Pinarello

FP6

Before the Prince Carbon was unveiled, there was the first-generation Paris Carbon. It stood firmly atop the Pinarello frameset hierarchy and was ridden to countless Grand Tour stage victories and one-day Classics wins by Team Caisse d’Epargne and Illes Balears by riders no less legendary than Alejandro Valverde and Oscar Pereiro. The Pinarello FP6 came a season later, and stood as the heir apparent to that long-beloved Paris Carbon frameset.

When the second-generation Paris Carbon was unveiled in 2011, it was more akin to Pinarello's cost-is-no-object Dogma Carbon. However, the first generation Paris was hardly a technological slouch. It had a structural sophistication to match the much-beloved Prince Carbon, with distinctive scalloped edges and radical multi-shaping to give it supreme stiffness under power and durability. These details are shared by the FP6 frameset. The FP6 is manufactured in the same carbon molds as that first-generation Paris Carbon. Because of this, their silhouettes are identical, which indicates the strong resonances you'll find in their ride qualities. Only one noteworthy difference separates the two and allows the FP6 to provide the Paris’ beautiful ride, but do so at a reduced cost --

This difference is a matter of carbon composition. Where the first generation Paris is made from 46 ton carbon, the FP6 is made from 30 ton material, abbreviated as “Carbon 30HM3K”. This first number indicates the tensile strength of the fibers, and the 3K tells you about the weave -- it's a bi-woven material with both warp and weft composed of 3,000 individual fibers in each strand. In addition to the ultimate strength, these numbers relate to the total weight of the frameset. The use of 46HM carbon allowed Pinarello to use less material in building the Paris while achieving its target stiffness. With the FP6, they’ve built a frame of equal stiffness and durability from 30HM carbon, but getting there requires more material so it weighs a bit more than the Paris. This is the central reason why a medium sized Paris Carbon weighed in at 950g, but an FP6 is more in the realm of 1100g. Another way to put it: The bikes will ride identically. To discern a difference, you’ll need a scale (or a credit card statement).

The Pinarello FP6 is available in eight sizes from 45cm to 57cm and in six colors. Please consult the dropdown menu for size and color availability. It comes standard with a Pinarello Onda full carbon fork, a Pinarello 1-1/8" integrated headset, and a 31.6mm Pinarello carbon seatpost. It requires the use of a 35.0mm front derailleur, and it has a 70mm Italian threaded bottom bracket shell.