Jena (carbon gravel; Jaroon is the aluminium sibling)
Origin
The Jena is Wilier's carbon gravel platform, named in keeping with the brand's tradition of naming bikes after lakes, mountains and Italian places (Jena is a stylised reference matching the Jaroon — the aluminium sibling — which itself takes inspiration from off-road exploration). Designed in Rossano Veneto in the Veneto region, the Jena was launched around 2020 as Wilier's answer to the rapidly growing gravel market and was further refined by the time the GRX Di2 12-speed groupset arrived. Its signature kinked sloping top tube and Kamm-tail down tube were drawn up by Wilier's in-house design team to give standover clearance for technical riding while keeping a fast, race-oriented aero silhouette. Although frame manufacturing is Asia-based, the geometry, ride-tuning and finishing are Italian — Wilier sells it as a 'fast gravel' bike rather than an adventure tourer, reflecting the southern-European racing-gravel scene around Strade Bianche and the Italian gravel calendar.
Specifications
- Frame
- 60TON monocoque carbon frame, flat-mount disc, 12mm thru-axle, BB86 press-fit BB, internal routing; 5 sizes (XS–XL); painted frame ~995g (M), fork ~450g
- Weight
- kg
- Drivetrain
- Built across the range with Shimano Ultegra (R8020/R8070 Di2), Shimano GRX 1x and 2x, SRAM Rival 1x, up to SRAM Red/Force AXS XPLR; review bike used Ultegra 50/34 + 11-30
- Brakes
- Hydraulic disc, flat-mount only, max 160mm rotors (Shimano Ultegra R8070 on review build)
- Wheels
- Dual-standard: 700c road or 650b MTB wheelsets; review builds shipped Mavic Allroad (or Shimano RS170 on Di2 build)
The verdict
- Exceptional frameset — light 995g 60TON carbon, stiff up front with rear-triangle compliance; widely praised as one of Italy's best carbon gravel platforms
- Genuinely versatile dual-wheel system: takes 700c x 44mm or 650b up to 48mm / 2.1", switching from fast race tyres to MTB rubber
- Racy, road-bike-like geometry (short 42.3cm stays, fast steering) makes it quick and responsive for gravel racing and spirited mixed-surface riding
- Plenty of mounting points — fork cargo cages, lowrider and frame bottle mounts — so it can still be loaded for light bikepacking
- Flared Ritchey ErgoMax bar adds control and a stable, comfortable position on technical descents
- Stock gearing is roadie-biased (50/34 + 11-30, short-cage mech limiting to 34x30) — under-geared for steep loaded climbs without a derailleur/cassette upgrade
- Some builds shipped with cost-cut wheels/tyres (heavy non-tubeless Shimano RS170 + CST/wire-bead rubber) that clash with the premium frame and price
- Tall head tube plus aggressive flared-bar setup divided reviewers — front end can feel too aggressive or fiddly for some riders
- Long stems on some builds (120mm) and stable geometry make steering feel slow on tight, twisty singletrack
- Pricing seen as lacking value versus rivals, and the kinked-top-tube aesthetic is divisive
Who it’s for
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