The Elves Vanyar Pro offers excellent value with full carbon construction and Shimano Ultegra Di2, but has some weight discrepancies and aesthetic quirks.
Pros
- Excellent value for money compared to mainstream brands
- Customizable paint options at no extra cost
- Full carbon frame, fork, handlebars, and wheels
- 12-speed Shimano Ultegra Di2 groupset
Cons
- Frame weight higher than claimed (1000g vs 870g for size 50)
- Seat post weight heavier than claimed (236g vs 215g)
- Maximum tire clearance tight with 32mm tires; 28mm recommended
- Seat clamp rubber flap looks chunky and loose
Key Facts
- Claimed frame weight 870g (size 47) but actual 1000g (size 50); 950g claimed for size 56
- Fork actual weight 417g vs claimed 430g; seat post actual 236g vs claimed 215g
- Complete bike weight 7.6-7.8 kg (size 56) with pedals and accessories
Reviews & Ratings
The reviewer praises the Elves Vanyar Pro as an exceptional all-rounder, noting it climbs incredibly well, feels responsive, and offers great value for money. They highlight the custom paint option and the ability to spec components to personal preference. The bike weighs 7.8 kg with pedals and cages, and the full build costs £4,100.
AI Summary
Pros
- Excellent climbing performance; feels responsive and light on steep gradients.
- Custom paint and component choices available.
- Great value for money; compares favorably to bikes costing twice as much.
- Comfortable for all-day riding; suitable as an all-rounder.
- Frame clearance up to 32mm tires.
- Integrated cockpit and bundle wheels offer good value.
Cons
- Stock wheels (Omeal TH50D) are less stable in crosswinds and have noisy ceramic bearings.
- Handlebar drops feel thin; reviewer prefers chunkier drops.
- Short wheelbase may feel twitchy for riders accustomed to longer wheelbase bikes.
Key Points
- Frame: Elves Vanar Pro Disc, size 56 (XL).
- Groupset: Ultegra Di2 with 50/34 chainrings and 11-34 cassette.
- Crank length: 160mm.
- Wheels: Elves Aron Valor TH50D, 50mm deep, ceramic bearings.
- Tires: Continental GP5000, 30mm.
- Saddle: Selle Italia SLR Boost 3D.
- Cockpit: Elves carbon one-piece, 120mm stem, 38cm bars.
- Weight: 7.8 kg with pedals, bottle cages, and Garmin mount.
- Price: £4,100 full build (with stock saddle).
- Custom paint included in price.
The reviewer describes the Elves Vanyar Pro disc as a potentially excellent value road bike, priced at £4,000 in the UK with a full carbon frame, fork, handlebars, wheels, and a 12-speed Shimano Ultegra Di2 groupset. They note it is a second-generation lightweight hill climbing specialist with some aero improvements, and highlight the customization options and local UK support as key advantages.
AI Summary
Pros
- Excellent value for money compared to mainstream brands like Specialized
- Full carbon frame, fork, handlebars, and wheels
- 12-speed Shimano Ultegra Di2 groupset
- Customizable paint options at no extra cost
- Local UK after-sales support and 5-year warranty on frameset
- UCI approved for racing
- Nice looking design with horizontal top tube and dropped rear stays
- Own brand carbon one-piece handlebar/stem with ergonomic drops
- BB386 bottom bracket with ceramic bearings
- Own brand carbon wheels (30mm deep, 22mm internal width, tubeless compatible) weighing under 1,400g for £600
- 3D printed saddle with carbon rails and base for £130
- Complete bike weight 7.6 kg for size 56
Cons
- Frame weight (950g claimed for size 56) is not especially lightweight for a climbing bike
- Seat clamp rubber flap looks chunky, though a tidier version is in development
- Delivery time of 8-10 weeks when ordering direct from China
- Concern about buying direct from China without local support, mitigated by UK office
Key Points
- Price: £4,000 for complete bike in UK
- Frame weight: 950g claimed for size 56
- Complete bike weight: 7.6 kg without pedals (size 56)
- Groupset: Shimano Ultegra Di2 12-speed
- Wheels: Own brand carbon, 30mm deep, 22mm internal width, tubeless compatible, under 1,400g
- Handlebar: Own brand carbon one-piece, 70mm reach
- Tire clearance: Up to 30mm wide tires (28mm fitted as standard)
- Bottom bracket: BB386 press-fit with ceramic bearings
- Saddle: Own brand 3D printed with carbon rails and base, £130
- Warranty: 5 years on frameset
- UCI approved
- Custom paint options available at no extra charge
The reviewer finds the Elves Vanyar Pro disc to be a good value race bike that performs similarly to mainstream brands like Specialized and Canyon, with distinctive styling and customizable colors. It offers solid performance, stiffness, and handling, but has some comfort and aesthetic drawbacks.
