Review: Vassago VerHauen 29er
Handmade American quality, exceptional versatility and silky smooth performance; all with an affordable price tag that simply VerHauens the competition.
At only $1,049 for the frameset, the Vassago VerHauen is a standout American-made value.
Singlespeeding is about simplicity. Stripping away all the unnecessary in the name of economy. No shifters. No derailleurs. No thinking. Just riding. And suffering. Lots of it. As simple as singlespeeding can be, there are still hassles to deal with; namely a suspension fork. Setting air pressure, replacing seals and rebuilding dampers can be a big pain in the ass for the most hardcore of Luddites.
The simple solution is to just slap a rigid fork on the bike and go ride. Sure, you might rattle the molars out of your skull, but you’ll rarely – if ever – have to spend any time maintaining it. An occasional spray with the garden hose, some chain lube and maybe some refreshed Stan’s sealant every now and again is all that’s needed. A perfect solution for those short on time and money willing to subject themselves to unreasonable amounts of physical abuse.
At 4.6 lbs for the frame and 21 lbs built as tested, the VerHauen is svelte for a steel 29er.
But with the advent of carbon fiber, lightweight steel and big fat tubeless 29-inch tires, riding a rigid mountain bike isn’t nearly as abusive as it used to be. Take for instance the Vassago VerHauen, a versatile hardtail 29er (equipped as a rigid singlespeed for our testing) built right here in the US and A with 100-percent True Temper OX Platinum tubing and outfitted with a Whisky Parts Co. carbon fork, FSA carbon bits and Stan’s NoTubes wheels.
VerHauen means “to slap” in German, and it’s aptly named, because when it comes to overall value, this bike bitch VerHauens virtually every other bike in its price range thanks to handmade American craftsmanship without the handmade American price tag.
The reborn Vassago brand is about offering handmade American quality without the exorbitant price tag.
After briefly shutting down operations in 2011, Vassago has experienced resurgence thanks to new owner Tom Ament, who is committed to reestablishing the cult following Vassago created when the company started in 2005. Ament’s focus with the new Vassago is to feature a line of affordable, fun and high-performance bikes to fit the everyman’s budget.
Paragon Machine Works sliding dropouts allow for multiple rear hub configurations and 434 to 456mm chainstay lengths.
The VerHauen is the first product of the reborn Vassago brand, offering an American handmade steel frameset with custom build features including stainless steel seat tube inserts to prevent rusty post syndrome, S-bend stays for exceptional mud clearance, a 44mm head tube to fit a tapered rigid or 80-100mm suspension fork and Paragon Machine Works sliding dropouts for multiple rear wheel and thru-axle options; all at a surprisingly affordable price point of $1,049.
And because of its extremely versatile nature, the VerHauen is a perfect bike for those looking to grow into a frameset. Whether singlespeed, 142mm thru-axle or traditional quick release, virtually any 29er wheelset you have can be used on the Paragon sliding dropouts of the VerHauen.
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