Pinarello F9 Shimano Dura Ace Di2 2026: Test Ride and Review - Pros, Cons, Problems, Performance, Opinions, and Everything You Need to Know

Pinarello F9 Shimano Dura Ace Di2 2026: Test Ride and Review - Pros, Cons, Problems, Performance, Opinions, and Everything You Need to Know

Build Quality

The Pinarello F9 Shimano Dura Ace Di2 2026 is an impeccably built bike. While expensive, its quality is undeniable. There aren't significant differences from the more expensive Pinarello Dogma F 2026, but it's also difficult to distinguish it from the Pinarello F7.

In true Pinarello tradition, the wide range of sizes available is excellent and superior to the competition, second only to the Dogma F. The range of component assemblies is good, and the individual components used are top-notch.

The quality-to-price ratio is fair; the bike is expensive but also very well-made. It's also worth noting that it's expected to hold its value well on the used market.

The main drawbacks are its overall weight and high price.

Frame

The frame of the Pinarello F9 Shimano Dura Ace Di2 2026 is of excellent quality, only slightly heavier than the Dogma F, and comes in two fewer sizes. A wider range of colors would also be a nice addition.

Nevertheless, it’s nearly impossible not to find the perfect size. While it's not a custom frame, it comes very close, which is a significant plus. In this version, the bike weighs 7.4 kg, which is not light, especially for a price of about 11,000 euros. However, some competitors don't fare any better.

Assembly

Assembled with the Shimano Dura Ace Di2 groupset, nothing is left to chance. The bike is beautiful, well-assembled, and features high-quality components. It's a shame that all this doesn't translate into a truly competitive weight.

Comfort

One of the best aspects of the Pinarello F9 Shimano Dura Ace Di2 2026 is its ride comfort, which is even better than that of the Dogma F. For a race bike, it is exceptionally comfortable—not a true endurance bike, but very close. Even on rough asphalt, the ride comfort remains impressive. This is an excellent result that truly defines the bike and sets it apart from the Dogma F.

Handling

The Pinarello F9 Shimano Dura Ace Di2 2026 embodies the classic Pinarello handling philosophy: it feels like a motorcycle with pedals. It is precise, secure, stable, and intuitive. It’s also easier to handle than the Dogma F, proving to be even more stable and secure at high speeds and on uneven surfaces.

The bike is easy to ride on hilly and winding roads. It remains stable and easy to control on rough asphalt sections. It’s absolutely flawless at very high speeds, even on broken pavement, where it feels exceptionally secure. Its stability and control during braking are superb. It's impossible to find a flaw on the steepest and most dangerous descents.

This is an excellent frame that improves on the characteristics of the Dogma F, offering greater stability, easier handling, and more security at high speeds. From a handling perspective, it's essentially identical to the Pinarello F7, with no major differences to report.

Performance

Its weight can be considered its weak point. While it's true that similar competitors have the same weight, its 7.4 kg are definitely felt on climbs. Despite this, the frame is very stiff and transfers power well to the rear wheel, not far off from the Dogma F.

It's important to note that its weight is in line with other race bikes at the same level. Therefore, even if there are faster bikes on climbs, its overall performance is absolutely competitive. Even on climbs, by leveraging the frame's stiffness, you can find yourself ahead of bikes that are generally more highly regarded.

Ultimately, this is a race bike for powerful riders who can exploit the stiffness of its frame. The excellent frame stiffness and good aerodynamics ensure competitive performance on flats and rolling hills, good performance on climbs, and outstanding performance on descents thanks to its stability and security. Overall, it's an excellent all-around bike, perhaps only slightly penalized on the toughest climbs. Its good ride comfort also makes it very competitive over long distances.

Pros and Cons

The Pinarello F9 Shimano Dura Ace Di2 2026 perfectly completes the F-Series 2026 range and stands as a true alternative to the Dogma F. While slightly heavier and more affordable, it is just as well-built. It truly differs very little from the Dogma F; one can both see and feel that they are from two different generations. The new Pinarello F9 is a more recent generation, more comfortable, stiffer, equally fast, only slightly heavier, but also much more economical.

This is a high-quality race bike that is secure, stable, comfortable, and easy to ride. It is a bit heavy and expensive, but it is on par with other competitors that are often less refined, offer fewer sizes, have less frame stiffness, and are less comfortable.

It may not be the best bike in every single category, but it has many advantages in its favor. While it may not convert those who aren’t already Pinarello enthusiasts, it is certainly a valid alternative to the Dogma F and an excellent high-end race bike.

If you have other questions, you can write to: salvatelliluca @ hotmail.com.

Note: The photo does not show the specific bike tested.