Inspired by fun, carefree bikes with long-travel forks, the Plus hardtail is designed to appeal to beginners and lycra-averse riders. The concept has been harmoniously realised: The 2.8 inch wide Nobby Nics on the 35 mm rim smooth out bumpy trails and flatter the rider with comfort. Larger obstacles are ironed out by the Pike with its 124 millimetres of travel, while the Reverb with hydraulic remote gets the saddle out of the way on steep descents. The Votec VC Plus really comes into its own downhill, where the hardtail with its compact riding position, wide cockpit and 424 mm chainstays can't be technical or fast enough. But you have to work up a lot of sweat to achieve this burst of happiness hormones. The 12.5 kilos paired with the lazy Plus tyres (4.8 kg wheel weight) need to be cranked up quickly. As Votec includes tubeless tyres and valves ex works, you can quickly save weight at no extra cost. But the VC can also be ridden with 29er wheels. If you do, you can adjust the bottom bracket height in a few simple steps using the eccentric bottom bracket. We rode the bike in direct comparison with the large wheels (4.2 kg) and were impressed by the significantly better rolling characteristics - even if you lose a little comfort. However, the flex of the dropper post and the sensitive fork are easy on the rider. By the way: The two cheaper VC models from the direct mail order company (1000 and 1700 euros) come in 29 inch as standard. Also with an above-average equipment package.
Stefan Loibl, BIKE test editor: With the VC Plus, Votec is realigning its hardtail philosophy. The plus bike with above-average equipment and superior handling is consistently trimmed for downhill fun. The Votec gets a small damper due to the high overall weight and the heavy frame. A 29er frame provides more forward thrust.
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