With the introduction of the Vitus Mythique 27, Vitus looks poised to dominate the entry-level full-suspension category just as it dominates hardtails.

>>> Best cheap full suspension bikes: £1000 to £1500

When it comes to sub-£1k hardtails, Vitus is the undisputed powerhouse – its Vitus Nucleus and Vitus Sentier platforms perennial winners of our Hardtail of the Year test. But before we find out this full suspension Vitus has been successful in toppling the mighty Bossnut, let’s take a closer look at the Mythique line-up.

Vitus Mythique 27 VR

Vitus Mythique 27 VR review

There are seven options to choose from: three 29ers, three 27.5in bikes and a VRW 27.5in women’s bike. The frames all share pivot hardware, forgings and tubing profiles. That’s not to say they are identical though, as Vitus uses unique frame jigs and geometry for each frame and wheel size. Travel is split too, with the 27.5in bikes pumping out 130mm and the 29ers getting 10mm more.

Price-wise, the Mythique range is equally close. The Vitus Mythique 27 VR starts at £1,249.99, topping out at £1,599 for the VRX. There’s no price penalty for your preferred wheel size either. There is a weight penalty though, where the entry-level Mythique VR 27 is over a kilogram lighter than the top-of-the-range Vitus Mythique 29 VRS that we had in for a First Ride back in January.

The 27.5in bikes also have better geometry. Specifically, the BB height is 14mm lower than the 29er, so you feel much more in the bike, rather than perched on top of it. Regardless of wheel size, frame quality is first rate, the Mythique being the only bike in the test to get the wider, more common 148x12mm rear dropout standard that forms the foundation of a stronger 
rear wheel.

The only glitch is that the seat tube design limits saddle height adjustment so we recommend factoring in the extra cost of a dropper post.

X-Fusion’s RC32 fork was a surprise choice but performed well…

Suspension

RockShox prevails on entry-level full suspension bikes, and for good reason. The product performs well, it’s reliable, and if anything goes wrong it’s easy enough to get fixed. So we were surprised to see Vitus deviate from that proven approach. Still, the 130mm travel X-Fusion RC32 suspension fork on the Mythique 27 VR impressed us with its smooth, controlled action and usable range of damping adjustment – adjustment that includes external rebound and a three-position compression lever.

…but it’s O2 Pro-R shock felt dull compared to its RockShox equivalent

Travel and suspension brands are matched on the rear, but the 10-position X-Fusion 02 Pro-R shock lacks the sensitivity of the top-end RockShox-equipped VRX.

27.5in bikes get a 14mm lower BB for a more planted feel

Components

Vitus hasn’t cut corners on the tyre specification, with the lighter, Kevlar-bead Schwalbe tyres and their soft, sticky rubber making it easy for you to cut corners on the Mythique. The Shimano disc brakes are also first rate – the 180mm rear rotor adding extra stopping power where it’s needed most. Another nice touch is the size-specific handlebar width.

What do you have to sacrifice to get these benefits? Gear range. The older 10-speed Shimano Deore drivetrain is limited by the SunRace 11-46t cassette. This is most notable on technical climbs.