Vitus Rapide CR FS

Yes, it’s a very good bike modelled on the prior Scott Spark design with some minor geometry changes to make it a little more capable.  FWIW I ride a 100 mm spark for 6-12hr events.   They are very comfortable at full suspension.
It’ll suit your need, although the trend for “everyday” or “Marathon” XC rides is a 120mm fork these days.   As always it’s about what you can afford vs  what’s current etc.   The one you are looking at has cheaper but capable groupset and brakes, the next one up has better kit and carbon wheels.

I am waiting for my crx to turn up. Couldn't resist at that price for electronic shifting and carbon frame and wheels.
All the reviews seem positive so am hopeful.
For me the extra money was worth it for the higher end bike

Both models seem to get rave reviews, with the CRX being top pick in a lot of XC shoot outs. Only thing seems to be 'bob' on climbs, but it does have a lock out at both ends.
My other potential is the Trek Procaliber 9.6 which is also selling cheap ATM. No rear suspension, but a widget in the frame to take out the trail sting

I'm thinking about one of these, but the only thing stopping me is getting parts if CRC / Wiggle do actually go boom, other than buying a spare set of linkage & pivot hardware when the bike is bought that is.

It is a valid concern.
I'm taking the view that the components would cost about the same to buy as the whole bike, so if it does go pop I will just get a second game xc frame and shift everything across

The spares/warranty thing put me off. I've killed numerous frames being a 100kg powerhouse 😂

Ordered an equally well discounted Epic Evo, but 24hrs later got an email saying it was cancelled. Not happy and doesn't appear to be any XL's left anywhere. So now considering the CRX again.

Notice the red one has increased in price.

I've had a rapide fs crs since start of 2023. Love it, most used bike i have....spent last summer using it for general Surrey hills riding and then doing longer and longer rides including the longest off-road ride ive done and doing SDW again (10 years since the last time). Changed the contact points and added a (brandx) dropper and it was ready to go. Only gripe would be only 1 bottle mount.

I got it discounted by a decent amount but current price is crazy good.

With regard spares, I'm hoping that the fact that the frame is effectively  a Carbonda means that spare parts will continue to be available even if vitus is no more

That is good to hear, I had read somewhere that it was a standard pattern frame

OMG that CRX is a bargain with those components. I need to resist....

If I didn’t have a very much upgraded Spark, I’d buy one.  

It's a Carbonda FM936 you can buy spares direct from Carbonda in China.

You can buy a 120mm rear end from Carbonda.

https://www.carbonda.com/mountain/full-suspension/98.html

I have one on order to replace a 2020 one that cracked… it was second hand so no warranty. Therefore I’m a bit sceptical about the quality (particularly with the wiggle warranty looking shaky), but it’s hard to beat for the price.

Despite being only 100mm it descends really well; it has a very long wheelbase for an Xc bike making it very stable. For marathons the long reach could load or arms more than you want, but I have done all day rides without issue. The suspension is very active, this makes it plush downhill but wouldn’t be great if you like a firm platform but don’t want to use the lockout.

I as a (long legged)6’2 and 84kg, I need the shock pressure on the limit to get the sag sensible. So if you are tall and heavy, that might be an issue.

@nuke what size do you have and how tall are you?

@minus you say you're 6'2" what size are you on?

I'm 5'11" so effectively right between a medium and a large.

XL - I’d need to run a 200 mm dropper on a large to have enough insertion. Though I do use a very short stem.

There's an extra 10% off the top model at the minute too - £2250 for it is bonkers.  I've ordered one.  I went for a L, but wwas right on the border of both at 5.11

Can't believe they have reduced it more. Wonder if they will honour the price drop considering mine hasn't even been despatched yet

@nuke what size do you have and how tall are you?

5' 9" on a medium here. Id say a large for you but they are loooong....Im runnning a shorter stem then Id expect for an XC bike

I as a (long legged)6’2 and 84kg, I need the shock pressure on the limit to get the sag sensible. So if you are tall and heavy, that might be an issue

I read something along those lines on the Carbonda forum. Doesn't sound like a sensible option for me at 100kg. Definitely need to step away from the buy now button sadly 😞

@nuke what size stem are you running?

