Test: Disc racers are very popular - with the VOTEC VRd, we took a close look at an inexpensive representative of this class. With a comfort-oriented frame made of aluminum and consistently solid equipment, the €1.499 endurance bike proves to be a hot tip in the test, especially for (re-)beginners.
VOTEC VRd – frame and geometry
With its aluminum frame, the VOTEC VRd is now almost an exotic racing bike. Even in the entry-level range, many manufacturers now only offer carbon frames – does that mean that aluminum is now finally a so-often-cited scrap? For some, this may be a basic discussion, but wheels like the disc racer from VOTEC show that you can still build modern wheels with aluminum - at an attractive price.
Leaving aside disc brakes for a moment, the VRd's black frame underscores its modern character. The quick-release axles, which are used at the front and rear, are particularly worth mentioning. In 2016, too, many manufacturers are still doing without the new axle standard – even in conjunction with disc brakes. The screw axles not only increase the stability of the overall system, but also offer the advantage, which should not be underestimated, in combination with the disc brakes, that the wheels and thus the brake discs are always in exactly the same place. Once the brake caliper is aligned without rubbing, it stays that way - no matter how regularly the wheels are removed.
The design is rather reserved: the color black dominates, but the alternating matt and glossy look still provides some variety. There are no large decals and logos, instead understatement is the order of the day – the VOTEC logo only takes up a little more space on the head tube. In addition to the frame, the full carbon fork, which was specially developed for the VRd, is also worth mentioning. As mentioned, a thru-axle is also used here and thanks to the Flatmount standard, mounting and alignment of the brake caliper are no problem at all.
One or the other may bump into the cables and cases laid outside. Even if these run quite unobtrusively on the underside of the down tube, they disturb the otherwise very clean look of the bike a little. On the other hand, easier access makes maintenance a little easier.
According to the manufacturer, the VOTEC VRd is a bike for long days in the saddle and is designed more for comfort than for racing: That sounds suspiciously like endurance and a look at the geometry data also confirms the impression.
Geometry table VOTEC VRD 2016
48 | 51 | 54 | 56 | 58 | 62 | |
seat tube (in mm) | 460 | 480 | 500 | 520 | 540 | 570 |
Top tube horizontal (in mm) | 518 | 538 | 554 | 570 | 585 | 605 |
head tube (in mm) | 125 | 135 | 160 | 190 | 218 | 230 |
chainstay (in mm) | 410 | 410 | 410 | 410 | 415 | 415 |
Wheelbase (in mm) | 976 | 992 | 999 | 1010 | 1025 | 1034 |
Steering angle (in °) | 72 | 72 | 72,5 | 72,5 | 72,5 | 73 |
Seat angle (in °) | 75 | 74,5 | 74 | 73,5 | 73 | 72,5 |
Reach (mm) | 374 | 386 | 390 | 392 | 393 | 404 |
Stacks (in mm) | 540 | 548 | 572 | 601 | 626 | 640 |
Thanks to the long head tube and short top tube, the seating position on the VRd is more comfortable than racy, and the fairly flat steering angle of 72,5° (on our test bike in size 56) ensures a good-natured character and stable straight-line stability.
VOTEC VRd equipment
frame | VOTEC VR AL6061 ThruAxle |
suspension fork | VOTEC VRC Full Carbon |
Wheels | DT Swiss R24 Spline TLR |
Tubes | Continental Grand Prix 4000s II 25mm |
derailleur | Shimano 105 RD-5800 |
Gear levers | Shimano 105ST-5800 |
Crank | FSA Gossamer Pro Compact 50/34t |
Front derailleur | Shimano 105 FD-5800 |
Brake | TRP HyRD / Shimano Icetech 160mm |
Seat post | Easton EA50 |
Saddle | Ergon SRX30 |
Stem | Easton EA50 |
Links | Zip Service Course 80 |
To get straight to the point: The equipment of the VRd is very good and well thought out for the price of €1.499 estimated by VOTEC. When it comes to the drive, you trust in the proven quality of Shimano and install a 105 drive group. Only the cranks are unfaithful to the Japanese and rely instead on the FSA Gossammer Pro Compact, which does not need to hide from the Shimano counterpart in terms of weight or shifting performance. The 50/34 gradation at the front, in combination with the 11-32 cassette, offers a very wide range and the lowest gear of 34/32 should take away the fear of the climb even for less trained riders.
