Vitus E-Sommet 297 VRX Mountain Bike 2021

Vitus E-Sommet 297 VRX Mountain Bike

The E-Sommet 297 VRX from Vitus provides a top-level E-Bike (electric bike) performance that’s suited to efficient climbing, rapid descending and competitive racing anywhere in the mountains. It features an aluminium frame with an integrated Shimano EP8 electronic drive unit and a Shimano XT 12-Speed groupset that includes XT hydraulic disc brakes. This component spec gives you agility, control and power to tackle any challenge that the mountain throws your way.

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.

RockShox Zeb Ultimate Fork and Super Deluxe Select+ Rear Shock

This full-suspension bike is equipped with a long travel RockShox Zeb Ultimate fork with a Super Deluxe Select+ rear shock. This suspension combo tracks superbly well over all-terrains in all weather conditions, giving it a versatile performance that’s ideal for climbing and descending anywhere. Plus, it rolls upon DT Swiss H1700 wheels wrapped in Maxxis tyres while a Brand-X Ascend dropper seatpost ensures you can easily adjust your saddle height without needing to get off the bike.

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 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.

Bigger Battery = More Range

A Larger 630Wh battery with the EP8 which has 36% less pedalling resistance versus the E8000 ensures you get more out of the battery with greater range. Combine this with the enhanced frame performance to ensure you enjoy every trail segment.

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.

Shimano EP8 Electronic Motor Drive

EP8 sees the introduction of a new Magnesium housing, offering greater assistance on a wide range, weighing 10% less than the previous E8000, and 20% more torque going from 70Nm to 85Nm allowing you to take on the steepest climbs and toughest trails with traction and control. Paired with the E8036 630Wh integrated battery, the EP8 is ideally suited to the purpose of the E-Sommet.

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: RockShox Zeb Ultimate RC2 170mm
• Rear Shock: RockShox Super Deluxe Select+ RT 205×65
• Drive Unit: Shimano EP8
• Battery: Shimano E8036 630Wh
• Cycle Computer: Shimano EM800
• Assist Switch: Shimano EM800
• Bottom Bracket: Shimano BB52 68/73mm
• Crankset: Shimano M8150 165mm
• Chain: Shimano SLX M7100 12-Speed
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano XT M8100 12-Speed
• Cassette: Shimano SLX M7100 12-Speed 10-51T
• Shifters: Shimano XT M8100 I-Spec EV
• Brakes: Shimano XT M8120 hydraulic disc
• Rotors: Shimano RT76 203mm/203mm 6 Bolt
• Wheels: DT Swiss H1700
• 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 Horizon Stem 50mm 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: WTB Volt 142
• Weight: 24.31kg