VP-Free vs Uzzi VPX

[sanjuro]

Thoughts?

[LOOnatic]

They both cost alot of money.

[ncrider]

vpfree has more travel and I've heard SC has better customer service.

[Jayridesacove]

I'm certain a similar question was brought up before.

From memory, the intense seems to have a more race bike feel to the ride. The vp free felt more comfortable with typical "freeriding."

[punkassean]

I'd probably go VP-Free. I just think it looks sexier. They are both sick bikes though. I think the VPX DT looks to chunky and same for the 1.5HT. The VPF looks more elegant and swoopy. Since they both seem to perform well IMO the winner is chosen by the esthetics.

[OGRipper]

I'm a biased SCB 'ho, but vp-free all the way. Been rockin' mine for more than a year and have not had one problem - except my inability to approach the bike's potential! :p I haven't ridden a VPX so I can't say how the ride compares, but I don't have one complaint with my free. Unless you can't live without 1.5 get a vp-free. It makes me funny in the pants just thinking about it. :heart: :heart: :heart:

[ncrider]

It makes me funny in the pants just thinking about it. :heart: :heart: :heart:

Oh good, I'm glad thats not just me. i can't wait to ride mine as soon as I get off work today.

[kidwoo]

Check geo numbers.

They're actually quite different bikes.

I've ridden a few vp-frees (not to any great length) and I think I'd prefer the uzzi.

[descender]

They are way different geomerty wise. Study the numbers and compare to other bikes you have been on. Also search as this has come up lots of times.

I vote free but I am sure you will love either.

[OGRipper]

Geometry, shmeometry, just get a free or forever wish you did!

Oh god, now I sound like a hope or avy cult member. I mean, uh, yes, be sure you carefully study the objective differences and make a prudent decision based a thorough examination of all relevent factors.... ;)

[dlb]

The Intense has more "user freindly geometry" for more trail riding conditions. Has more of an upright seatpost which makes raised post, and climbing conditions a little easier. The Free is still a fine bike, probably one of the best big "go huck yourself" frames on the market. The VPX can take the big hit, on the other hand will make tight trails a little easier, might be a better cornering bike too, also has a shorter wheelbase.

[TheMontashu]

I would go with the intense, I have some time on one and they feel alot more like a DH bike than a VP-fee does. it is going to feel more like a DH bike but still pedal well with the 7 inches of travel, and 7 inches is plenty for anything you are oging to be doing for a while

[dropsdon'tlikem]

How about the Intense with the new 203mm single crown travis fork?

[LOOnatic]

What about it....we're talking about 2 frames :nopity:

[OGRipper]

Does anyone know anything about the shock rate curve on the Uzzi? Won't the the shock mounting on the top tube v. the down tube mount on the vp-free give a different curve? The free has a falling initial rate to give a boost on jumps (rising rebound). I'm not too good at determining rate from looking at a bike but does the uzzi have more of a flat to rising rate? Wouldn't that make it arguably better in the high speed rough stuff but harder to get off the ground, closer to a race bike? So preference should depend on what you plan to use it for...any thoughts?

[TheMontashu]

How about the Intense with the new 203mm single crown travis fork?
Then I will make fun of him for being a retard seting up his bike

[dlb]

Does anyone know anything about the shock rate curve on the Uzzi? Won't the the shock mounting on the top tube v. the down tube mount on the vp-free give a different curve? The free has a falling initial rate to give a boost on jumps (rising rebound). I'm not too good at determining rate from looking at a bike but does the uzzi have more of a flat to rising rate? Wouldn't that make it arguably better in the high speed rough stuff but harder to get off the ground, closer to a race bike? So preference should depend on what you plan to use it for...any thoughts?


I dont know much about the "cruves" of the suspension myself, there was some talk about this on mtbr and some of the guy's were saying that the setup on the Intense would make it plusher on the smaller hits.

[***MTB***]

Go with the VP-free. It rips.

[sanjuro]

Well after the complaints from the DH forum about the VPX, I would say the VP-Free is the winner here.

The only advantage I see for Intense is that the VPX has a 1.5 headtube, which gives you the option to use a Sherman Breakout.

[dlb]

My seatpost goes in no problems, slammed all the way down. I had a simular problem with my new Turner 6 Pack, there was a slight bur where the top tube met the seat tube on the welding port, after I hit it with a file the post went in smoothly. I dont see any problem spots on my small VPX.

