First Impressions of the Big Yellow Vendetta V1.5

VenRiderGuy

Well-Known Member
MrSteve, where did you find your extender? I've been thinking about doing something to raise the boom, and your solution looks great. Thanks....
 

MrSteve

Zen MBB Master
MrSteve, where did you find your extender? I've been thinking about doing something to raise the boom, and your solution looks great. Thanks....
If your bike uses a 1-1/8" dia. steerer, then it'll fit.
The one I used lifted the boom up about 3" which moved the handlebar up to just below my eye level.
Loads of leg room.

There are many of these available online... here's what I got and it is solid:
Delta Stem Riser Adapter from Nashbar.
It's the only one they sell.
I reused the stock bolt that preloads the head bearings and threw away the plastic cover: it's covered by the boom.
The aluminum body and all the critical pinch bolts are well made and fit perfectly.
 

ReklinedRider

Zen MBB Master
The Origin8 Gary bar that came with the bike just doesn't quite meet my hands where they want to be.
Almost, but not quite.
Flipping them and remounting sort of works, but then the goofy bends are in the way and the flared ends hang my arms out
into the breeze.

Now, according to measurements combined with experience, the Origin8 Bullhorn-2 31.8 420mm bar that's coming
ought to give me at least another two centimeters, which ought to put my hands closer, I hope, to where they want to be.
I really didn't want to abandon these nice, stiff bars... but hopefully, these flatter Origin8 bars with that little bit more reach
will be just as stiff.

-----!

If/when you get those Bullhorn 2 bars installed would love to see pics. They look good on the Origin 8 website.

Btw compared to the 'when you first got it' pic your bike looks great.
 

VenRiderGuy

Well-Known Member
If your bike uses a 1-1/8" dia. steerer, then it'll fit.
The one I used lifted the boom up about 3" which moved the handlebar up to just below my eye level.
Loads of leg room.

There are many of these available online... here's what I got and it is solid:
Delta Stem Riser Adapter from Nashbar.
It's the only one they sell.
I reused the stock bolt that preloads the head bearings and threw away the plastic cover: it's covered by the boom.
The aluminum body and all the critical pinch bolts are well made and fit perfectly.

MrSteve,

Thanks for the information....much appreciated.
 

MrSteve

Zen MBB Master
Today is gorgeous, a perfect late Summer day.
Calm breezes, no clouds, low humidity, 78 degrees Fahrenheit and courteous drivers make a beautiful day.
I was looking forward to riding the long loop on the back roads behind the back roads... for a few hours.

But, instead, I ruined my own plans and went racing up and down
our local hills around the neighbourhood... like a speed-crazed Rat Terrier.

Even stopping to yell at the dogs that chased me, I sprinted
13 miles at an average speed of 18.5mph.

Stupid go-fast bike.
It's almost too much fun to ride.
 

MrSteve

Zen MBB Master
Today my knee, the one that a station wagon -station wagons are the grandaddy of the SUV, kids-
squished, calmed down enough to let me test ride the new bullhorns.
*CLICK*
My hands found their sweet spot.
The frame calmed down, more in control.
Effort ramped way down. That means that even more speed is on tap.
This bike now feels even more like an anorexic Sofrider on crack.
Hills got even less hilly.

Now, the control cables are too short.
They're so short that my thighs shrug them aside, every revolution of the pedals.
The cables on the right side are the shortest...
but the bike is so fun
and the knees felt right....

The new cables are on order and the raw spot on my leg, where the cables
chafed, will have some time to heal.

Too easy to go fast indeed, Mr. Winn.
 

ReklinedRider

Zen MBB Master
Today my knee, the one that a station wagon -station wagons are the grandaddy of the SUV, kids-
squished, calmed down enough to let me test ride the new bullhorns.
*CLICK*
My hands found their sweet spot..

Hoping for pics of that sweet spot hand position on the new bullhorns. Even with too short cables :)
Like Charles says......
 

