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Argon 18 Nitrogen vs Cinelli Pressure II
Pick up to 4 bikes. Rows line up component by component. Highlighted rows differ, and green marks the best value where lower or higher is clearly better.
Key differences
- The Cinelli Pressure II starts $9 cheaper ($5,990 vs $5,999 for the Argon 18 Nitrogen).
- Our verdict scores the Argon 18 Nitrogen higher overall: 81/100 vs 73/100.
- The Argon 18 Nitrogen comes in 6 sizes, the Cinelli Pressure II in 5.
Argon 18 Nitrogen
Cinelli Pressure II
| Argon 18Nitrogen | CinelliPressure II | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Brand | Argon 18 | Cinelli |
| Build | Nitrogen SRAM Force AXS | Pressure 2 SRAM Red eTap AXS |
| Build notes | Harvest Moon or Cosmic Teal. Argon 18 lists the crank as 'SRAM Force AXS Powermeter 48/35'. Only USD is listed; Argon 18's other regional stores redirect to the US site. | Cinelli EU store (EUR) price in the standard colours (Chalk Grey, Pink Bullet, Triple Black, Midnight Cadence, Silver Pulse); the Team Edition '26 paint costs €400 more. Cockpit size is fixed per frame size (XS 90x370, S 100x390, M/L 110x390, XL 120x410 mm); stem length and bar width can be changed at order. Cinelli lists SRAM rotors 160 mm front and 140 mm rear and a Red 'Flathead' chain. |
| Price (MSRP) | $8,599$8,599$8,599 | €10,100€10,100€10,100 |
| Model year | 2026 | 2025 |
| Generation | 2025 relaunch | Pressure II (2nd generation) |
| Launched | 2025-09 | 2024-09 |
| Discipline | Aero road | Aero road |
| UCI legal | Not stated | Yes |
| Verdict (out of 100) | ||
| Overall score | 81 | 73 |
| Aero | 88 | 76 |
| Frame | 80 | 72 |
| Components | 80 | 78 |
| Fit | 80 | 64 |
| Practicality | 72 | 62 |
| Price | 84 | 85 |
| Frame & fork | ||
| Frame material | Carbon (Nitrogen 'Elite' layup) | Columbus carbon monocoque (T800) |
| Fork material | Carbon | Full carbon monocoque, 1-1/8" to 1-1/2" steerer, internal routing |
| Frame weight | — | 1,050 g2.31 lb |
| Fork weight | — | 405 g14.3 oz |
| Weight measured on | — | Size M frame, painted, ±5%; fork uncut (Cinelli EU store). The US store and launch press quote 975 g (raw finish) and 390 g. |
| Frame sizes | XXS, XS, S, M, L, XL | XS (46), S (49), M (52), L (55), XL (58) |
| Colours | Harvest Moon, Cosmic Teal | Chalk Grey, Pink Bullet, Triple Black, Midnight Cadence, Silver Pulse, Team Edition '26 (EU); Racing White Patina, Dandy's Racing Green (US) |
| Also available as | Nitrogen Pro, the higher carbon layup of the same platform | — |
| UCI frame approval | — | Approved 15 Jul 2024 as 'PRESSURE II' (frame and fork), sizes XS(46)-XL(58) (5), code CINELLI-010 (UCI list version 2026.10.02) |
| Compatibility & standards | ||
| Brake type | Hydraulic disc | Flat mount disc |
| Max rotor size | 160 mm | 160 mm |
| Wheel size | — | 700c |
| Max tire width | 32 mm | 32 mm |
| Bottom bracket standard | T47 threaded, 85.5 mm shell | Press fit, 86.5 x 41 mm shell |
| Front axle | 12 mm thru-axle (M12 x 1.5, 119 mm) | 12 x 100 mm thru axle (M12, 119 mm) |
