Long Term Review: Pinarello Dogma F10 Disk

After four months riding the F10 Disk, it is time to dissect the experience and deliver a verdict. To give some context for this review, the other bikes I currently own and ride concurrently are the Dogma F8 (2016, rim brake version) and the Specialized Crux Elite Carbon Evo (2015). Prior to these, I rode the Trek Emonda SL6 (2015) and the Polygon Recon 3.0 (2014, mountain bike). Here is how the F10 Disk has performed so far:

The Good

  • Aerodynamic/Maintains speed easily. The F10 Disk carries the same ability like the F8 to maintain speed very easily once you go past 35km/h. It gets easier as you get faster. It is likely down to a balance between geometry, aerodynamics and weight. Like previous Dogmas, the F10 Disk is a do-it-all frameset and the manner it is tuned makes it very race friendly. In comparison to the F8, it is slightly more aerodynamic and close inspection of the frameset reveals slimmer sections and more quickly tapered ends to achieve this effect. It is not major but the difference can be felt.
  • Very stiff. The F10 Disk is very much stiffer than the F8. To clarify, this is not a F10 v F8 comparison but a F10 Disk v F8 (rim brake) comparison. Because of the presence of disk brakes, the frame has to be reinforced as the fork and the chainstay bear significant loads when braking. The result is a very stiff frame. I thought the F8 was stiff, with every pound of power unwasted but the F10 Disk has shown that there are no limits to stiffness. The downside is that my F8 now feels slightly more sluggish with the F10 Disk as a new benchmark but I am not complaining.
  • Stable and agile. I sized down from a size 53 on my F8 to a size 51.5 for my F10 Disk. Due to a short torso, the F8 was slightly too big. I had concerns that the smaller F10 Disk would be less stable but this did not materialise. The F10 Disk is incredibly stable even above 40km/h. It helps to breed confidence for folks like me who are terrified of anything above 50km/h.

  • Disc brakes. This is the main reason I bought the F10 Disk. (Note: I spell disc brakes with a “c” because that is how I think the word disc should be spelt. The “F10 Disk” is spelt with a “k” because that is how Pinarello named it.) I think that disc brakes are the future and what pushed me to the F10 Disk was my desire to upgrade the wheels for my F8 to a deeper set. I knew I eventually wanted a disc brake bike and did not want to waste the cash on a rim brake wheelset. Hence, that push snowballed into a new bike. There is nothing to say about the F10 Disk’s disc brakes besides that it is very well integrated, works seamlessly as expected and performs great as it should. Descents are now a dream. I never have to do the tap-let go-tap-let go dance which I had to for rim brakes in fear of damaging the carbon rim. Rain is not a problem. The modulation is superb. I am never going back to rim brakes.
  • Tire clearance. The F10 Disk’s tire clearance is slightly wider than the F8’s. The F8 was made to fit 25mm tires and the F10 Disk can accommodate 28mm. I still run 25mm tires and I like the fact that I now have breathing space to do so. I had to keep my tires clean on the F8 or significant additional dirt on the 25mm tires could cause frame abrasion. That is no longer a concern. (It still could be if you want to run 28mm tires.)
  • Aesthetics. This is subjective and here is my point of view. I love how the Dogma series look. The curves are just right, the proportions are well sized and in sum it presents a beautifully crafted bike. It is neither too traditional nor too modern. (In comparison, Pinarello’s Prince series look absolutely terrible.) The F10 Disk makes no improvements in aesthetics over the F8 but one reason I was ready to get one was because it did not change the Dogma’s aesthetics.

