The Kinesis Virsa is a great hard-riding cross-country frame at a great price with the added benefit of single speed or geared compatibility.
*Build Kit Available.
26" and 275 (with +8mm dropout sold separately)
44mm Head tube
Slotted disc mount gives adjustment and makes getting the wheel out easier
Frame and both horizontal and vertical dropouts( 8mm dropper available) + chain tugs
•44mm Head tube: use a zero stack headset or run an ‘XX44′ type headset for taper steerer fork. Larger dia. head tube means more weld area = stronger/stiffer front end.
•Material: Tig welded and heat treated, ‘Tange Prestige JPN’, double butted, Cro. Mo. steel tubing.
•Weight: 2200g for 18” frame [see geom. chart for all frame weights].
use a zero stack headset or run an ‘XX44′ type headset for taper steerer fork. Larger dia. head tube means more weld area = stronger/stiffer front end.
‘Bulge Butted’, Cro.Mo. seat tube:
Toughens and adds some lateral stiffness to the rear end.
MBUK
Versatile frame at a bargain.
• The Kinesis range has always been a go-to for cost-effective frames and their steel Decade VIRSA is no exception.
• Kinesis have used it [Tange Prestige] to create a versatile frame that’ll stand the test of time too.
• At the far end, switchable ‘Swopout’ dropouts from Upgrade Bikes stablemates DMR allow any sort of rear axle configuration.
• ..at £349.99 for such a high quality, versatile frame it’s a bargain.
There are some really good own-brand kit highlights in this fixed-spec package too:
• The Maxlight 650b wheels are light and lively with tubeless-ready rims of a reasonable width,
creating a great rolling chassis with the Decade VIRSA frame…..they skip and skim more than 29in hoops but they accelerate and change direction noticeably faster too.
• The Kinesis Strut carbon flat bar is one of our favourite trail/XC bars too, with a really comfy feel and very low weight for under £100.
• The X-Fusion Sweep fork is a solidly predictable performer with loads of mid-stroke support and steering precision.
Ripping Ride:
• The Decade VIRSA’s high-quality steel frame delivers a noticeably responsive but impact-skimming ride.
..we’re happy to say there’s a good heart beating at the centre of the bike.
• While the main tubes are large in diameter there’s no doubt that you’re not riding a more rigid alloy bike or a more damped composite frame.
• While the zing and ping of steel is a cliché, it’s one that describes the way the Decade VIRSA skims and springs down the trail perfectly.
Compare:
• It has a much more dynamic feel than the Surly, spending a lot more time just above the trail than sucking down onto the ground like the softer feeling Karate Monkey.
..the Kinesis gapped the Onza and Surly easily when it came to squirting out of corners and gaining speed at every opportunity.
• It’s well connected at the front end too, with precise, predictable traction.
Article Here
SINGLETRACK WORLD
“On the first ride it just felt like it was at home..it instantly felt right. The low-slung stance and the whippy chassis ‘feel’ made it fly round corners. It’s lack of weight meant that I could hardly feel that I’d been out for a ride at all when I got back.
Effortless. I couldn’t wait to take it out for a day of whipping singletrack”.
BIKE RADAR
"A great hard-riding cross-country frame at a great price with the added bene?t of singlespeed or geared compatibility"
What Mountain Bike
Virsa by name, versatile by nature: Decade’s steel all-rounder
Summary: We like the Virsa’s no-nonsense honesty, versatile build options and price.
Mud, glorious mud
Anyone who’s attempted a (non-trail centre) UK ride in the depths of winter will understand the importance of rear wheel mud clearance. More is better, and too little can see things literally grind to a halt. No worries on that front with the Decade, which has enough room between rear tyre and frame to keep ploughing on regardless.
Swap, not slide
While other manufacturers have jumped through design and engineering hoops to equip their bikes with adjustable dropouts, Decade’s approach is refreshingly simple. Small bolt-on dropouts attach via a pair of bolts to each side. Standard dropouts are vertical,
but horizontal ones – for singlespeed use – are supplied too.
The multiple choice approach to front end setups is mirrored out back, with swap-out dropouts giving a bolt-on choice of vertical or horizontal slots, so you can go singlespeed. A box gusset up front provides some reassuring extra strength, while epic mud clearance at the rear – thanks to bridgeless chainstays and a wishbone seatstay – plus the forward facing, mud-dodging seatclamp provide clear clues to the Virsa’s UK design roots.
The feel With a ride position that’s slightly biased towards the cross-country end of the scale, the Virsa is an efficient machine or ticking off the miles. There aren’t any handling vices lurking.
The front tubes are top quality, tig welded and heat treated, ‘Tange Prestige JPN’, double butted, Cro. Mo. steel tubing, for it’s smooth, lively ride quality, durability and light weight. The seat tube is 'Bulge Butted' Cro.Mo.
The geometry is designed for all day trail rides, taking in all types of terrain and is ideal for endurance events.
The frame is corrected for a 100 - 130mm fork travel range and there is plenty of mud clearance for a 2.3” tyre.
Included in frameset price: Frame and both horizontal and vertical dropouts + chain tugs. There is an option of bolted or 'KinesisUK' QR seat clamp when ordering this frame [not inc. in price].
SPECIFICATIONS
Material: Tig welded and heat treated, ‘Tange Prestige JPN’, double butted, Cro. Mo. steel tubing.
Weight: 2600g for 18” frame [see geom. chart for all frame weights].
Colours: NEW Met Grey. Apple Green. Supergloss Black. All with re-worked graphics.