Votec VM150 Team Review

TESTED

Votec
VM150
Team

WORDS Mike Levy
PHOTOS Ian Hylands

VM150 Team Construction Details
Given the blended lines and stealth black colour scheme, you would be forgiven for mistaking Votec's aluminum VM150 frame for one constructed from carbon fiber. That quiet appearance is at odds with an impressively well-executed frame that only gives up its details upon closer inspection. In fact, Votec's entire lineup takes a covert approach to bike design that offers up far less flash than other brands. Minus the seat and head tubes, you won't find a single round tube anywhere on the black Votec, with extensive hydroforming used throughout. The large diameter down tube tapers from its massive forward section into a more oval shape, with the slightly dropped top tube taking the same approach. Votec went to great lengths to eliminate the need for zip-ties on the VM150, with concession for a dropper post being made with three green anodized aluminum clamps on the top tube, while interesting hinged housing guides are used on the underside of the down tube. Those who use the over-the-tailgate approach to a bike rack should take note that, while very clean looking, the down tube cable routing on the Votec isn't ideal for that method of transport.

Given that Votec is a German brand, it shouldn't come as a surprise to see Syntace's (also a German company) X-12 aluminum thru-axle system employed. Yes, it does require the use of a 5mm hex key to remove and install, but it is an elegant and simple design compared to the 12mm quick-release thru-axles on the market, and we've had nothing but good experiences with it in the past. Like many brands these days, Votec chose to go with a 6'' post mount rear brake setup. Unlike many other brands, though, you won't find any ISCG chain guide tabs around the VM150 Team's bottom bracket shell, a big minus in our books given that the potential owner of a bike like this might very well consider fitting it with some type of dual or single-ring guide. An ISCG adapter plate could easily be clamped between the driveside threaded bottom bracket cup and shell, but that seems like a bit of a shame given how well thought out the rest of the frame is.




spanner slots for adjusting bearing tension, but said slots are for purely cosmetic reasons and the pivots employ a straightforward sealed bearing arrangement. It is worth noting that rear-end maintenance requires five different sizes of hex keys: 5 and 10mm for the main pivot, 4 and 6mm for the rear pivots, 4 and 8mm for the upper seat stay pivots, and 4mm for the rocker pivot and shock mountain hardware - a bit of a cluster in our opinion.

Specifications Release Date 2013 Price $4699 Travel 150 Rear Shock Fox Float RP23 Boost Valve 200x57mm Fork Fox 32 Talas FIT TerraLogic taper QR15 black 120-150mm Cassette Shimano XTR 11-36t 10-fold Crankarms Shimano XTR w/ 42/32/24t rings Bottom Bracket Shimano XTR 73mm BSA Rear Derailleur Shimano XTR Shadow 10-speed Chain Shimano XT CN-HG94 Front Derailleur Shimano XTR 3x10 Shifter Pods Shimano XTR 3x10 Handlebar Syntace Vector DH 760mm 20mm rise Stem Syntace F109-TI Grips VOTEC LockOn Grips Brakes Formula TheOne Factory, 203/180mm Wheelset Sun Ringlé Pro Charger Tires Schwalbe Nobby Nic 26x2.4/2.2 "EVO SnakeSkin TubelessReady Trailstar compound Seat Fizik Tundra 2 MG Seatpost RockShox Reverb Compare to other All Mountain/Enduro/XC

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Votec VM150 Team
Riding Impressions

Setting it up: The Votec's straightforward rear suspension layout and easy to understand FOX fork and shock make for a bike that is easy to wrap your head around when it comes to using a shock pump and turning dials. We began with a 30% sag figure out back but added more pressure after a few rides in order to bring that number down to 25%, with it quickly becoming apparent that the VM150 Team is impressively supple at the top of its stroke for a 150mm travel air-sprung bike, enough so that we could run the bike slightly firmer and still enjoy positively awesome, traction-inducing small bump compliance. The moderately higher air pressure in the FOX RP23 added vitality to the bike's personality, a fact that would greatly help the bike's performance when stomping on the pedals. Up front, the FIT TerraLogic-equipped FOX 32 fork, with a travel-adjusting TALAS dial, rebound adjustment, TerraLogic controls, and air spring pressure, is relatively painless to get sorted quickly. The TerraLogic system is essentially an automated, mechanical design that employs a spring loaded brass weight (FOX calls it the 'Brassmass') to control the fork's ability to either be firm for pedalling or open up to absorb impacts. A dial at the bottom of the right fork leg allows users to tune the TerraLogic threshold to their liking. There are no on-the-go compression dials ala the FOX CTD damper, and the TerraLogic system takes the place of any sort of lockout lever, making the Votec's FOX 32 a great fork for a rider who would rather get on with riding than tinker with settings.

