Vitus Substance

vegas76

Does anyone have one?

Any review comments?

singleton

No, but I have an On-one Free Ranger which I'm 99% sure has the same frame if you're considering a carbon one - both use a rebranded Carbonda 696 frame - so I guess my experience should be similar.

Mine is a 1x11 SRAM Force build and I run it with both 700c x 28mm wheels/tyres, an 11-32 cassette and full guards for winter and then switch to 27.5 (650b) x 2.2" MTB wheels/tyres with an 11-42 cassette for summer use and it's great.

Simple and quick enough for winter duties on road and off road it does what a hardtail MTB would do - I just need to absorb a few more shocks on the bumpy stuff.

domdom1980

I have one, running 650b with 42mm tyres, SRAM 1x11.

As you'd probably imagine not the ultimate road machine by any stretch with that setup, but copes well enough if you aren't look to boss it on the road, but certainly comes into its own off road.

Definitely a comfortable enough ride across most terrain and handles most things nearly as well as my Cube hard tail did.

The saddle is shite though, so definitely worth swapping out, and if you get the 650b with the standard tyres don't run it tubeless as they don't seem to hold pressure at all well.

janwal

It is a Carbonda 696 frameset. Also used for the Planet X Free Ranger and Dolan use it as well. I have a carbon free ranger I built up as a flat bar,Rival 1x11winter bike. Can’t fault it. Without trying it weighs 9.3 kg. Makes a lovely comfy bike.
Have a look at this thread from gravel bike. https://www.ridinggravel.com/forum/?p=post/chinese-carbon-gravel-build-carbonda-8254658
It’s 4000 plus pages but some good info to look through.

singleton

They do make the substance in different frame materials - I was tempted to get a steel one and I still sometimes wish I had.

vegas76

singleton said:

They do make the substance in different frame materials - I was tempted to get a steel one and I still sometimes wish I had.

Thanks for all the feedback guys.

I'm looking at getting the VRS-2 (grx600 groupset) as a gravel bike for family rides.

The VRS-2 is an aluminium frame...

It looks like I'll be able to fit 700c wheels to the frame to use as a winter bike.

bendertherobot

Yes, I have the GRX400 version.

It's a good bike. I really like the 650b, the frame actually feels quite steel like in some respects, especially the top tube. It's versatile and has massive clearance. It even has good handlebars, flattened and a bit aero (!)

Well worth it imo. If you're not swapping out wheels/putting it on turbo etc and don't really need 11 speed then just get the cheaper one.

Mine wasn't well set up gear wise but it's sorted now.

vegas76

bendertherobot said:

Yes, I have the GRX400 version.

It's a good bike. I really like the 650b, the frame actually feels quite steel like in some respects, especially the top tube. It's versatile and has massive clearance. It even has good handlebars, flattened and a bit aero (!)

Well worth it imo. If you're not swapping out wheels/putting it on turbo etc and don't really need 11 speed then just get the cheaper one.

Mine wasn't well set up gear wise but it's sorted now.

Sounds like a good option.

Are you now tubeless? Did you have any issues going tubeless?

bendertherobot

Not yet, I may at some point but i am fine with tubes.

It's worth saying that the Byway are an excellent tyre, but I may swap to Sendero at some point

vegas76

bendertherobot said:

Not yet, I may at some point but i am fine with tubes.

It's worth saying that the Byway are an excellent tyre, but I may swap to Sendero at some point

Seems like a really good bike for the price.

Going tubeless is the first thing I'm going to do!

elbowloh

I know nothing about the bike, but i really want to say something like "all style and no...."

bendertherobot

It's not very stylish though