Direct-to-customer brand Vitus has just launched its 2020 e-mountain bikes, with the range expanding to two models and a total of eight builds.
- The new Vitus Mythique offers truly modern geometry for just £1,250
- The Vitus Dominer is a lot of downhill bike for just £2,500
Launching its first E-Sommet model in the 2018 range, Vitus says it began making e-mountain bikes so its staff could “squeeze in extra runs… and get out and do shuttles of our favourite DH trails before work”.
Of course, beyond making a pretty tidy bike, the E-Sommet was also an important strategic move into the world of e-bikes.
Now, Vitus is adding a shorter-travel E-Escarpe model to the range. The E-Escarpe has 140mm suspension travel and mixed wheel sizes, with a 29in front wheel and a 27.5in rear wheel (aka a “mullet” bike and perhaps not as bizarre as it might seem — the men’s downhill world champion rode this wheelsize setup in 2019).
Vitus says the bike “takes all the great qualities of our award winning E-Sommet range and bundles it into a shorter travel trail E-bike” and that it is “ready to rip up the trails and take you to new heights” thanks to its relatively slack 65-degree head angle and long reach.
Both the E-Sommet and E-Escarpe bike ranges are available exclusively from Chain Reaction Cycles and Wiggle. The brand’s e-bikes are only available in the UK and Europe.
Vitus has also hinted that an updated E-Sentier hardtail will be launching near the end of the year.
Vitus E-Sommet 2020
Two new models at different price points have been added to the E-Sommet range for 2020.
The range is built around the existing E-Sommet frame, with Fox suspension on all but one model and prices ranging from £3,199 to £4,999.
Shimano Steps E7000 and E8000 motors drive the bikes, and each has 27.5in front and rear wheels, big 200mm or 203mm disc brakes and 160mm of rear suspension travel, with 160mm or 170mm front suspension. Four sizes are available (S, M, L, XL).
Vitus E-Sommet
- Frame: Alloy 27.5in E-Sommet
- Motor: Shimano Steps E7000
- Sizes: S, M, L, XL
- Battery: E8010 Shimano
- Fork: 160mm Rockshox 35 Gold RL
- Suspension: 160mm Rockshox Delux Select R
- Drivetrain: Shimano Deore 1×10
- Brakes: SRAM Guide T, 200mm rotors
- Tyres: Tubeless Ready Maxxis 3C tyres
- Wheels: WTB SERRA i29 wheelset
- Listed weight: 22.91kg
- Price: £3,199 / €3,499
Vitus E-Sommet VR
- Frame: Alloy 27.5in E-Sommet
- Motor: Shimano Steps E7000
- Sizes: S, M, L, XL
- Battery: E8010 Shimano
- Fork: 170mm Fox Float 36 Rhythm eBike Tune
- Suspension: 160mm Fox Float DPX2 Performance Elite
- Drivetrain: SRAM NX/SX Eagle 1x12
- Brakes: SRAM Guide RE, 200mm rotors
- Tyres: Tubeless Ready Maxxis 3C tyres
- Wheels: DT Swiss H1900 wheelset
- Listed weight: 22.94kg
- Price: £3,799 / €4,199
Vitus E-Sommet VRS
- Frame: Alloy 27.5in E-Sommet
- Motor: Shimano Steps E8000
- Sizes: S, M, L, XL
- Battery: E8010 Shimano fast-charging battery, 80% in 2hrs
- Fork: 170mm Fox Float 36 Performance eBike Tune
- Suspension: 160mm Fox Float DPX2 Performance Elite
- Drivetrain: Shimano XT M8100 1x12 gearing
- Brakes: SRAM Guide RE, 200mm rotors
- Tyres: Tubeless Ready Maxxis 3C tyres
- Wheels: DT Swiss H1700 wheelset
- Listed weight: 22.63kg
- Price: £3,999 / €4,499
Vitus E-Sommet VRX
- Frame: Alloy 27.5in E-Sommet
- Motor: Shimano Steps E8000
- Sizes: S, M, L, XL
- Battery: E8010 Shimano fast-charging battery, 80% in 2hrs
- Fork: 170mm Fox Float 36 Factory FIT GRIP 2 eBike Tune
- Suspension: 160mm Fox Float DPX2 Factory
- Drivetrain: Shimano XTR/XT 1x12 gearing
- Brakes: Shimano XT M8120 4 piston, 203mm rotors
- Tyres: Tubeless Ready Maxxis 3C tyres
- Wheels: DT Swiss HX 1501 wheelset
- Listed weight: 22.30kg
- Price: £4,999 / €5,499
Vitus E-Escarpe 2020
Four 2020 Vitus E-Escarpe models come at price points ranging £3,199 to £4,999, with four sizes available (S, M, L, XL).
Each bike features 140mm front and rear suspension travel and pairs a 29in front wheel with a 27.5in rear wheel.
Vitus E-Escarpe 2020
- Frame: E-Escarpe 6061 Alloy Boost 140mm
- Sizes: S, M, L, XL
- Motor: Shimano Steps E7000
- Battery: E8010 Shimano
- Fork: 140mm Marzocchi Bomber Z2
- Suspension: 140mm Rockshox Delux Select R
- Drivetrain: Shimano Deore 1×10
- Brakes: Shimano MT-501, 203mm rotors
- Tyres: Tubeless Ready Maxxis 3C tyres
- Wheels: WTB ST i30 front / ST i35 rear
- Listed weight: 22.55kg
- Price: £3,199 / €3,499
Vitus E-Escarpe VR 2020
- Frame: E-Escarpe 6061 Alloy Boost 140mm
- Sizes: S, M, L, XL
- Motor: Shimano Steps E7000
- Battery: E8010 Shimano
- Fork: 140mm Fox Float 34 Rhythm
- Suspension: 140mm Fox Float DPS
- Drivetrain: SRAM NX/SX 1x12
- Brakes: SRAM Guide RE, 200mm rotors
- Tyres: Tubeless Ready Maxxis 3C tyres
- Wheels: DT Swiss H1900 Spline 30 front / 35 rear
- Listed weight: 22.63kg
- Price: £3,799 / €4,199
Vitus E-Escarpe VRS 2020
- Frame: E-Escarpe 6061 Alloy Boost 140mm
- Sizes: S, M, L, XL
- Motor: Shimano Steps E8000
- Battery: E8010 Shimano fast-charging battery, 80% in 2hrs
- Fork: 140mm Fox Float 36 Performance
- Suspension: 140mm Fox Float DPS Performance
- Drivetrain: Shimano XT 1x12
- Brakes: SRAM Guide RE, 200mm rotors
- Tyres: Tubeless Ready Maxxis 3C tyres
- Wheels: DT Swiss H1700 Spline 30 front / 35 rear
- Listed weight: 22.33kg
- Price: £4,299 / €4,799
Vitus E-Escarpe VRX 2020
- Frame: E-Escarpe 6061 Alloy Boost 140mm
- Sizes: S, M, L, XL
- Motor: Shimano Steps E8000
- Battery: E8010 Shimano fast-charging battery, 80% in 2hrs
- Fork: 140mm Fox Float 36 Factory FIT GRIP2
- Suspension: 140mm Fox Float DPS Factory
- Drivetrain: Shimano XTR/XT 1x12
- Brakes: Shimano XT M8120 4, 203mm rotors
- Tyres: Tubeless Ready Maxxis 3C tyres
- Wheels: DT Swiss HX 1501 Spline 30 front / 35 rear
- Listed weight: 22.14kg
- Price: £4,999 / €5,499
