Back and forward every week to and from NI and Surrey means I’m now seriously considering a second electric bike purchase.
First was a very heavy CUBE Bosch 160 but my girlfriends lighter Shimano STEPS Focus Jam^2 has made me prefer the idea of a Shimano motored bike.
Both Vitus and YT seem like the obvious options with insane value and lighter weight.
The integrated YT looks miles better and “Carbon is cool” but living in NI I can actually access the CRC shop for grumbles and the e7000 spec’d sommet seems even crazier value.
How does everyone see these three stacking up against one another?!
I have an Esommet and have a Decoy on order
They're quite different bikes. Ride both.
Weight is really similar (as internal batteries are always heavier the "looks" negate the carbon frame weight savings somewhat)
The Decoy does have some nice more refined features, clever cable routing and new battery technology being the main ones.
IMO The sommet has the better descending geometry (being lower).
and being 27.5 f&r should be more playful.
My plan is to increase the Decoy to 180mm fork and run a 27.5 front wheel. (geometry will remain pretty much the same I just hate 29" wheels)
If you're near CRC it'd be an absolute no brainer from me (3xmotor and 1xbike longwinded warranties later)
The deore Esommet is insane value but the upgrades to E8000 (and colour display), charger damper (Lyrik), 11spd XT and brakes on the VR made it well worth paying the extra £300 for me.
I have the base level E-Sommet. Seems a great value bike & at the time was almost grand less than the VR. I had a Saint shifter in spares box making my 1X10 far better than the VR’s 1X11, a set of custom Bos forks better than the Lyriks plus had set of carbon wheels in spares box too,& carbon Joystick bars & stem. the E7000 motors seems good too. But yes my base model is now higher spec than the VR 😂
“My plan is to increase the Decoy to 180mm fork and run a 27.5 front wheel. (geometry will remain pretty much the same I just hate 29″ wheels)”
Are you not going to put a 27.5 wheel on the back too? That would drop the BB down that it would actually be low (but you might need to persuade the software that the wheel is smaller than it thinks).
it's a 29/27.5 fashionfrankenbike Chief
a 26" rear wouldn't be such a bad idea though 😉
a saint shifter might feel slightly nicer but it doesn't remove the 15t to 18t sprocket jump (11 spd is 15 to 17) right in the accelerate out of tight corners range for me.
I hated my shimano XT 1X11 on other bike, the Saint is soo much nicer & 1tooth difference is minimal with a motor... I Just avoid really tight corners it’s the long wheelbase 😂
The integrated YT looks miles better
Do you worry about that when riding? Or is it all about how ppl view your bike, rather than how it handles is really how you make your bike buying decisions? What interests me more is the potential 700wH battery that will fit in the same space, though yes it looks awesome compared to the vitus. ;D but then it's £500 more expensive? (than the VR). I'm not totally convince I'd want the lower spec E7000 motor vs the E8000, but then I really tend to use the ECO mode, so would it really mater? (how do you use the cube's power?)
Again I experienced a warranty issue with the 1st E-bike CRC sold me (then gave a Vitus as a replacement), and those 6 to 8 weeks were painful, though as my 1st ever e-bike I didn't miss it half as much as I would now...
Really only you can justify the extra cost of the YT over the vitus, and if that doesn't matter to you, buy the YT
But the real answer you want to hear it, "Go buy the YT" as it the one you really want... or maybe "No, buy the Vitus, it's a second bike look at the value!" if your be cost conscious, or maybe it's even "come on you can't be as amazing as GW, without having the same bike"
PS: You know you want the fully carbon YT CF Pro...
The VR actually has an SLX shifter and cassette and an XT mech I'm not sure what there is to "hate" there but fair enough. I get that you prefer a Saint shifter.
That 3 tooth jump from the 15t to the 18t sprocket on the other hand is horrible to change to and when testing another brand drivetrain I found I completely stopped using the 18t sprocket and just stayed in the 15t instead.
My E-sommet doesn't have a really long wheelbase though 😉
it's not my most used bike z1ppy
Get a 4X/DJ bike if you want to amaze.
Lead in time CF Pro tho...
The fact that you've even looked 😀 but ho hum yes, that would be a painful wait
Uh oh...
Heart=YT
Brain=E7000 Vitus
Geex.
When is your decoy arriving?
wouldn't touch the YT ebike with a 10ft pole. every carbon YT i've worked on has been really roughly made.
Then there is the bespoke battery, if your battery packs in you ARE going to be left with a £4500 paper weight. YT are a tiny bike company in the grand scheme of things and i doubt that the "slung together in chinas cheapest battery factory" bespoke battery is going to be either reliable or in plentiful supply.
Thanks b45her. Really useful point and insight. Have often though this about the gf’s Focus Jam with its fixed battery.
Think I’m heading towards a Vitus even if it looks relatively less cool...
I don't actually know Stu
They've been put back from the origial June availability date.
I recently bought an E-Sommet VR... best money I've EVER spent!
Love the thing. The only think I upgraded was the handlebar grips.
I prefer the external battery... If/when technology moves on, you've got a better chance of upgrading it. Easier to change to a spare too, and easier to remove to make it more frustrating for thieves.
