The New Kavenz VHP18

Kavenz is the sister brand of German company 77designz, a brand with more than 15 years of experience in the bike industry. 77designz is well known for its light and innovative products such as chain guides, stems and a carbon handlebar that was designed in collaboration with We Are One Composites from Canada. The name Kavenz originates from the German word “Kaventsmann”, which means trusted and robust person in our local slang, but German sailors also use this word to describe monster waves. As Kavenz proudly weld and machine its frames with bespoke geometry options in Germany, they think that this name suits them perfectly.

The bike that will make you even faster

When Kavenz launched their first frame, the VHP16, they said that it will make you faster. But what happens if you add 20 mm of travel to a fast bike? You will get even faster!

The VHP16 project started almost 5 years ago and gained quite a lot of attention before Kavenz even started to sell frames, as the brand uploaded more than 25 Youtube videos that show how they designed and tested the frames. Since they started to take orders for the VHP16, they’ve shipped 4 batches of 50 frames each within the first year.

Today, Kavenz is very excited to launch its second frame, the VHP18. The VHP18 blurs the lines between enduro and downhill and can be used with single and dual crown forks.

While the brand is proud to say that it has many happy customers, some of them wanted even more travel for their frames. This new frame is for them – freeriders, park rats, double crown lovers.

The people from Kavenz think the VHP18’s 180 mm of travel are best paired with a fork in the 180 – 200 mm range. Depending on how you build your VHP18, your bike can be anything from a Super- Enduro to a Freeride bike or even a short travel DH bike.

The VHP platform offers a superior suspension design, but at the same time the 77° effective seat angle keeps the bike uphill-ready no matter how you spec it.

When working on the VHP18, the main goals were to create a fast and nimble bike with a suspension layout that is second to none.

The Kavenz VHP platform

The Kavenz VHP18 shares one platform with the VHP16. You can transform your VHP18 into a VHP16 and vice versa. All you need is a different shock mount and shock. While the VHP16 can be used with 27.5” and 29” rear wheels, the VHP18 is for 27.5” rear wheels only.

VHP16
Shock mount: VHP16 specific, either for 27.5” or 29”
Shock: 205×65 mm Trunnion (will generate 160 mm of travel) Rear wheel: 27.5” or 29”

VHP18
Shock mount: VHP18 specific, for 27.5” only
Shock: 225×75 mm Trunnion (will generate 180 mm of travel) Rear wheel: 27.5” only

Please note that the VHP18 shock mount and the longer 225 mm shock do not work with frames from VHP16 batches 0-5 which have a reach of 440/460/480 mm. All frames with a reach of 500 mm and more can be transformed into a VHP18.

Future batches (starting with batch no. 6 in April 2022) will not have any clearance issues and all frame sizes can be transformed from VHP16 to VHP18 and vice versa.

Made in Germany

Kavenz proudly manufactures its frames in Germany. While the welding, machining and painting takes place at its partners in Germany, the brand has full control over the production quality and assemble all its frames with a lot of attention to detail in its headquarters in Münster.

Making frames locally has several advantages, including very reasonable delivery times. You should have your own customized frame within 3 months from ordering and if there is a stock frame in their warehouse, delivery times can be even shorter. Raw frames start at 2 weeks, powder coated at 4 weeks and a black anodized frame could be yours within 8 weeks.

Semi custom Geometry and custom paint

It’s Kavenz priority to let riders customize the frame geometry, so the bike will fit them like a tailored suit. The brand offers a semi custom geometry that allows riders to choose their favourite reach, seat tube length and head tube length. Reach can be anything between 440 and 540mm in 20 mm steps. The seat tube can be 420, 450, or 480 mm and the headtube can be either 110 or 125 mm.

For the VHP18, the head tube angle will be 63.5° and the seat tube angle is 77°. The seat stays will be as short as 419 mm (27.5” rear wheel only). While this seems very short, it’s important to keep in mind that the VHP18 has a rearward axlepath of up to 20.8 mm (at 120mm travel; 15 mm at 60 mm travel).

