VITUS SOMMET 297 AMP
£4,599.99 Mixed wheels, more travel and masses of fun
This ‘mullet’-wheeled version of Vitus’s well-priced Sommet enduro bike is said to bring the same level of excitement as the 29in-wheeled rig, but with the fun factor turned up to 11. We really liked the 29er Sommet when we tested it as part of our Enduro Bike of the Year test in 2021 – does it ride even better with a smaller 650b rear wheel?
THE FRAME
Vitus construct the front triangle of the Sommet 297 AMP from Toray T700 carbon fibre, while the rear end is 6061-T6 alloy. Compared to the 29er Sommet, this mixed wheel-size bike offers more bounce at the rear, dishing out 170mm of travel via a four-bar linkage. And, of course, the frame is designed for a 650b rear wheel.
Cables are routed internally and enter the frame through neat ports bolted in place just behind the head tube junction. Vitus have included plenty of integrated chain and seatstay protection to prevent noisy chainslap when the trails get rough, along with a decent chunk on the underside of the broad down tube and bottom bracket (BB) shell to help avoid damage due to rock strikes.
The Sommet 297’s geometry closely matches that of its 29in-wheeled counterpart, although it does sport shorter 435mm chainstays. An oval chip tucked inside the lower shock mount allows you to alter the head and seat tube angles by 0.5 degrees and the BB height by 6mm.
