Bianchi Camaleonte 2012
Great range of Bianchi Hybrid Bikes
It’s undeniable; perhaps the most notable feature of the Bianchi Camaleonte range is the Italian influence – these are bikes with serious style. But where to start? They are designed as all good hybrids should be, for fast commuting and great getaways in the country at weekends or Summer evenings.
The table below outlines the main features of the 5 available models and the first thing you would notice is that the range is not continuous – for instance, where’s the 4? Well for 2012, Bianchi have decided to discontinue the 4 in the UK, and to make the 5 the top-of-the-range, road-oriented model.
At the same time, they have introduced the X, or Cross model. With wide tyres, suspension fork and seatpost, this is aimed much more towards the off-road rider – still a hybrid though and perfectly usable on the tarmac.
Features of the Range
All members of the Camaleonte range are based on sleek, triple-butted alloy frames, the curved profiles shaped using hydroforming (where high-pressure water modifies the profile of the tubing placed inside a die). The finish is quite elegant, with eye-catching graphics on frame, seatpost and rims. All models can be fitted with mudguards if you want.
The choice of the components varies, with some models in the range aimed at slightly different usage or type of riding – rigid or suspension forks, V-brakes or discs and so on.
Shimano gears and derailleurs also feature across the Bianchi Camaleonte range, but varying in type and quality depending on design emphasis and price. As you would expect, the quality and specifications improve as you move up the range.
The Models
The Camaleonte X is the completely new introduction for 2012. Available (unlike the other members of the range) in both men’s and women’s geometry.
It’s distinguished from all the other models by the Suntour suspension fork. The lockout function allows you to lock the travel on the fork, so preventing the suspension from soaking up pedalling energy when it’s not needed. Additional shock absorption is provided by the suspension seatpost ( a great idea I think) and the 37mm wide tyres, which will give you plenty of grip as well of course.
The price is just £20 under £600 – not cheap, but remember it’s Bianchi quality.
The Camaleonte 1 is also quite a bit of bike for the money. The derailleurs are admittedly basic Tourney and Acera – but still Shimano, so still reliable. You get 21 gears from the triple chainset and 7-speed Acera rear mech. Rigid alloy front fork, alloy V-brakes and 32 mm tyres mean that this bike should be equally at home on road and towpath. I guess that at a fraction under £600 this also is not a cheap bike – you can spend less elsewhere, but again it’s undeniably quality.
The next two models up the range, the Camaleonte 2 & Camaleonte 3 are aimed more at those who would see themselves using their bike more off the road than on. Though not dyed-in-the-wool mountain bikes, they undeniably have that look about them.
Both have disc brakes, mechanical on the 2 and hydraulic on the 3. The gear components come from Shimano’s MTB range, but the 3 has the better Deore compared to the Alivio combination on the 2. The 3 also has wider tyres, 35mm compared to 32mm, and spd-compatible pedals.
So both are aimed towards the more mountain-bike friendly – the choice will probably come down to budget. Neither seems to have obvious weaknesses – quite the opposite.
The Camaleonte 5 will quite definitely suit those looking for speed on the road rather than off-road capability. Although they are still hybrids, they have the feel more of flat-handlebar road bikes.
The very nice carbon/aluminium fork, together with narrower 28mm tyres and gear components from the Shimano Tiagra road bike range will give it a great turn of speed (if your legs are up to it of course…)
The 5 reverts to V-brakes, the greater crud-avoiding ability of discs being not so essential for fast urban pedallers – although you do lose the all-weather capability of discs. On the other hand, V-brakes are simpler, lighter and still give you plenty of stopping power.
Conclusion
As you can probably see, the Bianchi Camaleonte range caters for a wide variety of cycling styles and preferences – particularly this year with the introduction of the X.
The table here outlines some of the main features common to each member of the range, and the main differences between them. Click through to see a more detailed review of each model.
| Camaleonte X | Camaleonte 1 | Camaleonte 2 | Camaleonte 3 | Camaleonte 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frame | Aluminium | Aluminium | Aluminium | Aluminium | Aluminium |
| Fork | Suspension Fork | Aluminium | Aluminium | Aluminium | Carbon/Aluminium |
| Front Mech | Shimano 191 | Shimano Tourney | Shimano Alivio | Shimano Deore | Shimano Tiagra |
| Rear Mech | Shimano Acera | Shimano Acera | Shimano Alivio | Shimano Deore | Shimano Tiagra |
| Chainrings | 48/38/28 Chainguard | 48/38/28 Chainguard | 48/38/28 Chainguard | 48/36/26 Chainguard | 50/39/30 |
| Cassette | Shimano 8-sp 11/32 | Shimano 7-sp 12/32 | Shimano 8-sp 11/32 | Shimano 9-sp 11/32 | Shimano 10-sp 12/28 |
| Gears | 24 | 21 | 24 | 27 | 30 |
| Brakes | Lee Chi TX-121 V-Brake alloy | MV-87 Mini V-Brake | Shimano Acera Mechanical Disc | Shimano Hydraulic Disc | MV-87 Mini V-Brake |
| Tyres | 700x37 | 700x32 | 700x32 | 700x35 | 700x28 |
| Sizes | 43, 47, 51, 55 cm | 43, 47, 51, 55, 59 cm | 43, 47, 51, 55, 59 cm | 43, 47, 51, 55, 59 cm | 43, 47, 51, 55, 59 cm |
| Colour | Grey | White | Silver | Black | Silver |
| Price | £580 | £590 | £650 | £950 | £1050 |
| Camaleonte X Full Review | Camaleonte 1 Full Review | Camaleonte 2 Full Review | Camaleonte 3 Full Review | Camaleonte 5 Full Review |
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