MrSteve

Zen MBB Master
Bullhorns, with one nice ride in on the nice, long cables.
IMG_1733_zps8tmj3y1e.jpg


Head-on view....
IMG_1734_zpsfgjnncif.jpg


View from the cockpit at eye level...
IMG_1735_zpsxrns2tt6.jpg


View from the cockpit of my hotrod Sofrider, at eye level...
IMG_1736_zpswgv7fems.jpg


With both hands on the bars, I can lift the bike level -parallel with the planet's surface.
This feels awesome, and matches the Sofrider hand position.
I can lift the Sofrider the same way as the Vendetta: both hand positions are at the balance point for both bikes.

The Vendetta cockpit feels luxuriously open, yet the Sofrider still feels like there's more than enough room.

I took pains to make the photos show you what I see when riding.
There's room on the V to drop the bars a few millimeters, so that might happen.
I have enough parts now to convert the Sofrider to a brifter control system.
That may or may not happen: I kind of like these goofy friction shifters
and the V-brakes are S.T.R.O.N.G. -strong.

Pretty cool, eh?
I LIKE it.
 

mzweili

Guru
Nice set-up on your V.
I have it very similar on my Silvio 2.1.
Two points I'm questioning:
- are your arms not too much up in the air?
- can you see something with the mirror attached in this position.
I replaced these type of mirror by a REARVIZ on my wrist.
 

MrSteve

Zen MBB Master
Nice set-up on your V.
I have it very similar on my Silvio 2.1.
Two points I'm questioning:
- are your arms not too much up in the air?
- can you see something with the mirror attached in this position.
I replaced these type of mirror by a REARVIZ on my wrist.

- are your arms not too much up in the air?
No, probably the arm position could be better on the V, but it is perfect on
the Sofrider, because the drop bars on the Sofrider are narrower.
If I need better aerodynamics, the arms can tuck while the legs steer.

- can you see something with the mirror attached in this position.
Yes, there is no obstruction.
Naturally, I have thought of the RearViz, but fail to see the advantage.
Perhaps if I were racing, for real, then I would definitely reconsider the RearViz.
 

mzweili

Guru
I have thought of the RearViz
Probably the more inclined seat of the V lets you see over your shoulder.
On my Silvio with the 100mm chain stay extension the bullhorns are too low to give me a rear view with mirrors attached to them.
Advantages of the RearViz are:
- less vibration is transmitted to the mirror
- moving your wrist allows for different view angles.
Disadvantage:
another spot without suntan :)
 

ReklinedRider

Zen MBB Master
Nice set ups on both bikes. Thanks for posting the pics and esp the rider point of view. Love the way these bikes seem endlessly customizable for each rider's personal preferences.
Yep friction shifters are fun and have a nice retro vibe. And v-brakes are for sure strong. When I bought my used Sofrider it came with a disc brake up front and a v-brake in back. The disc is adequate but the v-brake is so good I keep wanting to change the front to one as well.
 

MrSteve

Zen MBB Master
Last week, March 3 or so, was my first ride of the year.
Over 70 F., lots of Sun and no wind.
The V... well, it sure is nice to be pedaling outside on roads,
working the bike into my own headwind.
 

VenRiderGuy

Well-Known Member
Mr. Zen MBB Master (aka MrSteve),

70 is about the number of inches of rain that has fallen in the past 4+ months for where I live - Washington State, west (wet) side of the mountains. I'm glad that someone is having nice weather. :cool:
 

MrSteve

Zen MBB Master
The local weather -Chattanooga, TN.- is mostly nice now, with wet stuff every other day or so.
Since most of my life were lived in central California, this still seems too wet to me.
But yes, I know how lucky I am. Much of the Southern Gulf states are flooded, for example, so things could be so much worse for us.
Besides, we ride some of the finest bicycles that this planet has ever seen, when we can!
 

jond

Zen MBB Master
we ride some of the finest bicycles that this planet has ever seen,

true but speaking of planets i see in your photos an alien intruder is hitching a lift on your warp speed vendetta. careful captain. :) you may encourage children to view your bike as strange.
 

MrSteve

Zen MBB Master
My girlfriend gifted me the alien squeeze toy horn.
When I stop to confront aggressive loose dogs, the squeaky toy sounds the alien makes befriends almost all of them.
Kids say stuff, but the noisy slipstream swallows any comments... grinning back always works.
I like my alien riding buddy!
 
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