| Rear axle | 12x142 mm thru-axle (M12 x 1.0, 167.5 mm) | 12 x 142 mm thru axle (M12, 163 mm per the EU store; the US store says 165 mm) |
| Drivetrain compatibility | Electronic groupsets (the assembly guide covers wireless and wired routing only). 2x with 50-57T round chainrings (or oval of equivalent size); 1x up to 56T | Electronic groupsets only; Cinelli builds it with Shimano Di2, SRAM AXS and Campagnolo Super Record Wireless, all 2x |
| Mechanical shifting possible | — | No |
| 1x compatible | Yes | — |
| Max chainring | 57T | — |
| Front derailleur mount | Removable front derailleur hanger; plugs fill the holes for 1x | Braze-on |
| Cable routing | Fully internal | Fully internal |
| Electronic battery location | On the bottom bracket cover / battery holder | — |
| Hydration & storage | ||
| Bottle mounts | 2 | — |
| Bottle mount locations | Down tube and seat tube, with the included ATTEN aero cages | — |
| Fit & adjustability | ||
| Cockpit | One-piece carbon bar and stem (ATTEN CHB-01 Aero) | One-piece Cinelli PRSR2 carbon bar and stem (Columbus Comp one-piece cockpit on the US 105 Di2 build) |
| Standard stem and bar possible | Yes | — |
| Seatpost type | Argon 18 Nitrogen aero carbon seatpost | Proprietary Pressure II carbon aero post (15 mm or 0 mm setback) with a hidden clamp |
| Fit notes | — | Five sizes with one cockpit size per frame size: XS 90x370, S 100x390, M and L 110x390, XL 120x410 mm (stem x width). Cinelli says stem length and bar width can be changed when ordering. |
| Aerodynamics | ||
| Manufacturer aero claims | Argon 18's aero claims (24 W faster than the Sum Pro, CHB-01 cockpit and aero-cage savings) were published for the Nitrogen Pro; it doesn't publish separate figures for this layup | Cinelli cites shaped tubing and fully internal cable routing; it publishes no drag figures. |
| Tube profile | Truncated NACA-based profiles; off-axis head tube with the steerer set back from the leading edge; wide-stance fork; dropped seat stays | — |
| Travel, maintenance & warranty | ||
| Headset bearings | IST3 (Enduro 440C bearings on the complete bikes) | FSA ACR, IS52/28.6 top and IS52/40 bottom (included) |
| Derailleur hanger | UDH (SRAM Universal Derailleur Hanger), standard or direct-mount version | — |
| Proprietary parts | ATTEN CHB-01 cockpit, Nitrogen seatpost and clamp, BB cover/battery holder, thru-axles | Seatpost and seat clamp kit, PRSR2 cockpit, derailleur hanger, fork thru axle |
| Sold via | Through Argon 18 dealers | Direct from Cinelli's EU and US online stores and through dealers; factory pickup in Milan |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Groupset | SRAM Force AXS E1 | SRAM Red AXS |
| Launched | 2025 · current generation | — |
| Speeds | 12-speed | 12-speed |
| Electronic | Yes | Yes |
| Wireless | Yes | Yes |
| Drivetrain | 2x | 2x |
| Shifters | SRAM Force AXS E1 | SRAM Red AXS |
| Crankset | SRAM Force AXS E1 Power Meter | SRAM Red AXS Power Meter |
| Chainrings | 48/35 | 48/35 |
| Power meter | SRAM Force AXS E1 Power Meter | — |
| Launched | 2025 · current generation | — |
