Vitus has introduced an updated version of the ZX-1 aero road bike. The ZX-1 EVO is said to be lighter, stiffer and more aerodynamic than its predecessor – that's a given, of course – but the real story here is the value, with the £2,800 base model coming with a Shimano 105 groupset and, most notably, carbon Reynolds wheels.
The original ZX-1 was a big success for Vitus and became the bike of choice for Vitus’s pro team riders.
Even with the success of the ZX-1, Vitus looked at revamping the bike to further improve aerodynamics but also incorporate the geometry and handling of its lightweight race bike, the Vitesse EVO.
The result is a bike that's fully integrated, with Vitus using FSA’s clever SMR ACS stem to move all the cables and hydraulic hoses inside.
The range includes six bikes from £2,800 to £5,400, all sharing the same frame and offering impressive value on paper, at a time when aero bikes appear to be more expensive than ever.
What you need to know about the new ZX-1 EVO
- Lighter, stiffer and more aero than the previous ZX-1
- Every model gets full cable integration designed in partnership with FSA
- Every model gets carbon aero bars as standard
- Geometry is based on the Vitesse EVO
- Size-specific fork for the same ride quality, whatever the size
- Six models from £2,800 to £5,400
Usually, when we get wind of an aero-road bike launch, we’d expect a barrage of aero claims, advantages over rivals with grams of drag trimmed and watts saved, etc. However, Vitus’s approach has been much simpler.
For the ZX-1 EVO, Vitus admits that out in the real world there are too many variables that make most aero claims fairly meaningless to you and me. Even to the extent of naming examples: sock height, helmet choice, rider flexibility, and even if you can super-tuck (though not in any races, of course).
What’s also refreshing from the brand is that it's the whole bike, not just an aerodynamic chassis, that gets the aero treatment. This means that no matter which model you choose, from the base Shimano 105 model up to the flagship Red AXS, every bike gets aero wheels, fully integrated cables and a carbon aero bar.
This is typical for pricier bikes, of course, but on the entry-level ZX-1 CR EVO Shimano 105 model (£2,799) you'd expect to have to upgrade to something aero – most of Vitus's competition still spec a ‘training’ wheelset – but it gets full-fat Reynolds AR 58/62 aero wheels (that’s a 58mm deep front and 62mm deep rear).
These wheels on their own retail at around £1,200, so are impressive to find on a sub-£3,000 bike. Not only that, you get the clever internal routing design of FSA’s SMR ACS stem and a full carbon aero bar from Prime.
While Vitus hasn’t been in the business of comparing aero numbers against its rivals, it has taken the new ZX-1 EVO into the wind tunnel to compare it against the previous model.
Vitus says: “We’ve tested this bike’s aerodynamics to validate our own design decisions. It exhibits up to 45 per cent less drag than the previous ZX-1 when built as a full bike. Trust us when we say we’ve done our bit and this bike is fast… the rest is up to you.’
The graphs show the ZX-1 EVO tested over a Yaw angle range at speeds of 35 and 45kph, and with the bike in both a slammed bar position and a bar height more common to most riders.
At 0 degrees yaw to the wind, the new bike shows an 18 per cent reduction in drag, and at 15-degree yaw it’s a massive 45 per cent more efficient.
Vitus ZX-1 EVO geometry
| | XS | S | M | L | XL | XXL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat angle (degrees) | 73.6 | 73.5 | 73.4 | 73.3 | 73.2 | 73.5 |
| Head angle (degrees) | 70.9 | 71.6 | 72.4 | 72.9 | 73.2 | 73.5 |
| Chainstay (cm) | 41 | 41 | 41 | 41 | 41 | 41 |
| Front centre (cm) | 57.9 | 59 | 59.1 | 59.99 | 61.1 | 62.3 |
| Seat tube - CT (cm) | 47 | 49 | 51 | 53 | 55 | 57 |
| Seat tube - CC (cm) | 45 | 47 | 49 | 51 | 53 | 55 |
| Top tube (cm) | 52 | 53.7 | 55.1 | 56.6 | 58.1 | 59.2 |
| Head tube (cm) | 8.95 | 11.23 | 12.96 | 14.78 | 16.45 | 18.1 |
| Fork length (cm) | 5.1 | 5.1 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| Trail (cm) | 37 | 37 | 37 | 37 | 37 | 37 |
| Bottom bracket drop (cm) | 7 | 6.9 | 6.9 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 6.8 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 979 | 990 | 991 | 1,000.40 | 1,012 | 1,024 |
| Stack (cm) | 50 | 52.2 | 54.3 | 56.2 | 57.8 | 59.5 |
| Reach (cm) | 37.2 | 38.1 | 38.7 | 39.6 | 40.6 | 41.6 |
Vitus ZX-1 EVO first ride impressions
I’ve had the chance to get out on the most modest bike in the range, the ZX-1 EVO CR with its Shimano 105 drivetrain and Reynolds carbon wheels, and I’ve come away impressed so far.
