Elves Vanyar Pro Disc review

The Vanyar Pro Disc is an aero-optimised climbing bike from Chinese direct-to-consumer brand Elves.

The point here is value for money, with the Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8100 build costing around half (non-UK prices approximate, based on current exchange rate) of what a Specialized Tarmac SL8 Pro would set you back. But a low price only equals good value if the product you’re buying performs well.

Thankfully, the Vanyar Pro Disc delivers not only on price, but also on ride experience, with a planted climbing geometry and reactive handling keeping things fun.

It isn’t as refined a ride as I’ve come to love from my Specialized S-Works Aethos (a bike that, admittedly, costs far more than the Elves), and there are pricier mainstream competitors that offer a more rounded approach to performance.

Given the Vanyar Pro Disc smashes its competition on price, though, Elves has produced a top-value all-round road race bike.

Elves Vanyar Pro Disc frameset

The Vanyar Pro has been in Elves’ line-up for some time, but 2023 saw the first disc-brake edition.

Elves says Toray T800 carbon fibre makes up the majority of the frameset, with higher-modulus T1000 fibres used in higher-stress areas.

The Vanyar Pro Disc is said to be designed for climbing, with frame weights starting from a claimed 870g for a size 47 and fork weights from 430g.

Those figures compare relatively well on paper (a Canyon Ultimate CF SLX frame is claimed to weigh 846g in a size medium), but look at the figure for my size 53 and the weight is less competitive.

The claimed weight here is 920g, unpainted and without metal parts. It’s a figure that is also subject to ＋/-30g leeway.

Given the bike’s supposed focus on climbing, the overall 8.2kg weight of this test bike is slightly on the heavy side.

A Canyon Ultimate CF SL 8 Aero (which costs £4,799 / €4,999 / $4,649 and is claimed to weigh 7.8kg in a size medium) beats that figure, even with deeper 50mm rims.

A host of truncated aerofoil shapes can be found across the frameset, though Elves admits neither CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) modelling or wind-tunnel testing was used in the development of the Vanyar Pro Disc.

This lack of CFD or wind-tunnel development may help explain why Elves is able to price the Vanyar Pro Disc so aggressively, though.

It’s fair to say cheating the wind isn’t the bike’s only priority either. The boxy, rectangular down tube clearly puts a greater emphasis on stiffness than aerodynamic efficiency, for example.

In any case, Elves says real-world testing was carried out with the UCI Continental team it sponsors (the snappily named 7 Eleven–Cliqq–air21 by Roadbike Philippines), which showed a 40-second time gain over 40km compared to the rim-brake equipped Vanyar.

Elves Vanyar Pro Disc geometry

The Elves Vanyar Pro Disc uses a similar geometry to Specialized’s Tarmac SL8 and Canyon’s Ultimate CF SL.

This puts it in classic road racing bike territory, meaning the ride position and handling should be familiar to many.

On my size-53cm test bike, the frame provides a 386mm reach and 537mm stack. This is 5.2mm higher than the Tarmac SL8 in a size 52cm.

A size-small Ultimate CF SL, meanwhile, has a longer reach of 390mm and slightly taller stack of 539mm.

A wheelbase of 980.3mm is 5.3mm longer than the Tarmac SL8, though the Ultimate is 3mm longer again.

Elves says the Vanyar Pro Disc’s size-specific geometry places the seat tube angle “between 73.5 and 75 degrees, whilst positioning the head tube angle between 72 and 73.5 degrees to achieve the ultimate climbing rider position”.

My size-53cm frame delivers a 73-degree head angle and a 74-degree seat tube angle.

The Ultimate is a slightly slacker bike, with a 72.8-degree head angle and a 73.5-degree seat tube angle.

While more goes into creating a nice climbing position than the head and seat tube angles, the Vanyar Pro Disc does indeed offer a nice platform for seated climbing.

The manner in which the head tube curves up into the down tube makes the head tube appear short, but at 120mm it's exactly the same as on the Specialized Aethos.

The most noticeable feature of the geometry was how lively the bike felt compared to the Aethos.

I believe the steeper head angle, combined with a 5mm smaller BB drop of 69mm and a 2mm shorter fork-rake figure of 45mm are likely the cause.

Elves Vanyar Pro Disc build

Elves UK sent me a Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8100 build because this, it says, is its most popular option.

Alternatively, you can have the bike with mechanical Shimano 105, 105 Di2, SRAM Force AXS, Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 or SRAM Red AXS.

The SRAM builds both come with power meters, but Shimano ones don’t.

The rest of the build comprises a host of Elves’ own componentry, which is likely another factor in keeping its overall price low.

Don’t let that fool you into believing this lowers the performance of the bike, though.

The saddle is a particular highlight, with the Elves Magic Osse featuring a 3D-printed upper, a carbon base and carbon rails.

This lattice design proved to be wonderfully comfortable both on longer, steady rides and when I needed to bury my head in the bars – the nose presented no discomfort.

For a £136 saddle, it performed remarkably well.

Wheels on my test bike came in the form of the Orome TH30D, a 30mm-deep tubeless-ready carbon wheelset that adds £100 to the base price. As standard, the bike is supplied with Orome Valar BH56D 56mm wheels, which are claimed to weigh 1,745g.

You can spec wheels with 50mm-deep rims for the same money, or go for a wheelset with 56mm-deep rims and DT Swiss 240 hubs for an extra £410.

The rims appear well designed and presented no issues when setting up the 700x30c Vittoria Zaffiro Pro clincher tyres.

A 22mm internal rim width helps to create a nice tyre profile, though I’d have opted for the £100 Continental GP5000 S TR tubeless tyre upgrade, because the mid-range Zaffiro Pro tyres feel incredibly dead to me.

