CBR Corsa budget Road bike review

Firstly it's important to note that this isn't a "oooh buy my bikes" type review! Rather an " I'm really surprised at how good these bikes are for the price"

When I opened the shop I came to the decision that I wouldn't sell road bikes. We are a family shop and our bikes are mainly MTB, Hybrid, Ladies and kids. With a couple of shoppers thrown in. Our most expensive MTB is £425. I was of the opinion that a road bike within this price range would be pretty pants. Since opening however every other customer has been asking me for road bikes. I then had an email from my main Supplier "Claud Butler" with a good offer on a budget road bike. The spec was, in fact not bad and for the price of £360rrp it looked quite smart. I bought two.

They came today and I have to say that I was completely blown away! Opening the box and taking off all the protective stuff the first thing that struck me was the awesome colour scheme! It's all Olympic GB colours! RED/BLUE/WHITE/BLACK with nice corked white bar tape. Really very pretty indeed.

CBR Corsa

   So spec then. Well, first thing to be noted that this bike is fitted with shimano light action shifters. If you are unfamiliar with these, unlike Sti shifters that are operated by flicking the brake lever/paddle to one side these have a more traditional shifter mounted on the top of the bars. I have only seen these in the magazines and prior to hopping on this bike was unimpressed. But you know what? They are great!

They are really easy to get too. FAR EASIER THAN DOWN TUBE SHIFTERS and have the added benefit over Sti shifters that under heavy breaking you'll never end up inadvertently changing gear! Also, they are not just a lever, they are very ergonomic and feel very natural to change. Maybe that's because I rode MTB's for years. The only downside is that you can't change gear in from the drops without taking a hand off the bars (and crucially away from the brakes), and although beautiful to operate they could be a little prettier. Whatever, they really are great  & just work!

Rear much is very much a budget mech, although at first glance looks more hi spec than it is. That said, it shifts and does it's job in a "Hey I'm not compag but I'm changing, I'm pretty quiet...what...you want me to make a brew?" sort of a way!

Drive train does it's job in a similar fashion. The CBR Corsa has 14 gears. UP the front the double chainset has a 52/41 set-up whist the screw on free wheel (which is about as heavy as my car) at the rear has a low sprocket of 28 teeth down to the smallest of 14. The low "hill climber" sprocket is very welcome on a road bike of this level as the double chainset may be a little tough of the climbs for a road newbie!

 Wheels are a CBR branded Quando, with hubs to match. Strangely only the front wheel comes equipped with quick release axle. More annoying than anything. Frame is a great hydroformed t4/t6  6061 alloy whist the steel forks absorb a good deal of road judder, although compared to it's carbon fibre cousins adds a lot of weight. The bike weighs a respectable 12kg. Ok ok, elite roadies are sniggering....well....you know what? Lose 5 kilos while riding and you'll have the same effect as riding a full carbon fibre rig!

Braking is taken care of in superb fashion by the Shimano BR-R450 dual pivot calipers, which have far more stopping power than the Tektros on my own bike. Levers are comfy and easy to break with power from the hoods. The hoods are nice and large (which is rare for non Sti levers) The bar, although alloy is a budget bar and too wide for me at 41cm (centre to centre) and probably the first thing I would upgrade, but that is just a personal preference. You might love them!

To summerise: Great ride, very fast, handles well, bloody lovely to look at, forks and freewheel make the bike a little heavier than those price a couple of hundred pounds higher, but at £360.... THis bike is amazing....and I'm going to buy one myself!

Comments, questions? Just ask!