FIRST LOOK: Momsen Vipa Trail
Momsen Bikes hail from South Africa, but their Vipa Trail looks to be right at home on Australian trails.
Photos: Tim Bardsley-Smith
Heard of Momsen Bikes? Well, you should have. The South African brand have developed a unique range of bikes. From the cross-country 29er Vipa Race, to great value alloy hardtails, a stage-race specific Vipa Ultra, gravel bikes and the Vipa Trail we have on test for Issue 168.
Using 29er wheels, the Vipa Trail is a totally different beast to the Vipa RAce we tested. Side by side, you can see the Vipa Trail is more upright, slacker, and has a lot beefier tubing.
The Vipa TRail is aimed at riders who like the down and the up, and mixes an efficient pedalling suspension system to a good-handling chassis. The use of a Fox Float EVOl shock should make the suspension sweet as, and the girth of the main triangle will help with on the trail rigidity. A full carbon frame is a nice touch, it's not something manufacterers always deliver on.
The frame has Boost spacing, a 67.8 degree head angle and 440mm rear stays. The frame is 1x or 2x compatible and this model runs full Shimano XT 11-speed with a double chain ring. This can easily be swapped to a single ring if you like. However, Momsen state the Vipa Trial is as comfortabel at the pointy end of a stage or marathon race as much as it is railing trials, so that double setup is all about versatility.
After some initial rides, we've been well-impressed with the Vipa Trail. It pedals well, and it's confident when the going gets rough or steep. Don't miss our full review in our next issue.
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