geoffs wrote:Thats really good that you're exited.
We were touring in Tassie recently and one of the guy's that we were riding with had a Vivente with the rohloff hub and gates belt drive. We were amazed that it weighed nearly as much as our steel tandem with S&S couplers. I think he said it was around 18kg with pannier racks. It felt nearly the same as our tandem when i picked them up. The vivente must be loads of fun in the hills
FWIW the vivente with rohloff and belt drive weighs 16kg as delivered in my frame size. I also have a 7.5kg road bike. The road bike goes up hills easier for sure. Both are great bikes, built for a purpose, which they do very well. Both are equally fun to ride in different ways.
It would be easy to take weight out of the Vivente if you wanted to. Take off the kick stand, the steering stabiliser, the dynamo hub and lights, the extra accessory bar, put on lighter tyres and seat. With that you would be looking at 2-3kg guesstimate. However, that would be defeating the purpose of the bike. Kind of like putting racks, dynamo and kickstand on the road bike
For me, if I am touring, carrying gear or it is wet I take the Vivente. If I am going out to attack a PB time up a hill I take the road bike. If I am going for a sunday morning solo sightseeing ride I can choose to take either, which is a good choice
Lately it is often the VWR because I just find it a delight to ride
Congrats to the OP on your new bike, I understand your excitement