Vivente Randonneur
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Vivente Randonneur
Postby Raffky » Wed Feb 29, 2012 12:15 am
The price and specs are great but I'm having trouble finding good online reviews or user/owner comments on the forum. I'm tossing between Surly LHT, Salsa Vaya or VR. The price and specs for the Vivente Randonneur makes it a no brainer but I reckon the LHT has it on looks. An experienced comment would help a lot. Thanks.
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Vivente Randonneur
Postby Max » Wed Feb 29, 2012 7:16 am
I bought one for my mum a couple weeks ago (the trekking bar model). My thoughts are that it is super value for money. It ticks all the boxes: rear rack, capable of taking a front rack, dynamo lights front and back, front disc brake, strong frame, full mud guards, three bidon mounts. $1800 all up. To get all that on an LHT would have you pushing the $3000 mark. I know looks are a subjective thing, but I have seen both bikes side by side, and I really don't think the LHT has anything on the VWR in that regard.Raffky wrote:Can anyone offer a first hand opinion on the Vivente Randonneur? http://www.viventebikes.com/main/page_p ... evers.html
The price and specs are great but I'm having trouble finding good online reviews or user/owner comments on the forum. I'm tossing between Surly LHT, Salsa Vaya or VR. The price and specs for the Vivente Randonneur makes it a no brainer but I reckon the LHT has it on looks. An experienced comment would help a lot. Thanks.
I took it for a shakedown ride last week and was impressed with it (first impressions here: http://maximumbiketouring.wordpress.com ... iden-ride/). The only thing that works against it is its weight. And in fairness to the VWR, I've been riding a carbon roadie for the last four years. Of COURSE it's going to feel heavier.
I would also like to point out that Vivente's after-sales support is awesome. I had a problem with the tail light (that turned out to be due to a loose connection) that Vivente helped me sort out via email. They responded to my first email within a few hours of sending it, and after a bit of back and forth, it was resolved by that evening. Some of their emails were sent out of hours, which I feel showed a commitment to helping me quickly.
I plan to take it for a longer ride this weekend, maybe load it up a bit. If you're in Brisbane, you're welcome to join me for a first-hand look at it.
Max
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Re: Vivente Randonneur
Postby Aushiker » Wed Feb 29, 2012 12:26 pm
Andrew
Aushiker.com
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Re: Vivente Randonneur
Postby RonK » Wed Feb 29, 2012 1:44 pm
Sorry, but as former LHT owner I couldn't agree that the LHT has better looks. Mine was truckachino - a disgusting colour, and the paint finish quality was appalling.Raffky wrote:Can anyone offer a first hand opinion on the Vivente Randonneur? http://www.viventebikes.com/main/page_p ... evers.html
The price and specs are great but I'm having trouble finding good online reviews or user/owner comments on the forum. I'm tossing between Surly LHT, Salsa Vaya or VR. The price and specs for the Vivente Randonneur makes it a no brainer but I reckon the LHT has it on looks. An experienced comment would help a lot. Thanks.
When my brother wanted a bike I recommended the VWR. He bought the trekking bar model also and they are very happy together.
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Re: Vivente Randonneur
Postby WestcoastPete » Wed Feb 29, 2012 2:05 pm
My mate's one had the 3N30 dynohub, which is pretty average quality apparently (bit more drag than others) but I couldn't notice it on the short ride I had on it. I think the new ones have a better one.
You couldn't ask for more for the money I reckon.
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Re: Vivente Randonneur
Postby Raffky » Wed Feb 29, 2012 10:57 pm
Good to hear about the after sales support. I was also pretty impressed with their website. It is different from other bike sites and has a genuine bike user feel about it with good info about sizing, technical and touring. I still wonder how they can offer such good value for money with all the extras (maybe I'm just too suspicious about believing a good deal when I see one).I would also like to point out that Vivente's after-sales support is awesome. I had a problem with the tail light (that turned out to be due to a loose connection) that Vivente helped me sort out via email quickly
A very generous offer, thanks Max. I'm in Brisbane but can't take up your offer this weekend. I will get in touch if I'm still unsure after help from the forum. I think I'll head down to the LBS for another look.I plan to take it for a longer ride this weekend, maybe load it up a bit. If you're in Brisbane, you're welcome to join me for a first-hand look at it.
Max
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Re: Vivente Randonneur
Postby Tandem » Wed Feb 29, 2012 11:15 pm
You can read all about the trip if you click the signature at the bottom.
