The Escarpe has been updated for 2022 with a new frame and improved suspension kinematics, designed to make it better uphill and more fun on the descents.

Vitus have given the Escarpe 29 CRX a full-carbon chassis. The UK brand say the front triangle has been tuned to improve stiffness and tracking. Frame features include internal cable routing and carbon protection patches, as well as a threaded BB shell. The front and rear triangles are connected via a four-bar linkage that provides 140mm of rear-wheel travel.

This model comes with a topdrawer parts package. Factory-level suspension from Fox, including a 150mm-travel 36 fork, is paired with a full Shimano XT drivetrain and brakeset. The wheels on our bike come from Nukeproof’s Horizon line, although DT Swiss’s M 1900s are also on Vitus’s spec list –a sign of fluid availability. They’re encased in Maxxis Assegai and Dissector tyres. Nukeproof finishing kit largely finishes off the package.

Compared to other burly trail bikes in this test, the Escarpe climbs well.

The geometry is spot on, with a steep 77.5-degree seat tube angle, while the rear suspension stays well-behaved in most pedalling conditions. When you get a bit more spirited, the shock’s lockout switch is easy to access. Grip levels are good, thanks to the supple early stroke of the suspension, while the Dissector rear tyre doesn’t seem to drag on smooth ascents too badly. There’s ample front-end room to balance grip and accurate line choice using bodyweight shifts.

On steep, slow descents, the stout front end is precise and the powerful brakes and grippy Assegai tyre make committing to crux moves a doddle. The rear suspension doesn’t collapse when you drop into a catch berm, so you can exit corners with absolute composure and, potentially, a bit of extra speed. On smooth, rolling terrain, the Escarpe also holds up. The suspension’s mid-stroke support allows you to pump the terrain to generate speed, while low-amplitude rocks and roots disappear under the supple-feeling back end.

Rattle the bike into fast and rough tracks, though, and it’s not quite as sofa-smooth as the Nukeproof Reactor or Kona Process 134. The rear wheel feels a touch more prone to slap into the face of roots rather than soak them up, and the Fox 36 fork simply isn’t as smooth as its RockShox rival, the Lyrik. We also found the two-piston rear brake tended to overheat quickly on steep, fast descents.

Balanced uphill and downhill performance, with a shape that encourages you to push hard