After giving their Sommet enduro bike a carbon overhaul, now Vitus are powering up an all-new e-Sommet enduro eMTB for those days when you are trying to squeeze in a few more runs. The new longer travel e-bike makes big leaps in capability with more power, slacker geometry, 29″ front wheels, full integration, and options for EP8 & E7000 powertrains to keep trail access affordable.
2021 Vitus E-Sommet 167/170mm mullet e-enduro eMTB
Vitus’ consumer-direct E-Sommet enduro eMTB had already been quite popular, thanks to a good mix of reasonable pricing for a performance e-mountainbike and its 160mm of trail-ready Horst-link suspension. But the e-bike was ready for a proper modern update.
So on the back of the recent carbon Sommet where you could pick your ideal travel & wheelsize, Vitus has given the E-Sommet similar geometry & suspension upgrades.
Plus, it doesn’t hurt that the new Shimano EP8 drive system is ready. The new motor promises 10% lighter weight, a claimed 36% reduction in pedaling drag, smoother power delivery, 20% higher peak torque at 85Nm, and increased cruising range.
What’s new?
The new Vitus E-Sommet is more aggressive and more capable, with updated geometry with more travel out back and bigger 29″ wheels up front. Headtube angles slacken a degree and a half to 64°, paired with the same 170mm fork travel and the bigger front wheel of the mullet setup, to take on more challenging terrain.
Vitus have also added a fourth frame size, to better fit more riders.
On paper bottom bracket drop increases a bit, but paired with the bigger front wheel, Vitus actually says BB drop is reduced and seat angles steepen two degrees, for better technical climbing.
Add to that seven millimeters of extra rear wheel travel to 167mm, which is said to offer refined suspension kinematics with more consistent shock progression to handle tough enduro and even downhill tracks.
Integration starts by tucking the e-bike batteries inside the oversized 6061-T6 alloy downtube, which is pretty much de rigueur these days. But Vitus takes it a step further, integrating cables inside too, entering through the oversized upper Acros Block Lock ICR headset and staying protected pretty much until they exit out the back.
Vitus also says the E-Sommet fits longer travel stealth droppers in the redesign, and gets improved bearings and seals to increase durability.
Vitus pairs the new, lower-profile Shimano EP8 motor with a bigger capacity 630Wh battery for extended range (on the VRX & VRS). More juice (and more travel) makes the new enduro eMTB heavier than before. But who’s going to argue over an extra kilo or two when the bike pulls you back up the hill so you can squeeze in another couple of self-shuttled runs at the end of the day.
Not all of the new E-Sommets get the new EP8 though. Just like the older version, Vitus puts the lower priced, slightly less torque E7000 motor on the entry-level e-bike so the ride quality upgrades are accessible to more riders. That also means the entry level E-Sommet, which otherwise shares all of the same tech (same frame & motor mounting), also gets a smaller range 504Wh internal battery. That 20% smaller battery is actually enough to offset addition weight of lower spec components, making the entry-level VR e-bike almost 1kg lighter than either of the others.
E-Sommet enduro e-bike – Pricing & Availability
Three complete e-bike builds are available of the E-Sommet. The top-tier Vitus E-Sommet VRX sells for £5500 / 6300€ with the EP8/630Wh powertrain, a Shimano XT 1×12 drivetrain & four-piston brakes, RockShox Zeb Ultimate RC2 fork / Super Deluxe Select+ RT suspension, and DT Swiss H1700 wheels at a weight of 24.31kg.
The mid-level Vitus E-Sommet VRS sells for £4800 / 5500€ with the EP8/630Wh powertrain, a Shimano SLX 12 drivetrain & four-piston brakes, RockShox Zeb Select RC fork / Super Deluxe Select R shocks, and DT H1900 wheels at a weight of 24.69kg.
The most affordable Vitus E-Sommet VR sells for £3600 / 4200€ with the an E7000 motor & 504Wh battery, Shimano Deore 11 drivetrain & MT520 four-piston brakes, X-Fusion Trace 36 RC fork & O2 Pro R shock, and WTB i30/Vitus wheels at a weight of 23.5kg.
An important note here is that Vitus says they are making big steps towards getting a shipping option up & running to deliver their new e-bikes to cyclists in the USA through their online retail partners. Vitus says they are targeting US eMTB deliveries to be possible “by early 2021”.
For the time being, the three new eMTBs are available in Europe, direct from Vitus’ Chain Reaction Cycles or Wiggle online retailers. The E7000 VR is in stock now, with the VRS & VRX expected in January 2021.
