$1,699 - $2,599 - 2023 Vitus Mythique First Look 2

When Vital threw some legs over the Vitus Mythique 29 VRX trail bike a few years ago in our $2,000 MTB comparison, it quickly became a tester favorite. The price, spec and geometry demonstrated it was ready for the serious rider that didn't have stacks of cash lying around. Fast-forward to 2023 and the Mythique frame gets a redesign while maintaining a fantastic spec-to-price ratio. Additionally, as of today, Vitus Bikes are now directly available to customers in the USA. No more dealing with Chain Reaction or Wiggle retailers, one can order straight from vitusbikes.com. Vitus now has U.S.-based operations, so the bikes are shipped out of their Salt Lake City, Utah, facility and customer service is handled stateside as well.

2023 Vitus Mythique 29 AMP 29 Highlights

• 6061-T6 aluminum frame
• Sizes S, M, L (tested), XL
• 140mm travel front and rear
• RockShox Pike Select fork
• RockShox Deluxe Select R shock (Trunnion 185x55mm)
• Shimano SLX / XT 12-speed drivetrain
• UDH
• External cable routing
• Boost 148 rear axle
• Threaded bottom bracket
• 30-day risk-free bike return policy
• Weight as tested: 33.7-pounds, size Large, no pedals

Four Mythique Build Kits - $1,699 to $2,599

Four trims of the Mythique are on offer, and the entire line shares the same Vitus and Nukeproof cockpit and contact points and 31.6mm Brand X dropper seat post. They all use WTB rims (ST i30 or KOM Trail) with Vitus hubs and 2.3-inch-wide Maxxis High Roller II EXO casing tires on the lower three models while a Schwalbe Magic Mary / Hans Dampf combo graces the AMP. As of now, all Mythiques slow down with Shimano 2-piston brakes of varying performance levels.

The $1,699 Mythique VR is sensibly spec'd with a dropper seat post (not often found at this price point) and 1x Shimano Deore 10-speed drivetrain with 11-46t cassette. X-Fusion suspension parts give this Mythique 130mm of travel while the three builds above it sport 140mm front and rear.

Bounce up to the Mythique VRS for $1,999 to ride on RockShox suspension with a Silver 35 TK fork and Deluxe Select R shock. The 11-speed Shimano Deore drivetrain is a blend of Shimano, KMC and Sunrace parts like the Sunrace 11-51t cassette.

Climb into the $2,000 range for the Mythique VRX at $2,299. A Marzocchi Z2 fork handles the bumps up front with the RockShox Deluxe Select R shock out back and a 12-speed Shimano Deore / SLX drivetrain combination. Brakes on the VRX are the 2-piston Shimano MT501s, up from the MT401s of the Mythiques below.

The bike we were able to get some quick laps on was the Mythique 29 AMP; the highest-level Mythique build at $2,599. A RockShox Pike Select RC fork is a highlight at this price point. It's paired with the RockShox Deluxe Select R shock, and our AMP is propelled by a 12-speed Shimano SLX drivetrain that features an XT rear derailleur. Shimano SLX brakes dress up the bike, but unfortunately, these are still just two-piston stoppers. The wheelset is the nicest of the Mythique family with the Vitus hubs laced to WTB KOM Trail i30 rims — rims we've seen on bikes in the $5,000 range. The AMP is the only bike in the family to veer from Maxxis tires as it wears Schwalbe shoes with the Magic Mary / Hans Dampf combo in EVO, Super Trail, TLE, Addix Soft construction.

As noted, there is a Brand X dropper post. We have always appreciated the reliability of this budget-level seatpost. Seat post drop length varies across sizes with large and XL topping out at 150mm. Tall riders may want more length, but considering the bike's price, we can't nitpick too hard about this lack of travel.

Mythique Frame and Geometry Updates

The alloy Mythique frame has been completely updated for 2023 featuring more aggressive geometry. The headtube angle is half a degree slacker at 65.5 degrees, and the effective seat tube angle is 1.5 degrees steeper than the previous version at a pedal-friendly 77.5 degrees. Chainstay length remains constant across the four available sizes (S, M, L, XL) at 445mm with the medium reach hitting 455mm and large reach at 482mm.

Suspension kinematics have been revised as a 185x55mm Trunnion shock is now used. The leverage ratio has dropped slightly, but progression remains at 22%, anti-rise gets a bump up by 5% and anti-squat is close to 100% in granny, dropping to 80% in harder gears.

