2023 Vitus

E-Sommet 297 VR

When we first tested the Shimano EP8 equipped Vitus E-Sommet VRX back in 2021, we were impressed by the build kit and competitive pricing. But the bike was harder to manoeuvre than some, in part due to its weight, but also the sizing. With a 474mm reach on the large and weighing 24.7kg (54.45lb), and boasting almost 170mm of travel, the E-Sommet was a big bike in every sense of the word. Best budget electric mountain bikes: go electric, without breaking the bank Need to know: The bridgeless seat stay design has clearance for up to 2.8in tyres Oversized 1.8in tapered steerer on the 170mm Zeb fork adds peace of mind on a 24.87kg (54.83lb) bike Shimano’s SC-E8000 colour display lets you swap between profiles without opening the e-tube app Three small bolts hold the battery cover in place, so it’s fiddly to remove. As such, we suggest downsizing, where the 5mm shorter head tube would also make it easier to get the handlebar height low enough to weight the front end, which was something we struggled with on the size L before flipping the stem upside down. So this time we’ve taken our own advice and downsized to a medium, and what a difference it’s made. Not only is the E-Sommet easier to chuck around, we were able to run a couple of spacers under the stem, which stops the cables entering the head tube at such an acute angle. Even with that though, the lever action of the Brand-X Ascend dropper post was still laboured, so replacing the cable or even the remote would be our first upgrade. Now, if you’ve been following along, you’ll realise that a 5mm lower headtube isn’t going to make a massive difference in the height of the front end. And you’re dead right. It’s actually the 12mm rise handlebar, as opposed to 25mm on the L, that makes the biggest difference on the medium and allows fine tuning the handlebar height. Follow the recommendations on the Vitus website, and the size medium E-Sommet is designed for riders between 5ft 6in and 5ft 10in tall, which we’re an inch north of. Compare the Vitus to the size L Decoy that’s also in this test though, and the sizing and geometry are nigh on identical. It’s just a recommendation after all. So what has changed on the top of the range E-Sommet VRX since we last tested it? Well the colour is different. And somewhat remarkably, given the current inflationary climate, the price hasn’t increased, not even by a penny. Vitus must have made some concessions to the specification to do that then? Well, the only one we can see is the DT Swiss H 1700 wheels have been replaced by Nukeproof Horizon V2’s, which actually offer considerably faster 102 point freehub engagement, so we’d argue they are an upgrade. So apart from swapping the WTB Volt saddle for the Nukeproof one, every other aspect of the specification remains unchanged. And that goes for …Continue reading »

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Intuitive, fun and capable to ride, the E-Sommet impresses on almost every level

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Vitus’s E-Sommet VRX is unequivocally a heavy hitting enduro e-bike. Thanks to its pretty well sorted geometry and wisely picked spec, it’s a bike that’s unshakably confident when pushed down the most technical terrain. Although due to its weight and plush suspension characteristic, the E-Sommet may be a bit too 'enduro' for some.

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