Hybrid Bike Reviews – Mountain Bike Gateway

Vitus Bikes started out in the early 1970s as an innovator in frames, adding aluminum to the mix and opening up the market for lightweight road bikes. Since then, Vitus Bikes' designers and engineers have continued to compete aggressively in the market. Over a half-century of experience has enabled Vitus Bikes to produce an excellent range of generally sporty bicycles, but the company hasn't stopped there. Vitus Bikes now include road bikes, mountain bikes, urban machines, and hybrids. The company is now under the management of Chain Lightning Cycles and owned by Wiggle, but Vitus Bikes continues to practice its innovate ways with a great line of high-tech people-movers. WHAT ARE VITUS BIKES? As a manufacturer and marketer, Vitus Bikes has focused on riding the rollercoaster of bicycle production in the last fifty years. The company has endured as bikes have become more specialized, better built, and made for a much larger range of riders. Today, bikes for kids, teens, women, smaller riders, city riders, and mountain bikers all compete in a crowded, competitive market. Today, Vitus Bikes focuses on providing an affordable ride in a high-quality bike specified and adapted for each rider. Although this maker started out with road bikes, now you can select from a huge array of rides, from enduro racers and mountain bikes to road bikes with ultra-lightweight frames sporting high-end components. SHIPPED TO YOUR DOOR The signature product of Vitus Bikes is a customized bike at a low cost, shipped directly to you. In many cases, these bikes could not be constructed by a knowledgeable bike enthusiast from components purchased separately without spending substantially more in total. The quality and convenience of buying a Vitus bike are nearly unrivaled. PRODUCT SPECS The bikes we've chosen to evaluate here are some of the best examples of current Vitus bikes, including a road model, a VRS, and an urban (commuter) bike. All represent the company well. In addition, we start with our thorough review of the Vitus Escarpe, a mountain bike with real style. Vitus Bikes ships its bicycles with plenty of mechanic support if needed for easy assembly. The components and specs are excellent, typically including SRAM brakes; Nukeproof stems, handlebars and saddle; and DT Swiss wheelsets surrounding the Vitus aluminum frame. The chain drive is also by SRAM, and Vitus uses RoxShox suspension systems. Overall, the specs are excellent for all Vitus Bikes. PRICING The bikes we reviewed run from about $600 to $2,800. Prices are highly dependent on the components of each specific model and bike. Vitus Bikes sometimes offers packages including a seat, fork, and handlebar set (as in the Mach 3 Urban), but for performance bikes, they focus on offering the best components for individual selection. It's important to consider pricing for these bikes in the context of how much it would cost to build a custom bicycle of equal or better quality by purchasing components individually. In addition, Vitus Bikes will ship directly to you, saving you the time and costs of travel to compare bike models. As you'll see, we lean toward recommending the lower-priced Vitus models for better overall value. The high-end bike represented here may not be worth $2,500, for example, but we see a Vitus Escarpe at around $1,200 as an outstanding value for its suspension quality and other quality components. HOW THEY COMPARE We picked a few Vitus bikes available on today's market to see how they compare in areas such as price, performance, comfort, versatility, design quality, and warranty. Note that not all the bikes we reviewed here are easy to find because these Vitus bikes sell out quickly. Vitus bikes require assembly, but buyers receive support from trained personnel ready to help with any assembly problems. Vitus Bikes incorporate top-quality components from category leaders, but some entry-level models have more Vitus-made components such as their seats and handlebars. These are solid components that hold the overall bike price down, but they aren't on the Shimano or SRAM level, for example. VITUS VITESSE EVO CRI ROAD BIKEVITUS SOMMET VRS FS BIKEVITUS MACH 3 URBAN BIKE Vitus Escarpe Bike The Escarpe is a mountain bike with sleek styling, a fun frame style, and an efficient ride. The Escarpe features great bump sensitivity and out-of-this-world clearance. This model is made for trail riding in all conditions and one of the best performance mountain bikes