Van Nicholas touring bike

[Pockpaul]

VN Titanium touring bike, over priced or value for money?

 

[vickster]

@ianrauk @Soltydog have had VNs

Which model specifically?
What other brands are you looking at?

 

[Spoked Wheels]

Very happy with my road VN bike, there have been new ownership since I bought mine so I don't know how the warranty is now.
I got in touch with a simple question about a warranty issue (just in case it happened) and the head mechanic replied, not a very helpful reply and with a bit of attitude.... maybe he was having a bad day

At the very beginning, under the old ownership, I asked a technical question and they took ages to answer it properly, maybe two months but in the end they took the question on board and gave me an answer that has worked ever since.

Would I buy another VN bike? I'd buy Ti again but I'd probably try another manufacturer although I'm very happy with my road bike.

 

[Soltydog]

In my 3rd year of Van Nic ownership, covered about 10k miles & still love it. Mine is a Ventus though, not a tourer at all. but I'd consider mine good VFM

If you are looking for a Ti tourer, Spa may offer better VFM

 

[ianrauk]

If YOU think they are overpriced then its probrably not a bike for you.

You would be hard pressed to find an unhappy VN owner.

 

[CXRAndy]

Ive got a Kinesis Ti Tripster V2. Its a All terrain bike, wide tyre capacity relaxed geometry, plenty of fixing points for guards and racks. It has the option of QR or thru-axle, internal cables and English threaded bottom bracket. Frame only

 

[Pockpaul]

Many thanks for your replies. I've not seen any of the VN bikes in the flesh, but Im looking for a good tour bike. Looking at the sales bumf they look impressive and a quality build. I do understand quality comes at a price, but sometimes the manufactures dont keep up with the times.
Just been looking at the Kinesis Ti Tripster, very nice.

 

[vickster]

Take a trip from East To North Yorkshire to chat with Spa Cycles about touring bikes as suggested above

 

[Nebulous]

Many thanks for your replies. I've not seen any of the VN bikes in the flesh, but Im looking for a good tour bike. Looking at the sales bumf they look impressive and a quality build. I do understand quality comes at a price, but sometimes the manufactures dont keep up with the times.
Just been looking at the Kinesis Ti Tripster, very nice.

I saw this review recently for a yukon disc that I really liked It doesn't look as though they haven't kept up with the times, flat mount discs, internal cables, thru axles and room for wide tyres all there.

 

[cosmicbike]

I ride VN Yukon, courtesy of @vickster . My first Ti, and without doubt the most comfortable road bike I've ridden. It takes up to 28C tyres and has racg and mudguard options. I'd never have bought it new, but now I've had it, I'd replace it with the new version should the need arise, worth every penny.

 

[Venod]

I had a VN Chinook for several years, not a tourer but a beautifully built nice to ride frame.

Spa Cycles as mentioned by @vickster above are touring specialists and their Ti bikes look fantastic value, some people find them grumpy but I have always found them friendly and helpful, worth a visit, they also stock Sabbath Ti as well.

Planet X also do very good Ti frames at good prices, their prices are volatile though and a bargain one week might not be there next.

 

[vickster]

If you want to try out van Nic, Fatbirds at Pedal Revolution in Kings Lynn have a good range and are very helpful (phone in advance to discuss what they have) and there’s always Enigma but quite far away in Sussex (and the costs are higher than vN or Spa). J Guillem bikes are lovely too (started by Mr vN) not sure that they have tourers

I looked at virtually every brand before settling on the Sabbath AR1 from Spa (including a brief dalliance with the second hand Ventus that I sold on to @cosmicbike ). The Sabbath offered me the spec and the looks for a price I could justify. Everything similar would have been £700-1000 more at least

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Take a trip from East To North Yorkshire to chat with Spa Cycles about touring bikes as suggested above

I went up to Harrogate earlier this spring to look at their touring Ti bikes but ended up buying a ti audax bike (Spa Elan disk) with carbon forks rigged up for light touring with 32c tyres (there's plenty clearance for wider tyres). It's very, very comfortable, smooth and assured and I can swap the forks for cromoly ones if I ever need front panniers. Service was fine - slightly dour and almost old fashioned yet competent and I simply took that as normal for Yorkshire.

 

[Venod]

Service was fine - slightly dour and almost old fashioned yet competent and I simply took that as normal for Yorkshire.

That's probably why I find them friendly and helpful, been a fellow Yorkshire man, I took them as normal.

 

[vickster]

I had no particular issues even though I’m female, from the south and apparently quite posh sounding (with the occasional Sarf London twang)