The New Carrera Vanquish & Virtuoso

[BilboSmeggins]

I had a Virtuoso a couple of years ago and I absolutely loved it. It was an amazing bike for the money. I then upgraded to the Vanquish which was even better. I then made the mistake of moving on to a Cannondale thinking that I was taking another step forward when, in reality, the Vanquish was just perfect for me and I really should have kept it.

Anyhow, I popped into Halfords yesterday to pick up something and wandered into the bike display. Wow!! I could not believe my eyes. The new Vanquish and Virtuoso have had a make-over. They look absolutely incredible. Paint jobs worthy of the big boys!! Anyone who wants a budget roadie, but wants it to look the bees bo11ox look no further. Looks like I'm saving up again............

 

[the snail]

What's the spec like compared to the old bikes? I gather that the components are lower spec to keep the price down.

 

[rusky]

Have a look at the Decathlon offering too. http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/triban-3-173178017/
The entry level one is sub £300 has carbon forks & is kitted out with Shamano 2300

 

[cyberknight]

What's the spec like compared to the old bikes? I gather that the components are lower spec to keep the price down.

+1

buy last years before they go and get a very good deal, my 2 year old virtuoso is still going strong .

 

[Jonathing]

+1

buy last years before they go and get a very good deal, my 2 year old virtuoso is still going strong .

+∞

My 2009 Virtuoso is such a solid performer I've upgraded and replaced parts as it's needed them ( for crash damage etc). While the new ones might have the same frame (might, I'm not certain) they seem to have downgraded the components to keep costs down.

 

[Muttley]

The new vanquish is rubbish and dearer compared to last years one,i had last years and a bus wrote it off but there's no way I'm buying the new one but some Halfords still have and old model in stock.

 

[Hip Priest]

The new Virtuoso is a beatiful looking thing, but the old one is now £110 cheaper and apparently has better components. No brainer, if you're on a budget.

 

[BilboSmeggins]

Hadn't realised that they had down-graded the current model. Still................ Beautiful paint job

 

[david k]

been halfords and they look great, they dont do xl frame though, so counts me out

 

[Tyke]

Last years Vanquish was great value and a very good bike if you can still get one but be careful some of the last ones also had the downgrade.

 

[david k]

downgrade?

 

[Sittingduck]

downgrade?

It's like an upgrade, only worse.

 

[rusky]

I was just going to write exactly that!

 

[lesley_x]

Have a look at the Decathlon offering too. http://www.decathlon...an-3-173178017/
The entry level one is sub £300 has carbon forks & is kitted out with Shamano 2300

That is a bloody good bike for the price. Incredible!

 

[david k]

It's like an upgrade, only worse.

lol, so they put a worse groupset on the later ones? seems odd