you will find for the price. The radical geometry of this mid-priced performance bicycle, combined with components that will blow your mind, make it more than a bargain. Price $$ An Escarpe can be shipped to you for between $1,260 and $2,500, depending on the specific model and options you choose. The Escarpe is the mountain bike Vitus is most proud of, so Vitus offers a range of styles and prices. Performance Features (*****) With 29 V-Link suspension, great clearance, and high-quality components from the saddle to the drivetrain, this Vitus bike performs on every level. Improved reach measurements on this model mean the geometry, which was always first-rate, is even better today. This is a high-performance machine that is comfortable seated or standing, is great at clearing obstacles, and offers outstanding clearance and shock distribution. Comfort & Versatility (*****) The shock system produces a comfortable ride. The lightweight frame and clearance mean this mountain bike can handle just about any rocky or muddy trail or other environment. The best aspect of the Escarpe may be its comfort for the price. For a vast range of mountain bike terrain, the comfort attained with this bike is way above average for a mountain bike in the $1,500 price range. Design Quality (*****) This bike is packed with great GX-Eagle SRAM components, aside from the crank. The Descendent carbon crank is also an improvement over prior designs. Wheelset components are top-of-the-line DT Swiss. We rate the handlebar and tires just so-so, but many components on this bike defy imagination and they are put together beautifully. We especially liked the excellent shock absorption system and terrific frame styling. Warranty (*****) The company will provide support and replace any parts damaged in shipping. A 30-day return warranty is in place, and you receive a one-year warranty on parts. Pros Great valueHigh-quality componentsExcellent clearanceRear shock performance is greatComfortableLightweight frameLong, innovative geometryHigh-performance suspension Cons Tires offer economy but not top qualityRuns large; not ideal for smaller riderThe frame can flex when riding hard Vitus Vitesse Evo CRi Road Bike The lightest bike style made by Vitus, the Vitesse has all the features we love in road bikes. Easy to carry and transport, this amazing bike is basically a customized bicycle for an off-the-rack price. it is not cheap because the components are top-of-the-line, but there is real value here for the road rider. Price $$ With shipping, a Vitesse Evo CRi bike is available for around $2,300 or so, and we see it as a bargain at this price. Performance Features (*****) At less than 7.5kg without pedals, this bike is truly in ultra-lightweight territory. Sporting 700cc wheels and a unisex design, the Vitesse Evo has a 22-speed range and achieves amazing swiftness with ease on ascents. Comfort & Versatility (*****) This bike design is comfortable with a bit of give in the carbon frame, an excellent saddle, and geometry that supports smaller riders. Frame sizes range from 52cm to 62cm with 700 cm wheels. You can count on easy shifting on both flats and hills, riding in a top-of-the-line seat for comfort all the way Design Quality (*****) You benefit from a Ritchey stem, handlebar, and headset, plus a carbon seat post and many high-grade Shimano components throughout. The frame and fork are both fired from 130mm carbon, which is the only option to land a bike in this low weight range. Several other details are top-notch, including the Fizik Antares saddle and Pro Schwab tires. Warranty (*****) The manufacturer's warranty covers parts for one year. Pros Ultra-light design and constructionGreat gear rangeHigh-grade components throughoutSmooth rideOutstanding on hillsEasy to assemble Cons ExpensiveLimited color rangeUnisex design and styling won't turn heads Vitus Sommet VRS FS Bike Innovative geometry and a wide wheelbase make this a responsive vehicle for enduro racing or rides over any mountain terrain. The shock system on a Vitus Sommet VRS is among the best you can find for a variety of terrains. Further, this Vitus Bike, with its aluminum frame, linked rear suspension, and Boost hub technology, will take you up hills with great support and help you conquer mud, dust, and rain. Overall, the Vitus Sommet VRS FS is a moderately affordable, enduro-friendly bicycle that will double as a commuter over tough city terrain. Price $$ At under $2,000 all told for a model like the one we evaluated, this