However, customization does not stop here, as Kavenz offers countless frame finishes that riders can choose from: raw, black anodized or powder coated (all RAL colours).

How does the geometry of the VHP16 and VHP18 compare? The chart below shows the most important geometry numbers, based on a frame with 480 mm reach and 110 mm headtube. The VHP16 geometry is based on a 581 mm axle-to-crown fork and the VHP18 geometry is based on a 601 mm ATC fork (FOX 40 29” with 200mm).

Suspension design

While many high pivot frames use a single pivot or linkage driven single pivot suspension design, these frames rely on the trusted Horst Link suspension layout. VHP stands for “virtual high pivot”.

Kavenz believes that its suspension design offers advantages over other options and brings riders the best mix of rearward axle path, high anti squat and balanced anti rise.

Leverage ratio

The VHP18 has an overall progression of 29.9%. It starts at 2.86 (0 mm travel), goes to 2,54 at 60 mm travel and down do 2,202 at 180 mm travel. This is very similar to the VHP16.

Most of Kavenz customers prefer to run a coil shock, but the frame will also work with a large volume air shock in case the rider wants some added progression or simply prefers air shocks.

High Anti Squat

As with the VHP16, the VHP18 has very high anti-squat numbers. Based on a 34 t chainring and 21 t cassette sprocket, anti squat starts at 208% (0 mm travel), is at 150% – 100% at 60 – 120 mm travel and gets down to 60% at 180 mm travel. The brand optimized the anti squat throughout the gears and travel to achieve what they believe is perfection. Plenty of support when climbing but no pedal kickback when descending – this does not only feel fast, it will make you faster!

Balanced Anti Rise

Anti rise usually is the weak point of High Pivot Point bikes as too much anti rise results in a less active suspension and loss of travel and traction when hitting the rear brake. That’s why Kavenz paid a lot of attention to designing a bike which has a suspension that remains active under braking and conserves the geometry.

On the VHP18, anti rise starts at 97% (0 mm travel) and gradually goes down to 81% (180mm travel)

Rearward axle path

While many suspension designs have a forward rear axle path, the VHP frames have a rearward axle path. The rearward motion of the rear wheel allows it to move away from obstacles (and over them) rather than against them. This helps riders to maintain momentum and makes them faster.

The VHP18 has an even more extreme rearward axle path than the VHP16. While the VHP16 has a maximum rearward motion of 14,8 mm at 100 mm travel, it’s 20,8mm for the VHP18 at 120mm travel.

Negligible pedal kickback

Pedal kickback is nasty, but luckily the VHP design minimises pedal kickback to a level where you won’t notice it anymore. We believe that it’s so good that not even the most dedicated racers will need an active spider to reduce pedal kickback.

On the VHP18 pedal kickback is as low as 4.7° at 60mm of travel, 6.7° at 120 mm travel and 6.6° at 180 mm travel.

Frameset options

Kavenz offers the VHP18 as a frameset with either no shock, Fast Suspension Fenix EVO or EXT Arma. These shocks are specially tuned for the Kavenz VHP18, as we really want to bring our customers the best performing suspension out there.

VHP18 frame specs

– Travel: 180 mm
– Shock: 225×75 mm Trunnion
– Fork: 180 – 200 mm (geometry is designed with 601 mm axle-to-crown)
– Headtube: ZS44/56
– Rear brake mount: IS2000 (frame comes with PM 203 mm adapter)
– Bottom bracket: 73 mm BSA (ISCG 05 adapter available)
– Tire clearance: 81 mm (27.5” x 2.6”)
– Seat tube: 31.6 mm inside
– Bottle cage mount: Yes (one)
– Idler pulley: 14 t narrow/wide
– Bearings: 15x28x7 Enduro LLU Max
– Weight: 3.28 kg (raw, including hardware, without shock, reach 460, seat tube 420)
– Material: EN AW 7020 T6 heat treated after welding
– Price: 2645 Euro (no shock), +600 Euro (Fast Fenix EVO shock), +600 Euro (EXT Arma shock; all prices incl. 19% German VAT)