Does The Carrera Virtuoso Road Bike Live Up To Its Carefully Chosen Name?
The Carrera Virtuoso Road Bike was supposedly named for the way it can handle the roads and is a name that will surely inspire some confidence in buyers looking for their first road bike. Advertised as a high performance bike for those on a budget.
This product seems to offer value through the price tag and impressive specification, which includes 16-speed Shimano Sora gearing, Tektro dual pivot calliper brakes and a FSA compact chainset. Does this Carrera road bike do enough to impress these new riders?
What elements have riders enjoyed with the Carrera Virtuoso?
The comments in the positive reviews for this bike can be pretty much split between three categories: the way that the bike looks, the way its performs and the great specification. The aesthetic appeal isn’t the most important aspect by a long shot but it is important to note that while many riders usually complain about the use of white on a bike, the colour scheme of this model is incredibly eye-catching.
When it comes to the specification, there is a lot of praise for the gears, brakes, wheels and lightweight, 11.5kg frame. The latter is advertised as an “aero profile frame” that will “get you flying” and reviews on the performance seem to concur, saying that Carrera Virtuoso bike is very fast yet also very responsive with great handling, leading to what some are calling a “faultless” performance on the daily commute – which seems to be the main reason behind purchasing the bike in the first place.
There is a lot in the Carrera Virtuoso Road Bike’s favour, so what downsides have been noted?
Firstly, when dealing with the negative aspects of this bike, it may be wise to ignore any overly negative reviews – such as those that talk of corrosion and rusting – because they are in a small minority. It is hard to see how the bike was so corroded when others have nothing but praise for the quality and craftsmanship.
Secondly, when it comes to reliable reports and criticisms about the bike, there seems to be little to say other than that a few components are of a low standard and had to be replaced.
This seems to have happened most often with the pedals, which is no surprise at all, and the tyres. This Carrera bike comes with 700c x 23c Kenda road tyres but enough buyers have mentioned getting punctures in them and the poor tread to recommend that you switch them for something tougher with a better grip.
Summary: if all you will need to do is make a couple of upgrades, is the Carrera Virtuoso highly recommendable?
There are some minor problematic areas but they are common complaints when buying a bike and cannot really be held against the product – you will get punctures if you don’t replace the tyres and the pedals aren’t great but some simple replacements will turn the bike into a brilliant ride.
Essentially, the Carrera bike is incredibly attractive with a great performance and this means it is perfect for the commute to work because it will get you there quickly and smoothly and give you something to show off to your colleagues.
You can check out more customer reviews about this Carrera Virtuoso Road Bike at Halfords here.
I bought a Virtuoso a few weeks back as an alternative to just using my hybrid on the road [also an excellent Carrera] The Virtuoso is a lot of bike for your money,the Shimano Claris gears are smooth and precise,the brakes are fine and the finish and colour scheme is fabulous,a real head turner! I replaced the budget Kenda tyres with a set of Gatorskins which were available instore at Halfords. These have much better grip,inspire more confidence at higher speeds and offer infinitely better puncture protection. All in all a great bike at a remarkable price.I know the bike snobs give Carreras short shrift,just ignore them and enjoy your bike!