| Bottom bracket | SRAM T47 | — |
| Standard | T47 threaded | — |
| Notes | Listed by Argon 18 as 'T47 BB' without a brand | — |
| Front derailleur | SRAM Force AXS E1 | SRAM Red AXS |
| Rear derailleur | SRAM Force AXS E1 | SRAM Red AXS |
| Cassette | SRAM Force XG-1270 E1 | SRAM Red |
| Range | 10-33 | 10-30 |
| Speeds | 12-speed | 12-speed |
| Chain | SRAM Force E1 | SRAM Red |
| Brakes | ||
| Brake calipers | — | SRAM Red |
| Type | — | Hydraulic disc |
| Rotors | SRAM Paceline X | — |
| Front rotor | 160 mm | — |
| Rear rotor | 140 mm | — |
| Mount | Center Lock | — |
| Wheels & tires | ||
| Wheelset | Scope R6.A | Columbus Cento50C |
| Front rim depth | 65 mm | — |
| Rear rim depth | 65 mm | — |
| Material | Carbon | Carbon |
| Tires | Vittoria Corsa N.EXT TLR | Vittoria Rubino |
| Tire width | 30 mm | 28 mm |
| Cockpit | ||
| Handlebar | ATTEN CHB-01 Aero | Cinelli PRSR2 |
| Type | One-piece carbon bar and stem | One-piece carbon bar and stem |
| Integrated stem | Yes | Yes |
| Widths available | 360 or 380 mm, each with 80-130 mm stems (12 sizes) | 370, 390 or 410 mm with 90-120 mm stems, one size per frame size (XS 90x370, S 100x390, M 110x390, L 110x390, XL 120x410) |
| Cable routing | — | Fully internal |
| Material | Carbon | Carbon |
| Weight | 320 g11.3 oz | — |
| Notes | Stock size by frame: 360 x 80 (XXS), 360 x 90 (XS-S), 380 x 100 (M), 380 x 110 (L), 380 x 120 (XL). Integrated computer mount with Garmin and Wahoo inserts and 3-12° tilt shims. Weight for 380 x 100 mm. | — |
| Headset | Enduro 440C (IST3) | — |
| Saddle & seatpost | ||
| Saddle | Repente Quasar 2.0 | Fizik Antares R7 |
| Seatpost | Argon 18 Nitrogen | Cinelli Pressure II |
| Offset / setback | — | 15 mm or 0 mm setback |
| Material | Carbon | Carbon |
| Bar tape | Ciclovation Leather Touch Tornado Gloss | Cinelli Wave |
| Geometry (smallest – largest size) | ||
| Sizes | XXS, XS, S, M, L, XL | XS (46), S (49), M (52), L (55), XL (58) |
| Stack | 486–607 mm19.1–23.9″ | 512–581 mm20.2–22.9″ |
| Reach | 370–409 mm14.6–16.1″ | 366–403 mm14.4–15.9″ |
| Seat tube angle | 72.5–75° | 73.5° |
| Head tube angle | 71.2–73° | 71–73° |
| Head tube length | 81–192 mm3.2–7.6″ | 119–184 mm4.7–7.2″ |
| Effective top tube | 502–601 mm19.8–23.7″ | 518–575 mm20.4–22.6″ |
| Seat tube length | 395–595 mm15.6–23.4″ | 460–580 mm18.1–22.8″ |
| Chainstay | 410 mm16.1″ | 410 mm16.1″ |
| Wheelbase | 967–1,020 mm38.1–40.2″ | 971–1,011 mm38.2–39.8″ |
| BB drop | 71–79 mm2.8–3.1″ | 68 mm2.7″ |
| Fork length | 376 mm14.8″ | 365 mm14.4″ |
| Fork offset | 45–49 mm1.8–1.9″ | 45 mm1.8″ |
| Front centre | — | 571–611 mm22.5–24.1″ |
| Standover | 682–848 mm26.9–33.4″ | — |
| Saddle height min | 565–765 mm22.2–30.1″ | — |
| Saddle height max | 715–915 mm28.1–36″ | — |
| Crank length | 165–172.5 mm6.5–6.8″ | — |
| Stem length | 80–120 mm3.1–4.7″ | 90–120 mm3.5–4.7″ |
| Handlebar width | 360–380 mm14.2–15″ | 370–410 mm14.6–16.1″ |
Geometry overlay
Pick a size for each bike to see frames and arm-pad ranges on top of each other.
Drawn to scale (how to read it).