Dawes Vantage
the top of the list as the best entry-level touring bike available?
Anyone who’s on the lookout for a decent quality but not over-expensive touring bike these days is probably going to have the Dawes Vantage somewhere on their list. If this is you, you may be wondering whether it should be at the top of that list or not.
Is it possible to put together a decent bike that is going to give you the lifetime of use, and do what you want, for around £600? You can certainly spend a great deal more if you have the resources -hopefully we can help you decide whether you need to or not.
What’s behind the Dawes Vantage?
The manufacturers have chosen to build their entry–level touring bike around a 6061 Aluminium frame. While not the conventional choice for a tourer, modern manufacturing techniques has allowed them to keep the price down. For heavy load-carrying over long distances, the arguments for steel would probably prevail, but the alloy frame of the Vantage, particularly when coupled with a Chromoly fork, should cope with the sort of situation that most users will face.
The gear components are taken from Shimano’s entry-level road and mountain bike ranges. The choice of an Acera MTB rear derailleur is a wise one I think. It’s robust and after all is the one that you will rely on the most – and with the ST-2203 road bike shifters you should feel at home operating the gears from the drop handlebars.
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The Vantage has a triple chainset, so there’s plenty of choice of ratios. Some users have mentioned that the small ring is a little on the big side at 28t for a touring bike, but actually, as with the frame, it’s only when trying to get a fully laden bike up hills that you might run into difficulty.
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The brakes are simple heavy-duty cantilevers – with plenty of power and virtually maintenance-free. The 700mm double-wall wheels carry Schwalbe Marathon 32c tyres, Kevlar reinforced for puncture resistance and about the right compromise between comfort and low rolling resistance.
As you would expect on any touring bike worth the name, the Vantage is fitted with proper mudguards, a rear carrier, and a touring saddle that should be good for covering serious miles.
The only issue I have, and it’s a personal one (so feel free to disagree) is with the pedals. I just don’t like toeclips and straps. I know that they allow you to pedal in normal shoes or trainers, but from a safety point of view I think it’s just too easy to get a foot trapped – and if you do there’s nothing you can do to keep from falling over. If it were up to me I would advise either taking the straps off, or changing to SPDs – with decent touring shoes that still allow you to walk when you need to. There. Rant over. Sorry…
So in Conclusion
The Dawes Vantage is a very well-reviewed bike:-
“This looks to me that it will do what it says on the tin. Dawes make great bikes. Go for it” – CTC Forum
“Personally I would snap it up” – CTC Forum
I think that for a first tourer, or for a general-purpose bike that can perform all sorts of tasks, from fast commuting to work, to getting out and about for an hour or two at the weekend, the Vantage has a great deal going for it. It has the legs to cover the miles at a decent pace, the carrying capacity to cope with either a multi-day trip or a hop to the shops, and comes from a manufacturer with a solid reputation. You would look long and hard to get more at this sort of price tag.
If you would put the Dawes Vantage at the top of your list – well it’s still your decision, but it would be well towards the top of mine.
==>Click Here for Evans Price and Sizing Advice on the Dawes Vantage<==
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| Frame | 6061 Alloy Touring Geometry |
| Front Fork | Chromoly blades, Rack & Mudguard Eyelets |
| Front Derailleur | Shimano FD-2203 Triple |
| Rear Derailleur | Shimano Acera RD-M360 8-speed |
| Gear Shifters | Shimano ST-2203 STI 24-speed |
| Chainrings | 48/38/28 t |
| Cassette | Shimano 11-32 t |
| Gears | 24 |
| Pedals | Resin with Toe Clips & Straps |
| Brakes | Tektro Oryx Alloy Cantilever |
| Wheels | Double wall with CNC sidewall Spokes: Stainless, 14g |
| Tyres | Schwalbe Marathon, Kevlar guard 700x32c |
| Handlebar | Alloy Road Bar Velo Black Cork Grips |
| Stem | Alloy silver A-head |
| Saddle | Dawes Sports Touring |
| Weight | 14 kg |
| Sizes | 43cm, 48cm, 53cm, 58cm |
| Colour | Red |
| Accessories | Mudguards Rear Rack |
| Price | £600 |
Alternatives you might like to see are the Kona Sutra and the Dawes Galaxy
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