van nicholas yukon, your opinions please...

ianbar

i have been looking for a bike ti or steel that i can fit full mudguards on in the winter but be a good comfy mile cruncher in the summer. i like van nicholas and the yukon fits the bill, does anyone have any input about the bike please?

careful

Great frame if you are looking for a comfortable do anything bike that does not sacrifice too much on weight or performance, especially if like me you prefer to use fixed mudguards in winter. The quality of welding and general finish is surprisingly good for the money and, being unpainted, if you do scratch it, a rub with Brasso and its like new (despite almost 20,000 miles). When parked alongside more expensive ti frames from Genesis etc, it is my Yukon that looks top quality.
I have had one for 5 years now, along with a Colnago C50 and a Bianchi carbon. The Yukon does not feel quite as lively as the others, probably due to the geometry. I think this is unavoidable if you want full guard clearence, rack mounts and a comfy ride. It is no unresponsive tourer though and there is very little real speed penalty. I cannot recommend it highly enough for the sort of riding you are planning.

verylonglegs

I've had a Yukon as my wet bike for a few years now and I have no complaints but equally I've nothing much to compare it too so a critical appraisal isn't possible. It's comfortable and does the job and I actually like its fairly non-descript appearance so I anticipate it being my wet bike for many more years. Sorry I can't offer more!

loismustdie

Can't directly comment about the Yukon, but my VN Astraeus is excellent, comfortable yet (almost) as quick as the Madone it replaced. If I was in the market for that type of bike, the Yukon would be top of my list.

ianbar

thank you for your comments, currently still saving but nearing target so need to narrow search!your comments have helped!