The hubs weren’t to my liking, with the 52T ratchet drive sounding like a particularly disgruntled wasp nest. Freewheeling on a descent spoils any semblance of calm, though this might be exactly what some are looking for.

The hubs also house ceramic bearings (made by Taiwanese brand TPI), which are claimed to offer lower friction and improved longevity.

Unfortunately, determining the drag or durability of the included ceramic bearings is beyond the scope of this review.

However, I’d generally be wary of cheap ceramic bearings given testing by Friction Facts (an independent company that was later purchased by CeramicSpeed) showed good steel bearings can outperform low-quality ceramic ones.

Finishing the in-house build is the Orome Aeropro One Piece Road Carbon Compact Handlebar. The Aeropro bar features a very chunky stem that flows into flattened tops.

The 125mm drops then flare out by 3 degrees, creating a comfortable and accessible position.

While the bar was comfortable to use, both in the drops and at the hoods, I wasn’t a fan of the aesthetics around the stem area.

The integrated cockpits on Trek’s Emonda, Specialized’s Tarmac SL8 and Factor’s O2 VAM are all sleeker solutions, but at £178.20, the Aeropro bar is a much cheaper alternative that works well.

Elves offers a selection of bar widths and stem lengths, which are free to pick during purchase.

My test bike was a pre-production sample, so I can easily forgive certain issues, such as the next-to-useless seatpost clamp cover. Others, however, were rather frustrating.

The internally routed rear brake hose taps somewhere inside the frame.

Over broken asphalt, this becomes annoying and, while Elves UK builds the Vanyar Pro Disc with a foam sleeve over the hose, this didn’t, in my case, prevent the noise.

That said, when I had a Specialized S-Works Venge in 2020, it had the same issue.

Then there was the out-front Garmin mount. I loved that this had a GoPro mount underneath for easy front-light mounting, but having a head unit that sat slightly twisted was a serious annoyance.

The front thru-axle is also too long and sits proud of the fork when installed. This issue has, however, now been rectified on production bikes, according to Elves.

Elves Vanyar Pro Disc buying process

The buying process from Elves UK affords you a significant number of customisation options, such as groupset, wheelset, tyres and paint.

A good local bike shop will typically accommodate a few basic spec changes, but the option of a custom paintjob as standard is a standout offering from Elves.

Naturally, this will add to the wait for your new bike. Elves quotes a lead time of eight to 10 weeks once your order goes in (assuming all parts are readily available).

Elves Vanyar Pro Disc ride impressions

The immediate comparison many have made is to look at this as a budget Specialized Tarmac or a way to save slightly more than £600 on the Canyon Ultimate CF SL 8 Aero.

This latter scenario is the most relevant in my eyes and the Vanyar Pro Disc stands up admirably.

Elves’ efforts to create a climbing-friendly geometry have worked well and, combined with a bottom bracket an explosion wouldn’t budge, you have a bike that feels very efficient when the road goes uphill.

As a rider, I naturally gravitate towards steeper climbs and the Vanyar Pro Disc feels like a great bike for a weekend ride where you want to tackle the hardest ascents in your area.

The handling keeps things interesting, just about staying on the fun side of reactive.

The Vanyar Pro Disc would make an excellent criterium race bike, for example, its fast handling resulting in excellent cornering at slower speeds.

Fast-flowing corners are more entertaining if you commit to them, but any hesitation on your part isn’t compensated for by the bike.

The stiffness of the frame contributes to this feeling and if you’re prepared to muscle the Vanyar into place, it corners brilliantly.

If you enjoy attacking every corner, the Vanyar Pro Disc is rewarding, but for more relaxed high-speed descending, there are better bikes available.

The frame stiffness also helps when accelerating. Out-of-the-saddle climbing and sprint efforts feel excellent, though I would say the lower weight of my Aethos feels more responsive still (as you’d hope it would, given its cost).

On flatter ground, the aggressive ride position shows itself to be excellent. The relatively low front end enables you to tuck right down if you want, but it isn’t so extreme that less flexible riders will be alienated.

The Vanyar Pro Disc is a bike that feels efficient then, but I can’t say it's noticeably faster than my Aethos.

Compared to that bike and the best road bikes available, the rear end offers a rather harsh ride feel too.

Elves designed the frame using a horizontal top tube. Aesthetically, I love this because it sets the bike apart in a world of sloping top tubes. But there’s a good reason for the majority’s adoption of sloping tubes.

It enables more seatpost to be exposed above the clamp area, thus increasing flex and, in turn, comfort.

This aspect of the Vanyar’s nature is why component choice needs to be spot-on for you to get the best out of the bike. I found the rear end was much easier to live with on regular roads when I installed a set of Continental GP5000 S II tyres.

Elves Vanyar Pro Disc bottom line

If you want a reactive road bike with a dialled climbing position, the Elves Vanyar Pro Disc delivers a lot at an excellent price.

To get the best out of the bike, it needs an upgrade to a set of the best road bike tyres. But given the customisation options available, the bike can be tailored to your preferences if you know what you’re looking for.

There are some details that reveal the bike’s price point, but overall it’s a very impressive package for the money.

Compared to the £8,000 Specialized Tarmac SL8 Pro, the Vanyar Pro Disc looks exceptional value for money.

The choice, however, between this and the Canyon Ultimate CF SL 8 Aero would be much more difficult.

For £630 more, you’re getting a more refined machine with CFD and wind-tunnel testing behind it, and a platform that’s proven at the highest level of the sport. The Ultimate is also a little lighter, even with deeper rims.

On the other hand, an Elves Vanyar Pro Disc with a custom paintjob will help you stand out from the crowd far better, and for many that will be worth much more than a few watts of aero drag or grams of weight.