Bike Visual Aesthetics.

[Mike D.]

I noticed the radical departure that Vitus have made from the frame design of their 2020 bikes.

One thing I absolutely love about my e-sommet Sunset is the beautiful flowing lines of the frame design, so much so that after a light wash and wipe down (we don't do mud down here in the Alpujarras) it's my habit to just spend a couple of minutes gazing in awe at it.

I'm glad that I spotted Rob's video recommendation when I did and bought it "end-of-season-sale" last year from Wiggle.

The new frame designs from Vitus look like they were designed by a brickie.

Isn't she lovely?

 

[Mteam]

why the big mud guard if you dont do mud in the alpujarras?

I quite like the new e sommet - but then I dont like the look of external batteries.

Incidentally - I had a cracking day of uplifted riding (via van) somewhere nearish to grenada a few years back, think it was near la zubia - the track followed a dried up river/creek - are you near there?

 

[Mike D.]

why the big mud guard if you dont do mud in the alpujarras?

I quite like the new e sommet - but then I dont like the look of external batteries.

Incidentally - I had a cracking day of uplifted riding (via van) somewhere nearish to grenada a few years back, think it was near la zubia - are you near there?

It's the best option for protecting the underside of the downtube against stones being picked up by the tyre and chucked at the forward, unprotected, length.

I'm tucked in under the Sierra Nevada near the coast.

Watch it buddy, that's my girlfriend you're dissing. ?

 

[Mteam]

It's the best option for protecting the underside of the downtube against stones being picked up by the tyre and chucked at the forward, unprotected, length.

I'm tucked in under the Sierra Nevada near the coast.

I did a great ride once from Bubion down to castell de ferro ( I think)

 

[The Hodge]

At the risk of you hunting me down like a dog ..sorry Mike but I'm another who doesn't like the external battery look ...?...

 

[Mike D.]

This one has a shape that matches the "flowing" look of the frame really well. Also, even though it's "only" 504wh., the model is small and light enough to carry a spare comfortably in a well-padded backpack (Camelback Chaos) giving me 1008wh altogether, more than 250wh more than the largest battery, internal or otherwise, currently available.

Oh, and "Ai knoow wherr yew live". ??

 

[The Hodge]

I don't think you do ..that accent is from North of the border?

 

[Mike D.]

Beat me to it, but here's another lovely photo anyway.

There, now.

 

[Tonybro]

Count me in the "don't like the visual aspect of external batteries" camp too. Where do you put a water bottle?

I do see how it could be advantageous though - unlikely to fall out, won't be losing the down tube protector plate...

 

[Mike D.]

"Camelback"... (Who uses a water bottle?)

Anyway, I've shown you mine. Let's see yours.

 

[Tonybro]

Me for when I don't need the volume of fluid in a Camelback (which I've used for 25+ years)

Bike here with a water bottle on it! ;-)

 

[Mteam]

All full fat e mtbs are a bit ugly IMO, from certain angles anyway.

But in the least worst category I'd put the trek rail, the new vitus e sommet, both santa cruz, orbea wild fs, focus sam & jam, yt decoy

The ugliest has got to be the haibikes, they are awful , something to do with that pronounced humped toptube, and that wierd junction between seatstay and chainstay- all IMO before I get lynched.

 

[Tonybro]

Forgot to ask, @Mike D. - which mudguard is it and do they also do a rear one? We have plenty of mud, rain and rocks here...

 

[Mike D.]

Topeak.

 

[Jimbo Vills]

I don't mind the external battery. it's an e bike after all.

but sorry... i'd have to lose the 'mud guard'... i'd rather a million stone chips than that bad boy! Sorry pal.

 

[Hobo Mikey]

Mudguard has to go and the stuck on looking battery....OH sod it get rid of the bike and get something you can really stand back and look at and think...WOW that is super nice. Picture below in case you need to do some research.

 

[steve_sordy]

Or this:

 

[Gary]

This has to be a wind up! or are you blind?

There's no way you can be serious with that monstrosity of a mudguard bolted to your fork crown.

Personally I think an internal battery and oversized downtube to accomodate it with a waterbottle and cage looks way worse aesthetically than an external shimano battery. Plus the latter is generally around a kg lighter.

