Wilier's cheapest carbon road bike yet wraps flagship-Filante aero looks and modern all-road versatility around a Shimano 105 build that starts at €2,899 (~R54 400).
What exactly is the Rapida?
Wilier Triestina built its name on jewel-like, expensive Italian race bikes. The Rapida is a deliberate change of pace: a road bike that borrows the look and aerodynamic tube shapes of the brand's flagship Filante, but starts at €2,899 (~R54 400) — roughly the price of a mid-range alloy bike from a mainstream marque.
It slots in below everything else in Wilier's carbon road range, and it's pitched less at out-and-out racers than at riders who want the badge, the looks and a comfortable all-day position without the flagship outlay. As Cycling Weekly puts it, the goal is to 'offer a more wallet-friendly option for those wanting to rep the storied Italian brand.'
The Rapida by the numbers
Source: Cyclist / road.cc
Aero looks meet all-road clearance
Visually the Rapida is pure Wilier aero: NACA airfoil profiles on the frame, fork and carbon seatpost, a deep sculpted head tube, a wide-bladed fork, dropped seatstays and a seat tube cut out around the rear wheel. Cabling is fully internal, routed through a one-piece monocoque-carbon Z-Bar cockpit, and the seatpost uses an integrated clamp.
Where it breaks from a pure race bike is versatility. There's 36mm tyre clearance — enough for tyres like Continental's GP5000 S TR — plus a UDH rear end, a removable front-derailleur mount so you can run 1x, and, per Wilier's spec, an 86.5mm press-fit bottom bracket. It's also listed as compatible with SRAM's XPLR AXS Full Mount.
“It's great to see Wilier has included everything needed to make the Rapida a truly modern road bike.”
The two builds at launch
| Rapida 105 | Rapida 105 Di2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (EUR) | €2,899 (~R54 400) | €3,999 (~R75 000) |
| Price (GBP) | £2,999 (~R65 300) | £3,499 (~R76 100) |
| Drivetrain | Shimano 105 mechanical 2×12 | Shimano 105 Di2 2×12 |
| Wheels | Miche Reflex DX alloy (26mm) | Miche Asfalto 45 carbon |
| Claimed weight | 8.8 kg | 8.6 kg |
| Tyre clearance | 36 mm | 36 mm |
| Rear hanger | UDH | UDH |
Specs: Cyclist / road.cc
Where it sits in Wilier's range
Wilier positions the Rapida's geometry 'exactly halfway between its race bikes and its endurance range.' In a size medium that means a 556mm stack and 384.5mm reach (a 1.45 stack-to-reach ratio) — taller and shorter than a Filante, but still sportier than a dedicated endurance machine. BikeRadar pegs the XL as '25mm lower, and 3mm longer than the Giant Defy in the same size.'
The price gap to the rest of the range is the real story. Cycling Weekly notes the Rapida is €700 (~R13 100) less than the cheapest Filante and €3,500 (~R65 600) less than the lowest-spec SLR. For South African buyers, remember that local pricing adds import duties and distributor margin on top of these European figures — use the live tracker above rather than converting euros at the spot rate.
View data table
| Entry price (€) | |
|---|---|
| Rapida | 2899 € |
| Filante (cheapest) | 3599 € |
| SLR (lowest spec) | 6399 € |
In Rand (approx, @ today's rate): Rapida: ~R54 400 · Filante (cheapest): ~R67 500 · SLR (lowest spec): ~R120 000
What the reviewers say
Independent verdicts from across the cycling press — follow each link for the full review.
Best-looking in class
“I think it's one of the best-looking aero road bikes.”
Read the full reviewAppeals to the head
“While affordability isn't a selling point to get your heart racing, it's one that certainly appeals to the head.”
Read the full reviewFirst-look pros and cons
- Filante-derived aero styling and full cockpit integration at a sub-€3,000 (~R56 300) entry price
- Genuinely versatile: 36mm clearance, UDH and 1x-or-2x compatibility
- Endurance-leaning geometry (556mm stack / 384.5mm reach in M) suits long days, not just racing
- Di2 build steps up to carbon Miche Asfalto 45 wheels for €3,999 (~R75 000)
- Claimed weights of 8.6–8.8kg are heavy for an aero bike
- Entry build rolls on alloy wheels and budget 32mm Vittoria Zaffiro Pro tyres
- Press-fit 86.5mm bottom bracket can be fussier to service than a threaded shell
- SA price and availability unconfirmed — import duties will apply on top of European figures
A genuinely tempting way into the Wilier badge — flagship looks and real versatility for the money, held back only by aero-bike-heavy weight and budget finishing kit. First impression, not a ride test.
Tap to vote — see how readers lean
Wilier Rapida: your questions
How much is the Wilier Rapida? +
€2,899 (~R54 400) for the Shimano 105 mechanical build and €3,999 (~R75 000) for the 105 Di2 build; in the UK that's £2,999 (~R65 300) and £3,499 (~R76 100). South African pricing wasn't confirmed at launch — watch the live tracker above for local stock, as import duties and distributor margin apply on top of the European figures.
Is it an aero bike or an endurance bike? +
A bit of both. It uses the Filante's NACA-airfoil aero tube shapes and integrated cockpit, but Wilier sets the geometry 'exactly halfway' between its race and endurance bikes — 556mm stack and 384.5mm reach in size M.
What tyres will fit? +
Up to 36mm, which covers most modern road and light all-road tyres. It ships on 32mm Vittoria Zaffiro Pro rubber and is happy with wider performance tyres such as the Continental GP5000 S TR.
Can I run 1x or SRAM? +
Yes. A removable front-derailleur mount lets you go 1x, the rear uses the UDH standard, and Wilier lists it as compatible with SRAM's XPLR AXS Full Mount setup.
How heavy is it? +
Wilier claims 8.8kg for the 105 mechanical build and 8.6kg for the 105 Di2 — respectable for the price, but on the heavy side for a bike with aero pretensions.
Sources & further reading
- New Wilier Rapida majors on comfort and price — BikeRadar
- Wilier's new Rapida aims to entice more people with 'accessible' pricing — Cycling Weekly
- Wilier Rapida: 36mm tyre clearance and sub-£3k (~R65 300) price — road.cc
- Wilier's new Rapida has an entry price of €2,899 (~R54 400) — Cyclist
- The New Wilier Rapida is Designed, and Priced, for All Riders — Bikerumor
- Wilier Rapida: a new entry point to the brand's road range — RAW Cycling Magazine
The Rapida won't win the weight-weenie argument, and the entry build's alloy wheels and budget tyres are obvious upgrade targets. But as a way to get Filante-style aero looks, modern standards (UDH, 1x-ready, 36mm rubber) and an all-day position for under €3,000 (~R56 300), it makes a lot of sense. If you've always wanted the Italian badge but balked at the price, this is the closest Wilier has come to meeting you halfway.
