In a world of £8k superbikes, it’s great to see that relatively little gets you quite a lot. At £500 the Vendetta looks a reasonable prospect, but given frequent price reductions to £280, it’s a steal.
- Best mountain bike: how to choose the right one for you
- Which is faster: hardtail or full-suspension?
Carrera Vendetta spec overview
- Forks: Suntour XCM-DS 29 (100mm travel)
- Tyres: 27.5" x 2.8" Kenda Havoc
- Rear brake: Tektro Novela mechanical disc brake
- Front brake: Tektro Novela mechanical disc brake
- Rear mech: SRAM RD-X4
- Front mech: Shimano FD-M410E
- Gear shifters: SRAM SL-X4 trigger shifters
- Cassette/freewheel: Shimano 8 speed, 12-32T
- Chain: KMC Z-72
- Chainset: Suntour Triple 42/32/22T with 175mm cranks
- Grips: Velo grips
- Handlebars: 740mm, 31.8
- Headset: Semi-integrated 1 1/8"
- Saddle: Velo saddle
- Seatpost: Alloy, 350mm
Carrera Vendetta frame and equipment
Carrera proves two things. First off, geometry costs nothing. In short, the shape of the bike is up there with some of our favourite trail hardtails. The 55mm stem and 740mm bars, when combined with a relatively slack 68 degree head angle and low bottom bracket, gives confident, precise handling, far surpassing the usual nervous, upright feel bikes at this price often have.
Secondly, plus tyres work at this price point. From a standing start the 2.8” Kenda Havok tyres are slow to get rolling, but once at speed, and down at 15psi the grip and comfort they give stamps all over the skittery plastic rubbish usually seen. This means the Vendetta is confidence inspiring for new riders, while the big volume absorbs trail buzz, diminishing the harshness of the frame.
ADVERTISEMENT
Carrera Vendetta ride impression
Up front there’s a Suntour XCM fork with 100mm of travel. Yes, the skinny, QR legs are a touch flexy and the undamped rebound means if you run your front tyre too hard it’ll ping everywhere. But with a bit of patience it is possible to marry front tyre bounce and fork rebound in to a relatively happy coexistence.
It is perhaps less forgivable at its RRP, but for £280, we’re not too worried that the cable operated Tektro brakes aren’t the most powerful, nor deliver great feel, and the mixed Shimano/SRAM 3x8 drivetrain, is certainly behind the times. But, it does work, and the 22:32 bottom gear is ideal for winching it back up the hill.
Before riding the Vendetta we thought it would be a sluggish tractor of a bike, but after our first lap of the woods we were thinking again! Beginners, or those with a limited budget will find the it a perfectly capable bike for hitting local woodsy singletrack and trail centre blues.
Carrera Vendetta early verdict
You can read more at BikeRadar.com
via BikeRadar All the latest from BikeRadar.com http://ift.tt/2g4M4RG
No comments:
Post a Comment