Feature: Moda Bikes Vivo Review

After a quiet spell, the British brand Moda have made something of a renaissance over the past couple of years, resuming production with a revamped range to cater for the modern market.

Feature: Moda Bikes Vivo Review

“After a quiet spell, the British brand Moda have made something of a renaissance over the past couple of years, resuming production with a revamped range to cater for the modern market.

This is reflected by the majority of their new framesets available only in disc brake models, which is certainly the current trend for most manufacturers in 2022. However, there is still a high demand in the market for rim brake bikes. To cater for this, Moda offers the Vivo in both rim and disc variations.

On my first ride on the Vivio rim it was easy to see why. The updated design of the Shimano R8000 dual-pivot callipers provide no compromise in stopping power over their disc counterparts. With rim brake builds tending to weigh-in half a kilo lighter, it is easy to see why rim brake aficionados have yet to be swayed to the dark side.

Whilst many modern bikes seem to be foregoing beauty in the pursuit of performance, Moda have managed to balance the simple aesthetics of a classic road frame whilst still producing a stiff and flat-out fast machine. The Vivo is certainly a good looking bike. Simple and elegant lines are joined with geometric styling at the seat tube.

Moda offers just two colour schemes, striking pop art shades of red or blue. My Ferrari red Vivo caught plenty of admiration out on the road, and with such a simple frame colour it was easy to opt for an all black finishing kit for a clean look.

The carbon steerer, oversized headset and press-fit bottom bracket make the Vivo stiff and responsive. From the first kicks out of the saddle I could feel the quality of the carbon frameset. The stock models come with mid-range Mavic wheels, but the bike shows its full potential after fitting some carbon hoops. The Vivo has been quite capable in crits and road racing, and more importantly has protected my pride on the hotly contested midweek chaingang!

The bike comes in Shimano 105 and Ultegra mechanical varieties, but is also available as a frameset for those who seek a more custom option. Di2 compatibility means vast potential for a dream build.

Moda have not cut corners with the stock finishing kit, opting for well loved brands. Deda handlebars and stem, Selle Italia saddle and Continental tyres make for a quality ride straight out of the shop.

If you are looking for a new road bike, with a preference for rim brakes, look no further than the Vivo rim; An eye-catching speed-machine with serious bang for your buck..” – James McKay