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…yet the Purosangue impresses on descents just as much as on the climbs(Image credit: Jonny Ashelford / BikeRadar)
Under your hands, Scappa's own carbon bars(Image credit: Jonny Ashelford / BikeRadar)
Just in case you forget that Purosangue means 'thoroughbred'(Image credit: Jonny Ashelford / BikeRadar)
The claimed frame weight is a mere 630g – a sub-5kg build is therefore possible(Image credit: Jonny Ashelford / BikeRadar)
Frames are built tube-to-tube for a truly bespoke fit(Image credit: Jonny Ashelford / BikeRadar)
Those chainstays aren't going anywhere in a hurry(Image credit: Jonny Ashelford / BikeRadar)
The compliant rear end ensures that your ego will be the only thing receiving a massage after a few hours in the saddle(Image credit: Jonny Ashelford / BikeRadar)
The thin seatstays absorb vibration and bumps without using any gimmicks(Image credit: Jonny Ashelford / BikeRadar)
You're very unlikely to know anything about Scappa… but should get to know because this bike is something special. This Italian brand was founded in 2010 by Gernot Mueller, a man with some 27 years' experience at the top level of the cycling industry.
The mission was a simple one – to create the ultimate. It had to be handmade, state-of-the-art, superlight and bespoke, with the luxury experience of buying a supercar, something that probably isn't entirely alien to anyone that doesn't choke on the price.
Pros: Handling, stiffness, compliance, weight, bespoke sizing and colours, exclusivity Cons: Selling all your other possessions to buy it
So far Scappa is a small company but it's growing surprisingly fast. The range already includes an aero-road and a TT bike (neither of which seem obvious places to start because of the intensive aero R&D required), alongside a sportive steed, a women's road machine and a hardtail mountain bike. Titanium and steel road frames will follow, plus a track bike and an urban range. On top of that, Scappa already has its own stem, seatpost and bars (fitted here) and in the works is a saddle and complete wheel range. It's all designed in-house and is, of course, super light.
Just in case you forget that Purosangue means 'thoroughbred'
The Purosangue (it means ‘thoroughbred' in Italian) is the flagship, a featherweight race bike as pure in its design as its name suggests. There are no token aero features nor fussy bump-absorbing kinks or hinges – you get round tubes and straight stays. Within that package, though, is great attention to detail: the head tube tapers from 1.5in at the lower race for steering fidelity, the chainstays are beefy and the seatstays are pencil-thin all the way to the seat tube.
The claimed frame weight is a barely-there 630g – and that includes around 80g of paint because it has three full layers to get this deep finish. If you don't like this paintjob (it is rather divisive), fear not; you can have literally any hue you show them to match.
The claimed frame weight is a mere 630g – a sub-5kg build is therefore possible
That frame weight undercuts everything we know of: the new Trek Émonda, Cannondale SuperSix Evo Nano, AX Lightness Vial, Cervélo RCA, Scott Addict… A sub-5kg build is possible if you choose the very lightest components.
What none of those frames can offer, though, is bespoke sizing. Scappa can, because its frames are made by hand to order using a tube-to-tube process rather than a mass-production friendly monocoque. We sent Scappa our tester's fit data and they built a bike that fits beautifully. We say this a lot, but bike fit is so important to get right and it will never be better than with a bespoke frame.
Our test bike is built with appropriately high-end parts: Shimano Dura-Ace groupset, Rotor 3D+ cranks, tubular Mavic Cosmic Carbone Ultimate wheels and Scappa's own carbon bars, stem and post. It totals 6.0kg…
Under your hands, Scappa's own carbon bars
The lightness is tangible all the time, not just on the climbs, and it's coupled with very impressive stiffness. You can sprint up a short, steep ramp with a big effort and the frame is completely unflustered.
Ascending is – predictably for a 6kg machine – an utter pleasure
That's thanks to consistent rigidity through every part of the frame and cockpit. On longer steep climbs, out of the saddle or spinning a low gear, it surges forwards under every pedal stroke with a deeply satisfying efficiency. This is how you'd hope a bike like this would feel.
The Mavic Cosmic Carbone Ultimates have been around for a few years but they're still stunning – to look at and to ride. There's a little lateral give but their power transmission is absolute. And as they weigh under 1,200g, the Scappa climbs and accelerates with vigour.
Mavic's Cosmic Carbone Ultimates deliver superb power transmission
The Purosangue impresses on descents just as much as on the climbs. It's stable, precise, neutral as the lean increases and confidence inspiring. It's on your side. Dry braking is superb but there's the usual delay in the wet.
The icing on the cake is the great comfort from the compliant fork, seatstays and post. We've done a couple of five-hour rides on it and by the end it really made a difference.
The compliant rear end ensures that your ego will be the only thing receiving a massage after a few hours in the saddle
Light, stiff, comfortable, precise, desirable and tailored; the Purosangue really is a special bike. It's exclusive, too. So far only 25 have been made. If you can afford one, you will never regret it for a second.
