The E-Sommet VRX is Vitus's topspec and longest-travel e-bike. designed for the rigours of enduro riding and draped in high-end parts for a reasonable price, but only available online.
THE FRAME
Built from 6061-T6 aluminium alloy, the E-Sommet boasts integrated chainstay, down tube and motor protection, internal cable routing (via the headset cap, with un-plugged ports, which let water enter the headset) and a steering block to stop the bar turning too far. The Shimano STEPS EP8 motor is powered by a 630Wh battery in the down tube. There's 167mm of four-bar rear travel, with a relatively progressive leverage rate, suited to both air- and coil-sprung shocks. The Vitus runs an on-trend 'mullet' wheel set-up (29in front, 650b rear).
While the geometry isn't revolutionarily long, low or slack, it's well-suited to the bike's enduro remit. On the large size, a relaxed 63-degree head angle and tall 459mm stack height are combined with a 478mm reach and 634mm effective top tube length. The seat tube angle gets steeper as you go up in frame size (77.5 degrees, large), while the chainstays are universally 442mm long. Our bike had a 1,267mm wheelbase and 35mm of BB drop, equating to a 330mm BB height.
THE SPEC
This story is from the January 2023 edition of Mountain Biking UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 2023 edition of Mountain Biking UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
GRIME TIME - EXPERT WORKSHOP ADVICE
WHEELY ANNOYING
TRAILCREW HAFOD TRAILS
We discover the delights of Wales's newest bike park, located deep in beautiful Carmarthenshire
BIKETEST ULTIMATE HIRE BIKES
We test three park-cum-DH rigs - the kind of bikes available in holiday spots like Morzine and Whistler, as well as uplift venues closer to home
SCOTT GAMBLER 910 - £4,399 A bike park-ready budget beater worth taking a chance on
This latest iteration of Scott's long-standing Gambler launched in 2019.
THE MANY FACES OF MOUNTAIN BIKING
WE HIT THE ARIZONA DESERT AS PART OF A HUGE FEMALE-LED GROUP RIDE THAT PUTS THE FOCUS ON FUN AND FRIENDSHIP
PARIS HERE WE COME!
With the 2024 Olympics in France fast coming around, we take a quick dive into the history of mountain biking at the Games, plus explain what to expect, how to watch and who to keep an eye on this year
TRANSITION SPUR XO AXS - £7,999 Can the smallest of revisions keep Transition's downcountry demon at the top of the pile?
Transition's Spur has set the benchmark for downcountry bikes since its release in 2020.
MARIN ALPINE TRAIL E2 BOSCH - £6,385 Big-battery, high-powered e-MTB for gravity fans at a (relatively) affordable price
The Alpine Trail E Bosch is Marin's first e-MTB to use a four-bar linkage suspension design and a non-Shimano motor.
PINARELLO DOGMA XC - £12,000 Designed by and for Elite racers, with a ride feel to match
STRAIGHT OUT OF THE BOX & ONTO THE TRAILS
MBUK SUPER BIKE - #128 MATT WALKER'S SARACEN MYST
The British national downhill champ has a new ride for the 2024 race season
