Bobajobbob
Active member
The Bike:
Manufacturer: Vitus E=Escarpe VRS
Model: E=Escarpe VRS
Model Year: 2020
Price Paid: £3600
New/Used: Brand New
Score (out of 10): 8
Review: This is very much my first impression of the Vitus and of e-bikes, this being my first. I'll try and update this as I ride the bike more and build up a better overall picture.
First impression when it came out of the cardboard was wow it looks great and wow it's massive. I know it isn't important but I love the colour scheme of the bike. The grey and orange combo looks modern without looking like a German anorak.
As a first timer when it comes to e-bikes the scale of the bike took me by surprise. I'd never managed to try an EMTB in my local store as they were always out of stock and nothing that you see on the internet gives a true reflection of the size of the bike compared to a standard analogue bike. I posted a pic above of my two bikes next to each other. The Vitus makes my old bike look like a BMX.
If you haven't ridden an EMTB before be prepared for everything to be wider and larger in scale. The wheels (29 and 27.5 on the Vitus) are much taller than my old bike and the tires also much wider. The frame itself isn't taller but again it is wider and chunkier. The whole bike can be described as chunkier than an analogue bike. As I got onto it for the first time it reminded me a lot of my next door neighbours Raleigh Bomber from the 1970s (Showing my age now).
For reference I went with a large frame as I'm 6 feet with a 32/33 inside leg.
Without the battery installed I didn't notice the weight of the bike. It rolls great and didn't feel so different from analogue. With battery installed that does add a few kilos and you can feel it.
Quick comment on the quality of setup from CRC. I noticed that the pop up seat cable must have been dragged through the frame as it has some damage. Otherwise everything else looks and feels good though the brakes are going to need adjustment or bleeding as the bite point is too close to the bars for me.
Bar and pedal installation was a breeze with a useful allen key set thrown in by CRC. I went with nukeproof neutrons to get me on the road and then went for a first ride....
I live in suburban kent countryside in a hilly area and have a regular loop I ride including some hilly roads that take me to the top of a trail that drops down through woods and then back home via hilly b roads again. I've never completed this ride without a fair amount of walking and pushing until today.
Wow the motor really makes a difference. I don't know what I was expecting but it really makes riding fun again. I'm in my 40s now and spend too much time sitting on my arse so getting up the hills and keeping up with my kids is harder every year. The motor changes all that. You still need to push but it gives you just enough assistance to power up the painful bits and then fades into the back ground when you don't need it.
I rattled off 12 k in no time at all could have done it over and over again. It really is a game changer for me as I can see myself cycling so much more both for pleasure and also for journeys where I would have taken the car.
Specwise I love the shocks. My previous bike was a pretty cheap hardtail and it is night and day with the Vitus. Front and rear shocks are easily adjustable which made a difference when switching between road and trail. Coming down through the forest with all the roots and debris was a breeze. The seat popper is also a revelation if you have never had one before. It really allows you to drive up the hills and then hang your arse out the back on the downhill sections.
That pretty much sums up my first impression. I may head to Bedgebury tomorrow to give it a proper workout so will update this thread as and when I have more to say.
Last but not least bike security is going to be an issue as I imagine EMTBs are a top target for local bikes thieves. I'm definitely going to need a bigger lock.
Manufacturer: Vitus E=Escarpe VRS
Model: E=Escarpe VRS
Model Year: 2020
Price Paid: £3600
New/Used: Brand New
Score (out of 10): 8
Review: This is very much my first impression of the Vitus and of e-bikes, this being my first. I'll try and update this as I ride the bike more and build up a better overall picture.
First impression when it came out of the cardboard was wow it looks great and wow it's massive. I know it isn't important but I love the colour scheme of the bike. The grey and orange combo looks modern without looking like a German anorak.
As a first timer when it comes to e-bikes the scale of the bike took me by surprise. I'd never managed to try an EMTB in my local store as they were always out of stock and nothing that you see on the internet gives a true reflection of the size of the bike compared to a standard analogue bike. I posted a pic above of my two bikes next to each other. The Vitus makes my old bike look like a BMX.
If you haven't ridden an EMTB before be prepared for everything to be wider and larger in scale. The wheels (29 and 27.5 on the Vitus) are much taller than my old bike and the tires also much wider. The frame itself isn't taller but again it is wider and chunkier. The whole bike can be described as chunkier than an analogue bike. As I got onto it for the first time it reminded me a lot of my next door neighbours Raleigh Bomber from the 1970s (Showing my age now).
For reference I went with a large frame as I'm 6 feet with a 32/33 inside leg.
Without the battery installed I didn't notice the weight of the bike. It rolls great and didn't feel so different from analogue. With battery installed that does add a few kilos and you can feel it.
Quick comment on the quality of setup from CRC. I noticed that the pop up seat cable must have been dragged through the frame as it has some damage. Otherwise everything else looks and feels good though the brakes are going to need adjustment or bleeding as the bite point is too close to the bars for me.
Bar and pedal installation was a breeze with a useful allen key set thrown in by CRC. I went with nukeproof neutrons to get me on the road and then went for a first ride....
I live in suburban kent countryside in a hilly area and have a regular loop I ride including some hilly roads that take me to the top of a trail that drops down through woods and then back home via hilly b roads again. I've never completed this ride without a fair amount of walking and pushing until today.
Wow the motor really makes a difference. I don't know what I was expecting but it really makes riding fun again. I'm in my 40s now and spend too much time sitting on my arse so getting up the hills and keeping up with my kids is harder every year. The motor changes all that. You still need to push but it gives you just enough assistance to power up the painful bits and then fades into the back ground when you don't need it.
I rattled off 12 k in no time at all could have done it over and over again. It really is a game changer for me as I can see myself cycling so much more both for pleasure and also for journeys where I would have taken the car.
Specwise I love the shocks. My previous bike was a pretty cheap hardtail and it is night and day with the Vitus. Front and rear shocks are easily adjustable which made a difference when switching between road and trail. Coming down through the forest with all the roots and debris was a breeze. The seat popper is also a revelation if you have never had one before. It really allows you to drive up the hills and then hang your arse out the back on the downhill sections.
That pretty much sums up my first impression. I may head to Bedgebury tomorrow to give it a proper workout so will update this thread as and when I have more to say.
Last but not least bike security is going to be an issue as I imagine EMTBs are a top target for local bikes thieves. I'm definitely going to need a bigger lock.
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Having said that I'm fine with it where it is.
