I can’t imagine attempting the jumps on any other £500 bike
was simply robbing Peter to pay Paul. Thankfully, even after just one ride, it’s clear that’s not the case. Not once did I notice excessive flex at the front wheel or fork, and I was really paying close attention to this as I wasn’t distracted by the continuous rattle of the chain whipping the stays.
Instead, what I really missed was a dropper post. And not just because there’s now space on the handlebar for a remote where the front shifter used to reside. It has more to do with the fact that the kinked seat tube on the Nucleus frame really limits saddle height adjustment. Yes, you could always cut the 400mm post down, but I’d much rather be able to slam it all of the way into the frame.
Testament to how good the ride of the Nucleus is, even with the saddle flying at half mast, I could still ride my usual test loop at full pace. Sure, some of the bigger jumps and step downs felt a little longer, but that’s because I was going deeper than normal because it didn’t want to risk casing the landings with no rear suspension to cushion the impact. The fact that I didn’t hesitate to hit every feature or ride all my usual lines speaks volumes about the handling of this bike.
It’s not like I’m a kamikaze test pilot but I can’t imagine attempting some of the jumps on any other £500 bike. On slippery singletrack the Vitus feels every bit as balanced as it does in the air. So even if you are new to riding you’ll still get the thrill of speed on every trail, without being scared out of your wits.
Size-wise, the Vitus Nucleus 27 VR runs from small though to XL, so riders from 5ft 2in to 6ft 7in are covered. Now, if you’re reading this and thinking the Vitus would be the perfect bike for your kid but it’s just too big, Vitus also makes a Nucleus 24 and a Nucleus 26 with 24in and 26in wheels respectively. With both options Vitus covers kids from 4ft 1in to 5ft 1in tall, and the bikes come with a very similar specification to the adult option, including the 8-speed Box drivetrain. Yes, the shifting is not as light, smooth or as silent as any of the 1x offerings from SRAM or Shimano, but that’s not really a fair comparison, as you won’t find those on a £500 bike.
So Vitus has finally managed to squeeze a clutch rear derailleur on to the Nucleus 27 VR without blowing the budget. And in doing so it has enhanced the overall experience for the rider. Not only does it help keep the chain on, but the shifting is more intuitive and the bike is much quieter than before, so you can really focus on the trail ahead.
Will it be our Hardtail of the Year 2021? Time will tell, but it’s currently the odds-on favourite.
HIGHS
Fast, fun and easier than ever to ride.
LOWS
Seatpost doesn’t go all the way down.
Size ridden Head angle Seat angle Effective SA BB height Chainstay Front centre Wheelbase Down tube Top tube Reach