VSF Fahrradmanufaktur equivalent

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WalthamCity
Posts: 37
Joined: 29 Mar 2015, 12:19am

VSF Fahrradmanufaktur equivalent

Post by WalthamCity »

I’ve been riding a VSF T100 for about a decade, which I discovered after recommendations in this group. Sadly it is starting to show its age in an expensive part (the gear box) and I am therefore thinking of replacing it.

I was gutted to find out that VSF no longer has any UK dealers, and I need a UK dealer to benefit from the very generous cycle to work tax scheme.

I’ve loved this bike, and if it were available I’d just buy another.

The things I like:

Hub gear
Very large frame available for a 6’2 person
Hub dynamo
Relaxed upright posture but not too Dutch (feels like the perfect compromise between sporty and Dutch to me)
High quality components

I’ve a budget of about £1000. Where should I look?
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elPedro666
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Re: VSF Fahrradmanufaktur equivalent

Post by elPedro666 »

I was momentarily excited by the .co.uk address, but it does look like a German shop. PlanetX were recently heavily discounting something which superficially looked similar, but I didn't look closely enough to say anything concrete. Worth a quick look though I think.


https://m.bikester.co.uk/vsf-fahrradman ... CAQAvD_BwE



I'm a trendy consumer. Just look at my VOG-L09 using hovercraft full of eels.

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elPedro666
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Re: VSF Fahrradmanufaktur equivalent

Post by elPedro666 »

https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/FBUDCLODI ... lodia-bike

Alfine, dynamo, only in Medium I think...

If I'm not mistaken, PlanetX might be happy to swap various components at point of purchase, if that helps.

I'm a trendy consumer. Just look at my VOG-L09 using hovercraft full of eels.


alexnharvey
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Re: VSF Fahrradmanufaktur equivalent

Post by alexnharvey »

Does the t100 use the Nexus/Alfine 8 hub? Should not be particularly expensive to repair or replace.
steelframe
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Location: Berlin

Re: VSF Fahrradmanufaktur equivalent

Post by steelframe »

WalthamCity wrote: 9 May 2021, 8:08am I’ve been riding a VSF T100 for about a decade, which I discovered after recommendations in this group. Sadly it is starting to show its age in an expensive part (the gear box) and I am therefore thinking of replacing it.
(...)
I’ve a budget of about £1000. Where should I look?
I am wondering: If you like that bike - why don't you just give it an overhaul? Way cheaper and more sustainable than buying a new one plus you spare the hassle looking for a bike that is a fit as good as your current one. Replacing the gearbox is easy and should not be that expensive apart if it was a Rohloff. But if it was a Rohloff you would not get a replacement bike with one for GBP 1000 and more importantly it would not have broken in the first place anyway. :wink:
Greystoke
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Joined: 8 May 2018, 7:41am
Location: Lincolnshire

Re: VSF Fahrradmanufaktur equivalent

Post by Greystoke »

I tend to agree with the above post but have a look at Cube bikes, they do similar touring bikes, I think Tredz used to sell them.
No idea of price etc
colin54
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Joined: 24 Sep 2013, 4:34pm

Re: VSF Fahrradmanufaktur equivalent

Post by colin54 »

I see the VSF T100 has a Shimano Nexus 8.
Shimano do a few different hub gears Alfine 8 or 11 speed, Nexus 8 speed, you could try searching for Shimano Nexus bike or Shimano Alfine bike on Google, here's some Cube bikes for instance, on Rutland Cycles site from that search.

https://www.rutlandcycling.com/content/ ... guide.aspx

The Shimano Alfine 11 speed has a large thread on this forum about reliabilty issues.
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=64432
I see Chris's Bikes in Cambridge still lists VSF on their site, have they stopped now ?

http://www.chrisbikes.co.uk/vsf-fahrrad-manufaktur.html
Or repair, as others are mentioning above.
Nu-Fogey
ClappedOut
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Joined: 30 May 2020, 12:43am

Re: VSF Fahrradmanufaktur equivalent

Post by ClappedOut »

https://www.bikester.co.uk/vsf-fahrradm ... oss_google

https://www.bikester.co.uk/vsf-fahrradm ... oss_google

If they can't get right size with hub ask about a wheel build if you really want new

Or A Refurb
WalthamCity
Posts: 37
Joined: 29 Mar 2015, 12:19am

Re: VSF Fahrradmanufaktur equivalent

Post by WalthamCity »

alexnharvey wrote: 9 May 2021, 9:19am Does the t100 use the Nexus/Alfine 8 hub? Should not be particularly expensive to repair or replace.
Maybe I need a second opinion. Local bike shop said it needed an entire new wheel and it would cost £400 (2/3 the cost of buying the bike brand new with cycle scheme!)
WalthamCity
Posts: 37
Joined: 29 Mar 2015, 12:19am

Re: VSF Fahrradmanufaktur equivalent

Post by WalthamCity »

colin54 wrote: 9 May 2021, 9:50am I see the VSF T100 has a Shimano Nexus 8.
I see Chris's Bikes in Cambridge still lists VSF on their site, have they stopped now ?

http://www.chrisbikes.co.uk/vsf-fahrrad-manufaktur.html
Or repair, as others are mentioning above.
Yes it’s a Nexus gear box. My local bike shop said repair would be very expensive but perhaps they were pulling my chain.

