Time RX Instinct Review

The RX Instinct sits roughly middle of the range, which might surprise you given its price tag, but let's not forget, Time's RXR VIP costs nearly £7.5K, so it's a premium producer. The Campagnolo Athena groupset is well matched, also being mid-range, but the shifting and braking performance surpassed expectations.

We felt the new Athena kit offered really light action, yet positive shifting - noticeably smoother than the Campag of old - and delivered excellent braking power in all conditions. Campagnolo's Scirocco wheelset added the final ingredient to what was a polished performance component-wise.

Frame-wise, the RX Instinct lacks something of the punchy, direct feel we might have liked from its handling. It's a long way off being a dud, don't get us wrong, and, in fact, in most circumstances it gets a big thumbs-up, but faced with bigger loaded efforts, the back and front don't feel as solidly connected as other competitors' frames.