AI Summary
Pros
- Good value for money at £4,000 for the complete build with Ultegra Di2
- Distinctive and unique design, not a copy of other brands
- Customizable colors and details at no extra cost
- Solid and reliable frame with no issues during testing
- 5-year warranty, similar to Pinarello
- UK support team available
- Fast, stiff, responsive ride that feels like a premium race bike
- Geometry similar to Specialized Tarmac, giving familiar handling
- One-piece carbon handlebar/stem works well with good computer mount
- Saddle is comfortable, similar to Specialized 3D printed model
- Wheels are lightweight and give a lively ride feel
Cons
- Limited seat post exposure due to horizontal top tube, reducing ride comfort
- Through axle protrudes from fork dropout, looks bad
- Rubber flap over seat clamp is loose and ugly
- Handlebar drops are very skinny, feel like holding pencils
- Stem looks fat and ugly to the reviewer
- Freehub is very noisy
- Tires are okay but not supple; could be upgraded
- Comfort not as good as Giant TCR or Specialized Tarmac
- Frame not as smooth as some competitors
- 8-week wait for frame delivery (though complete bikes may be available sooner)
Key Points
- Frame, fork, handlebar, stem, and wheels are carbon
- Complete bike with Ultegra Di2 costs £4,000
- Frame set costs just over £800
- Bike weighs 7.6 kg (lighter than Canyon Ultimate at 7.8 kg, heavier than Specialized Tarmac at 7.2 kg)
- Geometry is very close to a 56 cm Specialized Tarmac
- Head tube is very short
- Frame has a 5-year warranty
- Available in size XL (which corresponds to 56 cm)
The reviewer compares the Elves Vanyar Pro disc to the Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8, noting that while the Elves is slightly heavier and slower in climbing and aero tests, it offers excellent value for recreational riders. The Elves features a full carbon frame, Shimano Ultegra Di2 groupset, Orome Valor TH30 wheels, a one-piece cockpit, and a 3D-printed saddle with carbon rails. The reviewer praises its custom paint option and significantly lower price of around £4,000, concluding that the performance difference does not justify the £8,000 premium of the Specialized.
AI Summary
Pros
- Much better value for money at around £4,000
- Custom paint available for free
- 3D-printed saddle with carbon base and rails, costing only £137
- Full carbon frame and fork, integrated front end, electronic groupset, hydraulic disc brakes, tubeless-ready wheels
- Only slightly slower than the top-tier Specialized in climbing and aero tests
Cons
- Heavier than the Specialized, resulting in 9 seconds slower on a 1.5 km climb
- No wind tunnel or CFD simulation used in design, leading to slightly worse aerodynamics (2 seconds slower over 2 km)
- Noisy freehub
- Chunky stem on the one-piece cockpit looks less elegant
Key Points
- Shimano Ultegra Di2 groupset (heavier than SRAM Red on Specialized)
- Orome Valor TH30 wheels (shallower and narrower than Roval Rapide CLX II on Specialized)
- One-piece cockpit with a chunky stem
- 3D-printed saddle with carbon base and rails, priced at £137
- Custom paint available for free
- Price: approximately £4,000
The reviewer provides an in-depth analysis of the Elves Vanyar Pro 2024 disc frame, noting its lightweight climbing-oriented design, matte black paint with minimal decals, and overall build quality. They highlight the frame's geometry, internal finishing, and component weights, concluding it offers good value compared to Western brands.
AI Summary
Pros
- Matte black paint job is sleek and minimalist with no imperfections
- Frame is lightweight, especially for a climbing bike
- Internal finishing is clean with no carbon shards or fraying
- Bottom bracket and headset bearing seats are well-machined and consistent
- Seat tube has a safety ridge to prevent over-insertion of seat post
- Fork is lighter than claimed weight (417g vs 430g)
- Price of around £800 is good value compared to Western brands
Cons
- Seat post provided was longer than needed for size 50 frame, requiring trimming
- Slight overspray on fork crown race
- Frame weight (1000g for size 50) is higher than claimed (870g for size 47 unpainted)
- Seat post weight (236g) is heavier than claimed (215g)
- Maximum tire clearance is tight with 32mm tires; 28mm recommended for safety
- Rear disc brake mount shows evidence of post-production facing
Key Points
- Frame size tested: 50 (reviewer usually rides size 52)
- Claimed frame weight: 870g for size 47 unpainted; actual weight: 1000g for size 50
- Fork weight: claimed 430g, actual 417g
- Seat post weight: claimed 215g, actual 236g
- Bottom bracket: PressFit 386, 46mm diameter, 86.5mm width
- Headset bearings: 1.5 inch, top 52x7mm, bottom 52x8mm
- Maximum tire size: 30mm officially; 28mm recommended
- Frame comes with 5-year warranty
- Price: approximately £800 / $1018
Where to Buy
UCI Approved, ELVES Vanyar Pro Disc Road Framesets, Superlight Full Carbon Disc Road Frame
Specifications
Attributes
Included Components
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