You want a raw look? Voilà! The Kavenz is rawer than the Raaw - Slim aluminium tubes, welded together in straight lines. This makes the bike from the German mini forge not only an eye-catcher in the lift queue because it is so different. It is also damn light, over a kilo lighter than the equally lightweight Raaw. This is also due to the fact that Kavenz has dispensed with gears on the VHP 18 - the motto: single-speed must be enough for downhill! And is it enough? Here the opinions of the testers differed. Conclusive, said some. "We want gears!" said others. A matter of taste.
Kavenz VHP 18 V7: Hard suspension
Also striking: the short suspension travel in the high-pivot rear. While the Commencal The Kavenz VHP 18 only offers 180 millimetres of travel (220 mm). This is hardly noticeable on many park tracks, but it is on Leogang's World Cup track. If you ride into the root fields at full speed, the flupper-flupper quickly turns into: "Oh oh ohhh!" In other words: on the Kavenz, you have to hold on tighter and play with the suspension yourself compared to the more comfortable competition.
On jump sections, this disadvantage turns into an advantage: the taut and direct Kavenz surfs through the terrain like a wave rider, takes momentum with it and sails playfully into the landing of the jumps. It takes some getting used to: the high front and large standover height (legroom).
Conclusion on the Kavenz VHP 18 V7
Light, playful, special - the Kavenz with its tight rear end had to admit defeat to the competition in tough terrain. Nevertheless, a bike with a high fun factor.
The Kavenz is the somewhat different big bike - an individualist, not a mass-produced product. The singlespeed construction reduces the susceptibility to punctures. Crazy: the weight. That makes it light and playful. Not a comfort miracle. - Dimitri Lehner (height: 1.79 m)
The Kavenz VHP 18 V7 (29 inch) in detail
Manufacturer information
- Distribution: 77designz UG
- Material: Aluminium
- Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL (test size greased)
- Weight without pedals: 15.2 kg
- Price: 8000 Euro
Measurement data
- Front / rear suspension travel: 200 mm / 208 mm
- rear suspension system: Four-bar linkage
Equipment
- Fork / damper: Fox 40 Float Factory / EXT Racing Shox Arma V3 (350 lbs)
- Cranks / gears: Sram GX Eagle / without
- Brake system: Hayes Dominion A4
- Impellers: Hub Industrie Nine/ Rim We Are One The Strife
- Tyres: Conti Kryptotal Fr Downhill Supersoft 2.4 / Conti Kryptotal Re Downhill Soft 2.4,
Strengths & weaknesses of the downhill bike
- Plus: light, playful, special look
- Minus: firm, rear slightly overdamped
Notes on the Kavenz VHP 18 V7
- Park: 5 from 6
- Race: 3 from 6
- Overall grade: 8,0
