Van Dessel Full Tilt Boogie Review

[LugHugger]

I have searched through this review three times for a price for the model reviewed. The review refers on at least two occasions to the models as being 'pricey' but does not reference any amount. Neither is there a link to the Van Dessel website to make finding out this essential piece of information easier for CN readers. Now, I'm a self-starter so can tell you that the price for the model reviewed is us $3999.

Just in case you were curious

 

[fletch62]

I too, have reread that review trying to find the price as its mentioned 3 times i think. Thought it must have been a $10k bike.
Seems the bike only comes in size 54cm, which is printed about 100 times.

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

Van Dessel lists the FTB at $3499 on their website. IMHO, they are kind of a rip-off. Cute, but waaay too pricey for what you're getting. Sorry.

 

[LugHugger]

Van Dessel lists the FTB at $3499 on their website. IMHO, they are kind of a rip-off. Cute, but waaay too pricey for what you're getting. Sorry.

$3499 for Rival
$3999 for Force



Personally, if I was going carbon, I would invest my cash in a Stevens Carbon Team or a Ridley X Fire. I'm interested in seeing how Cannondale go with the SuperX though. And the Ibis Hakkalugi is pretty as a picture

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

Yep, and as stated in the review the wheels (Sun) that came on that bike are egregiously out of place on a bike that costs that much. It's almost like a bad joke on the end user. If there ever was a fine example of a company caring more about profits rather than equipping with proper gear, it's this one. I can ballpark what that f&f costs Van Dessel, least they could do is put a proper wheelset on there.

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

Just noticed this; that the front der is routed on the down tube, everything else on the top. Pure CX bikes run everything on the top.

 

[LugHugger]

Just noticed this; that the front der is routed on the down tube, everything else on the top. Pure CX bikes run everything on the top.

I'm not sure that I would wholly endorse this. Stevens route their front and rear on the d/t. Ridley route the X Fire via t/t but the X Night concelaed via the d/t Cannondale via d/t too. The new Kona Major Jake runs d/t but have made the cable run partly concealed to help with lifts I presume.

D/t routing tends to make for shorter runs hence less cable friction. With sealed cables now being widely available the t/t routing to avoid contamination is less of a concern. For me, it's only a question of how comfortable do you want/need your d/t grabs to be?

I don't think that cable routing wins or loses many races. Fwiw, I prefer the aesthetics of t/t routing but I race s/s so what do I care?

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

True. Guess I just prefer tt cable routing. Had 1 CX bike with dt routing and hated it for racing.

 

[TexPat]

I'm not sure that I would wholly endorse this. Stevens route their front and rear on the d/t. Ridley route the X Fire via t/t but the X Night concelaed via the d/t Cannondale via d/t too. The new Kona Major Jake runs d/t but have made the cable run partly concealed to help with lifts I presume.

D/t routing tends to make for shorter runs hence less cable friction. With sealed cables now being widely available the t/t routing to avoid contamination is less of a concern. For me, it's only a question of how comfortable do you want/need your d/t grabs to be?

I don't think that cable routing wins or loses many races. Fwiw, I prefer the aesthetics of t/t routing but I race s/s so what do I care?

I prefer dt routing. Much better shifting, especially when it's muddy.
Those little freaking pulleys mounted behind the seat tube really collect the crud.

 

[oldxer]

I too, have reread that review trying to find the price as its mentioned 3 times i think. Thought it must have been a $10k bike.
Seems the bike only comes in size 54cm, which is printed about 100 times.

I've just bought one of these frames in the 56cm size. The deciding thing for me was the geometry. I've been racing VD's G&T frame for the last three years and really liked it. There's a lot to be said for having a pit bike with identical geometry. It's also a beautiful frame. It came out to 17.75 lbs with fairly ordinary parts. Front end is quite stiff as advertised.

 

[DirtyWorks]

Trigon

True. Guess I just prefer tt cable routing. Had 1 CX bike with dt routing and hated it for racing.

My last, old, old bike had downtube routing and I didn't like it. Grabbing at the downtube is weird with the cables there. I don't like how the mud collects on that pulley either. Note to self, look into a top pull front mech.

Like another post said, either way it's not terribly important.

Finally, that's a Trigon product. Nice bike, but it has all the signature elements of a Trigon. The seat stay assembly, gently sloping top tube, generally aggressive angles. Expensive? Maybe. It just depends on how much service/warranty the guy running Van Dessel commits to. I don't see any warranty info on their site.

I'm a fan of the Fort brand. I fancy the gentler angles in their 'cross product. http://www.fortbicycles.com