Having recently built one up from a 'very orange' frameset (with help from lbs obvs) im very impressed with the ride quality after just a quick 30 miler maiden voyage on 28mm gatorskins. Looking forward to getting some 40mm tyres on her and a dialling in the fit over the next week (to make it Dirty reiver ready) before the obligatory i gotta new bike photo.
So interested to see anyone elses Vaya and thoughts as im thinking this ones for keeps
I don’t have one. But they just look ‘right’
ime, when a bike looks ‘right’ it usually is ‘right’
i know this sounds irrational, but i stand by it.
lets see it then . .
Absolutely love mine, built from an Orange frame also. My spec is
Hope Pro 4 on WTB STi25 650b rims
WTB Byways 650x47
Salsa Cowchippers
Salsa Carbon seatpost
Full 105 drivetrain
Trp hy rd brakes
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Is that a carbon fork up there ^ ? Looks smart.
I have one of the original ones in dark bronze colour, from about 2010. Still love riding it, although it's reserved for fairly heavy touring and towpath pootling now - front and back racks, mudguards, 40mm marathons. It's not quick!
It's since been treated to an Ultegra triple chainset (yes, triple still), tan bar tape, full mudguards and TRP Spyres. Feels good as new again. Those WTB tyres above look good, might have to get some.
I think they really suit fat 650's (hmm, whilst running mine on 700's).
Mine was built from a [2014/15] frameset with a mix of XT770 and XT780 & Dura-Ace 7700 (3x9) / BB7's / Mavic A719's on XT (r) and SON28 (f) / SKS 'guards /Supernova lights / Wald 1372 on a Racktime front-rack (which is great).
Currently set up with Challenge gravel grinders (700 x 38) in the 120tpi versions and they are great.
Not the lightest bike ever, but it's *very* comfy and very capable over distance.
@Mowgli yes indeed a carbon fork, the bike comes in at 23lbs which I’m very happy with ( without the Wildcat frame bag obviously) I recently added a revelate gas tank which is a lovely addition and two Salsa side entry bottle cages to take care of the frame bag restrictions. A low weight was not the aim but a comfortable and capable on and off road bike that I can ride anywhere from home without travelling to a trail centre. The concept for me is really not having a planned route but exploring. With the illness to my wife this seems the perfect bike for me to get out. I have a brand new Cannondale Habit lefty which hasn’t turned a wheel since March 2017🙁. Currently up for sale
The Vaya is a bike I don’t envisage selling!!
More bikepacking kit to be purchased and adventures await.
Yup, I’ve a grey 2013 one.
Love it.
Just about to start running it 650b to see what all the fuss is about.
@ teetosugars I was planning on building a set of 700c wheels as a spare set but after seeing the performance and indeed the speed and comfort of the 650b wheels I’m selling the hub and rims and sticking with 650b😀. I’m currently running them at 32 psi , I do intend to buy a set of knarlier tyres for more stoney routes in the Mourne Mountains where I ride. Perhaps some Soma Cazaderos but I’d have to get them from the USA which is pricey.
I've got a 2012 or 2013 one, got the frame second hand a few years ago.
I like it, definitely a keeper. It is fairly stiff, not exactly a magic twangy thing but very versatile. Paint is good quality but some of the welding is rough as. Definitely a bike to be used not admired.
I think I'm going to treat it to a new hydro group set this year as i don't think I'll get anything that a fit or like better.
Moorsey72 and tomd any pics??
Looking great fudge (its what persuaded my purchase of the same frameset 😉). Working away at the mo but will add some pics on my return. Thinking a set of 650b wheels in the near future might be on the cards i just went with some cheap 700c wheels to make tyre choice easier in the short term.