[Cal]

I have the pleasure of being able to ride both bikes. I have the Uzzi and my buddy has the VP-free. The VP-Free is more of a DH bike than a free ride bike a little more slack at the fork and seat and longer in the wheelbase than the Uzzi. The Uzzi on the othe hand turns inside anything I have ridden and is fairly stable at speeds, but not as stable as the VP. I’m still trying to get used to the cornering of the Uzzi. It all comes down to what type of terrain you ride and you riding style.
I had to go though both bikes when we got them and fix some problems with them. Allthough I would do that with any specialty bike I got just to make sure everything is just right before I went through anything big

:D

[Peete]

Kind of backing up Cal. I rode an Uzzi VPX at Sea Otter on the DS course. I was amazed with it's manuverability through the gates and how well it pedalled out of the gate. I was very impressed. I've been riding an Uzzi SLX since 2001 and will probably get something new this winter. I'm looking real hard at the VP Free mainly for the price and availability.
I'd go with whichever one you can get the cheapest.

[hooples3]

I was recently looking for a new freeride/dh bike and considered the VP-free and the VPX. I have ridden the vp-free and really liked it ( sc is a great company , i already own a heckler). I never got a chance to test out the VPX cause not to many ppl stock it. Fortunatly I got a chance to ride the 7point7, as soon as I got on it it just felt right, I wound up being able to buy it at an awesome price. The bike is really nice, just something to think about

[LFB]

I like my VPX. It handles extremely well, and excells at everything I want it to do. The free is alright, but I didn't care for it as much. Maybe it's because I used to be a BMXer and I like bikes that are responsive.

[powderboy]

I've ridden both the VPX and the VP-Free and I'd agree with what's been said. The VP-Free is a bit more plush on the down, but is more of a pig going up. The VPX is a better overall trailbike though. They both look about the same to me... in the end you'll like either one. It all depends on what you want do do with it and how you ride. Check out my reviews of each:

Intense VPX
http://www.feedthehabit.com/gear_reviews/intense_uzzi_vpx_review.html

SC VPFree
http://www.feedthehabit.com/gear_reviews/2004_santa_cruz_vpfree.html

[habitatxskate]

i have seen a few vp frees they seem sick, my buddy has a uzzi, they are sick and he told me they have sick peddeling effiency depends if you are going for flat/freerdide or dh, if you do freeride get an uzzi if you go dh and freeride go vp

[powderboy]

i have seen a few vp frees they seem sick, my buddy has a uzzi, they are sick and he told me they have sick peddeling effiency depends if you are going for flat/freerdide or dh, if you do freeride get an uzzi if you go dh and freeride go vpSo, overall, they are pretty sick! :thumb:

Just giving you a hard time... they are both sick bikes.

[vpsaline]

Does anyone know anything about the shock rate curve on the Uzzi?


http://photo.pinkbike.com/photo/951/pbpic951392.jpg

Dont forget the Uzzi VPX uses a 8.5 x 2.5 shock, and the VP-Free uses a 8.75 x 2.75 shock.

[freeridermtb4]

vp free is the lightest dh bike Ive ever picked up or ridden ever, my friend has one and it blew my mind how light it was

[spacemanspiff06]

http://photo.pinkbike.com/photo/951/pbpic951392.jpg

Dont forget the Uzzi VPX uses a 8.5 x 2.5 shock, and the VP-Free uses a 8.75 x 2.75 shock.
what does the vertical side of those graphs represent?

[Ascentrek]

VP-free.

[erikkellison]

The vertical axis obviously represents the leverage ratio. Or maybe not obviously, but I'm pretty sure that's it, especially since the units appear to be mm/mm, which is really unitless - what a leverage ratio would be, though it would be measured in mm/mm.
I think there must be lighter DH rigs, it all depends on your build. Put an air shock on the VP-Free though, or at least a Ti spring, and I'm sure that helps!

One question: I'm not sure how the falling rate leverage ratio is supposed to help with jumps, anyone care to explain? I would think that a rising rate would make jumps better because that way you wouldn't be so prone to blow through the travel on the g-out part of the ramp. And doesn't a falling rate of leverage at the end really make a bike easier to bottom out, or does the compression and bottom out air volume compensate for this, and make it still ramp up nicely? I am an owner of a VP-Free w/ a Roco, but a new owner. On that note, anyone care to share how they have their Roco set up? I weigh 185, spring is a 450, rebound is all the way in, compression all the way out, 200psi. Not sure if it's supposed to feel better. It feels good, I just want another opinion.

[chicodude]

You realize he has alreadu gotten this bike and this thread is a year old...right?

[erikkellison]

Yes, I realize that. But, the poster who gave the leverage ratio graph just posted yesterday, and might have some answers to my questions.

[OGRipper]

One question: I'm not sure how the falling rate leverage ratio is supposed to help with jumps, anyone care to explain?

Falling compression = rising rebound. Once you recognize that and learn to work it, you get a sweet boost off jumps. Pumping off transitions is way easier on a free than say, on a V10, and it's not just because of a little less travel. If you don't get it, you might think your bike kicks too much and run too much rebound.