Pros
- Full Shimano Claris groupset
- Good tyres and wheels
- Sporty geometry
- Rack and mudguard mounts
Cons
- Budget brakes lack bite
- Lack of lower gear range
Price as reviewed:
£450
In-house bike brand of Chain Reaction Cycles and now Wiggle too, Vitus makes a range of bikes which feature quality specs at wallet-friendly prices. Its road range starts with the Vitus Razor and works its way up to the pro level Vitesse Evo, ridden by the An Post-Chain Reaction team.
Originally a French manufacturer, Vitus’s bikes were raced in the 1980s by Sean Kelly and it still retains a link with the legendary Irish cyclist, who is brand ambassador.
Vitus Razor frame
The Vitus Razor frameset is made of butted aluminium alloy with a sloping top tube and external cable routing. You get a 27.2mm seatpost for a bit of compliance and a carbon-bladed, alloy steerer fork, which is untapered. There are also rack and mudguard mounts for four-season adaptability.
Razor’s alloy frame comes with mudguard and rack mounts
Vitus says the Razor’s geometry is designed for a more relaxed, upright riding position, with the bike geared for comfort and good visibility when commuting.
Specification
The Vitus Razor is specced predominantly with Shimano Claris, which is pretty much the standard groupset on bikes at this price. It can be prone to clunky changes, but on the Vitus was smooth and reasonably light. The combination of a compact 50/34 chainset and an eight-speed 11-28 cassette gives adequate gear spread, although with the bike’s weight it would be nice to see a lower range option.
Claris groupset includes the original chainset – an item that is often swapped out on budget machines
Brakes are Alhonga dual pivot. Their long reach means you can fit mudguards, but they lack the bite of higher quality options. They come with separate shoes and pads – something of a rarity at this price point – which are superior to one-piece moulded designs.
Wheels and tyres are the match to those often specced on much pricier machines
The rest of the build is Vitus own-brand alloy, including the wheels, which are shod with Kenda Kriterium 25mm tyres. These are adequately grippy, even on damp back roads.
>>> How to set your saddle height
The saddle on the Vitus Razor is well padded – more so than the majority of performance bike saddles – and comfortable.
Ride
Despite its significant overall weight, the Vitus Razor feels surprisingly quick. Its wheels feel as responsive as those found on much more expensive bikes and the Kenda tyres roll and grip well, despite Kenda’s website recommending them for dry roads.
I liked the Vitus Razor’s geometry too. It’s not too upright and you can get into a tuck quite easily, riding in the drops without breaking your back. The bike feels stable and confidence-inspiring on descents. Although the brakes aren’t anything like as effective as more expensive models, they’re perfectly adequate.
Value
At this price point you’d expect swap-outs from a named groupset and the Razor has several of these. But you do get a Claris series chainset and the brakes work fine. The tyres roll and grip better than many pricier models.
Verdict
The Razor has pretty much everything you’d want in an entry-level machine, which will give you a taste of cycling or handle daily commutes. But it would be nice to get a wider gear range so that those buying it as a first bike are less likely to be discouraged by uphill slogs.
Details
Frame: Double-butted alloy
Fork: High-modulus carbon legs, alloy steerer
Size range: 50-60cm
Size tested: 54cm
Weight: 9.93kg/21.9lb
Groupset: Shimano Claris R2400
Gear ratios: 50/34, 11-28
Wheels: Vitus alloy
Brakes: Alhonga alloy dual pivot
Tyres: Kenda Kriterium folding bead 25mm
Bar: Vitus compact alloy
Stem: Vitus alloy
Seatpost: Vitus alloy, 27.2mm
Saddle: Vitus
Distributor: www.vitusbikes.com
