Tifosi Mons Disc frameset

Tifosi set out to create the lightest production frame back in 2017 with the original rim-brake Mons. This new version, the Tifosi Mons Disc, is still unbelievably light and impressively stiff for what really isn't that much of an outlay.

• Pros: Impressive stiffness levels; quick and precise handling
• Cons: Quite a firm ride

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The Ride

Although very stiff and light, the Tifosi Mons isn't an out and racer. It's very close, with its sharp handling and ability to assist when you want to get a wriggle on, but there is a softer edge to it that also allows it to be comfortable enough to tackle sportives or just long days out.

With its Campagnolo Super Record 12-speed build and deep-section Bora wheels (more about that in a bit), our test bike weighs in at a respectable 7.63kg (16.8lb) – pretty good against the current crop of disc brake-equipped bikes passing through road.cc towers.

With that in mind, acceleration is brisk and, as you'd expect, the Mons climbs pretty well too.

The large section down tube, oversized bottom bracket junction and large, chunky chainstays all see that none of the power is lost through flex.

Tifosi has beefed up the front end as well with a 1 1/8in to 1 1/2in diameter head tube which helps when hauling on the handlebar when sprinting and also deals easily with hard braking and cornering.

All of this stiffness does bring quite a firm ride with it. I'm not saying it's uncomfortable but it isn't as forgiving as, say, the frame of the B'Twin Ultra CF (now known as Van Rysel RR CF) which still manages to deliver on the stiffness front.

I did a few four-hour rides on the Tifosi and on decent roads everything is fine, but when the surface is poor there can be a fair bit of vibration and resonation, not helped by the Bora rims. The Mons will take 28mm tyres, though, so you can inject a bit of comfort there.

Overall, the Mons is very good at covering the miles and you can really whack up some distance without really noticing.

Handling-wise there is a lot to like here too. With a 73-degree head angle and a short 998mm wheelbase on our 56cm/large model, it's a very flickable bike, changing direction very quickly with just the slightest input through the handlebar or an adjustment of body position.

It'll carve through technical sections easily, no matter how steep and fast the descent, and you can really push the Mons hard into the bends, leaving the braking to the very last minute.

One section of downhill turned from tarmac into little more than a gravel track full of potholes and the Tifosi responded brilliantly as the tyres skittered about on the loose stones in between bunny-hopping over the largest imperfections.

The Mons doesn't have to ridden flat out all of the time, though. At a more sedate pace it has impeccable manners, cruising along at a decent lick.

Sitting in a bunch or dealing with traffic, the Mons never feels twitchy or nervous and is really fun to ride.

Frame and fork

According to Tifosi the Mons started as a bit of a sketchbook project for its technical specialist, Joshua Lambert, before becoming something that the entire team could get involved with, playing with ideas to create the lightest production bike in the world.

Back in 2017 a rim-braked Mons was built in into a full bike weighing just 4.61kg (10.1lb), based around a frame weight of just 780g.

This new disc-braked option has been beefed up a little to cope with the added forces of the rear brake but still only comes in at a claimed 860g.

The frame and fork are both full carbon fibre, using a mixture predominantly of Toray T1000 and T800 grades in their construction, balancing weight, strength and stiffness.

All of the tube profiles have been created using Computational Fluid Dynamics to achieve the best shape from an aerodynamics point of view while also calculating the stresses that the frame is likely to see, so that material can be added or removed as necessary.

Alongside all of the chunky tube shapes for all of that stiffness, Tifosi has slimmed down the seatstays to promote a bit of flex to remove the worst of the road buzz.

Traditionalists may not be overjoyed about seeing a BB86 Press Fit bottom bracket, but on this style of bike I don't really see too much of an issue with it and I certainly didn't have any problems with it creaking after getting caught out in the rain a few times.

For a smooth, clean look all of the cables and hoses are routed internally, and I especially like the way some of them enter via the upper face of the top tube.

As is pretty much standard these days, the Tifosi comes with thru-axles front and rear in a 12mm diameter, and the hydraulic callipers are fitted to the frame and fork via flat mounts rather than the older, more bulky post mount system.

The Mons comes in a range of five sizes from XS to XL, with top tube lengths of 510mm through to 580mm.

Groupset options and value

Now, you might be sitting there thinking, 'I'm not so sure about the Campagnolo logos plastered all over the frame.' If so, fear not, as the bike you see here is part of a demo fleet for the Italian component manufacturer, hence all of the branding.

The Mons is, of course, available as a frameset – it's the frameset we're testing here rather than the equipment on it, and on its own it costs £1,499.99.

Although our demo test bike build isn't an off-the-shelf option, the Mons SL Super Record model will set you back £9,999.99, with different wheels and finishing kit, or you can have a more affordable Shimano Ultegra R8000 version with Vision Team 30 wheels and Deda finishing kit for £2,499.99.

You can read our review of the Ultegra R8000 groupset here. We'll have a full write-up on this latest Super Record groupset soon.

> Buyer's Guide: 16 of the hottest road bikes with disc brakes

Taking everything into consideration, those prices don't strike me as being too bad at all.

A similarly built Canyon Ultimate CF SLX Disc 9.0 Movistar is slightly lighter at 7.2kg, which shows that the Mons is in the right ball park when it comes to weight. The Canyon is also available as a frameset for £2,349, which is much more expensive than the Mons, but that includes the aero stem/handlebar setup plus the seatpost.

Looking at the slightly cheaper CF SL models, an Ultegra-equipped Ultimate CF SL Disc 8.0 with similar wheels will also set you back £2,349 and the weight is exactly the same as the Tifosi going by Canyon's figures.

Being able to deliver the Ultegra Mons at such a competitive price compared to one of the largest direct-to-customer sellers is impressive.

Also when comparing it to something like Specialized's Tarmac Disc Sport, it looks great value. The Spesh will set you back £2,350, only comes with a Shimano 105 groupset, and weighs nearly a kilo more.

Conclusion

Overall, the Tifosi Mons is a great bike if you like riding fast without the full-on twitchiness and aggression of a peloton race bike. It may not have the perfect ride quality but it comes close, and you can't fault the stiffness or weight.

Verdict

Impressively stiff and lightweight frameset with excellent handling traits