In the latter part of last year Vitus launched their revamped range of bikes, including some big spec updates for both the full suspension and hardtail mountain bikes. We tested the Vitus Sentier 27 VRS recently and now it’s the turn of the Sommet 27 enduro bike.

The Sommet is the 27.5” wheeled full suspension enduro bike in the Vitus range, it’s got 160mm of travel at the rear and 170mm up front. As you might know, here at off-road.cc we like to test bikes at the more budget end of the scale so have opted to test the base aluminium model in the Sommet range.

Vitus Sommet 27 Detail whole bike-1.jpg
Vitus Sommet 27 Detail whole bike-1 (Image Credit: Rachael Gurney)

 

Vitus Sommet 27 Detail Frame-8.jpg
Vitus Sommet 27 Detail Frame-8 (Image Credit: Rachael Gurney)

This Sommet 27 comes in at £1699.99, quite a big chunk of cash less than the Sommet 27 VR at £2099.99. Our bike features exactly the same geometry as its carbon brother and comes equipped with a Manitou Mattoc COMP fork, these have got 34mm stanchions, a 44mm offset and you can adjust overall compression and rebound damping. Then there’s a Rockshox Deluxe RT shock with trunnion mount to deal with the 160mm of rear travel.

Vitus Sommet 27 Detail fork-4.jpg
Vitus Sommet 27 Detail fork-4 (Image Credit: Rachael Gurney)

 

Vitus Sommet 27 Detail shock-14.jpg
Vitus Sommet 27 Detail shock-14 (Image Credit: Rachael Gurney)

To get going there is a mix of kit, including a SRAM NX 11spd shifter and mech, Sunrace 11-36t cassette and Suntour Zeron 170mm cranks and there’s a threaded bottom bracket. To stop there are Shimano MT-500 two piston brakes with 203mm rotors front and rear.

Vitus Sommet 27 Detail Drive train-12.jpg
Vitus Sommet 27 Detail Drive train-12 (Image Credit: Rachael Gurney)

 

Vitus Sommet 27 Detail Brakes-7.jpg
Vitus Sommet 27 Detail Brakes-7 (Image Credit: Rachael Gurney)

 

Vitus Sommet 27 Detail brake-18.jpg
Vitus Sommet 27 Detail brake-18 (Image Credit: Rachael Gurney)

The wheels are the ever popular WTB ST i29’s on Novatec hubs with Maxxis Minion DHF 3C 2.5” tyres front and rear, here it’s nice to see the tougher Double Down carcass tyre on the rear.

Vitus Sommet 27 Detail front tyre-5.jpg
Vitus Sommet 27 Detail front tyre-5 (Image Credit: Rachael Gurney)

Vitus have also specced a Brand X Ascend dropper post, there’s 120mm length dropper on this medium model, you get a shorter one on the small and a longer, 150mm post on the large and XL bikes. 120mm isn’t that long but I suspect bike needed a shorter drop as the overall length of these posts is quite long, the 150mm post measures 480mm where this one measures just 410mm which would allow shorter riders to insert the post further into the bike before meeting that point in the seatube where the shock sits through the frame.

Vitus Sommet 27 Detail dropper -19.jpg
Vitus Sommet 27 Detail dropper -19 (Image Credit: Rachael Gurney)

 

Vitus Sommet 27 Detail seat tube-11.jpg
Vitus Sommet 27 Detail seat tube-11 (Image Credit: Rachael Gurney)

Elsewhere the cockpit is all Nukeproof gear with 780mm wide bars and a Vitus 50mm stem.

Vitus Sommet 27 Detail Frame-9.jpg
Vitus Sommet 27 Detail Frame-9 (Image Credit: Rachael Gurney)

The geometry uses all the key words, long slack and low, the reach is 453mm on this medium model with a 433mm seat tube, 65 degree head angle and a 74.5 degree effective seat tube angle. The chainstays are 435mm and the wheelbase comes in at a respectable 1205mm.

Vitus Sommet 27 Detail whole bike-20.jpg
Vitus Sommet 27 Detail whole bike-20 (Image Credit: Rachael Gurney)

Although geometry is identical, aside from that effect of a slightly longer fork to last year, the updates this year include the 11spd drivetrain, more aggressive tyres and 170mm fork rather than 160mm.

Vitus Sommet 27 Detail whole bike-21.jpg
Vitus Sommet 27 Detail whole bike-21 (Image Credit: Rachael Gurney)

I’m pretty keen to see what £1,700 quids worth of enduro bike will do, I’ll be back soon with a full review on YouTube and on off-road.cc 

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