Vitus Sommet CRX (2017)

£2,999.99 Top-fun steed that shames a lot of ‘superbikes’

- Guy Kesteven

The semi-carbon

Sommet frame isn’t new, but Vitus have got it sticky and rolled it through their selection of shiny bits to produce a killer-value all-rounder with parts to die for.

The frame

In common with a lot of cost effective composite frames (see this month’s Biketest, page 96), the Sommet pairs a carbon fibre front end with an aluminium rear. Vitus have opted for a four-bar Horst Link suspension layout, but placed the rear pivots further forward on the relatively skinny chain stays than on most similar designs. The shock drives downwards through a hole in the base of the kinked and flared seat tube, and a 15mm collet main pivot increases stiffness.