I've just done this geo compare with my current bike, it looks like it's the Large going on seat post length and top tube length the stack is essentially the same, but as you say they are long in the reach, like 42mm longer. I fear the medium will be too short in the stack & seat tube length as I do have quite a lot of post out on the KTM.

I used that to compare with my spark: https://geometrygeeks.bike/compare/vitus-rapide-29-crx-2022-l,scott-scott-spark-rc-900-world-cup-bike-2018-l,vitus-rapide-fs-2022-l/ that’s me at 181cm

Basically it’s the more modern trail bike geo of being slightly longer, slacker and with a corresponding steeper seat tube to aid climbing.   If it wasn’t so close to my 6yo Spark I’d buy one in a heartbeat, and probably would if it had a 120mm setup.

( I’ve got my eyes fixed on a late ‘24 season Oiz though.  With a decision about continuation of racing coming after the summer I just can’t invest now anyway)

There's me being financially astute this year. Always fancied one for a few years but resisted. Haven't bought any new bikes for 3 years. Have a road bike and a chisel. Stick it on finance and pay it off over 24 months? 🤔

The CRX is an amazing price. What weight do they come in at for this model? Electronic shifting? 

How much is a carbonda frame on its own? 

@Kryton57 I've also got a Large Scale 910 which is pretty similar to the Spark, which one would you go for?

What weight do they come in at for this model?

CRX stated as 10.9kg on wiggle

You mean Spark or Vitus?   Assuming the parts CAN be had from China and bearing in mind there’d be import costs added to that, but also - for me at least - I’m not hard on my bikes if I was buying now I’d go for the Vitus - carbon wheels and AXS at that price!

With my Spark it’s had one replacement linkage / bearing kit over that time (remember my Spark is race only so it’s spared winter & fun mileage ) so I’d probably immediately order one of those from China as well to ensure it’s available when I eventually use it.  

There’s only one thing bugging me about the Vitus, and that’s the lack of the middle platform option on the lockout that you have on the Spark.  That may be user preference but having a 70mm higher compression option for racing is something I’ve enjoyed a lot.  My son has that same RS Fork on his Rapide HT so I know that sits higher better than the Fox 32SC I have, but I can’t speak for the Vitus rear end efficiency.  I haven’t read a review, probably worth doing.

With that in mind that’s why I favour the Oiz, it has the same platform as my Occam and I love the “it’s not moving” feeling at the same time of “it’s not hung up on roots” the concentric axle provides, so I’m looking to adopt that for my next race bike.

@Kryton57 - I was a bit useless there, I meant size wise, the Vitus wins all day on VFM

You know I wrote all that but am thinking £2.2k now or £5k in September…….. 🤷‍♂️

I meant size wise<br /><br />

Oh sorry - the Vitus.   It’s the Spark platform but more stable, and the FS becuase I’m GV now and racing is starting to hurt….

I've been riding my Carbonda FM936 (same frame) with 120 Pikes and 100 rear round the lakes for the past few months and it's been great (thou a little under biked for around here). Built up with GX AXS, Pikes and LB carbon wheels.

A carbonda frame (standard paint) will be ~£600-700. Seeing as thou that Vitus CRX has AXS T-Type and carbon wheels, it would probably cost more to build a carbonda to similar spec.

It does look far nicer in black though.
I roughly priced it all up and I think you basically get the frame and stuff like bars for free on the crx

For those people with one, what dropper post lever works with the existing lock out levers? Trrying to get one sorted for when mine arrives!

Bontrager drop lock is pricey but good.

I have got a pnw with the 2x dropper lever which should fit.
I am slightly concerned about the internal routing

I'm selling my Mk1 Vyron if you want it.  It sticks down currently albeit can be pulled up easily by hand, but advice from Magura is just to undo the collar and clean it up.   It'd fix the cable routing issue....

