TX-800
Origin
VSF Fahrradmanufaktur was founded in 1987 when a group of independent German bicycle shops, unhappy with the quality of mass-market city and touring bikes, banded together to build their own to a higher standard. The manufactory settled in Oldenburg, Lower Saxony, where every bike is still assembled by hand, and it built its reputation on durable, handcrafted chromoly steel frames and thoughtfully specced, travel-ready builds. By the mid-1990s the company was producing over 15,000 bikes a year, and its expedition and touring range became legendary among long-distance cyclists. The TX-800 sits in the middle of the TX expedition family (below the flagship TX-1000/TX-1200 and above the TX-400), and for two decades it has been the go-to serious world-tourer for riders who want proven, low-maintenance technology rather than the latest trend.
Specifications
- Frame
- Handmade double-butted 25CrMo4 chromoly steel (Diamant frame, made in Oldenburg, Germany)
- Weight
- kg
- Drivetrain
- Recent (2024+): Shimano Cues U8000 2x11 (46/32 crank, 11-45 cassette). Earlier (to ~2023): Shimano Deore XT 3x10, 30-speed (48/36/26 crank, 11-36 cassette)
- Brakes
- Shimano Deore XT BR-M8100 hydraulic disc, 180 mm front / 160 mm rear. HS33 trim uses Magura HS33 hydraulic rim brakes instead
- Wheels
- 28" (622) 36-hole, Centerlock; Shutter Precision PL-7 hub dynamo front (12x100), Shimano XT rear hub; Niro 2.0 mm spokes
The verdict
- Exceptionally durable, low-maintenance build — proven over years and tens of thousands of touring kilometres worldwide
- Fully travel-ready spec (dynamo, lighting, Tubus racks, Marathon Mondial tyres) with no upgrades needed
- Stable, confident handling loaded or unloaded thanks to the long-wheelbase steel touring geometry
- Heavy (~16.5 kg) and not a fast bike — it is built for endurance, not speed
- Premium price (~2,600 EUR) for a steel trekking bike with mid-tier drivetrain
- Marathon Mondial tyres are noisy/draggy on smooth tarmac; the utilitarian look won't appeal to everyone
Generations
XT era (to ~2023)
- Triple crankset, wide gear range, XT reliability; the classic long-run TX-800 spec
- Brakes
- XT disc or Magura HS33 rim
Cues era (2024+)
- Simpler 2x drivetrain with wide 11-45 cassette and shifter display; modern component availability, no more triple
- Brakes
- Shimano XT disc 180/160 mm
Versions & builds
Every official build side by side — differences highlighted.
| Spec | TX-800 XT Disc (2022-2023) | TX-800 HS33 (rim brake) | CurrentTX-800 Cues Disc (2024+) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | 2023 | 2022 | 2024 |
| Drivetrain | Shimano Deore XT 3x10, 30-speed (48/36/26, 11-36) | Shimano Deore XT 3x10, 30-speed | Shimano Cues U8000 2x11 (46/32, 11-45) |
| Brakes | Shimano XT BR-M8100 disc, 180/160 mm | Magura HS33 hydraulic rim brakes | Shimano XT BR-M8100 disc, 180/160 mm |
| MSRP | €2,599 | €2,299 | €2,599 |
| Purpose | Balanced | Balanced | Balanced |
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