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Re: Vivente Randonneur
Postby elStado » Thu Mar 01, 2012 12:20 am
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Re: Vivente Randonneur
Postby Baalzamon » Thu Mar 01, 2012 12:40 am
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Re: Vivente Randonneur
Postby elStado » Thu Mar 01, 2012 1:27 am
Thanks Baalza, I'll PM them tomorrow.Baalzamon wrote:Both Tandem and Cavebear2 are in Perth. Mind you depending on how my shoulder MRI results go, it could be my Thorn up for sale....
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Vivente Randonneur
Postby Max » Thu Mar 01, 2012 6:38 am
No worries. I have no life... I mean, I'm free pretty much every weekend, so let me know. If your LBS is Epic, see if you can talk to Mark. He's their resident touring nut and can give you lots of information not just about the bike, but about local cycle touring destinations and touring in general.Raffky wrote:A very generous offer, thanks Max. I'm in Brisbane but can't take up your offer this weekend. I will get in touch if I'm still unsure after help from the forum. I think I'll head down to the LBS for another look.
Max
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Re: Vivente Randonneur
Postby rdvmonasterio » Thu Mar 01, 2012 10:48 am
Well, I bought one late last year for my trip from melbourne to sydney.... it handles the bitumen like a dream..... and I took it over Mt Stanley, on a very wet day over very slushy gravel.... no problems with the Randonneur... excellent bike... I am looking at getting the new trekking bar bike as the one I bought was a small drop handle bar version and I think that I was not fitted correctly... going for the medium size.... I am sticking with the Vivente though...Raffky wrote:Can anyone offer a first hand opinion on the Vivente Randonneur? http://www.viventebikes.com/main/page_p ... evers.html
The price and specs are great but I'm having trouble finding good online reviews or user/owner comments on the forum. I'm tossing between Surly LHT, Salsa Vaya or VR. The price and specs for the Vivente Randonneur makes it a no brainer but I reckon the LHT has it on looks. An experienced comment would help a lot. Thanks.
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Re: Vivente Randonneur
Postby RonK » Thu Mar 01, 2012 11:17 am
The web site has only recently been completed and I agree it is well-designed and informative.Raffky wrote: I was also pretty impressed with their website. It is different from other bike sites and has a genuine bike user feel about it with good info about sizing, technical and touring. I still wonder how they can offer such good value for money with all the extras (maybe I'm just too suspicious about believing a good deal when I see one).
I'm sure the VWR is not absolutely perfect, but the value for money it offers is genuine. Perhaps the question you should ponder is why do the others offer so little value - overrated maybe?
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Re: Vivente Randonneur
Postby Wingnut » Thu Mar 01, 2012 12:01 pm
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Re: Vivente Randonneur
Postby Tim » Thu Mar 01, 2012 6:12 pm
My only concern is whether a 35mm width tyre will cope with dirt roads very well. Apparently the rim can take a 38mm tyre but I also wonder if this is wide enough for the sandy, though not deep sand, coastal roads in the areas I plan on touring?
Having spoken to St.Kilda Cycles they say they can swap out the Shimano hub dynamo for a Sun one but is this really necessary? Are Sun dynamoes that much better?
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Re: Vivente Randonneur
Postby WestcoastPete » Thu Mar 01, 2012 8:44 pm
As far as the tyre width goes, I'd personally prefer something that could take a wider tyre, but it depends on where you're going. I rode out to Walker Creek in Litchfield NP on a mountain bike with 2" tyres with my mate on a VWR - we both got wobbly in the sandy bits, we both found it bumpy, we both made it and we both had a blast.
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Re: Vivente Randonneur
Postby il padrone » Thu Mar 01, 2012 11:13 pm
"An unjustified and unethical imposition on a healthy activity."
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Re: Vivente Randonneur
Postby Raffky » Thu Mar 01, 2012 11:42 pm
Nice work Tandem. A great trip by the look of it and certainly makes your recommendation a valuable one. I read about the water bottle training rides in your journal. Nice idea. You can get the weight exactly as you want.You can't go wrong with the Vivente Randonneur. I used my one for a 3 month tour in Europe last year. I can highly recommend it.
Yeah, Mark is a very helpful bloke and has VWRs on the floor. He likes his Salsa Vayas too.If your LBS is Epic, see if you can talk to Mark. He's their resident touring nut and can give you lots of information not just about the bike, but about local cycle touring destinations and touring in general.
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Re: Vivente Randonneur
Postby elStado » Thu Mar 01, 2012 11:46 pm
Quantum don't like giving info over email and Fleet's email is down.
