Originally launched back in 2016, Stuttgart’s Votec bikes are back with a revamped version of their popular affordable alloy VRX gravel bike. With an all-new carbon fork, updated aluminum frame, and bigger tire clearance all around, the new VRX is a more capable gravel bike than ever, without breaking the bank… in stock now!
Votec VRX affordable alloy fast gravel bike
When Votec launched their carbon VRC endurance road bike last summer, it blurred the lines between all-road and fast gravel a bit with 35mm tire clearance. You see, as gravel keeps getting broken down into subcategories based on tire size, Votec feels like gravel tires “between 35-42mm represent the sweet spot: the perfect compromise between weight, grip, and cushioning” for mixed-surface riding. The original alloy VRX topped out at 40mm, but this new bike ratchets tire clearance up to 700x42mm.
What’s new?
To fit bigger tires in the new VRX, Votec created an all-new wider & stiffer full UD carbon fork for the updated gravel bike.
Also designed by Rafael Hoffleit who shaped the carbon all-road VRC, the new fork shares the same smooth look, with unique internal cable routing that enters a small shelf in the fork crown, just in front of the head tube.
The heavily shaped, hydroformed 6061-T6 alloy frame is mostly unchanged, although it does squeeze an extra couple of millimeters out around the 1x-only chainstays to get the same 42mm clearance as the fork. The revised frame also shifts to modular internal cable routing through the front triangle, and updates cable guides along the chainstay to work better with the new Shimano GRX 1x gravel drivetrain.
Tech details
The updated 1x alloy gravel bike features 12mm thru-axles, neatly integrated flat mount disc brakes, a 1.125-1.5″ internal headset in the tapered headtube, a PressFit BB86 bottom bracket, and 27.2mm seatpost with a conventional external clamp.
It is available in five stock sizes (S-XXL) to fit a wide range of gravel riders, with “racy geometry” that Votec developed for fast rides over all hard surfaces. They call it “a gravel bike with road bike genes“.
Votec VRX gravel bike – Pricing, options & availability
The updated Votec VRX alloy gravel bike is available now in just a single mixed Shimano GRX 1×11 bike build for 1999€, at a claimed 9.36kg complete.
It combines a Shimano GRX 40T crankset with a SRAM chain & 10-42T cassette for a rather unique wide-range setup, paired to 37mm WTB Riddler tires on 24mm internal tubeless-ready Easton EA70 AX wheels.
The new Votec VRX is sold exclusively consumer-direct through their InternetStores sibling online shop Brügelmann, available in matte black, Brazilian yellow, or Warwickshire green.
What’s next? Bike rumors suggest that Votec is already working on a carbon gravel bike to follow up their VRC all-road bike. Will they call it the VRXC, VRCX, or maybe just VXC? In any case, we expect to know more sometime in the middle of next year.
