Kavenz VHP16 Review - Virtual High Pivot, High Performance

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#kavenz #highpivotmtb
Are you looking for a high pivot mountain bike? Check this review out! The Kavenz VHP16 is a high pivot enduro mountain bike with 160mm travel and an aluminum frame. We put it to the test for three months to find out how well it performed, and now we're ready to tell you in this video.
After 15 years of making high-end aftermarket components, Giacomo of 77designz decided to put his engineering expertise to a bigger product and started a bike brand offshoot by the name of Kavenz. They released their VHP series of bikes into the market a couple of years ago and have been slowly refining the details with small iterations and new models along the way. I had been dying to get my hands on one to put to the test, so was stoked when the VHP16 V6 frame turned up at my doorstep ready to be built and hit the trails across Scotland. It was worth the wait, as it turned out to be one of my favorite enduro bikes to date. Read on to find out why.
THE LAB
Seeking to obtain their ultimate characteristics for a full suspension mountain bike, Kavenz developed their VHP (Virtual High Pivot) line of bikes. They came to market with an initial 29” wheeled 160mm travel enduro offering called the VHP16, which has since been joined by the VHP15 (150mm) and VHP18 (180mm). These all share a common mainframe, which has a replaceable lower shock mount which allows the user to switch between each of the different travel versions in combination with a different shock or set their VHP up with a 27.5” rear wheel. The VHP16 is optimized for a 170mm fork but is said to be happily compatible with a 160mm to 180mm.
[this is just a short excerpt from the full written review.]
VISIT THE SITE TO READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE:
theloamwolf.com
Price: From €2,645 (Frame only, raw)
Weight as Tested: 35.5lbs (16.1kg)
Website: Kavenz.com
Get your Loam Wolf gear here:
store.theloamwolf.com
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Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:16 - Tech Talk
05:35 - How We Built It
07:49 - Riding Impressions
12:25 - Final thoughts
#mountainbike #enduromtb #mountainbiking #bike

Пікірлер: 40

  • @pernyberg2816
    @pernyberg2816 Жыл бұрын

    Great review - and as an owner of a VHP16 in Large I must say I am surprised of how composed this, relatively, small bike is. Being a tall guy at 188cm, who likes to do a lot of labbing and testing, I have had a lot of back and fourth on bikes with a reaches from 460 to 515 I kinda felt at home on the bigger bikes. Big bikes felt like they fit me well, but were a fkn wrestling match in twistier trails. If you are familiar to the trails than there isnt any drawbacks with a long bike, really. You adapt and ride differently. But when you are racing or riding blind long bikes makes for a lot of extra work. But what big bikes have working for them, for me, is the high stack height! I am a big fan of high stack and find that it is more crucial for fit than reach. Stack isnt super high on a standard L (480mm reach and 110mm head tube) but with a high rise bar and a riser stem - it works really well. So what makes this bikes so damn fun to ride? Stiff enough fram coupled with a rear end that is just magic! It is not a super muted feel like a NUKEPROOF GIGA and not as harsh as a YT Capra. Instead you get feedback from what you are riding but it doesnt feel like you are forgot to flip the lock out switch when you are going fast through semi big rocks. It keeps you in line like a bigger bike but agile like a smaller bike. The first thing that hit me was how great it climbs. It does not get hung up on square edges and has a very "get up and go" kinda feel when putting the power down. The second thing I noticed was exaclty how little you feel that rearward axle path. This was my biggest concern when buying the bike...rearward axle path = stuck to the ground. This is somewhat true but the KAVENZ feels very "normal", in a good way, when going down hill. It can pop and does not feel that the CS grows in fast supported corners. It feels just like you have more grip - in all situations really. One thing that I have noticed though is that if you start to drift in the rear during a turn while braking, the rear end will move more to the side than if you had a longer bike with a longer CS. But this is just in really loose, unsuported tight turns where you need to brake in the corner to make it - and grab a bit too much brake. Another thing that I would have liked to see was external cable rounting. I understand that with the tube profile the frame has it is stiff and really strong and that external would have not been about as pleasing for the eye as being stung in the optics by an anagry WASP. I changed the rear brake yesterday to a Hayes Dominion with the thicker stiffer brake hose...it was not fun. Exdtra cudos to Kavenz that takes a lean iterative approach to their bikes - meaning that all updates are backwards compatible and the frame wont be out of date (I.E SUCK!) when a new version comes out. I have a V5 and the next release is the V7 with a new rear end with UDH mount and different CS length. This bike can also quadrouple duty as a bike park/ freeride bike (vhp18) Trailbike (vhp15) and soon a XC/DC bike (VHP12). So buy a mezzer or a coil fork and you can reconfigure your bike in a few hours to make it suite all kinds of terrain you might want to attack.

  • @jymtb

    @jymtb

    Ай бұрын

    Great review. I’ll also be between sizes but am likely to size down if I end up getting a Kavenz. I like that you can go with shorter reach frame but still have a tall stack.

