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Tifosi Mons Disc frameset

8
£1,499.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Impressively stiff and lightweight frameset with excellent handling traits
Weight: 
7,630g

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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Tifosi set out to create the lightest production frame back in 2017 with the original rim-brake Mons. This new version, the Tifosi Mons Disc, is still unbelievably light and impressively stiff for what really isn't that much of an outlay.

  • Pros: Impressive stiffness levels; quick and precise handling
  • Cons: Quite a firm ride

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The Ride

Although very stiff and light, the Tifosi Mons isn't an out and racer. It's very close, with its sharp handling and ability to assist when you want to get a wriggle on, but there is a softer edge to it that also allows it to be comfortable enough to tackle sportives or just long days out.

Campagnolo x Tifosi Mons Super Record - riding 2.jpg

With its Campagnolo Super Record 12-speed build and deep-section Bora wheels (more about that in a bit), our test bike weighs in at a respectable 7.63kg (16.8lb) – pretty good against the current crop of disc brake-equipped bikes passing through road.cc towers.

With that in mind, acceleration is brisk and, as you'd expect, the Mons climbs pretty well too.

The large section down tube, oversized bottom bracket junction and large, chunky chainstays all see that none of the power is lost through flex.

Campagnolo x Tifosi Mons Super Record - seat stays 2.jpg

Tifosi has beefed up the front end as well with a 1 1/8in to 1 1/2in diameter head tube which helps when hauling on the handlebar when sprinting and also deals easily with hard braking and cornering.

Campagnolo x Tifosi Mons Super Record - head tube.jpg

All of this stiffness does bring quite a firm ride with it. I'm not saying it's uncomfortable but it isn't as forgiving as, say, the frame of the B'Twin Ultra CF (now known as Van Rysel RR CF) which still manages to deliver on the stiffness front.

Campagnolo x Tifosi Mons Super Record - riding 3.jpg

I did a few four-hour rides on the Tifosi and on decent roads everything is fine, but when the surface is poor there can be a fair bit of vibration and resonation, not helped by the Bora rims. The Mons will take 28mm tyres, though, so you can inject a bit of comfort there.

Campagnolo x Tifosi Mons Super Record - tyre.jpg

Overall, the Mons is very good at covering the miles and you can really whack up some distance without really noticing.

Handling-wise there is a lot to like here too. With a 73-degree head angle and a short 998mm wheelbase on our 56cm/large model, it's a very flickable bike, changing direction very quickly with just the slightest input through the handlebar or an adjustment of body position.

It'll carve through technical sections easily, no matter how steep and fast the descent, and you can really push the Mons hard into the bends, leaving the braking to the very last minute.

Campagnolo x Tifosi Mons Super Record - riding 4.jpg

One section of downhill turned from tarmac into little more than a gravel track full of potholes and the Tifosi responded brilliantly as the tyres skittered about on the loose stones in between bunny-hopping over the largest imperfections.

The Mons doesn't have to ridden flat out all of the time, though. At a more sedate pace it has impeccable manners, cruising along at a decent lick.

Sitting in a bunch or dealing with traffic, the Mons never feels twitchy or nervous and is really fun to ride.

Frame and fork

According to Tifosi the Mons started as a bit of a sketchbook project for its technical specialist, Joshua Lambert, before becoming something that the entire team could get involved with, playing with ideas to create the lightest production bike in the world.

Back in 2017 a rim-braked Mons was built in into a full bike weighing just 4.61kg (10.1lb), based around a frame weight of just 780g.

This new disc-braked option has been beefed up a little to cope with the added forces of the rear brake but still only comes in at a claimed 860g.

Campagnolo x Tifosi Mons Super Record.jpg

The frame and fork are both full carbon fibre, using a mixture predominantly of Toray T1000 and T800 grades in their construction, balancing weight, strength and stiffness.

Campagnolo x Tifosi Mons Super Record - fork front.jpg

All of the tube profiles have been created using Computational Fluid Dynamics to achieve the best shape from an aerodynamics point of view while also calculating the stresses that the frame is likely to see, so that material can be added or removed as necessary.

