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Review
Design - 89%
Functionality - 90%
Durability - 90%
Mobility - 92%
Price - 89%
90%
Excellent
Not just a pretty face, the Vilano Forza 3.0 packs a punch and is definitely one of the best road bikes that can be found at this price today.
Many people come to me on an almost daily basis asking for advice on what road bike to buy for a certain budget. Interestingly I have noticed that I am more often than not recommending them Vilano road bikes such as the Vilano Forza 3.0 – this simply isn’t something that I would have done only a couple of years ago. I think the biggest selling point for me is that Vilano are set on providing the public with competition quality road bikes for truly budget prices. This notion is ever present when considering the Forza 3.0, it is a fantastic bike with specifications that match bikes costing many multiples more than itself.
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The Vilano Forza 3.0 was intended to be used by people looking for an affordable bike for their daily commute and also for those who are looking for a bit of fun on the weekends too. As a result it is a bit of a hybrid bike in that it performs exceptionally well on busy streets, but also due to the quality specifications it boasts, it performs equally well on steep countryside hills too. The bike is equipped with a lightweight 6061 aluminum frame and carbon fiber racing forks to ensure that any supplementary weight is kept to an absolute minimum. Furthermore it has a total of 24 gear speeds so that it is more than capable of climbing up steep inclines and also flying down hills too. Many people are actually using the Forza 3.0 in road cycling competitions these days due to the accessibility to a premium bike at a low cost.
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Performance
The lightweight materials used in the Forza 3.0 enable a very high top speed and rapid acceleration on flat roads too. When we were testing it out we were effortlessly able to accelerate from being stationary and it was quite the contrast to many of the other budget road bikes at the same price. The 6061 aluminum frame guarantees that the bike will be durable when being used on a daily basis, similarly it is extremely easy to carry the bike around too – this is an extremely desirable characteristic and is one that many people are always on the look out for. This, for me, is where Vilano have done an outstanding job. They have produced a highly damage resistant bike that isn’t too clunky or heavy, it’s fast and maneuverable on the road and looks fantastic too.
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Test Ride
Another crucial feature that the Forza 3.0 has is the fact that it is very, very reliable. So much so that I’ve never actually heard of anybody complaining about it, and I do know a fair few people who have chosen to purchase this road bike. My wife actually uses this bike to go to and from work in the week days, she says that it is a comfortable ride that she feels confident on at all times. Posture for me is another thing that is often overlooked when people are planning on purchasing a new bike, but it is so important – even more so for those of us on the “wrong side” of 40. It’s essential that you are always comfortable when using your bike, if you’re not then you are setting yourself up for pain after using it for a while. What I will say is that the Vilano Forza 3.0 road bike is totally customizable and so it is very easy to get yourself into a position where you are in the pefect posture for long rides on difficult terrain.
Specification
Model: Forza 3.0 2012
Speeds: 24
Frame: 6061 Double Butted Aluminum
Fork: 12K Carbon Fiber Racing 1 1/8″ Threadless
Shifters: Microshift SB-R083 Integrated Shifter/Brake Lever STI
Front Derailleur: Microshift FDR338-B 3-Speed
Rear Derailleur: Shimano Sora 8 Speed
Crankset: Alloy 170mm (50,52,54cm) 175mm (56,58cm) 54/39/30T/li>
Stem: Forged Alloy 1 1/8″ 105mm +-10°
Bottom Bracket: Sealed
Cassette: Sunrace 8 Speed 12-25T
Chain: KMC 8 Speed
Hubs: Formula
Rims: 700c Doubled Walled CNC Machined Sides Black Anodized
Tires: Kenda 700c x 23c
Brakes: Promax
Headset: Tange 1/18″
Handlebar: Alloy 6061 Bore: 26.0mm Width: 42cm
Saddle: Cionlli
Seatpost: Alloy 27.2mm x 300mm
Best Available Price: $562
Concluding Remarks
To top everything off, the Vilano Forza 3.0 comes complete with a 700c wheelset and Kenda 700c tires that are made to last. Without these quality tires I don’t think it would be possible to get up to the incredible speeds possible on this bike. I constantly find myself wondering how on earth Vilano managed to cram so much high specification equipment into one bike – but they have, and they’ve done a wonderful job too. This bike is definitely up there with the best that can be found at this price range, the only other bikes that are likely to be able to compete are ironically also produced by Vilano – and I think that this speaks volumes about the truly up and coming brand in the road bike industry. So, if you are a casual rider, daily rider or competitive rider – make sure to check out the Vilano Forza 3.0, I am sure you will be as surprised as I was when I first got my hands on it.
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Pros
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[intense_icon type=”check” color=”#1f9900″]Â High quality structure
[intense_icon type=”check” color=”#1f9900″] Very lightweight aluminum build
[intense_icon type=”check” color=”#1f9900″]Â 24Â gear speeds
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Cons
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[intense_icon type=”remove” color=”#960000″] Clunky pedals
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How much does it weigh?