Road Bike Comparison: Vitus ZX-1 EVO vs Vitus Zenium

The best road bike: a Vitus ZX-1 EVO or a Vitus Zenium?

With so many options out there, it can be tough to choose the best road bike for your needs. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information out there. We’re here to make it easier, so you can stop worrying and get to the fun part – because cycling should be fun, after all. Let’s delve deeper into two of our award-winning road bikes: the Vitus ZX-1 EVO and the Vitus Zenium.

The Vitus ZX-1 EVO is our fastest road bike.

VITUS ZX-1 EVO

The Aerodynamic, Efficient Race Bike

The ZX-1 EVO is built for pure speed. If your idea of a good time includes rubbing elbows in the pack as you charge toward a photo finish, this is the best crit race bike for you. The ZX-1 EVO is an absolute rocket ship that will inspire you to break personal records. It’s responsive and stiff, but still comfortable enough for longer training rides. As we like to say, to feel fast is to be fast – and the ZX-1 EVO is fast.

 

The Vitus Zenium is the best all-rounder road bike.

VITUS ZENIUM

The Versatile, COMPETITIVE Road Bike

The Zenium is our athletic all-rounder that punches well above its price tag. Built for comfort on those long days in the saddle, the Zenium offers a compliant ride thanks to dropped seatstays and moderately relaxed geometry. It’s stable on the descents and a highly responsive climber. This is the century slayer, a modern-classic endurance road bike that will break PRs but won’t break the bank.

Road bike rider on the aerodynamic Vitus ZX-1 EVO.
Road bike rider on the all-road Vitus Zenium.

SIMILARITIES

Both bikes are specced with disc brakes and thru-axles for thoroughly modern component kits. The ZX-1 EVO and Zenium both have a maximum tire clearance of 30c (although they do come shipped with 25c and 28c tires, respectively). Both frames are made from Toray T700 Uni-Directional carbon fiber, renowned for its fantastic strength in a competitively lightweight package.

Aero front end of a Vitus ZX-1 EVO roadbike.

Vitus ZX-1 EVO

Vitus Zenium road bike headtube, bars, and stem.

Vitus Zenium

DIFFERENCES

The Vitus ZX-1 EVO is built for aerodynamic efficiency, with an aero seatpost and fully internal cable routing, whereas the Zenium is designed to be more modular, with commonly available 31.8mm bars, a 27.2mm seatpost, and partially internal cable routing.

The frame geometry of the ZX-1 EVO encourages aggressive riding, with a greater saddle-to-bar drop for an aero riding position and a shorter wheelbase that rewards sprinting. The Zenium has more relaxed frame geometry, with a taller head tube that allows for a more upright riding position that emphasizes all-day comfort. Look at the geo chart below for a comparison between both models.

Vitus road bike geometry chart.
ZX-1 EVO ZENIUM

(A) Seat Tube (C-T)

470mm

(B) Seat Tube (C-C)

450mm

(C) Virtual TT

520mm

(D) Front Center

579mm

(E) Wheelbase

979mm

(F) Headtube

89.5mm

(G) Fork Rake

51mm

(H) Fork Length

370mm

(I) HT Angle

70.9°

(J) ST Angle

73.6°

(K) Chainstay

410mm

(L) BB Drop

70mm

(M) Stack

500mm

(N) Reach

372mm

(A) Seat Tube - CT

430mm

(B) Seat Tube - CC

375mm

(C) Virtual TT

510mm

(D) Front Center

587.5mm

(E) Wheelbase

992.4mm

(F) Head Tube

110mm

(G) Fork Rake

51mm

(H) Fork Length

376mm

(I) HT Angle

70°

(J) ST Angle

74.5°

(K) Chainstay

415mm

(L) BB Drop

70mm

(M) Stack

509.2mm

(N) Reach

368.8mm

ZX-1 EVO ZENIUM

(A) Seat Tube (C-T)

490mm

(B) Seat Tube (C-C)

470mm

(C) Virtual TT

537mm

(D) Front Center

590mm

(E) Wheelbase

990mm

(F) Headtube

112.3mm

(G) Fork Rake

51mm

(H) Fork Length

370mm

(I) HT Angle

71.6°

(J) ST Angle

73.5°

(K) Chainstay

410mm

(L) BB Drop

69mm

(M) Stack

522mm

(N) Reach

381mm

(A) Seat Tube - CT

460mm

(B) Seat Tube - CC

405mm

(C) Virtual TT

527mm

(D) Front Center

596.2mm

(E) Wheelbase

1001mm

(F) Head Tube

130mm

(G) Fork Rake

51mm

(H) Fork Length

376mm

(I) HT Angle

70.5°

(J) ST Angle

74°

(K) Chainstay

415mm

(L) BB Drop

70mm

(M) Stack

527.5mm

(N) Reach

375mm

ZX-1 EVO ZENIUM

(A) Seat Tube (C-T)

