A Bianchi for well under 3,000 euros? The 2026 model year Impulso Pro GRX 820 is on offer at several online shops with discounts of up to 33 per cent. This sporty gravel bike features a carbon frame, Shimano GRX gears and carbon wheels. But a big discount doesn’t necessarily make for a good buy. The key factor is whether the Impulso suits the routes and requirements of its future owner.

Let’s get straight to the point: is this offer worth it?

Yes, the Impulso Pro is a great choice for fast rides on tarmac and gravel. Compared with the stated RRP of 4,250 euros, you save 1,411 euros – around 33 per cent. The spec isn’t luxurious: the cockpit is made of aluminium and the gear system is mechanical. However, carbon wheels are included in the package. Above all, though, the bike is built for one clear purpose: speed on rideable routes. Anyone expecting a relaxed riding position, plenty of tyre clearance and space for heavy luggage should not be blinded by the discount. The Impulso Pro is a race gravel bike, not an all-rounder.

Why are bikes on such heavy discount at the moment?

Price pressure is not limited to Bianchi. Following the boom years, manufacturers and retailers had to clear large stocks. Discounts help to free up storage space and capital for new stock. At the same time, different model years are often sold side by side in shops, competing for the same customers.

The basic concept behind the Impulso is no longer new either. Bianchi unveiled the revamped Race-Gravel platform at the end of 2023. However, this does not mean that the Impulso is technically outdated: A sporty carbon frame, a 12-speed drivetrain and good wheels do not lose their practical value just because the year has changed. Those looking primarily for the latest frame design might want to look elsewhere. The Impulso does not feature the UDH standard or an integrated frame compartment.

A look at the Impulso RC

The higher-spec version, featuring electronic GRX Di2 gearshift and a fully integrated cockpit, is also currently on offer at a reduced price. We’ve found this model available from various online retailers for €4,819 instead of €6,390. That’s a discount of just under 25 per cent. The Impulso RC GRX Di2 isn’t simply an Impulso Pro with electronic gear shifting. It has a lighter frame, an integrated carbon cockpit, different carbon wheels and a power metre. In terms of gear ratios, geometry and tyre clearance, however, the two models are very similar. Incidentally, in 2025 the manufacturer issued a recall for the RC model due to a potential risk of the integrated cockpit breaking. It’s hard to imagine that there are still bikes in circulation whose cockpits haven’t been replaced – but it can’t hurt to check with the retailer just to be on the safe side.

How well is the Impulso Pro suited to race gravel riding?

The Impulso Pro brings road bike character to firm gravel tracks. Its carbon frame is aerodynamically designed, the cables are routed internally and the riding position is sporty. In frame size L, the stack height of 580 millimetres is paired with a reach of 401 millimetres. This suggests a comparatively low, stretched riding position. However, the standard cockpit is slightly more comfortable than on the RC model.

The tyre clearance also shows where Bianchi’s priorities lie. A maximum of 42 millimetres is permitted; 40-millimetre-wide Pirelli tyres are fitted as standard. This is suitable for tarmac, firm forest tracks and fast gravel tracks – wider tyres for rough terrain simply won’t fit on the Bianchi frame.

Why the mechanical GRX dual-chainring system is a good choice

A mechanical gear system is definitely not a bad choice on this race gravel bike. If you mainly ride on fast gravel tracks, you won’t necessarily benefit from the fractions of a second that electronic gear systems save when changing gears. Even the simpler shifting logic of a single-speed system makes only limited sense on a bike like this – it can be more crucial to find a suitable gear ratio, even when your pace varies and there are gentle inclines, and to maintain your preferred cadence.

This is where the dual-drive system really comes into its own: two chainrings combined with twelve sprockets allow for a wide range of gear ratios and, in the sportier range, comparatively small gear steps. Instead of suddenly having to pedal significantly faster or slower after a gear change, you can adjust your cadence more precisely. This is a particularly useful advantage on long, fast-paced stretches. The mechanical GRX 820 requires a traditional shift cable rather than electronic control. Whether one misses the latter is ultimately a matter of personal preference, not the bike’s suitability for gravel racing.

Key features

• Frame and fork: Carbon with internally routed cables and a maximum tyre clearance of 42 millimetres.
• Circuit: Shimano GRX 820 mechanical groupset with two chainrings and twelve sprockets: 48/31 teeth at the front and an 11–36 cassette at the rear.
• Brakes: Hydraulic Shimano GRX disc brakes with 160-millimetre brake discs.
• Wheels: Velomann Terbium Carbon, with 30-millimetre-high rims, tubeless-ready.
• Tyres and cockpit: Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H tyres, 40 millimetres wide, and a separate aluminium handlebar with an aluminium stem.

Who is the Impulso suitable for, and who is it less suitable for?

The Impulso Pro is ideal for cyclists who want to ride fast: from road cyclists looking for a bike for mixed terrain to gravel riders who train mainly on hard-packed tracks. Those who like to maintain a steady cadence are likely to particularly appreciate the fine gear ratios of the double-chainring drivetrain. The bike is less suitable for anyone who prefers to sit as upright as possible, regularly rides challenging trails or is planning heavily laden bikepacking tours. Even a 33 per cent discount does nothing to alter this sporty focus.

To buy or not to buy?

It’s not often that you get the chance to snap up an iconic Italian bike for under 3,000 euros. Usually, you have to accept a modest spec in exchange for the bike’s reputation. With the heavily discounted Impulso Pro, however, both image and spec are spot on. For 2,839 euros, you get a well-rounded bike for fast gravel rides. The carbon frame and carbon wheels form the sporty foundation, and the mechanical GRX double-chainring groupset is a good match. Here’s what you’ll have to do without: greater tyre clearance for more comfort, UDH compatibility, a frame storage compartment, and mounts for bikepacking accessories.