Substance
Origin
The Substance is Vitus's adventure/all-road gravel platform, sold direct-to-consumer (long via Chain Reaction / Wiggle, now under the relaunched Vitus brand). It is built around one idea: a stable, comfortable, do-everything frame that takes either 700c or 650b wheels, mounts for racks, mudguards and bikepacking bags, and 1x or 2x drivetrains. The range spans an £800 alloy Microshift build up to carbon SRAM eTap AXS, so the same geometry serves both the first-time gravel buyer and the long-haul tourer who finds dealer-brand pricing on a Trek Checkpoint or Cervelo Aspero excessive.
Specifications
- Frame
- 6061-T6 double-butted aluminium (Substance V); Reynolds 725 steel (SRS); UD T700 carbon (CRS/CRX). All with UD carbon fork.
- Weight
- kg
- Drivetrain
- Varies by build: Microshift R8 2x8 (50/34T, 11-28T) on alloy V; Shimano GRX 600/800 2x11 (46/30T, 11-34T) on CRS-2/VR; SRAM Apex/Rival 1x11 (40T, 11-42T) on SRS/CRX. Frame takes 1x or 2x.
- Brakes
- Hydraulic disc on mid/high builds (Shimano GRX 600 / SRAM Apex, 160mm rotors); Tektro MD-C310 cable-actuated flat-mount disc with 160mm rotors on entry Substance V.
- Wheels
- Tubeless-ready, dual-wheelsize frame (700c or 650b). Alloy V: WTB ST i23 TCS 2.0 rims, 700c, 32h, Vitus KT hubs. CRS-2: WTB SpeedTerra 650b TCS. SRS: Prime Kanza 650b.
The verdict
- Outstanding value - components and ride quality well above the direct-to-consumer price, undercutting dealer-brand rivals (multiple reviews rate it 8/10 to 4/5).
- Balanced, confident handling: 71.5deg head angle and long wheelbase keep it stable in sand, loose gravel and at speed without feeling twitchy.
- Seriously comfortable ride, especially the steel SRS, helped by big-volume tyres and the carbon fork damping vibration.
- Genuinely versatile: dual 700c/650b wheels, 1x or 2x drivetrains, and full mount set make it equally a commuter, tourer and gravel bike.
- Sorted gear ratios on the GRX builds work well for both road and off-road sections.
- Own-brand saddle is firm with minimal padding - many riders will want to swap it.
- Stock handlebar has only a slight (3deg) flare; reviewers preferred a wider 12-16deg flare for off-road control.
- Stock WTB tyres (Byway/Venture) lack tread for wet, muddy or winter conditions and the sidewalls can weep sealant when first set up tubeless.
- 650b builds are noticeably slower than 700c on tarmac - a trade-off, not a flaw, but worth knowing.
- Some cheaper builds show their price: cassette chain-chatter/vibration and brakes that get screechy when wet and mud-caked.
Who it’s for
Versions & builds
Every official build side by side — differences highlighted.
| Spec | Substance V (6061 alloy, 2x8 Microshift) | Substance VR / VRS (alloy, GRX) | Substance V-2 Flat Bar (alloy hybrid) | Substance SRS (Reynolds 725 steel, SRAM Apex) | Substance CRS-1 / CRS-2 (carbon, GRX / SRAM Rival) | Substance CRX (carbon, SRAM Rival 1x / eTap AXS) |
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