Vitus Introduces New E-Mythique LT Starting at $3,699

Vital has its mitts on one of these new Vitus Mythique LT VRX e-bikes for testing, so stay tuned for a full ride report in the near future. Based on the price and spec sheets alone, the bike seems to have a solid build for a low price with our top-of-the-line VRX coming in at just $4,599. The weight of the medium VRX without pedals is 54.73 pounds with 630wh battery and 95nm Bafang M510 motor. We're stoked to see the Vee Attack HPL tires, which were much loved in our MTB front tire shootout, too. For now, we'll present the press release information, courtesy of Vitus.

Introducing the all-new Vitus E-Mythique LT. A long travel (LT) eMTB that punches above its class.

This bike is the newest member of our award-winning performance aluminum eMTB range. Available in three spec options — VR, VRS, and VRX — it’s powered by a Bafang M510 drive unit custom tuned specifically for this bike.

Like the award-winning Mythique, the E-Mythique LT encapsulates everything we stand for as a brand. It’s an exceptionally capable eMTB that punches well above its class, making high-performance bicycles more accessable to the masses.

It’s a long travel (170mm/160mm) and mixed-wheel variation of the Mythique, the E-Mythique incorporates learnings from our current E-Sommet range to create an eMTB that is ready to ride everything that is expected of a modern enduro e-bike. Whether it’s steep technical climbs where the grip is low or after-work laps on a local downhill track, the E-Mythique LT has been tested and developed to deliver.

The Bafang M510 drive unit

To build an eMTB that is not only cost effective but performs exceptionally well, we partnered with a new drive unit manufacturer for Vitus, choosing Bafang and their M510 drive unit.

With a maximum torque of 95Nm and competitive system weight, the M510 is the perfect drive unit to power the E-Mythique LT. We developed a close partnership with Bafang and tuned the system to perform exactly to our needs, effectively cherry-picking the best features and incorporating them into or drive unit.

The M510 system is powered by an integrated 630Wh battery and a display with five power modes — eco, eco plus, trail, boost, and race — giving the rider maximum options for adjusting range and on-trail performance.

Combining this drive unit with our experience in suspension and geometry design, we have created

an eMTB to be proud of. It’s made to be ridden everywhere; from steep, rough trails to big days with big climbs. The E-Mythique LT is designed to get the most out of eMTB’ing, whatever you might want that to be.

Leverage ratio What is Leverage Ratio?

The distance that the rear wheel moves in relation to the distance that the shock moves throughout the suspension travel. This is what determines suspension progressivity - essentially how much force is required to compress the shock through each phase of the travel. A high leverage rate bike means that initially, the friction in the suspension is easy to overcome and is therefore sensitive to bumps and rough terrain. As the suspension compresses further, the ratio between how much the wheel moves to how much the shock moves, reduces. In other words, the force required to compress the suspension becomes progressively higher.

On the E-Mythique LT:

The E-Mythique now uses a 205x65mm trunnion mount shock, which starts at a leverage rate of 2.83 at 0mm travel moving to 2.06 at 160mm travel. This gives an overall progression percentage of 27%. This results in a supportive ride feel in mid to deep travel compression events and means that the E-Mythique LT also works well with coil shocks.

Anti-Rise What is anti-rise?

How much the suspension is able to compress or extend when braking forces are applied, delivered as a percentage from 0-100%.

On the E-Mythique LT:

The E-Mythique LT has an anti-rise that has a similar ride feel to Vitus’ modern bike range. A percentage that is in the 55% to 50% range through the 160mm travel works to control excessive pitching under hard braking but also providing an active suspension feel, helping to keep grip high and boosting rider confidence in technical sections.

Anti-squat What is anti-squat?

How much a bike is able to resist suspension compression during the transfer of load (typically rider weight) around the bike. Anti-squat counteracts the energy-sapping ‘bobbing’ sensation that can occur during the pedal cycle, helping to improve the acceleration and climbing performance of a bike.

On the E-Mythique LT:

Anti-squat on the E-Mythique LT has just below 100% anti-squat at sag in a 34t:42t climbing gear, you get a good balance of suspension movement for grip but also not excessive wallowing. As you shift into descending gears the anti-squat % drops, providing a supple suspension feel and reducing feedback through the pedals through choppy terrain. By combining the anti- squat and anti-rise characteristic we have aimed to give the E-Mythique LT a ride feel keeps the bike active and promoting grip, allowing the bike to excel on more technical trails.