510mm

(B) Seat Tube (C-C)

490mm

(C) Virtual TT

551mm

(D) Front Center

591mm

(E) Wheelbase

991mm

(F) Headtube

129.6mm

(G) Fork Rake

45mm

(H) Fork Length

370mm

(I) HT Angle

72.4°

(J) ST Angle

73.4°

(K) Chainstay

410mm

(L) BB Drop

69mm

(M) Stack

543mm

(N) Reach

387mm

(A) Seat Tube - CT

490mm

(B) Seat Tube - CC

435mm

(C) Virtual TT

544mm

(D) Front Center

604.3mm

(E) Wheelbase

1009mm

(F) Head Tube

150mm

(G) Fork Rake

51mm

(H) Fork Length

376mm

(I) HT Angle

71°

(J) ST Angle

73.5°

(K) Chainstay

415mm

(L) BB Drop

70mm

(M) Stack

544mm

(N) Reach

382mm

ZX-1 EVO ZENIUM

(A) Seat Tube (C-T)

530mm

(B) Seat Tube (C-C)

510mm

(C) Virtual TT

566mm

(D) Front Center

599.9mm

(E) Wheelbase

1000.4mm

(F) Headtube

147.8mm

(G) Fork Rake

45mm

(H) Fork Length

370mm

(I) HT Angle

72.9°

(J) ST Angle

73.3°

(K) Chainstay

410mm

(L) BB Drop

68mm

(M) Stack

562mm

(N) Reach

396mm

(A) Seat Tube - CT

520mm

(B) Seat Tube - CC

465mm

(C) Virtual TT

561mm

(D) Front Center

611.9mm

(E) Wheelbase

1017mm

(F) Head Tube

175mm

(G) Fork Rake

51mm

(H) Fork Length

376mm

(I) HT Angle

71.5°

(J) ST Angle

73°

(K) Chainstay

415mm

(L) BB Drop

70mm

(M) Stack

576.3mm

(N) Reach

384.8mm

ZX-1 EVO ZENIUM

(A) Seat Tube (C-T)

550mm

(B) Seat Tube (C-C)

530mm

(C) Virtual TT

581mm

(D) Front Center

611mm

(E) Wheelbase

1012mm

(F) Headtube

164.5mm

(G) Fork Rake

45mm

(H) Fork Length

370mm

(I) HT Angle

73.2°

(J) ST Angle

73.2°

(K) Chainstay

410mm

(L) BB Drop

68mm

(M) Stack

578mm

(N) Reach

406mm

(A) Seat Tube - CT

550mm

(B) Seat Tube - CC

495mm

(C) Virtual TT

578mm

(D) Front Center

624.3mm

(E) Wheelbase

1029.4mm

(F) Head Tube

200mm

(G) Fork Rake

51mm

(H) Fork Length

376mm

(I) HT Angle

72°

(J) ST Angle

73°

(K) Chainstay

415mm

(L) BB Drop

70mm

(M) Stack

602mm

(N) Reach

393.9mm

ZX-1 EVO ZENIUM

(A) Seat Tube (C-T)

570mm

(B) Seat Tube (C-C)

550mm

(C) Virtual TT

592mm

(D) Front Center

623mm

(E) Wheelbase

1024mm

(F) Headtube

181mm

(G) Fork Rake

45mm

(H) Fork Length

370mm

(I) HT Angle

73.5°

(J) ST Angle

73.5°

(K) Chainstay

410mm

(L) BB Drop

68mm

(M) Stack

595mm

(N) Reach

416mm

(A) Seat Tube - CT

580mm

(B) Seat Tube - CC

525mm

(C) Virtual TT

595mm

(D) Front Center

63.3mm

(E) Wheelbase

1035.5mm

(F) Head Tube

225mm

(G) Fork Rake

51mm

(H) Fork Length

376mm

(I) HT Angle

72.5°

(J) ST Angle

72.5°

(K) Chainstay

415mm

(L) BB Drop

70mm

(M) Stack

625.8mm

(N) Reach

403.7mm

THE BOTTOM LINE

It all depends on how far and how fast you want to go. No matter where you ride, no matter if you’re a complete beginner or a seasoned pro – we are honored to build you your next favorite bike.

Any questions? Contact the Vitus Rider Experience team. We love to nerd out on road bikes. Hit the chat bubble on the bottom of your screen or tap the button below.