If you’re like me and keep up with the most niche corners of the cycling industry, you might already be familiar with Vivo and the wonderfully brutalist mechanical derailleurs being made by the brand. But if you’re not always looking for the most exotic bike parts on the market, then Vivo might not be on your radar.
In the last 12 months, mechanical drivetrians have been seeing a massive burst of popularity, and for good reason – they’re the best they have ever been – thanks to brands like Vivo and Madrone. Mechanical shifting is reliable, easy to fix, and provides crisp, instant shifting, and some of the more bespoke options on the market even add a touch of class to a bike build, thanks to their refined, yet utilitarian aesthetics.
Vivo launched the Enduro II derailleur and F3 shifter late last year, and they are following it up with a lightweight, refined option for the weight weenies who still appreciate the familiar pull of a cable and the positive click of mechanical shifts.
Vivo
The XC Air Derailleur is a bit of an homage to the drillium craze, and this svelte amalgam of titanium and CNC’ed aluminum tips the scales at just under 300 grams while maintaining stiffness and durability throughout the system – but that level of detail and reliability doesn’t come cheap. At $450 USD, you’re paying for what you get, and what you get is pretty damn impressive.
The XC Stealth Shifter is more of the same level of detail and builds off the design and customizability of the F3 Shifter, but in a more streamlined, lightweight package that keeps the cockpit as tidy – and elegant – as possible without any compromise in performance.
Both the XC Air Derailleur and XC Stealth Shifter are available for pre-order at Vivoartisan.com. Due to these being made to order, delivery is expected sometime in late May of 2026.
Vivo XC Air Rear Derailleur
Vivo
MSRP: $450 USD
- Space frame machining for ultra-low mass parts
- 9-45 or 10-52, 12-speed cassette compatibility
- Skeleton linkage construction: fast-acting shift movements
- Low-profile clutch cover with skid surface
- Stiff AL7075 pulleys with minimized rotational inertia
- Lightweight super-responsive cage set
- Ceramic-ball pulley bearings: more precision & less friction
- Compatible with F3 or LS1 shifters
- Titanium; linkage pivots, hardware & cable clamp
- CNC-machined 7075 aluminum construction
- 2 sealed cartridge bearings at every linkage pivot
- Weight: 276 grams
Vivo XC Stealth Shifter
Vivo
MSRP: $290 USD
- Compact linear layout for a clean, low-profile, stealth cockpit
- Precise positive shifting with feedback
- Extra short throw push or pull upper release paddle
- Quick, shorter stroke linear shifts
- Integrated CNC 7075 Aluminum housing Titanium bolts for clamp & cable adjust
- Customizable ergonomics; rider chooses upper & lower paddles
- Full CNC construction
- Parallel to bar housing routing
- Each shifter is hand-built & numbered
- Weight 119 grams