Calling all Van Nicolas owners

solboy
solboy Posts: 368
edited August 2010 in Road buying advice
Can anyone give a decent review on the VNT Mistral or Euros?

Both bikes seem similar apart from the rear stays and VN say this does not effect the ride? I have read with interest some of the other threads on here about Ti bikes and as these (mistral in particular) are at the cheaper end of the Ti market are these good bikes or bikes built to a price?

I see the Mistral gets good reviews in a Cycling Plus write up and have to say the bikes from Fat Birds seem good value.

Any comments gratefully recieved.

Comments

  • T.C.
    T.C. Posts: 495
    Iv e got a Chinook, very pleased, specced it with Centaur and Aksium wheels
  • softlad
    softlad Posts: 3,513
    They are built to a price - but then so is every other frame, regardless of what it is made of. You will probably find the differences between the Mistral and Euros are down to details like the drop-outs, or other minor issues. Geometry ay be different, I've not compared them, but the tubing is probably the same.

    I've had a Chinook for the last couple of years and I've been very happy with it. My 54 frame & fork will be for sale soon, if anyone's interested...
  • careful
    careful Posts: 720
    You did say all VN owners. I dont know about the Euros or Mistral but my Yukon has been superb. Comfy ride, well finished and still looks like new after 3 years and over 17000 miles. My only criticism would be that it is less stiff/responsive than my carbon bikes so it may be a bit less suitable for hard riding/training. As an all rounder (by no means sluggish) it is first rate. Put alongside some other, more expensive Ti frames, the VN looks the classier one.
  • flasher
    flasher Posts: 1,734
    I have a Euros, and I love it, very comfy on a long ride and great for a quick blast 8)

    Only thing I didn't like is some of the tribal style decals (seat stays and top tube), although easy to remove!
  • solboy
    solboy Posts: 368
    The Mistral is desigend as an "entry level" Ti bike. Would it be snobbish to overlook the Mistral in favour of the Euros purley for this reason?
  • softlad
    softlad Posts: 3,513
    solboy wrote:
    The Mistral is desigend as an "entry level" Ti bike. Would it be snobbish to overlook the Mistral in favour of the Euros purley for this reason?

    in all honesty, I would get on to someone like Fatbirds and ask them to explain the differences between the Mistral and the Euros, because I've looked at the spec of both and (apart from the different dropouts) I'm struggling to tell them apart...even the geometry appears to be the same...
  • solboy
    solboy Posts: 368
    its weird as the differences seem to be with the seat stays and the VNT badge on the headtube. What i dont understand is that the Frame & Fork prices are the same for both models at Fat Birds.

    The Mistral is designed as an off the peg bike but as Fat Birds do a full bespoke option for all VN bikes this makes the Mistral quite good value compared to the Euros.
  • topdude
    topdude Posts: 1,557
    I have a Euros, and I love it, very comfy on a long ride and great for a quick blast Cool
    Same here, also i removed the decals from the seat stays as they didn't do it for me either.
    I think the Euros and Mistral are the same frame and geometry with the straight seat stays and badge just making the Mistral cheaper / easier to manufacture.
    They are made from plain gauge tubing so may not be as comfy as a more expensive thinner butted tube frame but probably more durable.
    I also like the slightly retro (thinner tubing) instead of all these oversize curvy frames that you see now.
    But hey, it only cost £700 for the frame and forks so you get Ti for a bargain price.
    He is not the messiah, he is a very naughty boy !!

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