The Bad

  • Harsh. As alluded to above, the reinforced forks and seat stay of the F10 Disk made the bike stiffer and also significantly less comfortable. Most reviewers find the F10 a more comfortable ride than the F8 but they are probably comparing the rim brake versions. The disc brake version is noticeably harsher. I had to lower my tire pressure by 10 PSI to retain the same comfort as the F8.
  • Not very light. Dogmas are not light. The F8 could only go under 6.9kg with top end components. (My F8 weighs around 7.7kg with Ultegra 6870.) My F10 Disk with Enve SES 5.6 (53mm front and 63mm rear depth) wheels, bottle cages and pedals weigh in at 7.6kg. I think this is a reasonable weight for a disc brake setup with a deeper than average wheelset. But it is still not for those who want a sub 7kg bike. If you are a weight weenie but still want disc brakes, take a look at Trek’s Emonda, Canyon’s Ultimate and Focus’ Izalco series.
  • Servicing challenges. The F10 is neither the hardest nor the easiest bike to service. It is not as integrated as Specialized’s Venge Vias or Trek’s Madone and is easier to service but there are some niggles worth highlighting. The screws for the seat post and integrated handlebar (or stem) are tiny and are seated flush with the surface. Tightening and loosening these screws require great care because they are easy to round which will make removing them a nightmare. You will need a torque wrench. Second, Pinarello supplies non-stainless steel screws as default to prevent seizing. This means rust. I had mine swapped to stainless steel options and packed more grease to prevent seizing. Third, the screws for the seat post are for allen keys and the handlebar/stem are for torx keys. You would have expected the manufacturer (MOST) to have just standardised this across their products. Torx would be a better option given how small these screws are. This might sound nit-picky but it is an important point to highlight if you wish to service the bike on your own/travel with the bike often (hence needing to rebuild the bike).
  • Expensive. The F8 was a value buy for a top end frameset at S$6200 (custom paint job).  (For comparison, Specialized’s Venge and Trek’s Madone were coming in at over S$8,500 then.) The F10 Disk with a custom paint job (I like the tour yellow colour scheme) came in at just over S$8,000. It is a massive increase in price that pushes the F10 Disk beyond any “value for money” consideration.

Others

  • Shimano Dura Ace 9170. I generally like how the 9170 feels. As mentioned above, the braking is superb. In comparison to the Ultegra 6870 on my F8, the shifting is crispier and the shift levers allow a noticeable click. The sound comes across as more metallic and hollow probably due to its relative lighter weight to the Ultegra which resulted in less materials utilised. However, the 9170 is less cross chain friendly as compared to the 6870. You will get more noise when cross chaining. Overall, the 9170 is a clear upgrade to the 6870 but also at a substantial price.
  • Most Talon Aero 1k handlebar. The only component from Pinarello’s component subsidiary Most (besides the seat post) is the handlebar. I have no complaints. It is an integrated bar and stem model and it keeps the cabling (DI2 wires and hydraulic hoses) neat. It feels stiff but I am no sprinter who can flex the handlebar and stem the way pros do. In general, it does it job well with minimal fuss.

There are not many (if any) F10 Disk reviews out there with most reviewers focused on the F10 rim brake version. I hope this sheds light on the F10 Disk. Overall, it is a wonderful race-ready all-rounder that incorporates disc brakes very well. The bike was purchased from local distributor CycleWorx. Looking forward to spending many miles on it.

23 Comments on “Long Term Review: Pinarello Dogma F10 Disk”

  1. Hey are those evve 4.5 ses AR disc?
    Im currently building a dogma f10 and the shop told me 4.5 disc does not fit on the dogma f10 disk…. so i decided to order the rim.

    You mention that the ride is harsh, if you were to build again would you go with rim?

    Thanks

    C

    1. These are the Enve 5.6. I’m unsure why you were advised that the 4.5 AR could not fit. It could be because the 4.5 AR is optimised for 28-30mm tires which are too wide for the F10’s recommended 25mm max.

      On your second query, I will still go with this rim largely because its weight and aerodynamics are great.

      1. Hey thanks. I ended up getting a disk version like you but i am now torn on which wheels to get….

        You menion that this bike can take 28mm tires but it is specced for 25mm. I am wondering if 4.5ar with 28mm will fit on this frame. I would like that setup. However if the 28mm will rub i will get the enve 5.6 with 25mm tires.

