Rysel XCR Tri, Ventum NS1, Ventum Tempus, Wilier Triestina Filante SLR ID2, Winspace T1550.
| # | Bike | CdA | Gap to fastest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8SRAM Red AXS | 0.3404 m² | fastest |
| 2 | Trek Madone SLR 7 Gen 8SRAM Force AXS, Trek aero bottles | 0.3406 m² | +0.0002 m² |
| 3 | Factor OSTRO VAMRound cages (aero cages unavailable) | 0.3407 m² | +0.0003 m² |
| 4 | Cervélo S5SRAM Force AXS | 0.3418 m² | +0.0014 m² |
| 5 | Canyon Aeroad CFR | 0.3428 m² | +0.0024 m² |
| 6 | Giant Propel Advanced SL 0Proprietary aero bottle cages | 0.3438 m² | +0.0034 m² |
| 6 | Van Rysel RCR Pro | 0.3438 m² | +0.0034 m² |
| 8 | Scott Foil RC Pro | 0.3441 m² | +0.0037 m² |
| 9 | Cannondale SuperSix Evo 4Hi-Mod Team Edition, aero bottle cages | 0.3442 m² | +0.0038 m² |
| 10 | Pinarello Dogma FMounted with an additional plate (blind dropouts) | 0.3444 m² | +0.0040 m² |
| 11 | Look Blade 795 RS | 0.3478 m² | +0.0074 m² |
| 12 | Trek Emonda ALR (2015)Baseline | 0.3702 m² | +0.0298 m² |
Test conditions
- Publisher
- Cyclingnews
- Published
- 2024-08 (2 years ago)
- Method
- Wind tunnel
- Facility
- Silverstone Sports Engineering Hub wind tunnel, UK
- Speed
- 40 km/h
- Yaw angles
- -15° to +15° in 5° steps (7 angles), unweighted average
- Measured
- CdA
- Independent
- Yes
Setup
Same rider (Josh Croxton) in a skinsuit and the same helmet all day, at about 90 rpm, with position matched to projected outlines. Size 56 (or the closest size), fitted to match. Front tyre standardised (Continental GP5000 S TR). Out-front computer mounts removed. Elite Vico Carbon cages with Elite Fly bottles, except Madone, Propel and SuperSix, which ran their own aero cages. 30 s capture per yaw angle.
Values are the with-rider average CdA. The stated margin is ±0.0047 m² (3.91 W), and Cyclingnews says it cannot rank the first 10 bikes with confidence. The Pinarello needed an extra mounting plate (blind dropouts), which lowers confidence in its data. The Factor ran without its aero cages. Cyclingnews paid the standard tunnel rate.
Read the original test