is a great value for a custom enduro bike. Performance Features (*****) The suspension feels great on the Sommet, and the extra stability helps riders at all levels. Bump sensitivity and overall handling on this vehicle are first-rate, while the Rox Shox and SRAM components offer the usual great ride we expect on a Vitus. Top-notch components and design make durability a key feature of this model, and excellent Maxxis Minion tires round out its performance potential. Comfort & Versatility (****) We rate performance over comfort for this model, but the cushioning from the suspension puts the Vitus Bikes Sommet VRS above most mountain bikes on the comfort spectrum as well. The aggressive Euro-style geometry is made for extreme conditions and steep inclines. Design Quality (*****) This bike is well designed for use as a mountain bike or enduro racer, but not as lightweight as we'd like. Still, this is a great custom bike out of the box because of the incredible quality of the components, with only a few weak areas. The metrics trunnion shock is one of the best we've found, and the Maxxis 3C tubeless tires are durable from the get-go. Warranty (*****) Chain LIghtning Cycle and Vitus Bikes stand by all their products with a one-year warranty covering manufacturing defects or parts damaged in shipping. Pros ResponsiveAggressive geometryExcellent componentsStableExcellent brakingGood frame clearance for smaller ridersGround-hugging fork traction Cons Expensive for an entry-level mountain bikeSomewhat heavyFlat pedals should be upgraded Vitus Mach 3 Urban Bike In the Mach 3 urban bike, you'll find hydraulic brakes and other terrific components loaded onto a bike with a comfortable frame style. This is clearly among the best commuter bikes you can buy for component quality. The frame sizes available are 48 cm and 50 cm, so this bike is made for smaller riders and a great choice for many female commuters. Price $ At a price around $600 or even a bit less, we see a Vitus Mach 3 as a terrific value. Performance Features (*****) This bike has many high-end features that are great for a commuter. The lightweight design, 18 speeds, rigid fork, and alloy construction make it durable and easy to maneuver. The 700cc wheels, Shimano shifters, and relaxed geometry are all adequate, but the flat handlebars and 6061 T6-alloy frame set this ride apart. The alloy stem and seat post make this a durable bike for the road as well as handling city obstacles. Hydraulic braking with center-lock rotors make for excellent stopping power. This performer wins our endorsement and applause mainly because it has the features needed without going too far into high-priced territory. Comfort & Versatility (****) This bike is built for both performance and comfort. Vitus has designed a seat and handlebar set for commuter comfort, using its experience in creating great optimal road bike components. The seat allows good airflow and simple adjustment with its long stem. Design Quality (****) This looks like a road bike and rides like one, but the flat handlebars make a Mach 3 much more maneuverable. WTB exposure tires at 700x32cc produce a little more grip on the pavement. The design of the Mach 3 is one of the best we've seen for smaller riders looking for a speedy city commuter. At under 8 pounds, it can be easily hauled anywhere, including right into your office or cubicle. The flat handlebars make this commuter look aggressive, but the ride is a relaxed over-the-road experience. Warranty (*****) Vitus provides a one-year warranty covering parts and manufacturer defects. Pros Shipped to your homeEasy to assembleCombines the best of road and hybrid bikesRelaxed geometryWeight of less than 8 lbs.Comfortable for smaller ridersAffordable price Cons Limited frame sizesVitus finishing kit, rather than premium components from other market leadersHard to gauge fit Conclusion If you aren't a pro rider and don't have decades of bike buying experience, you may not know about Vitus Bikes. These are top-of-the-line bicycles shipped to your door, so you can get a customized bike without the labor and time you'd spend shopping for the best components and building it. Vitus Bikes offers a style for every rider, consistently delivering high performance with specialized shock systems and top-notch styling. We love this company's road bikes the most, and we enthusiastically recommend the Escarpe line if you want a custom-built mountain bike that ranks near the top for performance in its price class.