From the AeroMag riser material to the titanium hardware and everything in between, Bowtech’s new Virtue is a premium bow that delivers premium performance.
September 02, 2025
By Jon E. Silks
Bowtech jumped into the premium bow market as part of its 25th Anniversary celebration in 2024 with the Honor, a limited-edition rig made with high-end materials, sold with advanced accessories and contributing a portion of the proceeds to the Folds of Honor Foundation. This year, Bowtech made a big splash at the 2025 ATA Show when they introduced a similar premium bow — the Virtue .
Built using the same AeroMag magnesium material found in the Honor, the Virtue’s lightweight frame features Bowtech’s signature Center Pivot design with updated CenterMass Technology. A set of carbon/glass split limbs work with the DeadLock cam system to generate advertised arrow speeds of 341 fps, while the GripLock grip offers a custom shooter-to-bow interface. Bowtech tops off the Virtue with all titanium fasteners. Let’s dive into all the technologies and features the Virtue has to offer.
A New Age The Virtue’s riser is not like the magnesium risers of old that generally found a home on “budget” bows. Rather, AeroMag is a specialized alloy that uses what Bowtech calls top-secret, rare-earth metals to create an ultralight, super stiff shooting platform. The riser is finished in TAC Black, TAC Green, TAC Blue, TAC Grey or TAC Stone and is protected from the elements and scratches with a soft-touch Cerakote coating.
The AeroMag riser features Bowtech’s Center Pivot configuration that places the limb’s pivot point at the halfway point along its length. This moves flex toward the rear of the limbs, resulting in less shock and vibration by counteracting the forward movement of the string and arrow. Meanwhile, CenterMass Technology mounts compatible bowsights to the inside surface of the sight window. This counteracts the off-center sight window to bring stability and balance, which is the design goal. The shallow mounting channel requires a specific sight bar for attachment. Standard mounting holes are also included. Bowtech offers CenterMass sights, as well as quivers and stabilizers, to complement the design.
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Quickly becoming a fan favorite, the molded polymer GripLock grip system allows shooters to easily adjust the grip’s heel angle simply by loosening a setscrew with an Allen wrench, moving the grip to the desired location and retightening the screw. Other riser features include a rubber-tipped string stop, cable-guard dampeners and Bowtech’s Orbit Dampeners that employ a soft rubber core surrounded by a weighted outside ring. The FLX-Guard cable-containment system uses a carbon/glass mini limb and rollers that flex toward the centerline of the bow to create vane clearance.
Do-It-All Cam Bowtech’s DeadLock cam system can be adjusted, tuned and timed with a set of Allen wrenches and without a bow press. TimeLock technology allows for easy adjustments to cam rotation when needed to bring the cables in line with the tuning dots on the cam, ensuring perfect timing. Meanwhile, any needed corrections for improper left/right string travel are made easily via the DeadLock adjustment block located at the end of the axle assembly of each cam. Simply loosen the setscrew and then adjust the drive screw to move the cam left or right until a perfect tune is achieved.
The FlipDisc modules on the Virtue’s Dead-Lock cams allow you to move throughout the bow’s draw-length range and choose between Comfort and Performance draw-cycle settings. Bowtech’s rotating FlipDisc cam module serves a couple purposes. First, it moves the cam throughout its 25-30-inch draw-length range, in half-inch increments. Second, it provides two very different draw cycles and resulting performance numbers simply by switching the FlipDisc from one side to the other. The Comfort side results in 85 percent letoff and a smooth draw, while the Performance side has 80 percent letoff and a more aggressive draw that produces faster arrow speeds.
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Precision Performance Virtue limbs are pre-loaded to reach a parallel position at rest, which is critical to the success (less shock, vibration and noise at the shot) of Center Pivot Technology. The 10-inch split limbs are machined out of carbon/glass material and matched into sets based on deflection values. The wide stance of the limbs increases torsional stability and reduces cam lean. Bowtech relies on the Dual Lock Pocket System for precision positioning at the critical limb-to-riser interface. The system is designed to lock all the bow’s components together to produce a rigid platform for maximum consistency and accuracy. At The Range
The lightweight Virtue test bow handled like a dream, and the feel of the Cerakote finish is smooth and warm. The shooting experience really does depend on which side of the FlipDisc is chosen. If you pick the Performance setting, the draw is stiffer, with a build right before breaking over, but you’ll get an extra eight to 10 fps of arrow speed in exchange. Meanwhile, if you choose the Comfort setting, the draw cycle turns to butter! Regardless of the FlipDisc position, only a small jump in the handle and extremely short-lived vibration were noted upon the shot.
The Virtue’s grip features a relatively flat back, and the easily adjusted wrist position encourages good form. The back wall on the Virtue allows you to relax at full draw, and the bow has excellent aiming qualities, holding steady and clinging to the bull’s-eye as you settle in and pull through the shot.
The Specs Manufacturer: Bowtech Archery, 888-689-1289; bowtecharchery.com Model: VirtueRiser: AeroMag, CenterMass, Center PivotGrip: GripLock, adjustable angleLimbs: Wide-stance, carbon/glass, splitDraw Weights: 50, 60 and 70 pounds peakDraw Lengths: 25–30 inches, in half-inch increments; rotating moduleCam System: DeadLock Cam SystemLetoff: Performance, 80 percent (advertised), 77.54 percent (as tested); Comfort, 85 percent (advertised), 82.33 percent (as tested)String: X99, 61.6 inchesCables (x2): X99, 37.125 inchesBrace Height: 6.19 inchesAxle-to-Axle Length: 32 inchesWeight: 3.7 pounds (advertised); 3.73 pounds (as tested, without Orbit Dampeners)Finish: TAC Green, Black, Grey, Blue and StoneAdvertised IBO Speed: 341 fpsRetail Price: $1,999Comments: Premium materials, components, technologies and performance.Speed & Energy (Comfort Mode) Draw-Force Curve in Comfort Mode Arrow Speed: 301.66 fps (375-grain arrow); 283.66 fps (425-grain arrow)Kinetic Energy: 75.79 ft./lbs. (375-grain arrow); 75.95 ft./lbs. (425-grain arrow)Dynamic Efficiency: 84.06% (375-grain arrow); 84.24% (425-grain arrow)Average Noise Level: 88.86 dBA (375-grain arrow); 88.83 dBA (425-grain arrow)Speed & Energy (Performance Mode) Draw-Force Curve in Performance Mode Arrow Speed: 308.66 fps (375-grain arrow); 291 fps (425-grain arrow)Kinetic Energy: 79.35 ft./lbs. (375-grain arrow); 79.93 ft./lbs. (425-grain arrow)Dynamic Efficiency: 83.81% (375-grain arrow); 84.43% (425-grain arrow)Average Noise Level: 89.93 dBA (375-grain arrow); 89.3 dBA (425-grain arrow)
