Mountain Bike (MTB)
Gravel Bike
All-Terrain Bike (ATB)
Fat Bike
Vargo, best known for its extensive range of titanium cookware and accessories, is taking that expertise in a new direction: bikes! Learn more about Vargo Bikes and the all-new Vargo VELOCI-TI gravel bike here…
Founded by Brian Vargo in the early 2000s, Vargo has built a strong following as the go-to choice for high-end titanium camp gear. Vargo’s flagship product was a tiny, ultralight titanium alcohol stove, but these days the product line includes utensils, tent stakes, bottles, pots, backpacks, knives, trekking poles, and more. According to their website, Vargo was the first to use a strainer lid on cookware, the first to make a titanium alcohol stove, and the first to create a bottle/pot hybrid, the BOT, which is a favorite among bikepackers.
The latest evolution of the Vargo brand is one that we didn’t see coming: Vargo bikes! Vargo is entering the world of high-end titanium bikes, focusing on 3D-printed lugs and components. Vargo Bikes is a partnership led by Brian Vargo and Chad Swanger, two lifelong friends “brought together by a shared love of cycling, the outdoors, and well-designed gear,” according to their website.
Vargo Bikes is launching with the VELOCI-TI Gravel bike. Its unique look combines precision-engineered 3D-printed Grade 5 titanium lugs with premium cold-worked Grade 9 titanium tubing, and features a threaded bottom bracket, UDH dropouts, and clearance for 45mm tires. The frame appears to have rack mounts, two standard bottle mounts, downtube mounts, and top tube bosses for bolt-on bags. It’s odd to see only three frame sizes, but we’re not sure what to expect from a camp gear brand-turned-bike company.
Vargo-Ti Gravel Geometry
| Size | SM | MD | LG |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seat tube length | 47cm | 50cm | 53cm |
| Seat tube angle | 73.5° | 73° | 72.5° |
| Head tube length | 140mm | 155mm | 170mm |
| Headtube angle | 71° | 71° | 71° |
| Top tube effective length | 54cm | 56cm | 58cm |
| BB Drop | 72mm | 72mm | 72mm |
| Chainstay length | 430mm | 430mm | 430mm |
| Fork rake | 50mm | 50mm | 50mm |
| Fork length | 395mm | 395mm | 395mm |
| Wheelbase | 1019.1mm | 1034.3mm | 1049mm |
| Stack | 562.5mm | 567.7mm | 590.9mm |
| Reach | 474.1mm | 383.7mm | 393.7mm |
| Trail | 69.7 | 69.7 | 69.7 |
| BB | T47 85.5mm | T47 85.5mm | T47 85.5mm |
Vargo’s first titanium gravel bike isn’t cheap, priced at $5,795 USD for the frame or $9,895 for a complete build. Frames are available now, and complete builds should be available as soon as next month. They currently have one dealer, Marty’s Bike Shop in Pennsylvania, and it appears more models might be on the way. Vargo’s other titanium products are primarily made in China, so it’s a safe bet that the bikes are as well, but we’ll report back if we hear otherwise.
Head over to VargoBikes.com to learn more.
Further Reading
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