Well, that idea is out of the window as the CRX is back up to nearly £4k in medium

If you want one, I’d be phoning them and telling them you’ll pull the trigger today if they sell you a Medium at the discounted price.

If they can afford that margin on a Large, they can afford it on the Medium.

@Kryton57 that's a good idea, what have i got to lose.

How did it go??

Yes I’m dying to know also…. Be strong Steve_b77, act like a salesman 🙂   If needed offer something, an unrelentingly positive STW review of wiggle / the bike, a race seasons instagram posts of gratitude, a Wiggle bumper sticky on the bike mobile….   Be prepared to give as well as take.

breninbeener

Full Member

How did it go??

They didn't want to know, said they get asked the same thing every day and their pricing strategy is fixed, might give it another go.

I had similar 'no can do' response for a 10% off offer (was after a frame): the 10% offer was still showing as a banner advert on the site but they said it had expired on the Sunday and this was Monday AM...they aren't as flexible as they use to be but so be it, their company, their policy.

Pricing is up and down though so check the stock level (flood your basket with up to 30) and if high, it's likely it'll drop back down again 🤞

Ask to speak to the next level above, keep going until you get the right answer.  Unless they are lying about their  status, they need the money.  When they finally get the message they aren’t going to sell any at £4k, things will change.

realistically, they will have a couple in stock at 4k, that they might sell, and when they've been there for too long or become overstocked.. they go on sale, chasing for it isn't gonna get you anywhere IMHO, at 4k they are still on the money for what they are I reckon.

I didn’t mean every day.   But eventually you’ll get a “yes” or, “look, they’ll be an offer posted on the site next Monday” so it’s good to stay informed.

The price has gone up and down recently.  I wanted to pull the trigger before Christmas, but mistimed it and the price had gone up.  f you're patient, it will drop again.  Yo may not get the extra 10% though...

All sizes back up to £3600 today. Very glad I hit buy at £2250 with the extra 10% at the weekend.

So now they’ve kinda averaged the price.   Interesting!

Still good money, I paid about that for my 2018 GX/Fox spark RC.

Edit:  I put EXTRA10 in my basket and it still works….. so that’s £3250

EXTRA10 code isn't working for me, thought I'd try it out

EXTRA10 code isn’t working for me, thought I’d try it out

Yeah today at 9am was the cut of for it but it kept going a little longer.

Managed to get a new rim using the code this morning having decided a new Vitus wear overkill to replace a rim:(

Slightly (understatement) regretting that decision!

Had my disatch email today!

My crx arrived today.
Glad I ordered a forekaster for the front as the recon race would be terrifying on anything other than hard pack.
Just fitted a dropper with internal routing which was more of an arse than it should have been.
Overall though the bike is fast as, about 13kg in weight I think with the dropper and not having tubeless.
I'm not going to complain at that but the axs is going to take some getting used to

So only 20% heavier than the headline weight on wiggle!

Did you weight it before adding the dropper?

for those that missed this, there's plenty of deals on older trek top fuel's, just ordered a 9.7 from Balfe's

Yeah it was 12.1kg without the dropper. So 13 might be a little higher.
Either way their stated weights are off

Glad I ordered a forekaster for the front as the recon race would be terrifying on anything other than hard pack.

Also bought a Forekaster when I bought mine but actually the Recon Race are deceptively good tyres and I never put the Forekaster on. Alright the RRs are going to have their limitations if you're more trail riding biased but for XC & 'light' trail, I really rate them

Understood, I'm def going to use them in the summer, but our normal evening ride round here is a mix of road, hardpack and then 10k out so if charging around chicksands woods which can be anything from hardpack, mud, sand and soft ground.
I just can't see the rr's cutting it at the moment

My crx arrived today.
Glad I ordered a forekaster for the front as the recon race would be terrifying on anything other than hard pack.
Just fitted a dropper with internal routing which was more of an arse than it should have been.
Overall though the bike is fast as, about 13kg in weight I think with the dropper and not having tubeless.
I’m not going to complain at that but the axs is going to take some getting used to.

What dropper have you used? Is there space on the bars for a lever easy enough?