Campagnolo x Tifosi Mons Super Record - rear.jpg

Alongside all of the chunky tube shapes for all of that stiffness, Tifosi has slimmed down the seatstays to promote a bit of flex to remove the worst of the road buzz.

Campagnolo x Tifosi Mons Super Record - seat stays.jpg

Traditionalists may not be overjoyed about seeing a BB86 Press Fit bottom bracket, but on this style of bike I don't really see too much of an issue with it and I certainly didn't have any problems with it creaking after getting caught out in the rain a few times.

Campagnolo x Tifosi Mons Super Record - bottom bracket.jpg

For a smooth, clean look all of the cables and hoses are routed internally, and I especially like the way some of them enter via the upper face of the top tube.

Campagnolo x Tifosi Mons Super Record - cable route 2.jpg

As is pretty much standard these days, the Tifosi comes with thru-axles front and rear in a 12mm diameter, and the hydraulic callipers are fitted to the frame and fork via flat mounts rather than the older, more bulky post mount system.

Campagnolo x Tifosi Mons Super Record - rear disc brake.jpg

The Mons comes in a range of five sizes from XS to XL, with top tube lengths of 510mm through to 580mm.

Groupset options and value

Now, you might be sitting there thinking, 'I'm not so sure about the Campagnolo logos plastered all over the frame.' If so, fear not, as the bike you see here is part of a demo fleet for the Italian component manufacturer, hence all of the branding.

Campagnolo x Tifosi Mons Super Record - top tube.jpg

The Mons is, of course, available as a frameset – it's the frameset we're testing here rather than the equipment on it, and on its own it costs £1,499.99.

Although our demo test bike build isn't an off-the-shelf option, the Mons SL Super Record model will set you back £9,999.99, with different wheels and finishing kit, or you can have a more affordable Shimano Ultegra R8000 version with Vision Team 30 wheels and Deda finishing kit for £2,499.99.

You can read our review of the Ultegra R8000 groupset here. We'll have a full write-up on this latest Super Record groupset soon.

> Buyer's Guide: 16 of the hottest road bikes with disc brakes

Taking everything into consideration, those prices don't strike me as being too bad at all.

A similarly built Canyon Ultimate CF SLX Disc 9.0 Movistar is slightly lighter at 7.2kg, which shows that the Mons is in the right ball park when it comes to weight. The Canyon is also available as a frameset for £2,349, which is much more expensive than the Mons, but that includes the aero stem/handlebar setup plus the seatpost.

Looking at the slightly cheaper CF SL models, an Ultegra-equipped Ultimate CF SL Disc 8.0 with similar wheels will also set you back £2,349 and the weight is exactly the same as the Tifosi going by Canyon's figures.

Being able to deliver the Ultegra Mons at such a competitive price compared to one of the largest direct-to-customer sellers is impressive.

Also when comparing it to something like Specialized's Tarmac Disc Sport, it looks great value. The Spesh will set you back £2,350, only comes with a Shimano 105 groupset, and weighs nearly a kilo more.

Conclusion

Overall, the Tifosi Mons is a great bike if you like riding fast without the full-on twitchiness and aggression of a peloton race bike. It may not have the perfect ride quality but it comes close, and you can't fault the stiffness or weight.

Verdict

Impressively stiff and lightweight frameset with excellent handling traits

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Tifosi Mons Disc frameset

Size tested: Large

Frameset

Tell us what the frameset is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about the bike?

Tifosi says, "The Tifosi Mons was first unveiled in 2017 as the lightest production bike in the world. It is truly something special and gathered the attention of news outlets worldwide.

The Mons originally started as a sketchbook project of Joshua Lambert, Tifosi's technical specialist. The bike became a skunkworks project where the team could experiment with the limits of their designs and their production partner's capability.

The frame was endlessly tweaked and redesigned, and the end result was a bike weighing 4.61kg – the Mons was a true milestone for Tifosi.

The Mons frame weighs in at 860g and is produced predominantly from T1000 and T800 carbon fibre. Using Computational Fluid Dynamics, the stresses in the frame can be assessed to be as low weight as possible without compromising on power transfer or handling.

