The chunky 2.35-inch tyres look even more impressive on the wide 25-millimetre rims. Tyre clearance? Not an issue! Even 2.4-inch tyres fit effortlessly through the wide rear triangle. At the front, the Rock Shox Reba RL with 120 millimetres of travel craves rough terrain. The dropper post also signals this: You can let it rip downhill. And this is also confirmed in practice: saddle down, brakes on and full throttle! Thick rocks and roots alternate on the fast downhill section of our test lap - this makes little impression on the Rock Shox Reba, which stoically keeps the bike on track. On damp forest ground, the Schwalbe Nobby Nic tyres bite greedily into the ground and offer very good cornering grip. Even off the racing line, the Votec doesn't let you down immediately, forgiving riding errors generously and providing confidence. A nice feature is the specially shaped rear dropouts, which clamp an X12 thru-axle for more stiffness. The equipment is weaker in comparison, but functional. This does not detract from the riding pleasure. It also brakes and shifts well with Shimano Deore. Bikers have to do without an 11-speed drivetrain on the VC Comp. Remote levers for the fork and seatpost are also missing. Thanks to its balanced geometry, the Votec climbs surprisingly well and the front end keeps contact with the ground even on steep climbs. However, the high weight costs noticeable points in the uphill classification. Interesting for smaller bikers: Votec uses 27.5-inch wheels in sizes XS and S.
Florentin Vesenbeckh, BIKE editor:
The Votec VC Comp is a fun, downhill-orientated trail bike with reserves that also cuts a fine figure on the climbs. The touring-suitable riding position appeals to beginners and trail fans alike. Unfortunately, the equipment and weight cannot keep up with the competition. This won't bother downhill and fun-orientated bikers much.