And there she is! on way back from a 50 mile mixed terrain (very wet) slog, performed beau.tifully. Ill add a clean picture once finished tweeking
Still some tweeks to do (double wrap bars with lizard skins black camo, change stem, add framebag and fine tune fit) but below is the build as it stands :
Salsa Vaya frameset (carbon fork) 54
Prime Road race disc wheelset (de-stickered with the missus hairdryer)
Panracer Gravelking 43c (tubeless)
TRP Spyre-C brakes
105 shifters, RD, FD
Campagnolo CX compact carbon chainset
SLX 40T cassette
wolftooth roadlink
tifosi carbon seatpost
brooks B17 saddle
Ritchey Venturemax handlebars
Need to dial the gears in a bit and tighten up the braking, also may add a riser stem although it was comfy enough over 50 miles.
moorsey72 very nice indeed sir!!!
The Orange colourway with Black really is stunning, loving mine as well I’m using any excuse to get out, weather has been terrible here but a blast round local trail centre and the local farm tracks beckons later this week
Thanks fudge, planning a big ride up to llandegna trail centre myself to see how capable it is around a bit of singletrack. Judging by how capable she was down very rough gravel/farmtrack, through fords etc in rutland at the weekend im pretty confident. The ride transforms off road, very impressed.
That’s what I found as well, really confident bike off road to the extent I was a little too enthusiastic and nearly lost the front on the byways. I’ve since added two lovely Salsa side entry bottle cages to account for the frame bag and bought a revelate gas tank and a dwidget to add to the frame. Hoping to build up some bikepacking gear and get out some cheeky overnighters in the local Mourne Mountains. I’m considering a more grippy tyre, liking the Soma Cazadero’s but none in the U.K. only USA so could be pricey.
Where did you get the salsa bottle cages from fudge and are they secure? I need on board storage for all the essentials needed on the Reiver, bought a topeak midloader framebag but it’s all a bit cramped, love the idea of bikepacking so will get plenty of use after the event
Bike24.com. Arrived from Germany in 3 days, they can be altered to entry from left or right and very secure, lovely aluminium not plastic.
https://www.bike24.com/p2214895.html
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Somehow I managed to post an image, wonders will never cease !
The above was in touring mode, the one below after a muddy bridleway session:
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Gearing is a modified 105 triple (50/39/26) and an 11-34 on the back. with a Deore 9 speed mech. I'm debating about changing the crank to more touring orientated, and maybe going for a 650B wheelset. In touring mode it had 40c Marathon Plus tyres on, the second was with 40c WTB Nanos.
Some serious versatility shown there Jerry!
How do you find the different variations of on board luggage affects the ride? I’ve bought a framebag over a seat pack for the dirty reiver (if my hip recovers in time after wiping out this week!) but wondering whether it’s the best choice.
To be honest I'm still experimenting. I found I had a low speed wobble when I did my week long tour (first pictures), possibly because I took too much stuff and had too much weight on the front.
This made me rethink how much to take in future hence the frame bag - I've also got a lomo seatpack to try out. I can strap stuff to the rack as well and the front panniers will also fit although I doubt I will use both options at once. I originally had a Tubus Tara lowrider on the front but managed to hole a pannier during a drywall interaction and think if I have panniers on the front I want them higher.
I reckon for a 3 day trip I will try seatpack, frame bag and dry bag on front rack. For a longer trip I'll probably revert to a 4 small pannier set up.
Jerry also considering one of those lomo seat packs how do you find the fitting and quality of it
I haven't used it in anger but seems to fit ok. I've nothing else to compare it too though.
Tweeks pretty much complete (although finding toptube bag a bit bulky and catches when out of the saddle), might have to use the one bottle cage for a tool keg as too tight for a water bottle with the framebag attached. Did a quick 15 miles this morning just to see how my hip feels before deciding whether to attempt the dirty reiver or not (didnt want to overdo it with work tomorrow). Managed a 2nd best time on one of my local climbs which i normally do on my road bike and still so smooth over the gravel track/bridleway, Added lizardskins bar tape (double wrapped), salsa side entry bottle cages, ritchey 60mm stem, topeak midloader frambag and toploader toptube bag as well as a stem topcap garmin mount. 