Climbing/acceleration: The VM150 Team's combination of ultra-supple rear suspension and inertia-valve FOX 32 TerraLogic fork make for a bike with an interesting personality when it comes to gaining elevation. The Nobby Nic tires offer traction in spades, and when the bike's rear suspension is left open it feels as if you could climb up the side of a barn with ease. So long as you don't stand up and start throwing around your body weight - we found it easy to eat up a lot of the bike's travel if you didn't put some thought into what you were doing. Of course, flipping the shock's Adaptive Logic lever to the ProPedal setting takes care of that unwanted movement, but we'd rather not feel the need to make that move. The FOX fork's TerraLogic system made for a firm feeling front end when getting over the bars during an uphill sprint, a feature that those contesting a cross-country race finish line sprint will surely appreciate, but also one that we have to question on the front of a 150mm travel bike despite it matching the rear end in travel. There was also a near non-stop rattle from within the fork, presumably emanating from the system's brass weight, that we found quite annoying.


Technical riding: Technical climbs were a treat on the black Votec, with the bike squirting up challenging sections better than a 150mm travel bike should be capable of. A lot of this is due to its relatively quick handling - the Votec steers quicker than its 68° head angle would have you expecting, as well as a rear end that seems to manufacture its own traction when none is available. If you are pointing the right direction and committed, the VM150 Team won't be holding you back. We rarely felt the need to use the fork's TALAS feature to quicken the handling, as the bike's agile temperament didn't seem to require it, and even the tightest switchbacks were dealt with relatively easily. Wet or loose trail surfaces didn't necessitate a shift in body weight to keep the rear tire grabbing, allowing us to sit and spin efficiently instead of adopting an awkward position on the bike to improve traction. It is fair to say that the Votec makes a lot of other bikes in the 150mm travel bracket look foolish when it comes to slow, technical climbs that resemble more of a chess match than riding a bike.

The traits listed above that create such a potent technical climber also have the same effect as the trail starts to point down, so long as the speeds and terrain don't get out of hand, that is. Slower, technical trails that require precision and deft bike control are where the Votec really shines, rewarding a rider who prefers to pick their way down the trail instead of a more forceful approach. Hairball root lines, knife edge traverses, and ultra-tight corners are the Votec's forte, excelling above other 150mm travel bikes that have steadily been leaning more towards balls-out riding than technical plodding over the last few years.


Downhill: The flip side of the Votec's technical skills becomes apparent when it is time to stretch the bike's legs on faster, rougher terrain. It's when the speeds pick up that we found the bike to feel a touch ''pointy'' in the handling department, with a decidedly quick-steering feel to it that would have us again guessing that the bike's head angle is steeper than the advertised 68° (we measured and it isn't, though). This sensation is amplified as the terrain becomes steeper, and we never really felt comfortable when asking the bike to ride closer to our personal limits. We found ourselves questioning Votec's choice to spec the FOX 32 TALAS FIT TerraLogic fork, with it tending to eat up its travel quickly after the first impact, likely a large factor in the bike's overly quick handling when aiming down steep chutes. We know that the TerraLogic-equipped 32 performs well within its realm, but we can't help but wonder if we'd feel more at home on the Votec if it came with a 32 Float 150 FIT RLC instead. As it is, we became progressively more hesitant as the terrain increased in speed and size.



Component Report:

• Shimano XTR triple-ring crankset: Good - the relatively wide gearing range (at least compared to the dual-ring drivetrains that we are so used to seeing) was a boon when we wanted to sit and spin our way up a climb, or for commuting to and from the mountain on the road. Bad - having to pay more attention to what gear we were in isn't something that we missed after riding so many bikes with dual-ring setups, although chain slap isn't an issue like it used to be thanks to the clutch-equipped XTR rear derailleur.

• RockShox Reverb dropper post: Good - without a traditional cable to contaminate, the hydraulically-controlled Reverb is the most consistent performer on the market for our monsoon-like B.C. riding conditions. Bad - the position required by both the right hand Formula brake perch and the Shimano shifter pushed the Reverb remote so far inboard that we actually had to slide our hand in on the grip to push it. Because of this we found ourselves having to anticipate needing to drop the post earlier than actually required.

• Formula The One brakes: Good - a hell of a lot of power is packed into these Italian stoppers, making them great for bigger and/or hard charging riders. Bad - That much power will likely making them feel like overkill for a lot of riders. We'd likely de-tune them by dropping down to 6'' rotors front and back if the VM150 Team was our personal bike.

• Schwalbe Nobby Nic tires: Good - Schwalbe is doing some seriously good things with their tires. The Nobby Nics on our VM150 Team were exceptionally predictable and didn't give us a hint of trouble. Be sure to take the time to set them up tubeless so you can take full advantage of them, though. The only way to find even more traction would be to mount up a set of their Hans Dampf tires, although there is no use in replacing the impressive Nobby Nics until they wear out.


Pinkbike's take:
www.votec.com