Vitus Introduces All-New 2021 Escarpe and Sommet Bikes

Making our award winning bikes better. The Vitus Escarpe and Sommet platforms have been at the top of our MTB range since their introduction in 2012 and our goal has never changed. Make high performance mountain bikes that are capable of winning races, bike tests, weekend mates races & Strava KOMS at a price point that makes sense to the end consumer.

Being direct to consumer we can offer amazing value bikes but we never compromise on performance and it's this that stands us apart from the competition. The bikes we design and bring to market are the ones we want to take out and ride after work and that applies to every spec option in the range.

Escarpe and Sommet Update Design Brief - Goal

When we started re-developing our Sommet and Escarpe platforms we had two main goals:

1. Make our award winning bikes even better with an updated frame design, geometry and suspension kinematics.
2. Create the lowest cost high performance carbon all mountain & enduro bikes on the market. We wanted to raise the bar in the industry to provide our customers with a lower entry into high performance bikes allowing them to progress and RIDEMORE.

Both New Platforms at a Glance

Design

Carbon First

By designing our new Sommet and Escarpe platforms in tandem we decided early on that we were going to focus on a carbon front triangle only with a aluminium rear triangle. This gives the perfect blend of stiffness and compliance. We increased the tube volume in the front triangle to improve stiffness, giving better track holding and stability through the full size range.

Updated Geometry

We have updated the geometry to give a more confidence inspiring ride. Key changes are slacker head angles and lower BB drop on both the Escarpe and Sommet platforms. We 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.

Adjustable Flip Chip

Both platforms come with an adjustable flip chip allowing you to increase head angle by + 0.5 degrees and lift the bottom bracket by 6mm. Giving you the option to tweak your ride depending on the terrain you're riding.

Improved Suspension Design

We have gone back to a fixed lower shock mount to allow for our new flip chip, this also allowed us to refine the suspension kinematics. An improved consistent progressive leverage curve gives more consistent feel, supports and damping.

Key Frame Features

1. T700 Carbon Front Triangle, 6061- T6 Aluminium Rear Triangle
2. Redesigned Seat tube allows for greater seatpost insertion across all sizes and longer fully inserted dropper posts. S: 150mm, M: 170mm, L/XL: 200mm
3. Improved internal cable routing
4. Robust frame protection on Downtube, Chainstay and Seatstay.
5. SRAM UDH Gear Hanger
6. Tyre Clearance - 27.5: 2.6" 29: 2.5"
7. 148mm Boost Hub Spacing
8. 73mm Threaded Bottom Bracket
9. ISCG 05 Chainguide Tabs
10. Increased bearing size, improved bearings and seals to increase durability
11. Clear protection kit included to protect your paint

Suspension Kinematics - Leverage Rate

We've straightened out the curve on both the Sommet and Escarpe vs. the 2020 versions and increased the progressivity. This change improves small bump sensitivity and mid stroke support. The increase in progression also helps with end stroke control and allows better compatibility with coil shocks.

Suspension Kinematics - Anti-Squat

We reduced the Anti-Squat to work alongside the improved leverage curve with increased mid-stroke support. High Anti-Squat can have a negative effect on suspension performance and was the main reason we lowered the Anti-Squat %.

Suspension Kinematics - Anti-Rise

Anti rise % has been reduced in the beginning stages of the travel, this prevents the bike from pitching forwards on steeper trails and gives a more balanced feel when braking. Suspension will still stay active when braking because of the low (50%) Anti-rise and horst link suspension design.

ESCARPE

The All New Escarpe - We've taken everything we loved about our Escarpe platform and made it better. Quick up the hills and even quicker going back down. A true confidence inspiring all mountain trail bike.

Escarpe Geometry

Escarpe Builds and Specs

SOMMET

The All New Sommet - Better in every sense of the word. Improved suspension kinematics, geometry and an all new frameset ready to race across the roughest enduro trails.

Sommet Geometry

Sommet Builds and Specs

INTERNATIONAL PRICING

Vitus bikes are a direct to consumer brand sold exclusively through our retail partners Wiggle and Chain Reaction Cycles who ship our bikes worldwide. For international pricing on our Escarpe and Sommet ranges see below. For countries not in the below list please refer to our retail partners' websites for the most up to date pricing.