 

Pnw loam, i had to get the dropper for 2x drivetrain use as the lockout gets in the way. It fits fine though with a little jiggling. An under bar lever wouldn't fit

Good setup, especially if you can position it just right to unlock the suspension when you drop the seat!

What sort of color is it? The pictures look white, but description says grey!

It is no question white. Where they get grey from I have no idea

A friend got one of these this week.  For £2500 it’s a bargain:  new SRAM GX Axs T-type, Reynolds carbon wheels…. 11.9kg once I’d made it tubeless inc. pedals.  Build was pretty good, needed a little bit of grease here and there but generally spot on.  Rear brake may need a bleed, indeed the random Hayes brakes are probably the only spec oddity.  Very nice!

First ride on mine tonight. Really really impressed, glad I changed the front tyre.
Bit of adjustment needed on the suspension pressures and rebound needed but overall it is great, and absolutely excellent for the money paid

Have you changed the rear tyre as well? I was thinking Barzo's for the winter, is the Forekaster a better option?

The Forekaster is probably more aggressive, it's a trail tyre rather than XC. Similar to the Specialized ground control, which I am running on the front paired with a Barzo rear.

I've a spare Forekaster V2 in 29er should you decide to go down that route.

Not yet, forekaster front and the rr rear. It is pretty dry here at the moment, but i was pleasantly surprised at how much grip it had.
Will be sticking the second forekaster on when it gets a bit damp. The rr def rolls fast

Mine arrived today! It is defintely white and not grey! Nice looking bike though! It's my first FS bike - looks like lots to learn!

Mine arrived. Unfortunately the rear derailleur is missing the clip to told the battery in so it’s pretty useless. I have hunted in the boxes of stuff and can’t find it. No response from crc to an email about it. Where was it for everyone else?

Bike came in at 12.1 kg delivered, so unless they used the worlds heaviest inner tubes the claimed weight is looking as fictional as the idea that it’s grey.

Mines here too.

Minus- My mech had a red cover installed which I guess protects the connections, this was held in place by the clip, then the battery, charging dock and cable all were in a separate red axs box.

My large straight out of the box weighed 25.7Lb/11.6Kg.

Jeez the prices on those vary almost daily now!

Its £3300 today!

Can you convert those SIDs to 120mm with a different air spring? Google is suggesting NO for the SL

Thanks for the reply sl80. I tried crc again and got a fairly prompt response. They refunded me for the price of buying the clip off of halfords, an impatient wait for it to arrive now! However, they swore that the bike doesn’t come with the red battery box!

I think they have started doing a 110 mm air shaft for the Sid SL, but not 120. Not sure if the 110 only works in 2024 forks or what model year the forks coming in the bike are.

Back down to £2699 today!

Right...any feedback from people who recently bought the CRX? Is it worth the money? How's it ride? How does it climb? Any annoying niggles?

Still toying at the idea. Don't really need a new bike but I do want a full sus xc / down country bike.

Only had a quick play on mine, but I love it! Gears are crisp, bike is 11.6 kg t of the box!

Done a few decent night rides on mine. Really good bike in general, bloody amazing for that price.
It does bob a bit climbing like the reviews say, but the lockout works exceptionally well. Took a ride to get the air pressures and rebound sorted in the suspension but it rides great and am really happy I got it

Back down to 2439 with the EXTRA10 code today. Wasted the afternoon debating to pull the trigger.Could afford it outright - really wanted it, but didn't really 'need' it 🤣. Solution was to stick it on 0% for 12 months and pay it in small amounts

Too good of deal to pass it by. Such a heavy discount! Grabbed a medium. Good excuse to start doing some races!

Hi, can someone clarify the amount of rear travel? It’s a 40mm shock? Thanks.

someone clarify the amount of rear trave

It's 100mm rear travel

Hi, can someone clarify the amount of rear travel? It’s a 40mm shock?

Its 40mm (giving 100mm travel).

I agree with others, you have to run it high.... running 240psi and I'm about 72.5kg with bike kit on.

Be interesting to hear what others run there's at relative to their weight