VITUS MYTHIQUE 27 VR
£1,599.99 Proving 650b trail bikes aren’t dead
For the Mythique, Vitus have taken ideas from their higher-end Sommet enduro rig and Escarpe trail bike, and used them to build a more modestly-priced machine, with 130mm of travel and mid-size 650b wheels (plus a 29in option).
THE FRAME
With its relatively straight and slim 6061-T6 aluminium tubes, the Mythique looks a lot like its more expensive Escarpe sibling. It also uses the same frame hardware, including bearings. What’s more, it gets all the features you’d expect on a modern trail bike, so upgrading parts should be easy. These include Boost rear hub spacing, a tapered head tube and a Universal Derailleur Hanger, along with decent frame protection, ample mud clearance and double-row bearings in the rear end for extra stiffness. External cable routing and a threaded BB keep maintenance simple.
A significant improvement over the previous-generation Mythique is the straighter seat tube, which allows for complete insertion of a dropper post, so you can run one with longer travel. The new bike uses the same four-bar Horst-link suspension platform, but Vitus have updated it to improve the ride feel. They’ve also switched to a trunnion-mount shock, which pivots on bearings, to help reduce friction.
Vitus have tweaked the frame shape, too, to make the Mythique more capable on the trails. The medium size we tested has a reasonable 460mm reach and relatively slack 65.5-degree head angle, along with a 77-degree effective seat tube angle and moderate 435mm chainstays. At 595mm, the effective top tube length is pretty short, contributing to an upright, comfy seated pedalling position. One figure to note is the low 597mm stack height, meaning the front end is pretty slammed. The BB drop is decent, at 22mm below the axles. This should help the bike’s fore/aft stability and boost confidence through the turns.
THE KIT
Straying from the RockShox norm, Vitus have specced an X-Fusion RC32 fork and 02 Pro R shock. The drivetrain mixes 10-speed Shimano Deore products with a Sunrace 11-46t cassette. For this price, it’s a shame not to see 11-speed gearing. The Mythique rolls on WTB rims with a decent 30mm internal width, wrapped in dual-compound, EXOcasing Maxxis High Roller II 2.3in tyres.