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Re: Vivente Randonneur
Postby Tim » Fri Mar 02, 2012 6:53 pm
Not far off joining the touring ranks, can't wait.
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Vivente Randonneur
Postby Max » Fri Mar 02, 2012 10:31 pm
Max
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Re: Vivente Randonneur
Postby cavebear2 » Tue Mar 06, 2012 12:50 am
Robert I don't work in the CBD anymore.
Raffky there is an excellent review of the VWR in 'Ride On' magazine about October's 2011 edition I think. They were pretty impressed with the package also. 84 or 85 /100 from memory.
My circa 2008 model doesn't come with the front disc brake but has SKS mudguards which are better quality than the current Bike the Planet? mudguards. My VWR also came with front rack. All in all a very good bike for touring (forget weight, about 15kgs) Carried 30kgs on it from Norseman to Hyden, including 12 litres of water from Norseman. I did change the flared Nitto handlebars though as the hoods were too close together (36cm!) for good control with a dynamo and front panniers. My VWR is a medium size.
Rides well particularly on a free fall descent down Welshpool Rd with 15kgs of weight on board. :>)
Regards
Perry
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Re: Vivente Randonneur
Postby elStado » Fri Mar 09, 2012 9:34 pm
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Re: Vivente Randonneur
Postby elStado » Sat Mar 10, 2012 6:10 pm
My thoughts were that they are very well designed and thought out touring bikes. Many features on these bikes have obviously come from solid product testing and store/customer feed back, e.g. three mounting areas for bidons, ability to mount a traditional v-brake on the front fork, stable/comfortable touring geometry, dynamo hub and front/rear lights, Schwalbe marathon tyres, strong and sturdy rim/spokes etc. The fellow at Quantum cycles mentioned that the owner of Vivente was a keen tourer himself and was always looking at ways to improve the VWR as a good value touring bike (apparently he is coming to Perth after the Taipei expo).
On the actual bikes, I found the disc brakes to not be that effective and on the drop bar version it was rubbing a bit - this is probably more of a fine tuning issue rather than the bike though. The frame was heavy alright, but it still feel extremely study and stable while riding. I had some minor issues with toe overlap, however the mudgaurds that come with the bike still had around 20mm left of adjustment in order to give a bit of extra clearance. On the topic of the mudguards they seemed sturdy enough and even had plastic mudflaps on the bottom. I doubt that I would replace them with SKS guards as they seem fine. Aesthetics wise this bike is really focussed on being a practical touring and commuting bike, so it isn't going to win any awards for style. The paint work and decals was bland but good quality, with a shiny smooth finish. Gearing range was pretty good (Sugino Alpina 600T 48/36/26T) although I would really need to full load it up and then ride up some hills to see how it would fare, I'm thinking that something lower like 44/32/22T would be nicer for steep hills on the fully loaded bike. The B&M front/rear dynamo lights were a nice touch and quite bright, even when in stand-by they are clearly visible. I didn't notice any drag at all from the Shimano dynamo hub. In regards to sizing I found the medium sized frame (490mm seat tube C-top, and 566mm top tube) to be pretty much spot for my height/in-seam ratio. Only thing I noticed was that the trekking bar model was a little too short and cramped, putting excess pressure on the palm of my hands. Apparently this can be easily corrected by putting on a longer reach stem if I chose to go the trekking bar version.
So all up I am very impressed with the VWR. I would really like go for the IGH option, but I think I might just hang tight for now and stick with the standard derailleur option. Only thing I will need to do with this bike is swap out the provided saddle and rack for my own gear I already have, get a front rack (apparently about $80 for a front rack from Vivente, or $95-130 online for something decent), and then spend a bit of time with the guys at the shop getting it fit properly and tuned/run in. For the price this is an amazing bike. I am also looking to get a price on a frame with the Ritchey Break-Away system which was featured on the previous model STI VWR but dropped in the new model as they were having too many complaints about it. Apparently the issues people were having with it were mainly due to incorrect assembly/tension of the brackets - i.e. user error, not a product fault. I am also still tossing up between the trekking bar model or the drop bar STI model as I want to use a front bar bag to hold my personal gear and maps, I have heard there are issues with it interfering with the front cables on STI bikes. Not sure if there's a way to work around this?
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Re: Vivente Randonneur
Postby Uncle Just » Sun Mar 11, 2012 1:50 pm
PS is the issue with the VR that it still has the exposed gear cables hence interfering with a barbag unlike the hidden cables of the latest STI levers? That would correct it but you'd have the expense of going 10 speed or more easily I've seen how some instal longer cables with V brake pipes to move the cables further away and down.
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