Opera Super Leonardo review
As it stands, the SL is light, responsive, fun to ride and comfortable on a six-hour epic. Admittedly it looks a bit industrial, but that could equally be part of its charm. £2,499 frameset only
-
+
Light
-
+
Responsive
-
+
Comfortable on longer rides
-
-
Wheels
You can trust Cycling Weekly.
For all the references to Italian artistic finery, Opera's Super Leonardo is a brute with a killer instinct - more mafioso than virtuoso.
Visually, the main triangle has more in common with the RSJs that hold your house up than the comparatively dainty offerings of the average boutique frame-builder. But of course the Super Leonardo is made of unidirectional high-modulus carbon-fibre so it's paper-light and when you stomp on the pedals it goes like stink.
Our frameset came built up with Campagnolo Chorus 11-speed, which, after a slightly clunky first few outings, became silky smooth.
Contact points came courtesy of Most, an in-house brand that Opera shares with its sister company, Pinarello. In-house they may be, but the carbon bar/stem and saddle/post combos were finished well and offered good performance. The stiffness of the cockpit added to the overall urgency that the bike delivered, and it was well proportioned.
But while the bars and stem aided the Super Leonardo's sporting pretensions, the wheels and tyres made it more of a sportive pretender. 24c Continental GPs on Fulcrum Racing 5s are adequate for fast riding but don't do justice to a frameset that was born to race.
Of course, everything comes at a price. The Fulcrum 1s and Conti GP 4000Ss that would more befit a two-and-a-half-grand frame would add a few hundred quid to the all-in cost. But it would also save over a pound of rotating weight so you might be able to pay for that out of extra prize money...
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Founded in 1891, Cycling Weekly and its team of expert journalists brings cyclists in-depth reviews, extensive coverage of both professional and domestic racing, as well as fitness advice and 'brew a cuppa and put your feet up' features. Cycling Weekly serves its audience across a range of platforms, from good old-fashioned print to online journalism, and video.
-
Collapsed lung, concussion and multiple fractures: Fundraiser set up for first ever Tour de France Féminin winner following crash
Marianne Martin crashed earlier in October and is looking to raise $20,000 to help her get back on her feet
By Adam Becket Published
-
Gravel riders - get ready, set, register! A guide to 2025's biggest gravel events and key registration dates
Here are the registration dates for gravel’s biggest events around the globe
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
Power couple Keegan Swenson and Sofia Gomez Villafane win the 2024 Life Time Grand Prix series — again — but changes loom for 2025
Swenson secures third consecutive title, while Gomez Villafane defended her crown in a thrilling finale at Big Sugar Gravel.
By Anne-Marije Rook Published