Flat disc brake mounts are used to keep up to date with modern hydraulic brake systems. The flattened stays aid comfort whilst the reinforced chain stays ensure no loss of power. The frame uses truncated aero tube profiles which offer a much more aerodynamic ride but matched with complete comfort. With tyres up to 28mm it's happy climbing, Sportive riding or racing, a true all-rounder in every sense of the word."

The Mons does exactly what they say, delivers a fast ride with great handling but can also be ridden long distance too.

State the frame and fork material and method of construction

Sizes XS - XL

Frame UD Toray carbon fibre predominantly T1000 and T800

Fork UD carbon fibre 1-1/8' to 1-1/2'

Overall rating for frameset
 
9/10

Tell us about the build quality and finish of the frame and fork?

Nicely finished and the quality looks very good for the money.

Tell us about the geometry of the frame and fork?

With steep angles and relatively short head tube the Tifosi is designed for riding fast but not so extreme that it is for racers only.

How was the bike in terms of height and reach? How did it compare to other bikes of the same stated size?

This 56cm model has a stack of 572.3mm and a reach of 390.5mm. Those figures put it exactly where Tifosi has aimed it, sitting somewhere between a race bike and an endurance bike but slightly more biased to the former.

Riding the bike

Was the bike comfortable to ride? Tell us how you felt about the ride quality.

Yes on the whole, although I did find the ride a little firm at times, especially on poor road surfaces.

Did the bike feel stiff in the right places? Did any part of the bike feel too stiff or too flexible?

Yes, it has plenty of stiffness but not over the top when it comes to performance riding.

How did the bike transfer power? Did it feel efficient?

Very impressively and really efficient.

Was there any toe-clip overlap with the front wheel? If so was it a problem?

No, none.

How would you describe the steering? Was it lively neutral or unresponsive? Lively.

Tell us some more about the handling. How did the bike feel overall? Did it do particular things well or badly?

A very good balance, being quick and precise without being twitchy.

Rate the bike for efficiency of power transfer:
 
9/10
Rate the bike for acceleration:
 
9/10
Rate the bike for sprinting:
 
9/10
Rate the bike for high speed stability:
 
9/10
Rate the bike for cruising speed stability:
 
9/10
Rate the bike for low speed stability:
 
9/10
Rate the bike for flat cornering:
 
9/10
Rate the bike for cornering on descents:
 
9/10
Rate the bike for climbing:
 
9/10

How did the build components work with the frame? Was there anything you would have changed?

Very well indeed. Campagnolo Super Record is a top end groupset and the Mons frameset certainly never felt overwhelmed wearing it or dealing with the performance.

Your summary

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

Price-wise it stands up very well against some of the big brands in the market like those I've mentioned in the review, like Canyon's Ultimate CF SL 8.0 Disc or the Specialized Tarmac.

Did you enjoy riding the bike? Yes

Would you consider buying the bike? Yes

Would you recommend the bike to a friend? Yes

Rate the bike overall for performance:
 
9/10
Rate the bike overall for value:
 
7/10

Use this box to explain your overall score

A very impressive all-rounder frameset that delivers in terms of performance, though there are slightly more forgiving frames out there when it comes to cancelling out the road buzz.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 40  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: B'Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed

As part of the tech team here at F-At Digital, senior product reviewer Stu spends the majority of his time writing in-depth reviews for road.cc, off-road.cc and ebiketips using the knowledge gained from testing over 1,500 pieces of kit (plus 100's of bikes) since starting out as a freelancer back in 2009. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 170,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him, he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. With a background in design and engineering, he has an obsession with how things are developed and manufactured, has a borderline fetish for handbuilt metal frames and finds a rim braked road bike very aesthetically pleasing!

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2 comments

Avatar
slappop | 4 years ago
4 likes

Don't forget to budget for the custom-made Hambini bottom bracket you'll need:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtsos05Bf3U

Avatar
mrmusette replied to slappop | 4 years ago
1 like
slappop wrote:

Don't forget to budget for the custom-made Hambini bottom bracket you'll need:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtsos05Bf3U

That's the most fascinating 30 minutes I've seen in a while 

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