Time RXR Ulteam VIP: First Ride Review

Reviewer: Stu Bowers

8-Oct-2009 | 2 Reviews

Rating:

£3,999.99 (at time of review)

Pros

Race ready
Looks great
Solid feel

Cons

Needs a more responsive ride

See verdict and spec

High-end, race ready frameset finished in black - for £3,999

This is not a modest bike. It's one of the most expensive we've ever tested, at close to £10K with our equally immodest spec, including Lightweight's Standard wheels. But it sure is a head turner.

Build specification aside, the VIP frame module costs £4K, so it's the cream of Time's crop. Campagnolo Chorus equipment seemed like the right choice, in not escalating the price any further with Super Record, but still delivering the high level of performance and aesthetics the VIP frame deserves.

Time's own top-end Ulteam carbon stem and Ergo Force bar combo looks the part, with matching, glittering graphics, but you might be paying for bars you won't use. We found the stem wasn't super stiff, though acceptable nevertheless, but handlebars are so much a personal choice.

Time's specific one-piece carbon fork with oversized lower bearing no doubt helps deliver a firm feel. Particularly noticeable out of the saddle on a climb, it feels solid beneath you. The rear too has a solid, bordering on harsh feel, accelerating well but kicking you in the backside on bumpy roads. The only downside lay somewhere between the two, with the frame allowing a small amount of twist under load.

It's hard to pinpoint whether it's a top tube or seatstay issue, but there's visible torsional flex, which causes the handling to suffer a touch, in a ‘back not immediately following the front' kind of way.

Verdict

The bike is clearly capable of winning races, providing the rider is, so our comments about the torsional flex is more of a nit-pick than a deal breaker.

However, at this price you'd be right to expect the moon on a stick. It looks awesome and the heritage and name are hard to better, but we'd prefer a more connected and responsive ride.

Full specification

Frame

Time HM Carbon with Vibraser technology

Group Set

Campagnolo Chorus 11

Size Range

XXS-XL

Size Tested

Medium

Weight

1,100g frame; 1,930g module

User reviews

Add your review

Christophe RODRIGUEZ

November 29 08:47

Hello, I use this stem in 120mm length as well as the 44cm handlebar and it makes a very stiff combo. No noticeable flex during all out sprints. Not sure what your tester was on about... Regards, Christophe

Mark Kadillak

May 22 01:55

In April I bought my RXR Rip with Lightweight wheels and Di2. This is a fantastic bike and I fail to find any flex at all in any part of the bike. Perhaps the reviewer was getting some flex in his wheels or crank arms? I`m riding an XL frame and I am around 200 lbs and am fairly strong, but when i get out of the saddle and pull as hard as I can on the bars while pushing the pedals with al my might I feel no noticeable flex at all. The bike handling is super precise so it took me a few rides to get used to it. It is a great bike for long rides as it doesn`t leave you feeling shattered at all. My riding buddy bought the same bike, but with Bora wheels and he laughed when I asked him about flex in the frame. Mark