Vitus release an affordable yet powerful E-Mythique LT e-MTB
Vitus' new budget long travel e-MTB is low in price but high in power and performance
Vitus has launched an all-new Vitus E-Mythique LT (long-travel) e-MTB that is aimed to deliver high levels of performance on the trail at a more affordable price bracket.
With many of the best electric mountain bikes easily hitting five-figure sums, Vitus' new budget e-MTB is considerably more affordable with prices starting at just $3,699 / £3,299.99 / €3,799.99.
The E-Mythique LT shares a lot in common with the existing E-Sommet enduro e-MTB although Vitus says this is an entirely new platform. Both frames have a 6061-T6 aluminum construction with a visually similar frame layout and a mullet wheel setup. The E-Mythique LT also has very similar gravity focussed geometry numbers to their e-Enduro bikes, sporting a 63.5-degree head angle, 77.5 seat angle, and 476mm reach on a large frame. These figures are backed up with 170mm front and 160mm of rear suspension, although the base model only has 160mm up front which adds a degree to the head tube angle and seat angle.
The E-Mythique LT's affordability comes from some smart spec choices and economies of scale leveraged from Vitus' connections with Nukeprook and buying power of Wiggle/CRC.
To start with, Vitus has opted to power the bike using a Befang M510 e-MTB motor and 630Wh battery. Although not commonly specced on mountain bikes, the motor has some competitive performance figures putting out 95Nm of torque, 10Nm more than the most commonly seen Shimano or Bosch units. There is a small handlebar-mounted display and shifter which cycles through the five custom power modes; Eco, Eco-plus, Trail, Boost, and Race.
Pricing and specifications
Vitus has three models of the E-Mythique LT which follow their standard naming convention of VR, VRS, and top-spec VRX.
All bikes are specced with the same frame, RockShox Delux Select R shock, Befang motor, and roll on the same WTB ST Light i30 rims on Vitus KT hubs (VRS and VRX feature an XD driver freehub) which are fitted with Vee Tire Co. Attack HPL 2.5in tires. The finishing kit is also mostly the same across all the bikes, taking their handlebar, stem, and saddle from Nukeproof's component range and using a Brand X Ascend dropper.
Where specs differ is in the suspension, drivetrain, and braking performance with the VR and VRS using Suntour forks. The bottom model is fitted with a Microshift Advent-X 10sp drivetrain while the VRS and VRX get 12sp drivetrains from SRAM. The brakes specced are from Tektro, TRP, and SRAM as the price increases.
Pricing starts at $3,699 / £3,299.99 / €3,799.99 for the VR, mid-range sits at $4,199 / £3,899.99 / €4,499.99, and the top-spec E-Mythique LT is still cheaper than most other brands cheapest e-MTB at $4,599 / £4,399.99 / €5,099.99.
Vitus E-Mythique LT VR
- Frame: 6061-T6 double-butted alloy, 160mm
- Fork: SR Suntour Zeron36 Boost EQ 29", 160mm travel
- Shock: RockShox Deluxe Select R, DebonAir
- Drive Unit: Bafang M510
- Battery: 630Wh battery
- Drivetrain: Microshift Advent-X, 10-speed
- Stem: Vitus Alloy, 50mm
- Bar: Nukeproof Neutron V2 Riser, S & M: 760mm Wide, 12mm Rise, L & XL: 780mm Wide, 25mm Rise
- Crankset: Bafang, 34T
- Seatpost: Brand-X Ascend Dropper, S: 125mm drop, M: 150mm drop, L & XL: 170mm drop
- Saddle: Nukeproof Neutron Saddle
- Brakes: Tekrto HD-M535 4-piston
- Wheels: WTB ST Light i30 rims on Vitus KT hubs
- Tires: Vee Tire Co. Attack HPL
- Sizes: SM, MD, LG, XL
- Price: $3,699.00 / £3,299.99 / €3,799.99
Vitus E-Mythique LT VRS
- Frame: 6061-T6 double-butted alloy, 160mm
- Fork: SR Suntour Durolux36 Boost EQ 29", 170mm travel
- Shock: RockShox Deluxe Select R, DebonAir
- Drive Unit: Bafang M510
- Battery: 630Wh battery
- Drivetrain: SRAM NX/SX Eagle, 12-speed
- Stem: Nukeproof Neutron, 45mm
- Bar: Nukeproof Neutron V2 Riser, S & M: 760mm Wide, 12mm Rise, L & XL: 780mm Wide, 25mm Rise
- Crankset: Bafang, 34T
- Seatpost: Brand-X Ascend Dropper, S: 125mm drop, M: 150mm drop, L & XL: 170mm drop
- Saddle: Nukeproof Neutron Saddle
- Brakes: TRP Slate EVO, 4-piston
- Wheels: WTB ST Light i30 rims on Vitus KT hubs
- Tires: Vee Tire Co. Attack HPL
- Sizes: SM, MD, LG, XL
- Price: $4,199.00 / £3,899.99 / €4,499.99
Vitus E-Mythique LT VRX
- Frame: 6061-T6 double-butted alloy, 160mm
- Fork: RockShox Yari RC 29", 170mm travel
- Shock: RockShox Deluxe Select R, DebonAir
- Drive Unit: Bafang M510
- Battery: 630Wh battery
- Drivetrain: SRAM GX/NX Eagle, 12-speed
- Stem: Nukeproof Neutron, 45mm
- Bar: Nukeproof Neutron V2 Riser, S & M: 760mm Wide, 12mm Rise, L & XL: 780mm Wide, 25mm Rise
- Crankset: Bafang, 34T
- Seatpost: Brand-X Ascend Dropper, S: 125mm drop, M: 150mm drop, L & XL: 170mm drop
- Saddle: Nukeproof Neutron Saddle
- Brakes: SRAM DB8, 4-piston
- Wheels: WTB ST Light i30 rims on Vitus KT hubs
- Tires: Vee Tire Co. Attack HPL
- Sizes: SM, MD, LG, XL
- Price: $4,599.00 / £4,399.99 / €5,099.99
Graham Cottingham joined the BikePerfect team as our senior tech writer in 2020. With over 20 years of riding experience, he has dabbled in downhill, enduro, and gravel racing. Not afraid of a challenge, Graham has embraced bikepacking over the last few years and likes nothing more than strapping some bags to his bike and covering big miles to explore Scotland's wildernesses. When he isn’t shredding the gnar in the Tweed Valley, sleeping in bushes, or tinkering with bikes, he is writing tech reviews for BikePerfect.
Rides: Cotic SolarisMax, Stooge MK4, 24 Bicycles Le Toy 3, Surly Steamroller
Height: 177cm
Weight: 71kg