VAAST R/1 700c 105 review - just how well does a magnesium frame stack up?

A competitive price and weight from a magnesium alloy frame. As good as it is, it’s the next iteration that I’m most excited for

Image shows VAAST R/1 magnesium road bike
(Image credit: Future)
Cycling Weekly Verdict

VAAST has done well with its R/1 - the price is quite competitive with other alloy bikes and the weight comes in a little lower than many of its rivals. Factor in the wide tyres clearances, threaded BB and subtle mounts for mudguards and there really is a lot going for it. Unfortunately, there are a couple of niggles - the cable routing is quite scruffy and gets in the way when out of the saddle, while the Praxis crankset doesn’t shift as well as a Shimano 105. If those points are addressed in a later generation, it stands to be a formidable option.

Reasons to buy
  • +

    Lively ride

  • +

    Relatively light

  • +

    Reasonable price

  • +

    Liveable features - mudguards mounts and threaded BB

Reasons to avoid
  • -

    Praxis chainset doesn't shift as well as full Shimano 105

  • -

    Cable routing fouls on knees

You can trust Cycling Weekly. Our team of experts put in hard miles testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

At this point, most of us are aware of what the selling points are for each of the big four materials that most bike frames are made from. 

But to give a quick recap, generally speaking, aluminium bikes tend to be reasonably robust, reasonably light and reasonably priced. Carbon bikes, on the other hand, tend to be lighter, more expensive and more delicate (yet also more repairable than aluminium). 

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Stefan Abram
Tech features editor

After winning the 2019 National Single-Speed Cross-Country Mountain Biking Championships and claiming the plushie unicorn (true story), Stefan swapped the flat-bars for drop-bars and has never looked back. 


Since then, he’s earnt his 2ⁿᵈ cat racing licence in his first season racing as a third, completed the South Downs Double in under 20 hours and Everested in under 12.


But his favourite rides are multiday bikepacking trips, with all the huge amount of cycling tech and long days spent exploring new roads and trails - as well as histories and cultures. Most recently, he’s spent two weeks riding from Budapest into the mountains of Slovakia


Height: 177cm

Weight: 67–69kg