 

[Zimmerframe]

It's weird how we don't like external batteries ..

Yet many of us wouldn't mind a range extender .......... external battery ...

@steve_sordy - you can't go flashing that Orbea Rise Focus around with it's supermodel physique and THE worlds Ugliest external battery !

@Hobo Mikey Whyte's are stunning, but they do nothing to hide that they have a motor and battery - the entire shape highlights MOTOR and the battery looks like someone couldn't quite decide when and where it would finish and maybe they could get the 800wh in there, but mad Brian in packing cuts them all off with his saw in dispatch. The downtube looks like a blue whale which met Fujairah's sword.

Like it or not, the Vitus is a capable and LIGHT package. It's easy take batteries with you and swap out without doing bike gymnastics.

It's just function over form. A bit like @BAMBAMODA .

 

[Gary]

+ Rep to Zims

 

[Sean1.0]

I can never walk away from my drop dead gorgeous 2015 Haibike without a glance back over the shoulder ...

Jury's still out on my funny looking Rail though ...

 

[steve_sordy]

......................

@steve_sordy - you can't go flashing that Orbea Rise Focus around with it's supermodel physique and THE worlds Ugliest external battery !
.................

If this young lady turned up with a zit on her face one day, you wouldn't turn her away would you?

I see the beauty still there and ride her anyway.
(I'm talking about my bike now!)

 

[Jonzy]

Down tube all the way I'm afraid. I find external batteries ugly in my opinion sorry.

 

[Zimmerframe]

If this young lady turned up with a zit on her face one day, you wouldn't turn her away would you?

If that young lady turned up here, by the time she'd ridden down the muddy track to Zim Ville you wouldn't notice a zit as she would look more like this :

Once I'd graciously hosed her off I'd have to load her up in he van and take her to where she was trying to get to, because dressed like that, it wouldn't have been here

I see the beauty still there and ride her anyway.

It's a fine looking bike .. but you rarely choose to stick the zit on it when you go for a ride. At least you can use the Zit as a UPS for your computer, as it was originally intended, when you're not using it on the bike..

 

[Gavalar]

It's the best option for protecting the underside of the downtube against stones being picked up by the tyre and chucked at the forward, unprotected, length.

I'm tucked in under the Sierra Nevada near the coast.

Watch it buddy, that's my girlfriend you're dissing. ?

I think the guard would look for neater, better and more moto if you had a Mucky Nutz or similar fixed to the fork bridge

 

[paul-g]

Once I'd graciously hosed her off I'd have to load her up in he van

you`re getting as bad as BAMBAM
and with that,it`s time for the eMTB
National Anthem

 

[MMBB]

My 2c on bike aesthetics.
External batterys big no.
Key holes big no
Visible knock blocks ie levo
Big whale looking downtubes ie pivot ,giant
Power buttons slapped anywhere ie commencial.
2 tone paint jobs most get it very wrong
Magnets on rear wheel

I wouldn't even look at buying a bike if it has any of the above. But I'm also very picky and like things a certain way.

 

[R120]

Most ebikes don't look good, Focus Jam2 with the Shimano system is my favourite aesthetically out of the bunch, I really dont like the look of most of the current crop which look like they have had a collagen injection in all the wrong places IMO - the longer I have my 2018 Vitus the more I like the look of it external battery warts and all - when I got it I wasn't a fan of the looks, but now I kind of like the function over form of it, and the lack of bulky tubes and its simplicity - the trend to massive top tubes on EMTB's to try and balance the look of the massive downtube is a PITA too when riding.

For me there is one golden rule of MTB design, it doesn't necessarily add up to a good riding bike, just a good looking one, and thats the top tube running into the seat stays visually. Mondraker have pulled this off well in recent years, YT Izzo a good example too.

I also quite like Geometron and Orange, and generally any made from girders style of bike as I like the industrial aesthetic and it reminds me a bit of the heyday of crazy DH bike design in the late 90's.

 

[Mike D.]

I think the guard would look for neater, better and more moto if you had a Mucky Nutz or similar fixed to the fork bridge

Nah. Not enough clearance for the rocks and stones that get chucked up by gnarly tyres in this neck of the lumps.

And I like the look of the Topeak.