Psa vitus bikes (sentier 27 VR £349

Blimey that's an absolute steal!!!!

No Nucleus 27 VRS in small.£799 when available!Grrrrrr.

Whoa, a lot of the bikes are seriously reduced. £2k full sus ebike anyone

I've been watching this bike for a while and this is a crazily good deal. I've gone for the 29er at £399.  You can't buy the Marzocchi Bomber Z2 fork alone for less than that. It comes which the Clarks brakes rather than the Deore MT410 (I checked previously), which may need to be swapped.

The 29er version is £400

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/p/vitus-sentier-29-vr-mountain-bike

It'd be a struggle to find something better even second hand for that price.

That is ridiculous. I'm tempted just to keep in a box for emergency

I'm tempted to make the jump to an e-escarpe, sell my bike and pocket the change!

Ha, just seen this - noticed it on twitter earlier and have literally just ordered the 27 VR. Will either be donor bike for my Longitude or keep as is - cheaper buy full bike than get new groupset and fork for what have already. Mad cheap!

I’m tempted to make the jump to an e-escarpe, sell my bike and pocket the change!

These prices aren't going to help the second hand market. £2k for a reasonably spec'd eeeb will make normal bikes very hard to sell.

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/p/vitus-e-escarpe-290-vrs-mountain-bike

Not cheap for anybody who wants the VRS in small!

Weighing up buying one for spare parts. Hopefully they'll sell out before I make my mind up.

I think the VRS is the betteer deal with the fox 34 and 1x12 deore.

The Z2 has reported issues recently from new and nobody wants a poorly functioning fork headache that can be solved for 100 quid more.

This is just silly now

Man, now I'm really regretting buying a new frame last year! Could have got a whole new bike for £50 more.

Ordered a vr 27....was tempted at £650 last week. That was silly money, this is nuts.

Can the Z2 change travel? Wondering about using this as a donor. Cheers 

Can the Z2 change travel? Wondering about using this as a donor. Cheers

Yeah. It uses the same air shaft as the Fox 34 Rhythm. They don't come with foam wipers (fox 34 ones fit) and there've been reports of them being supplied low on oil.

Ok worth knowing. Thanks

Bought the 29, at £399 it's a steal for the spec. Great spot

Bought my daughter the £250 women's one, as she could do with going up a size soon. Not the best spec but she'll only be rolling around on it. I'll probably make money selling the bits off her smaller bike.

Some of them are crazy prices. Ragley big wig for £400!

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/p/vitus-e-escarpe-290-vr-mountain-bike?color=black-quartz&sizeStandard=L

£1799 for an bike, £1999 for the upgrade XL version

Oops. Any good strategies for evaluating n+1 where d(n) is already raising eyebrows?

Bigger wheels than 26”, 130mm travel, riser bars, and a dropper post? I won’t know myself.

If the Vitus Sentier 29 VRS with the Fox 34 was £449.99 I would buy one in a flash.

Brilliant, thanks OP. My brother is looking for a new bike for my nephew but doesn’t have a lot to spend so there’s now a Nucleus VR 27 on the way. £200 for a brand new bike with adequate kit (for a casual rider) is crackers.

Just picked up the 27 VRW for my wife, it’s a bargain for that price.

Starting to think I should have picked up a second set of the Yari forks when they were cheap.

Brilliant, thanks OP. My brother is looking for a new bike for my nephew but doesn’t have a lot to spend so there’s now a Nucleus VR 27 on the way. £200 for a brand new bike with adequate kit (for a casual rider) is crackers

Yep, just sent a link to my sister and told her to buy my nephew a new one of those, as his current bike is waaaay to small and weighs about as much as cruise liner!

Wow, some of them are so cheap you need to find a reason not to buy them!

Having no money after Christmas being a strong contender!

Saying that, if the SID equipped Rapide drops further I'm in!!

The Yamaha motors don't seem to get good customer reviews.
Is buying a leccy bike from a company rumoured to be closing a good idea?

Checked this morning, e escarpe vrs in L still available. Thought about it whilst I was out and decided, will order one when I get home, sold out now! Not sure if the XL is pushing it a bit, I'm on an L Coptic jeht at the moment.

Could still get the vr and "save" a few quid but head is now telling me I'm just doing it for the sake of it.

Thinking is that an ebike will be an inevitable purchase at some point and these are ridiculous bargains, potentially could just buy to leave boxed until I'm really ready for it!

Bagged the Mrs the Sentier VRW this morning before they sold out. She's chuffed! Will feel like a massive upgrade on her 10yr old Commencal HT.

Any on eBay yet at double? 🫣

Mine will be.😊

Seems on another thread that crc are asking if they can send them with no pdi. I've not had that email yet, but has anyone else been offered this?? Makes sense given the volume they must have sold last weekend.

I got the email last night for an order placed Friday.

I was tempted by the WRS models for daughter, just for the frame really. However QR on the frame, more trail than xc and poor spec put me off in the end.

