Anybody own a Speedvagen?

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ichobi
Posts: 1794
Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2012 11:30 pm

by ichobi

Couldn't find many topics about their road machine bike. Aesthetically extremely pleasing. I just wonder how they ride? There is that feeling of n+1 and a lovely modern steel bike is something I always yearn for.

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by Weenie


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MuppetMower
Posts: 8
Joined: Tue May 27, 2014 2:59 pm

by MuppetMower

I have wanted one for a while. They are the best looking custom steel bikes in my opinion. If I could justify the price I would have one, but I don't really need custom geometry and I can get a technically better(lighter and stiffer) racing bike for much less money.

It will ride like a high end custom steel bike.

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kac
Posts: 361
Joined: Sat Dec 04, 2010 5:31 pm

by kac

I visited their Portland shop a couple of months ago and watched them work on some Vanilla frames. I believe Speedvagen is available in stock sizes as well as custom. I didn't have the opportunity to ride one (unfortunately), but there were many frames in varying stages of completion in the shop. Paint and construction quality are first rate! The people who work there are nice. But...all I got was a t-shirt

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split
Posts: 90
Joined: Sun May 14, 2006 8:23 pm

by split

You may have more responses from Paceline forum or velocipede forum. I've never heard anyone complain of how a speedvagen rides.
S P L I T: 2010 Meivici: 14.4 lbs | 2003 Odile: 19 lbs | Hunter Cycles Cyclocross: 17 lbs | 2013 Dundee Cycles Jewell 29er: 17 lbs

Denavelo
Posts: 437
Joined: Wed Apr 08, 2009 8:01 pm

by Denavelo

I own a Speedvagen and I don't think I'll ever sell it.
My 1st road bike was a Time Edge VX --> Cervelo R3SL --> Parlee Z4 --> Speedvagen 2011 SM

By far the Speedvagen is the most sublime riding bike of all bikes I've owned. The quality of a steel riding bike is unmatched, well.. I recently bought a BMC for hill climbing and I can honestly say the BMC SLR01 rips! So yeah, the BMC matches the SV in ride quality and smoothness.

When you first ride a Speedvagen, you instantly notice how smooth the bike rides. The ISP absorbs all of the road vibration and I'm constantly telling friends that if I were a crit racer, I would ride nothing but a Speedvagen. It mutes all of the road chatter, that I find myself pedaling non stop. Say you're on a carbon bike and you see rough road, you may embrace for the rough stuff. On the SV, you just pedal right over it. If that makes any sense?

My speedvagen with somewhat light parts (Super Record 11, Tune wheels) weighed in the high 14lb range. I mean for a full steel bike with ISP, 14lb isn't that damn bad, right? I'm not sure if all current steel bikes ride like a SV does, but it's something that's hard to describe fully in words on a forum. It's just that smooth. The cornering is ridiculous as well. It leans like a Moto GP bike, so easy to flick from side to side and the bike feels super stable at speed. People ask why I bought a BMC, when I have a speedvagen. To be honest, the Speedvagen isn't the best weapon for long days in the saddle up long LA climbs, but I've hung with extremly strong climbers on the SV with no issues. Most of my riding involves 4000-8000ft of climbing on my average loops. Not saying it doesn't climb well, just saying that a 12lb Carbon bike will climb 10x better than a 14lb steel bike. It's just the truth. I've shattered all of my climb times on the BMC, and that's not lie. Different weapons for different battles I guess you can call it. The Speedvagen road racer purpose is an all day race bike, and that makes perfect sense. It would be the ultimate stage race kind of bike. A ride with just enough flat, just enough climbing and crush on the descents. That's exactly what the bike does exceptionally well. It climbs with the lightest climbing bike, crushes on the descents and hammering on the flats is next level. With my Zipp 404 Firecrest wheels, straight line riding is ridiculously fun. I mean averaging 30+ solo on the flats with ease, and not even trying to hammer. I chalk that up to the 404 wheels, as much as I do the bike itself but paired toegether with deep carbon wheels, the speedvagen comes to life. My buddy just got a 2014 Road Machine, and I've been telling him to run to the nearest Enve or Zipp dealer and buy deep carbon to pair with his bike. These bikes fly with deep wheels.

Everything you hear about these bikes are the truth. The price is warranted because of the service you get from the folks at Vanilla. They honestly treat you like a family member, once you get one of their bikes. I can't see myself parting ways with my frame, as I have it taken apart waiting for a new group (Shimano 9000) and refresh. In a few years, I'll think of some wacky paint scheme and have Vanilla give me a paint refresh.

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Rob English "Mudfoot" 29er | Focus Izalco Max | Firefly #194 Stainless XCR | Firefly #277 | Neilpryde Bura SL 11.9 | Crust Evasion Lite

ichobi
Posts: 1794
Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2012 11:30 pm

by ichobi

Thanks for such a nice in depth review man!


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djm
Posts: 1403
Joined: Thu May 14, 2009 12:19 pm
Location: Norway

by djm

How is one supposed to pronounce "Speedvagen"?

"vagen" is somewhat German, which would indicate an "f" for the "v", as in Volkswagen. The Speedfag(en) however, may not sound as good as the "Speedwagon" :-)

shimmeD
Posts: 544
Joined: Thu Jun 28, 2012 10:52 pm
Location: eNZed

by shimmeD

sped-fa-gon? speed-fay-gent?

I'd much rather ride a speed wagon!
Less is more.

FHKJ
Posts: 57
Joined: Sat Dec 12, 2009 5:42 pm

by FHKJ

I've owned one since 2011, I also own a Parlee Z5Sli. Speedy has Dura Ace mechanical, Parlee Di2.

Speedy is smoother, and - despite weighing a bit more - I don't actually see much time difference on shortish climbs. In the Alps/Pyrenees, however, I have always taken the Parlee as on long climbs the weight benefit is clear.

For comfort and confidence descending the Speedy wins hands down, it just feels rock steady and (even on Lightweights) seems to absorb the road a load better than the Parlee.

Service from the Speedvagen team was great, and I've yet to see another on the road in the UK, an added bonus.

FJ

Briscoelab
Posts: 1513
Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2006 6:01 pm

by Briscoelab

My wife has two of their CX bikes. They are awesome.

Denavelo
Posts: 437
Joined: Wed Apr 08, 2009 8:01 pm

by Denavelo

This was my CX bike from Speedvagen that was too short in the Seat Tube for me.
I was bummed. I chose the paint scheme. Hollow lettering with "Vanilla Blue" outline.
Such a killer looking CX frame. I shipped it to the UK..

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Rob English "Mudfoot" 29er | Focus Izalco Max | Firefly #194 Stainless XCR | Firefly #277 | Neilpryde Bura SL 11.9 | Crust Evasion Lite

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

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Briscoelab
Posts: 1513
Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2006 6:01 pm

by Briscoelab

Did you order it from them, and it had too short of a seat tube? There were a couple issues with my wife's first bike and they bent over backwards to make it right.

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