How much should an enduro ready carbon bike cost? Vitus says from just £1999

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Vitus updates the Escarpe and Sommet for 2021 with new carbon frames and pricing from just £1999!

How much does a good trail or enduro bike cost these days? That’s kind of like asking how long a piece of string is isn’t it? When you can head to a bike shop and see one full-sus bike priced at under £1000 then at the other end of the shop floor another at €16,000 it’s hard to fathom how much a good bike should cost so it’s nice that brands like Vitus are answering that question for us.

For 2021 Vitus has updated both the Sommet and Escarpe full-suspension bikes with nice new carbon mainframes, a new suspension kinematic and build options to suit all wallets.

Aggressive enduro riders can choose between the 170mm travel Sommet with 27.5in wheels or a 162mm travel version rolling on 29er wheels. For riders wanting something more trail-friendly the Escarpe gets 140mm of rear travel no matter which size wheel you choose.

Both bikes have been designed with a carbon front triangle to give a better blend of weight and stiffness. Updated geometry means both bikes sit lower, slacker and steeper while a flip-chip allows riders to tweak the angles by 0.5 degrees and lift the BB by 6mm if that’s what they prefer.

With the introduction of longer dropper posts, Vitus has developed the new carbon mainframe to offer riders the largest drop available. So a size small frame comes with a 150mm post, M 170mm and L/XL bikes pack 200mm travel dropper posts. Each model also comes with robust frame protection, a SRAM UDH gear hanger, updated internal cable routing, and increased bearing sizes.

Vitus Escarpe 27 Geometry

Vitus Escarpe 29 Geometry

Vitus Escarpe CR 27 and 29 Specifications

Vitus Escarpe CR 27 and 29 Specifications
  • Frame: Escarpe T700 carbon front triangle, alloy 6061 rear with 140mm travel – Internal cable routing, post mount disc brake mounts, BSA threaded BB, Boost hub spacing – 148mm x 12mm thru axle, SRAM UDH hanger.
  • Fork: Marzocchi Bomber Z2 RAIL 150mm
  • Shock: RockShox Deluxe Select R
  • Chainset: Shimano Deore M6100
  • Rear Mech: Shimano Deore 12-speed
  • Cassette: Shimano Deore 12-speed 10-51t
  • Shifter: Shimano Deore
  • Brakes: Shimano MT420/MT410
  • Wheels: WTB ST Light i30 on Vitus hubs
  • Tyres: Maxxis Assegai / Maxxis Dissector – 3C MaxxTerra compound, EXO/TR
  • Stem: Nukeproof Neutron 45mm
  • Handlebar: Nukeproof Horizon
  • Seatpost: Brand X Dropper
  • Saddle: Nukeproof Neutron
  • Weight: 27: 14.85kg / 29: 15.15kg
  • Price: £1999.99

Vitus Escarpe CRS 27 and 29

Vitus Escarpe CRS 27 and 29
  • Frame: Escarpe T700 carbon front triangle, alloy 6061 rear with 140mm travel – Internal cable routing, post mount disc brake mounts, BSA threaded BB, Boost hub spacing – 148mm x 12mm thru-axle, SRAM UDH hanger.
  • Fork: RockShox Pike Select 150mm
  • Shock: RockShox Deluxe Select+
  • Chainset: Shimano SLX
  • Rear Mech: Shimano SLX 12-speed
  • Cassette: Shimano SLX 12-speed 10-51t
  • Shifter: Shimano SLX
  • Brakes: Shimano SLX M7120/M7100
  • Wheels: DT Swiss M1900
  • Tyres: Maxxis Assegai / Maxxis Dissector – 3C MaxxTerra compound, EXO/TR,
  • Stem: Nukeproof Neutron 45mm
  • Handlebar: Nukeproof Horizon
  • Seatpost: Brand X Dropper
  • Saddle: WTB Volt 142
  • Weight: 27: 14.52kg / 29: 14.82kg
  • Price: £2,699.99

Vitus Escarpe CRX 27 and 29

Vitus Escarpe CRX 27 and 29
  • Frame: Escarpe T700 carbon front triangle, alloy 6061 rear with 140mm travel – Internal cable routing, post mount disc brake mounts, BSA threaded BB, Boost hub spacing – 148mm x 12mm thru-axle, SRAM UDH hanger.
  • Fork: Fox 36 Factory GRIP2 150mm
  • Shock: Fox Float DPS Factory
  • Chainset: Shimano XT
  • Rear Mech: Shimano XT 12-speed
  • Cassette: Shimano XT 12-speed 10-51t
  • Shifter: Shimano XT
  • Brakes: Shimano XT M8120/M8100
  • Wheels: DT Swiss M1700
  • Tyres: Maxxis Assegai / Maxxis Dissector – 3C MaxxTerra compound, EXO/TR,
  • Stem: Nukeproof Neutron 45mm
  • Handlebar: Nukeproof Horizon
  • Seatpost: Brand X Dropper
  • Saddle: WTB Volt 142
  • Weight: 27: 14.00kg / 29: 14.30kg
  • Price: £3,499.99