I ordered mine Friday too (albeit at 5 to midnight). But if CRC haven't even managed to get to me in the email queue imagine how long a PDI / semi assembly will take!!

a friend ordered the 29er £399, he got an email saying build delivery 26-30th jan, but message them within 48 hours and they can ship unbuilt, presumably they are semi built overseas and CRC/wiggle mechanics just check gearing brakes etc are working..

really fancy the vitus mach in red 3speed Nexus 5 medium left, £199

Not sure about vitus. When I worked at another bike ship years ago you'd essentiallu build it and then put in a bigger box for shipping. Lots of variability. Some are perfect and it's a case if bolting bars on etc. Some needed everything doing and as mentioned will need brake levers swapping from euro style (and possibly a bleed).

I've ordered 2 Vitus bikes over the past couple of months.

First one - for my nephew - basic hardtail (can't remember the model number) I agreed to skipping PDI. It came packed a lot more tightly in a smaller box. Mostly assembled but still needed some work such as wheels and bars assembling, brakes adjusting, seatpost putting in, tyres inflating etc etc.

Was about 60-90 mins work to finish the build and get it set up properly

Second one (Sommet CRX for me) I wasn't offered to skip PDI. Came in a much larger box almost fully assembled. Even the wheels were on. All I did was wheel it out of the box and bolt the bars on. Aside for some minor adjustments and part changes for personal preference I could have been out on the trails in 10 mins flat.

I got the email about skipping PDI, so replied straight away as I'm happy to set it up. Kids have been riding around on bikes that I built (assembled) for them for the past 10 years anyway. I rarely buy full bikes.

Did your brakes come UK or Euro style @el_boufador ?

Don't mind assembly but brake bleeding is my least favourite bike job.

Both were set up UK style (right front, left rear)

Would be surprised if ship euro style, to me swapping over and bleeding is beyond what most folk would class as basic bike setup. Even though I’ve got the bleed kit I’d rather not have to do that to a new bike. We’ll see what arrives.

Minimum set up required, set up tubeless. 

Feel like I've stolen it for £350.00 

Cheers for the PSA.👌

[img] [/img]

Mine arrived yesterday,  not even had chance stick pedals on  it yet 😞

Glad I own a van, need it to dispose of the house-sized box 😁

I suspect it will turn out to not be a donor as planned and be ridden. Thanks again for PSA.

Blimey Merak, they’d have sold that bike at full price if they’d used your photo. It looks ace.

You know that feeling when you’ve  procrastinate over a PSA and missed out.

That’s me right now, thanks Merak.

I've seen that photo on fleabay Merak! You'll do alright I think. Mines still not here but ill be keeping it. I was going to buy a whyte 901 which seemed a bargain at 1k Nd the day before i ordered it these came up for 350. Talk about right place right time.

Oh yeah! Nice mark up.😂

Seems plenty have the same idea or needed a group set. Bargain for sure!

I'm actually thinking about keeping it now.🤦

I have a mate who bought seven of them!😅

For those that have received their cheap Vitus HTs, when did you order?

We ordered the Sentier VRW for my wife on 6th Jan and still haven't had a despatch notification.

"I have a mate who bought seven of them!😅"

One for him, his wife and his 5 kids?

If he is selling them on ebay he better watch out for the taxman!

@dogthomson - I commented on other thread - ordered 5th arrived 15th - upthread someone mentioned February for some deliveries. Can apparently contact and request without PDI, which will expedite delivery.

I ordered on the 6th (a Rapide rather than a Sentier as they sold out in my size before I pulled the trigger so missed out on a dropper), agreed to skip the PDI last Tuesday and then received the bike this Monday.

Bike came UK brake set-up, gears were indexed nicely, brakes bled, everything that had been assembled had been greased. All I had to do was fit seatpost, stem, bars, front wheel and align the front brake caliper. Remote lockout on the fork might need tinkering with, only ridden the bike for 5 minutes around the block after I'd finished assembling on Monday evening.

Mine was ordered on the 5th. Wasn't offered a non build option so it's built. Shipped yesterday and now its somewhere with parcelforce.

If anyone want's to avoid the hassle of Mr HMRC breathing over them or has buyers remorse, I'll take a Sentier 29 in Large please.

I ordered on the 6th, it was delivered yesterday. Opted for the no build option and to be honest theres nothing to do apart from take all the wrapping off and the normal put wheels and bars on. Gears might need a slight fiddle, but are just about there, but brakes are UK style so nothing to do there.

Looks nice. I got the cheaper ladies one for my daughter who just needed a bigger bike and isn't really into MTB so spec doesn't need to be amazing. It'll be great for her and at £250 i'm well happy.

I might now used some bits off her old bike for a new DJ/pump track bike!

Sentier 29 arrived today. Skipped PDI but as others have said bars and front wheel on was only task. Not checked gears or brakes yet but fine if need a little bike of tinkering. Looks smart, same finish as above in 29er form.  Have already got a not new to me 27.5 version which will be sold and it’s been a decent bike to ride. So this should be nice based on that experience and the new one having better spec. Almost nothing spec wise I’d say in need of upgrade. 

