Bianchi

Aria Ultegra Di2 E-Bike

When you first set your eyes on Bianchi's Aria Ultegra Di2 e-bike, chances are you won't even know it embraces any form of electric assistance. You won't find an oversized down tube disguising a massive battery, a bulky bottom bracket that hides a motor, or a set of fenders that refine your ride to the grocery store. Instead, the Aria Ultegra Di2 remains sleek, graceful, and finished as it hides its battery in a proportional frame and uses a rear hub-based motor to shed any obvious bulk. And that's what makes the Aria Ultegra Di2 e-bike so charming; it is what you assume it isn't.

The Aria rides like a Bianchi should thanks to a clever assortment of materials and components. The lightweight carbon frame, when combined with the battery and motor, only weighs around 26lbs, an impressive feat for a road bike that contains any form of electronics. Hidden within that frame is a 250-watt battery that toggles between three settings with 30, 60, and 100% assistance. Unlike so many e-bikes that hide the motor in the bottom bracket, the Aria positions the motor in the rear hub, and they've equipped the electronic system with a number of brilliant features. Download the Ebikemotion app for iPhone or Android, for instance, and you can configure your automatic assistance levels based on your heart rate.

While so many e-bikes hammer down the power to launch you from standstill, Bianchi's iteration is far more subtle. Rather than propel you in any given direction, the electric assistance is simply a part of the experience and the hub-based motor is designed to offer a helping hand on climbs or uphill starts. This could be the difference between a miserable ride, and the perfect day on pavement.

Shimano Ultegra components are some of the most reliable in the industry, and Bianchi didn't hesitate to include them. The Ultegra drivetrain, with its pro-compact 52/36 and 11-32 cassette, adds speed where it counts and, because it’s Ultegra, it works well every time. The Ultegra disc brakes, meanwhile, offer enough power and feel to resist the extra weight of the e-motor and battery. 28mm Vittoria Rubino IV tires are bigger than those found on the standard Aria, but they offer refined ride quality so you can stay on the bike all day. Altogether, the Aria Ultegra Di2 e-bike is designed to provide a healthy dose of e-assistance when you need it most, and to turn a few heads along the way.