Vello V+1 Review: Inside the Second-Generation One-By Gravel Bike

Introduction

The Vello V+1 is a second-generation all-road gravel bike built around a frame that accepts a single chainring only. It follows the first-generation model that launched in 2018, and it moves the V+1 firmly towards the fast, performance end of the gravel market while keeping the clean, understated look that defined the original.

Vello developed the frame around 700c wheels with tyres up to 50mm, and it also accepts 650b wheels for riders who want more volume on rougher ground. The design brief was to keep what worked on the first bike, avoid compromising on frame details, and tune the structure specifically around a one-by drivetrain rather than adapting a two-by platform.

The bike is available through the Vello website, through independent bike shops in the UK and internationally, and direct from the brand. Builds can be customised with different bar widths, stem lengths, crank lengths, colours, groupsets, saddles, tyres, and wheels, so the specification can be adjusted before the bike is assembled.

Who the Vello V+1 Is For

This is a bike for riders who want one machine that covers tarmac, broken road surfaces, and gravel tracks. Vello designed it so owners can still ride with road-going friends on the road, then continue onto paths and gravel without turning back.

It suits riders looking for a fast gravel setup rather than a loaded touring platform. Vello deliberately limited the mounting points for bags and carriers, describing the V+1 as a lightweight, performance-focused build that at most suits credit card bikepacking. Anyone planning long, heavily loaded trips should think carefully about how they intend to carry luggage before committing.

Wheel choice is part of the fit. Vello reports that most riders settle on 700c with a 45mm tubeless tyre and rarely change, while 650b is chosen for very hilly terrain or aggressive, near single-track riding where extra volume helps more than outright speed.

Main Strengths: A Frame Built Around One-By

Because the V+1 frame is designed for one chainring only, Vello did not have to shape the drive-side chainstay to clear a second chainring. The chainstays stay symmetrical, which the brand says contributes to a claimed 32% increase in bottom bracket stiffness compared with a frame that has to accommodate two chainrings.

Vello also developed its own chainring so the chain line works correctly across the cassette, a point groupset manufacturers are strict about. The company says the chain line was verified with Shimano, SRAM, and Campagnolo drivetrains, and that a 13-speed Rotor setup has been built for some customers. The frame is designed to accept modern 12-speed and 13-speed one-by groupsets.

Tyre clearance has grown compared with the first generation, which ran roughly 42mm at most. The new frame takes up to a 50mm tyre in 700c and also supports 650b. Thru-axles are retained front and rear, the rear dropout has been redesigned into a cleaner shape, the seat stays keep their curve for comfort, and the top tube is slightly wider for lateral stiffness.

Colours, Finish, and a Deliberately Quiet Frame

Vello offers the V+1 in four colours: Himalayan Rock Salt, a pink tone, Blue Stone, Frost Green with a plum highlight, and Plum with a frost green highlight. All four use a satin clear coat rather than gloss, which the brand chose to bring out the depth in the paint instead of throwing highlights across the tubes.

Branding is intentionally minimal. There is a logo on the top tube and one on the head tube, and nothing on the down tube. That runs against the usual approach of putting the largest possible brand name on the most visible part of the frame, and Vello accepts that it makes the bike harder to identify at a glance in a shop.

Colour also shifts with light and surroundings, so a screen preview is not a reliable guide. Vello recommends seeing the bike in person before choosing a finish.

Internal Routing and Frame Details

Fully integrated cable routing on the V+1 is reserved for wireless drivetrains, where only the brake hoses need to run through the frame. Both hoses travel inside the fork leg and up through the steerer tube, then out through the fork expander and the bar and stem combination.

Vello says the routing allows full handlebar movement with no effect on steering, and the down tube includes an anti-rattle hose to stop the lines knocking inside the frame. Roughly 5 to 8mm of spare hose is left in the system so a workshop can service the headset bearings without replacing the brake hose from front to back.

The frame uses a 1.5in and 1.125in headset arrangement, a seat post clamp tucked neatly inside the frame rather than sitting in a bulky lump under the top tube, and cable ports positioned on the down tube for builds that use mechanical shifting.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The one-by-only frame is the main decision point. If you want a two-by option, the V+1 will not provide it, and you need to be comfortable working out which chainring and cassette combination suits your terrain. Vello notes that some customers arrive having already done that arithmetic.

Internal routing adds workshop considerations. Brake hoses have to be cut at the end when bearings are replaced, which is why the frame leaves spare hose inside, but it is still a more involved job than a fully external setup.

Component availability is worth checking before ordering. Vello describes supply lead times as stretched, and says it has not always been able to match every component exactly to what the frame is designed for, so a build may involve some flexibility on specification.

Finally, the colour. Because the paint changes with light, the finish on screen may not match the finish in person, and the four options read very differently depending on the viewer.

Buying Advice

Start with the riding you actually do. If most of your time is on tarmac, broken surfaces, and moderate gravel, a 700c setup with a 45mm tubeless tyre covers the vast majority of conditions Vello sees from its customers, and it is the faster configuration.

Choose the colour first, then the frame level, then the groupset. Vello reports that customers pick colour first and that demand is split fairly evenly across all four finishes, so availability may vary. Because the company builds to order through its website, its shop network, and direct sales, it can adjust bar width, stem length, crank length, saddle, tyres, and wheels to suit the rider.

If you ride very steep, loose terrain and want maximum volume, consider the 650b option, but be clear about how often you will actually use it before ordering a second wheelset.

Conclusion

The Vello V+1 is a focused take on the fast gravel category. Its one-by-specific frame brings symmetrical chainstays, a claimed 32% gain in bottom bracket stiffness, and clearance for 50mm tyres, all wrapped in a satin finish with deliberately minimal branding. It rewards riders who know what they want from a one-by drivetrain, and it asks them to check specification, colour, and workshop considerations before ordering rather than after.