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    Viathon Media Reviews

    • M.1 Mountain Reviews
    • R.1 Road Reviews
    • G.1 Gravel Reviews

    Viathon M.1 GX Eagle

     

    To understand the origin of Viathon, we must first understand the origin of brand manager Zach Spinhirne-Martin. Spinhirne-Martin was an elite level cyclist for a pile of years, cutting his teeth in Europe and bashing around Belgium in search of cycling glory. He has spent most of his post-racing career working in the bike industry for online giants Backcountry and Competitive Cyclist before seeing an opportunity to create something on his own. With the support of Walmart, Spinhirne-Martin was able to hit the ground running with three carbon models in various builds, the R.1 road bike, the G.1 gravel bike, and for our purposes the M.1 mountain bike. All three bikes are “budget-friendly” bikes, but by no means are they cheap.

     

     

    As a size large, the Viathon M.1 came in right at 23 lbs without pedals but with tubes, so if you are of the weight weenie variety, you probably already know the math on that. Rumor around the water cooler is the Viathon frames are coming out of the same factories as more prominent brands on the market, so do with that information what you will.

     

     

    The M.1 excelled on the climbs, in the saddle, out of the saddle, it was a pure pleasure attacking any gradient long or short. On fast and flowy trails, the M.1 rolled with speed and finesse. All of the adjectives apply for how responsive and snappy this bike was; it almost made me feel like I was in some racing shape, almost.

    Read the full review here

    Viathon M.1 XX1 Eagle

    Though a cross-country bike, the Viathon gave confidence and control through almost every session on the U.P. It’s marketed as “one of the lightest, fastest mountain race machines that money can buy,” and that claim seemed hard to dispute by the end of my first week.

    Going uphill, the shifting is buttery smooth. This is courtesy of the SRAM XX1 Eagle drivetrain and its golden chain. A RockShox 120mm fork and speedy Continental tires respectively absorb and grip the ground. Internal cable routing keeps the frame clean and streamlined.

    Having spent some time in the saddle, I have to agree. Viathon builds a quality bicycle at a competitive price. With a feathery weight, effective geometry, and componentry to rival the best bikes on the market, the M.1 is a relevant consideration for serious riders with a cross-country bent.

    Read the full review here

    Viathon M.1 XX1 Eagle

    When it came time to point the bike down steep terrain, the Viathon proved more capable than many of its elite cross-country competitors, thanks to the RockShox Reverb Stealth seatpost. Just a push of a button quickly lowers the saddle 125mm, which can make any XC bike more capable going downhill. Many racers forgo this advantage because it adds nearly a pound to the overall bike weight; however, you’d be hard-pressed to notice the additional weight when picking up this feathery, 21.6-pound machine.

    Climbing: Getting up hills was, dare we say it, enjoyable on the Viathon. The M.1’s frame geometry naturally positions the rider’s body forward. The short top tube, combined with the steep seat tube angle, puts the rider over the front of the bike, which keeps weight on the front tire to reduce unwanted wheelies when grinding up even the gnarliest ascents. Additionally, the longer chainstay length positions the rider’s weight in a balanced position for climbing that helps keep the rear tire planted on the ground when the climbs get really steep.

    Read the full review here

    Viathon M.1 GX Eagle

    "Bottom line: I just found the Viathon a blast to ride...I was amazed how light this bike was and how well it climbed!" - Regular Guy MTB

    KevCentral
    Viathon M.1 GX Eagle

    Viathon R.1 Red eTAP AXS

     

    Viathon made a big splash when it announced its presence to the bicycle world back in April, leveraging the cost-efficiency muscle of its parent company, Walmart, into a line of carbon bikes that seemed just too inexpensive to be true. But as it turns out, the R.1 Red eTap AXS road bike flagship isn’t just a ludicrously good deal; it’s a really good bike, period.

     

    Spec-wise, it’s safe to say that Viathon hasn’t left a lot of room to complain. The SRAM Red eTap AXS stuff shifts and brakes nicely, the HED wheels are noticeably fast while still being pleasantly manageable in crosswinds, and the Continental GP5000 tires have already been shaping up to be some of my new favorites. Solid stuff all around, as expected.

    Read the full review here

    Viathon R.1 Dura-Ace

    With an online-only sales model that forgoes retail markup and overhead, this new Arkansas-based brand has managed to build arguably the fastest bike you can buy for the money. The strapping, disc-equipped frame tips the scales at just 1.9 pounds, which puts it among the lightest on the market, and once built, it yielded a sub-16-pound bike. With deep-section Knight Composite carbon wheels and a Shimano Dura-Ace drivetrain, there are really no improvements to be made here. Handling is brisk, and road feel is surprisingly muted for such a sharp bike, thanks in part to the slender drop seat stays. Given the low cost—nearly half that of the competition—the R.1 is like getting a Tesla Model S for the price of a Mazda Miata. (And the base-level, 105-equipped spec, built on an identical frame, is the deal of the year at $2,300.)

    Read the full review here

    Viathon R.1 Ultegra

    If you haven’t heard of Viathlon, you’re not alone, as the brand just launched at Sea Otter in May. Its R.1 road model with Shimano Ultegra component groupo (including hydraulic disc brakes) is one of those sweet-spot road bikes that delivers sick performance at a decent price. You'll also get precise handling and pedaling efficiency, thanks to the oversized tapered head tube and the bottom bracket. This is perfect for competitive group rides, and it's a sleek-looking bike to boot.

    Read the full review here

    Viathon G.1 105

     

    The Viathon G.1 will fill most of the needs of most cyclists without breaking the bank. The ride quality and handling are on par with bikes costing significantly more. When one factors in details like the impressive tire clearance and threaded bottom bracket, the G.1 becomes even more appealing.

     

     

    Tire clearance is very good, the largest tires I had on hand to test were 700×45, which fit with room to spare. Viathon claims the G.1 can fit up to a 700x51c tire.

    Read the full review here

    The Viathon G.1 RED eTap AXS Is a Gravel Bike for Roadies

    Bicycling.com

    The G.1 handles rough gravel better than some road bikes handle chip-seal pavement, but the bike really comes to life when you push its limits. Flowy singletrack is a blast—you get the precision steering and snappy feel of a road bike, as well as the traction and comfort of fat tires. SRAM’s RED eTap AXS 12-speed, the group this particular G.1 comes with, pairs a 10-33 12-speed cassette with a 40t chainring, which will take care of most of your gearing needs, although some riders may prefer a lower gear for long, steep climbs. But like the frame design, the components were selected to cater to riders who are pushing their bikes and bodies to the limit.

    Read the full review here