  • @claritean
    @claritean3 ай бұрын

    very good job describing the suspension characteristics between these two high pivots. seems like nobody talks about that brake jack. I myself did not know until I rented a Kona Operator in the bikepark ..

  • @xaverymulholland5279
    @xaverymulholland5279 Жыл бұрын

    Fantastic review. Everyone seems to only have good things to say about the Kavenz. On the short list for my next enduro bike!

  • @TheLoamWolf

    @TheLoamWolf

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you Xavery! It's hard to fault the Kavenz.

  • @tomprevost2477
    @tomprevost2477 Жыл бұрын

    nice job dude, clear and concise, like it.

  • @TheLoamWolf

    @TheLoamWolf

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you Tom, appreciate it and hope it was useful for you!

  • @gerritmai6393
    @gerritmai63937 ай бұрын

    That was a very nice review, specially good move to compare anti rise to deviate bikes. Important note for me. Razer sharp camera resolution as well, enjoy.

  • @koltface
    @koltface Жыл бұрын

    This thing looks so fun! What a great design.

  • @TheLoamWolf

    @TheLoamWolf

    Жыл бұрын

    It sure is! Thanks for watching

  • @JMRBikeZone
    @JMRBikeZone Жыл бұрын

    Got this minimalist looking frame a month ago and loving this

  • @TheLoamWolf

    @TheLoamWolf

    Жыл бұрын

    Awesome, thank you for sharing!

  • @javisst44
    @javisst44 Жыл бұрын

    Nice!

  • @Shotgoon
    @Shotgoon Жыл бұрын

    Loving my medium! The chainstays might be a bit short in the larger sizes but they will be offering adjustable chainstays later this year.

  • @TheLoamWolf

    @TheLoamWolf

    Жыл бұрын

    That’ll be a great move 🤘🏼

  • @BiecherBender

    @BiecherBender

    Жыл бұрын

    Not only that, from what I have heard, they will also sell them as an upgrade part. So you don’t have to buy a complete new frame

  • @maxiglauser5384

    @maxiglauser5384

    21 күн бұрын

    How big are you, i am looking for some size recommendations, I’m 179cm and im not sure if i should ride a M or L

  • @Shotgoon

    @Shotgoon

    19 күн бұрын

    @@maxiglauser5384 if you’re buying direct from them I’d look into the semi custom 420 seat tube 480 reach

  • @galenkehler
    @galenkehler Жыл бұрын

    I saw this bike at Cycolo last weekend, looks even nicer in person. Maybe its he german in me but that minimal brushed finish is perfect for a MTB

  • @TheLoamWolf

    @TheLoamWolf

    Жыл бұрын

    It sure does. Brushed raw is one of our favorites too

  • @NB-ski
    @NB-ski2 ай бұрын

    great review! I am considering this for my next bike. How much did your bike weight as built?

  • @guillermoqueirolo6533
    @guillermoqueirolo6533 Жыл бұрын

    Great!!

  • @TheLoamWolf

    @TheLoamWolf

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you!

  • @Marcus221179
    @Marcus221179 Жыл бұрын

    Greetings from Billerbeck, Germany! Würde das Bike liebend gern hier in den Baumbergen bewegen.🤟

  • @JaggedTusk
    @JaggedTusk Жыл бұрын

    Sweet bike! I'm curious how much sag were you running and what spring rate?

  • @TheLoamWolf

    @TheLoamWolf

    Жыл бұрын

    450lbs for 95kg body weight and roughly 30% sag. Worked good!

  • @xwadix
    @xwadix7 ай бұрын

    Still curious about the shock linkage.. 😅😅😅.. Manage to take big drop or jump?

  • @javisst44

    @javisst44

    5 ай бұрын

    DH-rated frame so yes!

  • @jackhadland864
    @jackhadland864 Жыл бұрын

    What a bike!! Great review, but where's the motor.

  • @TheLoamWolf

    @TheLoamWolf

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you Jack! No motor needed to have fun with this one.

  • @marklouieadame
    @marklouieadame Жыл бұрын

    Is this hard steel?

  • @TheLoamWolf

    @TheLoamWolf

    Жыл бұрын

    It's aluminum. 7020 T6 to be precise.

  • @marklouieadame

    @marklouieadame

    Жыл бұрын

    Oh wow its is slim for alluminum classic look and looks tough and light sorry i commented without finishing the video haha

  • @topchoice1621
    @topchoice1621 Жыл бұрын

    1st 🥇

  • @topchoice1621
    @topchoice1621 Жыл бұрын

    1st 🥇

  • @TheLoamWolf

    @TheLoamWolf

    Жыл бұрын

    On it as usual

  • @topchoice1621

    @topchoice1621

    Жыл бұрын

    @@TheLoamWolf I try to be I love all ur videos but don’t get to see them as soon as they drop cause I’m at work or doing something else lol I like this bike and the ohlins suspension is nice I just hope I don’t have to sell more than one kidney to buy one lol 😂

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