The brand designed in Ireland have been winning awards for a few years especially with their 150mm Sommet enduro bike, but 2014 saw a fresh design and new range of bikes from the team based in Belfast. And they have taken things by storm offering a great price, fantastic specification and solid geometry in this, the Vitus Escarpe Pro.
A recurring theme whilst choosing and evaluating bikes throughout the season is why go for less travel bikes that weigh the same as their longer travel stablemates? It’s a tricky one and it’s a story recurrent here with Vitus as they offer both the Escarpe and Sommet with the same marvellous component specification except the latter comes in with a bit more travel at 155mm.
“It demands a clever approach rather than a brutish one”
Performer
The Escarpe Pro is s a fun, capable shredder. Up front the 150mm RockShox Pike RCT3 solo air takes the first impacts incredibly well but so does the rear Monarch Plus damper giving the bike a lively up beat ride characteristic with charging angles.
Offering a feast of componentry from Shimano XT brakes, Sram X01 gearing, Reverb Stealth and the brilliant Mavic Crossmax Enduro 650b wheelset, the bike delivers on performance and reliability every time. There’s a few Nukeproof parts in there too together with a Funn stem and E Thirteen guide. All in all a really good package.
