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I rode mine for the first time last night.
Only changes made were tyres set up tubeless and the rear swapped for a super trail soft hans dampf, grips to ergons, and spds. More of that later.
Initial thoughts were that the front end fitted me well and no excess weight on my hands 👍🏻
Size wise felt good.
Spds off road was the first time in 12+ years, efficient and great for climbing but couldn't feel comfortable on the dhs with any rocks jarring my old broken ankle!
Climbing was fantastic, and it felt so much more agile than my FS. On ruts I felt so much more balanced and the bike was predictable.
Gearing was spot on and well set up.
The marzocchi z2 really surprised me, didn't notice it in a good way, just worked!
The brakes (Shimano single pistons) were shite but can sort that with some 4 pots.
So long and short, £400 was a great price, decent spec, need to change saddle!! Will try flats also but appreciate that it won't climb as well 🤓
I didn't catch the virus thankfully
Lol 😂 VITUS
I got one two or three years back, the shimano/fox 34 builds, very happy with it. Shorter and lighter than my full suss, so compliments it well. Have given it a bit of a hiding so have had to replace the cranks and rear wheel but the frame appears to be impossible to kill!
Loads shorter than my FS which feels good!
Got one also but only pedalled round back garden so far. An unnecessary purchase really but couldn’t resist. I had a Sentier 27 built around an assortment of spare parts. Sold it for £280 locally* after getting the 29 and quite happy for £140 I’ve got a shiny new and better specced 29 version.
*which I’m fine with in circumstances. Reflection of the fire sale impact I might have asked for £500 6 months ago. Oh well.
At least that’s 2 folk keeping/using their bargains. Instead of flogging on (another thread, I know).
GF had one of the 29ers thanks to the PSA on here.
Really rates it, climbs well and lends to confident descending (The Clarkes brakes seem to work very well). It's only a few rides in (largely rides road) but mtbs have become so much more refined (?) in recent years and this bike is evident of that perhaps - it just works. The heavier than expected weight is largely irrelevant when riding. We're in the Derbyshire Dales so plenty of riding (and much uphill) out the door, with plenty of rocky stuff amongst it and the bike seems to handle it all very well. Decent tyres with that too too.
Just needs to actually use the dropper post otherwise it'll end up on the classifieds!
I had one a few years back - the 27 vrx frame built up with a mixture of components I had. It was very direct and playful - loved the corners and popping the front wheel. Enjoyed it for a few years before going for a slightly longer reach / shorter seat tube steel hardtail.
If the Sentier fits you I think it’s a great hardtail - Vitus are going to be a bit of a miss in the market if no-one does anything sensible with the brand (I.e. just slap the name on a load of bsos)
I have one and love it. Actually prefer the Marzocchi forks to Fox as they need less maintenance (although a bit heavy).
Got 2 sets of wheels: XC and Freeride. Just swop them over depending on where I ride.
Changed the brakes to Shimano XT and that's it.
I bought a VR in the era of Moderate Discounts before the era of Crazy Discounts. I like it; all the stuff my roadier-style gravel bike is rickety on it cruises through and gives me confidence; running kit is all pretty good; might swap out the frame one day but am enjoying it a lot. Not throwing it at anything super techy yet, but it does, and the short-ish reach hasn't been a problem yet.
All I changed: better grips; found a pair of MT6100 two-pistons cheap so swapped out the brakes for those and loving one finger levers (plus compatibility with regular pads and rotors); swapped to a Shimano dropper lever for ergonomics and ISpec tidiness. Swapped out the tyres for Ground Controls for the terrain around here. Cut down the bars to 760ish. But no huge changes.
One remaining thing I hate: the saddle. Bibs make it ok but obviously it's an OEM saddle so no surprise.
Oh, and I am probably going to service the lowers and stick rings in; found the fork a bit stiff on small bump chatter, and am wondering if it's a stiction issue. Still learning to set it up, not convinced the rebound knob is doing a lot.
Despite the minor tinkering: really liked how ready to go it was for the price. Unlike similarly priced things (in the 700ish range I got it for), no actual need to immediately buy a dropper or better tyres or a fork that does anything.
I like mine, great spec for what I paid for it. The Shimano brakes are ok but feel a bit underpowered, will eventually replace those. The rest of it seems solid, I like the Marzocchi fork. I came to this bike from a Sommet 27 built up with all my nice but old 26" kit, I much prefer this bike. Feels livelier, faster and the 29" wheels smooth out enough of the annoying momentum-sapping small bumps. The frame seems fine though I'd prefer shorter chainstays and maybe a steeper seat tube. It'll probably eventually get replaced if DMR end up releasing a new steel Trailstar 29er 🙂
Only thing that immediately needs replacing is the Acros headset as mine has a horrible loud clicking sound. Was worried it was the fork CSU but it does seem to be the headset when the bars are turned a certain way. Got a Brand X one that still needs fitting. May also put some faster rolling tyres on it since not much gnar is being schralped by me these days.
I initially wasn't sure about mine (27), it was great on easy trails, but became a little more of a handful on slightly more techy stuff (a little short) so I would prefer more reach with the same ett....I had decided to swap the frame but then took it to my local woods as a final test (as opposed to trail centre) and it came into ifs element and I finally 'got it'. it shines in making a fairly dull woodland ride loads of fun, and is capable enough on more techy terrain, which is a decent trade off for a hardtail tbf. Like it now and I'm planning on keeping it
I got the £400 Sentier VR as a backup to my full suss (I'm heavily overbiked for where I live, airdrop edit in Colchester). I really rate it, it's made my local trails more interesting and saved wear and tear on my edit. I also intend it being my go to bike for family rides as my boys grow up, so I'm aiming to keep it for 10+ years. Time will tell how that goes.
I'm not sure I'll ever be able to comment on its real capability as I'll always ride the full suss if I'm going anywhere decent.
One point on the Clarks brakes - the rear completely failed on 3rd, lost all power and lever pulled to the bar with no braking effect. I went to Clarks directly and they were amazing - only asked for proof of purchase and a pic of the serial number, then they sent me a full replacement rear the next day. Amazing service, really cannot fault them for that.
I've the very basic Shimano brakes, I've upped the front rotor to 203 and changed the pads to Galfer black. Certainly helped in a big way.
Just back from ride 2, this time with my normal flats and shoes. Far nicer! And far comfier. Pedalling efficiency but much worse either
Apart from really not getting on with the saddle MsGinge has been very happy with hers the few time she’s been out on it so far. It’s her first mountain bike and she is starting, very conveniently for me, to see the attraction of riding about in the forest.
Going back out with the kids tomorrow so have put a spare fabric radius scoop onto it which, by random chance, matched the colour of the bargain V11’s I stuck on when it arrived.
I've ordered a spesh BG saddle as the OE one is really uncomfortable and also put my old dmr death grips on from the fs
~500km in on the 29er with Deore drive train and Clarks M4 brakes (I don’t have mountain biking on my doorstep). The front brake calliper is leaking and contaminating the disc. The freehub also makes a grinding noise after harsh landings or carving berms until the ratchet/pawls have been engaged again by pedalling forwards. I’m now feeling tempted to upgrade the brakes and wheels.
i did a bit of the Dalby red this week on it - my first real mountain biking in some time after years of Thetford laps - and it acquitted itself very well. It’s faster than my old lighter racier 26er XC bike on flat stuff, and much more confidence-inspiring when it gets steep.