Vitus ZX-1 EVO CRS etap AXS £4,199.99 | 8.4kg
Stefan Abram reviews an aero rig offering plenty of clout for your cash
The ZX-1 EVO is Vitus’s aerodynamically optimised racing platform which has recently been given a revamp to bestow the bikes with a spec and aesthetic that is every bit the match of those from more established brands.
As the in-house bike brand of retail giant Wiggle there has been a strong emphasis on value, with the ZX-1 EVO coming in significantly cheaper than a quick glance at the spec might suggest.
Frameset
Vitus claims that the ZX-1 EVO “exhibits up to 45 per cent less drag than the previous ZX-1 when built as a full bike,” although no extra detail is provided on how the testing was carried out. That said, with wider and deeper rims, dropped seatstays, a one-piece handlebar/ stem and no exposed cables around the cockpit, all the hallmarks of an aerodynamic bike are certainly there.
It’s quite clear that the focus of this bike is power transfer and aerodynamic efficiency, with weight and compliance of secondary concern – although not entirely forgotten: at 8.4kg in a size medium on our scales the ZX-1 EVO is still not overly heavy.
Tyre clearance is officially at 30mm, but the clearances are very generous so that recommendation seems a little conservative.
Regarding the geometry, in size medium the stack stands at 543mm and the reach at 387mm. This puts it well within the range we’d expect for a raceoriented bike.
The head angle is 72.4° which is slacker than you might typically see, but not enough to radically change anything.
Components
The SRAM Force AXS 2x12 hydraulic disc brake groupset gets specced on a lot of bikes and is a great performer. The braking is powerful and predictable, with a 160mm rotor sensibly specced on the front while the rear gets a 140mm rotor as heat build-up is generally less of an issue there with the braking forces being a bit lower than at the front.
A 48/35 crankset is paired to a 10-33 cassette, which delivers an excellent range of gearing while still providing comfortable jumps between the gears, as SRAM’S AXS system is designed to do.
The clamp on the deep-section seatpost is adjustable fore and aft, meaning a huge range of saddle laybacks can be accommodated without having to swap out a post. For getting a great fit from the off, this is a welcome inclusion.
However, one of the drawbacks of an aero seatpost is that they tend to offer much less flex than a skinnier design, meaning that vibrations and buzz from the road can be bit more noticeable as you’re riding along.
The handlebars are the Vision Metron 5D ACR Carbon. It’s a one-piece set-up
“There’s an excellent range of gears with comfortable jumps between changes”