Momsen Vipa Build & Review

[Iwan Kemp]

Pressfit BB most likely. Another industry standard no one asked for.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Pressfit BB most likely. Another industry standard no one asked for.

Cap is in the interesting position of having a BB71 pressfit bb on his giant.

[Iwan Kemp]

Cap is in the interesting position of having a BB71 pressfit bb on his giant.

 

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

 

 

You said it. SLX level crank and Shimano BB71 BB. Recipe for disaster when your crank explodes from a pedal strike.

[Namib@RP]

More ,kyk hoe lyk sy nou 

 

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy170/Namib2010/WP_20140926_001-1.jpg

 

Het saam met my vriend van my hier in die suide so n 104 km op die pad n week trug gery.

Wou nie n pad fiets net vir die geleentheid aanskaf nie ,toe span ek die momsen in.

Sy hardloop dat dit bars en het so gemaklik gery en was vrek lekker. 9.95kg als en als.

Design flaw of nie hier is n lekker fiets, teer of grond.............

 

Mooiloop

[DJuice]

Namib, ek moes twee keer kyk, ek hou daarvan!!!

Die agter shock gelock?

Ek kan die Vipa ook nie genoeg prys nie, die Vipa maak op, vir waar my vaardighede my in die steek laat.

Met Dr Evil ons kompitiese op die downhill gedrop, just aim and shoot!!

Ek wig en weeg elke dag n upgrade na team of my Vipa pimp...dan uit die aard van my persoonlikheid en werk besluit ek daar teen.

 

Ek is baie gelukkig op my Vipa en verruil dit vir geen ander fiets.

[Namib@RP]

Hi DJuice

 

Net as ek op die teer ry lock ek hom uit.  Moet se daai team Vipa spook ook by my  .Tog is dit net die kleur wat verskil, maar nou ja ek het ook al snaakse goed gedoen 

Moet se ek stem saam ,sal nie ruil nie.....

 

Mooiloop

[rotorbug]

Anyone got a photo of a 29" Vipa in a small size? (Not the 650B)

 

Ordered mine today and will have it early next week.

 

Was undecided whether to buy the Santa Cruz Tallboy or Vipa but less 10% on the Vipa XT swung the deal. The Tallboy also is a mix of XT, SLX and Sram which I wasn't keen on, plus no SA stock of a medium. I know they aimed at different riders but I felt the small Vipa was better value for money.

[rotorbug]

I meant no stock of a small Santa Cruz Tallboy in SA.

[Iwan Kemp]

Anyone got a photo of a 29" Vipa in a small size? (Not the 650B)

 

 It's only just become available so I doubt there will too many photos out there, just yet.

[rotorbug]

I will post once I have the bike midweek.

[Steven Knoetze (sk27)]

Anyone got a photo of a 29" Vipa in a small size? (Not the 650B)

 

Ordered mine today and will have it early next week.

 

Was undecided whether to buy the Santa Cruz Tallboy or Vipa but less 10% on the Vipa XT swung the deal. The Tallboy also is a mix of XT, SLX and Sram which I wasn't keen on, plus no SA stock of a medium. I know they aimed at different riders but I felt the small Vipa was better value for money.

 

 

I think the small framed 29er will look so cool!!!

Can't wait to see it.

[rotorbug]

Got my Vipa today.

 

I ordered a small 29" and the dealer discovered that the frame and swing arm were in fact a 650B incorrectly marked at the factory. Looks like someone has to do more homework before shipping new products out! Anyone buying a Momsen 650B or a small 29" should measure the geometry very carefully before handing over any cash. The two frames are very similar. measure the wheelbase and the head tube length.

 

As Momsen only had two small 29" frames and both were incorrect, I looked at the medium. After sitting on both bikes, I opted to go with the medium. I am 1.68m tall and borderline both sizes. The small just felt too cramped. On the small, you end up sitting higher relative to the handlebars.

 

I was riding a a Scott Spark 910 in a medium but even with a 55mm stem, it always felt too long. I dropped the stem from 100mm to 90mm on the Momsen.

 

Build quality is very good with excellent attention to detail. No annoying creaks or rattles except from the cables under the handle bars. I sorted that out with Velcro cable ties. The carbon chain stay protector is peeling on the inner and outer sides. I think a dedicated rubber chain stay protector like the Scott's would look more professional than cheap imitation stick on patches.

 

I swopped the standard tyres out for Racing Ralph's, Fizik Gobi saddle and I fitted ESI chunky grips.

 

Initial thoughts after a few short rides around the neighborhood is it a race bike. Don't buy the Vipa if you want to ride trails. That's not to say it won't handle the trails, it just doesn't have enough suppleness/travel in the rear suspension to be a full time trail bike. I do a lot of road riding so it's fine for me.

 

The bike feels very light and quick going uphills.

 

Steering feels quick without being twitchy. The Scott Spark felt a bit lazy in comparison. Amazing what 1 degree in head angle can do!

 

I think the bike could benefit from a better front fork. The Evo series Foc Float can feel crude over small bumps at times. At my first free service, LBS added oil and this improved the ride substantially, feeling far plusher and more responsive. I have also back ordered Juice Lube for forks from Paragon. This is a wonder lubricant that reduces friction on the fork sliders/seals by 30%.

 

Things I am going to change. I will swop out the XT rear derailer for a shadow model one with the clutch. Once you ridden a bike with a clutch type rear derailer, you can't go back. No more chain slap noise! Momsen have launched their carbon bars. I will add one of these once the black with white grafix becomes available.

[DJuice]

Congrats Rotorbug, enjoy! Many happy kilometres on your Vipa!

Just washed mine for tommorrow's ride.

I enjoy my Vipa!

I am 1.73, went with medium and 60mm downer stem, she is low, handles great and ready to race.

Currently running a setback seatpost, looking at straight seatpost, just to sit over the bb more, hopefully bit more power, wil then perhaps need a 90m downer stem.

 

Enjoy and welcome to the Vipa club....ssssssstttttttt

[GlockG4]

I ordered a vipa large about a month ago, they said it will be here at the end of this month, I cant wait!!!!! What makes it even worse, my giant cracked so I am currently without a bike.

[Iwan Kemp]

I ordered a vipa large about a month ago, they said it will be here at the end of this month, I cant wait!!!!! What makes it even worse, my giant cracked so I am currently without a bike.

 

 

Which option did you go for?