        Thoughts on the 28mm clearance?

        My fear with the 5.6 is buying it and having enve release a new gen in a few months.

        Thanks

        1. Hi Carlos,

          The wheels are Enve’s 5.6 Disc. My views on the wheelset are here:
          http://tempo.sg/2018/07/08/long-term-review-enve-ses-5-6-disc-wheelset/

          TL:DR – Overall, I think it is a great set of wheels but I will wait for an updated set since it is more or less due for a refresh in 1-2 years.

          Whether or not the F10 can take a 28mm set of tires depends on the wheelset and tires. Some combinations will require more clearance than others. My recommendation is to try it out at a local LBS before buying.

  2. Great review. My question has to do with the stiffness vs the F8. Starting from scratch, would you buy a dis(k) version of the F8 or F10? I’m on a Dogma 65.1 Think2 and the ride quality is incredible. Previous ride was a Cervelo S5 which was much more harsh. I’m a bigger rider and know that a disc system will benefit me significantly on tight corners and high speed control. What are your thoughts on the F8 vs F10 for a serious rider, but non-racer. Thanks!

    1. Thanks! I have not tried the F8 Disk but assuming the difference in stiffness and comfort between the F8 rim vs F8 Disk is similar to the F10 rim vs F10 Disk (in general the F10 series has been reviewed to be stiffer but more comfortable than the F8 series), then the F10 Disk will be stiffer than the F8 Disk but more comfortable than the F8 Disk.

      I am a non racer. I just like fast bikes. The difference between the F8 and F10 is minute. I bought the F10 Disk only because I wanted a disc brake bike. If not, I would have stuck to my F8 rim. Hope this helps.

    1. Thanks. Yes, the official word is 25mm but you can put in 28mm with no issues depending on your rim and tyre combination. It is like the F8 which was officially 23mm but many ran with 25mm tyres.

  3. Hi what is your overall height and inseam cm since you mention u have gone one size down, i have simmilar doubts i am 1.76cm and inseam 82cm. Currently riding 53.
    Thanx for a great review btw.

    1. Thanks for reaching out to me on Strava. As we discussed there, I am 179 cm with and inseam of 85cm. I have a very short torso hence my smaller size bike with a seat post raised high. Comfort is most important. Have safe and fun rides!

  4. I suspect a new iteration of the Dogma is due as well. F8 to F10 was only 2 years. This is F10’s.3rd season coming. Thoughts?

    1. I expect a refresh. Longest between Dogma refreshes was 2.5 years between the F8 and the F10 as you stated. The disc brake version usually comes a year after the rim brake version is released.

  5. Great review. I whole heartedly agree having gone from a F10 Rim Brake to F10 Disk.

    Question – Where did you get the stainless seat screws? My original ones are already showing signs of rust ?.

    1. I got mine from my local bike shop. (CycleWorx in Singapore.) You may wish to ask the shop that you purchased the F10 from.

  6. thanks Dave for the great review. It is difficult to find subjective consumer reviews on the F10 disk from someone that actually owns one.

    I am considering buying one of these now in Sydney as there are discounts on the frame sets as the F12 is out.

    My only concern is the weight, coming from a 6.8kg Cervelo R5 rim brake version.
    Still debating the rim brakes v’s disc.
    cheers

  7. Excel Sports has these frames on sale for under $3,000 US. I’m tempted to buy one, but I am wondering if it’s the right choice for me. I am 68 years old, currently ride a Bianchi Infinito CV with Ultegra mechanical shifting. I ride about 5,000 miles a year, mostly urban and some city trails. I want to upgrade to a Di2 system and I’m debating whether to go with a Trek Domane SLR 7, which would be similar to my current ride or jump onto the Pinarello bandwagon.

    1. From what I understand the F10 is a more aggressive and agile ride as compared to the Bianchi Infinito CV and the Trek Domane. The downside is comfort. I suggest trying out the F10 in person (shops, friends) before deciding.

Leave a Reply to Dave Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *