Masi’s new bikes are a spectacle of contrasts. On the one hand, you have a classic looking, double butted 8-speed cyclocross bike that looks to be a perfect commuter first, casual ‘cross racer second. It’s spec’d up with Shimano shifters and derailleurs, Kenda Small Block 8 ‘cross tires and a steel fork. Actually, it’s the same frame and fork as their 2010 Speciale road bike, just built up to occasionally own some grass and dirt. Retail is just $900.
Then you have the all-new carbon Evoluzione road bikes to look positively insane. Jump on past the break to see the other five color options and specs, deets, etc…
The 2011 Evoluzione is built around Masi’s Total Overdrive System, which means oversized chainstays, a BB30 bottom bracket and big, tapered headtube with 1.5″ lowers. Additionally, the frame and fork are designed to complement each other’s stiffness, making the bike very rigid from head to tow.
Keeping all that rigidity and stiffness from punishing your spine is the job of the seatstays. They’re squashed flat such that they’re slightly ovalized, which keeps out-of-the-saddle sprints sufficiently flex free but offers a bit of vertical compliance over the rough stuff.
Two versions of the frame will be offered with three build options on the high end and two on the low end. The top three bikes get Shimano Dura-Ace and Ultegra and SRAM Force kits, depending on your budget. Those frames get high modulus carbon fiber in the frame and fork with carbon dropouts front and rear. The lower level bikes have the option of Shimano 105 or SRAM Apex and get mid-modulus carbon with a carbon fork with alloy steerer and alloy dropouts (the frame has carbon dropouts).
Other than the fork and carbon mix, the frames share the same feature, including internal cable routing with full length guides/housing. The Dura-Ace bike’s frame will also be available as a frame only option.
