You really have to look twice: The frame tubes are slim, the VSF T-700 looks anything but bulky. Yes, it is steel, the traditional material in bicycle construction, from which the frame is made. However, modern TIG welding joins the tubes together almost seamlessly, so that only a second glance provides certainty. The fork is a different story. It is also slim and socketless, but a magnet shows that it is made of aluminium for the sake of stability and rigidity.
The filigree look, by today's standards, is continued consistently in the narrow-tyred wheels, slim cockpit and seat post, from the mini headlight to the thin steel tubes of the Tubus carrier. The T-700 weighs less than 14 kilos, which is also thanks to the expensive, pure XT components and the lightweight Magura HS22 rim brakes. The bike manufacturer has tuned it once again: booster brackets prevent the braking power of the extra-grippy red pads from fizzling out as the frame twists. This puts the HS22 almost on a par with a good disc! With the XT drivetrain, you don't even need to shy away from hills, although the 35 mm tyres limit you on firm road surfaces.
On gravel and dirt, they lose tracking. Riser handlebars and a steep stem raise the cockpit to saddle height, while three spacers leave room to sit more sportily on the downhill. The T-700 combines sustainability, solidity and a portion of liveliness that generates real riding pleasure. Here too, light cables in cable ties interfere with the bag hooks on the carrier strut.
Plus:
- Practical, functional, aesthetic - and light!
Minus:
- Narrow tyres restrict you to asphalt and good surfaces;
- clamp parking support only
The history of the model:
The first two bicycle manufactory models, "Das Rad" and "Das ATB", already featured today's T-700 in 1987, when dedicated cyclists were grateful for the durable, solid bikes from the self-managed factory in Oldenburg: there were hardly any good quality everyday and touring bikes to buy, and the VSF models became bestsellers right from the start. Sustainability combined with high quality and a definite lack of trendiness still ensure a loyal customer and dealer base today.