Vitus Sommet Geometry 27

Vitus Sommet Geometry 27

Vitus Sommet Geometry 29

Vitus Sommet Geometry 29

Vitus Sommet CR 27 and 29

Vitus Sommet CR 27 and 29
  • Frame: Sommet T700 carbon front triangle, aluminium 6061- t6 rear triangle with 170mm travel on 27″ & 162mm on 29″ – Internal cable routing, post mount disc brake mounts, BSA threaded BB, Boost hub spacing – 148mm x 12mm thru-axle, SRAM UDH hanger
  • Fork: RockShox Yari RC 170mm
  • Shock: RockShox Super Deluxe Select R
  • Chainset: Shimano Deore
  • Rear Mech: Shimano Deore 12-speed
  • Cassette: Shimano Deore 12-speed 10-51t
  • Shifter: Shimano Deore
  • Brakes: Shimano MT520/MT510
  • Wheels: WTB KOM Trail i30/Vitus KT hubs
  • Tyres: F: Maxxis Assegai 3C MaxxGrip compound, EVO+ / R: Maxxis Minion DHRII 3C MaxxTerra compound, DD/ TR
  • Stem: Nukeproof Neutron 45mm
  • Handlebar: Nukeproof Horizon
  • Seatpost: Brand X Dropper
  • Saddle: Nukeproof Neutron Saddle
  • Weight: 27: 15.50kg / 29: 15.77kg
  • Price: £2,399.99

Vitus Sommet CRS 27 and 29

Vitus Sommet CRS 27 and 29
  • Frame: Sommet T700 carbon front triangle, aluminium 6061- t6 rear triangle with 170mm travel on 27″ & 162mm on 29″ – Internal cable routing, post mount disc brake mounts, BSA threaded BB, Boost hub spacing – 148mm x 12mm thru-axle, SRAM UDH hanger
  • Fork: RockShox Lyrik Select 170mm
  • Shock: RockShox Super Deluxe Select+ RT
  • Chainset: Shimano SLX
  • Rear Mech: Shimano SLX 12-speed
  • Cassette: Shimano SLX 12-speed 10-51t
  • Shifter: Shimano SLX
  • Brakes: Shimano SLX M7120/M7120
  • Wheels: DT Swiss E1900
  • Tyres:F: Maxxis Assegai 3C MaxxGrip compound, EVO+ / R: Maxxis Minion DHRII 3C MaxxTerra compound, DD/ TR
  • Stem: Nukeproof Neutron 45mm
  • Handlebar: Nukeproof Horizon
  • Seatpost: Brand X Dropper
  • Saddle: WTB Volt 142
  • Weight: 27: 15.25kg / 29: 15.52kg
  • Price: £2,899.99

Vitus Sommet CRX 27 and 29

Vitus Sommet CRX 27 and 29
  • Frame: Sommet T700 carbon front triangle, aluminium 6061- t6 rear triangle with 170mm travel on 27″ & 162mm on 29″ – Internal cable routing, post mount disc brake mounts, BSA threaded BB, Boost hub spacing – 148mm x 12mm thru-axle, SRAM UDH hanger
  • Fork: Fox 38 Factory GRIP2 170mm
  • Shock: Fox Float X2 Factory
  • Chainset: Shimano XT
  • Rear Mech: Shimano XT 12-speed
  • Cassette: Shimano XT 12-speed 10-51t
  • Shifter: Shimano XT
  • Brakes: Shimano XT M8120/M8100
  • Wheels: DT Swiss E1700
  • Tyres:F: Maxxis Assegai 3C MaxxGrip compound, EVO+ / R: Maxxis Minion DHRII 3C MaxxTerra compound, DD/ TR
  • Stem: Nukeproof Neutron 45mm
  • Handlebar: Nukeproof Horizon
  • Seatpost: Brand X Dropper
  • Saddle: WTB Volt 142
  • Weight: 27: 15.00kg / 29: 15.27kg
  • Price: £3,599.99

Those are some damn fine looking bikes with some pretty impressive specs at great prices. We’re hoping to get one of these models in for test as soon as we agree on who will be testing it.

Andi is a gadget guru and mountain biker who has lived and ridden bikes in China and Spain before settling down in the Peak District to become Singletrack's social media expert. He is definitely more big travel fun than XC sufferer but his bike collection does include some rare hardtails - He's a collector and curator as well as a rider. Theory and practice in perfect balance with his inner chi, or something. As well as living life based on what he last read in a fortune cookie Andi likes nothing better than riding big travel bikes.

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