For those who've received their sentiers, what brakes did they come with? Any initial reviews? I've already convinced myself the Clarks will be rubbish, which is probably unfair seeing as I've never used them.

Shimano here. Mt401? Bikes not left house so can’t comment. Lever a bit longer and more basic feel than Deores and above I’m used to. Can’t say more til used in anger. 

29 Sentier came with Shimano brakes. I think the only differences to the written spec was RaceFace cranks and a Nobby Nic rear tyre 

My Sentier 29 VR came with Shimano MT410 brakes, not tried them yet but I was hoping for the Clarks as they are 4 pot and don't have the resin-only rotors like the Shimano.

Deviations from stated spec are Raceface cranks and Nobby Nic rear like above.

My Sentier 29 came with the Clarks brakes. Rear brake feels fine but the front lever pulls a lot nearer to the bar before it bites. Not ridden it yet though so they’re not bedded-in, so I’ll reserve judgement for now.

Can Clarks brakes be bled with a Shimano bleed kit, if required?

If you have to return a CRC-Wigg delivery because the bike is damaged, aren't you now basically a creditor to a company going through the insolvency process, so a tiny creditor at the back of the queue, wondering if you'll ever see a refund?

Sentier vr 27 this morning came with shimano cheapies. Think it's pot luck which brakes you get. But the clarks are probably no worse than these. Still an absolute bargain!!

If you have to return a CRC-Wigg delivery because the bike is damaged, aren’t you now basically a creditor to a company going through the insolvency process, so a tiny creditor at the back of the queue, wondering if you’ll ever see a refund?

I've had refunds for things sent back in the last couple of weeks

My sentier 29 came with nobby nic DD rear, shimano deore crank and clarks 4 pots. Unbelievable bike for £420

Whilst I didn't manage to get one of these in the sale I found a lightly used Sentier 29 VR for a similar price, so I can still sort of join in the bargain fun 🙂 picking it up tomorrow night, my first 29er so excited to see what it's like.

Was going to build up a Scout 275 also in CRC sale, but this seemed a better deal and doesn't require me to use all my old worn out parts. Just hope I don't regret going up to big wheels.

I've finally got around to getting the Sentier VRW that we got for my wife out of it's box this evening.

Shimano cheapie brakes and Deore 11 speed along with Race Face cranks. I can't say I'm disappointed at all for the price we paid. In fact, if it were twice the price it would have been a good buy.

Fingers crossed I'll get some time this weekend to get it built up properly and get it out before the weather turns wet on Monday.

Sentier 29 vr here, arrived early this week. Magic Mary up front, Nobby Nic rear. Clarks m4 brakes and  dropper post.

It's a keeper 🙂

@merak copperslip is for cars not bicycles 😉

Slathered it everywhere.

Mine arrived today. I had them build it as I was in no rush and it’s a novelty as I’ve not had someone else build me a non-utility bike in 20 years. I cracked out my torque wrench and blue thread lock and put the bars on, removed an acre of bubble wrap and masking tape, put on my first ever bolt-through front wheel, and fitted some flat pedals for novelty too; then I really struggled to get it out my front door. Coming from 26” bikes the 29er is massive. I don’t think I could get enough heat in the (Clarks) brakes to bed them in properly today. Mine came with Nobby Nic on the back too. The bars feel huge, and the reach fairly short, compared to my usual antique xc weapon. It was fun on the school pickup. It’s too much bike for anything within a couple of hours’ driving of Cambridge. Thanks for the PSA.

It was an amazing bargain for those that went for one but you have summed up exactly why I didn't pull the trigger on it. I've been running mainly 26 late 90s hardtails and got a newer style 27.5 bike a couple of years ago and it was overkill for any of the terrain near me in the east Midlands. I prefer an older lower 26 for more gravel and general use. All the mountain bikes now are very much set up for mountains why I cannot get near. The best place is somewhere like sherwood pines or cannock chase but I prefer to ride out from home. The faster hardtail like the rapide looked more suitable for the local terrain here but never got down to those lows for the nicer forked version unfortunately but was still a bargain at £400 for the other version. I picked up a Jamis highpoint a2 cheap also which was another factor but obviously the vitus deals were much better value.

My E escarpe arrived today. Went through PDI so just pulled it out the box, attached the bars and pedals and then charged it up. Battery was absolutely flat on arrival so no chance for a spin on it yet.

Plan is to use it to cycle direct from the house more. Just as well as its bloody heavy and I don’t fancy lifting it onto the roof.

Not gonna lie....this might be the best 350 I've ever spent.....

Ridiculous value, I'm very jealous.  Can't believe I missed it.

@crumpbutts  perhaps i can help! Can you DM me?

Ian

Shocking, front tyre down when took out of box, pumped up - took out of shed today and flat again.

Outrageous,  after what I paid - turns out valve core was loose 😁

Question on sizing, I'm looking at a rapide and at 180cm am right on the line for medium or large. How does the sizing come up, anyone got any ideas?