Home > Bike Types > Gravel Bikes

Votec VRX affordable alloy gravel bike is back with off-road updates

Votec VRX affordable alloy GRX fast gravel bike updated, photo by Felix Reimers, blur
5 Comments
Support us! Bikerumor may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn More

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

Votec VRX affordable alloy GRX fast gravel bike updated, photo by Felix Reimers, forest adventure
c. Votec, photos by Felix Reimers,

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?

Votec VRX affordable alloy GRX fast gravel bike updated, complete

To fit bigger tires in the new VRX, Votec created an all-new wider & stiffer full UD carbon fork for the updated gravel bike.

Votec VRX affordable alloy GRX fast gravel bike updated, new fork detail

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.

Votec VRX affordable alloy GRX fast gravel bike updated, frame details

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

Votec VRX affordable alloy GRX fast gravel bike updated, photo by Felix Reimers, forest complete

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.

Votec VRX affordable alloy GRX fast gravel bike updated, geometry

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

Votec VRX affordable alloy GRX fast gravel bike updated, photo by Felix Reimers, green complete
Votec VRX gravel bike in Warwickshire green

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.

Votec VRX affordable alloy GRX fast gravel bike updated, photo by Felix Reimers, yellow frameset
Votec VRX gravel bike in Brazilian yellow

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.

Votec VRX affordable alloy GRX fast gravel bike updated, photo by Felix Reimers, riding detail

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.

Votec.com

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

5 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
mud
mud
3 years ago

Going with the GRX crank hurts riders looking to gear down. It’s a handsome crank but with an integrated spider and 110 BCD, it is limited to 40t, or 38t at best. That means that riders have to go with an expensive wide range cassette and maybe new derailleur. Most people using 1x know by now that the easiest way to tweak gearing is with a chainring, provided you have a direct mount crank.

Collin S
Collin S
3 years ago

That chain looks floppy on the last picture (before the video link)

gregoryvanthomas
3 years ago

36t available from Wolf Tooth.

My bigger issue is the 1x only frame. Gravel is not CX, and it’s not mountain biking. A large percentage of gravel riders want double chainrings.

TimmS
3 years ago

“with unique internal cable routing that enters a small shelf in the fork crown, just in front of the head tube.” this is just copy paste from Envy, nothing unique.

Back on Track
Back on Track
3 years ago

Why no mounts for fenders?
Where are additional mounts for bags etc. ?
Beside that Votec as a track record for non-existing customer service, its quite a curiosity how they make it to appear in online media all over the world without having a portfolio consisting of more than one or two models

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.