Assos Equipe RSR S9 Targa bib shorts review – BikeRadar
Assos’ Equipe RSR S9 Targa shorts are the Swiss brand’s latest flagship offering. When they were launched in April, Assos claimed the shorts were designed for the rider “who demands the fastest and lightest equipment”.
They represent an update to the existing Equipe RSR S9 shorts, with the headline features including the use of a more compressive fabric, as well as tweaks to the bib straps and chamois pad.
The result? These flagship shorts impress with their excellent co…….
Assos’ Equipe RSR S9 Targa shorts are the Swiss brand’s latest flagship offering. When they were launched in April, Assos claimed the shorts were designed for the rider “who demands the fastest and lightest equipment”.
They represent an update to the existing Equipe RSR S9 shorts, with the headline features including the use of a more compressive fabric, as well as tweaks to the bib straps and chamois pad.
The result? These flagship shorts impress with their excellent comfort and compressive fit, representing a marked improvement over the previous S9 shorts. However, this performance comes at a significant cost and there are plusher options for endurance riding.
Assos Equipe RSR S9 Targa construction
The Targa moniker denotes the second generation of the S9 product line.
Matt Howes / Our Media
The shorts are made from a range of futuristically named fabrics, as we’ve come to expect from Assos, all designed to offer compression and comfort in a suitably luxurious package, given the £255 / €290 / $350 / AU$499.95 price tag.
The ‘type.701kompressor’ fabric is used across the bulk of the shorts and is said to actively reduce fatigue thanks to the ultra-compressive woven construction.
The brand’s ‘Ossidia’ fabric is then used in the front and saddle areas to offer additional breathability and reduce pressure in the genital area.
The skinGrip finish is an interesting alternative to a single silicon band grip.
Matt Howes / Our Media
The shorts also feature a ‘skinGrip Finish’ that, according to Assos, combines compressive leg bands with silicone grips reminiscent of micro-suction cups, to keep the cuffs and leg panels secure.
The shorts retain the ‘rollBar’ bib straps found on the previous S9 and other Assos shorts. The straps are updated with ‘a dual-face carbon material’ that’s claimed to reduce drying time compared to the previous single-sided application. In certain areas, the straps also feature additional ventilation holes.
A lot of thought has gone into the padding.
Matt Howes / Our Media
The chamois features a three-layer construction.
Matt Howes / Our Media
A bib short is never complete without its chamois and the ‘S9 sundeck insert’ padding has been revised with a similar design brief in mind – to decrease weight while increasing ventilation.
The pad features a three-layer construction, with perforations in the …….