Maybe it's the old-timey, analog-loving Luddite in us, but the frame's fully external cable routing makes us feel all warm inside. One of the first things we'd want to do is upgrade the two-piston brakes. Knowing we won't have to worry about chasing cables and hoses through the frame (which probably wouldn't be very guided at this price point) has us shopping for four-piston binders already. The seat tube's redesign allows for more post insertion, and internal routing for the dropper post cable is present at the base of the seat tube.

The hardware and bearings are the same as those featured on their longer-travel Escarpe and Sommet bikes as the Mythique's updates have benefited from the development of its longer-travel siblings. The rear axle is Boost 148, the tapered head tube uses 44mm upper and 56mm lower bearings, the bottom bracket is threaded, there are ISCG tabs, and the frame protection is beefed up on the base of downtube and the driveside chainstay.

Out of the Box and Setup

Now that Vitus has established U.S. operations, bikes ordered online ship from Salt Lake City. Our bike landed in Reno two days after the order was submitted. It arrived in an oversized box that conveniently opens from the side, allowing the bike to easily slide out for assembly. As customary with direct-to-consumer bikes, all necessary tools are included for assembly; multi-tool, pedal wrench and even tire sealant. There are QR codes that link directly to assembly videos and the Rider Experience Team is at the ready for those needing assistance with the assembly process. Vitus offers a 30-day risk-free bike return policy, too.

Vitus pre-assembles and checks all bikes in Salt Lake before they get repackaged for delivery. All we had to do was add the included sealant to the tires (which were already seated on the rims), install the front and rear wheels, and mount the handlebar to the stem. The stem arrived centered, the saddle angle and position was dialed out of the box, and shifting and bolt torque were ride-ready. Unboxing and assembly time with adding sealant was 20 minutes.

The Build and Bike on the Trail

We have flashbacks of 2019 with a $2,599 mountain bike that actually has parts on it we'd want to use. The RockShox Pike, a mix of Shimano XT and SLX drivetrain parts are not glaring shortfalls that demand an instant upgrade. They'll run for seasons to come along with the Brand X dropper post, even if it requires more effort to actuate than some other levers.

The collection of house-brand contact point components that round out the build are more than adequate. A 45mm stem with alloy 31.8mm 25mm-rise bars steer the bike well as it rolls on a no-frills-but-speedy WTB KOM i30 / Vitus KT hub wheelset. The 2.3-inch Schwalbe Magic Mary front and Hans Dampf rear are an aggressive and confidence-inspiring combination for serious trail riding. The Addix soft compound had us ripping corners and sending it through the loose.

Unfortunately, every Mythique comes with 2-piston brakes, including our AMP test bike. The glass-half-full outlook is that the AMP gets SLX brakes and levers, so there's an ergonomic two-finger blade with some tool-free adjustability. No surprise however, the stopping power, especially with only a 180mm front rotor is lacking. As we write this, Shimano Deore four-pots are about $220-250 for a set. Go get 'em, stay under $3k and have a bike that's ready for miles and miles of shredding based on spec alone.

A capable spec alone isn't what determines how fun a mountain bike can be. Our Mythique was a natural, all-around weapon on the trail. Our maiden voyage took place on some fast, aggressive terrain, and we were impressed with how predictably it handled technical sections and hard-packed braking bumps. The 140mm of travel was put to work and it performed exceptionally with a balanced ride. Even with its fairly chunky 33.7-pound weight (size Large) it remained quite lively and responsive in flowy sections. We just had to give ourselves plenty of heads-up when hard braking was required.

What's the Bottom Line?

Vitus states they set out to make the Mythique not just a "starter bike" that a rider outgrows, but rather one that grows with them. Their 2023 AMP model has certainly achieved that goal. The frame, its features, and the critical components (brakes aside) are ready for both noob and veteran trail shredder alike, as the Mythique delivers a shining experience on the mountain. The $2,599 price tag for the top-end AMP that we rode offers some of the best bang for the buck on the market right now. A RockShox Pike, Shimano SLX / XT components, trail-worthy tires and wheels make the Mythique nearly impossible to beat when it comes to a mountain bike that is not only friendly on the wallet but a blast on the trails.

Click on over to vitusbikes.com for more info on the Mythique and all other Vitus bikes.