On the previous model, I enjoyed the speed and low racy ride position, and my only niggles were a slippy seatpost and a bit of front end flex when loading up the steering into corners.
The new bike, however, cures these issues and the front end now feels sharper, more direct and most pleasingly much more stable.
The geometry on my XL test bike mirrors the previous model with just a couple of millimetres added to the stack (578mm), the reach is long at 406mm and the head angle is suitably race steep at 73.2 degrees.
The 45mm fork rake combined with the steep head angle and 25mm tyres makes for a trail figure of around 56mm, which is what helps give the ZX-1 a TCR/SuperSix EVO style handling rather than the more stable-focused handling of most aero bikes.
The wheels are superb and the tyres decent too, and I do like the Prime carbon bar and FSA stem combo which actually gives more adjustability than the pricier CRS models with Vision’s one-piece Metron 5D cockpit.
I’ll be spending more time on the ZX-1 EVO CR before a full review is ready, but my first impressions are very, very positive.
Vitus ZX-1 EVO CR test bike specification
- Weight: 8.48kg (XL/58cm)
- Frame: Carbon
- Fork: Carbon
- Gears: Shimano 105 (52/36, 11-32)
- Brakes: Shimano 105 hydraulic disc, ST-RT70 140/160mm rotors
- Wheels: Reynolds AR 58/62
- Tyres: Schwalbe One Performance TLE 25mm
- Stem: FSA SMR ACR
- Handlebar: Prime Primavera carbon
- Saddle: Vitus Ti rail
- Seatpost: Vitus ZX-1 Aero carbon
Vitus ZX-1 EVO range and spec
Vitus ZX-1 EVO CR
The entry-level model in the range comes with Shimano’s dependable 105 groupset, Reynolds AR 58/62 carbon wheels, a Prime Primavera carbon bar, FSA SMR ACS stem, Vitus ti-railed saddle and Schwalbe One Performance TLE 25mm tyres.
- Price: £2,800 / €3,900 / AU$5,000 / $3,600
- Weight: Claimed 8.3kg (56cm)
- Frameset: ZX-1 EVO Carbon
- Groupset: Shimano 105 R7000 11-speed
- Bottom bracket: 386EVO 24
- Crankset: Shimano 105 R7000 52-36t
- Chain: KMC X11
- Cassette: Sunrace CSRX1 11-32 11-speed
- Shifters/brake levers: Shimano 105 R7020 11-speed
- Brakes: Shimano R7070
- Rotors: Shimano ST-RT70, F-160mm R-140mm
- Wheels: Reynolds AR 58/62 DB carbon clincher, tubeless
- Thru-axle: Vitus Switch F-100×12mm R-142×12mm
- Tyres: Schwalbe ONE Performance TLE 700×25 tubeless
- Stem: FSA SMR ACR
- Handlebar: Prime Primavera carbon
- Seatpost: Vitus ZX-1 AERO carbon
- Saddle: Vitus Ti Rail
Vitus ZX-1 EVO CRS
This one gets mechanical Shimano Ultegra, Reynolds AR 58/62 wheels and the same FSA SMS ACR/Primavera carbon stem/bar cockpit combo as the 105 bike.
- Price: £3,100 / €4,300 / AU$5,500 / $3,900
- Weight: Claimed 8.2kg (56cm)
- Frameset: ZX-1 EVO Carbon
- Groupset: Shimano Ultegra R8000 11-speed
- Bottom bracket: 386EVO 24
- Crankset: Shimano Ultegra R8000 52-36t
- Chain: KMC X11
- Cassette: Sunrace CSRX1 11-32 11-speed
- Shifters/brake levers: Shimano Ultegra R8000 11-speed
- Brakes: Shimano R8070
- Rotors: Shimano ST-R800, F-160mm R-140mm
- Wheels: Reynolds AR 58/62 DB Carbon Clincher, tubeless
- Thru-axle: Vitus Switch F-100×12mm R-142×12mm
- Tyres: Schwalbe ONE Performance TLE 700×25 tubeless
- Stem: FSA SMR ACR
- Handlebar: Prime Primavera carbon
- Seatpost: Vitus ZX-1 AERO carbon
- Saddle: Vitus Ti Rail
Vitus ZX-1 EVO CR eTap AXS
The Vitus ZX-1 EVO CR eTap AXS gets SRAM's new most affordable road wireless groupset, along with the Prime Primavera carbon bar, FSA SMR ACS stem, and Prime’s 30mm deep Attaquer tubeless disc wheels.
