Chumba has a long and storied history as one of Southern California’s premier boutique brands, but the exposure they received from success on downhill racecourses was a mixed blessing. They earned a reputation for building tough race bikes that could withstand the most brutal of beatings without breaking a sweat, but this rep made a lot of riders feel that a Chumba was overbuilt for regular trail riders. The VF2 is out to change that perception.
WHO IS IT MADE FOR?
Chumba calls their VF2 a “lightweight, race-inspired, cross-country bike.” That’s a stretch. Our VF2 build clearly falls into the trailbike category, with five inches of travel, a trailbike fork and trailbike components. Since the bike is built this way, we evaluated it as a trailbike, not a cross-country bike.
WHAT IS IT MADE FROM?
The VF2’s frame uses bead-blasted, anodized aluminum with a custom-made, hydroformed, butted top tube. The downtube is manipulated so it morphs into a continually changing diameter and shape on its way to the proprietary, inverted bottom-bracket shell. The stays are full carbon fiber, and Chumba employs oversized bearings for the Horst-Link rear suspension. Hardware is anodized seven series aluminum, and every nut and bolt appears to have been engineered for its particular duty. Claimed weight of the frame sans shock is 5.3 pounds (1.5 pounds less than the five-inch-travel Chumba XCL we tested last year).
WHAT COMPONENTS STANDOUT?
Our VF2 had an eccentric mix of components, to say the least. We got a smattering of cross-country-light Shimano XTR components with heavy-duty trailbike touches, like the Syncros handlebar and rims, Fox 32 TALAS fork with 15QR, and Thomson Elite X4 stem. This build brought the bike up to a weight that is acceptable for trailbike use and out of the question for cross-country.
HOW DOES IT PERFORM?
The VF2 has a classic Chumba feel with a twist. The rider feels very centered between the wheels, but the bulk is missing. There are no giant gussets, fat top tubes or downhill-ready tires squeezed between the fork legs and stays.
Moving out: The VF2 needs the help of the shock’s ProPedal feature to keep the rear end from bobbing. Turn it on and stay seated or get out of the saddle and hammer. The VF2 responds with much more enthusiasm than a 29-pound trailbike should. The top tube’s shape encourages the rider to throw the bike from side to side, and the laterally stiff bottom-bracket area can take whatever you can throw at it.
Cornering: The VF2 has two personalities when cornering. If the ProPedal feature is engaged, the rear end sits high. It makes the fork travel feel like less than five inches (it has 5.5 inches). Applying the brakes with the ProPedal engaged requires the rider move back or risk too much weight shift to the front. With the ProPedal off, the bike settles into its travel and feels far more balanced. You just lose a little momentum exiting the corner because the rear suspension compresses under hard pedaling.
Climbing: You do not need to crank down on the fork travel for climbing, because the ProPedal mode (and you need it climbing) gives you the exact same sensation. Flip the lever, stay in the saddle and spin away. The VF2 requires its rider to pay attention when dropping to the granny gear. Why? The bike’s steering becomes ultra-sensitive in the smallest cog. Drop to the granny and you will need to loosen your grip or you’ll find yourself scissoring back and forth.
Descending: We had the most fun on the VF2 on the downhills. The rear suspension stays active during braking, the chassis is everything a Chumba has always been, and that fatty Syncros bar, vice-like Thomson stem, and Fox fork make for a terrific trio. This bike will handle anything a five-inch-travel trailbike is supposed to handle without breaking a sweat.
TRICKS, UPGRADES OR TIPS?
The shock is cradled a good distance from the top tube, so the reach to the ProPedal lever is a long one. Since the ProPedal is an often-used feature, easier access would be better. Unfortunately, inverting the shock will create clearance issues. It is something you will have to adjust to.
The build of our VF2 used expensive Shimano XTR components that shaved weight. If you built up this bike with less expensive components, it would probably near the 30-pound mark.
BUYING ADVICE
If your rides are on tight trails with lots of short ups and downs, the VF2 will require a lot of lever throwing to reach its full potential and is probably more bike than you need. The VF2 is a trailbike that, intentionally designed this way or not, is ideal for the kind of riding most of us face in Southern California. These rides consist of long, uninterrupted climbs to the halfway point, then you turn around and head back down. Both ways are littered with nasty rocks, ruts and uneven trail surfaces. The VF2 is all about conquering this kind of terrain.
CHUMBA VF2
Price $1849 (frame and shock)
Country of origin Taiwan
Weight 29 pounds
Hotline (800) 706-0760
Frame tested 19" (medium)
Bottom bracket height 14"
Chainstay length 17"
Top tube length 23.5"
Head tube angle 69°
Seat tube angle 73°
Standover height 32"
Wheelbase 43.5"
Suspension travel (front) 5.5"
Suspension travel (rear) 5"
Frame material Aluminum
Fork Fox 32 TALAS RLC 15QR
Shock Fox Float RP23
Rims Syncros FLR DS23
Tires Maxxis Ignitor (2.35")
Hubs Chumba M5x/Shimano XT (f)
Brakes Shimano XT
Crankset Shimano XTR
Handlebar Syncros FL 7075 (25" wide)
Shifters Shimano XTR
Front derailleur Shimano XTR
Rear derailleur Shimano XTR
Chainrings Shimano XTR (44/32/22)
Cassette Shimano (11-34)
Pedals None (weighed with Shimano XTR)