The eponymous highlight of the VRd are the brakes from Tektro, or TRP. TRP stands for Tektro Racing Products and designates those products from the brake specialist that are optimized for use under competition conditions. With the HyRD+, one of the most exciting disc brakes since its introduction a few years ago has also been chosen: Exciting because it is a hybrid brake made up of hydraulics and mechanics - the linkage is carried out by a classic cable and a converter in the brake caliper 'translates' the made Cable path for the brake pistons, which are moved by mineral oil. The system has a number of advantages: On the one hand, you can use classic brake levers for road bike brakes and still enjoy the braking power of hydraulic brakes. In addition, the maintenance effort is minimized, since the much smaller liquid volume means that venting is almost overdue. A small disadvantage is the somewhat clumsy look of the brake calipers, in which the converter has to find space in addition to the brake pistons.
We were positively surprised by the R24 Spline wheelset from DT Swiss - surprised because the almost 1.800g set of complete wheels is not to be expected in this price range. The 18mm wide rims also offer enough reserves for 28mm tires and are also tubeless-ready: Especially in the endurance sector, tubeless systems will certainly become more and more popular in the coming years because of their outstanding puncture resistance. Speaking of tyres: VOTEC makes no compromises here and with the GP 4000 SII from Continental they rely on a long-running favorite and one of the most popular road tires of all. The bike comes with tires with a width of 25mm - given the focus on comfort, the VRd would also look good in the 28mm version: Thanks to sufficient tire clearance, there is at least nothing in the way of retrofitting.
The VOTEC also cuts an extremely good figure with the attachments for a bike in the lower to middle price segment: seat post and stem come from Easton, the handlebars are based on the tried-and-tested ZIPP Service Course 80, whose all-round ergonomics should satisfy almost every rider.
VOTEC VRd – driving impressions
The seating position on the VOTEC VRd is, as was to be expected after reading the geometry data, more comfortable than sporty: our tester, who is 1,85 cm tall (SL 88 cm), sits on the 56 cm test bike. The posture is quite upright with the upper handlebar grip and relieves the strain on the lower back in particular - this is a satisfaction, especially during longer journeys or for less trained drivers. Despite the impressive weight of over 9,5 kg including pedals (without pedals, our test bike weighs 9.322 g) it is lively and makes you feel good even on the first meters.
The handling of the aluminum racer is probably best described with the word good-natured: VOTEC has found a pleasant balance between agility and smooth running - with a noticeable tendency towards smooth running. At no time during the test did the bike behave nervously and it always remained predictable. The excellent brakes also play a decisive role in this. The semi-hydraulic disc stoppers offer braking power en masse, but we were particularly impressed by their fine controllability, which gives even experienced pilots additional safety. Another advantage of the discs is their unchanged characteristics, regardless of external conditions: whether it's bright sunshine or pouring rain, the HyRD brakes remain unaffected - even if they tend to squeak a little in the wet.
The VRd is a willing climber, albeit a little more comfortable than a dedicated mountain bike given the more relaxed geometry and weight. Thanks to the generous bandwidth, however, this is not a problem at all. The other components were unremarkable during our test period - in a positive sense. The 105 group did its job reliably as usual and the FSA crank was always up to the mark. In any case, we didn't notice any difference in shifting performance compared to the Shimano counterpart. The combination of tires and wheels is excellent for this price range and it is really commendable to mention that, in contrast to one or the other wheel from the competition, VOTEC has not put the red pencil in the wrong place.
As comfortable as the general driving experience on the VOTEC VRd may be, bad roads or short episodes of gravel or pavement show its rough side. There, the rather low self-damping of the aluminum frame compared to modern carbon frames is noticeable. With 28mm tires and the associated a little more volume, however, this small flaw can be significantly improved.
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