Vitus E-Sommet 297 VR Mountain Bike 2021

Vitus E-Sommet 297 VR Mountain Bike

The E-Sommet 297 VR is an electronic full-suspension e-bike (electric bike) from Vitus. This VR-model features an aluminium frame with X-Fusion suspension, a Shimano E7000 electronic drive unit with a Shimano Deore 11-Speed gear transmission and hydraulic disc brakes. This bike is optimised to provide exceptional pace, agility and control anywhere, while being engineered and equipped for all-terrain riding. Plus, it features custom WTB/Vitus wheels wrapped in Maxxis tyres and a Brand-X Ascend dropper seatpost.

The E-Sommet 297 features a 29″ wheel at the front and a 27.5″ at the rear – this means the rear chainstays can remain shorter for superior control while the 29″ front wheel enables it to retain exceptional pace and control anywhere.

Winning multiple awards with the previous generation of the E-Sommet, the design engineers at Vitus were keen to evolve the much-loved ride qualities, while modernising key features. Vitus wanted to double down on what customers loved about previous E-Sommet models, which was the ride. With the new E-Sommet you can do everything you can do on your Enduro bike, but just more of it…. All the benefits of a large travel Enduro bike with the assistance on the way back up.

When Vitus started re-developing their E-Sommet platform they had two main goals:

• 1. Make their award-winning E-Sommet even better with an internal battery frame design, updated geometry and improved suspension kinematics.
• 2. Combine the best components in the industry with their new E-Sommet frame to offer the most capable E-MTB on the market while staying true to their customers by offering it at an accessible price point.

Internal Battery Frame Design

The much-loved E-Sommet is now updated with an integrated battery design, incorporated all aspects of the system within the frame. Engineers designed a battery door on the bottom of the downtube, and by adding strength in key areas and placing cut out on flat surface it ensured the frame retained all the riding performance.

Updated Geometry

Vitus has updated the geometry to give a more confidence inspiring ride. Key changes are slacker head angles and reduced BB drop to aid technical climbing. They have also steepened the effective seat tube angle and made it progressively steeper as you go up the size range. This ensures that each frame size has an optimal sagged saddle position with no compromise.

By measuring saddle height at saddle lay back, Vitus looked at the position of the saddle relative to the bottom bracket to ensure when the bike was in sag you had an optimal pedalling position. The reason they steepened the seat angle on the larger frame sizes was to ensure that the saddle layback wasn’t too far behind the bottom bracket.

Improved Suspension Performance

Vitus have gone with the same fixed lower shock mount as the Sommet & Escarpe, this also allowed them to refine the suspension kinematics. An improved consistent progressive leverage curve gives more consistent feel, supports and damping.

Features:

• Frame: E-Sommet 6061-T6 Aluminium with 167mm Travel – Full internal cable routing, post mount disc brake, boost hub spacing, SRAM UDH hanger, Internal battery mount suitable for 504 & 630 WH internal batteries.
• Fork: X-Fusion Trace 36 RC 170mm
• Rear Shock: X-Fusion O2 Pro R 205×65
• Drive Unit: Shimano E7000
• Battery: Shimano E8035 504 Wh
• Cycle Computer: Shimano E7000
• Assist Switch: Shimano E7000
• Bottom Bracket: Shimano BB52 68/73mm
• Crankset: Shimano E8000 165mm
• Chain: KMC e11s
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano Deore M5120 11-Speed
• Cassette: Sunrace CSMS7 11-51t 11-Speed
• Shifters: Shimano Deore M5100 11-Speed
• Brakes: Shimano MT520 hydraulic disc
• Rotors: Shimano SLX RT66 203/203mm 6 Bolt
• Wheels: WTB ST Light i30/ Vitus KT Hubs
• Tyres: Maxxis Assegai Maxx Grip DD 29×2.5″/ Maxxis High Roller II Maxx Terra DD 27.5×2.5″
• Thru-Axles: SRAM Maxle Stealth 12x148mm, 180mmx13mm. M12x1.0 W/ UDH Hanger
• Stem: Nukeproof Neutron Stem 45mm 31.8mm
• Handlebar: Nukeproof Horizon 31.8mm Bars S/M: 12mm Rise 780mm Width L/XL: 25mm Rise 800mm Width
• Seatpost: Brand-X Ascend Dropper Seatpost 34.9mm – S: 125mm; Drop M: 150mm; Drop L/XL: 170mm Drop
• Saddle: Nukeproof Neutron Saddle