- Price: £3,600 / €5,000 / AU$6,000 / $4,700
- Weight: Claimed 8.18kg (56cm)
- Frameset: ZX-1 EVO Carbon
- Groupset: SRAM Rival AXS HRD 12-speed
- Bottom bracket: SRAM DUB 386EVO
- Crankset: SRAM Rival AXS D1 DUB, 48-35t
- Chain: SRAM Rival D1
- Cassette: SRAM XG-1270 D1 10-33 12-speed
- Shifters/brake levers: SRAM Rival eTap AXS D1
- Brakes: SRAM Rival eTap AXS D1
- Rotors: SRAM Paceline Centerlock, F-160mm R-140mm
- Wheels: Prime Attaquer Disc, tubeless
- Thru-axle: Vitus Switch F-100×12mm R-142×12mm
- Tyres: Schwalbe ONE Performance TLE 700×25 tubeless
- Stem: FSA SMR ACR
- Handlebar: Prime Primavera carbon
- Seatpost: Vitus ZX-1 AERO carbon
- Saddle: Vitus Ti Rail
Vitus ZX-1 EVO CRS Di2
The CRS Di2 is the first bike in the range to get the Vision Metron 5D ACR carbon cockpit for a slippery aero addition, along with the Reynolds AR 58/62 wheel combo. We've also got this model on test.
- Price: £4,000 / €5,500 / AU$6,800 / $5,200
- Weight: Claimed 8kg (56cm)
- Frameset: ZX-1 EVO Carbon
- Groupset: Shimano Ultegra R8070 Di2 11-speed
- Bottom bracket: 386EVO 24
- Crankset: Shimano Ultegra R8000 52-36t
- Chain: KMC X11
- Cassette: Sunrace CSRX1 11-32 11-speed
- Shifters/brake levers: Shimano Ultegra R8070 Di2 11-speed
- Brakes: Shimano R8070
- Rotors: Shimano ST-R800, F-160mm R-140mm
- Wheels: Reynolds AR 58/62 DB carbon clincher, tubeless
- Thru-axle: Vitus Switch F-100×12mm R-142×12mm
- Tyres: Schwalbe ONE Performance TLE 700×25 tubeless
- Stem: N/A
- Handlebar: Vision Metron 5D ACR
- Seatpost: Vitus ZX-1 AERO carbon
- Saddle: Vitus Ti Rail
Vitus ZX-1 EVO CRS eTap AXS
With Force AXS wireless shifting from SRAM, Vision's Metron 5D ACR carbon cockpit and Reynolds' AR 58/62 wheel combo.
- Price: £4,200 / €5,800 / AU$7,200 / $5,400
- Weight: Claimed 8.2kg (56cm)
- Frameset: ZX-1 EVO Carbon
- Groupset: SRAM Force AXS HRD 12-speed
- Bottom bracket: SRAM DUB 386EVO
- Crankset: SRAM Force AXS D1 Dub 48-35t
- Chain: SRAM Force D
- Cassette: SRAM XG-1270 D1 10-33 12-speed
- Shifters/brake levers: SRAM Force eTap AXS D1
- Brakes: SRAM Force eTap AXS D1
- Rotors: SRAM Paceline Centerlock, F-160mm R-140mm
- Wheels: Reynolds AR 58/62 DB carbon clincher, tubeless
- Thru-axle: Vitus Switch F-100×12mm R-142×12mm
- Tyres: Schwalbe ONE Performance TLE 700×25 tubeless
- Stem: N/A
- Handlebar: Vision Metron 5D ACR
- Seatpost: Vitus ZX-1 AERO carbon
- Saddle: Vitus Ti Rail
Vitus ZX-1 EVO CRX eTap AXS
The flagship bike gets SRAM's Red AXS groupset along with the Metron 5D ACR cockpit and Reynolds wheels.
- Price: £5,400 / €7,400 / AU$9,000 / $7,000
- Weight: Claimed 7.9kg (56cm)
- Frameset: ZX-1 EVO Carbon
- Groupset: SRAM Red AXS HRD 12-speed
- Bottom bracket: SRAM DUB 386EVO
- Crankset: SRAM Red AXS D1 Dub 48-35t
- Chain: SRAM Red D
- Cassette: SRAM XG-1270 D1 10-33 12-speed
- Shifters/brake levers: SRAM Red eTap AXS D1
- Brakes: SRAM Red eTap AXS D1
- Rotors: SRAM Paceline Centerlock, F-160mm R-140mm
- Wheels: Reynolds AR 58/62 DB carbon clincher, tubeless
- Thru-axle: Vitus Switch F-100×12mm R-142×12mm
- Tyres: Schwalbe ONE Performance TLE 700×25 tubeless
- Stem: N/A
- Handlebar: Vision Metron 5D ACR
- Seatpost: Vitus ZX-1 AERO carbon
- Saddle: Vitus Ti Rail
