Description
Features
Plus bikes climb like a mountain goat and grab the trail like a vice on the corners and descents for a fast, playful ride. These bikes are the perfect platform for the beginner or intermediate rider looking to really boost their trail-blasting abilities, while promising more advanced riders an agile bike that holds the ground like a DH rig.
The perfect partner for a session on loose rocky Summer trails or a Winter mudfest, Plus bikes push you to hold more speed, brake less and go wider on the berms. They also give you the traction to forgive a less-than-perfect line in all conditions.
Plus bikes are the latest progression in Mountain Biking and the Vice 3.0 is our flagship bike – built with all the new features and standards in the new 27+ category.
| Frame | Reid custom 6061-T6 alloy 27+ specific |
| Fork | Rockshox Recon RL Stealth BOOST 130mm travel |
| Shifters | Shimano SLX M7000 Rapid Fire |
| Front derailleur | n/a |
| Rear derailleur | Shimano SLX M7000 Shadow Plus |
| Freewheel / cassette | Sunrace MS3 10-speed cassette (11-40T) |
| Chainset | FSA Comet MT Boost, Mega Exo, 30T chainring |
| Chain | KMC X10 |
| Bottom bracket | FSA Mega Exo |
| Brakes | Shimano Deore M6000 hydraulic discs with 180mm front rotor, 160mm rear rotor |
| Brake Levers | Shimano Deore M6000 hydraluic |
| Wheelset rim | Alex MD40 27.5 |
| Hub | Formula sealed bearing, 15mm front thru axle, 12mm rear thru axle |
| Tyres | WTB Trail Blazer 27.5 x 28″ W/UST Aramid bead |
| Handlebars | Reid oversize alloy riser bar, 760mm |
| Stem | Reid 1 1/8 threadless alloy |
| Grips | Velo rubber with anodized lock ring |
| Saddle | Reid MTB |
| Seatpost | Reid alloy 31.6mm micro adjust |
| Pedals | VP 535 nylon platform |
| Measurement | 38 cm | 43 cm | 48 cm | 52 cm |
| Top Tube Length | 580 | 598 | 614 | 630 |
| Seat Tube Length | 380 | 431 | 480 | 520 |
| Head Tube Length | 110 | 110 | 120 | 130 |
| Seat Tube Angle | 73 | 73 | 73 | 73 |
| Head Tube Angle | 69 | 69 | 69 | 69 |
| RC Length | 437 | 437 | 437 | 437 |
| BB Drop | 55 | 55 | 55 | 55 |
| Fork Rake/ Offset | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 |
| Front Centre | 665 | 683 | 700 | 716 |
| Wheelbase | 1096 | 1114 | 1131 | 1148 |
| Fork Length, Full | 530 | 530 | 530 | 530 |
* Length measurements are in millimetres, unless otherwise stated.
Flow
Considering the last bike I was riding was around four times the price as this one, I was a little sceptical of how I’d enjoy the first ride on the Vice. But there’s something about plus hardtails that promotes hooligan riding, the big volume tyres makes up for it on the trail. Grip is amazing, the ride is comfortable and the control under brakes is excellent.
Over the years I’ve had plenty of experience with all sorts of bikes in this price range that miss the mark when it comes to proper mountain bike riding, and there is often some compatibility issue. But if you’ve got someone in the design team with good experience that actually rides, you’re off to a good start. The Vice is a solid example of this, it’s a well-rounded bike that so far holds its own on the trail.
Gomez
This bike packs a passel into its price, in keeping with the philosophy of value. With comfortable contact points and virtuous gears, brakes and tyres, this does ride like a more expensive machine. Yes, it has some heft, but it leaves the weight in your wallet as a result. It also feels quite versatile – it goes offroad, but it’s onroad manners leave it also open to some comfortable bikepacking or light touring.
For me, it’s biggest problem is not the bike, but it’s kinsfolk. The Vice 2.0 is almost the same machine, (ever so slightly downgraded tyres and mech), but lack the suspension fork. Personally I love the simplicity of big tyres no suspension, and 400 clams is a pile of cash. Still, that’s just me.
Either way there’s lots to like in the Vice 3.0. For a first excursion into plus bikes Reid have created a bike that works well for the price.