The 2025 Viral Dérive was just updated with a few geometry refinements and design tweaks, including clearance for 29 x 2.6″ tires, size-specific crank lengths and bottom bracket heights, and more. Find all the details here…
First released in 2019, the Viral Dérive is a trail and bikepacking-ready titanium hardtail designed around a Pinion gearbox and a Gates belt drive. Neil reviewed the previous model last year and summarized its geometry as versatile and grounded, offering a ride quality that feels great loaded up with gear. To quote his review, “If I was to imagine the perfect bike built around the Pinion gearbox, I feel like the Dérive is it.”
Viral just announced the 2025 Dérive, which stays true to its adaptable beginnings but sees a number of small adjustments and design tweaks. The biggest change is that the geometry is fully dedicated to 29″ wheels, with clearance for 29 x 2.6″ tires. The previous model was compatible made with 27.5 x 3.0″ tires in mind, resulting in a higher bottom bracket to accommodate those tires. A true 29″ platform means a consistent fit and feel across the entire size run, and they’ve shortened the crank lengths on all sizes (V4: 165mm, v3: 160mm, v2: 170mm).
2025 Viral Dérive Geometry
The geometry per Viral based on a 120mm travel fork and the rear axle in the shortest dropout position.
Size | V3 | V4 | V5 |
---|---|---|---|
Headtube angle | 66.5° | 66.5° | 66.5° |
Head tube length | 105 | 115 | 130 |
TT length (effective) | 596 | 627 | 653 |
Seat tube angle | 77° | 76.5° | 77° |
Seat tube length | 415 | 432 | 450 |
Chainstays | 435 | 435 | 435 |
Reach | 450 | 475 | 505 |
Stack | 632 | 636 | 645 |
Bottom bracket drop | 65 | 60 | 55 |
Wheelbase | 1175 | 1205 | 1241 |
Another major change is the placement of the seat stays, which now wrap around the seat tube, allowing for full internal brake hose routing for a cleaner look. The 2025 Viral Dérive also took some cues from the brand’s drop-bar adventure bike, the Viral Wanderer, including the ability to run full internal wire routing for a dynamo rear taillight. Viral also outfit it with a titanium light mount designed to hold the Supernova TL3 Mini seatpost clamp taillight.
The complete offering features a selection of high-end components, including Chris King wheels and headset, a OneUp dropper post, stem, and handlebars, a RockShox Pike Ultimate or Viral Carbon Boost rigid fork, and SRAM Level Ultimate 4-piston disc brakes. The complete build costs $9,895 USD ($8,906 pre-order price) with a PIKE Ultimate fork or $9,405 ($8,465 pre-order price) with the Viral Carbon Boost Fork.
The Dérive is also available as a frame kit, which includes a Pinion C1.12i Smart.Shift gearbox, forged cranks, battery, charger, shifter, and all the required wiring. It will also come with a Gates CDX cogs and belt and the Pinion cog lock ring tool. The frame kit with no fork costs $5,595 USD ($5,036), $6,085 ($5,477) with a carbon fork, and $6,495 ($5,846) with a Pike Ultimate.
Pre-orders are available now from Viral Bikes with a 10% discount and require a 50% deposit. Customers have the option to select the color they want to anodize their frame’s logos and stripes. Dérive frame kits and complete bikes will be delivered in March of 2025. Head to Viral.Bike to learn more.
Further Reading
Make sure to dig into these related articles for more info...
Please keep the conversation civil, constructive, and inclusive, or your comment will be removed.