Sadly Chris has stopped selling VSF. I’ve already contacted him. BikeFix, the other former stockist, no longer sell bikes at all.
WalthamCity
Posts: 37
Joined: 29 Mar 2015, 12:19am

Re: VSF Fahrradmanufaktur equivalent

Post by WalthamCity »

ClappedOut wrote: 9 May 2021, 10:15am https://www.bikester.co.uk/vsf-fahrradm ... oss_google

https://www.bikester.co.uk/vsf-fahrradm ... oss_google

If they can't get right size with hub ask about a wheel build if you really want new

Or A Refurb
Bikester is actually a German shop. They don’t support cycle to work unfortunately and I just cannot afford to overlook such a massive discount.
ClappedOut
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Re: VSF Fahrradmanufaktur equivalent

Post by ClappedOut »

WalthamCity wrote: 9 May 2021, 10:43am
colin54 wrote: 9 May 2021, 9:50am I see the VSF T100 has a Shimano Nexus 8.
I see Chris's Bikes in Cambridge still lists VSF on their site, have they stopped now ?

http://www.chrisbikes.co.uk/vsf-fahrrad-manufaktur.html
Or repair, as others are mentioning above.
Yes it’s a Nexus gear box. My local bike shop said repair would be very expensive but perhaps they were pulling my chain.

Sadly Chris has stopped selling VSF. I’ve already contacted him. BikeFix, the other former stockist, no longer sell bikes at all.
Look at. It another way, you have a rim already, ask a wheel builder how much to re lace wheel and supply the same hub yourself.

Also you may even find a right size built wheel with hub on ebay if you don't care about rims matching- if your really lucky a complete set
nosmarbaj
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Re: VSF Fahrradmanufaktur equivalent

Post by nosmarbaj »

WalthamCity wrote: 9 May 2021, 10:36am
alexnharvey wrote: 9 May 2021, 9:19am Does the t100 use the Nexus/Alfine 8 hub? Should not be particularly expensive to repair or replace.
Maybe I need a second opinion. Local bike shop said it needed an entire new wheel and it would cost £400 (2/3 the cost of buying the bike brand new with cycle scheme!)
Well, here is a complete new wheel with Nexus 8 for £170. I don't know how good it is, and it has a coaster brake which you probably don't want, but it does suggest your LBS is being a bit greedy! Also be aware that (as far as I am aware) the Cycle to Work scheme covers parts as well as complete bikes, so you should be able to get the same effective percentage discount on a new hub or wheel.
slowster
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Re: VSF Fahrradmanufaktur equivalent

Post by slowster »

You have a two main options:

1. Overhaul the hub. I am not aware of any bike shops offering such a service, but if you are willing to attmpt it yourself there is a lot of information on the internet on how to maintain Nexus 8 speed hubs, including videos.

2. Just buy a new wheel with a new hub*. You should be able to get a new wheel which will just be a 'drop in' replacement if you order the right hub and rim.

I would contact either SJS Cycles or Practical Cycles. SJS is probably the UK's biggest stockist and retailer of hub gears, and the link below is for all the versions of the Nexus 8 which they sell.

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/shimano-hub-gears/?speed=8

https://practicalcycles.com/handbuilt-wheels/

* I am assuming your rim is probably fairly well worn, so I doubt it makes sense trying to re-use the existing rim or spokes
Cyckelgalen
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Joined: 21 Sep 2018, 11:29am

Re: VSF Fahrradmanufaktur equivalent

Post by Cyckelgalen »

What I would do, if the Nexus hub was the only issue and I wanted to keep the bike, is simply replacing the hub internals without rebuilding the wheel. You would need to get an identical hub, even a second hand one, and swap over the whole internal assembly to your hub shell. It all comes out as a unit from one side and you only have to screw it onto your hub shell. No need to rebuild the wheel as both flanges are part of the hub shell. And you could do it yourself with a couple of wrenches. Search YouTube to see how it is done and try to source a hub cheaply. I have repaired a few wheels with worn/malfunctioning Dynamo hubs and after much searching for spares, etc, this was by far the cheapest, simplest approach.
Last edited by Cyckelgalen on 9 May 2021, 1:51pm, edited 2 times in total.
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