Chumba is a well-known boutique brand with a long history in Southern California. However, the publicity they gained from their success on downhill racescourses was mixed. Although they are known for making tough race bikes that can withstand any beating without breaking a sweat and a lot of riders felt that the Chumba was too built for trail riding, this reputation did not help them. The VF2 intends to change this perception.
WHO IS IT MADE TO?Chumba calls their VF2 lightweight, race-inspired cross-country bike. It’s not a stretch. The VF2 is clearly a trailbike build. It has five inches of travel and a trailbike fork. We considered the bike a trailbike and not a cross-country bicycle because it is constructed this way.
WHERE IS IT MADE?
The VF5 cms frame is made from bead-blasted anodized aluminum and a custom-made hydroformed butted top tube. By manipulating the downtube, it transforms into a constantly changing shape and diameter on its way to the inverted bottom bracket shell. Chumba uses large bearings to support the HorstLink rear suspension. The stays are made of carbon fiber. The hardware is anodized seven-series aluminum and each bolt and nut appears to be designed for their particular purpose. The claimed weight of the frame without shock is 24 Kg (7 Kg less than the Chumba XCL with five-inch travel we tested last year).
WHAT ARE THE COMPONENTS?
The components in our VF2 were quite unusual. There were a few cross-country-light Shimano XTR components, as well as heavy-duty trailbike touches like the Syncros handlebars and rims and Fox 32 TALAS forks with 15QR and Thomson Elite X4 stem. The bike was now lighter than it was for cross-country use.
HOW DOES IT PERFORM
The VF2 is a classic Chumba ride with a twist. Although the rider is centered between the wheels and feels light, the bulk of the bike is not visible. There aren’t any big gussets or fat top tubes between the fork legs.
Moving out: To prevent the rear end of the VF2 from bobbing, the shocks ProPedal feature is required. You can either stay seated by turning it on or move to the side and use your hammer. The VF2 responds much faster than a trailbike of 13 kg. Top tubes encourage the rider to move the bike side-to-side, while the stiffer bottom brackett can withstand any load.
Cornering: There are two distinct personalities to the VF2 when cornering. The rear end will sit high if the ProPedal feature has been activated. The fork travel feels less than 5 inches (it actually has 14 cm). The ProPedal is engaged, so the rider must move back to apply the brakes. Otherwise, the ProPedal will cause too much weight shift towards the front. The bike feels much more balanced when the ProPedal is off. The rear suspension compresses under heavy pedaling, so you lose some momentum as you exit the corner.
Climbing: The ProPedal mode, which you will need for climbing, doesn’t require you to reduce the fork travel. Flip the lever, keep your saddle in place and spin away. When dropping to the granny gear, the VF2 requires that its rider pay attention. Why? You can feel the bikes steering becoming extremely sensitive at the smallest cog. You will need to loosen the grip if you drop to the granny. Otherwise, you’ll be scrubbing back and forth.
Descending: The downhills were the best part of the VF2! The rear suspension is active even when braking is applied, the chassis is as good as it has ever been and the Syncros bar, vice like Thomson stem and Fox fork are a great trio. This bike can handle everything a 5-inch-travel trailbike should handle without breaking a sweat.
TIPS, UPGRADES, OR TRICKS
The shock is located a fair distance from the top tube. This makes it difficult to reach the ProPedal lever. It would be easier to access the ProPedal, which is a frequently-used feature. Clearance issues will result from inverting your shock. This is something that you will need to learn to live with.
Our VF2 was built with expensive Shimano XTR parts that reduced weight. This bike would likely weigh in at 14 kg if it were made with cheaper components.
BUYING ADVICE
The VF2 is best suited for tight trails that have lots of ups and downs. It will likely require more lever throwing than you actually need. The VF2 trailbike is perfect for Southern California riding conditions. These rides are long, continuous climbs that take you to the halfway point. Then, you turn around and go back down. Both routes are littered by rocks, ruts, and uneven trails. This type of terrain is what the VF2 is about.
CHUMBA
Price (frame and shock).
Taiwanese country of origin
Weight 13 kg
Hotline 706-0760
Frame tested 48 cm (medium).
Bottom bracket height 36 cm
Chainstay length 43 cm
Top tube length 60 cm
Angle of the head tube 69
Seat tube angle 73
Standover height 81 cm
Wheelbase 110 cm
Front Suspension Travel (front) 14 cm
13 cm Suspension travel (rear).
Aluminium frame material
Fork Fox 32 TALAS RC 15QR
Shock Fox Float, RP23
Rims Syncros FLR DS23
Tires Maxxis Ignitor (6 cm).
Hubs Chumba M5x/Shimano XT (f)
Brakes Shimano XT
Crankset Shimano XTR
Handlebar Syncros FL 7075 (213 cm wide)
Shifters Shimano XTR
Front derailleur Shimano XTR
Rear derailleur Shimano XTR
Chainrings Shimano XTR (44/32/22)
Cassette Shimano (11-34)
Pedals None (weighed using ShimanoXTR).
